March 31, 2019

4th Sunday of Lent C
Joshua 5: 9-12; 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21; Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
How am I loving? Do I tend to be jealous of what others have? Do I feel that I am deserving? Do I look to God
to supply me with all my desires? Do I take time to assess the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given me? Do I
review what those close to me tell me about myself…ex. ‘You are so kind…you seem to always pick me up…
you are always present to me…You are sincere in your caring…I know that I am special to you…You never
disappoint me in figuring out my needs and responding to them…you are a dear friend. This list goes on and
on because the Holy Spirit’s giving goes on and on. Do I reflect on being grateful?…Do I feel that ‘I’m good at
these things and I’ve developed these talents myself…OR…am I grateful to the Holy Spirit for continually
coming to my aid so that I can respond with love and caring?’
In my experience I have witnessed defining moments when people ‘grow up’. I have discovered countless of
these moments down through the years. Each time, the Holy Spirit is leading me closer to the meaning of God’s
love and the meaning and direction of the life plan that God has for me. Some of these moments have been
sudden revelations, some slow, sometimes painful or embarrassing times when I have discovered what God’s
total love for me is all about. They have encompassed all sorts of moments:
- when I was very upset because I had to change plans…I was unhappy and responded rudely showing my
selfishness
- when I was embarrassed and saw for a second who I actually was rather than who I thought I was or wanted
to be or really wanted other people to think I was.
- the times I walked away in anger because I wasn’t the center of attention or I was being laughed at or
ridiculed instead of seeing the truth of myself others observed.
After forty years of wandering in the desert, the first reading tells how the Israelites had finally arrived at the
Jordan River to go into the Promised Land. The generation that had left Egypt had died off because of their
total lack of trust in God. Now their descendants, since they have shown definite signs of faith, are set to enjoy
God’s promises. They have accepted circumcision which was a sign of the covenant God imposed on Abraham
and his descendants. (Joshua 5: 1-8.) Their families had left Egypt…God had rescued them…they continually
objected to God’s plan…they had problems believing in God’s plan of leading them into a land of abundance.
This generation had faith. They no longer need the manna that fed them. Now they begin a journey of inner
faith…they have put God first in their lives…God is with them, cares for them and is leading them to Himself.
He is now preparing them and their descendants for His continued revelation and understanding of the Messiah,
Jesus, God with them and leading them to Himself.
Paul explains this discovery by showing how through Christ our bond with God has been restored. The people
had rejected God’s love and God’s plan. You would think that it would be up to the people to begin
reconciliation. God was the offended party, the generation of people wandering in the desert constantly
betrayed God and worshipped idols…shouldn’t they ask for forgiveness? They did but it was never totally
sincere. Paul shows how God has reversed the need for forgiveness and initiated reconciliation: “God was
reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of
reconciliation.” Paul is telling the Corinthians and each of us that now WE are entrusted to the task of Living the
Gospel of Love. This is God’s plan from all eternity. Paul says that we are the “ambassadors for Christ” bringing
the Good News of God’s love to the world. Am I aware of this responsibility? Do I live this responsibility? Do
I take time to think more of myself than this direct mission from God? What keeps me on track?
Jesus presents such beautiful story of God’s constant love and His leading us always closer to Himself in spite
of my disruptive tendencies. The story of the Prodigal Son.
[Side note — Henri Nouwen’s Return of the Prodigal Son, A story of Homecoming is beyond GREAT. New Oxford
Review describes it in this way: “The Return of the Prodigal Son is beautiful book, as beautiful in the simple clarity of its
wisdom as in the terrible beauty of the transformation to which it calls us.”]
The parable of the Prodigal Son is only found in Luke’s gospel. He constantly emphasizes God’s forgiveness.
Luke is absolutely convinced that anyone who is willing to repent and return to God is totally assured of God’s
absolute forgiveness. In Luke’s story we see that God’s forgiveness is much more radical than we see in his
other gospel stories. When we read the story, and we should do this constantly, we see that the main character is
not the two sons but the father. We might want to say that the father was not very successful in training and
raising his children. But the reality is the opposite: look at the total, unconditional love of the father. The
younger son is referred to as the Prodigal son, but nowhere in the New Testament is this word found. The son
does live a life of irresponsibility, shaming the family name. But he comes to his senses…this is the story of
my life…I’m sure I’m not alone. He did not repent at first…he just ’came to his senses.’ Once he decides to
return home, his life changes so much. His father treats him as God treats each person all the time…He will
not hear of repentance or even an apology…He just loves. This tells us exactly what God is like. Do I
realize this? Along comes the older son who is wrapped up in the ‘poor me’s’ and does not realize his father’s
constant love…he just cares for himself and can’t see that true love entails forgiveness.
Sunday Homily Helps gives this beautiful application: “God does this for us. All have been the younger son at
some time. We’ve known the pain of estrangement, the feeling of unworthiness, the desire to come home.
A. The priest in the confessional is there to welcome us home and invite us back to the banquet. Confessors sin also.
B. We do not have to be perfect to come home; we only have to be sorry for our sins and desire to love God more
The Church, after all, is not a hotel for saints. It is a hospital for sinners.
C. We are all sinners who want to be more holy—the priest in the confessional as well as the one confessing. If you
have been away Lent is a good time to come home.”
So I reflect on:
• How can I hear today’s reading as being addressed directed toward me?
• With whom do I need to be reconciled?
• What riches have I squandered?
• What experiences of being forgiven stands out for me?
Sacred Space 2016 states: (used old issue)
“So many of Jesus’ parables, like this one, startle their hearers with their shocking picture of God’s inclusive love…Every
single person is important to God. Do you feel that way about yourself? Do you treat others with that same awareness?
The Pharisees and scribes resented Jesus when He dared to welcome sinners. Like the older son in the story, they were
insiders, the faithful ones who felt they had earned God’s favor. Now they were being asked not to exclude those who had
sinned but to rejoice over their repentance. God calls us to look for opportunities to overcome our prejudices and desire to
exclude and instead to embrace God’s mercy.”

March 24, 2019

3rd Sunday of Lent C
Exodus Exodus 3: 1-8, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12; Luke 13: 1-9
We have arrived at the half-way point of Lent.
Easter is April 21, Palm Sunday and Holy Week begin on April 14. Exodus and Paul’s letter to the
Corinthians show us God’s concern. He cares for the Israelites living a horrible life of servitude in Egypt.
They are not respected and have lost all value as persons to the Egyptians. They are watched, enslaved,
beaten to produce and build whatever the Pharaoh wants. They have no freedoms, they are given no love,
they are just slaves. Paul is putting their rescue by God and the following sojourn in the desert into
perspective. They have received God’s total encompassing love. How are the Corinthians responding to
this? How did the Israelites in the desert respond? Is gratitude to God common place in their lives? Have
they given up on God? Are they turning to evil things which gave temporary satisfaction but actually lead
them away from God’s love? We turn to ourselves: has our Lent been a quiet, joyful even, time of year?
Has it been a time of change in ourselves? Has it been a time of prayerful, self-reflection? Has it been a
time that has brought us closer to our Loving, Forgiving, Merciful God? We turn to the wisdom and
examples of today’s Scripture to continue our preparation for Easter.
Moses’ life is contained so briefly in the second chapter of Exodus, yet it covers a period of over forty years.
According to the Torah, the tribe of Levi is named after one of the twelve sons of Jacob, Levi. A man from
this tribe married a Levite woman and conceived a son. Because Pharaoh had decreed that every male child
should be thrown into the Nile River, the mother hid the baby in a basket, placed it in the river with her own
sister watching to see if anyone came to the rescue. Pharaoh’s daughter was the ‘heroine’. The ‘sister’
asked if a Levite woman could nurse the baby. The daughter said yes and Moses was given back to his
mother. When Moses was older, the Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses as her son. Acts of the Apostles
7:23, states: “When he [Moses] was forty years old he decided to visit his kinsfolk, the Israelites”. He saw an
Egyptian attacking a Hebrew, and jumped in and killed the Egyptian. Moses hid the body. This became
known and Moses fled because he knew the Pharaoh was after him. Moses traveled to the land of Midian,
western Saudi Arabia, and saw seven daughters of Jethro, a priest of Midian, trying to draw water but
shepherds prevented this. Moses rescued them. They brought Moses to their father and he offered Moses a
job and eventually married his daughter Zipporah. They had a son, whom they named Gershon. Then
comes today’s Burning Bush marvelous miracle. This begins the dramatic transformation of Moses. He saw
the bush engulfed in flames yet unharmed. This shows that the relationship between God and people is
totally protected by God’s presence. God is with me, all the time…and He loves me all the time…just the
way that I am…Jesus constantly repeated this in the Gospels. The Israelite people have cried out to God
and God responds. I ask God for help and He responds…always…maybe it’s as I wish it …maybe totally
different…but the response is always with love, respect, gentleness and mercy. God gives His Name to
Moses, “.I am who am”… another way to express this —The One who is—which symbolize God’s eternity in
contrast to our limited existence. God is with us in the challenges that constantly present themselves. They
bring so many heartaches and worries, yet just knowing that God never deserts us is the key.
Paul explains to the Corinthians and us that the bond with God has been restored through Jesus. So the
question is what are we to do? I respond by putting my old ways behind me and follow the way that Jesus
showed me. I must bring this good news of God’s love to all in my world. Paul’s message is always one of
hope. It is definitely not easy to live the Christian life. I am distracted constantly. Other paths seem very
attractive, but the devil is behind these. Paul shares that the Holy Spirit is always with us. We see this in
Paul’s often quoted advice, Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more’ meaning that God’s grace
outmatches the constancy of sin. If I follow the Lord, the Lord does all the rest. His love is eternal…His
grace is always present to those who love Him. Do I ask for God’s help? Or do I think I can get out of my
messes all by myself?
Repentance is one of the major themes throughout Luke’s gospel. He tells us repeatedly that anyone who is
willing to repent and ask for God’s help, forgiveness is a given. Today we have two events that are only in
Luke’s account that adds credence to God’s care. The first has to do with a strange event where Pilate
mingled the Galileans’s blood with their sacrifices. Pilate was known for his vicious violence, even Roman
sources echo this passion. In this passage, Pilate picked out random victims. The warning is that this could
happen at any time, to anyone. The same dynamic is in the account of the tower collapsing at Siloam. Who
died…it wasn’t a penalty for a person’s sin, it just happened. We see the fig tree…can it be saved…
perhaps. What counts is that the owner somewhat agrees to save it. The emphasis here is on compassion.
Sunday Homily Helps puts it this way: “…this tree is in crisis. If it does not produce fruit, it will be cut
down. This characterizes Jesus’ approach to sinners. Jesus clearly manifests compassion when dealing
with sinners. But He also demands accountability and does not deal in cheap grace. Forgiveness requires
repentance.” It continues with this special conclusion:
A. “Who can’t identify with this parable? It calls us to be nonjudgmental, to accept others for where they
are at this time in their lives. Each of us ‘blooms or bears fruit’ in his or her own time, some early,
some later on in life. The fig tree parable inspires us to patience.
B. No one likes to wait. Our culture demands immediate satisfaction.
C. May God help us to take time to stop and examine our own lives before speeding off again into the
journey of life.”
So I reflect on:
• When and where have I recently heard God’s call? How did I know it was from God? How did I
struggle with that call?
• Do I reflect on things that help me realize my time on earth is limited: hurricanes; tornados, earthquakes,
fires, floods, death or illness, biopsies, traffic accidents?
• When has God given me a second chance? What did it tell me about God? God heard the cries of the
suffering Hebrews, does this give me courage to cry out to God?
• God will not abandon anyone…why do I feel that this doesn’t apply to me? Where do I struggle with
knowing God loves me?
Sacred Space 2016 states: (went to year 2016)
• “Jesus comments on the news stories of His time. Just as in our time, narratives of destruction and distress
capture the attention. As always, Jesus is telling us not only to look outward but to look inward as well; He is
concerned with what is going on in our heads and what is happening in our hearts. We can ask ourselves how God
is opening us to compassion, prompting us to repentance and leading us to life.
• Jesus often speaks of the need to repent. This means turning away from anything that is not of God. I ask to be
brought more and more into the world of goodness and love, of light and truth. I want to be a genuine disciple.”

March 17, 2019

2nd Sunday of Lent
Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9: 28-36
Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Second Sunday of Lent. How is it going so far with your plans and
resolutions? I believe that it is better to observe Lent one day at a time, because each day is a new day
discovering that God is with us and loves us intensely and unconditionally.
Today’s readings present three situations of believing people who are experiencing doubt, hardships and
confusion: Abraham, Paul and the Philippi community and the disciples at the Transfiguration of Jesus.
I can identify with all of them. I find myself becoming so busy and caught up in work and surrounded
by disruptions all around me that I focus on maintaining a balance in my daily and spiritual life. The
inherent danger in this is that I tend to feel that I am in control. I fail to quiet myself down to hear God’s
word of pledge and promise that He is always with me, leading me closer to Himself. I also miss His
daily blessings and my responses of gratitude that grow me closer to the Lord.
In the previous chapters, God had blessed Abraham considerably and protected him in Egypt. In spite of
this Abraham was depressed: “O Lord God, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless…see you
have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” (Genesis 15: 2-4) God said that would not
be the case and gave today’s opening lines: “The Lord God took Abram outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky
and count the stars, if you can. Just so shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15: 5) Abraham believes but still
harbors doubts on converging Canaan because of the tribes occupying that land. To calm Abraham’s
fears, God turns to the ritual of covenant. This might seem strange to us, but it was a fairly common
practice in the ancient world involving placing portions of slaughtered animals opposite each other.
People would then walk through the middle of the divided animals to show how seriously they were in
keeping this covenant. If they violated any part of the agreement they would run the risk of being
slaughtered like the animals. In this case, the smoking fire pot and a flaming torch represents God
taking an oath and sealing the covenant. Abraham hears God’s promise…God continues to make the
same promise to us. The very last words in Matthew’s gospel: “The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the
mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus
approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.’”
How can I continue to doubt that God is not with me? This is His promise. God never lies. Help me
Lord.
Paul is offering his own spiritual journey as a model for the people of Philippi to follow and for each of
us. The thought comes to mind that Paul is being very boastful, but this was an effective tool for
teaching in the Greco-Roman world. Paul is writing from prison. This certainly isn’t a pleasant place to
be and Paul knows that he will be facing death. He has put aside all his worldly interests to live a life
centered on Jesus. This wasn’t an arrogant statement rather it was a humble simple statement saying
that Jesus suffered and died for me to save me and show God’s love for me, can’t I do the same in my
world which is totally concerned with self and not wanting to be loving, caring, forgiving, merciful
followers of Jesus? By suffering, Paul and each of us share in the suffering of Christ crucified. When
we live this way we really are confirming the fact that we will receive glory from God, forever in
Heaven….God’s promise!
Thus far in the gospel of Luke, the question that has been emerging is ‘Who is Jesus?’ As chapter 9
opens we hear, “Herod, the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because
some were saying, ‘John has been raised from the dead’; others were saying, ‘Elijah has appeared’; still others,
‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ But Herod said, ‘John I beheaded. Who is this about whom I hear such
things?’ And he kept trying to see Him.’”(Luke 9: 7-9) What follows is the feeding of the five thousand at
Bethsaida; Peter’s response to Jesus’ question, ‘You are the Messiah of God’; Jesus giving His first
prediction of His passion, death and resurrection; and the conditions of discipleship, ‘If anyone wishes to
come after Me, they must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
Peter, James and John are with Jesus at most of the key experiences in His life. In today’s scene Jesus
took them up a mountain to pray. So often Jesus is described as being in prayer before some major
event in His life. Can I be described in the same way? I’m afraid not.
The event of the Transfiguration is related very simply: “While He was praying His face changed in
appearance and His clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with Him, Moses and
Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His exodus that He was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” There is
no explanation why Moses and Elijah are there. Perhaps Moses symbolize the Ten Commandments and
Elijah symbolize the prophets describing divine revelation to that point. Now Jesus’ transfiguration
symbolized the total fullness of God’s Plan. The pinnacle of the story is the voice of God that comes
from the cloud, “This is My chosen Son, listen to Him.” (Luke 9:35) Notice the result that follows is total
silence. It will take the remainder of the Gospel to fully comprehend the meaning of this Divine Event.
The apostles have been touched with a sight of the Divine Realm. Jesus will suffer, die and then rise in
glory. The end of the story has been revealed, but the end hasn’t arrived. So often I feel that I am
walking around in a fog, symbolized by a cloud in today’s Gospel. I can’t see ahead; I can be worried,
terrified even, am I listening to the active, positive, consistent signs from God that tell of His love and
His constant presence? I must take precious times of silence to be with my loving God. He’s with me,
with everyone; loving, caring and leading us on our journey to the Promised Land, Heaven.
So I reflect on:
• I look at experiences of God, Jesus, the Spirit that has changed my life. Have I been grateful? Have I
asked for the grace to understand these moments?
• I look at the times when I was enveloped in the clouds and fogs; how did hope and clarity come?
• When did I encounter God? How has that encounter changed me?
• Do I have a covenant with God? What is it? How often do I reflect on it? Renew it? Rejuvenate it?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“Peter and John and James were privileged to see Jesus in His full dignity. We can see one another in the same
way, with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. At all sacramental moments, we see those we love in their true
dignity as human beings beloved of God. The dreams for this perfect infant at baptism, the blessing with gifts at
confirmation, the beauty of forgiveness at reconciliation, the warmth of communion, the hope for healing at the
sacrament of anointing of the sick, the dignity of covenant love at matrimony, the beauty of service at ordination.
Fine clothing sometimes makes us even gasp with admiration.
When have your eyes been opened to the full dignity of another person? Recall that moment and savor it,
thanking God for the gift of His vision.”

March 10, 2019

1st Sunday of Lent C
Deuteronomy 26: 4-10; Romans 10: 8-13; Luke 4: 1-13
We are beginning Lent, automatically we think, ‘What am I going to give up?’ Some other questions
could be, What am I going to think about each day? What disturbing, annoying habit can I address
positively during this season? How does God view me and what are His hopes for me? Could I
spend time just looking at the gifts that I have been blessed with and see if I am using these to their
fullest? In my past Lents I have made all sorts of resolutions, could I try this year dividing up Lent
into six weeks and look at one aspect of my life with God?
Some possible themes:
• my skepticism and my hope
• my self-centered wants and the common good of those I’m with
• my desire for worldly things and the permanence of the Kingdom of God
• opening my eyes to see God’s presence
• opening my ears to hear God’s voice
• opening my heart to worship God by offering unconditional merciful love to others.
In the first reading, Moses is addressing the assembled tribes of Israel. He is trying, as he so often
did, to motivate them to consistently remain loyal to God. They have been freed from Egypt. They
were on their way to a ‘land flowing with milk and honey’ and had encountered so many obstacles and
distractions. Moses is taking a positive approach asking them to remember the wonderful blessings
God has already delivered and what is ahead of them in the Promised Land, most especially the
abundance of their harvests. The problem to watch out for is the belief that they can do it all on their
own. Now that they are free they don’t need God. Moses said this would lose it all for them. The
remedy is to always be grateful. They can show this by bringing their first fruits at harvest time to
the priests. The slavery in Egypt happened because they had wandered from their faith. God is
always present and delivered them, they could not do it on their own. The ‘Promised Land’ will be
filled with abundance. The rich pastures will provide plenty of grazing land for their cows. The
many flowering fruit trees will provide abundant nectar for the bees. All this is a gift from God.
This gift can be lost so easily by becoming complacent in their relationship with God. Do I do the
same? How is it at the beginning of each year I make resolutions and at the beginning of Lent I try
to get on track with the Lord? What is it that distracts me and takes my focus away from God and
onto myself? God has blessed me, do I share my blessings and gifts or am I selective in sharing and
giving? This takes away from my gratitude. As Msgr. Chet Michael said so frequently: ‘Gratitude,
Gratitude, Gratitude…and more Gratitude.’ AM I LIVING THIS?
Pauls’ letter to the Romans has always held a special place since it is the longest and the most
systematic unfolding of his thinking. It is God who saves all who believe and this is directed to all
people. Paul wrote this letter from Greece, probably Corinth and planned to travel to Rome on his
way to Spain. Paul is recounting that very few Jews recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. Yet the
mercy of God has been a constant throughout their history. Despite Israel’s lack of faith in Jesus’
Death and Resurrection, Paul does not abandon hope for her salvation. The conversion of the
Gentiles is proof of the acceptance of Jesus as the prophets predicted. Paul is telling the Romans
that in recognizing the Messiah’s arrival, the Mosaic Law has been replaced. Now Faith in God’s
saving action in Jesus Christ now takes precedence. To profess faith in Jesus in the first century was
very hazardous. The footnote in the Catholic Study Bible states: “For a Jew it could mean disruption of
normal familial and other social relationships, including great economic sacrifice. In the face of penalties
imposed by the secular world, Christians are assured that no one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame.”
So Paul wants his readers to be spiritually mature. In their hearts they should continue to nurture
their believe in the resurrection of Jesus and in their actions they should profess their faith. Faith has
to be lived out…not just spoken about. If I believe, I have to live that belief. How can people love
God if they don’t see God’s love in me?
In the Gospel, Luke presents the temptations of Jesus in the Judean desert. From the last line, “When
the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time” we can see that Jesus had to face
continued challenges and struggles throughout His ministry. Here the devil is tempting Jesus
through tests to prove that He is actually the Son of God. The devil starts with a “IF” clause
implying that Jesus ISN’T who He claims to be. Jesus isn’t being tempted to do something evil or
immoral, just to do what the devil tells Him. This refers to Deuteronomy 8:2-3, “Remember how for
forty years now the Lord, your God, has directed all our journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction
and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep HIs commandments. He therefore let you be afflicted
with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that
not by bread alone does man live but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord.” Do I live
as the Lord says or do I like my own sweet way? The second temptation focuses on the devil
offering Jesus power and glory over the whole world. Jesus chooses to serve God over the devil. Do
I look after me as most important? The third temptation the devil wants Jesus to prove His
messiahship the devil’s way. Jesus will not do anything to prove His messiahship. Recognizing
Jesus as the Son of God can be achieved only through faith, which is a gift, never by extraordinary
acts of power. The devil loses this round, but will return later in the form of Judas.
So I reflect on:
• When has recalling a painful memory freed me to find hope and healing?
• What needs to change in my life to worship only God this Lent?
• What temptations have I faced recently and refused? What did I learn from this?
• What are my recent temptations, do they seem to follow a pattern?
• Does the pattern seem to drag me down as a person and distract me from feeling loved by God?
God loves me…the devil deals with hate…hating myself, others, God. Do I call on God to help?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“Lord, You told of these temptations to Your disciples—how else would they have known? Can I put words on
my own temptations, the weaknesses or wickedness that draw me in particular? Can I see my temptations as
You did, against the backdrop of the vocation to which You call me?
Jesus, like Moses before Him, retreats into the wilderness where He fasts for forty days. Each temptation
involves a seizure of power: power over the elements of creation by turning stones into bread; political and
military power by gaining power over the kingdoms of the world; and the power to force God’s protection in an
inappropriate manner. That Jesus was tested throughout His ministry was widely held in early Christianity. The
letter to the Hebrews tells us, ‘For do we not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have One who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.’”

March 3, 2019

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Sirach 27: 4-7; 1 Corinthians 15: 54-58; Luke 6: 39-45
I look forward to take time away and to look at myself and how I am living with the Lord. My ‘peace’
spot is Holy Cross Abbey with the Trappists at Berryville, Virginia and spending time with my Spiritual
Director. I know how the devil tempts me, sometimes powerfully like an attack, other times subtly. He
also is cunning, powerful, deceitful along with a perpetual distractor away from God’s truth. Life is a
continual process of re-directing my life toward the Lord. Jesus was a constant critic of people’s
hypocrisy because it is rooted in falsehood and deception. Religious leaders were especially susceptible.
So I look at how I am doing in living Christ’s life.
This is a great story from Mark Twain. He was at a dinner party whose guests included a highly
successful businessman. HIs money came by unscrupulously and aggressively squeezing money from
his clients and tenants. At one point, this man cornered Twain and piously stately, ‘Before I die, Mr.
Twain, I intend to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I want to climb to the top of Mount Sinai and
read the Ten Commandments aloud.’ In his unique wisdom, Twain sarcastically responded,’Why don’t
you stay right here in Boston and keep them.’ Mr Twain knew quite a bit about religion and human
nature as do each of us. This businessman’s worst transgression was making the idol worship of making
money ‘his god.’ Do the words I use coincide with the love God fills me with and must be central in my
heart? Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘People are very inclined to set moral standards for others.’ Do I use
the same standards to manage my own life?
The first reading today is from Sirach which in previous generations was known as ‘Ecclesiasticus’
which means ‘Church book’. It is filled with a treasury of wise and helpful teachings. Todays advice is
to be discerning in judging others. Appearances can be deceiving. The author gives three interesting
examples: a sieve filled with fine grain, a beautiful clay handiwork and a fruit bearing tree. All look
impressive but not really because when the sieve is shaken inedible husks appear; when the clay
emerges from the kiln it is broken or cracked; and the fruit from the tree tastes horribly. Sirach the
author cautions against praising people until their speech proves them praiseworthy. My speech reveals
what is going on inside of me.
Do I see clearly or is the beam in my own eye blinding me? My words describe my focus. When people
talk to me, am I concerned and preparing my answer even before they finish? Do I have to tell a bigger
tale, or a more adventurous one, or a more humorous one? What is that telling me about myself? Am I
more concerned with me and miss the tone of the other’s voice which so often contains a cry for help,
comfort and love?
Paul has been addressing a number of needs from the Corinthian community. The footnote in Catholic
Study Bible shows his concern: some are denying the resurrection of the dead. “… apparently because of
their inability to imagine how any kind of bodily existence could be possible after death. It is plausibly supposed
that their attitude stems from Greek anthropology, which looks with contempt upon matter and would be content
with the survival of the soul, and perhaps also from an over realized eschatology of gnostic coloration, which
considers the resurrection a purely spiritual experience already achieved in baptism and in the forgiveness of sins.”
Paul says no: the corruptible will take on incorruptibility and what is mortal will take on immortality.
Since death results from sin, Christ’s defeat of sin means the defeat of death. The Corinthians must
remain steadfast in their faith. For them and us, each person is to be grateful for our redemption by
Jesus and must commit ourselves fully to the service of God. Is God important to me each day or do I
put other ‘idols’ in His place? What are my priorities…what is most important to me…what is most
valuable to me? The old question still fits: ‘If my house is on fire, what would I save first?’
Today’s gospel collects from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain wisdom sayings, instructions on how to live out
one’s covenantal relationship with God by imitating God in each facet of my life; Jesus shows me how
to do this. A follower of Jesus must be compassionate as Jesus was compassionate, as God is
compassionate to me each and every day. I must follow what Jesus says…but Jesus is always in the
lead, He is to be the most important person in my life. I am a privileged, loved, redeemed sinner.
Gratitude and living the daily life of love, mercy and forgiveness are my task, no exception, and doing
this all the time. Jesus teaches today point blankly on judging others: it is not to be tolerated! Not only
is judging others wrong, but much of time I spend doing this, shows the hypocrisy I am living. The
splinter detected in another’s eye reflects a wooden beam in my eye when I judge. I must look full time
my own deficiencies and wrongdoings. It is a wonderful examen at the end of the day to see what my
day was like: where did I see God, what message was God giving me, was He telling me and showing
me how to love deeper because all He showed me was His love. Did I express gratitude for this? Why
not? Sunday Homily Helps states: “Discipleship is following in the footsteps of the Teacher, realizing
that imitating Him is equal to imitating God. It requires mutual admonition, correction, and
encouragement. All of this is a profile for living in the kingdom of God.”
Some interesting quotes:
• Journalist Mignon McLaughlin: “Children lack morality, but they also lack fake morality.”
• Phillip Yancey, a former editor at Christianity Today: “I know only two alternatives to hypocrisy:
perfection or honesty.”
• William Hazlitt, an essayist: “The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a
hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.”
• An old Latin phrase: Corruptio optima passim est means “The corruption of the best is worst of all.”
So I reflect on:
• What would a verbatim of my interactions with others tell them about me? Do some stand out that I
should reflect on today?
• How do I use my word: to invite healing or inflict harm? How am I showing Jesus’ love, mercy,
forgiveness?
• What things bug me about the people in my daily life? How many ‘specks’ do I focus on in my own
life?
• Who has patiently pruned and trained me? What gratitude have I shown them?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“It’s a straightforward principle: I won’t help others by pointing out their problems or sins while I am ignoring my
own. In fact, my sins become obstacles to clear sight. May I use my irritation at others’ sins as a prompt to search
my own heart.
Another simple idea: A good heart produces good actions. If I’m not happy with my actions, I tend to focus on the
factions and feel guilty about them. Wouldn’t it make more sense to explore what it is within me that has led to
these actions? Help me, God—I need wisdom.”