Courage to Love

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Cor 3:4-11; Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9; Mt 5:17-19
Notes: We often describe Jesus as a radical. Radical love. Insane love. Outpouring beyond reason love.

Well, at least in the context of the rigidity that religion can take on then and Jesus called out quite distinctly and consistently and vigorously.
Do you think the Sadducees and the Pharisees are the only rigid religiosity that ever existed or an archetype we should be mindful of even in the Church today?

Comparing to the freely given forgiveness, healing and love that Jesus expressed for the Father and for G-d’s children, that is, all humans.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice (Matt 23:2-3).

He is saying these things right after revealing the Beatitudes.
One can assume he wants us to on-board a life of the beatitudes without forgetting the necessity for commandments, order and liturgy (public worship).

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. [But] these you should have done, without neglecting the others (Matt 23:23).

We need Jesus-level courage to love like him.

We are directed by Paul to listen to the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit to properly know how to integrate, separate and illuminate.

Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins (Mk 2:22).

Retain.
Retire.
Renew.
Re-express as a Sign of the Times.

Signs of the times is a phrase strongly associated with the Catholic Church in the era of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s. It was taken to mean that the church should listen to, and learn from, the world around it. In other words, it should learn to read the ‘signs of the times’ (wikipedia.org).

Even still we must not ruin the wineskins!

In generally accepted ethics (standards of behavior, not an imposed moral theological standard), somehow or another we must protest outrageous, public blasphemy of the signs and symbols of our faith while maintaining an invitation to dialog.

Prayer.
The bishops counsel prayer as our response and our common dignity the height of our concern.

We must also consider the possibility that the reflex response these groups present is in fact partly or wholly a response to our failing to be loving under all circumstances. These acts and words of defiance cannot necessarily be ascribed to rejection of holiness.

Protest is a public statement about how you treat me.

Satire is the same thing.

They are hurtful in their protest and satire. I need to own some of it, too.

Read: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/catholics-invited-pray-act-reparation-solemnity-sacred-heart

First Reading
Brothers and sisters: Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Responsorial
Holy is the Lord our God.

O LORD, our God, you answered them; a forgiving God you were to them, though requiting their misdeeds.

Gospel Acclamation
Teach me your paths, my God, and guide me in your truth.

Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry