Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 COR 3:1-9; PS 33:12-13, 14-15, 20-21; LK 4:38-44
Notes: The mission of Jesus Christ grows continuously.
- During his life among us, he constantly increased the reach and geography of his ministry.
- The cases he encountered of illness and possession increased in complexity and frequency.
- The cases he encountered of human power, greed and jealousy increased in complexity and frequency.
But this did not deter him for this is the purpose for which he came. This did not diminish the love and mercy he dispensed instead, to quote Paul:
The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 5:19-20).
Jesus also said:
But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
The local diocese has published its synodal summary. Read it here: https://gerrypalermo.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/synthesis-summary.pdf
First reading
In the Church today, this warning from Paul is very appropriate. Today the USA Church is enmeshed in politics and civil law as proxy for true Justice and Mercy.
The Church isn’t afraid to speak or rather regurgitate. It is afraid to speak in increasingly difficult matters with clarity and insight that are before us in the areas outlined below. Instead she quotes and requotes older teachings that are valid, of course, but increasingly misapplied and inappropriately contorted to fit the message-of-today. We are not rising to the task as Jesus did. We are taking short cuts that undermine the very truth we love and profess.
The Church has retarded it’s growth (literally frozen in place) in matters of:
- Theology.
- Science.
- Social Justice, in particular sociology.
- Ecological Justice.
- Juridic matters of the faithful.
Brothers and sisters,
I could not talk to you as spiritual people,
but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ.
I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still not able, even now, for you are still of the flesh. While there is jealousy and rivalry among you, are you not of the flesh, and walking according to the manner of man?
but only God, who causes the growth.
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Responsorial Psalm
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.
Alleluia Verse
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.
Gospel Portion
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 