13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

St Paul tells us: "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." (2 Cor 8: 9) We all know, however, that Jesus was born of a family of humble means from Nazareth since his (presumed) father was builder (Gk. tekton) and that his parents offered at his presentation in the Temple the sacrifice of the poor - "to turtledoves or two young pigeons." (Lk 2: 24) When he was dying on the Cross Jesus was stripped of his remaining earthly possession - his garment to the soldiers. His gifts to the Church, represented by the Beloved Disciple, were his mother and his pneuma (spirit) meant that there was nothing left on Good Friday except his broken and bloody corpse and he was buried in a borrowed tomb. In what way then, was he rich, then? St Paul gives us a deeper explanation in his letter to the Philippians when he says that Christ: "... who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness." (Phil 2: 6) In the Gospel for today we see how he brought healing to others through his divine power and yet was subjected to laughter and skepticism. He did not ask for reward nor did he cash in on his "celebrity." He could have journeyed to Rome or some other major city and worked miracles there to great profit, as he was tempted to do by the devil at the outset of his ministry (Mtt 4: 5-6). Instead, he stayed in Israel determined to accomplish the mission him given by the Father without a house of his own: "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Lk 9: 58) Our Lord has truly loved us and given everything for us. Why, then, do we find it so hard on occasions to return his love? How is it that those who call themselves Catholic struggle to give the Lord fifty five minutes of their time to offer him thanks and praise at Sunday Mass?