Today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, the evangelist, who worked along side St. Paul in making Jesus known to the Gentiles. Both Luke and Paul, friends of Jesus, did what the responsorial psalm, Psalm145, proclaims: "Your friends make known O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom." The psalmist goes on to say to followers of Jesus: "Let them discourse of the glory of [God's] Kingdom," a kingdom of peace and justice and love. As disciples of Jesus, we are to make "known [God's] might and the glorious splendor of [God's] kingdom, [a] Kingdom...for all ages." We are to let people know that God's "dominion endures through all generations," not just Jesus' generation. We are also to reveal the truth that "the Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. [And furthermore,]...is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth."
In today's Gospel, Luke 10, 1-9, Luke tells the story of when Jesus appointed 72 disciples to proclaim the Kingdom and thus precede him to places which He Himself "intended to visit....[B]ehold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.....In 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 [that] house."
In order to do God's work, we need to, first ourselves, be at peace. If the persons we are sent to assist, be that family or community members, members of our parish, or our fellow employees, are not at peace with our presence or message, we need to move on to other places/persons, as Jesus counseled the 72. When the Lord send us out on mission, we also need to be prepared to encounter "wolves." Not everyone wants to hear about the Gospel way of life and not everyone lives a life that brings them to knowledge Jesus, the Lord who, as identified by the psalmist as one who "is just in all his ways and holy in all his works." As with Jesus, we will encounter opposition in living the Christian way of life and being true to ourselves!
Are you/am I ready? If we keep our focus on Jesus as we journey through any given day, or come back to the Lord when we lose our focus, we will always be ready!
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Discernment of Spirits
In today's first reading, Galatians 5: 18-25, Paul clearly describes when we are allowing ourselves to be guided by the spirit or by the flesh. When guided by the spirit, we are generous, gentle, self-controlled and faithful to the Gospel. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, patience, kindness and the like. On the other hand, when we are slaves to the flesh, we are out of control, throwing fits of fury, engaging in orgies or bouts of drinking, being licentious, impure, idolatrous, envious, divisive and the like. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus, Paul reminds us, "have crucified their flesh with it passions and desires."
In today's Gospel, Luke 11: 42-46, Jesus further clarifies the difference of living according the spirit or according to the flesh. When we are following the ways of the flesh, we "pay no attention to judgment and to love of God." Our focus is rather on externals: gaining places of honors, being "greeted in...marketplaces," being recognized by the phylacteries or other devotionals we wear, the number of prayers we recite, and which others notice we recite, and so on. In short, we become our own god! On the other hand, those who focus on the ways of the Gospel, go about doing good for the sake of the Kingdom, to give praise and glory to God's name, "washing other people's feet," as Jesus did, being servant to others in ways that do not draw attention to oneself and, with God's assistance, dying to sin and rising to new life.
In today's Gospel, Luke 11: 42-46, Jesus further clarifies the difference of living according the spirit or according to the flesh. When we are following the ways of the flesh, we "pay no attention to judgment and to love of God." Our focus is rather on externals: gaining places of honors, being "greeted in...marketplaces," being recognized by the phylacteries or other devotionals we wear, the number of prayers we recite, and which others notice we recite, and so on. In short, we become our own god! On the other hand, those who focus on the ways of the Gospel, go about doing good for the sake of the Kingdom, to give praise and glory to God's name, "washing other people's feet," as Jesus did, being servant to others in ways that do not draw attention to oneself and, with God's assistance, dying to sin and rising to new life.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
The Unsurpassing Love of Christ
In today's opening prayer, the Collect of the Liturgy, we ask God to "pour out on us...the spirit with which [God] so remarkably endowed Saint Margaret Mary, so that [like her] we may come to know that love of Christ that surpassed all understanding and be utterly filled with [the Lord's] fullness."
What a prayer! I, you, are asking God to fill us with Jesus' love, nothing else! Full of love! God's love! Look at what Jesus, full of love, did for us, for all! Saved us from the slavery of sin! Purified us white as freshly fallen snow! Opened the gates of heaven for us! Secured us an eternal inheritance! Shows us the way to the Father! Dines with us every day in the Eucharist! Never leaves our side!
Look at what Mary, full of grace, full of God's love, did for us! First of all, said 'yes' to God's plan for our salvation, and hers! Conceived in her womb the Son of God, giving birth to God Incarnate! Second of all, taught Jesus to surrender to the will of His Father, called Him forth at Cana to reveal God's compassion to the bride and bridegroom! Noticed the need of the newly weds and brought that need to Jesus' attention, as she continues to do day in and day out for you and me, letting Jesus know our unmet needs. Teaches us, also, to pay attention to each other's needs! She stood beneath the cross, supporting and comforting her Son in His sufferings and does so for us! She witnessed, I believe, her Son's resurrection and ascension and was present at Pentecost. Finally, she guided the apostles and early members of the Church to spread the Good News, and is at our side also urging us to be faithful to our calling!
Yes, like Mary, may we be filled with the love of Christ and let that love pour forth from us into others! May we know the fullness of life that Jesus promises us, as did Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and Mary our Mother.
What a prayer! I, you, are asking God to fill us with Jesus' love, nothing else! Full of love! God's love! Look at what Jesus, full of love, did for us, for all! Saved us from the slavery of sin! Purified us white as freshly fallen snow! Opened the gates of heaven for us! Secured us an eternal inheritance! Shows us the way to the Father! Dines with us every day in the Eucharist! Never leaves our side!
Look at what Mary, full of grace, full of God's love, did for us! First of all, said 'yes' to God's plan for our salvation, and hers! Conceived in her womb the Son of God, giving birth to God Incarnate! Second of all, taught Jesus to surrender to the will of His Father, called Him forth at Cana to reveal God's compassion to the bride and bridegroom! Noticed the need of the newly weds and brought that need to Jesus' attention, as she continues to do day in and day out for you and me, letting Jesus know our unmet needs. Teaches us, also, to pay attention to each other's needs! She stood beneath the cross, supporting and comforting her Son in His sufferings and does so for us! She witnessed, I believe, her Son's resurrection and ascension and was present at Pentecost. Finally, she guided the apostles and early members of the Church to spread the Good News, and is at our side also urging us to be faithful to our calling!
Yes, like Mary, may we be filled with the love of Christ and let that love pour forth from us into others! May we know the fullness of life that Jesus promises us, as did Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and Mary our Mother.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Jesus' Call to Repentance
In today's Gospel, Luke 11: 29-32, Jesus says to the crowd: "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah," that is, the preaching of Jonah and the subsequent repentance of the Ninevites.
The generation of Jesus' time and our current generation are no different from one another. There is an abundance of evil in both generations. In Jesus' generation, people plotted for Jesus' death and, out of jealousy, murdered him on Calvary between two thieves. In our generation, people also plot to kill others who get in their way. People may be killed because they are about to expose evil or because they are blocking others from fulfilling their lustful desires or from acquiring properties by illegal, unjust schemes.
Where evil abounds, grace abounds as well. Jesus' death and resurrection brought about our redemption and, for that reason, it is possible for evil to be transformed into a good. People committing evil are offered the grace to repent of their wrongdoing. Eyes of men and women in actual or virtual prisons are opened. Hope is restored. Hatred destroyed. Evil does not triumph ultimately!
However, if people do not heed Jesus' call to repentance and, thus, do not follow the example of the Ninevites, they will remain in the pit that Satan sets for those who follow the ways of evil spirits.
Where am I/where are you in this scenario? Are we following good spirit or bad ones? Are we even aware of sin in our lives and our need for Jesus?
The generation of Jesus' time and our current generation are no different from one another. There is an abundance of evil in both generations. In Jesus' generation, people plotted for Jesus' death and, out of jealousy, murdered him on Calvary between two thieves. In our generation, people also plot to kill others who get in their way. People may be killed because they are about to expose evil or because they are blocking others from fulfilling their lustful desires or from acquiring properties by illegal, unjust schemes.
Where evil abounds, grace abounds as well. Jesus' death and resurrection brought about our redemption and, for that reason, it is possible for evil to be transformed into a good. People committing evil are offered the grace to repent of their wrongdoing. Eyes of men and women in actual or virtual prisons are opened. Hope is restored. Hatred destroyed. Evil does not triumph ultimately!
However, if people do not heed Jesus' call to repentance and, thus, do not follow the example of the Ninevites, they will remain in the pit that Satan sets for those who follow the ways of evil spirits.
Where am I/where are you in this scenario? Are we following good spirit or bad ones? Are we even aware of sin in our lives and our need for Jesus?
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Jesus' Directness
In today's Gospel, Mark 10: 17-30, a man runs up to Jesus, kneels down, and poses the following question to him: "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? ....You know the commandments," Jesus says to him and spells out what those commandments are. The man answers: "Teacher, all of those I have kept since my youth." Jesus looks at the man and loves him deeply. He says to him: You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." The man's face fell, and he walked away from Jesus saddened, "for he had many possessions," of which he was not ready to let go!
With some fear, I asked Jesus: What must I do to inherit eternal life? With greater fear, I asked Jesus to tell me what was the one thing that I lacked? And He told me!
What question or questions do you need to ask Jesus? After you ask that question, wait, in prayer, for Jesus' answer! Be not afraid! Jesus is gentle but honest. And remember, as with the man in today's Gospel: Jesus looks at you and loves you deeply!
With some fear, I asked Jesus: What must I do to inherit eternal life? With greater fear, I asked Jesus to tell me what was the one thing that I lacked? And He told me!
What question or questions do you need to ask Jesus? After you ask that question, wait, in prayer, for Jesus' answer! Be not afraid! Jesus is gentle but honest. And remember, as with the man in today's Gospel: Jesus looks at you and loves you deeply!
Friday, October 12, 2018
God's Mercy
In today's first reading, Galatians 3: 7-14, St. Paul reminds us that "no one is justified before God by the law." Only our faith in Christ Jesus justifies us. "[T]he one who is righteous by faith will live," Paul tells us. "But the law does not depend on faith... Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessings (the gift of faith) of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
Thank God for the gift of faith, especially on days when our behaviors would be condemned by the law. God does not condemn; no, God saves! Christ has ransomed you and me from the curse of the law "by becoming a curse" and gives us the grace to forgive those who "curse" us and, yes, defends us from ourselves when we want to stand in judgment of self!
With the psalmist, in today's responsorial psalm, let us pray:
"Majesty and glory are [God's] work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the Lord."
Thank God for the gift of faith, especially on days when our behaviors would be condemned by the law. God does not condemn; no, God saves! Christ has ransomed you and me from the curse of the law "by becoming a curse" and gives us the grace to forgive those who "curse" us and, yes, defends us from ourselves when we want to stand in judgment of self!
With the psalmist, in today's responsorial psalm, let us pray:
"Majesty and glory are [God's] work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the Lord."
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Smartness or Stupidity: Which Is it for Me/You?
In today's first reading, Galatians 3: 1-5, St. Paul is frustrated with the Galatians who have turned to the flesh and away from the Spirit. "Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?" Paul is having a hard time comprehending how people can turn away from a God who poured out His love them upon the cross, surrendering to the Trinity's plan of salvation even unto death. Jesus held nothing back to redeem us from the law, which condemns us, and from the cruel deceitfulness and wickedness of the devil who will go to any length to get us to deny Christ and turn away from our salvation, to deny Truth and Justice, Love and Mercy. Satan seems to be having a hay day in the world of today. Evil seems to be triumphing over good, as on that first Good Friday. However, we know that, as black as Good Friday was with the Savior of the world being put to death as a criminal that day, death--evil--was destroyed on that day and resurrection followed. Good is going to triumph over evil. The wicked will not have the last word. Jesus will! Good people will!
On whose side will I be that day? the side of evil or the side of good? the side of justice or the side of injustice? the side of honesty or the side of deceitfulness? the side of love and mercy or the side of hatred and mercilessness? the side of humility or the side of pride? the side of forgiveness or the side of revenge?
Where do I stand today? The choice is mine to make in cooperation with Jesus, who comes daily to save us, not condemn us!
On whose side will I be that day? the side of evil or the side of good? the side of justice or the side of injustice? the side of honesty or the side of deceitfulness? the side of love and mercy or the side of hatred and mercilessness? the side of humility or the side of pride? the side of forgiveness or the side of revenge?
Where do I stand today? The choice is mine to make in cooperation with Jesus, who comes daily to save us, not condemn us!
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