Our Gospel today contains the very short narrative of Jesus curing the mother-in-law of Peter. We are told she “lay sick with a fever,” but the original Greek word meant “burning up” or “on fire.” While it is logical to assume it was a “fever,” maybe it was something else?
Peter was a fisherman and he supported his wife and family by fishing. But, just 10 verses earlier in Mark’s Gospel, we were told he left his boat and nets to follow Jesus to become “a fisher of people.” Could the mother-in-law be burning up with anger because Peter had “abandoned” her daughter to follow this preacher? If so, then her encounter with Jesus enabled her to let go of her anger and see the situation in a different light. There will be times in our lives when we will find ourselves in the situation of Peter’s mother-in-law, stewing in anger because of the actions of the other person. Perhaps we feel betrayed by someone we love. Maybe a child does something stupid that we warned them not to do, and so on. If so, the message of this Gospel “cure” might be that, if we take our anger to Jesus and be in His presence with it, He will help us let it go. Anger is a natural reaction and it comes. No problem with that. The problem comes when we hold onto it, when we are stewing in bed, as was Peter’s mother-in-law. That hurts us and helps no one else. I invite us to reflect on whether we have any anger, either raging at the moment or stored up in the background, taking it to the Lord in prayer and asking Him to “cure” us of this debilitating emotion. He helped Peter’s mother-in-law: He will also help us. Lord, help me let go of anger and walk forward with you in peace. Church sign of the week: There is no dollar sign on peace of mind.
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Our second reading from Paul’s first letter to the Colossians is often misunderstood, because it is taken out of context. As he says in the first line, his concern is to relieve their anxieties. He is making suggestions, not commands, to early believers who expected the second coming of Jesus at any time, certainly not very far off at all. From that perspective, he is saying to be free of marital obligations allows one to focus completely on preparing for the second coming (being focused on “the things of the Lord”).
Later, long after the belief that the 2nd coming would be soon was left behind, the Church began to use this passage to claim that celibacy was a “better” way of life than matrimony, that matrimony was secondary. But Paul starts this section of his letter saying, everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one (7:17). In other words, each of us has a specific vocation or calling from the Lord and we need to live THAT life for the Kingdom, bringing Christ to the world. No one vocation is better than another: it is what God calls me to, as an individual, that is right for me. There is no need to be comparing vocations or styles of life or professions, etc. What I need to focus on is how I am living the vocation I have been called to: am I living Gospel values, so that others can see the compassion, joy, love, and generosity of Christ in action? That is what we have been called to, that is what gives meaning to our lives. The bottom line is not whether we are married or single, celibate or not, cleric or lay, etc. The important thing is that we bring Christ to those around us by what we say and do. We will have access to people and situations that no one else does and God wants to use us to bring his love, compassion, and forgiveness to others. Let’s make sure we are cooperating. God bless. Church sign of the week: Life is a gift: unwrap your present. As we move through these first Sundays of Ordinary time, we continue hearing call stories. Last week we heard about Samuel’s call, as well as Andrew and Peter beginning to follow Jesus. Our Gospel this week presents Jesus calling James, John, Andrew, and Peter to leave everything and start a new life with Him, learning how to be “fishers of people.” Ordinary time begins with call stories to remind us that we, also, were called in baptism, to follow Jesus and to bring others to Him. Throughout Ordinary time Jesus will be teaching His disciples, including us, how to do that, by what He says and how He lives.
Each one of us, no matter what life God has given us (lay, religious, clerical; single, married, parent; work, profession), has the same obligation to live as Christ did, thus bringing Him into the world. How is it that we are to live? There are two basic obligations: the first is to obey the commandments, that is, love God and not hurt other people. The second is to show that love of God by reaching out and helping others, especially those most in need. It is going beyond not hurting others to being concerned and helping them address their needs, especially the most vulnerable. We need to do our best to keep growing in fulfilling these demands. God knows we can’t be perfect, so when we fail, we need to acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness. Finally, we need to trust in God’s promises that He accompanies us, supports us, and offers us forgiveness. Our baptismal call is not to be perfect, but to be continually growing in our ability to keep the commandments; help others; ask for forgiveness, as needed; and trust that God is with us. Let us support each other in prayer, that we may always be growing in our ability to fulfill the call God has given us. God bless. Church sign of the week (repeated from last week, because it is so relevant): God’s voice is as loud as your willingness to listen. Our readings this weekend have two “call” stories. In the first reading, the young Samuel is sleeping and the Lord calls him. He thinks it is his mentor, Eli, and three times he goes to Eli before Eli realizes it is the Lord calling and tells Samuel how to respond. In the Gospel, John the Baptist points to Jesus, two of his disciples follow Jesus who invites them to “Come and see,” and one of them (Andrew) goes and gets his brother, Simon.
There are two points I want to make. First of all, it is God who calls us. He initiates the dialog. Our job is to learn to listen, as did Samuel. Sometimes he does it through other people, both mentors (like parents, advisors, etc.) and ordinary people that we meet and interact with. Sometimes he calls to us through the circumstance and events of life. Often, he talks to us when we are taking quiet time to be in his presence. A personal example: I was teaching English to college students when one said to me, “I wish you were a priest: you know how to listen to people.” That is what pushed me to enter theology and be ordained. A call from God?? Second, we need to live in such a way that God can use us to call others, as John the Baptist did for Andrew and Andrew did for Peter. We never know how God will use what we say and do to influence others for the good. I’m sure that student had no idea of the effect she had in my life. Being kind to someone who is rude can change that person’s attitude. But it is harder for God to use us when we lose it or are being selfish. The bottom line is this: God uses us to call to others and he calls to us through other people and events. We need to live so as to be “usable,” while being as alert as possible to hear the call coming to us. God is walking with us, always: how blessed we are! Church sign of the week: God’s voice is as loud as your willingness to listen. This weekend we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of Jesus to the whole world through the three Magi. His manifestation to the Jewish people was through the shepherds. The Magi go to Herod, he consults the religious leaders, and the Magi follow the star to Bethlehem.
In this Gospel story, there are three distinct reactions to what is going on. Herod was threatened by the possibility that his power and position might be challenged. This ultimately led to his horrific act of killing many babies. The second reaction was that of the chief priests and scribes: indifference. Even though they knew the scriptures, they weren’t even interested enough to go see what was going on. The third reaction was that of the Magi: they knew that something was going on and they were open enough to go out of their way to learn and experience what was happening. These three reactions continue today. There are those who are hostile to Christ and Christianity, perhaps because belief would demand a change that threatens their lifestyle. Many are indifferent: they have heard the Good News, perhaps they have received some of the sacraments, but they go through life ignoring the whole thing. Then there are those that have “seen the star” and continue seeking and trying to find Christ in their lives. And you know what? I suspect each of us might have a mixture of these three reactions within us! For example, a person might accept Christianity, participate in the sacraments regularly, and in many aspects of life attempt to live by Gospel values. But it might be inconvenient or a challenge to be concerned for those in need or difficult people, so the person ignores or is indifferent to that challenge of our faith life. Some aspects of our faith, like being open to all people (both the shepherds and Magi were outcasts and “unworthy”), might be challenging and scary, thus provoking a hostile reaction in the person. Thus, all three of these reactions are mingled in that one person. I invite us this week to spend time reflecting on the three distinct reactions presented in the Gospel story of the Epiphany, asking ourselves how much we are seeking Christ like the Magi; how much we might be indifferent, like the religious leaders; and whether or not we have any of the hostility of Herod in us. Of course, our goal is to make the Magi grow in us, while diminishing the other two. May 2024 be a year of growth in our ability to respond to Christ in the people and events of life. God bless. Church sign of the week: You talk the talk, but do you walk the walk? At the end of our Gospel reading for the feast of the Holy Family, we hear, the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom… What was it about the family of Mary and Joseph that helped the child to be “filled with wisdom”? Perhaps Paul gives us the answer in our reading from his letter to the Colossians, in which we are told to “put on” kindness, humility, gentleness, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.
If we look at those 5 qualities, we can see one common thread: it is the ability to think of other people and their needs, not just our own. It is to let go of rugged individualism and the need to have our own way all the time, while considering the needs and opinion of the other. The “wisdom” in all of this is that, when we act this way, we are happier ourselves, because we are letting go of tension and hostile feelings, building an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Then everyone is happier and at peace. This reality has become clear to me through my many years of living in community with other Salvatorians. When one person is upset and arguing, the whole community is uncomfortable. When we can resolve difference with respectful dialog, the community is calm and everyone is happier. The ability to remain calm and resolve difficulties through dialog is crucial in a family, because children learn by watching their parents. If we want our children to grow in wisdom, as did Jesus in the Holy Family, we must model that wisdom for them. The result of all of this is that “the peace of Christ will control our hearts.” What a wonderful way to live. What wisdom! My prayer is that all of us can grow in our ability to “put on love, the bond of perfection,” as we move through 2024. May you have a blessed and spiritually fruitful year of grace. Church sign of the week: The deeds you do may be the only sermon someone will hear today. Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent, but it is also Christmas Eve. This year Advent is the shortest it can be. Because of this, we hear a lot of the Christmas story in one day. Our Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent presents the annunciation to Mary of God’s wish for her to be the mother of His Son and her saying, “be it done unto me according to your will.” The Gospel for the vigil Mass presents Joseph being able to discern God’s will and accept Mary as his wife, even though her child was not his. And, finally, the Mass in the evening presents the birth of Christ, in addition to the shepherds listening to the angels, which ultimately led them to go and adore the Christ child.
What strikes me in all of these stories is that the protagonists (Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds) were able to hear what God wanted of them and do it, despite the incredibility of what was being shared. Have a baby with no physical contact with a man? Believe that your betrothed was faithful to you, despite the fact that she was pregnant? Simple shepherds being told about the birth of the Messiah?? I wonder if I would be able to discern God’s will if something that extraordinary were being asked of me? Maybe it depends on how good I am at hearing God calling me in the little things of daily life. I suspect that Mary and Joseph spent quiet time each day in the Lord’s presence. They were used to hearing God’s voice. And the shepherds had a lot of quiet time, away from the hustle and bustle of life, out in the fields watching over the sheep. I imagine Mary and Joseph heard and responded to God’s voice in the needs of those around them, perhaps spending time being with and listening to those who were isolated and lonely. Didn’t Mary drop everything and run to help an older cousin who was pregnant? These thoughts call me to make sure I am listening for God’s voice coming to me, each day, as I move though life. Then I will be prepared to hear, if an extraordinary call comes to me. Living in this way makes the coming of Christ active and real in our lives. May you have a blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth. Church sign of the week: The person who is faithful in very small matters is also faithful in great ones. This third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete” Sunday. The word “gaudete” means “rejoice” and rejoicing is a theme in our readings for this Sunday. In the reading from Isaiah, we hear, “I rejoice heartily in the Lord.” The reading from 1st Thessalonians begins, “Rejoice always.” And the responsorial verse is from Mary: “My soul rejoices in my God.” We are rejoicing because of the coming of our Savior, which brings salvation to the whole world. We rejoice at His coming as a child over 2,000 years ago and we rejoice that he will come to us at the end of our lives.
There is another common theme in our readings: Isaiah in the first reading, Mary in the responsorial psalm, and John the Baptist in the Gospel all bore witness to the coming of Christ. While we are rejoicing in the past and future coming of Christ, we must also remember that He wants to come in the present time and we are an essential part of that. By the way we live, with both words and actions, we can bear witness to Christ and bring Him into this world to those around us. Just as Isaiah, Mary, and John the Baptist all bore witness to what God has done and would do for His people, we need to do the same by the way we live our lives. How we speak and interact with people does make a big difference. I invite us to reflect during this last week of preparation before we celebrate the first coming of Christ on how we are doing at reflecting Christ to those around us. The more we are bringing Christ into the world each day, the more meaningful our celebration of Christmas will be! May you and your family have a blessed Christmas, made holy by Christ’s presence among you! Church sign of the week: Church is who we are, not where we go. For the last weeks, our Gospels have been encouraging us to prepare for our encounter with Christ the King at the end of our lives. The focus this week is on John the Baptist, who was also “preparing” for the Lord, but for the beginning of Jesus’ active ministry. In Advent, we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, which happened 30 years earlier. So why would the Gospel present John the Baptist to us?
Maybe because John models for us three steps in true discipleship. Being a true disciple is the best way to celebrate Christ’s entrance into our world, for we are then helping Him enter the lives of other people. The three steps are these: First, he tells us to repent, both by his example (sackcloth and ashes) and by his preaching: repent for the forgiveness of sins. Being aware of our failures and making efforts to improve are the first step in “preparing the way of the Lord” (in other words, “evangelizing”), because actions speak louder than words. Second, he proclaimed the Good News: One mightier than I is coming after me. We need to be willing to share with others what our faith in Christ means to us and how it brings meaning and joy to our lives. Finally, he lived a good life. He did what he knew was right, even though it angered others and even lead to his death. When we can do these three things, we make the highways straight, we fill in the valleys, and we make the mountains low: a rugged land becomes a smooth plain. In other words, we make it easier for others to hear the call of Christ’s love. As we continue our preparations to celebrate the birth of Christ, I invite us to reflect on how well we are doing at making it easier for others to encounter Christ, as they see us act and listen to our words. We DO make a difference. God bless. Church sign of the week: I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody that there’s a somebody who can save anybody. Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new Church year. We know Advent is a time of preparation to celebrate Christmas, so it would seem logical that our readings would somehow begin to prepare us for that feast. But that is not what happens. Our Gospel continues the theme of the last few weeks, warning us to be prepared for the coming of the master, because we do not know when that will be. The Gospel begins with, Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come and ends with, What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’ In between is Mark’s version of the servants left to take care of things while the master goes away.
“Be watchful!” “Be alert!” “Watch.” It can sound scary. But I don’t think it is helpful to be scared or fearful. For me, the operative word is “alert.” For example, it is certainly more challenging to drive these days. But being afraid doesn’t help me; being more alert and watchful about the drivers around me is helpful. The same with walking in a dark parking lot late at night: being scared could paralyze me, but I certainly am alert and watchful. Similarly, being fearful could actually make it harder for us to do what Jesus wants, which is to be watchful for His coming in the beggar on the street, in the homebound person who is isolated, in the people coming into the food pantry for essentials, in the difficult coworker or family member that everyone avoids, and so on. If I am afraid and cautious, I might be less willing to take the risk of reaching out and interacting. As we begin this season of being watchful and waiting to celebrate the birth of Christ, let us resolve to grow in our ability to be watchful and alert, so that we are better able to recognize Christ as he comes to us in the people and situations of our daily lives. God bless. Church sign of the week: The right thing and the hard thing are usually the same thing. |
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