Weekdays of the 13th week in Ordinary Time Reflections

Monday 28^th June 2010

The Son of Man Has Nowhere

to Lay His Head

Jesus said: follow me. 

  Mt 8:18-22

When Jesus saw the crowd all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. ¹⁹ One of the scribes then came up and said to him, 'Master, I will follow you wherever you go.' ²⁰ Jesus said, 'Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.' ²¹ Another man, one of the disciples, said to him, 'Lord, let me go and bury my father first.' ²² But Jesus said, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.'

Jesus could not be clearer in his conditions. No wonder on another ocasion he will say first sit down and reflect,  can I do it. Don’t stop half way through? Let us not limit his call to ‘priesthood’ or ‘religious life’ as we so often do. Jesus calls everyone.  He calls you too. It is Jesus, not we who desides. We cannot take on the call ourselves. Have we the courage to listen to his call? Let us not be afraid. We never lose by listening to him. But first we need to fall in love with him. It is love for Jesus that opens our ears to what he is saying. The whole world is his and he needs disciples in every nook and corner – people who love, listen and respect him and who live by his values given in the Gospel. Where do you stand?

Tuesday 29^th June 2010

 Matthew 16:13-19.                     Feast of SS Peter and Paul.

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?' ¹⁴ And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' ¹⁵ 'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?' ¹⁶ Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' ¹⁷ Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'

Who do you say I am? The crowds had not understood. Did the disciples at least know him or was he totally alone? What a relief when Peter spoke. His understanding would need much pruning and growth but he had grasped the essence. Each must answer this question. It is fundamental. Who is Jesus for you? Is he just the Founder of the Church, who died for sin, the Messiah, the Son of God, who walked this earth, a distant figure, though vital and indeed to be honoured. Or rather is Jesus someone you know and someone you seek to know more personally each day? Peter will fail but will always love and so ‘weeping bitterly’ for his sin come back to Jesus. Because of his love Jesus could make him shepherd of his flock. If we love, Jesus can use us. How much do you love him?

Wednesday 30^th June 2010

Matthew 8:28-34

Then he reached the territory of the Gadarenes on the other side, two demoniacs came towards him out of the tombs -- they were so dangerously violent that nobody could use that path. ²⁹ Suddenly they shouted, 'What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?' ³⁰ Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, ³¹ and the devils pleaded with Jesus, 'If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.' ³² And he said to them, 'Go then,' and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. ³³ The herdsmen ran off and made for the city, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. ³⁴ Suddenly the whole city set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave their neighbourhood

When our world falls to pieces, we can still hang on. But what when we fall to pieces? Matthew shows us two mentally tormented men. They have lost control. They are broken and no one can do anything for them. People saw them as tormented by demons. In the end all evil comes from Satan. Jesus comes as their Liberator. Hidden inside them he sees God’s children. Jesus’ life is a war between Satan and God, come in human weakness. With authority Jesus casts the demons out. The men are restored to God’s image. Even pigs don’t want demons and the sea, the abyss of hell, is their proper domain. The people fear Jesus. He disturbs their way of life and they show no concern for the men. The truth is: Jesus brings peace but also disturbs our life. Are you afraid of his staying with you?

Thursday July 1^st 2010

Matthew 9:1-8

¹ He got back in the boat, crossed the water and came to his home town. ² And suddenly some people brought him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'Take comfort, my child, your sins are forgiven.' ³ And now some scribes said to themselves, 'This man is being blasphemous.' ⁴ Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, 'Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Now, which of these is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up and walk"? ⁶ But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' -- then he said to the paralytic-'get up, pick up your bed and go off home.' ⁷ And the man got up and went home. ⁸ A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for having given such authority to human beings.

How wonderful for that man to hear, “my child, your sins are forgiven”. The people thought so too, for ‘they praised God for having given such authority to human beings’. Jesus proved he had authority to forgive sins by telling the paralytic to get up and he did so. This same Jesus on the day of his Resurrection said to the disciples, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven’. He thereby handed on this authority to his Church. How wonderful now for the penitent to kneel before the Church in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and hear, “my child, your sins are forgiven.” We too should praise God for giving such authority to human beings. Freed from the paralysis of sin we are able to run along the path of holiness. Do you experience Jesus speaking to you in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Friday July 2^nd 2010

Matthew 9:9-13

⁹ As Jesus was walking on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him. ¹⁰ Now while he was at table in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?' ¹² When he heard this he replied, 'It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. ¹³ Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice. And indeed I came to call not the upright, but sinners

The Church Jesus formed is primarily a community. Jesus invites everyone without distinction. His one question: will you follow me? Will you accept me, listen to me and do as I say? If you say ‘yes’,  then be anyone, have any background, respectable or outcast, saint or sinner, you are welcome in his community, equal with all the others. If you want to win drunkards, prostitutes, those gone far away, those who don’t believe spend time with them and be their friend. May be your love for them will move their hearts. This is what Jesus thought and this is what he did. Respectable religious people were scandalised. What pleases Jesus is our outreach to others with a love that costs us dear, rather than a liturgy which is beautifully prepared. Is your religion comfortable or does it, with love, seek the lost where they are? Are you their friend?.

Saturday 3rd July 2010

Matthew 9:14-17

Then John's disciples came to him and said, 'Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?' ¹⁵ Jesus replied, 'Surely the bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. ¹⁶ No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. ¹⁷ Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'

If Jesus is the Bridegroom, then there is only one ‘law’. It is the law of love. I know how much he loves me. The question is: how much do I love him? It is not: do you go to Mass on Sunday? But, does your love for him take you to Mass to meet him, listen to him and become one with him in love? Not, do you fast, but is your fast an expression of your heart’s longing for him? Do not make our religion a religion of laws. There is only one law: to love Jesus with all your heart. We respect rules but they are only validly kept when they express and increase our love for him. Sometimes my love for him will make me ‘break the rule’. If Jesus is my Love, then I will give everything including my life for him and his friends.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time C Reflections

13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

1 Kings 19:16. 19-21, Ps. 15:1-2, 5.7-11 R v.5, Galatians 5:1. 13-18,

Elisha rose and followed Elijah and became his servant.

O Lord it is you who are my portion and cup.

If the Spirit guides you, you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence.

Your duty is to go and spread the news of God’s Kingdom

 Luke 9:51-62

 Jerusalem showing place where the Temple was

and Calvary.

⁵¹ Now it happened that as the time drew near for him to be taken up, he resolutely turned his face towards Jerusalem ⁵² and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, ⁵³ but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, 'Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?' ⁵⁵ But he turned and rebuked them, ⁵⁶ and they went on to another village. ⁵⁷ As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' ⁵⁸ Jesus answered, 'Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.' ⁵⁹ Another to whom he said, 'Follow me,' replied, 'Let me go and bury my father first.' ⁶⁰ But he answered, 'Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.' ⁶¹ Another said, 'I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good -- bye to my people at home.' ⁶² Jesus said to him, 'Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'

The view of Jerusalem from 'Dominus Flevit Church' (Jesus Wept Church) on the mount of Olives opposite the Dome of Rock, where stood the Temple in Jesus' time.

Do you give everything or only part?

It didn’t need a revelation to tell Jesus that death awaited him in Jerusalem. The leaders could not stomach what he said and did. Allow him to live and there would be no Temple, no Judaism. Jesus knew them and yet “he resolutely took the road to Jerusalem” He would face whatever was coming and he would carry out his mission. He would be true to his Father and to Himself. He would not compromise. Whatever the cost he would be faithful to his call. He loved and reverenced his Father.

But his disciples?  They did not yet understand. “Do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” How they had misunderstood his message. Hopefully when they saw Jesus in Jerusalem, ‘handed over to sinners’ they would realise he had a different spirit from this world. But do we?

Those who rushed forward to follow him didn’t realise what it would cost. Do we? Do you realise that to follow Jesus we should be totally committed. Jesus, kind and merciful though he is, will not tolerate half-measures. “He, who seeks to save his life, will lose it”. ‘If you want to be my disciple, give up everything including and, most of all, your ‘ego’ – that love of self which comes into everything.

‘I will follow you wherever you go’. Jesus says, ‘I have nothing; not even the security of a hole in the ground. You have to live like me’. ‘I will come when I have buried my father’. Jesus says: ‘don’t put any conditions. You have received the call, leave everything including your father and come’. ‘Let me go and say farewell and then I will come’. Jesus says; ‘I have called you now. Follow me now’.

Do any of us really understand?  We don’t become disciples in an instant. But from the beginning we need to be totally committed to Jesus. We need to leave everything and spend time with him in prayer and always be ready to drop our own desires and wishes. With Jesus it is NOW and it is EVERYTHING. Love makes all the difference.

What limits? What conditions have you put? “I believe and will do something. But please Lord, I do have my own life, you know. I can’t always be listening to you. I’ll go to Mass on most Sundays and certainly Christmas and Easter. But don’t expect me to avoid all sin…” “Once you have put your hand to the plough, if you look back, you are not fit for the kingdom of heaven”. If we believe in Jesus, we submit to crucifixion. Is the cost too much? We have to crucify our worldly and bodily desires. Is it worth it?

We cannot outdo Jesus in generosity. Full commitment to Him is well worth while. He will not betray his disciples.

Father give me the heart of your Son.

Weekdays of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Meeting Jesus through the Gospels

1. Sit quietly, recollect yourself. Concentrate on Jesus. Call on the Holy Spirit. Take your time. There is no rush and there is no fixed rule to follow. Be free in the Spirit.

2. Be aware that Jesus is with you. Use a mantra if you like, e.g. ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ..’

3. Read the passage with Jesus who was there and in the Holy Spirit who inspired it.

4. Note the words and sentences that strike you.

5. Pray about these and ask the Lord to speak to you through his Spirit.

6. Keep a journal of the inspirations you are given for your life. Jesus is present to you and he is speaking to you.

7. If the passage is a ‘dramatic’ one try and live the passage in your imagination. Remember it is not just imagination because Jesus is present now with you. Put yourself in the scene.  It is the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real.

Monday June 21^st 2010

Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel

¹ 'Do not judge, and you will not be judged; ² because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get, and the standard you use will be the standard used for you. ³ Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the great log in your own? ⁴ And how dare you say to your brother, "Let me take that splinter out of your eye," when, look, there is a great log in your own? ⁵ Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye. ⁶ 'Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces. ⁷ 'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Jesus forbids us from judging people not from judging issues. God alone can read our hearts and knows our mind and so our guilt or innocence. We can and very often are called upon to judge what we see. Behaviour is acceptable or not, in line with the Word of God or not. We can see this and often need to judge it. Have I the courage to tell someone when their behaviour is wrong? Am I aware of my prejudices?  Do I speak ‘the truth’ without regard for the pain my words inflict? Do I love the person whose behaviour I abhor? Do I long for their welfare? Do I consider myself superior? Do I really try to understand the other, to see their point of view? None of us can see ourselves. Have I the humility to listen to what others see in me?

Tuesday June 22^nd 2010.

Matthew 7: 6, 12-14.

⁶ 'Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.

¹² 'So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets. ¹³ 'Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and many take it; ¹⁴ but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The treasure of the Church is the Holy Eucharist.  Jesus has surrendered himself to us, available as our food and friend. We must safeguard this Gift from all abuse. We should prepare to receive Jesus through the Sacrament as we would if he came visibly. We should live with him as our friend. We belong to an ancient tradition The Didache, a document of the first century, writes: Let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist except those baptised into the name of the Lord; for, as regards this, the Lord has said, `Give not that which is holy unto dogs. Jesus also gives us the rule which solves so many moral dilemmas: do to others what you would have them to do to you. The goal of life is the embrace of God. May we take serious steps to reach it. Do you always keep it in mind?

Wednesday June 23^rd.

Matt 7:15-20.

'Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. ¹⁸ A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. ²⁰ I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.

A prophet speaks in the name of the Lord (Deut.13:1). How do we know whether someone is a true or false prophet? Jesus says, ‘by their life’. The true prophet lives a Spirit filled life. He will be poor in spirit, meek and merciful, he will hunger and thirst for righteousness, be pure in heart and a peacemaker and will rejoice when he suffers for the sake of Jesus. He will strive to become perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect. St. Paul gives a list of the fruits of the indwelling Spirit. The prophet will manifest love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Like grapes from the vine these are the fruits of the Spirit living within us. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Does the Spirit live in you and show his presence by his fruits in your life?

Thursday 24^th June 2010

Nativity of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:57-66, 80.

The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; ⁵⁸ and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, they shared her joy. ⁵⁹ Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up. 'No,' she said, 'he is to be called John.' ⁶¹ They said to her, 'But no one in your family has that name,' ⁶² and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. ⁶³ The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were all astonished. ⁶⁴ At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. ⁶⁵ All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. ⁶⁶ All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. 'What will this child turn out to be?' they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to Israel.

The neighbours wanted to call the child Zechariah to follow in his father’s footsteps. They forgot that God has a unique vision for everyone. We are the image of God and each is called to manifest an aspect of God. Life is to discover his vision and become the person he desires. Only then can we truly glorify him. We are not to become a copy of our parents or of anyone. We each have our own beauty. Elizabeth and Zechariah realised that he was God’s gift to them and the world. They understood their role. They would help him flower into John the Baptist, not another Zechariah. In their love he grew and was strong in the spirit. He spent his time listening till it was clear what God wanted him to do. Do we teach our children to listen to God speaking in their hearts?

Friday 25^th June 2010

Matthew 8:1-4

After he had come down from the mountain large crowds followed him. ² Suddenly a man with a virulent skin-disease came up and bowed low in front of him, saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can cleanse me.' ³ Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him saying, 'I am willing. Be cleansed.' And his skin-disease was cleansed at once. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, 'Mind you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses, as evidence to them.'

The leper penetrated all the barriers that kept him from Jesus – the Law,  people’s fear, horror, violence, officials, the crowd and his own fear too. It was when he was face to face that he could surrender and be healed. We too need healing as much as he did. There are barriers – ‘absence’, silence, lack of time, work, other interests and the list goes on. We need to penetrate them to come face to face with Jesus. We must identify with the leper as we approach Jesus face to face in our prayer. Jesus can and will do for us what we need. What are you asking for? How do you ask? See the leper’s confidence. He calls Jesus ‘Lord’ a title of the Risen Lord. What is your relationship to Jesus? Personal or one of a crowd? Jesus looks at you and not your ‘leprosy’. He feels for you.

Saturday 26^th June 2010

Matthew 8:5-17

When he went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ⁶ 'Sir,' he said, 'my servant is lying at home paralysed and in great pain.' ⁷ Jesus said to him, 'I will come myself and cure him.' ⁸ The centurion replied, 'Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. ⁹ For I am under authority myself and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man, "Go," and he goes; to another, "Come here," and he comes; to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.' ¹⁰ When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, 'In truth I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found faith as great as this. ¹¹ And I tell you that many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of Heaven; ¹² but the children of the kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.' ¹³ And to the centurion Jesus said, 'Go back, then; let this be done for you, as your faith demands.' And the servant was cured at that moment. ¹⁴ And going into Peter's house Jesus found Peter's mother-in-law in bed and feverish. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. ¹⁶ That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He drove out the spirits with a command and cured all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: He himself bore our sicknesses away and carried our diseases.

Jesus is alive and doesn’t have to physically touch you to heal you. But he wants to heal you. Jesus is astonished at the centurion’s faith. Healing is not magical or like popping a pill into one’s mouth. It depends on our relationship with Jesus. Do I approach Jesus with the trust that removes barriers? We are human beings. We are totally dependent on God for everything from physical life and health to eternal happiness with him. To live this consciously is to be faithful to our nature. God’s nature is to give life and everything we have. This gentile centurion recognised who he was and who Jesus was and calls him ‘Lord’. It is only when I approach Jesus as he did, that I can enter into a living relationship with Jesus. Is your faith a faith that brings you to the Risen Jesus? Then you will live.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

Zechariah 12: 10-11; 13:1. Psalm 62: 2-6. 8-9 Rv. 2, Galatians 3:26-29,.

They will look on the one they have pierced.

O God, you are my God, for you I long.

All baptized in Christ, You have all clothed yourself in Christ.

But you, he said, who do you say I am.

In St. Peter's,The Vatican

Luke 9: 18-24   Now it happened that Jesus was praying alone, and his disciples came to him and he put this question to them, 'Who do the crowds say I am?' ¹⁹ And they answered, 'Some say John the Baptist; others Elijah; others again one of the ancient prophets come back to life.' ²⁰ 'But you,' he said to them, 'who do you say I am?' It was Peter who spoke up. 'The Christ of God,' he said. ²¹ But he gave them strict orders and charged them not to say this to anyone. ²² He said, 'The Son of man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.' ²³ Then, speaking to all, he said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. ²⁴ Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it.

 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.

Do you stand with Peter?

Jesus is about to set out on his journey to Jerusalem. He knows what awaits him there. The writing is clearly written on the wall. If he continues to preach, to heal and liberate people from the clutches of Satan then the hostility of the chief priests and the Pharisees will destroy him. They will have him executed by the Romans and that means crucifixion. He is not going to stop and so his fate is sealed. It is a matter of months and he will be dead. Are the disciples ready to carry on his mission? Having listened to the popular understanding he asks them the crucial questions, “Who do you say I am?” He is not asking for a catechism answer. He is asking them “who am I for you?”

There was a time in some countries and still is in others that certain forms have a column, ‘your religion’. People would fill in, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Catholic, C of E, CSI etc. Religion is seen as belonging to an organization with codes and rules. People may feel their identity in this group and support the group and even fight for it. We have witnessed religious struggles and wars. This is not the kind of ‘religion’ Jesus is interested in. He asks you, not what your religious denomination is but ‘who am I for you’, ‘who do you say I am?’ He wants your answer. He knows the catechism answer.  Who is Jesus for you? Whether the words are the same or not, your answer will necessarily be different from mine. If you can say, “Jesus you are everything for me. I want to know you more and more and whatever happens I will be your disciple,” then you are in the company of Peter.

Jesus will teach you what it means to be a disciple. Jesus knew what was coming to him in Jerusalem. He went on because he trusted that his Father would vindicate him. ‘God will definitely raise me’. We can only follow Jesus if we have the same kind of confidence that he had in his Father.

Like Jesus we must go forward openly and courageously living the Christian life in the face of a sceptical and hostile world. There will be much subtle opposition and hidden persecution. We must be ‘Jesus’ people’; we belong to him and live by his values. We trust that ‘on the third day’ he will vindicate us too.

Do you know Jesus through the Gospels and daily prayer? Do you bravely ignore the sneers and persecution of the world for your belief in Jesus? Do you contribute to strengthening your community of believers?

Father, give the love for Jesus that makes us strong in our witness to him

                                                       

St. Peter's Basilica Vatican                

                                                              

 

 From the top of St. Peter's

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time C & Weekdays

11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

2 Sam.12: 7-10, 13.  Psalm 31:1-2, 5-7, 11.Rv 5.  Galatians 2:16.19-21.

Why have you shown contempt for the Lord, doing what displeases him?

I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and sacrificed himself for my sake.

It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love

Luke 7:36-8:3

³⁶ One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee's house and took his place at table, ³⁷ suddenly a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard Jesus was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸ She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is and what sort of person it is who is touching him and what a bad name she has.' ⁴⁰ Then Jesus took him up and said, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' He replied, 'Say on, Master.' ⁴¹ 'There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. ⁴² They were unable to pay, so he let them both off. Which of them will love him more?' ⁴³ Simon answered, 'The one who was let off more, I suppose.' Jesus said, 'You are right.' ⁴⁴ Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'You see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ For this reason I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.' ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' ⁴⁹ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man, that even forgives sins?' ⁵⁰ But he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'

¹ Now it happened that after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, ² as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³ Joanna the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.

Have you felt the love of Jesus?

You can’t commit sin in your sleep, nor when you do not realize what you are doing is sinful, nor when you are in some way forced and not able to make a free decision. David knew that committing adultery with Bathsheba was sinful. He freely gave in to his lustful feelings and took her to his bed. He tried to cover up his evil deed but when he failed he cold-bloodedly planned and carried out the murder of Uriah, her husband. Uriah was dead. David thought he had succeeded. But God sees all. Confronted with his sin, David repents and Nathan tells him he will not die. But his child has to die and “the sword will never be far from your House”. His own son will try to kill David.

The contrast with the Gospel could not be starker. The woman too has sinned and not just once. “Her many sins” Jesus calls them. Those sins though done in bed were not done in sleep. She knew she was sinning and she freely sinned. There was no excuse. She stood guilty before God and man. Man’s verdict is clear and harsh. Simon gives it. But what is God’s verdict? Now that God has Himself become a man and has undergone Himself all the temptations that every man and woman can encounter, He understands the weakness and frailty of people. They are sick. They are bound. They are victims. They need mercy, healing and strength as much as forgiveness. Yet He understands the horror and wickedness of sin and will experience this in his own flesh as He hangs in anguish on the cross – the physical victim of our sins. But Jesus came for sinners like this woman and David too. Repentance is of the essence but like the father in the parable of the lost son which he will tell later, Jesus goes out to the sinner. He will not crush the broken reed.

The difference between heaven and hell, we are told, is that hell is full of unrepentant sinners whereas heaven is full of sinners who turned to Jesus for mercy. The greatest saints were once the greatest of sinners: the woman in today’s Gospel forgiven and healed of 'her many sins', St. Peter who failed his Lord and”going out wept bitterly”. St. Paul, who could never thank God enough for the grace of conversion.

If only we have faith enough to meet Jesus as a real person, we will experience his love. Once we know His love, then we will also turn to him and be saved. Do you want to experience Jesus? Then search for Him daily in prayer and His Word.

Father, grant that I may taste your love in the forgiveness of my sins and sing your praise in thanksgiving.

 Capernaum and the northern end of the sea of Galilee. Here light rose over the earth

Weekdays of 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Meeting Jesus through the Gospels

1. Sit quietly, recollect yourself. Concentrate on Jesus. Call on the Holy Spirit. Take your time. There is no rush and there is no fixed rule to follow. Be free in the Spirit.

2. Be aware that Jesus is with you. Use a mantra if you like, e.g. ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ..’

3. Read the passage with Jesus who was there and in the Holy Spirit who inspired it.

4. Note the words and sentences that strike you.

5. Pray about these and ask the Lord to speak to you through his Spirit.

6. Keep a journal of the inspirations you are given for your life. Jesus is present to you and he is speaking to you.

7. If the passage is a ‘dramatic’ one try and live the passage in your imagination. Remember it is not just imagination because Jesus is present now with you. Put yourself in the scene.  It is the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real.

June 14^th Monday

Matthew 5:38-42

³⁸ 'You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. ³⁹ But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; ⁴⁰ if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go two miles with him. ⁴² Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.

Do we believe in a God who is a loving Father, who cares for us, who will see to all our needs if only we seek his Kingdom and justice, who will intervene to see that justice is done and quickly? If we do we can follow these precepts of Jesus. If we don’t then we will be forced ‘to defend our rights’. The history of wars and self-defence don’t reveal many believers. But Jesus followed his own teaching. He refused to resist in Gethsemane, before the chief priests and Pilate. They crucified him. But his death brought life to the whole world. It takes courage and faith to follow Jesus. Who can believe that to refuse to resist the evil person is the way to conquer him, to generously respond to those who treat us unjustly can win them? Is Jesus a dreamer or is this the way to peace?

Tuesday 15^th June 2010

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ 'You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much? ⁴⁷ And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? ⁴⁸ Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.'

Who has loved their enemies? Can we think of those in history who have followed the teaching of Jesus today? Do we love our enemies, do good to them or justify bombing them? ‘Kill your enemies before they kill you’. Mahatma Gandhi refused to hate, refused to practice violence. A Hindu he loved the Sermon on the Mount. Martin Luther King followed him too. Both gave their lives but did they not succeed? Has the Church followed its Master? Putting aside Governments what of us? Have you and I followed Jesus? Who are your ‘enemies’? What is your attitude to them? How do you treat them? As children of God, our standard is our Heavenly Father. He is perfect, does not take revenge on unbelievers or blasphemers but gives his good things to them too. We are called to imitate him. How far do you “Overcome evil by good”? (Rom. 12:23).

Wednesday 16^th June 2010

Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

¹ 'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. ² So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. ³ But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; ⁴ your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. ⁵ 'And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

¹⁶ 'When you are fasting, do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they go about looking unsightly to let people know they are fasting. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put scent on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

Jesus spoke in the context of a highly religious society. Rabbis prayed three times a day. There was much public prayer. It paid to appear religious, to pray often and long. Such persons were admired. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving were the pillars of Jewish religious society. Jesus is challenging his disciples; who are they doing it all for? Self or God? Does it come from a heart deeply in love with God and is it an expression of their inner spirit of reverent obedience to God? It is not the secrecy but the sincerity that he is calling for. In a secular and unbelieving society my love for God may make me pray and fast so as to be seen and so proclaim that I believe in a hidden God. You may have to ask; do I pray? Then why and for whom? Have I the courage to be seen?

Thursday 17^th June 2010

Matthew 6:7-15

⁷ 'In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. ⁸ Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ So you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. ¹³ And do not put us to the test, but save us from the Evil One. ¹⁴ 'Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.

Jesus says prayer is not to be mechanical nor is the amount of prayers we say important. Ours is a personal relationship of children to a beloved Father and to Jesus as our Brother. Prayer is to live out this relationship. Jesus called his Father, Abba – a tender name used by children. We have the privilege of calling God tenderly too. This prayer is the Lord’s Prayer in that he prayed in this way. He invites us to share his prayer. We pray that our Father be glorified, reign and be obeyed. We pray for bread, the bread from heaven. We ask God to forgive us our sins. We too forgive others. Jesus too was weak and prayed to be spared evil. We too pray the same. Jesus stresses that we can only pray this pray if our hearts are open to God by our forgiveness of others. Is yours?

Friday 18^th June 2010.

Mt 6:19-23

Gospel

¹⁹ 'Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and woodworm destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworm destroys them and thieves cannot break in and steal. ²¹ For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be too. ²² 'The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is clear, your whole body will be filled with light. ²³ But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be darkness. If then, the light inside you is darkened, what darkness that will be!

 If you think of treasure in terms of wealth and things, then the light within you is darkened. It is useful to have what we need to live but our treasure must always be persons. Life is relationships and eternal life too. To store up treasure in heaven is not to amass a ‘spiritually fat bank account’, no doubt earned through all kinds of meritorious acts. The clearer your eye is the clearer you will recognize Jesus now in your life and the deeper will be your relationship with him. He is the one who loves you supremely. The treasure in heaven which Jesus exhorts us to earn is the relationship of love with him that we build up here on earth. To live in love with Jesus for ever is the only treasure to long for. The rest is dross. To meet Jesus is life. What do you think?

Saturday 19^th June 2010.

Mt 6:24-34

Gospel

²⁴ 'No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the second. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money. ²⁵ 'That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and what you are to wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body more than clothing! ²⁶ Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? ²⁷ Can any of you, however much you worry, add one single cubit to your span of life? ²⁸ And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; ²⁹ yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his royal robes was clothed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if that is how God clothes the wild flowers growing in the field which are there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you who have so little faith? ³¹ So do not worry; do not say, "What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we to wear?" ³² It is the gentiles who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. ³³ Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on God's saving justice, and all these other things will be given you as well. ³⁴ So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'

. Do you believe that you have a Father who loves you and is all powerful to help you become the person he dreamt of when he created you? Then if you do, why are you so anxious about anything in your life? Is he not there for you? Will he not see to everything? I wonder how many of us have this kind of faith. But this is what Jesus is telling us today. It is not for us to worry about our material and physical needs, nor even about our spiritual ones. Our Father will look after all these, Jesus says. All you have to do, he says, is search for him with all your strength and practice the justice that he loves. You must live for him with everything that you are. Have you the wisdom to do this and the courage to relax in his arms?