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CURRENT TOPICS: Notes on Scripture Studies for “Paul” below and Notes on Prayer.
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Homilies
12th Sunday OT – Matthew 10:26-33
“Fear No one!” “Speak in the Light!” “Do not be Afraid!” “Acknowledge Jesus!”
It almost sounds like we are to be like the TV Evangelists and their gospels of prosperity. The Lord expects us to live our faith by being a living example of the Lord through what we do and then say. Actions speak louder than words. A phrase that my parents always repeated. Live your faith by your actions in how you treat others, or as Saint Francis told his friars, “Preach the Gospel, and use words if necessary!”
There are two phrases that Jesus tells us, “What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;” and “What you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” Hopefully, this is practicing what we preach. Throughout Church History the simple beginnings of most Religious Life founders and foundresses saw a need and did something usually in education and health.
When I was in Africa, I saw this everywhere. There were religious orders that cared for the sick with their clinics, and other who took care of AIDS patients, women religious cared for the elderly and the orphans, men and women educated children at all levels. These were programs that were quite visible even in America 50 years ago are quite alive and going strong in other countries, and to some extent, even here at St. Francis de Sales parish.
I believe that we should not even open our mouths until we have first lived what we profess or simply allow our actions to speak for us.
Our first two readings give us the setting or context for today’s gospel’s meaning and interpretation. From Jeremiah, he writes of what others say about his prophesying, “Let us denounce him! All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine.” Anything we may say can be used against us or misinterpreted. Even Pope Leo’s words were vulnerable to such attacks, and yet he still preached the gospel, the Good News, the Word or Logos become flesh.
And from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Through one man, (Adam), sin entered the world…thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.” That is why Jesus will acknowledge everyone before his heavenly Father those who acknowledges Jesus before others. We can never acknowledge ourselves for any action we do, especially good deeds, and expect those actions to count before God. Simply because it is God’s love for us even before we were created that Jesus died for us.
We were a thought in God’s mind that only God’s love for us is capable of bringing us into existence in and through creation. Even Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, was the most beautiful thought in God’s mind from all time until that time came when she was immaculately conceived by her parents and would become the mother of Jesus, the Logos or the Word.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word became flesh.”
That is why action is better than words, except for Jesus, who is the Word become Flesh. It is better to let our actions speak for our Word, capital “w”, who is Jesus, the Logos, become flesh in us through our Baptism and which we celebrate in our Eucharist.
Scripture Studies
Scripture Studies on PAUL –
Notes on Topics below:
Prayer
As a followup to my talks on Prayer, below is an example of Birdwatching as a form of prayer.
Enjoy!
Ascension – Matthew 28:16-20
Though Matthew does not mention the Ascension, its significance is contained in his solemn conclusion to his Gospel. The setting is a mountain, which are places of special revelation in scripture, like Sinai in the Old Testament and the other mountains in Matthew. The place is Galilee of the Gentiles, the region where Jeus began his ministry. The audience is the Eleven. Like the Magi at the beginning, they worshiped Jesus, though some doubted. They were still people of little faith, a microcosm of the church to come, a mixed field of wheat and weeds.
Fr. Mark Boyer writes in the “Reflection” from Give Us This Day, “Maybe the most important word in Jesus’ final words to his followers is “Go.” A spirituality of mission includes the response of going to where one is commissioned to go and doing what one is commissioned to do. The mission is real, and it requires much effort, especially when it is given to one belonging to a culture of comfort. And teaching by one’s example of living righteousness may mean ostracism. Since Matthew’s gospel ends with the great commission, no one knows how well the eleven disciples responded to Jesus’ words. However, in this day and time it is not too hard to determine how many people on the street where one lives would respond to the same commission.”
The most comforting part of the gospel for me is Jesus’ promise to be with us always till the end of the age. When we are in deep trouble, or when we are dying, people who care about us often ask, “What can I do for you?” And the answer is: “Exactly what you are doing: just being here with me.” What we need and want the most is not any gift anyone can give us but simply themselves, their presence, their “witness.”This comes most clear at times of death or emergencies, but it’s true all the time. The main reason for divorce is the feeling that your spouse isn’t really with you, heart to heart. One of Christ’s names is “Emmanuel,” which means literally “God with us.”
The wonderful thing about being grandparents is that we can be present to our grandchildren in a special way that is different from their parents, (in my case, to my nieces and nephews, and grand and great grand). In a way we are witnesses, but related, and we can be neutral, generally. Sometimes they just need someone who will listen to them, or that special presence mentioned above of someone who unconditionally loves them, even though for me the best part at times is waving good-bye.
The celebration of the Ascension is important for us today, because we need at times to step back and reflect by putting ourselves in the picture that today’s gospel paints for us. We are gathered, outside if you wish, waving good-bye to Jesus as he ascends into the heavens, and all kinds of thoughts are going through our minds.
Some of the thoughts are because we are more informed about our universe. We know that Jesus is not really ascending into the atmosphere, since the Russian Cosmonauts informed us that they didn’t find God up there. Leaving all of that silliness aside, some thoughts are genuine. Why did Jesus leave us? Why not stay with us on the planet, in the flesh, for all times? Generally, most children would behave if the parents were present, and the same for us if Jesus never left, we would not only behave, but everyone would believe. Of course, when Jesus was living there were some who decided that he needed to be eliminated. It wasn’t that they didn’t believe, but they would have to love – unconditionally!
If we truly believed in God’s presence when two or three are gathered in his name, then Jesus has not left us. The Ascension reminds us of the importance of this community when we give witnesses to each other each Sunday when we are gathered in his name and presence for another week, for support and love, it will get us through another week until we meet again. We remember, we celebrate, we believe. Great words from a great song that we sing every once in a while. And a great song for the Ascencion.
We remember how you loved us to your death, and still we celebrate, for you are with us here; and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.
Scripture Studies on PAUL –
Notes on Topics below:
As a followup to my talks on Prayer, below is an example of Birdwatching as a form of prayer.
Enjoy!