Truly being Jesus' Disciple!

Today's gospel  is a reading of the Passion of Jesus according to Luke! The gospel, Luke 22: 14-23:56, begins with Jesus celebrating the Passover with the apostles and ends with Jesus being crucified between two criminals.  At the beginning of the Passover meal, Jesus says: "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God." Jesus then takes a cup and says: "'Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.'  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.' And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it as been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.' And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed."  

The twelve apostles absolutely had no idea who among them who walked with Jesus for three years, talked with him, listened to His preaching, healed in His name could ever betray him to the very persons who were seeking to take his life.  Later that night when Jesus, with three of the apostles, were in the Garden of Olives, "...a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas." And they knew!

How could this possibly have happened? How could a follower of Jesus betray Jesus? Could it be that Judas was only a hearer of the Word but not one who understood Jesus' teaching or lived it truthfully? Could it be that Judas knew "religion" but really had no relationship with Jesus?  The same could be true of you and me!  Do we understand, internalize and live the teachings of Jesus or do we simply hear and not understand, hear and not apply the words of the Scriptures?  If so, we are vulnerable to betraying Jesus, as was Judas.  Do we know religion but not know Jesus, that is, we have not developed a relationship with Jesus, as one would with a best friend? If so, again, we are vulnerable to betraying Him, as was Judas.




 

The Kingdom of God is at Hand!

In today's first reading, Hebrews 1: 1-6, St. Paul reminds us that in the past God  spoke to His people "in partial and various ways...through the prophets."  Today, which Paul calls the "last days", God speaks "to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe."  This Jesus, the Son of God, "is the refulgence of [God's] glory, the very imprint of [God's] being".  Jesus, the word of God made flesh, is the one who "sustains all things by his mighty word.  He sustains you and I.  "When he accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."  It is this Jesus who says to us in today's Gospel, Mark 1: 14-20, "This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel."  Following that proclamation, Jesus passes by the Sea of Galilee, sees Simon and his brother Andrew and calls them to follow Him and become "fishers of men."  A little further on, he calls James and his brother John for the same purpose. All four men leave their fishing business to become Jesus' followers and take on a new profession, that of evangelists and apostles.  What role do you and I assume to spread the Word of God, the message of Jesus' Gospel?

In "these last days," you and I are called to follow Jesus. "This is the time of [our]  fulfillment.  The Kingdom of God is at hand" for us!  Are we heeding Jesus' voice?  Or are we too busy to take time to build our relationship with Christ and with others in love, forgiveness and justice?  Are we too busy with our own affairs to lead people to Jesus, as Simon, Andrew, James and John did? How, you ask, are you to do this? By living according to the Gospel, doing what Jesus did in his ministry to the people of his day: being just and compassionate, being loving and forgiving, healing the sick and infirm, welcoming all to the table, touching "lepers" and welcoming them to the Eucharist and to experience a heart full of love.

"The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel!"   Live it one day at a time!