Bestow his spirit

Greetings on this the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Nm 11:25-29; Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Notes: Many are called to proclaim the good news.

Proclaim the good news with honesty, integrity and fidelity to the word of God.

Who then is called?

Hear the words of Moses from the first reading:
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!

First reading
The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.
Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses,
the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders;
and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.

Responsorial Psalm
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Second reading
Our continuous reading of the Letter of James concludes today with a warning.

You have stored up treasure for the last days.

This is a sardonic comment.

The review covered:

• the things we amassed,
• the people we abused; and
• the Son of God whom we discounted and mistreated.

Obviously I use the “we” moniker to permit us to understand that James is addressing all of us in some degree or another. Our hope is in the Lord who forgives.

• Our imperative is to imitate Christ, confess our sins and make reparation for our ill-gotten gain.
• Our purpose is to restore our life in this life and to attain eternal life.
• Our hearts are to wish good for all and salvation for all the nations.

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded,
and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;
it will devour your flesh like a fire.

Alleluia Verse
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.

Gospel Portion
The Lord has bestowed such wonderful grace upon us.

The assurance of salvation, the good of a peaceful life.

Yet, we hold back.
We resist bestowing Christ upon others.
Eek!

For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day (Ex 32:29).

Let’s take a look at the book of the prophet Ezra (I am off the readings but bear with me).
Ezra chapter 7 verses 11 and following (Ez 7:11ff).

The Decree of Artaxerxes

Regading those who wish to return to Judah and Jerusalem.

• All who of wish to follow may follow.
• Offer what you can of your free will:
  • Grain.
  • Bulls, Rams, and Lambs.
  • Wine.
  • Vessels.
  • Silver and gold.

Whatever else you may be required to supply for the needs of the house of your God, you may draw from the royal treasury.

All this for the rebuilding the Temple and the City of God.

Fast forward to today and our participation.
It isn’t about gold or silver, nor about tithing (although all those are important).

We too are called to help the building the Temple and the City of God.

Do we have:

• Fear of God?
• Fear of Loss?
• Fear of Others?

Yet, Love casts out fear (1 Jn 4:18).

Holding back telling the Good News is to put everyone in danger, ourselves included.
Most of all we are to bestow the divine love we ourselves experience.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.

• Our imperative is to imitate Christ, confess our sins and make reparation for our ill-gotten gain.
• Our purpose is to restore our life in this life and to attain eternal life.
• Our hearts are to wish good for all and salvation for all the nations.

Bestow the graces given you.
Bestow love upon all the children, that is to say any living person.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry