XIII Sunday in OT:[C]: I Kg 19, 16-21; Gal 5, 1.13-18; Lk 9, 51-62

XIII Sunday in OT:[C]: I Kg 19, 16-21; Gal 5, 1.13-18;  Lk 9, 51-62

On this 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Church encourages us to: “Acclaim Jesus Christ who is more to us than the entire world, and whose Spirit has made us resolve to follow him wherever he leads us.” In the readings of today, one would at a close glance find themes like: Calling, Following Christ, Commitment, etc. All of these point to one central theme – Total Commitment in Serving the Lord.

 

Eleven year old Yadu disturbed his uncle (a priest) so much about going to spend his next long vacation in his parish. Knowing the solitary nature of the parish house and his busy schedule, his uncle tried to dissuade him but to no avail. Eventually, his uncle caved in to his demand and asked his mother to bring him. Yadu arrived on Friday, spent the weekend, and by Mondaymorning he has packed his bag ready to end his vacation. He went to his uncle and asked him to take him home immediately. His uncle knew his problem. Yadu could not cope with the solitude of the Parish house in spite of the food and TV channels at his beck and call. He was asked to wait till the weekend for his mother to come and pick him. Reluctantly, he agreed and waited for Friday to come. Very early on Friday morning Yadu picked up his bag and told his uncle: “I am going home whether Mummy comes or not!” Most Christians are like Yadu, quick to follow but without much commitment. God calls us to do things, to embrace a particular life, and it may not be in quite the way we expect it to be or even want it to be.

Our first reading today begins with God’s selection of a young man named Elisha to be the successor of the very famous prophet Elijah. God speaks to Elijah and tells him to go find a young farmer named Elisha and anoint him as a prophet and successor. Elisha acts somewhat strangely by our standards and simply finds the boy in a field and throws a cloak over him and walks away. For whatever reason Elisha seems to know what Elijah and God are asking him, so he asks if he can say goodbye to his parents, and as a symbol of leaving everything behind, he kills all his oxen and gives them as food. He “killed everything” that could constitute a distraction to serving God. He has nothing left of his own, so he goes and follows Elijah as his servant.  And he stays his servant and  lives in Elijah’s shadow for eight years. Eventually he does become a successor and a prophet of Israel, but he always remains in the shadow of Elijah who was one of the most famous of Israel’s prophets.  Elisha is noted for hearing the call of God and following it without question. He had been a farmer, but lowered himself to a servant in the process. He left his parents and his life to do God’s will.

Is it not baffling today that Christians are not committed to Christ in spite of our Baptismal, Religious and even Marital vows to follow Christ? This is because, our Oxen still lives. We must “slaughter” them as a sign of total commitment to Jesus Christ or, our attention will continue to be divided because: “You cannot serve God and Marmon at the same time” (Lk 16, 13).

In the second reading Paul reminds us of the freedom we have in Christ. This freedom like the one Elisha got from his service to his oxen is for a purpose. This freedom enables us to be free from other commitments that enslave us in order to be totally committed to Christ. Therefore, it is freedom not to be wasted on frivolities of life. That is what Paul describes as “self indulgence.” It is not freedom to become busy-bodies or a mediocre. Instead, it is freedom to follow and serve the Lord closely. Jean Jacques Rousseau in one of his philosophical thesis writes: “Man is free, but everywhere in chains.” Therefore ours is a freedom that also binds us to Christ and Charity towards others. This is why Paul says: “I am in chains because of Christ” (Phil 1, 13). Yes, even though he was saved from the perils of the world, he remained “a slave” for a worthy course. In short, ours is a freedom that helps us commit our entire life’s endeavour to Christ and his course: “But once I found Christ, all those things that I might count as profit, I reckon as loss” (Phil 3, 7-8). Yes, we have freedom but it is for the sake of serving Christ.

Joke:  A visitor preacher gave his hat to the ushers so they could pass it around for a goodwill offering.  When it came back to the preacher, it was nearly empty.                   But the preacher didn’t flinch.  He raised the hat to heaven and said, “I thank you, lord that I got my hat back from this congregation!”     Note: It happened not here, but elsewhere.

The gospel brings us to the zenith of this total commitment to the Lord. In it, Christ himself saw the lopsided nature of the commitment of the young men wishing to follow him. Having addressed their individual situations and complains, He makes a categorical statement: “Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Of course, we know the consequences of looking back. It turned Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt (Gen 19, 26). What Christ means and wants here is total commitment! This is not neglecting the fact that occasionally we might go off the track. However, when we do, we must as a matter of urgency return to the Lord. “Looking back” is therefore a dangerous venture in our Christian journey.

Like Elisha, we must “slaughter” or “kill” all the forces, obstacles and vices like: selfishness, materialism, greed, pride, laziness, immorality, cheating, backbiting, gossiping avarice, nepotism, tribalism, etcetera, that prevent us from serving the Lord well. This is the only way we can cry out and say: “O Lord, you are my portion and cup.” If we are totally committed to the Lord, He will definitely show us the part of life and true freedom in this world and beyond.

Introduction: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: Elisha is summoned to follow the prophet Elijah and to succeed him.  Jesus insists that those who follow him must abandon all material or psychological securities, walking ever forward without looking back.  Paul distinguishes between true freedom and license.

Saints and events in this week: 1-Monday-Blessed Junipero Serra, priest from USA; 3-Wednesday-Saint Thomas, Apostle; 5-Friday-Saint Anthony Zaccaria, priest; Saint Elizabeth of Portugal from USA; 6-Saturday-Saint Maria Goretti, virgin, martyr

XII Sunday in OT: [C]: Zech 12:10-11; Gal 3:23-29; Lk9:18-22

XII Sunday in OT: [C]: Zech 12:10-11; Gal 3:23-29; Lk9:18-22

 

Introduction:   Jesus asks his disciples what the crowds were saying about him.  Then he asked his disciples, “But who do you say I am?”  Peter replies, “The Christ of God.”  Thereupon Jesus says, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly ….be killed and on the third day be raised.”  Then Jesus says that anyone who wishes to follow him as a disciple must also be ready to give up his life for his sake.

 

Peter, speaking for disciples and also for himself, rightly confesses his faith in Jesus as the long expected Messiah.  When Jesus reveals to him and the disciples the implications of his being Messiah, they begin to draw back.  By confessing Jesus as the Messiah the disciples show that they have gone above the level of “people” who take Jesus to be nothing more than a prophet.  Jesus then proceeds to tell them the implications of what they had just said: “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9:22)

 

Exegesis:  Jesus’ questions are the same, and the question pertaining to are also the same.  The opinions on the issue may be different.  The opinions of the people who are following Jesus at a distance and the disciples who follow close to Jesus are different.  Following Jesus closely gets the correct knowledge about Jesus.  One can achieve that by reading books, listening to the radio, watching the television and surfing the Internet.  Over and above that, disciples must then, in light of Christian faith and revelation, make up their minds on the issue.

 

As the disciples are expected to know the people, Christians are expected to know the voice of the people.  But they must not allow themselves to internalize the voice of the “people” such that the voice of the “people” becomes the voice of their conscience.  This is what Paul is telling us in Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – What is good and acceptable and perfect.”

 

Joke:  After Sunday school one morning, one of the parents invited the teacher over for dinner along with several other families from the church.  At the table, she asked her six-year-old daughter to say the blessing for the meal.

“I don’t know what to say,” she replied.

“Just say what you hear Mommy say,” her mother said.

The little girl bowed her head and said, “Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”

 

Jesus identifies himself as the Son of Man.  Jesus is the Human created in the divine image as the beginning of a New Genesis.  In the gospel narratives we now are able to see in Jesus what authentic human existence looks like.  Jesus faithfully lives in a relation of covenant love as Son with his Heavenly Father.  He overcomes every temptation.  He acts in complete union with the Father’s love for all of the human family, estranged in exile.

 

Practical Applications: 1) Know the sheep so that shepherding will be easy.  Know the people around us so that Christians can reach out and live a godly life in this world.

2) Thirst for divine information through available means around us.

3) Understand that the Christian life is taking up the cross for others.

 

Introduction:  XII Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: We believe the prophecy of Zechariah to be fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah, who had to endure suffering and death on a cross.  By being baptized into his death, we are called to take up his cross and follow in his steps, and to seek the God for whom we long.

Saints and Events in this week: 24-Monday-The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.  27-Thursday-Saint Cyril ofAlexandria, bishop, doctor of the church.  28-Friday-Saint Irenaeus, bishop, martyr.  29-Saturday-Saint Peter and Paul, Apostles

XI Sunday in OT[C]; 2 Sam12:7-10,13;Gal2:15-16,19-20;Lk 7:36-8:3

XI Sunday in OT[C]; 2 Sam12:7-10,13;Gal2:15-16,19-20;Lk 7:36-8:3

Introduction: "There are two types of people in the world. The first are those who bounce into a room and shout, 'Rejoice, I am here.' The second are those who come into the same room and exclaim, 'Ah, there you are." So has a pundit written correctly about us. Simon the Pharisee is the former. The woman sinner is the latter.

Exegesis:  Jesus was one of the guests at a feast thrown by the Pharisee, Simon.  I would like to think that Jesus was not the only guest, and perhaps was even least of the guests.  If he were the only guest, he would have been better cared for by his host – with washing of the feet, anointing of the head and with a kiss of welcome! And I suppose, the guests were reclining on cushion with their feet outstretched while sharing food in smaller groups from the common plate (sinia). A woman comes in.  She has a bad reputation.  It is her presence that forces the attention of Simon on Jesus. The rituals that she performs on the feet of Jesus are perhaps part of her profession! But surely when done in public, that too in the house of a Pharisee, and to the feet of a rabbi, it is simply scandalizing!  She washes the unwashed feet of Jesus with her tears; she massages his feet with oil; she ‘tickles’ his feet with her long oriental hair.  For the woman, perhaps these were signs of surrender and renunciation.  How women love their hair! (No wonder, when St Claire wanted to follow the simplicity of St Francis of Assisi, she would cut her hair!)  But in the culture in which Jesus was born, for a woman to let her hair loose in front of strangers did not speak well of that woman, as it is even in my own culture up to this day.  And Jesus lets her do it. God allows us to be ourselves in his presence. This is simply scandalizing.  Therefore, Simon has to call for order. He cannot let his home become defiled by an unholy ritual and the contact with an unholy woman.

Jesus wants to give a piece of his mind to Simon: for being impolite to Jesus – this controversial Rabbi – by not welcoming him properly, for being insensitive to a fellow human person – this sinner woman – who is turning to God, and for not being open to the presence of God – in Jesus. Jesus wants to be very polite to Simon, compassionate to the woman, and truthful as the Son of God.  He tells Simon a parable: about two people who had huge debts – one, fifty days’ wage, and the other, five hundred days’ wage.  Both are forgiven.  But one loved much, hence enjoys salvation.

Reflections:  In scriptural understanding, a prophet is one who warns people and calls them for conversion, like what Prophet Nathan does to David in the first reading of today. So Simon’s assumption is that Jesus being a prophet, as Simon perceives Jesus to be, should warn this woman and call her for conversion.  But the reality is, Jesus is not a prophet. He is the Son of God.  He does not condemn, nor does he condone; he does acknowledge that “her sins are many” (Lk 7:47); but he forgives. He forgives because the woman has loved much. Actually one who needs the invitation to conversion is Simon.  That is why Jesus speaks up to Simon.  Simon has strong sense of justice, like King David in the first reading of today, but that does not make him justified (saved) in the eyes of God.  Therefore Simon stands in need of the experience of the love of God. And that is Jesus’ invitation to Simon.

The woman has experienced the love of God in Jesus.  She stands in need of forgiveness. Jesus utters two sentences to this woman.  “Your sins are forgiven” (Lk 7:48). “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Lk 7:50). First is an experience of being forgiven. And the second, the experience of salvation.  The first sentence is an experience of what Spiritual writers have called, ‘the Purgative stage’ in the experience of God.  The second sentence could be an experience of what Spiritual writers have called, ‘the Unitive stage’. In between the two is the illuminative stage where there is a better understanding of the nature of God and the spiritual journey itself. The sinner woman goes home, renewed with a new lease of life, having experienced God.   

Joke:  A woman bought a parrot for a pet. All the parrot did was treat her bad. It insulted her and every time she tried to pick it up, it would peck at her arm.  One day she got fed up with the parrot and as it was insulting her she picked it up, it continued with the insults. "You’re ugly! I can't stand you!" and it pecked at her arm as she carried it. She opened the freezer door and threw him in and closed the door. From inside, the parrot was still going on for about 5 seconds and then it was suddenly quiet.  She thought, "Oh no, I killed it!" She opens the door and the parrot just looked at her. She picked it up. Then the parrot said:  "I'm very sorry. I apologize for my bad behavior and promise you there will be no more of that. From now on, I will be a respectful, obedient parrot."

"Well OK" she said. "Apology accepted". The parrot said "Thank you". Then he said,

"Can I ask you something?" She said, "Yes, What?"

And the parrot looked at the freezer and asked, "What did the Chicken do?"

Parallels in Bible:  I could not but see parallels between this passage (Lk 7:36-50), and what Jesus is going to tell us in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32). The woman is like the younger son who has come home, she has experienced forgiveness and salvation. Whereas, Simon the Pharisee is, like the elder son still at the threshold of the home.  And Jesus is between these two people (cf. Lk 15:1-3; 28) lovingly inviting them both to join the celebration of life – salvation.  Also see the parallels between the story in today’s gospel (Lk 7:36-50), and what Jesus is going to tell us in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican who went to the temple to pray (Lk 18:11-32).  The woman is like the Publican, she goes home justified; and the Pharisee remains untouched even by the presence of Jesus in his home. 

Conclusion:  Today’s gospel then invites us to surrender ourselves at the feet of Jesus in an act of humility and repentance.  It invites us to open ourselves to be loved by God.  It invites us to be saved by the loving presence of God.

Introduction:  XI Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: David acknowledges his sin and experiences the Lord’s forgiveness.  The sinful woman is forgiven by Jesus because of her great love.  He loves us and gave himself up for us.

Saints and Events in this week:  Today is Fathers day; 19-Wednesday-Saint Romuald, abbot; 21-Friday-Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious; 22-Saturday-Saint Paulinus of Nola, bishop; Saints John Fisher; bishop, and Thomas More, martyrs;

X Sunday in OT-[C]: I Kng17:17-24;Gal1:11-19;Lk7:11-17

X Sunday in OT-[C]: I Kng17:17-24;Gal1:11-19;Lk7:11-17

Scripture lessons: The first reading, taken from I Kings 17, shows us how our merciful God uses His prophet Elijah to resuscitate the only the son of the poor widow of Zarephath who had given the prophet accommodation in her house during the famine.  Today’s gospel reveals to us the compassionate heart of God in Jesus.  Meeting a funeral procession coming out of the village of Nain, Jesus was visibly moved at the sight of the weeping widow, going out with the town to bury her only son. Perhaps he could foresee his own mother in the same position at the foot of his cross. So Jesus stopped the funeral procession, touched the coffin, consoled the mother and surprised everyone by resuscitating the boy, thus extending God’s love and compassion to the grieving mother.

In the second reading, taken from the letter to the Galatians, St. Paul declares that the good news of God’s love, mercy and salvation which he preaches has been directly revealed to him by God Who had chosen him for ministry from his mother’s womb.   Also I would like to take your attention to St. Paul’s missionary zeal.

Exegesis:  When Christian writers warned about the sin of sloth, they were not trying to get people fill every waking moment with work. In some ways, just the opposite. St. Thomas called sloth "the sin against the Sabbath."  The sin against the Sabbath. You remember in the Bible the Sabbath is the seventh day - the day when God rests after the work of creation. He makes the Sabbath "holy" - that is, a day set apart. It becomes the most important day of the week - a day dedicated to God.

Sloth is the sin against the Sabbath - a refusal to do the most important task, to worship God. As the Catechism says, "acedia or spiritual sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness." (#2094)
A Seattle businessman once said that he has more productive things he can do on Sunday morning. But he missed the point. The most productive thing any human can do is spend time with God, to worship him.

We can see this in today's readings. There is a curious verse in St. Paul's letter to the Galatians. He mentions that after his conversion, (quote) "I went into Arabia." We don't know with 100% certainty but he apparently wanted time alone, with God, out in the desert - a place without distractions. St. Paul teaches us wonder and gratitude - thanking God for his mercy. That's what we do at Mass; the word "Eucharist" means to express thanks.

From gratitude flows wonder and praise. It's interesting that we hear today about a boy and a young man brought back from death. These miracles caused people to praise God. The Gospel says, "They glorified God." At Mass when the priest holds up the Host - the Body of Christ - many people quietly say, "My Lord and my God" - a beautiful act of glorifying God.

It should be a moment of joy and peace, but it can be the hardest thing a person does all week. A hundred things have more appeal: sports, TV, the Sunday paper, the Internet. Or even work - like mowing the lawn and weeding the garden. Good things to do, but a guy can fool himself and think that because he is working hard, he's not being lazy.

Joke:  The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute.  The substitute wanted to know what to play.

“Here’s a copy of the service,” he said impatiently.  “But, you’ll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances.”

During the service, the minister paused and said, “Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need $4,000 more.  Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up.”

At that moment, the substitute organist played “The Star Spangled Banner.”(Patriotic song, during which all are expected to stand)

And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!

Conclusion:  So, summer begins shortly. I hope you have time for relaxation - time for family and friends, but above all for what matters most. When you put God first, everything else will find its right place. That's why it's natural after Sunday worship to have family time - or quiet time or time for good reading or even a nap. 
Remember Paul, "I went to Arabia." The desert - the place of encounter, wonder and gratitude. As we said in the Psalm, "I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me..."

Practical Applications: 1) Find some time to spend with God. God deserves ten percentage of your time to spend in return to God.  2) Be zealous as St. Paul did.  Avoid sloth.

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Introduction

Message:  Elijah heals the son of a widow. She praises the Lord that her son had been healed.  Jesus raises from the dead the son of a widow of Nain.  All are amazed and glorify God.  It is this God who revealed his Son to St. Paul that he might proclaim him to the Gentiles.

Saints and Events in this Week: 11-Tuesday-Saint Barnabas, apostle; 13-Thursday-Saint Anthony of Padua, priest, doctor of the Church;