September 28, 2014

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Ezekiel 18:25-28; Philippians 2: 1-11; Matthew 21: 28-32
Do I live what I say? Do I live what I believe? Who watches over me? Do I listen to people in authority? Do I have spiritual guides in my life or am I my only spiritual guide? Do I realize that God has always been with me and is with me every moment of every day and night? Is this making a difference in my life?
Ezekiel was the ‘watchman for Israel’. He had the responsibility to warn the people of any danger to their spiritual growth. Yet the people overall seemed more intent on ignoring his warnings, even though he was really concerned for them. Today’s reading shows the people not paying attention at all. These people who were in exile in Babylon thought that God was punishing them for other people’s sins. The prophets have been announcing that only those who sin will be punished; those who are living according to the Lord’s laws will not be punished. But if a person leads a good life and then decides to make an about face and turn to wickedness; they are sinners. And the people are saying today that God is unfair. The prophet is telling them and me that my decisions are my decisions, but are my choices according to God’s ways? So often I have encountered and been guilty myself of the modern moral standard: ‘I do what I want to do because I want to do it.’ But is it right according to the teachings and example of Jesus; is it hurtful in any way to myself or others that God has placed in my life; is it ‘what Jesus would do? If I say NO…this is a pretty good indication that I am doing what I want to do with no regard to God.
All of these ‘standard’s’ are going contrary to Paul who is sharing the necessary Christian attitudes. He is telling the Philippians to: “Do nothing out of ‘Selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.” The question that Paul is asking indirectly is an absolutely necessary one: Why am I not doing what I should be doing? I heard this as I was growing up—mother gave me a job to do, and I wasn’t prompt in doing it and my father asked, ‘Why aren’t you doing what your mother told you to do?’ There was really no answer to this…if I tried, it was always wrong AND I got in more trouble. The question still stands, why am I doing these? I’m selfish…I don’t care about others…I want…and Jesus says… reform, believe.

Alice Camille in Exploring the Sunday Readings says: “Jesus Christ made Himself meek and lowly to lift up all who are bowed down. He surrendered His life to destruction in order to buy us back from that same dark place. If Jesus doesn’t deem equality with God something to be grasped, what makes us think that we can get away with it?

And maybe today I’m not asking to be God of the Universe. I just want to be God of MY universe. I want things to work to my good, and I want my will to be done. If expecting to have things my way isn’t vainglory, then organizing my plans around my comfort zone isn’t selfishness either. Trouble is, most of us know better? And she asks, “How can you avoid the twin traps of selfishness and vainglory in your options today?”

AND I ask: what would I be like if I followed Paul’s instruction to the Philippians about not looking out for my own interests, but to look out for the interest of others? AND THEN what concrete changes would this make in my life?

In the Gospel Jesus gives a life giving situation to help the scribes and Pharisees and me to see where I should be. It would be a mistake to lump all the chief priests, Pharisees, Scribes, Sanhedrin members, Sadducees and all the important people into the classification of being the ‘bad guys’. Many were good and sincere and listened to Jesus. But many had lost track of what it meant to follow the Jewish religion. They had become very legalistic down through the ages and had confused some pious practices with what Jewish religion was all about. What they were avoiding was an authentic and sincere relationship with God and treating others with justice and charity. They felt threatened when they were held accountable even stooping to lying and killing the innocent…they did this to Jesus so that they could preserve their position and authority. This is why Jesus called them hypocrites, blind guides, blind fools, snakes, brood of vipers and ‘whitewashed tombs that inside were full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.’ Am I living as them?
The first son for whatever reason said ’no’ but then changed his mind, I do that frequently. The second son wanted to keep up appearances as being ‘good’ but had little or no intention of working and probably thought that he would not be caught. Jesus is talking about the religious leaders, they had the opportunity to change their minds once they saw that ‘tax collectors were entering the kingdom of heaven before them.’ But they didn’t change their mind set; I have to change my mind and attitude to live as Jesus.
Connections makes this commentary today: “Jesus’ simple story of the two sons takes the Gospel out of the realm of the ‘theoretical’ and places the mercy of God smack in the middle of our busy, complicated everyday lives. Compassion, forgiveness and mercy are only words until our actions give full expression to those values in our relationships with others; our identifying ourselves as Christians and calling ourselves disciples of Jesus mean nothing until or lives express that identity in the values and beliefs we uphold. The words of the Gospel must be lived; Jesus’ teachings on justice, reconciliation and love must be the light that guides us, the path we walk, the prayer we work to make a reality. Discipleship begins within our hearts, where we realize Christ’s presence in our lives and in the lives of others and then honoring that presence in meaningful acts of compassion and charity.”
I reflect on:

• I look at the times that I have refused to do something in anger, out of laziness or because I was asked at an inconvenient time? How did I feel later? Did I end up satisfying the request or did I say ‘it was too late’?
  
• How am I on obeying? Whom must I obey? Do I include God in this list?
  
• What can I do when my ‘rebellious streak’ comes up?
  
• How am I on my ‘reforming of my life’? Have I reached a point where I feel ‘I’m all set’?
  

Sacred Space 2014 leads me in a different, fulfilling direction:

“I review the statements and declarations I may have made. Does God find me dependable? I ask God for forgiveness for wherever I have fallen short.

God continually invites me to fullness of life. I do not have to be down hearted by the awareness that I don’t always accept the invitation, but I am encouraged by the call to serve others.”

October 12, 2014

28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Isaiah 25: 6-10; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22: 1-14
Today’s Gospel is the third parable that Jesus has told to the religious leadership who question His authority. So one would think that it is easy to understand and maybe even that it doesn’t refer to each person reading this blog/ but it has enormous ramifications and leads to much reflection.
When God invites do I respond? When God asks of me, do I put it off? Is God an important part of my life? Is God only important when I need something? Does responding to God only happen when I am available and it is convenient? Does God care how busy my life is and how it is difficult to respond always as a Christian?
Then there are the reflections that come directly from the Gospel: why would God expect only a ‘passerby’, maybe even a ‘street person’ to have the necessary clothes on the spur of the moment to go to a wedding ceremony? And the response is ‘NOW!’ Wasn’t this ‘passerby’ perhaps in his/her charity just responding in ‘love’ to the kings need to have the wedding feast filled with guests? Why the harshness of the king? The parable is obvious in that the ‘king’ is God; if this is so, doesn’t this portray a cruel and harsh God nowhere near the God of love that is heard repeatedly in the accounts of the New Testament? This certainly is another one of those parables where it is difficult to hear what Jesus is saying.
One would imagine that when the servants went out after the first time and found out that those invited had refused to come, then the King would be upset. This was the height of impoliteness. What does this say about me when I refuse to respond to people who ask for my help? Is this part of what the parable is saying? A little bit…and the reflection is a good one…why do I refuse?
Then the second set of invitations went out to “those invited” and tell them that everything is ready, ‘Come’. Again some ignored, others were ‘too busy’ and some took the servants “Mistreated and killed them.” Now this is going too far.” The King has to be upset, God has to be ‘furious’…and I could or would never do a thing like that. The King retaliates, of course. Obviously the parable is meant for the religious leaders who refused to listen to Jesus and all those who were plotting to have Him killed. I think, ‘I would never do that’ so the parable doesn’t apply to me. Then comes the final invitation and the part of the parable so many think is ‘unfair’. Maybe I’m developing my idea of God from a misunderstanding of Jesus words. I find frequently that I REACT to the initial words of Jesus and not see the wealth and beauty in all the words.
Some commentaries have suggested that ‘wedding garments’ could be provided from the closet if needed…like a suit jacket in a fancy restaurant that demands a jacket for a man. Now the ‘guest’ would really be in the wrong if this was the case and they refused to wear it. Other commentaries suggested that the servants carried ‘wedding garment with them to the newly asked ‘guests’. These are reaching quite a bit, I feel.
The bottom line is that the man who refused to wear the garment…the only part of the parable with a ‘problem’, was wrong. The king was not wrong. WHY? There is an important sentence that I have overlooked far too frequently in my cursory reading and it is a sentence that ‘solves the riddle.’ “My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence.” Jesus points out the main point of the Parable which puts the blame entirely on the shoulders of the guest. HE WAS SILENT. He didn’t say a word. If he was unjust accused, especially knowing the consequences of this action, he would have spoken up loud and clear. He had nothing to say…no excuse, no explanation and NO PROTEST. His silence branded him as guilty…period.
With this it is good to review the gospel and its meaning for me. Jesus is telling the leaders and all that God loves everyone forever and that Jesus showed this love and will prove it by dying for every single person John 15:13-14: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Now the people who refused, just don’t care about God and evidently don’t feel the need for His love. The one who preferred his farm represents anyone too attached to material things and God is not a priority in any way shape or manner. The others were concerned with fame and money. Those who killed the servants certainly didn’t care. Was it because of excessive greed, selfishness, lust for power and just themselves? Then were the people: the good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent etc. AND what would be my excuse…my excuse to refusing to change, for refusing to change my ways of doing things, for refusing to want to enter the conversion process?

Matthew A Devotional Commentary says so much to me: “Isaiah and Jesus both emphasized that the Lord’s invitation was not an exclusive, high-society event. All are invited regardless of state in life, position in the community material wealth, race, age or handicap. The mixing of social groups was just as radical a concept in Isaiah’s and Jesus time as it is in ours. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day, for instance, shunned tax collectors and sinners—but these ‘sinners’ often accepted Jesus before the self-righteous Pharisees did. Today, the educated and financially secure often shun the gospel, while the poor and humble embrace it eagerly.

In the sacrament of the Eucharist, God invites all people to taste His great love. As we participate in the liturgy of the Eucharist, God increases our desire and readiness for the heavenly banquet that is to come. How will we respond to the Lord’s invitation to the wedding banquet of His Son? Will we be too preoccupied with worldly affairs to accept it humbly? Or will we respond with hearts overflowing with love and gratitude for the Lord’s gift of refreshment and the opportunity to dwell in His house for ever (Psalm 23)?”
I reflect on:

• How is the invitation to join Jesus in heaven like the wedding invitation in today’s Gospel?
  
• Can I respond to Jesus without giving Him time each day?
  

Sacred Space 2014 says:

“The kingdom of heaven is often presented under the image of a great banquet. With Jesus, the kingdom is already here. Could it be that I am slow to accept the gifts that God offers me now?

Everything that veils and deadens love will be removed in God’s time. I pray that I may play my part in removing anything that prevents people becoming fully alive.”

September 21, 2014

25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1: 20-24, 27; Matthew 20: 1-16
In her book, Arrows: The Arrows of God, Megan McKenna calls parables “the arrows of God” because “”they pierce us and make us painfully aware of our need to change the way we relate to ourselves, others, and God. We look—and we see. This is how we must live in God’s kingdom. We are called, and we know ourselves called.”
It seems that so often when I read a parable for the first time, I react to the situation, instead of seeing that this parable is meant for me and for each person. Today’s parable is a perfect example of this. Loads of reactions are made: Well Jesus certainly would never have been a successful business person! There is a lot of unfairness in this parable! Where is Jesus’ justice? Why should each person make the same amount of money? What was Jesus thinking about? I would be furious if I had worked all day.”
And Jesus asks at the end of the passage His reflection for each person:
“Are you envious because I am generous?”
Maybe a good question to ask is why do I view myself as the person who worked all day? Why do I view myself as the first in line? Why do I view that I should be taken care of first? Why do I view myself when I make a prayer or ask a favor that I am first in line and should be answered immediately? Why do I have this glorified opinion of myself in comparison to all the rest of God’s creations?
Maybe I should re-read this parable and place myself at the middle of the pack…how would I feel bringing home that BIG pay check that was a complete surprise. Then I should read it one more time and view myself as one of the workers who only worked one hour. I’m sure these people would be pleased to bring home just a little money. Would that money be enough for a meal, or medicine? Probably not, but it was something and how surprised would I be in bringing in such a huge paycheck home to family. There would be dancing and celebrating in that home tonight. Do I celebrate at the end of each day when I review the day and see how present God has been and the gifts He has given me?
It is good to see this parable in context: in a previous encounter, a rich young man had gone away from Jesus ‘sad’ because he could not bring himself to give away all that he possessed and follow Jesus. Then the disciples are interested in themselves and Peter expresses what I’m sure the others were thinking: “We have given up everything and followed You. What will there be for us?”
It’s very interesting that at the end of this passage Jesus says, “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” And at the end of the Workers in the Vineyard parable Jesus says after “Are you envious because I am generous?” “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” These two passages are reversed, why? What is their meaning? The commentary in the footnote in the New American Bible explains: “Different interpretations have been given to this saying…it may be that the meaning is that all who respond to the call of Jesus, at whatever time (first or last) will be the same in respect to inheriting the benefits of the kingdom, which is the gift of God.”

This past summer, I had the privilege to go the annul week long Scriptural Institute at Merisercordia University in Pennsylvania. One of the presenters was Dr. Bonnie Bowman Thurston, a scholar and teacher. In her book Preaching Mark she puts this parable in perspective and presents a very cogent reflection. “’The first will be last and the last will be first’ is a piece of folk wisdom used by Jesus in different contexts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke…It seems to suggest that the disciples, because they have given up much to follow Jesus, should not, therefore, assume they will be first in His kingdom. In his very interesting commentary from the point of view of Mahayana Buddhism, John Keenan notes that the disciples must abandon not only wealth, self, and family for the sake of the good news, but also ‘the very hope of rewards.’ ‘There is no quid pro quo here, as if one earns the result by performance of an act of enunciation. To abandon things in the context of self is merely to strengthen one’s sense of self and will in no wise avoid self-clinging. This is why those who think themselves to be first, to be already disciples and followers of Christ will be last.’ ‘To possess eternal life is to abandon all attempts to possess anything. It is that insight into emptiness that allows one to follow the commandments, not a means to earn eternal life, but as conventional paths of practice which point beyond those paths to the silent mystery of God.’

As the lectionaries indicate (or allow) these passages are best preached as a unit of material. Only in that approach is it clear that much more than wealth or material possessions is at issue. If only one passage is treated, it is much too easy to rationalize ‘I’m never going to be really wealthy, so this passage has nothing to say to me.’ In fact, the passage asks that we consider what are our greatest obstacles to entering the kingdom? To what do we cling that we should be willing to let go of? Perhaps, it may be our sense of ourselves as disciples of Jesus! Do we think that by our various renunciations or our acceptance of persecution for Jesus and for the sake of the gospel we have “EARNED” the kingdom/salvation? If so, we may find “in the age to come” that we were very much mistaken. The sermon that plumbs the spiritual depths of this passage goes well beyond the matter of wealth and possessions.”
God’s ways are not my ways. God doesn’t play by the world’s rules. God doesn’t see people the way that I do. He loves all. When I want to get even, He forgives. When I want to not be bothered, God wants to help. When I want to be judgmental of the actions of others, He wants to comfort and heal. When I want to avoid, He goes right in to bring help. In today’s parable, we are in the territory of God’s kingdom when we realize the generosity of the Landowner God who reaches out to all, the last called as well as the first. Jesus is telling us that God is present to the people who are poor, sick, disabled; that the tax collectors and the prostitutes all have equal access. So I reflect on:

• How do I react when I see others suffering from prejudice or injustice? What if I was a part of the group suffering?
  
• Deep down, how do I feel about this parable? Have I ever received something I didn’t earn?
  
• How different are my thoughts from God’s? Is God’s generosity challenging or consoling?
  
• What undeserved gifts have shown God’s generosity and love for me?
  

Sacred Space 2014 shares:

“The human mind suspects injustice, while the heart of God sees only an opportunity to be generous. Help me, Lord, to let go of my presumptions so that I may see as You do and act freely from a full heart.

The generosity of God calls us to be generous too; any judgment that is based on nationality, income, or education is just too narrow and shuts God out.”

September 14, 2014

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Numbers 21:4-0; Philippians 2: 6-11; John 3: 13-17

On this feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, I look at the meaning of crosses in my life: I once had a teacher tell me that I was the ‘cross in her life’. I didn’t feel too good about that. I made an effort in my 23 years in the classroom to never repeat that statement to anyone. I hope I didn’t. Yet maybe I was didn’t understand the real meaning of ‘cross’…I was applying my own meaning as a cross being something not enjoyable…always to be avoided…never to make my life a cross to anyone. So I start today’s reflection by looking at what does ‘cross’ mean? The following is the listing in the Thesaurus for cross: “Irritated (adj.); irritated, angry, irritable, annoyed, fractious, cantankerous, bad-tempered, snappy, cranky, out of sorts.”
I imagine when I am carrying ‘my cross’ I don’t like it, or don’t want it, or want to get rid of it and I would be irritated, angry, irritable etc. Jesus said that I should take up my cross daily and follow Him. He is not saying that it is something that is ugly or something that is horrible. He is not implying that I should avoid whatever looms as a cross in my life.
At the time of Jesus, the Romans were in control of all of Palestine and the people were permitted to exercise a limited amount of self-rule. The Sanhedrin was the ‘ruling body’ in Jerusalem; it could be compared to and a combination of Congress and a ‘Supreme Court’ but only covering Religious concerns. The Sanhedrin passed laws and people were arrested and put in prison for breaking them. The only restriction that Rome dictated was that the Sanhedrin was not allowed to carry out the death penalty, this was reserved to Rome alone.
In the Gospel, Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin came to Jesus at night. Now it was the Sanhedrin that later had Jesus arrested because of blasphemy, saying that He claimed to be ‘God’. The penalty in Jewish law for this blasphemy was death. They wanted Jesus killed and since they were not allowed to do this they sent Him to Pilate with a ‘new charge’ that of treason, which was punishable by death according to Roman law.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus they talked about a happening from the book of Numbers where the Jewish people after escaping from Egypt, experienced many hardships and complained to God. At one point God send a plague of serpents to afflict them. Many who were bitten died. When the people repented, Moses made a bronze serpent, put it on a staff and held it so that everyone who had been bitten who looked at this bronze serpent was healed.
The gospel says that just as Moses lifted up the staff with the bronze serpent, so must Jesus be lifted up on the cross so that if people looked to Jesus, they will receive spiritual healing resulting in eternal life for all those who believe.
And Jesus explains, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
Jesus is giving a new meaning to our crosses, not something horrible but they definitely are ‘instruments’, ‘events’, ‘people’, ‘circumstances’ that bring me and each person closer to Jesus. Jesus transformed the meaning of suffering. When one reflects on the cross as being the ‘worst, most painful’ form of the death penalty in the Roman world, why would people wear this symbol around their necks and as ornaments? This symbolizes to the Christian that they can look at the cross and see hope. People can look at the cross and see love, a love that is far beyond any love that we show to each other.
It still is true that people spend a great deal of time and money to protect themselves from pain and suffering and sickness. But pain and suffering is part of the human scene and Jesus told us to pick up these ‘crosses’ and continue to live His life. Jesus said that it is through ‘losing one’s life’ that one finds what life is. Parents know the cost of loving their children: sleepless nights, discipline, and visits to emergency rooms, letting the child experience a mistake and suffer the consequences with the parents very close to provide comfort. Jesus said that we can accept or reject our crosses, but it is in putting our arms around them that we come to a knowledge of our Loving Lord.

Fr. Tony Kadavil in his commentary on today’s gospel says: “My friends, if the cross tells us anything, it tells us that God’s ways are often so different from ours, and the world He created and died for is one unlike any we can imagine. We, in a sense, continually ‘create’ for ourselves a world marked by pettiness and selfishness, a propensity for ‘getting even ’and a reluctance to truly forgive. The cross teaches us that the world God envisions for us is a world in which we love, and love and love some more. That’s who God is and who God calls each of us to be. And so we embrace the paradox that is the cross. And we pray this day that each of us may be open to new possibilities, new understandings, and new ways of seeing the world around us. There’s a beautiful new world out there. Jesus died to make that possible. The cross is a sign to us of that profound reality, a sign of the power of love. May that love infuse every single thing we do as we continue on this incredible journey we call life.”

So I reflect on:

• How does the symbol of the cross reflect my faith life? What does the cross mean to me as I go through my struggles and my accomplishments?
  
• I complain to God…is it because I feel ‘persecuted’ or because I feel ‘abandoned’?
  
• Make a list of my present crosses…what do they teach me?
  
• When I look at Jesus on the cross, how does it speak to me of God’s love?
  
• Do I share how my crosses and the sufferings and distress they bring, have drawn me closer to God? Am I afraid to share my faith journey?
  
• Why is John 3:16 so important?
  
• How does God love me in my joys? My successes? My crosses?
  

Sacred Space 2014 adds:

“The Cross reveals the vast breadth and width of God’s love. It reverses all human values. Once a symbol of shame, it becomes the symbol of glory. The love revealed is not exclusive, for just a few. It embraces the whole world.

Lord, divine love doesn’t count the cost; it gives liberally. True loves offer everything to their beloveds. The cross is the icon of great faith, hope, and love. As I gaze on it, may I be lifted up into all that is true, good, and beautiful.”

September 7, 2014

23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Ezekiel 33: 7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18: 15-20.

Today’s Gospel is taken from Matthew’s discourse on ‘church order’ – how are the members of the church to act in keeping with Jesus command of love. Jesus starts out that greatness in ‘the kingdom of heaven’ is measured not by rank or power but by childlikeness. Jesus continues telling the care that His followers must take care in not causing ‘the little ones’ to sin or to neglect them if and when they stray. Then comes today’s passage on how to correct those who sin and the usefulness of prayer and the acts of forgiveness that must be repeated over and over. The reflection for me is how do I love when I’m not comfortable in loving?
Most people live their lives as best as they can. They realize, hopefully, that they are surrounded by people who love them and care for them deeply. I find that this is a great motive for prayer: to pray for those who are hurting and to pray in gratitude for the constant presence and grace from God in helping myself and each person to be people of love. It is a challenge each and every day to live the life of a Christian. It is a huge challenge to love those who irritate or disturb us. It is even a greater challenge to love those who are totally concerned with themselves and don’t care about others. There have been countless books on how to deal with difficult people; and I have to know that sometimes I am that difficult person.
There was a very interesting article in the July 15, 2014 edition of The Wall Street Journal. It dealt with how to best make up after an argument. Probably the arguments that hurt me most are the ones with people I love. In this I find myself to be insensitive and often say hurtful things. Elizabeth Bernstein spoke on dealing with those arguments and healing the resultant rifts. She had spoken with psychologists, therapists and counselors on how to make up after an argument. Her responses seem to me to be right out of the mouth of Jesus if He was asked this question today.
She states that “One psychologist summarized the process this way: ‘You don’t want to avoid [conflict]. You want to manage it.’ The Journal article outlines the five steps that are necessary in doing this: 1) “Wait to talk.” I know I need time to slow down and calm myself. Perhaps my calmness will help the other…and if one stays ‘hot and bothered’ an apology will never break through. 2) “Give up the idea of being right.” This is important for me because I feel all too often that I am RIGHT. Now if I do this it means that the OTHER person is WRONG. I’m not treating them as a person with feelings. I need to concentrate on this. 3) “Verbalize your understanding of how the other person feels.” I have been trained in counseling to ask, ‘It sounds like you are hurt because….am I correct in this?’ I jump to so many assumptions that aren’t even close to reality. 4) “Quash the impulse to defend yourself.” I am ‘expert’ on trying to defend myself…why do I do this? If the other person says to me that I did behave badly…I have to ‘swallow hard’ and not disagree, just nod my head. I did…and no matter who is ‘wrong’ in this argument…there is a good degree of wrong in ME…especially in my disrespect and not responding in a loving way. 5) “Accept the fact that it will take a while to feel better.” It is important for me to check back with the other person to reestablish the lines of Christian charity, since they have probably been strained. I learned long ago that when I apologize I can’t then say BUT…!
How can I be the servant that Jesus needs me to be? How can I put the words of Paul to the Romans into practice today and each day of my life? How can I love the other person in my life and keep on loving that person by my awareness, compassion and caring? How can I continue to re-create my life each day in the love of Jesus? Paul wants me to do ‘everything out of love’…I certainly have a long way to go in this. Loving me has nothing to do with loving my ‘ego.’ It has everything to do with seeing that I am loved by God and each and every person is loved by God…do I try to find God’s love in each person?
Sunday Homily Helps has an interesting introduction and application for today’s readings: “ATTENTION-GETTER: -- Traditionally, in many places, this past week saw the beginning of a new school year, a time of bringing together new groups of students for the coming year. Every time that these new groups form, new sets of expectations are shared by teachers, starting in kindergarten and going all the way to graduate school. Those expectations range from not grabbing toys away from your fellow five-year-olds during play periods to precise, complex rules on how to write footnotes in a thesis paper so as not to ‘steal’ intellectual property from other scholars. APPPLICATION – Learning to live together and learning to learn together always involve coming to an understanding of the consequences of our behavior. When we are young those ‘prophets’ in our lives are usually parents and teachers. As we grow older, friends often become such powerful enforcers of conformity in our behavior that we all understand the term ‘peer pressure.’ But the goal that Saint Paul sets before us when he wrote to the Romans was that, as Christians, we should each seek to conform our behavior and our lives to only one expectation: love.”
So I reflect on:

• Going back in my memories I look at when I was confronted by someone. The ones that come to mind, were they over something important? How did I feel? Was I conscious of the other person’s feelings? What is our relationship now?
  
• Now I look at the last person that I confronted…what brought it about…what were my feelings? Was anyone supporting me? Was there a ‘cost’ in this confrontation? What is the relationship now?
  
• How is Jesus’ love of neighbor a motivating part of my life? Jesus is telling me that this should take precedence over all the other commandments. Does it?
  
• Someone once said “Everyone is an apprentice in the Gospel” do I feel that way about me?
  
• How am I feeling when I am not loved as Jesus taught?
  
• In my ‘worshiping church’ why are there so many different viewpoints expressed among church members? Why do I think it is so difficult for the church to agree, especially on sensitive issues?
  

Sacred Space 2014 says:

“Jesus does not imagine a life full of harmony and companionship but acknowledges the need for forgiveness, patience, and humility. I pray that I may live in a way that forgives freely and repents readily.

Matthew describes a ‘safety net,’ a bottom line, an emergency drill. I can give thinks if life is usually less acrimonious. This is itself is a sign that the Spirit of God is present and active, helping, healing, bringing wholeness.”