Oct 1, 2017

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Ezekiel 18: 25-28; Philippians 2: 1-11; Matthew 21: 28-32 Am I a person of faith? I would like to answer this in the affirmative, but am I a person of faith? Am I the same person I was five years ago? Am I the same faith person I was five years ago? Am I the same person in my religious practices that I was five years ago? During this time have I allowed God to change me? Am I still the ‘same old’…’same old’ or have I realized growth within me that has brought me closer to the Lord? Have I noticed myself spending more time with the Lord: thinking, imagining, thanking, being still? Am I comfortable just sitting and being with the Lord? I heard this story from a former teacher. He had a student who was constantly getting in trouble. It seemed that this student just couldn’t avoid doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. People wondered how long it would be before he ended up in jail. Many years later at a wedding this man came up and asked the teacher ‘Do you remember me?’ ‘How could I ever forget you?’ The man said that he was on the police force. ‘How did this happen?’ His former student replied that he was about to be arrested a third time and when the officer said, ‘You have such great skill for getting into trouble, how about learning how to use it to help people stay out of trouble and out of jail?’ The rest is history. Do we recognize the abilities we have? We have to make this personal: Do I realize the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given me? Remember the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Here are the seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. How do I know if I have these? In the last part of the Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 7) Jesus talked of ‘False Prophets’ saying, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them…A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church states “The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: ‘charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.’” So I question myself: Am I more charitable than I was five years ago? More joyous? More peace filled? More patient? More kind? More filled with goodness? More generous? More gentle? More faithful? More modest? More self-controlled? More chaste? If I am, this is totally the work of the Holy Spirit? Have I expressed my gratitude? Have I noticed that I have been selective in choosing how to be closer to the Lord? Is there still a part of me that I don’t want to give to the Lord? Am I like St. Augustine who prayed early in his life, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.” The readings today helps us to zero in on the continual task of our daily conversions and turning ourselves to God. Ezekiel was given the task by God to tend to the spiritual welfare of the people. He continually warned them when they were being unfaithful. He warned them to think as God thinks and not as humans do. The people wanted to believe that God operates as humans do by holding grudges. God does not. He explains that God holds each person responsible for his or her own choices. And past sins do not block a person from gaining forgiveness from God. What matters is what they are doing at the present moment to live as people of God. Paul constantly holds up Jesus as the perfect example for people of faith. Jesus emptied Himself for others and then died for all people of all times. Paul tells us, “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus.” He goes into detail explaining, “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.” In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable using the symbol of a vineyard which is frequently used to represent Israel. We each can apply this symbol by looking at our own vineyard. God sends us out each moment of each day to work in our vineyard using the gifts given us by the Spirit. How are the fruits in my vineyard growing? What is my vineyard like? Where do I go to plant the Good News of the Gospel that God loves each person everywhere all the time? How do I model the compassion, forgiveness and love of all people that Jesus taught and exemplified in His life? Jesus today uses the example of tax collectors and sinners. They were the ones that realized through the teaching of John the Baptist that they had to turn over a new leaf. Was their life at rock bottom? Were their lives meaningless and empty? Maybe all of the above, but they reached out for help and God helps all who ask for help. Jesus compares them to the chief priests and elders of the people. These refused to listen to John the Baptist’s message on righteousness. WikipediA has an interesting definition of righteousness which fits perfectly today’s reading: “Righteousness is a theological concept in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is an attribute that implied that a person’s actions are justified, and can have the connotation that the person has been ‘judged’ or ‘reckoned’ as leading a life that is pleasing to God.” So the high priests and elders feel they are good people, teachers of the Law of Moses and not sinners. They have done nothing wrong. They are in the right. Jesus doesn’t judge them this way. ‘The chief priests and elders should have accepted the message of John the Baptist but refused. The tax collectors and prostitutes had no reason to believe John but they did and reformed. Unlike that first son who initially refused to go work in the vineyard but later did so, the chief priest and elders did not change their minds and did not accept the message of John the Baptist or of Jesus. They are an example of failed leadership and considered themselves to be above others. So I reflect on: • How am I doing in listening to Jesus’ message and applying it in my life? • I look at the times when I have said no to God’s ways, but then relented and did what was right. What did I learn from Jesus? • Jesus’ has showered His mercy on me time and time again. Has this led me to be merciful? Or just conditionally merciful? • Compassion and gratitude are only words until I live them in acts of generosity and kindness. Is this true in my life? Sacred Space 2017 states: “Jesus says to me, ‘What do you think?’ Do I take time out to think about where I stand in relation to God? Do I give my soul an opportunity to catch up? I ask the Lord to help me give time to thinking about the things that really matter. Jesus speaks this parable to me. I avoid applying it to others right now and simply accept Jesus’ warmth as He sees how I have served. I listen for His invitation as He shows me where I hold back.”

September 24, 2017

September 24, 2017

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Isaiah 55: 6-9; Philippians 1: 20-24, 27; Matthew 20: 1-16

How many times do I hear, ‘It’s not fair!'  I would answer ‘a lot’.  I heard it all the years I spent in high school work.  I hear it routinely from the kids in school today, all years.  I hear it in people expecting something and they didn’t get it; whether it was a promotion, an award, a salary raise, even in those not receiving a present for their birthday or Christmas.  I hear it when people get bad reports from their physician.  I hear it when people are told they have a short amount of time to live.  I hear it when people make a comment about today’s gospel.  I heard it when Harvey hit Texas and the surrounding areas. I heard it when Mexico was hit by the earthquake and followed with hurricane Katia.  I continue to hear it from the devastation from Irma.  God is not fair.  If God is good, why does He allow all this pain and suffering.  I said it myself when I was young and I had to go to bed earlier than my sisters and brother; it didn’t seem to matter the they were 7 - 12 years older than I.  Or when they got special attention and I did not.  Or when I was ‘told’ to eat fish on Fridays.  It’s just not fair.   WHY?   WHY NOT?  Is God responsible for all the evil and all the bad things?  Is God responsible for all the sicknesses and diseases?   Is God the reason why terrorists kill and criminals violate society’s laws?  Is God a loving God?  Do I believe that God loves me?  How present is God to me every day?  Is God a God of love?

We look to Isaiah’s writing: scholars say that Isaiah is a book of poems composed by the author but also by disciples some of whom came many years after Isaiah.  Chapters 1-39 were from Isaiah himself; Chapters 40-55, commonly know as Deutero-Isaiah have been attributed to another poet who prophesied toward the end of the Babylonian exile. Chapters 56 -60 continued the work of the great prophet and were composed by disciples.  Today’s passage is from the last section of Deutero-Isaiah; the people are still exiled are very discouraged and demoralized.  Will they ever get to go back to Israel?  Jerusalem has already been destroyed and all the leaders, nobles and influential people are in exile.  Today the prophet is concluding a longer poem in which God speaks to offer encouragement.  “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call Him while He is near.”  The people had felt that God was in the great Temple of Jerusalem, but He is right here, present to the exiles.  Even though they don’t understand what is happening, God is merciful and forgiving.  We need to know God is present and is always loving.  Do we go to Him?  

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is believed to have been written toward the end of his life while he waits in prison for his death sentence.  So his words about life and death can be viewed in the immediacy of his martyrdom.  He knows that he will die and he is looking forward to being with God in heaven.  He also knows that as long as he is still here, God has plans for him.  “I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better.  Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.”  The people still need to hear Jesus’ message and how they are to live the Gospel and share their life with others.  What a message for us:  while we have no reason to fear death, our lives are of great value each and every moment of life.  We have been promised by Jesus that we will be with Him forever in heaven, but while here on earth we are still called to live lives of witness and service.  God has a plan for each person.  Do we accept this plan?

The gospel is a parable, a story…it has nothing to do with fair labor practices.  In fact the focus is on the Last Judgment.  What will happen when that time comes?  Am I afraid or am I awaiting the final call to heaven.  This is what Jesus is talking about.  How will God act at the Final Judgment?  The Good News, the fantastic news is that God will be generous. The last will be first and the first will be last but this does not matter in any way.  God’s mercy and generosity will extend to every person.  The workers in the parable have a hard time in understanding the landowner’s actions and were very vocal that they were being treated unfairly.  Jesus is telling us that God treats people the same way and is generous in rewarding all people. 

Joseph Donders, a member of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, wrote these words about this gospel in The Fullness of Time.  It is a wonderful piece to sit and use as a guide to reflection and contemplation.  He says,       

 “God hears many complaints like:

• Why are others healthy, while I am sick and in pain?
• Why do others seem to be so happy, while I am so miserable?
• Why did she have to die so young and not live into old age, like most people?
• Why do other people seem to be so much more gifted than I am?

      These are often bitter cries that no social welfare system can quieten.  The parable in today’s gospel reading addresses this problem:  everything is a gift from God and no-one has an a priori right to anything - even to be called into existence.  We should be thankful for what we have got, and not complain about what we have not been given.

   The other side of the coin is that we too readily look down upon those who are less fortunate or are simply different from us, trying to convince ourselves that we are better than they are.  The owner of a Mercedes Benz may think he or she has a right to quicker service than the person in a Ford Fiesta.  Not so very long ago, left-handed people were forced to use their right hands instead, because they were considered abnormal.  Similarly, people with disabilities are often despised and treated as second-or third-class citizens.  We find non-smokers looking down upon smokers, vegetarians looking down upon meat-eaters, and so on, ad infinitum.

   There is an endless list of criteria by which those who consider themselves to be among the ‘first’ in our society judge themselves to be better than those who are ‘last’ — from people’s wealth, physique, looks, health, skin color, age, sex, religion, diet, race, and culture, down to which region or city they come from, and even which side of the street they live on.

   When Jesus says that ‘the last will be first, and the first last,' He is not so much turning that order around as abolishing it.  He does not intend to set up a new queuing system for God’s gifts, with a different group of people heading the queue.  He is saying that, in God’s eyes, the ‘first’ and the ‘last’ are brother and sister who stand before God as friends and equals.”   Do I believe God?

So I reflect on:

• Have I felt envious or entitled?  What has it gained me?
• How has gratitude and always seeking God transformed me?
• How do I react when I see others suffering from prejudice or injustice?  Am I as concerned as I would be if I were part of the group suffering?
• How can I become more aware of justice issues?

Sacred Space 2017 states:

   “This story will irritate us if we cannot glimpse something of God’s generosity and overflowing compassion.  Here I am, Lord.  You see how little I deserve, but you want to hold nothing back, if only I open my hands to receive it.

   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.”

September 17, 2017

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Sirach 27: 30 - 28:7; Romans 14: 7-9; Matthew 18: 1-35

Am I a forgiving person?  I think I am…but let’s go deeper into this.  Who are the people I can’t stand?  How do I feel about those who take advantage of me…who irritate me?  Bullies have existed throughout my life.  Who are the people who bully me now…what is my attitude toward them?  Forgiveness begins with empathy which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another and to see a situation from their perspective.  Am I an empathic person with the ‘disturbing’ people in my life?  Do I hold grudges?  Do I want to get even?  The theme of today's scriptures is the grace and courage to seek forgiveness and the strength to accept it.

Jesus ben Sirach the author of today’s first reading went to the Torah and wrote his reflection on these five books helping others on their spiritual journey.  He valued the Law of Moses, to him this was the source of true wisdom.  Can we see Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) and the selling of Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37) in today’s readings?  Sirach describes anger and its different stages as being ‘hateful things’.  Do I allow them to rule me?  So often I hang on to my emotions and let them control and manipulate me.  Isn’t this in opposition to love and friendship?  So what do I do when I discover this?  Do I apologize?  Do I avoid looking at ‘my issues’?  Do I look to God to forgive me and yet am unwilling to extend this forgiveness to others, especially those not on my ‘friend list’?  We can see traces of the Our Father in today’s verses.  In the Covenant with Moses, God continues to emphasize that He is full of compassion and mercy.  All are obligated to extend these to others.  In Leviticus 19:17-18 we hear God’s words, “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.  Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him.  Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the Lord.”

Paul is addressing tensions that have come up within the Roman community.  One side that Paul identifies as being weak in faith, continues to observe Jewish dietary laws saying that certain days as more important than others.  The other side, that Paul is on, does not observe these laws, saying that they are no longer bound by these restrictions. Paul today is putting these two factions together saying that both are to be welcoming to each other as Jesus taught.  The gospel of love is more important that any social differences that divide.  Faith in Christ is more important than the cultural issues that divide us.  Do I live in this way?  Or do I feel and live as if I am the one in charge?  

Matthew today focuses on mercy and forgiveness.  He shows this through an encounter between Jesus and Peter that exemplifies Jesus’ teaching.  Now the rabbis had a general rule that people should be forgiven as many as three times.  This would be considered very generous and merciful.  Peter having followed and listened to Jesus felt that the rabbi’s teaching didn’t go far enough.  He felt that more than doubling their teaching would be a great teaching.  Imagine how shocked Peter was when Jesus even expanded this number to 77 times.  Symbolically this means that a sinner must be forgiven without limit.  Jesus continues with a parable.  The first part tells of a king and his servant.  The servant owed an amount that he couldn’t repay. The king responded in the accepted business way of that time.  The servant pleaded with the king and promises to pay it all back.  Very surprisingly the king had compassion and forgave the entire debt.  How surprising the servant was and I’m sure Peter listening to Jesus.  Then, for whatever reason, the servant went out and in the very same situation went to one of his fellow servants and demanded payment for a much smaller amount.  Wouldn’t this servant forgive as he was forgiven?  No, he does just the opposite and has this man thrown into prison.  That was justice at that time.  The King on hearing this responded by handing ‘this wicked servant’ over to the torturers and he loses everything.   The point is that God places no limits on forgiveness.  Isn’t this in the Our Father too?  Jesus is telling us that if we place limits on forgiveness, limits will be placed on us.  

When each of us examine ourselves we can see hatreds, long festering grudges, vengeance, and even wars.  The advice to let go of these is not always easy.  It is always a challenge.  If I hang on to these, as Jesus shows us, these hateful things, slowly eat away at us.  It is a delicate task to ask for forgiveness.  It is important to see that both parties are involved:  I say I’m sorry, please forgive me, and the other accepts this and grants forgiveness.  They can say ‘no’; then what do I do?  Do I continue to ask for their forgivensss?  Do I continue to pray for them?  Prayer must always be present.  I have problems with mercy and forgiveness,  God never does.  God welcomes me back with open arms.  God always helps me.   Do I want Him to help me or am I stuck? Bring this ‘stuckness’ to the Lord in prayer.  

Connections, The newsletter of ideas, resources and information for homilists and preachers shares this, “The great sin of the unforgiving servant in today’s Gospel is his refusal or inability to realize the grace of God in his midst.  He has work that provides for his family; his own debt has been forgiven by an understanding and compassionate boss — and, for the obtuse servant, that’s all that matters.  He possesses no sense of gratitude for the good extended to him; he cannot see that he is part of a world bigger than his own wants and needs.  He reasons that the king’s forgiving of his debt is something one is entitled to, that survival is the name of the game and he found a way to win.  But to forgive as he has been forgiven — only a fool would do that.  But that is the Kingdom of God that Jesus comes to reveal:  a perspective of life that is built on gratitude for the gift of life itself, gratitude that compels us to generosity, justice, and, yes, forgiveness.  May we possess the spirit of gratitude for all that we have been given — and forgiven — and may that spirit enable us to create God’s Kingdom here and now, in which forgiveness is joyfully offered and humbly but confidently sought, mirroring the mercy and forgiveness of God, the compassionate Father of us all.” 

So I reflect on: 

• Why should I be willing to forgive others when they have hurt me?  What have I done in the past that has worked?
• What do I think is necessary for reconciliation to be honest?
• What motivates my anger? 

Sacred Space 2017 states:

   “When He speaks about the kingdom of God, Jesus invites us to use our imagination.  I use my imagination and allow myself to be drawn into this story; I think of how I am forgiven and confer how well I offer that forgiveness to others.

   The king in the story wanted first only to settle accounts with his debtors.  He did not set out to let the debt go.  Compassion took over later, and he cancelled the debt.  He would never think of it again.  The Lord is like that with us:  totally forgiving and not remembering our sins.  Help me, Lord, to forget my sins as you have, so that I can be free to love and forgive others.”

September 10, 2017

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A

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

Life is about relationships.  So I ask how are the relationships in your life doing today as you read this blog?  I ask myself the same questions by looking at the triple commands of Jesus:  How am I in my relationship with God at the present moment of today?  How am I in my relationships with family and friends right now and then spread this out to the people in my life now:  work, neighbors, school, community, country, world?  Am I attuned to their needs or am I concentrating on my own?  Am I living in a world populated by only me which really is a world of alienation?  Or do I realize real living is me in the world God has placed me? Am I letting my possessions enslave or free me?  Do I see that loving me, loving God and loving each person in my life is where I am?

Life is about relationships.  I do not live my life in a vacuum.  John Donne wrote “No man is an island, entire of itself.” .  Ernest Hemingway expanded an understand of it's meaning when he wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.  If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were;  any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”  We are social beings that cannot exist without people. No one is self-sufficient and everyone relies on another for survival.  Today’s readings speak of the importance of each one living in a right relationship and with personal responsibility in line with God’s plan.

Ezekiel shares the true mission of a prophet: to be a spokesperson of God leading people along the right path of life.  Am I living for myself or am I living the way that leads to God?  Today Ezekiel is watching out for the dangers that entrap and keep people’s vision away from God.  He is speaking to ‘dissuade’ a wicked person from his or her sin.  His audience was already experiencing the devastation of being in exile.  Have they forgotten God?  Do they feel that God doesn’t care?  Have they blocked themselves from God’s love thinking that God can’t care about them when ‘bad things happen to good people?’  So many were giving up on God.  Does this happen to me more often than I want to think?  

Paul is telling us that the way to God, the way to the fullest relationship I can have not only with God, others and myself is for each person to strive for the ideal of love.  Paul’s letter to the Romans concentrates on how faithful God has been to us and the unexpected ways in which God saves us.  We have been saved by Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Our salvation is not the result of something we have done but what God has done for us in Christ.  From the very beginning of the creation to the end, our salvation is a total loving, gracious gift from total loving gracious God.  Jesus showed this love in every moment, in every detail, in every moment of His life. So the question is: How am I to respond to God who has been  so gracious and loving to me?  Paul's answer is quite simple: “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law…and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  Frank Matera, the professor of Biblical Studies at the Catholic University of America in Preaching Romans, Proclaiming God’s Saving Grace says, “Here, then, is the perfect expression of the Christian life.  If we want to live the Christian life in a way that is holy and pleasing to God, we will live as Christ did:  we will love our neighbor as Christ loved us.  If we want our life to be an act of worship, we will worship God by imitating the unselfish love of Christ.”

The Gospel gets very practical, Matthew presents a situation that asks what the community is to do when a member(s) have ‘sinned.’ This is a situation that no doubt came up in Matthew’s congregation  It is a real offense, not merely an accusation.  He proposes a three step solution, all focusing on my love and God’s love for each person, me and my enemy included.  The readings today make me aware that I have responsibilities toward everyone.  Storms arise in my life and in the lives of those I know and love.  Like the weather service, I cannot prevent floods and hurricanes, I can give warnings however but I can actually turn some personal storms into calm areas.  

Just look and remember how this has happened.  During my twenty-three years in Catholic education, many students told how upset they were with their parents and teachers who warned them about cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, sex , etc. They felt that their elders were ‘out of it’ and ‘not up to the times’. They wanted to be treated like adults.  These ‘ancient adults and teachers’ were well aware of mistakes youth make, they did many of them themselves.  They encounter problems when marriages break up. Did they do anything?  They might say, ‘I’m not surprised that happened, I could see it coming.’ OR ‘why didn't you do or say something about it.’ Are people with addiction problems confronted or do they go unnoticed by people in their lives.  How many say, ‘You need help…come with me to an AA meeting.’   People slip away from church.  Can it be that there was no one to invite them warmly to stay in the Church?  The bottom line is that loving the people in our lives is not easy.  It is never easy to warn others that they are about to trip and fall.  We are called to love.  We have a debt we owe since each one of us has been saved numerous times.  The debt binds us to love each other and this includes our obligation to warn each other about spiritual dangers in our lives.  I am never relieved of this obligation.  I can’t ‘pass the buck.'  I am called to pray for the strength and grace I need to help and love. 
So I reflect on:

• When has my speaking the truth led to a change or a healing?
• St Catherine of Siena said, “Speak the truth in love.”  That’s how God treats us.  How am I doing in this?
• When have I been confronted by someone?  Was it something important?  How did I feel?  How did the other person feel?  What is our relationship now?  
• How is love of neighbor a motivating part of my life?  How does it take precedence over the other commandments?

Sacred Space 2017 says,

   “Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.  He is with us in our church community.  His message is one of reconciliation, not retribution. We are asked to regain our brother or sister.  Regaining is more than stopping someone’s offensive behavior; it is converting that person—bringing about a true change in attitude.

   Jesus promises His continuing presence.  Even as I pray alone, I am united with others who pray at this time, with all of those who read this Gospel today.  I grow in awareness that Jesus wants to be present to me, is present to me, loves me, and calls me to life.”

September 3, 2017

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Jeremiah 20: 7-9;  Romain 12: 1-2;  Matthew 16: 21-27

Most people seem to have idyllic families, why don’t I?   Most people seem to never have it rough?  Why do I?   Most people don’t really live their faith in regular church attendance, why should I?  Most people support capital punishment, the Church doesn’t.  Why should I follow the Church?  Most people feel that living together before marriage is OK?  Do they have a point?  Most people think that a little cheating on tests and things is OK.  Why is this not OK for me?  Most people think this or don’t think that ….most do this or don’t do that.  Why should I get in trouble by being different from others?   Is Jesus putting just too heavy burdens on me to carry?  Am I different from other people?  Yes!  

To be a follower of Christ means that I am listening to, believing in, following what Jesus said, did and taught.  Did this make the apostles and early Christians different from their families, neighbors and friends?  Yes! Am I called to be different?  Yes! 

I’m called to be the person Jesus needs me to be and graces me to be in my daily living and interactions.  It’s hard to be different.  It’s hard to be good.  It’s hard to follow the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ triple command of  love. These are tough questions for the tough times that we are living.  I really would like to live a relatively easy life and enjoy retirement. Life isn’t that way.  Jesus came to tell us that God loves us.  Jesus calls each one of us to live a deepened relationship with God…this is the only way.  Today’s readings puts this in perspective and helps us to live the Psalm Response, “My soul is thirsting for You, O Lord my God.”

Jeremiah experienced many hardships for being God’s prophet.  The royal court in Jerusalem wanted to live the easy life and not be obligated to the Babylonian empire.  Jeremiah told them that if they opposed Babylon they would fail and would be enslaved and live in exile (Jeremiah 20:4).   It was far more important to accept this and concentrate on living in a right relationship with God. The nobles didn’t like this. For this Jeremiah was beaten and imprisoned.  Today Jeremiah is complaining to God.  How could these people continually resist the message he is giving them from God?  He is feeling that God enticed him into being a prophet and that God would stand by him.  But where is God now?  So Jeremiah has decided to play the ‘silent’ game by refusing to speak God’s message or even mention God’s name.  How often we try the silent game too…the result  is that it seldom works.  It didn't for Jeremiah.  God has proven to be too strong and Jeremiah too weak to resist.  Even if the people resist the truth they must still hear the truth.  How am I in speaking the truth of the Gospels?  Do I fudge what Jesus has spoken and make up some sort of excuse that what Jesus said doesn’t apply in today’s world?

Paul is beginning his explanation to the new Gentile Christians about the duties of being a follower of Jesus, of being a Christian. Look at Jesus and the Gospel.  How are they to interpret the dictates of the Law?  Matthew spells this out in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5: 17)  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets, I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”  Then Jesus begins a series of situations, “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors… you shall not kill….you shall not commit adultery….whoever divorces his will must give a bill of divorce….whoever takes a false oath…an eye for an eye…love your neighbor, hate your enemy”  and Jesus concludes “But I say to you…” Our role is not to conform to the ways to the world but to embrace the ways of the Lord as He stated in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount.  These are not easy.  God’s ways are not easy, never have been.

In the Gospel Matthew shares the first of the three predictions Jesus made of his Passion, Death and Resurrection.  Jesus knows what awaits Him in Jerusalem.  The disciples, even Peter don’t get it.  Why does Jesus have to die on the cross?  Why do I have to take up my crosses each day?  Peter can't understand how a suffering dead Messiah makes any sense?  How could they ever rid their country of the Romans this way?  Jesus outlines the theology of the cross.  A few weeks ago, I started my sermon with the question, “What is the greatest power in the world.”  People were quiet, thinking, one person at each mass gave the correct answer, ‘Love.’  Today I ask, ‘What is the greatest mystery of all?’  NOW THINK ON THIS……

I’m sure that after a while a number would say,’ The mystery of suffering.’  Today Jesus is telling us that in order to be His disciples we must pick up our cross, all our crosses and follow Him.  It's not easy to be the only one on the block or school or the workplace trying to live as a Christian.  And then we ask why does God allow the majority of children in the world to go to bed hungry?  And why does God allow the beautiful and best people to die so early when we need them so?  And why does God allow the powerful and evil people to enslave and use the defenseless poor? The answer to these questions is the cross.  

 Discipleship is following Jesus along the way of the cross.  Peter strongly objected to this today and Jesus told him he was thinking as humans think, not as God thinks and Jesus even called him ‘Satan’ for this.  Strong words…totally missing the point of God’s plan.  So what does the cross teach us:

• That believing in Jesus and His Church does not guarantee any easy life.  Often the opposite is true.
• Christians who suffer must cling to one thing only—the cross of Jesus.
• Jesus knows suffering extremely well—firsthand.
• One said  “Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or to remove it.  He came to fill it with His presence.” 

So I reflect on:

• I take reflective time to look at the crosses I have taken up in my life.  What did I learn?  What did I hear from God?
• How have I found God to be present in my embracing them?
• There is a religion of devotion and a religion of commitment.  A religion of devotion is a religion of comfort and is often centered on self rather than others.  A religion of commitment is a religion of challenge, of risk, of unselfishness.  Agree?
• Is my cross ever negotiable?

Sacred Space 2017 states

   “If we are to be followers of Jesus, we need to let Him lead, accepting that He will not lead us away from suffering, pain, or difficulty.  I pray that I may let go and grow in trust of God’s love for me.

   Peter has just been congratulated as the rock on which Jesus will build His church.  He is comfortable in a theology of grace and glory.  But he is blind to the whole reality.  Lord, help me receive the whole story from You, today and every day.”