8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Beyond doubt the Resurrection is an amazing transformation. As St Paul's states today: "When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality..." (1 Cor. 15: 54) death no longer has a hold on the person and not only that, because we await our own resurrection in hope, we are not dominated by the fear of death here and now. This allows us to live unselfish lives and to bear fruit for the Kingdom: "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain." (1 Cor. 15: 58) Yet, our full appropriation of the promise given us in baptism remains a challenge. When we act as blind guides, self-important disciples and struggling to see past the log in our own eyes to take out the speck from another's eye we reveal the corruption within rather than the in-breaking of the risen power and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. With Ash Wednesday this week there is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to lives that give true and authentic witness to the hope that is within us: "Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. keep your conscience clear, so that , when you are maligned, those who abuse you or your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame." (1 Pet. 3: 15-16)

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel has more hard sayings which confront us as disciples of the Lord. It is challenging to ask myself the questions: am I a blind guide?; am I a disciple who thinks I am above the teacher?; do I see the speck in my neighbour's eye ahead of the speck in my own?; do I bear bad fruit?; do I have a hoard of evil treasure in my heart from which my mouth speaks? Every time we come across a hard teaching in the Gospel we need to apply it first of all to ourselves. In this way the Lord can school us in the way of holiness just as he did with the first disciples. Like the rose bush or the grapevine we need to be pruned on a regular basis so that we can bear fruit for the Kingdom and also know the fullness of joy: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. he removes very branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed (pruned) by the word that I have spoken to you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me... My father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has love me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." (Jn 14: 1-4, 8-11) 

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Often at funerals we hear how the deceased is already in heaven and how wonderful s/he was during their life. Sometimes I say to myself: "maybe we should ask the opinion of his ex-wives!" The standard given to us for holiness in  today, nevertheless, sets the bar very high indeed! The challenge is: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Lk 6: 32) Can I identify in my own life where I have loved those who do not love me? Can I tell a story of how I turned the other cheek to an insult? When did I last genuinely bless those who curse and abuse me even if only in my prayer? With the Sermon on the Plain in Luke and that on the Mount in Matthew we are obliged to see where our faith is in practice. If we do not see evidence for this the best time to start is now: "See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's, way, so that no fault can be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as imposters, and yet we are true; as unknown, and yet we are well known; and dying, and see - we are alive; as punished, and not yet killed; as sorrowful, yet, always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything." (2 Cor. 6: 2-10)

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Who wants to be poor, hungry, weeping as well as hated, excluded, reviled and defamed on account of the Son of Man? Yet, that is what it means to be prophetic. Who doesn't want to be rich, satiated, laughing and have people speak well of you? Yet, that it what it means to be a false prophet. The challenge given by Jesus, through St Luke, to Theophilus and to us is a stark one. If our religion is motivated in order to satisfy this world's desires we are on the wrong track. To share in Christ's Kingdom and glory we need to be like him and share with him in the sufferings that occur to all those who strive to bring the Father's love to a crucifying world. Of course, this was never easy and it remains the case today. Look at the Parliament and how many there are prepared to take the risk of speaking up for Catholic values. It is a political death sentence. If we, as Catholics, are excluded, defamed and reviled in the media for the teachings of Christ we must be doing something right. 

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the verses of Luke's Gospel prior to the selection made for us by the Lectionary today we see Jesus casting out demons. In those pericopes Jesus' power to confront and confound evil is manifested. Yet, even though he is the Son of God, he does not choose to enact his mission alone. Today he calls Simon Peter and goes on to call James and john, sons of Zebedee, as well. He does not call them because they are perfect, strong or righteous. Simon Peter is overwhelmed saying: "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." (Lk 5: 8) Nevertheless, Jesus chooses him and also goes on to choose Judas Iscariot who was to betray him. The mystery of God's choice is beyond us, however, we can be certain that in baptism, confirmation and Holy Communion we are all indeed called and commissioned to work for the Lord despite our deficiencies. Like Simon Peter we too hear the call: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." (Lk 5: 10) 

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's episode is shocking for the level of hatred and violence stirred up by Jesus' words. In a tranquil provincial synagogue, at a usual sabbath service, ordinary people are so enraged that they try to lynch a member of their own congregation who has grown up in their midst. What could occasion such an astonishing turn of events. Jesus has just proclaimed a year of Jubilee and the fulfillment of Gods promises. Surely that is Good News! Yet, the people are scandalized that it should be  one of their own, the son of a carpenter, who is speaking to them. Even worse he speaks of God being there for gentiles as well as Jews. As nationalist Jews the congregation's sense of exclusivity and entitlement is being challenged radically. Thus, snobbery, exclusiveness and power bring them to homicidal anger. This brings to fulfillment the prophecy given by Simeon at the Presentation in the Temple: "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed...." (Luke 2: 34) Jesus later tells his disciples that they, too, will be opposed: "If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15: 18) In fact, it is problematic when Christians are lauded by the world: "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets." (Luke 6: 26) Since this is the case, as Catholics we should not be surprised when the media, politicians or celebrities mock, deride or attack us for our faith. This is a sign that we are following in the footsteps of our Master. After all we are called to be heirs to the blessings of God: "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Mtt 5: 11)

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

St Luke writes: "I too decided... to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which which you have been instructed." (Lk 1: 3-4) As we embark on the journey through Luke's gospel in this Year C of the Lectionary we stand in the shoes of Theophilus. We, too, have been instructed and are believers yet we also need to delve deeper into the mysteries into which we have been baptized. Our thirst for the truth can never be slaked sufficiently such that we no longer need to hear the Word of God afresh. As disciples of the Lord we need both the discipline of listening to the truth as well as the discipline of the sacraments to train us in the ways of our Master. Let us take time to set aside opportunities, outside of the Sunday Mass, for silent prayer, meditation, individual and group devotions, Eucharistic adoration, spiritual reading, fasting, almsgiving and spiritual sharing so that we may become more informed, dedicated and joy filled disciples of our Lord. Ours is a living Word and a living faith. It has the power to save now just as it did on that day in Nazareth. As we listen each Sunday to the Gospel let us be aware: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Lk 4: 14)