SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 4:1-9

 the temptation of Jesus

JESUS IS TEMPTED BY SATAN IN THE DESERT

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.

Then the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.

^*Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you and: with their hands they will support you lest you dash your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”When the devil had finished every temptation,  he departed from him for a time.

 REFLECTIONS

Jesus prepares for his public ministry in prayer and fasting.  What preparations do we make to be faithful followers of Jesus and spread the Gospel?

While in the desert preparing, the accuser, that is what the name Satan means, comes to tempt Jesus.  So we should not be surprised even in our good works and prayer time if temptations come. Temptations are not sins.  Jesus does not sin.

Jesus wards off the tempter by quoting Scripture.  Do we have mantras from Scripture that can ward off temptation? “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.” “Not my will but thy will be done!

 I find it interesting that this Scripture passage begins with Jesus being led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil. What is that about?  Well besides being Divine, Jesus had human nature as well and it was in that human nature he would suffer his passion and death.  So he needed some toughening up so to speak.  God never tempts us to sin. He allows us to be tempted but never beyond our ability to resist.

The temptations Jesus faced are no different than our own, temptations of the flesh, Jesus was hungry after 40 days of fasting, famished, Temptations for worldly power.  Some do sell their souls to the devil for power.  Be careful dealing with the devil, you may join him for all eternity.

Finally the devil appeals to fame and fortune, the spectacular. Jesus should throw himself off the roof of the temple and everyone would see this Messiah flying down to greet them. It would have been an amazing spectacle. People would have immediately worshiped Him as their King. Jesus came to earth to serve not be served!

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time. This last line of today’s passage at least suggests there may have been other temptations not recorded here.  The devil does not give up easily as witnessed in latest Church scandals.

If Satan can discredit Jesus’ Church, people will discredit/dismiss Jesus our Savior. All the way back in the early 70s Pope Paul VI said that the “smoke of Satan has entered through a crack into the Church.” Pray for Priests! Pray for each other! Satan may be a stumbling rock in the road, but let Jesus take your hand and lead you on your way!

I will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. Zechariah 13:8–9

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 4:17-30

JESUS READS FROM THE SCROLL OF ISAIAH

The Rejection at Nazareth

 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’ And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

REFLECTIONS

Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth.  He has been away for quite some time.  Perhaps you have gone back to your hometown after several years.  Do the people who recognize want to know about you now or only talk about is their memories when you were much different?

Jesus is asked to read from Scripture in the Synagogue. Jesus did not select the reading but was handed it by whoever was presiding. Do you think it was an accident that the selection was from Isaiah describing the Messiah?  Of course you don’t.  The Father has given Jesus another opportunity to reveal His true identity, and in His own home town.

As strong as the words of the Father, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” Matthew 3:17 are Jesus words here. “Today this Scripture is fulfilled.”

At first the listeners were amazed at his gracious words then doubt set in, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” Jesus may be from a humble town, not revered by many, but has now confirmed He is long awaited Messiah, King of Israel.

As God, Jesus could see into their hearts, their doubts, their need for proof so He addresses them, you want me to do what I have done in Capernaum. No miracles will be worked here.  Faith is lacking.  To support this position Jesus quotes Scripture stories again of how Elijah attended to a widow outside Israel I Kings 17:8 and Elisha only cured a leper outside of Israel. Luke 4:27

Those in the synagogue got very angry.  I guess they got the message they were as unfaithful as their ancestors.. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them… Jesus passed through their midst. It wasn’t His hour.

The Truth hurts sometimes but if we don’t tell the truth or seek the Truth, what then? Where will our lies, twisted consciences lead? Seek Jesus, the Life, the Truth, and the Way!

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 5:1-15

The Call of Simon the Fisherman.

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.

 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything^* and followed him.

 REFLECTIONS

the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God

 Jesus is teaching the Word of God.  Jesus is the Word of God made flesh.  Are we as hungry and eager to hear the Word of God as those who press near Jesus?  Or are we content with just the readings we hear at Mass?  Dust off that Bible and to see and listen to the Word of God speaking to me and you.

Jesus teaches from a boat, the Ark of Salvation. As God told Noah and his household to go into the Ark of old for safety, Now Christ is welcoming us into the Bark of Peter. The Boat itself is a Symbol for the Church,,

The Boat holds the Apostles, and symbolically all of Christ’s Disciples. “The World is a Sea in which the Church, like a Ship, is beaten by the waves, but not submerged.  We, too, are doing God’s Work, fishing for People, in Peter’s Boat, the Church.

 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

“Duc in altum! (Put into the deep).  Pope St. John Paul II spoke on this subject of “putting out into the deep” often. John Paul II insisted that God is calling each of us to a deeper life – one full of meaning, purpose and joy. one needs to open one’s heart to the abundance of grace to allow the word of the Redeemer to act with all its power: ‘Duc in altum!’

What would it look like if we submitted our entire will to God? What kind of an impact would we have on the world? How fulfilling and peaceful would life become?

“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

Peter. an experienced fisherman, was reluctant at first but then in the presence of Jesus he said, but at your command I will lower the nets. When Peter saw the great number of fish, he was in awe and fell on his knees in adoration.  Peter knew only God controlled nature, fishes and the sea.  Peter was in the presence of someone very special.  How do we feel and react when we are in the presence of Jesus?  You know He is active in our lives and present in Word and Sacrament.  Are we reluctant at first to say, thy will be done?

Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.

I WILL MAKE YOU A FISHER OF MEN

We, too, at our Baptism are commissioned to be fishers of men.  As the age old saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. We must be that rising tide. No one gets to heaven by themselves. It takes a faith community. We cannot abandon the Church to the wolves within or without. We must sacrificially love her all the more as she undergoes this purification of love from the hands of her Founder, Jesus Christ.

This, after all, is Christ’s Church! There is no “plan B” through which He will save this world. He established one Church through which to continue His work until His return. His Church has undergone similar purifications and reform many times over the last two thousand years. Her hull may be battered but she is still the Ark of Salvation. “The gates of hell will not prevail against her”.

God’s plans are infinitely better than anything we can come up with ourselves. When we listen to God and act on His word, He will produce an abundant catch of souls.  This “catch” will come in an unexpected way at an unexpected time and will clearly be the work of God.

SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 5:27-32

CARRAVAGIO PAINTING OF CALL OF LEVI (MATTHEW)

 The Call of Levi.

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind,^* he got up and followed him.  Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.

 The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

 REFLECTIONS

 The painting of Carravagio above shows in great detail the context of Matthew’s call in the custom house where taxes were collected for Rome on merchants who came to buy or sell in Israel. Religious leaders especially despised the tax collectors. They were considered unclean because of their contact with Romans When Jesus made friends with the tax collectors his ministry was immediately under suspect.

In the painting, Matthew and his companions were dressed in rich attire from their profiting but Jesus was in simple peasant clothing. Greed had filled the hearts of tax collectors to exploiting their own kin.  Let greed not turn our hearts.

Another interesting factoid is the hand of Jesus pointing to Matthew is a copy of Michaelangelo’ God the Father hand stretching to Adam in the creation of man.

As Adam is called into being so is Matthew.  When we are called by God, how do we respond?  I, also, found it interesting in the painting, Matthew pointing to himself.  It’s like are you sure you are asking me, a sinner, a publican, to join you.  Who me? Are you sure?

Jesus can reshape any pot of clay that is already formed.  Just let him in. It doesn’t matter how long we have been away from Him or maybe never gave a thought to Him.  Can we answer the call like Matthew, And leaving everything behind,^* he got up and followed him!

 We don’t know exactly what happened in the intervening time when Matthew left with Jesus and Matthew holding a banquet in Jesus’ honor.  But we suspect the conversion was similar to St. Paul’s when he met Jesus and heard him.

God does not mince words and speaks with authority.  You have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to ignore Jesus once you really experience Jesus.  Do you just know about Jesus or have you embraced Him like Mary Magdalene? My yoke is easy and burden light!  Yoke yourself to Jesus, give it a try.  You won’t be disappointed!

Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners

To face down the religious leaders criticism, whose hearts are hardened,  Jesus explains how he can’t do anything for the self-righteous, that he came for sinners.  Well, put me in that sheepfold.  I want Jesus to come for me. It may be difficult to examine our consciences and face the Truth but it is better to enter that narrow gate then broadly go it on my own for all eternity. I did it My Way is the anthem of Hell!

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, I am so sorry.  I am asking for your mercy right now.  Please forgive me for what I’ve done. I have a pain in my soul that needs to be mended.   Father, forgive me for not forgiving others.  Help me to practice love and respect.  With all my heart, I love and adore you and I am sorry for my selfish behavior.  Without your mercies and grace, I am nothing.  But with your forgiveness, I am whole again. Give me the strength to live a holy life.  I pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.

 

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 6:20-26

sermon on the plain

BEHOLD YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT IN HEAVEN

 And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: “Blessed are you who are poor,^* for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

REFLECTION

Many may be more familiar with the Eight Beatitudes given in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, Chapter 5. The main differences are: in the Sermon on the plain there are a shorter list of blessings and there are Woes.  Jesus reminds us that our rewards for our blessedness may be deferred to rewards in heaven.

Jesus tells the people of his time and us today, ( their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way) – that blessed of old have been mistreated as well; but those who persevere to the end receive the resurrection to glory and full Beatitude!

Certainly no one likes suffering but it is the state of affairs since Original Sin.  But we have God’s promise He will be with us in the midst of that suffering.  His Son suffered and God did not abandon Him but raised Him up in triumphant glory!  It is the woes we should concern ourselves with.

Is God first of all in our lives? “… I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25

 SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 6:27-36

 Love of enemies

 BE MERCIFUL AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS MERCIFUL

But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit [is] that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

REFLECTION

The Sermon on the plain continues with Jesus’ discourse on love.  This is revolutionary stuff-counter cultural.  Loving Gentiles and Samaritans was not in the DNA of ancient Israel or for that matter, loving someone who might do you harm.

What in the world is this Jesus asking us to do?  He is asking us to imitate Him, “that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Some call this the “Golden Rule.”  To me, even if you didn’t believe in God but acted on this so called “Golden Rule,” the world would be a lot more peaceful and safe.  If someone followed that rule all the time, it also would lead them to sanctity of every human life and the source of that sanctity, God the Creator of all.

Love is the norm for human existence. It is defined as completely self-giving, seeking only the good of the other without any self-interest. Love makes no judgments about the other, forgives unconditionally, bears all, believes all, hopes all, endures all, and wholly receptive to the other.

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 6:37-42

judging others

JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. And he told them a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

REFLECTION

I love the picture above.  It says so much about how we often interact with others.  If you look closely the man with the beam in his eye is pointing aggressively at the smaller man in an accusative way that can only be intended to intimidate and demean the other man.

The smaller man with the splinter in his eye lifts only a finger hesitatingly, recalling that judgment is not his to make.  So often judgment is a knee jerk reaction but even then it can do harm not only to the one we are judging but also to us, the accuser, by feeding our pride and superiority.

I am sure it has happened to others as it has happened to me that a judgment I made was all wrong, not wrong to do but my judgment was not correct about a situation.  Be wary of judging! ““Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. This alone should give one pause in how they treat others. I want much better treatment from God. Although my sins deserve no special treatment, I fall on the mercy of God.

No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. I focus here on the fully trained. To be fully trained requires discipline.  Jesus in his human nature prepared for his public ministry with forty days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness.

We have the season of Lent coming up very shortly.  What better time for self-discipline, choosing God’s will over my will.  “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

 

 

 

 

SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 7:1-10

 healing a centurion’s slave.

When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”

And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 When Jesus heard this he was amazed and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

 

LORD I AM NOT WORTHY,

SAY BUT THE WORD AND I WILL BE HEALED

 REFLECTION

A Roman Centurion who had at least 100 men under his command had a slave that was sick but he loved this slave, didn’t see him as just a slave, but a person in need.  When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus because he himself, a Gentile, a pagan, felt unworthy. Do we choose intercessors in this world and in the next?  Why Not?

The Jewish elders tried to put the best spin on the request by saying this Roman Centurion built their synagogue and loves this nation.  I don’t believe Jesus needed this bit of promotion to go with them.  It is not about what we do, but what Jesus does, his will to save all.

As Jesus was going to the Centurion house, the Centurion came out and said, I am not worthy that you enter my house.  I am sure it wasn’t because his physical house was untidy but rather he was struck with humility of who he was and who Jesus was.  Do we humbly approach Jesus in prayer? Heal me Jesus, Savior of the World. Jesus?

Not only did the Centurion recognize Jesus’ miraculous powers but His authority as well. For I too am a person subject to authority. Do I recognize Jesus’ authority and the Church He founded?

 SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 7:11-17

 raising of the widow’s son.

 Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.

 When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

JESUS RAISES THE WIDOW’S SON

REFLECTION

Jesus sees a funeral procession for the only son of a widow.  He not only sees a procession of people, He sees the broken heart of the widow.  Jesus’ heart goes out to her, “Do not weep.” Jesus is present in her sorrow and in ours as well.  We are not alone.  Trust in Jesus!

Embrace Him in our suffering.  He will not abandon you anymore than the Father abandoned His Son on the Cross.  Jesus rises victorious.  We that suffer with Jesus will also rise with Jesus.  Imitate Jesus’ human heart when He sees something He does something. If nothing else, when we see a situation like emergency vehicles do we pray that God may intervene?

When the widow’s son rose up and spoke, Jesus gave him to his mother. This was not so much about the son who will die another natural death as his mother who was grieving and in need of her son’s support. Do we pray not only for those who are sick or dying but their caregivers as well and those that grieve?

This story is about the heart of Jesus, a heart in solidarity with us.  Love is what we need most, but sometimes dread the most. Love requires selflessness, vulnerability, and a will to address other.

The crowd glorified God, “God has visited His people.” The crowd recognized God’s intervention.  Do we look for God’s intervention in our life, in others, in the world? “This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.” Too much for people to keep to themselves. Do we spread the Good News of Salvation wherever we can.

SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 7:36-50

  pardoning of the sinful woman.

A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.  Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.  Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.

 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

 “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages^* and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”

He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.

 So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.^* But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

 YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.

YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU. GO IN PEACE.

 REFLECTION

A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.  Though it was a Pharisee that invited Him, Jesus accepted the invitation.  There is no where Jesus will not go to spread the Gospel of repent and be saved.  What about us?  Do we dismiss or disparage others, even say someone is not Catholic though they have been baptized?  Perhaps we need to check our judgment of persons when it comes to evangelization.  It is not too late for anyone to convert, repent, and believe in the Gospel.

When the Pharisee saw a sinful woman whom he judged as not worthy attending to Jesus, he said to himself, if Jesus was a Prophet he would know this is a sinful woman.  Of course, Jesus knew.  Jesus also knew Simon’s thoughts and challenges him with a parable. Simon I have something to say to you.

After the parable about the creditor and the debtors, Jesus asks Simon which of the debtors will love him more?

Simon, though forced by reason, answers the one who is forgiven more.  Jesus affirms, “You have judged rightly.” Jesus did  not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:12

I can relate.  Confessions of the past where there have been more serious matters, when receiving absolution from the priest in the name of Jesus, “I absolve you from your sins…” resulted in much greater love for Jesus on my part.  Jesus is my Savior.  His mercy endures forever!

Jesus is not ready to let Simon off the hook.  Jesus asks Simon “Do you see this woman,” Jesus means do you see this woman like I see this woman.  Do we see others as Jesus sees them? So I tell you, Simon her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love with her attending to my needs.  Do we attend to other people needs?

Jesus says to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you; go in peace” Well, whether Jesus got through to others at the table, their own need for repentance is unknown but at least He got their attention.

Others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  Who is this Jesus to us?

 

 

 

 

 

SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 8:4-8

parable of the sower.

 When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, he spoke in a parable. A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

TAKE AND RECEIVE MY WORD, EMBRACE IT!

JESUS EXPLAINS PARABLE

Those on the path are the ones who have heard the word, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

REFLECTION

The world, the flesh, and the devil, all temptations, all obstacles on our spiritual journey home to our Father. The devil is quite the adversary.  Look at what Satan did to our first parents.  Eat of this fruit and you will be like God. All through scripture and today we have examples of man making himself God, choosing his authority over God’s.  Man filling himself up with the gifts of God’s creation until we no longer think about God or his need for God. Man has still made nothing from nothing!

Some hear the word of God but that seed has no root, no discipline, no life of prayer, soon God’s voice is silenced.  Yet they carry on in this life frustrated, estranged, desperate…they seek out love and fulfillment in all the wrong places, in wealth, in pleasure and self-promotion only to fall back into despair.  Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.  St. Augustine They are barren trees that bear no fruit.

Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. John 15:4-6

The seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. Let us persevere, pray that our gift of faith be nourished, grow, and bear much fruit for us and others we meet.

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 8:22-25

calming of a storm at sea

One day he got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail. While they were sailing Jesus fell asleep. A squall blew over the lake, and they were taking in water and were in danger.

 They came and woke him saying, “Master, master, we are perishing!” He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm.

Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” But they were filled with awe and amazed and said to one another, “Who then is this, who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him?”

BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD

REFLECTION

In his human nature, Jesus was tired.  He walked all day, preached all day, cured people all day, put up with his disciples all day…So tired He could fall asleep in the back of a rocking boat.  He had no anxieties or fears about what might happen.  He is God after all.

It was his disciples that panicked.  They forgot who was in the boat with them.  Do we welcome Jesus into our rocky boats, into our dark clouds. storms and waves of uncertainty?….If not, Why not?

The disciples woke Jesus up from his deep slumber.  Jesus rebuked the winds and storm.  A great calm resulted.  Jesus can calm our storms, too, if we ask.  After all, Jesus is God. He can bring order to our chaos.

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth—and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters Genesis 1:1-2 Continue to read Creation story to see the order God brought to the chaos.

Jesus asked his disciples, “Where is your faith?” They didn’t understand but were filled with awe, “Who then is this, who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him?” Jesus reveals once more His divine nature to his diciples and to us.  Only God commands the sea! Jesus is human and Divine! Resist the secular world that wants to take away Jesus’ Divinity!

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 8:42-48

the woman with a hemorrhage.

When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him….a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years, who had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and was unable to be cured by anyone, came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped.

 Jesus then asked, “Who touched me?” While all were denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you.” But Jesus said, “Someone has touched me; for I know that power has gone out from me.”

When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling. Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

 IF I BUT TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

 REFLECTION

 When I look at the woman in the picture above, what do I see?  I see a woman of humility and faith reaching out to Jesus on her knees.  She is praying isn’t she? Do I pray like that in humility, in faith, in perseverance? “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

This woman has been suffering for years and years.  She did all she could that was humanly possible, spent all her money on doctors and still suffering.  “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” St. Augustine of Hippo How long do we wait to bring God into our suffering?

As soon as the woman touched Jesus’ cloak she was healed.  Not only did she feel the change but Jesus felt his power go out to someone.  He cries out, “Who touched me!” Jesus knows when we approach Him.  He knows our hearts and desires.

Jesus may not answer in the way we want but He blesses us and remains present to us in whatever we are going through.  When we call on Jesus, we don’t go it alone.

The woman came forward, trembling, to confess she was the one who received His power.  Somehow she knew Jesus was speaking about her, though the crowd was pressing in on Jesus.  Do we recognize in our daily lives Jesus’ intervention in our lives?  How I would love to hear Jesus say, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

ENJOY!

One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.”

 

 

PROLOGUE

 There are many great events in Chapter 9 of Luke, like the feeding of 5000 and the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor.  I have chosen, however, to focus on the theme of discipleship.  We all intend to be disciples of Jesus as we journey home to the Father.  So it is best to study, reflect, and ponder what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 

 Pray always that we may be faithful disciples. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. Matthew 7:13  Robert Frost put it this way in the poem “The Road Not Taken, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

 SCRIPTURE LUKE 9:1-6

 the mission of the twelve.

 He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.

Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet^* in testimony against them.” Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

 

JESUS SENDS HIS DISCIPLES ON MISSION

 REFLECTION

 Jesus sent his disciples two by two out into the world to preach the Good News and heal the sick.

We do not go it alone either but with other like-minded faithful who model Jesus in their every-day activity.  We are Jesus to every Jesus we meet in disguise.

In our companionship to those in need, we heal the afflicted spiritually and physically in Jesus’ name, his words, his presence, and his acts of restoration. Jesus tells his disciples to take nothing for the journey.  Jesus is enough.  Do we trust Jesus enough to leave our baggage behind.  It is Jesus who acts through us no matter how small and inept we think we are.  Jesus can use any instrument.  Listen to Him!

Moses didn’t listen to him.  Moses struck the rock at Kadesh instead of speaking to it as God told him and it cost Moses the Promised Land. Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and in their presence command the rock to yield its waters. Thereby you will bring forth water from the rock for them, and supply the community and their livestock with water. Numbers 20:11

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 9:23:27

the conditions of discipleship

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily^* and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels…

JESUS GIVES CONDITIONS OF DISCIPLESHIP

REFLECTION

After his disciples returned, Jesus gathers them to give more instruction on what it means to be a disciple of His.

A disciple must deny himself.  A disciple must put God’s will above his own and that will indeed be a cross to bear.  We like it our way.  Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

“Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it” That seems really weird by worldly standards but we are not of this world.  We are intended for a parallel world, eternity with God.  If we hold on to what we want in this life what will we take with us into the next?  Cling to Jesus. Jesus. I am yours in this life and in the next.

Whoever is ashamed of me in this life, may hear God say, “I never knew you.” Matthew 7:21 I know none of us want to hear that!  We must be bold in our proclamation of the Gospel in this life even when we are shamed and persecuted.  Jesus out of love died for you and me to save us from our sins.  Can’t we say thank you by earning that salvation in our faithful discipleship?

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 9:46-48

the greatest in the kingdom

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

JESUS WELCOMES CHILDREN

 REFLECTION

As disciple we must be childlike, embracing Jesus, trusting in the Lord.  Children in the time of Jesus were considered least in society as far as power or influence in the world at large.  To be childlike is our calling to become the greatest in heaven.  We must diminish so that God can increase.  We plan on spending all eternity with God, why not get to know Him now?  Why not live as if we were already united to God?

SCRIPTURE LUKE 9:57-62

the would-be followers of jesus.^*

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”

But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.^* But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him, Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.

LET ME GO FIRST AND BURY MY FATHER

 REFLECTION

“Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” Jesus knew this man’s heart.  It had too many attachments-The lame excuse the man gave to bury his father when his father was standing right beside him!  The man just was putting off giving up his will.  Sad, but don’t we do the same thing.

I am reminded of the prayer of St. Augustine to God in the early stages of his conversion, “Lord make me pure, but not yet! We are a lot like St. Augustine whatever we are still holding on to. Be sincere in our prayers and pray that our will be strengthened to choose God’s will. “Behold now is the acceptable time, now is the time for salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

 

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 10:1-12

the mission of the seventy-two.

The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.

 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.  If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’

 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.

 REFLECTION

 Jesus sends his disciples into towns before him?  Now why does He do that?  He is certainly the better preacher and wonder worker than his disciples.   Jesus will not be with them physically on this earth forever.  He is training his successors to spread the Good News.  Through Scripture and prayer He teaches us to spread the Good News.  Do we?

The harvest out there is abundant, millions and millions of soul, waiting to hear the Good News of our Savior.

But so few answer the call, the laborers in the mission field are few.  The mission field is all around us. We don’t have to go abroard to a foreign country.  Right here, right now, we can bear witness to Christ.

Jesus warns his disciples of the world, the flesh, and the devil, ruler of this world. “I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” It is a secular pagan world out there.  Gird your loins, buckle up but go forward Christian soldiers. Oh by the way don’t take anything like a money bag or sack, or greet anyone along the way. Jesus knows how distracted we can get, stay on our mission.

Jesus seems really harsh in telling his disciples not take material things ordinary people depend on.  Why so harsh?  Jesus is teaching again to trust in God, creator of all good things.  Do not carry anything but my Word.  Trust in Jesus! Don’t hang on to the material, place the spiritual and eternal first.

Jesus’ favorite greeting in Scripture is “Peace be with you!” So it is natural for him to instruct his disciples to do the same, “Say peace to household if peaceful person it will remain there if not return to you.” That peace of Christ will remain with his disciples even if they are rejected.  The same is true for us, the peace of Christ remains with us even if mocked, rebuked, or vilified. For those who reject the word of God it will be more tolerable for Sodom than those who reject us. The kingdom is at hand!

 SCRIPTURE

 LUKE 10:17-24

return of the seventy-two.

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”

Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning^* from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.  

Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

REFLECTION

The seventy-two returned rejoicing. The disciples are excited and besides themselves in what they accomplished. They seem to be full of themselves and have forgotten anything good comes from God’s intervention in their lives or others.

Jesus gently brings them around by giving thanks and praise to the Father.  We too are children who God chooses to reveal himself, not due to any merit on our part but a free gift of God.  Instead of patting ourselves on the back, Thanks be to God, always!

Jesus tells them not to rejoice in what they accomplished on earth, but rather rejoice because their names are written in heaven“Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  Our good deeds are a sign that we are connecting to God; we are accepting his will, his grace. Because we cooperate with God, our names are written in heaven.

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. A child has no hidden agenda.  A child trusts.  A child believes.  A child obeys.  Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 10:38-42

martha and mary

As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

 She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”

 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

 REFLECTION

Jesus and his disciples often visited the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany just outside Jerusalem.  They were all good friends and disciples of the Lord. In this Scripture reading Martha is preparing dinner and Mary is visiting with the Teacher, Jesus.

Martha comes to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” Seems like a reasonable request but she Martha presumes that Jesus will care more about her perceived grievance than for Mary’s love and devotion to His Word.  Are we sometimes too busy to listen to His Word?

Many of us may think like Martha and resent what others are doing.  Why can’t they do this?  Why can’t they help me? Resentment can poison our heart, never justified. And don’t we resent others because of our own selfishness, should it always be about me!

The Lord answers Martha gently.  He doesn’t scold Martha for intervening.  He doesn’t choose one over the other. He tells Martha to relax a little, chill if you will in modern parlance.  He will not tell Mary to go away from him because Mary has chosen the best, the very presence of Jesus.

 

 

 

SCRIPTURE LUKE 11:5-13

teachings on prayer

Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.

 I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?…If you then, you who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

 REFLECTION

In this teaching on prayer Jesus seems to be emphasizing persistence and faith so that our prayers will be answered. Our prayers may not be answered exactly as prayed but something better will come to us or to another who is in more need.  The prayers will definitely be answered.

To persist we must have faith and trust in Jesus’ promise, I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  Maybe knock harder or speak louder.  Only kidding, God hears our prayers in a whisper and in our hearts when they are not spoken.

SCRIPTURE LUKE 11:29-32

the demand for a sign.^*

While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

REFLECTION

The book of Jonah is a fun book to read.  Jonah disobeys God mission to preach repentance to the Ninevites by sailing in the opposite direction, is swallowed by a great fish, prays to God, is saved by God, follows God’s original command to preach repentance to the Ninevites who repented. God held his wrath because of the Ninevites contrite heats.

The reason Jonah refused God’s mission was not fear of the Ninevites but that they may be repent and be saved. Jonah hated the Ninevites.  A lesson here for us is not to discriminate.  God wills the salvation of all.  It isn’t our job to judge.  Remember Jesus rebuking his disciples for their narrow mind-ness, dismissing those that were not “one of us.”

‘Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.’ Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’ Luke 9:48-50

Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this evil generation. What was that sign? It was a sign of repentance, the end is near, make ready, clean up your act before it is too late. Oh, if only people would repent like the Ninevites! So many still do not repent of their sins today and turn to God.  Jesus is greater than Jonah.  Listen to Him.  Pray to embrace Him.  Pray for a contrite heart!

SCRIPTURE LUKE 11:37-53

denunciation of the pharisees and scholars of the law.

After he had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!  Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil…. give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you…you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God….Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.

Then one of the scholars of the law^* said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them. Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed.

Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building of memorials….From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah^* who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood….

 REFLECTION

Renew in me a clean heart and steadfast Spirit. Psalm 51:10 Jesus tells the Pharisees and Scholars all that is unclean comes from the heart.  All that showiness of religiosity is nothing except about themselves.  Be humble of heart.  Know only God is good.  We do good deeds only when united to the heart of Christ. We make no claim on righteousness but are made righteous by the blood of the cross. “Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you then all your people shall be righteous.” Isaiah 60

The Scholars put their foot in their mouth by seeking to be excused from Jesus’ denunciation but only made matters worse.  They too are not without sin. Watch out pointing to the faults of others as the Scholars did, who imposed heavy burdens, without lifting a finger to help.  Scholars memorialize the prophets who their ancestors punished and killed.  They talk a good talk but not a good walk.  They do not follow the prophets’ teachings, only celebrate their deaths with memorials.

 

SCRIPTURE LUKE 12:1-10

be faithful even under threat of persecution.

There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear.

Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna;, yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

WHOEVER ACKNOWLEDGES ME WILL BE SAVED

REFLECTION

Jesus tells us that all will be revealed, nothing hidden. That sends a few shivers up my spine. I don’t know about you but I have done things I am not very proud of but I am more careful now after Jesus’ warning. I am encouraged to seek the good in everything I do henceforth. Jesus pray for me! I acknowledge you Jesus as Lord and Savior!

God’s judgment is just! I plead for mercy. . Let my actions be fitting in good times and bad times so that you will acknowledge me on the last day and welcome me into your kingdom.

Choose Life eternal over death the world may threaten you with. The world may persecute me even kill my body but only I can kill my soul by abandoning God who is all good and wishes to share his Divine Life with me for all eternity

SCRIPTURE LUKE 12:16-21

parable of the rich fool.

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’

And he said, This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!

God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong? Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.

STORE UP YOUR TREASURE IN HEAVEN

REFLECTION

Oh, foolish man, how we strive for possessions. We all have stuff, too much stuff, do we need any more stuff. How much stuff will they stuff in our coffin? Does our stuff make us happy, sometimes, for a time, but because they are stuff, dissembling into dust, they are so elusive, and don’t have the meaning they once had.

What is permanent? God is! Always faithful, always present, and eternal. Why replace God with stuff that decays, becomes obsolete, and subject to theft of the evil one. Do we have full control over anything? Did you go down the list? The answer is no. God is in control. God created us for himself that we would share for all eternity in His Divine Life, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURE

LUKE 12:22-34

dependence on god.

He said to [his] disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds! Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your life-span? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest?

Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry anymore. All the nations of the world seek for these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides.
Do not be afraid any longer…Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

REFLECTION

We all worry too much about this and that, not that worrying ever solved a problem. But it is who we are, worriers. Jesus in His humanity knows that, has experienced with His disciples and those he meets along the way. Today’s scripture reading is a cautionary tale told to us by Jesus himself.
Jesus reminds us that the Father who is all good, and provides us with all the good things in our life, knows what we need even before we ask. It doesn’t mean that God doesn’t like hearing from us because we can enter into dialogue with Him and maybe even get new insights into what we are asking for and maybe alternatives for achieving the good.

Jesus reminds us that the smallest things are not in our control for example, temperature, traffic, whether drive thru is only accepting cash today, and the mood of our boss. Jesus has us covered though thru grace and trust.

Seek first the kingdom of heaven! Is there anything better? I think not. Keep your eyes on the prize. Where your treasure is so will your heart be! Where is your heart? I hope with Jesus!

SCRIPTURE 12:49-53

a cause of division.*

I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! there is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

I HAVE COME TO SET THE WORLD ABLAZE

REFLECTION

Jesus knows the anguish in this world He must face, prior to His Passion and Death. While in this world Jesus is not of this world. The world does not know him or accept him. Jesus does not go along to get along. Jesus knows preaching His Father’s will is contrary to what the world thrives on. He has come to cause division.

At first reading, it may seem harsh even unloving to predict family members will be made to choose sides but isn’t that what we have today, some family members divorce and remarry in irregular marriages, cohabiting, not attending Mass on Sundays, support abortion, support same sex marriages, etc.

Families are our foundational support group but sometimes they are messy. Sometimes as faithful, practicing Catholics we must express the truth to family members as Jesus taught us.

This does not mean doing more harm than good like kicking someone out of the family, but it does mean not enabling them or supporting them in their way over God’s way.

We are not moral relativists, whatever seems right to me. We have the Commandments, the teachings of Jesus, the Church and the Holy Spirit to guide us. Above all, be kind, be compassionate, in the midst of the family God has given to us.

SCRIPTURE LUKE 13:6-9

the parable of the barren fig tree.

And he told them this parable: There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.

REFLECTION

In this parable we hear in the gardener’s plea an echo of Moses pleading with the Lord not to destroy his people after the Golden Cow incident.  .“And I prayed to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, do not destroy your people, your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.” Deuteronomy 9:26

We must bear good fruit for  Jesus warns us, “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:9   

What is this good fruit?  Bearing the image of Jesus Christ will demonstrate good fruit.  Following the Beatitudes and we will be blessed. We were made in image and likeness of God.  That image got smeared by Original Sin.  Jesus, Son of God, Son of Mary, is the perfect image we must imitate.

Like the gardener in the parable we must also pray and intercede for others who may have lost their way.  Ask for God’s pardon and mercy and patience until that moment of conversion takes place, and new life blooms in those that have fallen dormant less they end up in the “furnace.:

 SCRIPTURE LUKE 13:18-21

the parables of the mustard seed and yeast

Then he said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches

 Again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed [in] with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

 REFLECTION

In these parables, Jesus points out how the Kingdom of Heaven grows on earth.  The smallest action can make a big difference, like a mustard seed or yeast.  We must all play our part in the growth of this Kingdom.  Like a stone thrown in a lake of water our actions move out like concentric circles and where they end nobody but God knows. Jesus tells us in Scripture, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Respent and believe in the Gospel.

There is no witness to the Kingdom too small.  It might be as little as being with crowd of friends and one of them says something the Church doesn’t teach.  Rather than remaining silent, express the Truth as you know it, not like a hammer over the head but gently and compassionately. Ie “I believe if you check the Catholic Catechism I think you will find the Church teaches”…..You get the idea.  But it is not only correcting misinformation, however, it is your whole life as witness to Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life.

I can remember the strong witness of family members growing up, and others that encouraged me in my faith, seeing strangers at a grotto to Mary praying the rosary in silence, seeing my College professor attend the same Mass at SLU during noontime break, my first visit to White House Retreat and seeing for the first time men caring for other elderly men at services, seeing my wife praying before a candle she lit at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadeloupe….You never know who is watching and observing you….You are the Light of the World!

SCRIPTURE LUKE 13:22-30

the narrow door; salvation and rejection.

He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.

 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’  Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where [you] are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.

I HAVE TAKEN THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

ROBERT FROST

REFLECTION

Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.

I am reminded of the Robert Frost poem, The Road not taken.  Many paths have been opened during my lifetime as I am sure is true for you.  Sometimes I went down the wrong path for a time but due to the grace and mercy of God I switched paths.  There is only one path to salvation.  Jesus is the Way, the truth, and the Life!

Many paths in this world may be more attractive and offer elusive promises that leave us still with a hole in our heart.  “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” (St. Augustine) What path are you on?  Where are you headed?  What is your goal?

Our Creator set a goal for us when He created us, then confirmed in our Baptism.  We were created to know, love, and serve God in this world and be happy with Him for all eternity in the next. Surely we do not want to hear the Master of the house say to us at heaven’s gate, “‘I do not know where you are from.

Do we want to be a stranger to God?  I think not! God knows who He created. Do we?  Surely, we want to be recognized.  When will we start the process of familiarizing ourselves to the image of Jesus? What makes us think a stranger to God on earth will fit in for all eternity with this same God.  God gave us free will…use it to know, love, and serve God here on earth that your friendship with God will be complete one day in heaven!

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:34