February 24, 2019

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
1 Samuel 26:2,7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1Corinthians 15: 45-49; Luke 6: 27-38
What do I consider fair in my life? What do I consider unfair in my life? What are the standards that I
have adopted in my life that enable one who knows me not to cross me; ie. one way would be fair..the
opposite unfair? Are the standards that I choose based on my own wants and wishes without
considering others? Are my standards close to the Ten Commandments? Or am I selective in choosing
the commandments that I like?
Are my standards in line with Jesus’ triple command of love? Are my standards in line with Jesus’
Sermon on the Plain from Luke’s Gospel and Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount? We seldom take time to
examine the source of our beliefs, today’s readings help us with this.
The first Reading is a cut up passage from 1 Samuel’s twenty--sixth chapter. The chapter is only twentyfive
verses long, and our version today leaves out some of the allure and depth of faith in two Old
Testament giants, Saul and David. The scene: Saul had praised David’s slaying of Goliath (1 Samuel
17:17), and places him in charge of the army (1 Samuel 18:15). But soon Saul became very jealous of
David’s fame and plotted to kill him ([1 Samuel 19:1). David had two opportunities to kill Saul but refused
to do so out of respect for “…the Lord’s anointed.” Why was Saul jealous? The prophet Samuel told Saul
that God was replacing him. “But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you because you rejected the
command of the Lord and the Lord rejects you as king of Israel.’” (1 Samuel 15:26). Kingship in Israel placed
service to God foremost, Saul had been relying on material benefits that came with the crown. This is
evident in that he sleeps close to his spear rather than relying on God. Today David continues to show
his values and love for God’s plans by not killing a king anointed by God. God will determine Saul’s
fate. He lets God judge between them on the basis of justice and loyalty. Saul is set on jealousy and
vengeance and David is living as God’s servant and totally committed to God’s plan.
Paul is providing evidence to prove the meaning of Jesus’ Resurrection. If Jesus wasn’t raised from the
dead, why should we even believe or follow Him. He’s dead why follow or worship a dead ‘god’? But
Jesus was raised from the dead…His body was not in the tomb. What does that mean? Death is not the
end…there is more…there is a new life we don’t know about…life with God forever. Paul uses the
example of Adam and Jesus. The first living being, Adam, had a physical body. The second
‘Adam’ (Jesus, God with us, the Christ) NOW possesses a spiritual body. We posses now the physical
body and since Jesus was raised from the dead, “…we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly One.” Our
home is heaven forever with God. This is God’s plan. Am I living according to God’s plan or am I
living the way that I want?
When we read Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), the command to ‘love your
enemies’ is listed after a long series of incredible actions of love toward others. But Luke reverses this
by putting ‘love of enemies’ first. Jesus gives his followers the command to ‘love your enemies’ and
then explains what this will look like in real life. How am I called to imitate God? I must be
compassionate. I must be a good follower and leader in love without being superior to our teacher,
Jesus. I can so easily be a hypocrite in judging others, without looking at myself first. Good trees
produce good fruit…this is the same for me. How do I learn to live in the goodness of the Lord? How
can I be love today?
I read this incredible example from Connections, Sunday Gospels resources, entitled A Chaplain’s
Compassion: “The young chaplain was not prepared for what she experienced the first weeks at the hospital.
First, there was the Vietnam vet whose kidneys were failing him. He routinely insulted and demeaned the nurses
assigned to his care with cruel and crude jokes. At first, the inexperienced chaplain was appalled at the man’s
behavior, but, in time, came to understand why he acted as he did: Once powerful and vital, he was losing his easy
strength and control over his body. He was suddenly vulnerable before women young enough to be his daughters,
so grasped at whatever control he could find. The chaplain began to see him ‘doubly’ as the boor and beggar—and
against her best instincts, the chaplain was moved by his plight.
As the months passed, the chaplain began to see more people ‘doubly’. Patients were routinely racist, sexist,
demanding aggressive or cruel with the nurses and staff — and they are afraid, exhausted, in pain, helpless. In the
hospital, the illusion of control — over the functions a limb or organ, the strength of the hands, the length of the life
— is shoved in the little closet alongside shoes and street clothes, and most people clutch at anything that might
give a taste of it back.
The chaplain writes of those first days: “I would have preferred not to return to the rooms whose occupants turned
their suffering on everyone around them, but duty and my supervisor’s insistence sent me back. I would have
preferred to find excuses for the transgressions confessed to or committed in front of me, but responsibility to the
transgressor stilled my tongue. I still would prefer those options. But my role demands a persistent and sharpedged
compassion, a capacity to — behold both the sin and the sinner, to understand that humans do bad things
that cause real harm and yet remain human. The best service a chaplain provides for a patient is treating them not
as a symptom or a saint but as a whole person, complete with the pack of small evils all of us contain alongside our
better angels. Even after years of practicing this double vision, some days it is more than I can manage…’
It’s a struggle. Sometimes we can find a way to overlook or get past someone’s bad behavior; at other times, the
only thing we can do is walk away, to punish them by our silence or ostracism. But the now-veteran chaplain has
learned compassion, ‘compassion I have had to discover that requires effort and a willingness to hold onto tension,
but it is not complicated to practice. It is as simple as completing the sentence: they are young, and they cause
harm in their thoughtlessness. They desire acceptance, and they act cruelly to get it. They are vulnerable, and
they are punishing others to feel stronger. They are hurting, and they hurt others. Always and. Always stay long
enough for the and.’”
So I reflect on:
• When has living these words of Jesus helped me live Jesus’ command to love?
• What is it that keeps me from loving, praying for, or forgiving those who hurt me?
• When have I overcome the urge and opportunity for getting even out of my love of God?
• If someone were to describe me, would that person name kindness and compassion as my most
outstanding qualities?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“In a way, Jesus takes a lot of pressure off us. He says simply, ‘Don’t judge.’ Think of all the time and energy I can
save by following this one instruction! How much do I want to refrain from judging?
God is ‘kind to the ungrateful and the wicked,' thus, if we act from God’s heart, we will not pick and choose whom
to love. In prayer now, I imagine walking through a typical day with the single agenda of loving without
discrimination.”

February 17, 2019

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Jeremiah 17: 5-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16-20; Luke 6: 17, 20-26
Am I really free? Can I do what I want to do?
Am I obligated to follow certain ways of living? Are wealth, status, comfort, pleasure and approval
the most important aspects of my life? Do the unpleasant parts of life: poverty, grief, hunger and
rejection turn out to be unimportant? Everyone needs security; it is a given. Does my understanding
of security corresponds with God’s? Christian life is all about: prayer, acts of charity and the
sacramental life. How am I doing living this way? Where does opposition come in my life to this
program? When have I been criticized, rejected or persecuted for my faith? How did I feel? Did I
know that God was present?
Do I realize that making the right choices has been a policy that has kept me in tune with God’s plan
for my life and salvation with Him?
Jeremiah’s passage presents two very different scenes before the people. They have to make
choices. The right choice should seem to be obvious. It didn’t seem that way to the people.
Jeremiah was trying to get the leaders to avoid making an enormous mistake. Israel was surrounded
by enemy nations who were strong and constantly threatened to obliterate God’s people militarily.
This is true even today. The leaders were huddled together trying to come up with a plan that would
work. This plan revolved around making an alliance with a strong country that could protect them.
Things haven’t changed down through the centuries. Jeremiah was challenging the people: “Thus
says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart
turns away from the Lord.’” The people are hoping that an alliance with Egypt will rescue them from
the powerful Babylonian empire. Jeremiah counters with the question, ‘Do you trust in the Lord,
your God who loves you, cares for you and has delivered you from slavery in Egypt nine centuries
ago?’ The second scene shows a tree whose roots are well watered and will survive in heat or
drought. This tree represents people that trusts in the Lord. St. Teresa of Avila frequently used the
expression of being near water that is life giving, God giving. Are the people looking to God’s
agenda, His plan or their own? Again, good questions for today?
Paul is writing to the Corinthians. As a whole they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Doesn’t God reward good living? When harm comes to people, doesn’t that mean God is the source
of this harm because the people were being bad? Isn’t death the end? Isn’t life all about living?
Maybe God is a fairy tale? I’m sure this thought has passed through our minds at different times.
Paul tells them and us to look at Jesus’ life; look at His death and most especially His resurrection.
Paul presents an either/or position: “If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among
you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if
Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain…” Why did Jesus come at all? His Resurrection has both
human and divine ramifications. Dead people do not come back to life. Jesus did…this means we
who believe can share in the resurrection, in life after death forever with God in heaven. Those who
have fallen asleep will wake to eternal life.
In Matthew’s gospel we have the Sermon on the Mount which consists of chapters 4 - 6. Luke’s
counterpart is called the Sermon on the Plain from Chapter 6: 20-49. As Matthew’s version is
central to his gospel so is Luke’s to his gospel. We will be hearing this chapter for the next three
weeks, ending just before Lent begins. Matthew is writing for his Jewish audience, Luke for a
mostly gentile audience and he concentrates on concrete economic and faith problems his
communities are experiencing . In both Matthew and Luke the emphasis is on Jesus’ command to
love. Both place the ‘sermon’ early in Jesus’ ministry, but they follow different arrangements due to
their audience. Both start with the ‘Beatitudes’ with Luke’s version giving four ‘beatitudes’ followed
by four ‘woes’. Matthew starts with ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ and Luke starts with ‘Blessed
are you who are poor.’ This makes it much more concrete addressing people who are economically
poor. He follows this by referring to the hungry, the weeping, those who are hated and suffer evil on
account of believing in Jesus, the Son of God. All of the beatitudes are about reversal of fortunes.
For the one whose fortune is lost, look what it leads to: blessings, happiness forever in heaven; as
does those whose life has been blessed and shares their blessings helping and loving all the
individuals God sends them. We see this in Luke’s woes which clearly address those who are
prospering now but are doing so at the expense of the poor, hurting and marginalized. Those who
are enjoying life to the fullest are reminded that their luxury is only temporary; life is as good as it
gets. This will not last because it gives a totally false sense of prosperity. They have the opportunity
and necessity to respond to those who are poor and marginalized, which was Jesus’ constant theme.
Jesus really had a different set of priorities. He explains what leads to ‘woes’ as riches…having a
full stomach…laughing…popularity. Today we call these ‘the American dream.’ Jesus says that
those who are poor, hungry, who weep and are hated and persecuted leads to a different dream: the
kingdom of God’s great reward in heaven. God’s ways are not the ways of the world. God’s love for
all is paramount. What keeps me from loving as Jesus exemplified and taught every moment of His
life? Msgr Chet Michael constantly taught that the three major sin direction in each person’s life is
Pride…Possession…Pleasure. (Fr. Richard Rohr adds Prestige.) The opposite Christian response
signifying true Christian living is Sacrifice…Generosity…Fasting… and perpetual Awareness and
Kindness. How am I living as a true, committed follower of Jesus’ way?
So I reflect on:
• Where do I place my trust?
• When has trust in God surprised me and even blessed me? Do I ever share these as part of my
faith story?
• When have I felt torn between trusting in human beings and trusting in God? Who or what drew
me back to the life-giving waters of God?
• When have I felt all dried-up, unable to offer anything to anyone? What helped me discover the
healing in giving and caring?
• Am I comfortable being poor and dependent on God?
Sacred Space 2019 states
“I try to see which beatitude touches me today, whether because it helps me rejoice in God’s gifts to me or
because I feel a resistance in my heart. I pray for a listening heart.
When my heart is breaking because of the misery of so many today, I must not think that Got has forgotten
them. Instead I thank God that for them the best is yet to come, and I ask to be included among them, at least
as someone who cares about them.”

February 10, 2019

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Isaiah 6: 1-2, 3-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11; Luke 5: 1-11
How would I respond to these questions:
Does God come to me? Or do I go to God?
Do I have to be ‘acceptable, holy and pure’ before God can deal with me? Is there a point at which it is
impossible for me to change my attitude about God? Am I really free to choose God? Or does God require
me to choose Him?
Few of us have ever lived under a monarchy. Yet we have our own opinions about this type of rule. Do
these people feel they have less freedom than in a democracy? We seldom think in these terms but most of
the time the Scriptures were written where a monarchy was in control. Rome controlled the Middle East
during the time of Jesus. King Herod and his ‘family of kings’ were ‘Jewish’ at least in name. They
‘bought’ the title and were allowed the privileges of kings. Rome was ruled by a dictators who felt they had
god-qualities…they thought of themselves as divinity. They were supreme over all.
The scene in the first reading has Isaiah just beginning his tenure as God’s prophet. King Uzziah was king
of Judah. He had begun his reign when he was sixteen and reigned for fifty-two years. The people of Judah
made him king in place of his father Amaziah. Like his father, he was respected and served the Lord
faithfully. After he became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to God. Once he
came into the temple to burn incense which was reserved for the priests. Uzziah became angry and was
raging throughout the temple and leprosy appeared on his forehead, so the priestly leaders forced him out of
the temple. He had leprosy until they day he died. That year of the king’s death, Isaiah began his role as a
prophet. He had a vision which told the prophet to challenge the king and the people to change their ways
because they are on dangerous paths. Isaiah shares the promises of the future birth of Immanuel (chapter 7).
Uzziah died and Isaiah sees the Lord as the King ‘Seated on a high and lofty throne.” This is the only King
they are to serve. Isaiah is totally humbled by this experience and expresses his complete unworthiness to
be in God’s presence, for he is unclean and knows God’s people are unclean (sinners). God steps in and
purifies the prophet by removing his sin with cleansing fire. Something comparable must also take place for
the all the people. We look at this deep message: God cares for us…He gifts us…He loves us. We love but
fall so easily into the ‘me syndrome’ of doing what I want to do because I want to do it. The Messiah will
come, free us of the chains that bind us and grace us to be people of love which will lead us to heaven with
God. It will be a battle filled with suffering but God is with us. Can I be a witness for God? The Lord asks,
“Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah, Paul, and Peter respond and invite each of us to do the same,
“Here I am, send me!”
Paul reminds the people of Corinth of the gospel that he preached and they have received and accepted. The
most important part of his message is that Jesus died for the sins of all. I am loved…I know I am a sinner…
I have been saved, redeemed. I am a loved, redeemed, sinner who like Paul is called each day to be a
person of love. This is only accomplished by the constant influx of God’s grace in every situation of our
lives. Do I let God be God to me? Do I realize that I have been chosen…I am called to witness and to be
love? I can only do this with God’s total help and love which is always present. Do I allow God to be God
to me?
Luke’s gospel passage describes his version of the call of the first disciples. It is much different from
Mark’s version. (Mark 1: 16-20)
After teaching the crowds on the shore, Jesus invites Simon “…Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a
catch.” It must have been quite a scene; Peter had fished all day and was feeling down about not being
successful. He had finished washing his nets and putting them in order, no doubt while listening to the
powerful presentation of this preacher. When Jesus picked him to go in his boat he must have felt so
honored and important in the eyes of those present. Then the bottom fell through. ‘Peter lower your nets…
well Jesus, I know this lake…sometimes it’s great, other times the fish are nowhere to be found.’ “Master, we
have worked hard all night and have caught nothing but at Your command I will lower the nets.” Somehow Peter
recognizes the authority of Jesus’ command. It is unlike anything he has ever heard. It tells him to trust,
believe, and just have faith in Jesus. Peter knows that he is in the presence of a holy man. He doesn’t
hesitate, he follows Jesus and goes into deeper waters and lowers the fishing nets. The catch comes
immediately and it is so huge that Peter called for help from his partners. Powerful experienced arms pulled
the nets into the boats being so careful not to break them. Everyone was working at a feverish pace,
working together, amazed at the miracle catch. Then they stopped, knowing it was not their skill or strength
but the special power Jesus has just demonstrated. Peter said his most humble statement ever, “Depart form
me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” His partners and those with him totally were in agreement, they are in the
presence of holiness. They are sinners, I am a sinner. There is no way that I am worthy to be with the Lord.
Jesus again taught them: It is not about worthiness, it is about love. I am here to tell you that God loves you
all the time. He needs you to help Him bring this love to others. Of course it will seem impossible, and it is
impossible…BUT…God’s grace…His help is always with you helping you establish the fulfillment of His
plan. Can you help? Then Jesus gives the ultimate words of comfort…”Do not be afraid, from now on you will
be catching men.”
Sunday Homily Helps states, “ a) God knows us better than we know ourselves and never has to rush or force us
into anything. Instead, God patiently gets us ready to realize God’s own presence in our lives, just as Peter came to
see it in those unexpected but abundant fish. And Peter reacted first on the human level, calling for help so that the fish
would not go away! b) But then Simon Peter realized the spiritual significance of what had happened physically. God
had come to Peter to show him that he was loved by God. Undoubtedly, God is at work right now, using physical things
to tell spiritual stories in our lives also. c) Peter cannot believe that he is worthy of such love; very often we also are
afraid to believe it, yet God is never reluctant but is always loving us in ways beyond our imagining. d) With all of those
fish, Jesus also taught Simon Peter, James, and John. What is God using right now to catch us?”
I reflect on:
• When has God helped me to become more that I thought I was?
• What would I name as the turning point in my relationship with God?
• How would my life be different if I did not respond to God?
• What call from God might I be resisting today?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“Lord, you tell me, as You told Simon to ‘Put out into the deep water.’ You are ready to surprise me with the depths I
can find in myself, with the work You can do through me. Save me from complacency, from settling for a routine
existence. Open me to recognizing Your hand in my daily encounters.
God’s grace comes to us tailor-made to fit our situation. Can I recall a moment when my efforts to do good were
rewarded beyond my dreams? Did I see then that God was busily at work through me? Or do I tend to say, ‘this can’t
be done; it wouldn’t work!’ and then block God’s action? May I allow God to be for me a God of surprises.”

February 3, 2019

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Jeremiah 1: 4-5, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 12: 31- 12: 13; Luke 4: 21-30
Do I listen to what God is telling me or to what I want to hear from God? Does my belief depend on
what is easy and comfortable for me? Do I realize that God is challenging me to take the next step?
And do I realize that the ‘next step’ is bringing me closer to the Lord and further away from what I want
and desire to happen? Do I believe that God’s way is going to involve rejection from people I like and
will involve a way that is ‘less traveled’? Do I hold to the theory ‘If only He did this (like heal a loved
one…got me that job…helped me get on track with my life…) then I certainly would believe in Him?
The three scripture passages today are some of my favorites because I like their words, their message
and the direction I feel they are leading me. I just have to remember to put God’s spin on them realizing
that He is leading me closer to Himself. It is all about what God is doing to and for me and not about
me and my wants.
An overview of the book of Jeremiah tells us that the prophet brought God’s word to a people that was
unwilling to listen. They had neglected their spirituality and God’s laws. The nation was so weak it was
near collapse. The nation was in crisis. God’s plan was to bring Jeremiah on the scene showing the
people He never abandoned them. He urges them to listen to God’s words through the prophet and he
will show them the way to healing and restoration. We can see in the opening verses that God’s plan has
always been to help, love, care for and forgive His people. Even Jeremiah’s call and vocation predates
his birth: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the
nations I appointed you…stand up and tell them [the people], all that I command you…They will fight against you but
not prevail over you for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” It was definitely not going to be an
easy road, Jeremiah was opposed by many people because they expected a prophet with a nicer, easier
message. Jeremiah continually complains through his many ‘laments’ pleading with God to help and
God never abandons Jeremiah. We must realize that each person born was not an accident but planned
by God. No one can say, ‘I was an accident’. God loved the world and created me to ‘be Jesus’ in my
world. Just look at the slew of gifts God has blessed you/me with…these come with one conclusion:
There are some things, done certain ways, in certain circumstances, that can ONLY be done through you
and me. Think about how profound that is. This shows that there are certain things God wants, expects
and hopes for the world that might never become a reality, unless one particular individual does one
particular thing in one particular circumstance. That’s why the verse,“Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” is so important for
each of us to reflect on. This is what God’s love and plan is all about: the salvation of the world. NOW
HOW CAN THIS BE DONE?
Paul’s oft quoted and beautiful explanation of the gift of love from God shows us the way. God’s plan
can take fruition in each person’s life. Here, as in Jeremiah, Paul is addressing a community torn apart
by factions, by people trying to show their ‘importance’ through the special gifts God has given them.
These people are not showing love of God, rather love of themselves. Look at the negative adjectives
Paul uses: jealous, pompous, inflated, rude, seeking one’s own interests, being quick-tempered,
brooding over injuries, or rejoicing in wrongdoing. Sunday Homily Helps describes it in this way:
“Love is a decision that always requires self-sacrifice. Those who are determined to live a pain-free life
at all cost endue becoming incredibly selfish because their world becomes progressively smaller, for
only they matter.”
Paul lists the attributes of unselfish love: patient, kind, not jealous or rude, not self seeking, hopeful and
never failing. Am I living to make these a part of my daily life?
Jesus began speaking in His home town Nazareth. Unfortunately they expected special treatment. ‘Do
something special for us…showing us You are from here…we deserve this…look at all we have done in
Your development…And how can Jesus be the prophet that Isaiah 61 proclaimed? “The Spirit of the Lord
God 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.” (Luke 4: 18-19) We know You… Joseph’s son, nothing more, nothing less. Luke then tells of two
Old Testament prophets, Elijah and Elisha, and their experiences. During a severe famine, Elijah was
sent to help a poor widow, who was considered of the lowest class and not to the many other needy
people. Elisha was sent to heal a gentile leper even though there were many Jewish lepers needing help.
God’s help is universal…all are loved…no one has an upper hand. Now the people were really upset to
the point they wanted to throw Jesus over the steep cliff, but He “…passed through the midst of them and
went away.”
The common element we see in Jeremiah and Paul and Jesus in Nazareth is that God is challenging our
mind set versus His plan. Am I a witness of God or a proclaimer of my way? Living the Word shares a
powerful reflection: “It seems that the prophetic skill set requires the ability to handle rejection and
continue prophesying no matter what. Like the love that Paul describes, a prophet needs to bear, endure
and hope for all things. A prophet needs to love as God loves us. A prophet needs patience, kindness,
truthfulness, to be without guile, jealousy, rudeness or quick temper. A prophet needs the same kind of
love that God shows each of us and calls us to show one another. Because we were formed in God’s
image and likeness in our mother’s wombs, we are called to love. We may not be a prophet, but part of
all our job descriptions is to announce God’s word by how we live. Open to that word, some will be
open to us. Resisting that word, some will resist us. Remember, God is with us and will help us do our
job. Resistance is futile!”
I reflect on:
• How have I experienced resistance to announcing God’s word?
• What helps me cope in the face of rejection, doubt, or opposition?
• When have I felt with absolute certainty that God was with me in a struggle? What circumstances
helped me through this?
• There is no coincidence with God…do I believe that I was called before I was born?
• Whom do I really love? In what ways do I need to grow in love?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“Coming as Savior to visit His people, Jesus intends to lift their troubles from their shoulders—but effort is needed
on their part too. He tells the townspeople of Nazareth that it’s not just a question of spectacle, of a show of
miracles. A deep change of heart will be required.
Jesus offers healing and help to me, but am I open to allow Him to act in my life?