The devil makes use of the past to cast down the soul, of the present to distract it, and of the future to fill in with fear. Resist him firmly by trusting entirely in God." St. Ignatius of Loyola

If we can remember this on our journey to God, then we will not be deterred as we move forward. But many times, we fall for the enemy's deceptions.  He uses the hurts of the past to stir up resentment, anger and unforgiveness. It is like quicksand. The more we wallow in it, the deeper we become. When this doesn't work, he distracts us with fleeting pleasures of the world, dangling them relentlessly before us. If this doesn't work, he seeks to create a fear about the uncertainty of the future with one what if after the other. Alone, we will remain weak. But we are not alone. We know that he who is within us is greater than he who is attacking. us. The more we depend upon the Lord, the more we will find the strength to resist these temptations.

 

Homily Eighteenth Sunday Year C

 

Reading 1: The author is reflecting on why do we do what we do. How many people work their whole life and have nothing to show for it? How many have not work for what they have, since it was given to them? Why does the author say both are vain and useless? No matter have hard we may work, we cannot avoid the sorrow and grief of daily existence.

 

The farmer is dependent upon the elements of the weather; the laborer upon the strength of the economy; the politician on pleasing his constituents. In all this, what is missing? Why does the author say it is a waste of time and energy in the best scheme of things? What is missing is one’s relationship with God, whether I have or have not, whether I am successful or not, whether I am a failure in the eyes of others. My true worth and identity is in my relationship with God. So, in fact, what is my relationship with God in the present moment? How important is God in my life?

 

Gospel: Jesus sums up what the author of the first reading is hinting at. One’s life does not consist of possessions, but being rich in what matters to God. In the parable he uses to emphasize his point is to the point. People never seem satisfied with what they have. They want more, as if the more they possess will enhance their true worth. How much is enough?

 

When my worth is in my possession and not in my relationship with God, then I will never be satisfied. Jesus exposes this attitude for what it is worth. You fool, you slaved to increase your possessions. When you die, what do you take with you?

 

A famous French author, Leon Bloy, reflecting upon this reality in the world, said that at the end of his life when he dies, the saddest thing is not to die a saint. Or as Jesus says, not being rich in what matters to God.

 

When we were baptized, we were given the down payment of our inheritance as adopted sons and daughters of God. We were given a share in God’s own divine life. How much effort do we put in growing in this new life of God in comparison to the effort we put in obtaining more material possessions and comforts? To be rich in the what matters to God is to seek to be holy as God is holy. For the saddest thing is not to die a saint.

 

Reading 2: Paul develops this thought of Jesus. He says, seek what is above, where Christ is seated. In other words, seek to be with him, when you die. Think of your inheritance. Keep your eyes fixed on that prize, eternal life with God. In this way, when Christ appears at the end of your life, you will be able to appear with him in glory.

 

Then Paul becomes very specific about how are we to do this, between the time we are baptized until the time when our life ends. He says that we are to conform every semblance of sin in our life. Put to death everything that is earthly, namely what draws us away from God, namely sin, no matter what it is.

 

Jesus through his death and resurrection, experienced in baptism, has made us a new creation. Don’t put on the old self of sin with its practices. Rather, live the new self that we have become in baptism. Put on the mind of Christ, choosing the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect. In this we will reflect the unity that is ours in Christ.

 "You fast, but Satan does not eat. You labor fervently, but Satan never sleeps. The only dimension with which you can outperform Satan is by acquiring humility....For Satan has no humility." (St. Moses the Black

What is humility? It is a virtue in which our focus is not ourselves, but the Other. It acknowledges the truth who we are. We are creatures made in the image and likeness of God. Without this relationship with God, we are nothing. When Jesus was tempted in his humanity, he kept his eyes on the Father, he spoke the truth against the lies of the Evil One. While the Evil One distorted the truth, Jesus, in humility, spoke and embraced the truth. While we alone can't compete against Satan on his turf, our strength is in the Christ in us to whom we turn to fight the battle. 

 Eighteenth Sunday of Gospel C

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 

· The Book of Deuteronomy specified how a father’s inheritance should be divided up. The eldest son always got the larger portion. Maybe this son was asking for more of an equal division of the inheritance. That was not what Jesus was about.

He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”  Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 

· Jesus makes a distinction between having possessions and being owned by them. The question is not that a person may be rich. Rather it is, does he see himself as a steward of God’s gifts or as a possessor of these for his own use?

·        He also tells him that one’s true value is not based on how much one possess, but on how one         lives his life.

Then he told them a parable.  “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.  He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.  There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ 

· Notice the absorption of the man with himself. He uses “I” six times and “my” five times. His success is seen for his own use and not in relationship to anyone else.

· What is our idea towards our possessions? Do we sense an area of greed in us? We are never satisfied with what we have, we want more and more?

· Jesus teaches that material possessions will never fully satisfy us.  No matter how much we have, we will always want more. That is the situation of our fallen human nature.

· Reflect on other related teachings of Jesus:

“One does not live by bread alone " (Lk 4:4).

       "What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?"                              

       (:Lk 9:25)

      "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body,     

       what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing" (Lk 12:22-

              23).

             See the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31).

             "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" (Lk 18:24).

Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”

· What is the issue here? What does it mean to you to be “rich in what matters to God?”

· What is God saying to you in this passage? 

 "Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." Pope St. John Paull II

 Freedom is not license to do whatever we wish, which many times really becomes sinful. God has given us the gift of free will, so that out of love for him we may choose what is in union with  his will, what is good, pleasing and perfect. We can choose to be in relationship with him or to choose not to be. Adam and Eve misused their freedom by choosing their will over and against God's will. Jesus, in his humanity, chose to do the Father's will even to the death by crucifixion. Each time we choose to act in relationship with God then our freedom is properly exercised. Each time we choose to act contrary to the will of God, our freedom is misappropriated. A gift properly used bears good fruit. 

 "Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God." Pope Leo XIV

Both joy and suffering are part of the human experience. Common to both is the presence of God. In the midst of his sufferings Jesus reflected on the words of the psalm, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." He embraced suffering for our salvation, knowing that doing the will of the Father was his joy. Suffering can turn us away from God or bring us closer to God. What motivated many of the Saints, especially the martyrs doing there anguish and suffering, was the awareness of God's presence and his strength. As we embrace our own sufferings, don't lose sight or awareness in faith of the Lord's presence.

 "The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image" Thomas Merton

True love accepts the other as they are with their strengths and weaknesses. True love is based on mutual freedom. When we try to change the other into what we want them to be, we don't really love the other, but ourselves. When we love the other as they are, we free them to choose to change out of love. Such love is risky and may endure pain in the process. However, in the end true love bears much fruit in the mutual relationship of each person. 

 

Homily: Seventeenth Sunday Year C

 

Reading 1: Background. Sodom and Gomorrah are cities in which sin is rampant, especially the sin of sodomy. But living in the city of Sodom is Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family. God is angry with the inhabitants of these cities and tells Abraham that he intends to destroy them.

 

Abraham, mainly because of his nephew and family, intercedes with God persistently for mercy upon the inhabitants. He basically bargains with God. That is how his persistent prayer is se seen by the author. Knowing the extent of sin present, Abraham pleads with God to spare the cities, if at least 10 righteous persons are found there.

 

We know what happened. The cities are destroyed because of the lack of even ten. But because of the persistent prayer of Abraham, Lot and his family were rescued and spared before the destruction.

 

Abraham shows boldness and persistency in prayer before God. He became a model for generations afterwards. Moses interceded before God for the Chosen People, who sinned continually against God during the Exodus journey. The prophets interceded for the people who broke the covenant, while expecting God to look the other way. Jesus teaches, as we see in the Gospel, the necessity of prayer but also to pray with persistency and certainty.

 

Gospel: Last week in the story of Martha and Mary, we saw a glimpse of contemplative prayer: Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, gazing at him and listening to him. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us specifics on prayer, based on his own personal prayer. He was a man of prayer.

 

The Lord’s Prayer we heard was different from what we are accustomed to, but Luke’s version has the same basic elements. Jesus says to begin our prayer not with petition but adoration, praise and thanksgiving for who God is and all that he has already done in our life. Then, as if by the way, bring our petitions and intercessions for ourselves and others.

 

Then Jesus shows that one’s prayer should be spoken with confidence that God wants the best for us. Therefore, we need to be bold and persistent. He expresses these aspects in the parable and in the teaching that follows.

 

In the midst of our persistent prayer we realize that what we ask for might seem best for us in the moment, but there may be a higher good that God desires to give us. This greater good is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is given to us to dwell within us, to reveal the love of God to us, to lead us to the truth, to be our advocate, to sanctify us and to empower us as witnesses of Jesus Christ.

 

This gift of the Holy Spirit must be activated by us, first by being aware of his presence and purpose and then yielding ourselves, by following his lead and the movement of his grace within. Just as we have been given muscles at birth, if we do not develop them and use them properly, what good are they? So too with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Not only are we to ask for a fresh awareness of the Holy Spirit, but we are to exercise the gifts he has given us.

 

Reading 2: Besides prayer of intercession, there is also the need to pray in thanksgiving for what God has done for us. Paul reminds us of the mercy we have already received from God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. When we were dead because of our alienation from God as a result of original sin, we experienced reconciliation and redemption in the waters of baptism through faith in the power of God.

 

And when we returned to sin afterwards, he reconciled us and forgave us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On the cross Jesus showed us mercy. In legal terms he paid the debt due to our sins; he tore up the bond against us; he removed the barrier between us and God by embracing the cross. For all this and more we should give thanks to God.

 "To repent is not to look downwards at my own shortcomings, but upwards at God's love; it is not to look backwards with self-reproach but forward with trustfulness; it is to see not what I have failed to be, but what by the grace of Christ I might yet become." St. John Climacus

The call to repent is a grace to become more than I have been and to recognize that the focus is not myself but the One who loves me enough to enable me to repent. As important as my response is, it is really God's mercy and love that is the essential point of repentance. Often we have a hesitancy to repent. That is because our focus is still on our self-- our unworthiness, our unwillingness to let go of the sin, our fear of failure. Such a focus is the snare of the Devil. But when we look beyond ourselves to the my purpose and destiny of existence, we will see that God is calling and enabling me to repent. All I have to do is say yes to the grace he gives me. Repentance is not a feeling but a choice in response to unmerited grace.

 "Look, when someone is steaming with anger, no matter what you say, it will come to nothing. It is better to keep quiet and say the Jesus prayer. With prayer, he'' calm down, and you can then communicate with him. You see, even fishermen don't go fishing unless the sea is calm; they wait patiently for the storm to pass. "S Paisios

When a person is angry with you for whatever reason, your human tendency is to strike back and defend yourself. Now, there are two angry people in the scene. What is accomplished? Nothing. It takes one person to diffuse the situation, not by adding fuel to the fire, but by the cooling the situation with prayer and silence. Humanly hard to do, but not for a disciple of Jesus, who depends on the grace of God at all times. Communications can be disrupted in a violent storm. Only when there is calm, can things be restored. In times of anger we say hateful things. In times of calm we can speak the truth in love. Choose the higher ground.

 "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." St. Macarius of Optina

Kindness is a reflection of love. Like love it may not always be understood or received. But it is this kindness that Jesus was referring to when he said we should give even a cup of water to one in need. As God is kind and merciful to us, we are called to be kind and merciful to others. Kindness is a virtue that should come natural to a disciple of Jesus. But to be so, it needs to be practiced regularly, until it is part of our spiritual identity. There are many opportunities given us each day to grow in kindness. Be attentive to them and transformed them from being natural acts to spiritual acts by doing them out of love of God.

 "A tiny spark of God's love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out...Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter...Do not give yourself to others so completely that you have nothing left for yourself." St. Charles Borremeo

Most people are unaware of the love of God within them, namely the presence of the Holy Spirit. As one tends to the fire that it may not go out, lest the damp and cold overtake them, so we need to tend to that living spark within us that we do not experience the cold darkness of sin. As much as we are to show love to others in fulfilling the command of God, we must not neglect to show show for God and ourselves. The right and holy love of self  is based on the awareness of God's love for us. We learn to love what God loves. In doing so, we are loving and praising God. The false self-love focuses on self and not God within us.

 "He guides and inspires me every moment of the day. Just when I need it. a new light shines on my problems." St. Therese of Liseux

God moves silently for the most part in our lives. The more we are in relationship with him, the better able are we to recognize these graces. Often we are so busy that we can't sift through the noise around us to hear that gentle whisper. He tells us, "Be still and know that I am God." It is hard to be still both physically and mentally. Even when we just sit, our minds are racing with all kinds of things to do. Learning to still both the physical and mental parts of our being, will enable us to begin to detect that inner voice, reminding us of his presence and his movement in our lives. We have to learn to break through the culture of the instant in order to embrace the culture of waiting upon the Lord.

 Homily: Sixteenth Sunday Year C

 

Reading 1: We have a reading that speaks on the surface of hospitality. Being in a desert area with a few trees around, one does not get visitors regularly. So when Abraham sees the three men, he was excited and wanted to show them hospitality by bathing their feet and providing a meal for them. That is the surface view. But let’s go beneath the surface.

 

Did you notice the back and forth between the Lord and the three men. It begins with the Lord appearing to Abraham and ends with what the Lord said. In between it refers to the three men. Sounds confusing, but it isn’t. The early Church Fathers interpreted this and other similar passages as the initial revelation of the true identity of God: Three Persons but one God.  It is not that the author would have been aware of this as he wrote. But God, inspiring him, was revealing the seeds of this mystery of faith which becomes clearer through Jesus and after Pentecost.

 

The first message is that of hospitality; the second, that of initial revelation of the fuller mystery of the Trinity. The third message is the prophetic promise made to Abraham decades earlier—your wife Sarah will have a son. After all these years of waiting, now when Sarah is beyond the age of child bearing Abraham is told of a son in a year. What is not included in this passage is that, hearing this, Sarah laughed, expressing her disbelief. But as we know, the prophetic promised was fulfilled. God is faithful.

 

Reading 2: Paul writes something which has raised questions, namely, “in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.” If we believe that Christ’s suffering and death on the cross was all sufficient for our salvation, what does Paul mean?

 

Over the years as the Church reflected on Pauls’ words, it became clearer that Christ, as part of his sufferings, included our sufferings for his sake as part of the redemptive act. It is not that he needed our sufferings to complete his sacrifice, but he wanted our sufferings to be united to his sufferings. Why? He wanted to give meaning and purpose to our sufferings. The unique importance of what Jesus did on the cross for our salvation is not changed. Instead, our sufferings, united to his, changes us from suffering with anger and negativity to suffering with surrender and love. We have seen people who suffer without purpose or hope of meaning and are bitter. We have seen those who embrace their sufferings and unite them to Jesus’. What a difference the two are.

 

Gospel: Hospitality is the first connection with the first reading. Background. Jesus is a friend of Mary, Martha and their brother, Lazarus. When in the area of Jerusalem, he would stay at their house outside of Jerusalem in the mountain close to the Mount of Olives.

When Jesus came with his apostles, Mary, Martha and Lazarus welcomed and showed them hospitality by making them comfortable, probably washing their feet and preparing a meal.

 

But the Gospel speaks of two activities going on. Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening and reflecting on his teachings. Martha is preparing a meal. On the surface it seems that Mary should be helping Martha. At least that is what Martha felt. She is anxious and troubled about many things.

 

What Mary is doing is good for Mary and what Martha is doing is good for her. Both are good, but one is better. Martha is focused on doing for Jesus, while Mary is focus on Jesus. Martha rebukes Jesus for not telling Mary to help her. Jesus shares an important teaching with Martha.

 

There are many good things in life, but some may distract us from the better. Mary has chosen not just a good thing, but the more important thing, namely, focusing her attention on Jesus, seeking a deeper oneness with Jesus. Martha has chosen a good thing, preparing a meal.

 

It is a matter of both/and rather than either/or. Our life should revolve around doing what needs to be done at the moment, but also on spending time and focusing on the Lord and his teachings. For in the end what will be the most important aspect of heaven? Gazing on the face of God as well as enjoying the bliss of eternity

 "Just as no one is born a champion, no one is born a saint. It is daily training in love." Pope Leo XIV

A lot of people aspire to be an Olympic champion, but only a small amount are willing to pay the price of commitment and sacrifice in training.  And of these, only a few reach the goal. A lot of people may wish to be a saint, but are not willing to embrace the path of the narrow road, leading to the eternal presence  of God. The one who trains for the Olympics is striving for fame, endorsements and a gold medal. But years later they are basically forgotten or their achievement surpassed by another. The one who aspires to be a saint has a greater and eternal goal, union with God eternally. The road to being a saint is narrow because it involves one step of love at a time. That is why God made us aware that love is the key to the fullest of life. The love God calls us into is the love that is willing to die to self, so that one can live in God and not in self. The millions of saints attest to this.

 Sixteenth Sunday Gospel C

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.

• Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived in Bethany which was near Jerusalem. Jesus preferred to stay there rather than in Jerusalem.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me.”  

• Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning from him, like a disciple. Martha was busy with the task of preparing food for Jesus and his disciples. She too was a disciple of service.

• Maybe there was a sense of jealousy on the part of Martha.

The Lord said to her in reply,  “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

• Jesus is not saying that Martha is not doing the right thing, but that she is anxious and worried rather than at peace with the good she was doing.

• On the other hand, Mary is at peace with what she is doing. 

• Here we have the tension between the contemplative life (Mary) and the active life. (Martha). Both are part of the life of the disciple of Jesus and neither should be neglected.

            However, Jesus indicates that contemplation is higher than the busyness of life. But even 

a contemplative person  needs to work to provide for their needs. 

• How much time do we spend at the feet of Jesus, listening to him? Maybe this week we can try to incorporate this more in our life of activity.

 "Believe me, if you knew who is with you, you would not fear anything the world has to offer." St. Macarius the Great

One of the common themes throughout the Scriptures is the promise of God to be with his people. His word to Abraham was that God would be with him throughout his journey. His word to the prophets was that he would be with them as they proclaimed his message to the Chosen People. Jesus himself told us that he would be with us till the end of the ages. Do we believe in his word? Do we act on his word? He never said there would be no problems, but that he would be with us to deal with those problems. We are never alone. Turn to him, not only in times of need, but at all times. Be conscious of his mysterious presence.

 "If you have God as the center of all your actions, then you will reach your goal." Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

When we have a specific goal in mind, to reach it, we direct all our efforts towards it. Is God our goal? If not, then what is our goal will be proven to be empty and eternally without value. But if God is our goal, then everything else is seen directed to that goal. Jesus said it clearly: "What good is to gain the whole world and lose your soul in the process." The world is passing and will come to an end.  God is eternal and all who make him the reason for their existence will share life with God eternally. For God to be our goal, it requires that we re-order our life to be in tune with his will. "For where your treasure is, there is your heart."

 "A sure way for a Christian to grow rapidly in holiness is a conscientious effort to carry out God's will in all circumstances and at all times.." St. Vincent de Paul

Some people seek shortcuts to holiness. The only short cut is the right way. Having been given all they needed and more, Adam and Eve were not satisfied. All they had to do was to follow the will of God, clearly set before them. They were one with God. They wanted to be equal to God. So in sinning, they lost they union with God. Doing the will of God does not take away what is best for us, but enables us to embrace it even in a fuller way. Holiness involves uniting our will to God and not his will to us. In doing this we are using our will to its full purpose, choosing that which is ultimate good for us. It is a mystery, but it is the only sure way to holiness. 

 "Don't wage your Christian struggle with sermons and arguments, but with true love. When we argue, other react. When we love people, they are moved and we win them over." St. Porphyrios

There is no real, lasting defense against the power of authentic love. That may be because love is disarming in in its purity and simplicity. We can set up walls of defense with argumentations. But how can we defend against the deepest of instincts, to love and to be loved? Jesus's love transformed lives. Those who wished to argue with him, never allowed his love to touch them. They were self-righteous. But those, who were opened to be transformed, were opened to his love. Their lives were changed. Let your weapon be love, which does not destroy but fulfills and renews the other.

 

Homily: Fifteenth Sunday Year C

 

Reading 1: What was the great commandment for the Israelites? It was summed up in these words: There is no other God. God alone is our God. You shall love God with all your heart, mind and strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. They would recite this at least three times a day.  Moses here is reminding the people after one of their rebellious actions against God of the command of God which they previously said yes to. Even though they had sinned, they were invited to return to the Lord with all their heart and soul.

 

Once more Moses enjoins them to embrace and live what is already on their hearts and in their mouths. But to know something is not enough. To speak the truth is not enough. It must be acted on. How often we know what is right but do not do it? Paul calls this the law of sin within us. He says: I do what I don’t want to do and I don’t do what I want to do. Woe is me, I am a wretch, he says. Only in Jesus, who has saved me, do I have the grace to overcome this law of sin within.

 

If we were conscious of our relationship with God would we choose to sin? If a man or woman really loves their spouse, would either one be unfaithful even in the heart? Sin is the opposite of love. The reason the Israelites repeated the great Schema was to keep the Lord ever before them and to choose the way of the Lord, rather than offend the Lord through sin.

 

Reading 2: Paul talks about the centrality of Jesus as the God/Man. Without saying it directly, he is proclaiming that Jesus is truly God and Man. How does he say it in different ways? He is the first born of all creation, reflecting his humanity.  He is the image of the invisible God, reflecting his divinity.  Jesus said he who sees me sees the Father for the Father and I are one.

 

Being the first born of all creation, he is the pattern of all creation. All things were created for him, through him and in him. Yet He is God. He is before all things and all things are sustained in existence through him.

 

Do we hear the foundation of our Creed which we proclaim each Sunday? He is God. He is the beginning, the first-born of the dead through his resurrection. He is preeminent. In him all fullness dwells in him as God. Through his death and resurrection he has reconciled us to the Father, bringing peace and healing.

 

Gospel: The first thing we notice is this is another attempt to test Jesus and to discredit him as a teacher. The question is legitimate. What must I do to inherit eternal life? It is the same question another person, the rich young man, also asked Jesus.

 

In his response, Jesus quotes the great schema that Moses referred to in the first reading. Notice Jesus responded with a question. When the scribe answered correctly, Jesus responds with the words of Moses: Do this and you will live.

 

The man is not satisfied. He questioned Jesus further, not because he was really interested, but to justify himself. Jesus knows the animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans. He knows the ritual laws of purity and cleanness that the scribes would follow. So he chooses an illustration that will throw light on the law of legality and the law of love.

 

When the scribe affirms the truth of love, Jesus pushes him further by saying it is one thing to know the truth but it must be lived and acted on to make a difference. Do we go out of our comfort zone to help others or do we put barriers between ourselves and others? Do we just know what is right and wrong or do we act on what we know is true?

 "It is not a sin to eat; it is a sin to eat without gratitude." St. Anthony the Great

We don't realize how necessary and important gratitude is in our daily life. It is not that God needs gratitude. It is because we need to remind ourselves of all that God has and is doing in our life. Otherwise, we take God for granted and act as if we are the center of our existence.  We are like the ungrateful servant, whom after being forgiven a great debt could not show his gratitude by forgiving another of a much smaller debt. He received mercy and demanded justice.  It is easy for us to pray to God for our needs. But do we thank him whether we receive them or not or even before receiving them? The man of God is grateful at all times. The man of the world is not.

 Fifteenth Sunday Gospel C

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

• The key phrase  here is “to test him”.  Was he really interested in the truth? It is Jesus who in turn will test him. 

 Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?  How do you read it?"  He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

• As a scholar of the law he knew the answer before he asked the question. 

He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." 

• Jesus gives him the real answer to his question. Knowing the truth is not enough. One must act on the truth.

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 

• He continues to test Jesus. But his understanding of the scope of the command of God is limited. Jesus stretches his tent pegs. Jesus says your neighbor includes the one you most despise.

Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.  A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 

• The presumption is that this person is a fellow Jew and to the priest and Levite he is dead. 

• The priest and the Levite observed the ritual laws of purification, which forbade them to touch the corpses of anyone other than family members. They were probably on the way back from the Temple and did not want to become ritually unclean.

• Who is that person we try to avoid at all means? 

But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.  He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.  Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. 

• Jesus specifically chooses to use a Samaritan in his story because of the animosity between Jews and Samaritans. Neither would have anything to do with the other. 

• Yet this Samaritan risks his life for his “enemy”.  He is moved with compassion. He goes out of his way to minister to the man.

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him.  If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"  He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."  Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

• The Fathers of the Church saw this parable as an allegory. It signifies “Christ’s restoration of mankind. Adam is the man attacked by Satan and his legions; he is stripped of his immortality and left dead in sin. The priest and the Levite represent the Old Covenant and its inability to restore man to new life. Jesus comes as the Good Samaritan to rescue man from death and brings him to the inn of the Church for refreshment and healing through the sacrament.”

• In this parable Jesus teaches how a true disciple of his should act towards others. 

• Jesus compares the failure of the ministers of God with the unselfishness of the hated Samaritan. 

• The Samaritan does not have the scribe’s learning. He does not have the concern for security and fear of ritual uncleanness.  He had spontaneous love. 

• As God has been merciful to us, so we are called to merciful to others, even the least.

 "Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave." St. John Chrysostom

So often people become discouraged when they keep falling into the same sins. Discouragement and giving up are exactly what the Evil One desires, ensuring our bondage. No matter how often we fall into sin, the grace of forgiveness and repentance is always freely available to us. Jesus did not die on the cross, so that we could despair, but that we could have the hope of forgiveness. What freed St. Peter after his threefold denial of Christ was the merciful glance of Jesus. The fruit of that grace was validated in the post resurrection. affirmation of commitment by Peter. While the fisherman knew the gravity of his sin, he also knew the power of the Lord's forgiveness. That we fall is not the main focus for God. That we rise in his name is his focus.

 "Throughout the day, try to remember God more often. If you feel bad, turn to Him: 'Lord, I feel bad, help me.' If you feel good: 'Lord, glory to you, than you for this joy.' If you are worried about someone: 'Lord, I am worried about him, help him.' Whatever happens, turn it into prayer." St. Ambrose of Optma

What is the focus of this life-style? God, not the other or the situation. When we make God our focus throughout the day, then our life will be more productive and fruitful. We waste so much energy self-focused or other focused, rather than Other focused. It is an attitude of the mind or a reference point in our journey of life. There is a grace in each situation in our daily life. The grace is to make God the center and not something else.  Paul tells us to pray unceasingly. This is a way to accomplish that, which will make our day one of prayer. 

 "A rose does not produce sounds, but its fragrance spreads far away in silence; this is how all Christians should live their lives." St. Theophan the Recluse

For the most part, our life as Christians is most effective in silence than in proclamation. Though there is a time and place for proclamation. But the silent life of a Christian is like leaven in a measure of dough. It transform the dough into bread. Or a Christian's life is like a seed, that must first die in the ground to produce much fruit. The silent life of a Christian reflects the message of love more effectively than a thousand actions. Jesus said that the life of a Christian is similar to the role of salt in food. Be fully Christian in accord with the way of the Lord and the Lord will touch the lives of those around you in mighty ways. For it is not as much as who we are or what we do or say, but who Christ is in us that speaks to the world.

 

Homily: Fourteenth Sunday Year C

 

Reading 1: To a people who are returning to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon, their initial reaction is disheartening. The city is in total destruction. It would be the feeling you would have if you came back home to find that your home has burned to the ground. You would not be in a state of joy but sadness.

 

Yet God says to the people to rejoice and exult and not to mourn. Why? God was going to restore the city to an even greater glory than it formerly enjoyed.  We know that God fulfilled his promise. Not only the city but the Temple was restored and became more beautiful than before.

 

This Jerusalem is a symbol of both the Church and of the heavenly Kingdom that we are called to be a part of. The old Jerusalem was a symbol of the Old Covenant and the old people of God. The Church is the New Jerusalem established by Christ through his death and resurrection. We are the new people of God chosen by him to live in the new Kingdom. But the Church is a foreshadowing of the final and eternal Jerusalem. It is where God’s elect will live in eternal glory with him.

 

The key is that God is doing something that is beyond us, but it is for us. “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” In God we find our security and comfort.

 

Reading 2: Paul was confronting those who came to the Galatians after him and said the people must first be circumcised before being baptized. This left the impression that following the Mosaic Law would save a person and not baptism. Paul insisted that it was the death and resurrection of Jesus which has brought eternal salvation.

 

It is baptism not circumcision that saves us, once we enter into that mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection. That is why Paul glorified in the cross. Again, it is the work of God and not of human being which brings salvation.

 

For us baptism is the sign of the new Covenant and of the new people. As we sign ourselves with the sign of the cross we are reminding ourselves that we bear the marks of Jesus. By his wounds we have been saved and made a new people. We wear a cross, we place the cross in our homes so that we can remind ourselves of and embrace what God has done for us.

 

Gospel: The most important statement in the reading is the last: Rejoice that your names are written in the book of life. After all is said and done, after our life comes to an end, what matters is doing the will of God and being in the will of God, so that we may be with him forever in glory.

 

Jesus had sent the seventy-two disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Some people responded, others did not. The most important thing was not the response of people, but the disciples doing the will of God. Yes, they saw the power of God in their ministry, but that was not the primary reason they were sent. Did they do what they were sent to do?

 

The same mission has been given to us who have been baptized and confirmed. We have a prophetic mission, namely, to spread the word of God and to share the message of truth, which is God’s love in the gift of salvation, manifested through and in the name of Jesus.

 

The urgency is greater today than it was in the day of Jesus. It is not results that will make the difference, but our faithful response to God’s call to each of us in our own state of life. While the disciples focused on the effects of their ministry, Jesus focused on the obedience to the plan of God for them. What do we focus on?

 "Love forgives many mistakes, while hatred imagines mistakes even where they do not exist." St. John Chrysostom

The person, who is loved, can forgive the mistakes and faults of others, because of being forgiven for his/her own faults by God. The ones who are motivated by hate and not love is blinded to reality. Hate enmeshes them in insecurity and fear. They begin to perceive faults in others which may not exist. The other is seen as a threat or an enemy out to inflict harm. Where there is darkness, any ray of light causes pain. But only the light can reveal the truth. The spiritual blindness in the religious leaders prevented them from seeing and receiving the love Jesus was showing them. Their self-righteousness bore the fruit of hate toward the one who came to love them and set them free. Jesus has set us free. We can choose love or hate.

 Fourteenth Sunday Gospel C

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 

· These seventy-two are disciples other than the twelve apostles who also are sent on mission. This number is significant because in the Old Testament Moses chose seventy men upon whom God poured out his Spirit and they prophesied. But there were two others who remained in the camp and they too received the same outpouring of the Spirit and manifested the same gift of prophesy.

He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 

· Notice he said to pray for more laborers. Is anything different today? The harvest is just as ripe today and the need for more workers in the vineyard of the Lord is equally as great. So what are we suppose to do? Are we?

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.  

· Besides asking them to pray, he also indicated that they were to do the work themselves. Is your call rooted in baptism and confirmation any different?  How are you responding?

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.  

· There is a sense of urgency and dependency. Do you have the same sense? Look around your family. How many truly are on fire for God? Look around at the people you associate with at work or other places. Is their faith alive? What do you think God may be saying to you?

Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.  Do not move about from one house to another. 

· The focus of not moving from house to house was to avoid the appearance that they were looking for the best accommodations and meals. The proclamation of the message of salvation was more important than their comfort or well being.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 

· Here is the key to their missionary thrust: speak the truth and confirm it with signs and wonders. This was the same process Jesus used. To make sure that the people would believe the message he proclaimed, Jesus would follow it with some confirmation or use a sign or wonder and then give a teaching, so that the teaching would be better received.

· The sign and wonder were essential in the ministry of Jesus. Should it be less for us? If Jesus sets the pattern for us, should we not follow his plan?

Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.  I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.” 

· It was not the task of the disciples to make the people respond to their message, but just to proclaim the message with confirmation. The burden of acceptance was on those who heard. Sometimes we think that we have to make people act on the message we share with them rather than just be faithful to the call God gave us and leave the response up to the hearer.

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”  

· Not only did they do signs and wonders, they also saw signs and wonders that God revealed.

Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.  Behold, I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

· They were not to focus on the results of their missionary activities but on what God did through them.

· What message is God giving you upon reflecting on this passage?

 "We are born to love. We live to love. We will die to love still more." St. Joseph Cafassp

Made in the image and likeness of God, who is Love, we are created to be love and to love. When we don't love, we are not fulfilling our true identity and destiny. To be in right relationship with others, to live in peace and security, we are to live a life of selfless love. When we and others do not, then we have strife, division, insecurity, etc. Sin exists in the world because of non-love. When we die, if we are in love with God and others, then our eternity will be one of perfect love. But if we die not in true love, then our eternity will be one of darkness and emptiness, alienation and anguish. Knowing all this, how should we strive to live?

 "This is how you pray continually--not by offering prayer in words, but by joining yourself to God through your whole way of life, so that your life becomes one continuous and uninterrupted prayer." St. Basil the Great

This is the way to true holiness. St. Paul urged us to pray unceasingly. Verbal prayer is part of that way of praying, but not the only way. When we live according to the commandment of love, when we are just and true, when we respect each person for who they are in the eyes of God, when we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, then we are also praying. Our way of life is a prayer. This is how Jesus prayed. He went aside to have intimate moments with the Father, to seek his will. Then he would go about doing the will of the Father as part of his prayer.  The Saints-=not only the canonized saints but the unknown ones-- leaned this and followed the example of Jesus. At first, this may seem hard or even impossible for us. But if we attempt to do this the best we can, we will soon see how the grace of God makes what seem impossible very doable.