23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

A couple of weeks ago we heard Jesus say to Simon: "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church." (Mtt 16: 18) Today we hear something about what this mysterious things called "church" is and how it functions. It is a gathering to which brothers and sisters, made so through the bonds that are forged in Christ, can resolve conflicts and ensure order within the community. Jesus says: "If the brother or sister refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church..." (Mtt 18: 17). This gathering is no ordinary group of individuals as its decisions are binding on earth and in heaven. (Mtt 18: 18) Third, it is a gathering of prayer which makes the Lord present: "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." (Mtt 18: 20). As we gather for Mass today let us be mindful of the privilege of being church and the power that the church has to resolve conflict, mediate grace and make the Lord present. Our Mass is no ordinary human event. It is a mediation of Jesus himself as he is among us as the Bridegroom is to the bride. Let us also be mindful of the obligation to seek peaceful resolution of conflicts and to avoid scandal, gossip and detraction which are so corrosive of the beautiful Church into which each of us has been baptized. 

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

If last week's gospel was a moment of triumph for St Peter today's reading is a moment of humiliation. How does Peter go from hero to zero? The answer is the scandal of the Cross. Darwinism and other forms of evolutionary biology see the key to success as being survival. The stronger and fitter species and individuals will win out and the weaker ones will die. We instinctively look for strength and self-preservation in our economic and social interactions. For St Peter, what was the point of being the Messiah if you were not going to beat the stuffing out of the Romans and vindicate God's people so as to establish a new and glorious Kingdom? Yet, Jesus starts to speak of the Cross! We can start to think by this that St Peter has a point, Instead, Jesus rebukes him: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me" (Mtt 16: 23) From being the "rock" Peter has become a "stumbling block." Why? Because he, and indeed us also, think in a human way. St Paul speaks of this when he writes: "For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor 1: 22-24) How can we start to think in a divine way? It is through faith in a Christ who is crucified and calls us to come follow him. Paradoxically, therefore, we no longer are ashamed of our weaknesses but rather glorify in how God is able to work through them. Paul tells us: "So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12: 9-10) 

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we have the account of Simon Peter's reply to Jesus' question: "But you who do you say that I am?" (Mtt 16: 15) Simon says: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Mtt 16: 16) It is difficult for us to imagine how significant it would have been for a First Century Jew to make such a statement. It would have demanded a radical transformation of Simon's political/religious/cultural reality. With the messiah having arrived the Scriptures would have been fulfilled and a new age begun. Next Sunday we will hear how the newly nicknamed Peter struggle to deal with the consequences of his statement of faith. For the moment, however, it is helpful for us to realize how the question of Jesus and the answer he was given remain just as radical for us today. If someone of my acquaintance or a television reporter was to ask me "Who do you say Jesus of Nazareth is?", what would I reply? The pressure on me would be even greater if I knew that my career prospects would be damaged or I would expose myself and my family to ridicule and abuse by trolls on social media. In some parts of the world an answer that affirms the messiah-ship of Jesus may even endanger my life and that of those I love most. Yet, as we see in the martyrdom of the Apostles, including St Peter, to believe in Jesus and to stay faithful to him was of greater value than worldly life or prosperity. Faith in Jesus is indeed the pearl of great price. Since we have been redeemed from slavery to sin by the blood of Christ let us not hesitate to affirm our faith in Him when it is challenged by those around us. Let our presence at Mass be a living witness and prophetic sign that the promises of the Gospel are just as valid in 2020 as they were in the time of St Peter.

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The episode in today's gospel disrupts any idea that Jesus was a saccharine, soft touch who went around being "nice" to everybody. When we look at the Gospels we find that Jesus challenged people and tested them often with hard questions. People come to Jesus and they are often in tears, desperate or angry. Jesus does not evince a neutral or disinterested response and he hardly answers a question with a direct answer. As Jesus was in life so he is in the resurrection. In our prayer life we need to be aware that Jesus will challenge us and test us. His answers to our prayers will not always be immediate or exactly what we expected. In fact, his answers to our prayers, usually in hindsight, yield a far better result than I could have expected at the time. What a wonderful, personal and loving God we have! He knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us more than we can know! Let us therefore approach him in faith as did the Syro-Phoenician woman and allow ourselves to be tested so that our relationship with Jesus my mature and grow.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Earlier in the Gospel the disciples were with Jesus in a stormy sea. Alarmed at the waves they cry out: "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" (Mtt 8: 25) Jesus calms the storm and the disciples marvel at him saying: "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" (Mtt 8: 27) In the Gospel today the disciples are again tested both by the head wind and the appearance of Jesus walking on the water: " 'It is a ghost!' And they cried out in fear." (Mtt 14: 26) Peter, with his characteristic impetuosity, calls out: "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (Mtt 14: 28) Once the pair are back in the boat "... those in the boat worshipped him, saying: 'Truly you are the Son of God.' " (Mtt 14: 33) We can see in these accounts a growth in faith that is brought about through trial and hardship but also the willingness of Peter to embrace the mystery and reach out to the Lord. It is a truism to say that we only tend to find God in times of distress. It is only then that we call out to Him because we realize that we can no longer rely on our own power and resources. Over time our realization of who Jesus is and what he means for us becomes more apparent and he is no longer some ancient wonder worker or wise teacher. We come to know him as the Son of God who invites us to share not just in his mission but also in his divine power. through participating in Alpha we are drawn to encounter Christ anew even if I am not in crisis. When we see his power in work in myself and others my own understanding and discipleship will deepen. I, too, will be able to reach out to the Lord and say: "Truly you are the Son of God."