Following Leviathan or Christ the King

Greetings on this the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Readings: 2 SM 5:1-3; PS 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5; COL 1:12-20; LK 23:35-43

Choosing Leaders

In every age and in all times we have leaders. Some are foisted upon us and others are selected by us.

The first reading today indicates that David was selected after a very lengthy war between the supporters of Saul and the supporters of David (2 Sam 3:1). Accordingly David enters into agreement with the leadership of the people.

The Lord himself selected David as attested by 1 Sam 16:1ff. Samuel finds David from among the brothers of Jesse of Bethlehem.

Then we can say together God and man selected David.

Let us be careful in understanding this and not as the current political peoples do. The selection by man was a political act and one of advantage and alliance. The selection by the Lord was different. David was selected to be Shepherd and Commander. Shepherd in all its meanings but especially in the area of governance.

One cannot understand the Shepherd call absent the divine understanding of that purpose and the antithesis of that purpose. I have written often on this so perhaps we can skip that today.

Source of Power

Ultimately the purpose of the Shepherd role is to deliver us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Making peace by the blood of his cross whether those on earth or those in heaven is the Shepherd standard.

If Jesus the Christ is the standard of the Shepherd, his actions and goals should be our criteria.

Gospel

Even now you sneer?

The reading today is of the sacrificial Christ who through his Kingship accepts even death on the Cross to redeem and return us to the Lord.

We are at a decision point between King Saul or King Jesus.

We must choose here in the USA between the King of Advantage/Alliance or the King of Shepherding and of Forgiveness.

Choose well.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Special guest page has a new message of alarm and hope.

Please read: Special Guests – FR Rick Frechette – A floating hospital and a sinking country

Thank you.

Persist

Greetings on this the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: 2 MC 7:1-2, 9-14; PS 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; 2 THES 2:16-3:5; LK 20:27-38

First Reading

In the first reading from the 7^th chapter of the 2^nd book of Maccabees we receive the martyrdom story of a woman and her 7 sons. Previously in chapter 6 is the example of martyrdom of Eleazar, a holy scribe of advanced age.

All of them being slaughtered for obeying the prohibition from eating pork (see Leviticus 11:7).

I don’t want to spend too much time on this aspect but rather refer the reader to excellent articles on how to understand the necessity of placing humanity first with this short article and/or the book:

1. Lessons from the Pig: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/lessons-from-the-pig/
2. Haiti: The God of Tough Places, the Lord of Burnt Men: Fr. Frechettee recalls how pigs eagerly eat the bodies of dead people. Thus the need to protect, honor and then bury the bodies of the dead as soon as possible after death. Father believes the early Jewish prohibition of eating pork has to do with the respect due a human person from all social classes.

Back to the young men

The four examples (of the 7) are made for our instruction regarding what each expressed as having primacy over obeying this wicked king.

1. Son #1: Obeying the Commandments and Law. This son’s act of faith was to remain faithful to and in obedience to the 10 Commandments and the dietary laws given to Moses from God.
   (By the way the intense suffering he endured is skipped in today’s account as it is quite brutal).
2. Son #2: Declares in the Hope of the Resurrection which he states is His Law. This son elevates the understanding of the Law to include the firmness of the promise of resurrection with the power of divine law (resurrection theology goes through many advances through the NT period).
3. Son #3: Declares a disdain for his earthen vessel relative to being in the Divine presence. He values his earthly body as elevated to the restored person in the after-life. This is further expanded in the Psalm reading today:
   

   I shall find Contentment in the sight of God (Shekhinah – presence).

4. Son #4 Divine Judgment: He declares every man’s life has a choice to be made. One ultimately will Choose Eternal Life or Eternal Death. He chose life (x-ref Deut 30:19).

Yesterday’s Gospel Reading (Saturday)

The story is told of Jesus cleansing the temple as fulfilling the scripture passage I will have zeal for the Lord. When confronted Jesus offers this prediction of a Sign:

Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.

A sign of his power and predicting as a Prophet would do and as Moses taught.

The Gospel notes that Apostles remember Jesus words about rebuilding temple in 3 days (himself/resurrection). Thus they discerned that Scripture is believable and the words of Jesus (later known as the NT) is also believable.

First Born of the Dead

Jesus is the first born of the dead. His is the first resurrection. Jesus reminds the Sadducees that this they should already know as Moses revealed this in the story of the burning bush. God is the God of the living here on Earth and there in the afterlife.

The Problem

The Sadducees exemplify the exaggeration of our problem of faith. You see the example they gave is not merely a mocking of the resurrection theology but of the very activity of God in this life. Such a dire example is given in many accounts in the OT (7 Sons, 7 Husbands). But in every other account revealing not the despair of life but embracing the life given by the divine.

Here the Sadducees link the futility of marrying seven times to assure descendents to the (for them) the ridiculous promise of an after- life. The Sadducees are attacking acts of faith in this life and the promise of life after death. They are questioning the Good Work of God.

Strength

Saint Paul gives us some encouragement to persevere in faith. He says the Lord Jesus Christ provides everlasting encouragement and the grace to do good.

PRAY

Pray, he says.

PRAY FOR US – that the evangelization of the good news will grow and continue.

Do acts of righteousness and continue to do good until the very last.

Do not worry that with your heart pointed to God, you will have the endurance of Christ.

Remember Jesus’ words as the apostles did.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Bringing Down Walls of Defiance

Greetings on this the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: WIS 11:22-12:2; PS 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14; 2 THES 1:11-2:2; LK 19:1-10

Recap and Reengaged

The 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, last week, the gospel reading was about a tax collector.

Today in the 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time the gospel reading was about a tax collector, in fact, the Chief Tax Collector.

Last week the contrast was between the prayer of a Pharisee and a Tax Collector.

This week culminates Jesus’ engagement with tax collectors. It is also the culmination of another important thread: the cherished place of Jericho.

Review on Tax Collectors (for Pharisee interactions – see last week’s homily):

Taxing Isnt It 30th Sunday

Ch/Verse	Summary	Essential Point
Ch 3:12ff	John the Baptizer (JB) – firm advice TC – what should we do? JB – Collect only what is prescribed.	JB offers the way of repentance which must include acts of repentance before they can avoid the Day of Wrath.
Ch 5:27-30	Jesus calls Levi the tax collector. (also becomes Apostle)	Jesus reassures TC Levi those who are sick need the Great Physician.
Ch 7:29-34	The tax collectors baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledge the righteousness of God.	TC’s got the message of JB. JC is witnessing to the fact they did go through John’s baptism after amending their ways.
Ch 15:1ff	Parable of Lost Sheep – TC’s are listening.	TC identify with the Lost Sheep, now found.
Ch 18:10-13	Parable of Prayer – TC – sits in back, O God be merciful to me a sinner.	TC moving from repentance to full reconciliation with God.
Ch 19:1ff	Zacchaeus – Top Guy – Chief TC.	Today’s gospel. Zacchaeus finding his humility, repentance, and restitution in Christ.

 

When we see this as a TC continuum the words of Wisdom make all the more sense:

Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

Zacchaeus was the Chief Tax Collector. Whatever cheating the lower level TC’s did Zacchaeus would have:

1. Zacchaeus knew about it.
2. Zacchaeus shared in it.
3. Zacchaeus probably did that and more with his lower TC’s.

Nevertheless, Zacchaeus also knew and John the Baptizers warning of the Day of Wrath, the need for restitution and repentance.

Zacchaeus knew that Jesus was the source of the forgiveness and mercy. He promises:

1. Half of his possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor.
2. I have extorted and shall repay it four times over.

Zacchaeus was defiant no more. The walls of his defiance came down with the blowing of JB’s trumpets and the joyful cry of the lower TC’s.

Jericho Intercalated and Converges

Chapter/Verse	Summary	Essential Point
Ch 10:30ff	Parable of the Good Samaritan	‘Who is my neighbor’ reply. Includes TC’s too. Spiritually Enlightened.
Ch 18:35ff	Healing of the Blind Beggar.	Keep Crying Out (prayers) God will hear you! Physical Blindness.
Ch 19:1ff	Zacchaeus – Top Guy – Chief TC.	Jesus seeks and saved who is lost. He too is a descendant of Abraham.

 

Jericho – Place of Faith

By faith the walls of Jericho fell after being encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with the disobedient, for she had received the spies in peace.

Hebrews 11:30-31

The impossible is possible, (enemy, blindness, tax collector) you can find God’s righteousness.

(Spies = messengers).

Take Heart

Are you a Chief Tax Collector? Take heart. Even the walls of Jericho fell by faith.

Repent, restore.

Trust Jesus.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

The Making of Saints

Greetings on this the Solemnity of All Saints

Readings: RV 7:2-4, 9-14; PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6; 1 JN 3:1-3; MT 5:1-12A

Taking a Name

In the RCIA program (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) we go through the process of helping the Candidates (Confirmandi) select a Confirmation Name. The name is selected from the thousands of names of men and women who have been recognized by the Church to have been Saints. Early in Church history this was done by a community acclamation – a strong voice of the people to declare – ‘This One Served God In Life and In Death Now Lives in Heaven’. Today the Congregation for the Cause of Saints is responsible for the process while the canonization decision sits with the Supreme Pontiff. It is from these names the Seal is used.

During Confirmation a Confirmandi by name is sealed by the laying of hands and the anointing of the sacred chrism.

How To Pick

I usually start with the known hierarchy of prayer warriors (to use the current language). The Blessed Mary is considered the premiere intercessor for humanity by virtue of her saintly life, relationship to her Son, and her being given over to the Church. Even today she intercedes with the Father for your needs.

After Mary comes her husband, Joseph. Joseph was honored with the patriarchal patron of the universal church.

Then in order the glorious Apostles, the noble prophets, the army of martyrs and the full body of saints who sing with joy. This entire company of saints live in heaven, praising the Lord and working side by side with the Creator for the benefit of the human family and all creation.

As we say in the Mass: On whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help

So Many

We go further and talk about ways in which to pick while always being guided by prayer and the aid of the Holy Spirit. I ask them to consider these questions when selecting a saint name:

1. Which saint do you most want to be like?
2. Which saint do you think can help you the most?
3. Which saint can help you by their patronage for a location, occupation, state of life, or condition?

The Best Question

After they consider all the above I ask them to process their answer through the Beatitudes. In the end, and our gospel reading today, it is the Beatitudes that describe the Saintliness of a person. How closely or verifiably a person lives the beatitudes is the greatest indication of their closeness to and living out the image of God. For the beatitudes describe the activity of God.

If they really struggle I ask them to read through the beatitudes and pick the one beatitude that either they most want to be or need to most help becoming. Then look again at the list of saints that fit that perspective.

It’s a great journey to take.

Which beatitude do you most want to be or most need help with?

Pray for intercessors to aid you on your way.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Taxing, Isn’t it?

Greetings on this the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: SIR 35:12-14, 16-18; PS 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23; 2 TM 4:6-8, 16-18; LK 18:9-14

First Look

In today’s gospel we listen to a parable story told by Jesus where Jesus speaks in contrasts not in opposites. He is contrasting two men and their worship. His audience and purpose is plainly written in the gospel:

He spoke to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

Both the Pharisee and the tax collector come to the temple area to pray. Jesus contrasts the content of the prayers each makes.

Side note: Pharisees in the Gospel are not all Pharisees but the few who are religious leaders and are those who have power and exert influence upon other.

The Pharisee praying to himself took up his position (perhaps a place of honor and prominence) and gave thanks to God. He listed out from his perspective what he is not (greedy, dishonest, adulterous) and what he does (fast, prayer, almsgiving). Basically, he gave God a report card on how he followed the 10 commandments and the practice of faith.

In contrast, the tax collector stood off at a distance unwilling to raise his eyes to heaven, beat his breast, and prayed, O God, be merciful to me a sinner.

God does perceive and respond to both men. The humble tax collector went home justified. The Pharisee did not.

Jesus explains the Lord’s reasoning: exalting oneself leads to the need for humility and humility leads to divine praise of one’s taxing effort.

Second Look

Let’s take a second look. Tax collectors and Pharisees do not have the same social standing. Tax collectors are usually distained for their work and their behavior. They apply the Roman tax upon the people and sometimes they do so with greedy intentions extorting extra.

The treatment of tax collectors and Pharisees are kept in parallel throughout the Gospel of Luke.

Let’s take a walk through leading up to Jesus’ story.

John the Baptizer

John the Baptizer having gathered such a large following receives a visit from the Pharisees (Lk 3:7-9 and Lk 3:12-13)

John is none too happy and speaks out and can be reduced to these two points:

1. You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee?
2. Go and first bear fruit of repentance.

The tax collectors having heard this exchange, who wished to be baptized, ask with trepidation:

1. Teacher what shall we do?
2. Reply: Stop collecting more than is what prescribed.

Jesus Testimony to John

Still later in Luke 7:29-30 it is written how the tax collectors did in fact receive the baptism of repentance and the Pharisees did not.

(All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

Already we see a formative difference. A desire to be close to God and a desire to repent of sin. Repentance is most assuredly an act of humility. When challenged by John the Baptizer some did what he prescribed (resolve to change) and then came for their baptism. Perhaps the tax collector read Sirach’s understanding of the justice of God? The voice of the weak, orphaned, widow and the lowly reach the ears of God. Not only reach but the prayer is continuous echoing in the ears of God until the Most High responds.

Remember: Your prayer is continuous echoing in the ears of God until the Most High responds.

Both the prayer of those we offend and those who wish forgiveness. Those who need forgiveness are indeed crushed in spirit.

It is taxing to repent.

Temple Prayer

Back to the gospel today.

Let me ask you, would you agree the tax collector in the temple that day was likely one of the tax collectors that heard John the Baptizer? One of those who repented and reformed their lives and came back to receive the Baptism of Repentance from John?

Going further, it is possible that the tax collector Jesus is referring to is Zacchaeus? You remember (Lk 19:2ff) where this very short man in the Sycamore tree repented of any misdeed and welcomed Jesus into his home?

Now in the temple, he prays a humble prayer unto the Lord?

Continuous Conversion

We are called to a continuous conversion. Catholics are asked to each evening do an Examination of Conscience and Act of Contrition to make present again and again the saving act of the Lord.

We are saved by the action of the Holy Spirit bringing Grace through the passion of Christ to invoke in us faith and to strengthen our conversion and thus our Justification which is accepting of God’s righteousness and gifts of faith, hope and charity.

It is not simply our exterior obeying the commandments and principles of piety. It is our interior conversion that brings about these things.

Perhaps, in some way, we are both Pharisee and tax collector. And Jesus is talking to us when we miss the mark and be convinced of our own righteousness and despise everyone else.

Repent.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Undervalued Unappreciated

Greetings on this the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: HAB 1:2-3; 2:2-4; PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; 2 TM 1:6-8, 13-14; LK 17:5-10

Awkward Question

The Gospel reading today has the apostles in an awkward position in which they request the Lord to use his power to increase their faith.

Just what are they thinking?

The reading does comes right after the teaching about the very personal and grave impact of leading others to sin. On top of that Jesus then says you most forgive anyone who asks forgiveness even if they are the ones leading others to sin (see Luke 17:1-4).

The apostles are feeling their insufficiency. Who can possibly never lead others to sin and who can always forgive all the time!

Increase our faith

Increase our faith so we never lead others to sin and we always forgive others. Problem solved.

Not so fast.

Mustard and Mulberry (Sycamine) Tree

Jesus is rebutting this concept in a manner of speaking as to what is prohibiting the health of their faith life.

The imagery:

• A Mustard tree – from a small seed grows the largest of trees where many find comfort and protection.
• A Mulberry tree – is a very fruitful tree yielding fruit even living in the most difficult of environments.

Jesus is making clear that your faith as small as it is contains the potentiality of becoming a great tree where many find comfort and protection. Jesus is saying further that the fruitfulness of your faith will come even in the most difficult of places and situations. Fruitfulness can be abundant even when planted in the sea.

How can this be they are asking?

Faith in Jesus is literally this: trusting in the action of the Lord to provide the sufficiency in our insufficiency when we act.

“When we act” – This is Jesus’ point. Faith that is not put into action will never realize the potential and the power give to you.

Increase our faith

The psalmist urges us on, ‘If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.’

Harden not your hearts referring back to the journey through the desert as a part of the Exodus experience.

Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, Where your fathers tempted me;  they tested me though they had seen my works.

• Meribah – means place of contention.
• Massah – means place of trial.

Thirst and fear were the trial and the contention being their lack of faith in the Lord. Yet the Lord provided water from the rock at Horeb.

The Lord acted and so should we. It was in this trial that the sanctity of the Lord is revealed (Num 20:13).

Stir [your faith] into flame

Paul’s 2^nd letter to Timothy tells us we have a role in increasing our faith.

Stir it into flames!

Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

It is in the acting and doing (opposite of cowardice) that hardship comes and in that hardship the sanctity of God is revealed and strengthened within us.

Do As I Do

Jesus tells us that my Father is at work until now, so I am at work (Jn 5:11). Therefore the commandment to work is not something we should brag about rather it is in participation in the work the Father does as Jesus taught us to do.

Do Faith

Do faith. Be a mustard tree. Be a mulberry tree.

And know the Lord works through you in your trials!

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Great Blindedness

Greetings on this the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: AM 6:1A, 4-7; PS 146:7, 8-9, 9-10; 1 TM 6:11-16; LK 16:19-31

Didn’t We Do Amos Last Week?

Yes, we did indeed. The readings on the 26^th Sunday in ordinary time are taken from all the same books and letters as the readings on the 25^th Sunday in ordinary time. It has the same type of theme as well which simply stated is how we act matters the most.

The Prophet Amos’s ministry was during the time of the reign of Jeroboam II, a gifted warrior and commander. It was a wealthy time. Military might was supported by Assyria powerful over-lordship and military dominance of the region. Israel focused on rooting out all foreigners and reestablishing their national boundaries (yes, their version of the Wall). Everything was great. The Northern Kingdom was very prosperous and they thought themselves the blessed of God because they possessed both material wealth and religious dominance of the Jewish people.

Amos interrupted their self-congratulations in two ways.

1. The wealth they have amassed was from the acts of sin. They thought him crazy. He prophesized this wealth would be lost.
2. The shrine at Bethel Amos says was contrary to God’s will because its construction was contrary to God’s will and did not produce the result of moral improvement. Bethel and Gilgal were emblematic to the sins against the light granted to her, Israel. She instead was in darkness. Their interior morality and justice did not conform to the external ritual worship professed.

Responsorial Psalm

Again we are reminded by the psalmist that God’s work is that which we should follow.

Like the Lord, we should:

• secure justice for the oppressed,
• gives food to the hungry,
• set captives free,
• give sight to the blind,
• raise up those who were bowed down,
• be just,
• protects strangers; and
• Sustain the fatherless and the widow.

Letter to Timothy

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

Great Blindedness

When I talk to police officers and paramedics about car accidents they tell me the most often spoken words are:

He came out of nowhere.

He came out of nowhere is the most often said refrain when interviewing someone who had a car accident and, in particular, the one who hit another’s car.

We say things like that but in our heart we know that is not true. Nobody fell out of the sky right in front of us. Somehow, somehow, we did not see them. In driver’s education classes they talk about ‘blind spots’. They train new drivers on how to be, first, aware you cannot see everything and, secondly, how you can see everything so as to avoid an accident. It takes effort. Do you recall how? Do you practice ‘seeing’ when you cannot see at first when driving your car?

In today’s Gospel reading we learn of the great blindedness of the Rich Man. Like in Amos’s time, he was very rich. He had all the finest things. He even went to Church/Shrine to worship, externally. Yet internally he was greatly blind. He knew of Lazarus, his situation and poverty. He simply chose to be blind to it.

Even still this is not the blindedness we refer to in this Gospel. His blindedness is that he knew his religion and followed it externally but he did not know the internal truth of the Lord. He lacked the desire to be like the Lord.

He believed that it is God’s fault he was blind.

You see he dialogs well with Abraham. He knew Abraham as Father. He knows mercy and kindness (his water request). He knows of Moses and the Prophets. He even has foresight of compassion for his brothers. The 5 brothers symbolize those who follow the same teachings and ways of life the Rich Man followed and now he wants to warn them so they do not fall into his same condition. He is implying that God did not provide enough guidance to avoid this outcome!

A Better Way

He had no repentance for ignoring Lazarus. He reflected not on his refusal to do the things of God that the psalmist described for us today.

He wanted for his family the sign of a resurrected Lazarus to return and warn his brothers. Yet Abraham warns him and Jesus is telling us that even a Resurrected Lazarus/Jesus will not be convincing for some. And, Rich Man, you already had heaven within your grasp if you only followed Moses and the Prophets.

It’s not the teaching it the seeing that is the problem.

The message is clear. Know we are blind. Pray you can see what matters to God. Pray you do like God does. Avoid the accident.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry