Author: yuengerwv

The first reading from Sirach provides us with a follow-up to last week’s readings. How do we respond in justice and love to those around us, even when we are mistreated? We have all heard, “by the fruit you shall know the tree”. Here we hear Sirach providing the same wisdom. How many in our world today look to the rich and powerful for guidance. Sirach says to more carefully look at their lives and ponder how they will stand before God. Not that it is our responsibility to judge them, but to place credence in what they say could also be a form of judgment where we figure, they are wealthy so they must be right. It could be they are right on the way to hell. Judgment is judgment in both directions.
This is taken up by Paul’s letter regarding corruptible and incorruptible. All the things of this world are designed to pass away. To the world death is the ultimate destruction, yet for those of us with faith it is just the transition point. We are called then, when things may not seem o be going well in the eyes of the world to “be film, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
In a sense, Jesus picks this up referring to those enamored with this world and its riches, as being blind. How can such a person lead us to the greater good? Like Sirach, Jesus refers to the fruit of the tree and how good trees produce good fruit. When we look at things in our lives, do we see long term good or short term good? Remember some trees take many years for the fruit to be discernable. We must not be quick to judge until the tree is mature. Then we can more clearly see which people we should be paying attention to and following.

The first reading emphasizes what the Psalm repeats, “The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.” David could easily have killed Saul but was mindful of what God had in mind, not what others in the earthly realm had in mind. David will ultimately be rewarded with the kingship, not because he had killed Saul, but because he had listened to God and remained faithful. Short-term killing Saul may have seemed to be an easy answer, but David knew that to do so would be a violation of his trust in God.
Following up on this Paul emphasizes the difference between the “natural” and the “spiritual”. David was clearly following not the natural way battles are fought but was more concerned about the spiritual battle that was being fought.
These two then lead us into the Gospel where Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” This is clearly the way David saw his position in dealing with Saul. If we trust in God, God will take care of things . . . in his own time and in his own way. Our task is to remain faithful and trust in God. The ending of the periscope is important: “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Who wants God to be stingy when it comes to being blessed?

Do we trust in God or in ourselves or each other? Jeremiah makes it clear that to trust in human beings leads us into a barren desert of empty wasteland. Whereas, he points out that those who trust in God are blessed and fruitful. How can this be, when there are many good people who trust in God yet appear to be deserted by Him? How can we say they are blessed when evil people seem to reap copious abundance? We need to keep in mind that God is looking at the long term good of the people not the short term. Indeed, short term it seems as though evil is the way to go as it provides immediate short-term benefits. However, what is the long-term effect of evil on us, our families, our nation?
I know of a man who ran a Ponzi Scheme. Short term he was wealthy and had many of the wealthy his door. Long term, he ended up in jail, his family destroyed, his wealth and friendships came to nothing. Paul reminds us that there is more than just this immediate life and benefits. He assures us that the dead will be raised even if what we do in this life seems to have no real consequences, ultimately, sooner or later, we all will face judgment.
In the Gospel we hear one of the sets of beatitudes. In Matthew Jesus is on the mountain, in Luke he is on level ground. instead of implying divine wisdom, Jesus is implying good earthly wisdom. In both cases Jesus is turning the tables upside down from the normal earthly view of being blessed or cursed. No one would say being poor is a blessed state, yet it recognizes that the poor depend on God more than the wealthy, and thus, will receive the kingdom of God as a reward, the life to come. The same goes for the other beatitudes. Someone once told me the sayings should be called the “BE ATTITUDES” as they point toward the attitude that God considers most blessed, those who listen to him and do his will.

The first reading recounts Isaiah’s call to be a prophet. He points out that he is unworthy to be a prophet, yet God says he can make clean any unworthiness. We too are called to be prophets in our day, even though we too are unworthy. But perhaps our bigger problem is not being unworthy but being unwilling?
The second reading: After several weeks of reminding us that each of us has been given different gifts by God. These gifts are to be used for the good of the community of believers. Paul in today’s reading points out that like Isaiah, he is unworthy to be an apostle because he persecuted the Church and is undeserving of the grace God gave him to preach. We need to remember to pray for our bishops and priests and other preachers as no one is worthy to proclaim the word of God, yet where would our faith be if no one preached?
The Gospel reading follows suit with the two other readings, Peter is unworthy to be a disciple of Jesus, yet Jesus calls him anyway. What is Jesus calling you to do for him? Are you willing to leave all behind to follow Jesus’s call? What holds you back?

Jeremiah starts this first reading with God reminding him that, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Do we take time to realize how precious we are to God? Do we respect all those whom God has formed in the womb, realizing they are known to Him?
Paul takes all the gifts and blessings from God and dismisses them as dross when compared to Love. Do we take pride in our gifts and blessings without sharing Love?
Love is not a simple emotion but ultimately a way of life. A way of relating to God and to those around us. In another Gospel reading, Scripture states, (1 John 4:20)NIV “For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
Those listening to Jesus were amazed at his teaching yet rose up against him because he called a spade a spade. He didn’t pamper them with platitudes and tell them how wonderful they were. He told them work still needed to be done. How do we respond to those who try to guide us forward in God’s ways? Do we love enough to risk being rejected because of what our love calls us to be? and to do? and to say?

Pope Francis asked that the 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time be used to focus on Sacred Scripture.  The first reading can emphasize that.  Do we read scripture at all?  Do we discuss it with anyone?  I knew a family who on Wednesdays would sit with their children and go over the scriptures for the coming Sunday.  The children, after listening to the readings, would try to think of the theme the local pastor would have in his homily.  Whoever came closest to what the pastor spoke about on the following Sunday would get a gold star for that week. 

Now for my thoughts.

I was trying to picture the priest reading the book of the law before the assembly. Everyone was standing, no chairs. No bathrooms or port-a-potties. No concession stands for a snack or water cooler for a drink. Wow! And in most churches people have trouble listening for one hour!!! At the end, Nehemiah says, “Today is holy to the LORD your God.” Do we even try to keep Sunday holy or is it “Our” day? I know that not everyone is able to be the same, as Paul states, the body bas many parts. Yet do we even try to relate to others.
Luke, in the introduction to his Gospel, makes no pretense that he knew Jesus personally. Yet, he was moved for our sake to compile a narrative explaining who Jesus was, and why he was important to you and me. Jesus then gives a summary of his mission: to bring glad tidings to the poor; proclaim liberty to captives; recovery of sight to tbe blind; to let the oppressed go free. Do we know what our mission is? Have we ever articulated why we are here? What is our purpose for existing? Why do we do the things we do? Perhaps as we move forward this week, we can take a little bit of time to reflect and see if we can articulate and answer to the question, “Why am 1 here?”

In the first reading we bear the prophet saying, “I will not be silent, I will not be quiet.” In our world today, it seems too many people are trying to silence their opposition. Like dictators old and new, they seem to think that if they can silence everyone who disagrees with them, they will win all the battles and be the ultimate winner. Unfortunately, such silence comes at a steep price. Often at the expense of someone’s life, organic and spiritual. Are we willing to speak what needs to be heard, as our Church teaches, or will we be silent because what the Church has to say may not be popular or politically correct? If we do not proclaim the truth, how will others know it? How can they respond to God’s calls unless we are prophets? As the psalm says we are called to, “Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.”
Unless we share what God has given us, how are others to know or understand the workings of God? Voices to the contrary will win the day, and the truth may never be known. Our prophetic rolls do not need to be upfront. Mary didn’t make a scene at Cana, yet she made a difference by merely stating, ”They have no wine.” When she spoke, it wasn’t about her, or Jesus, but out of her concern for the hosts. Likewise, we do not always need to make a scene with the truth. We can be as discreet as Mary. Yet, like Mary, and the prophets, we too cannot be silent and cannot be quiet.

 In the first reading we hear that “Whoever honors his father atones for sins and preserves himself from them.” And “kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins.” Did you realize that in addition to prayer, fasting and almsgiving that honoring your parents atones for sins as well? How do we honor our parents? The second reading reminds us to put on “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.”  Sometimes the hardest ones to deal with are members of our personal family and our Christian family. How do we respond to those around us most often?

The Gospel relates one of the more traumatic experiences a family can have, a missing child. How do we respond to those whose family are going through difficult periods?

The first reading mentions that Bethlehem was a small and insignificant place. In our rush to where we are going do we recognize those we are rushing past as “insignificant”? Do we take for granted or do we appreciate the efforts of each person doing the myriad of “insignificant” things that make our lives easier, safer, or healthier? The psalm asks God to make us tum to him. Do we only tum to God when we are forced? Do we tune him out except when catastrophes strike? The second ready emphasizes coming to do the will of God. Do we really want to know his will? Do we really want to do his will? Are we willing to let go of our own will to accomplish what God has in mind for our day her than what we have in mind for our day? The gospel reminds us of what is so special about Jesus’ mother Mary. “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Do we believe that God will do what he promised? Do we live the kind of life that says yes to God with each breath? Are we really ready for Jesus’ return, or do we figure we always have more time to prepare?

The first reading calls us to: “shout for joy, 0 daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, 0 israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart” Do we ever share the joy of our relationship with Jesus? Is our heart glad? Do we shout and sing for joy like in some of our favorite movies? The second reading reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always! Do we? At the preaching of John people are asking what they should do to prepare for the coming of the messiah. What are we doing to prepare? Is our idea of being prepared for Christ’s coming to have our shopping list finished and our home decorated for parties? In our homes would anyone recognize that Jesus is the reason for our celebration or is everything generically secular? In the Gospel, we hear of John preparing the way for the Lord. How do we prepare for Jesus? Do we invite others to prepare for him?