Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 17: 22-24

I don’t know too much about trees and plants.  I do remember that my Mom had a plant graveyard in the basement of our house.  The dead plants piled up there until they were thrown out.  Today God promises that a shoot will grow on a high and lofty mountain.  Remember that King David’s line was described as a “shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse.”  God will make David’s lineage thrive and continue on forever.  God will make it bloom and animals will find protection in its shade.  “As I the Lord, have spoke, so will I do.”  It will happen.

We give thanks for our families (lineage.)  Ask God to bless each of your family members.  God, let them thrive in your care.

2 Corinthians 5: 6-10

“We walk by faith…”  Those few words are quite important for us in the Christian life.  When I celebrate a baptism of an adult or a wedding, these words have special meaning.  They are also important for today’s celebration of Father’s Day.  The newly baptized are embarking upon a special journey that they have not experienced previously.  They are called to live the faith of Jesus in their lives and they might not be sure where that journey will take them.  Newly married couples also walk by faith because it is their faith in each other and in God that will guide them.  Indeed all people walk forward in their Christian journey not knowing how it will end, but knowing that God will be there for them.

How do you sense yourself walking in faith?  Is it too hard sometimes?  What is God asking of you as you walk the path to him?

Mark 4: 26-34

Science attempts to discover the truths of our universe – a noble task.  There is not a conflict between science and religion because both seek to answer the same questions?  How do things in this world work?  What is our place?  We want to understand our universe and science and religion help us do that task.  Jesus tells us that there are sometimes truths beyond our ability to understand.  The farmer doesn’t necessarily know how his crop grows but he is still confident and hopeful  that the harvest will be fruitful.   We might not understand completely the workings of the world but we can be confident that God directs us and cares for us.

What don’t you understand?  What puzzles you?  Ask God to help you understand what you can.  Ask for the trust necessary to place yourself in His hands for those things you don’t understand.

 

I invite your comments.

Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Today is the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.  In the past, there were processions and other services in honor of this day, which recalls the gift of Jesus’ offering of himself for us.

Exodus 24:3-8

Moses stands in front of the Israelites and reads to them the law of God.  They respond with gusto, “We will do everything that the Lord has told us.”  Then they offer a sacrifice to show their assent.  The sacrifice of the body and blood of the young bulls reminds the people that they are called to give their body and blood to the Lord.  They are called to give their entire selves in service to God.  This covenant

Between God and Israel will stand forever due to the sacrifice that is made.

We pray that we can make a sacrifice of ourselves to God.  Do we see the Eucharist as a covenant between ourselves and God –a  covenant to serve God and others?

Hebrews 9:11-15

In the first reading, who offered the sacrifice to God?  The priests.  This reading tells us that Jesus is the high priest who offers the sacrifice on the people’s behalf.  He offers a sacrifice not of animals like in the Old Testament.  Rather the sacrifice is his own flesh for the life of the world.  The sacrifice of animals had its’ effect but the sacrifice of Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice, rendering all other sacrifices for sin unnecessary.  He has established a new covenant, replacing the covenant of the Old Testament.

What are the sacrifices that you have had to make?  Did you see God’s hand in those sacrifices?

What are the sacrifices God is asking of you now?

Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26

It is interesting that Jesus asks for a “Guest room” for the Passover celebration with the disciples.  Two things stand out.  First, guests come for a time and then leave.  This night is a part of Jesus’ identity as Messiah.  He comes for a little while as a guest and then gives those who follow him food for the long journey ahead.  The disciples will be sent into the world at Pentecost as “guests” – foreigners who bring a foreign idea to the people.   They will preach about Jesus in all parts of the world.  Very hard work indeed.  Second, Jesus is a guest of the world as well as being its ruler.  It would be so much easier if Jesus just stayed forever with the disciples and the world.  That doesn’t happen.  He comes as a guest, staying with us for a while.

We pray that we can make a “guest room” for Jesus in our hearts, homes, businesses, government, etc.  Do you sense that Jesus is a guest, coming and going?  How is it when we sense that the guest Jesus has left us for a while?

 

I invite your comments.

Most Holy Trinity

Today is the Feast of the Holy Trinity, which is the bedrock belief of our faith in God.  Jesus tells the disciples to baptize in the name of the “father, Son and Holy Spirit” at the end of Matthew’s Gospel.  The belief is a remarkable change in the thought about the identity of God. 

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Moses is challenging his people to think about the miraculous intervention of God in the life of Israel.  “Did anything so great ever happen before?”  “Was it ever heard of?”  God spoke to his people from a burning bush.  God saved them from the Egyptian empire by signs and wonders.  What is the proper response to such generosity and power shown by God?  “You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today.”  We pray that we may show to God our friendship and devotion by keeping his statutes and commandments.

Romans 8: 14-17

In my life I have known a few people who were adopted children.  They were grateful for being adopted by their family.  One family in particular adopted a young man who was not of their race.  There were challenges but he felt joy at living in this new family.  He now had the love and support he had looked for all his life.  This reading says that we have been adopted by God through the person of Jesus.  We are loved, supported and redeemed by a loving Father and that relationship will not be broken.  We celebrate that we are adopted by God.  Because of that adoption, we are “heirs,” meaning that we will receive all that the Father has for us.  Glory will come to us because of that adoption.

We pray in gratitude for that adoption.  We pray that all that the Father has will be ours as his “heirs.”

Matthew 28: 16-20

The disciples go to Galilee as Jesus ordered them to receive further instructions for the task ahead.  The reading says, “they worshiped, but they doubted.”  They see him in front of them.  They know he is risen but they doubt.  What exactly is the nature of their doubt?  Perhaps they doubt that God will be with them always.  Perhaps in the struggles of life, they doubt God’s presence.  Perhaps they doubt their own ability to do what God asks of them.  I would imagine it is the same for us.  We believe but we doubt.  We pray that the Lord will strengthen our faith.  Lord, alleviate our doubt in you and in ourselves.  Help us to be disciples that follow you always.

 

I invite your comments.

Pentecost

The Feast of Pentecost is our feast since our community is named for the Holy Spirit.  This gives us an opportunity to think about who we are and how we make present the Holy Spirit in our neighborhood and in Schaumburg as a whole.  I see some implications for the Acts 2:1-11 reading.

First of all, the disciples are gathered in one place and a “strong driving wind” filled the entire house.  That strong driving wind drives the disciples out of their locked room into a world that is hostile to them while at the same time the world needs them and their message of peace.  We pray that the strong driving wind will push us out of our complacency, our comfort zones so that we can experience the new realities that the Holy Spirit is giving to us.  That is not so easy.  Many would rather remain in the shallow end of the pool where it is safe.  That is the worst, most unlikely place for the Christian.  We should be doing new things and thinking new thoughts.  The Spirit gives us creativity and new challenges.

Second, there are tongues of fire that indicate the arrival of the Holy Spirit.  That fire is reminiscent of the pillar of fire that leads the Israelites through the desert to a land flowing with milk and honey.  It is the fire of the sacrifice of Abraham that forges a new covenant relationship with the people of Israel.  The left-overs of the Passover Lamb are burned to show complete sacrifice to God.  Think of the burning bush and the furnace of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego – signs of liberation by God’s grace and power.  The fire is liberation and punishment (Gehenna, Sodom and Gomorrah) at the same time.  We pray that the fire of the Holy Spirit will purify us so that we can be faithful disciples.  Where is God’s fire leading Holy Spirit in the years to come?

Finally, there is language.  The people should be confused by the diversity of the people who are present in Jerusalem.  By God’s grace, each hears the word of God in his or her own language.  We at Holy Spirit celebrate Mass in different languages because that is the Spirit’s call to us.  Some see this as a problem or an obstacle.  Diversity in language and custom is not easy but it should not cause any true Christian to run.  In our modern times, we are called to embrace the different languages and cultures here as a gift, which calls for humility, compassion, and patience on our part.  Let’s pray for those gifts.

I invite your comments.

The Ascension of the Lord

Acts 1: 1-11

This book is addressed to Theophilis, which could mean two different things – a specific person or anyone who reads the Acts.  Theophilis means “beloved of God” in Greek.  Any beloved person could be reading the book.  If a beloved person reads this book, he or she will find out what the Loving Father has in store for the world after Jesus ascends to the heaven. 

This reading points out that Jesus does not leave us alone after the Resurrection.  Jesus appears to many people and speaks with them about the Kingdom of God and tells them about the coming of the Holy Spirit.  The end of the reading is interesting too.  After jesus ascends, two men stand at the side of the apostles and ask them, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”  This reminds me of the angel at the resurrection who asks the apostles, “Why do you look for Jesus among the dead?”   The question seems to say, “Don’t just stand here.  Get going.  You have work to do.”

Ephesians 1:17-23

This reading invites us to reflect on the works done for us by Christ.  It goes on to say that for these great works, Jesus was rewarded with a seat “above every principality, authority, power and dominion.”  Jesus has power over all.  We ask Jesus to give us power over the things that happen in our lives.  Many times we can be overwhelmed by life’s events.  Jesus is all-powerful.  May he bless us with the ability to endure our trials and have hope that all will be well.

Mark 16:15-20

The disciples have an amazing responsibility.  “Go… and preach the Gospel to every creature.”  Jesus does not give them a quota of people to convert.  Nor does he say they will be graded on the effectiveness of their work.  The only thing he requires is that they do the preaching.  The Spirit will do the rest.  It is truly impossible to measure their effectiveness.  All Jesus requires is faithfulness to the task. 

Signs will accompany their ministry:  They will drive out demons, meaning evil will be vanquished by their presence in the world.  They will speak new languages, meaning that they will encounter a universal and diverse church.  Their preaching will have to change so that each culture they encounter can be touched by God’s word.  God’s word is not presented in only one language.  They “will pick up serpents…and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.”   They have no need to fear the things of this world, no matter how powerful they seem to be.  Even if they kill the body, God will deliver them.  These words are an invitation to complete hope and trust in God.

I invite your comments.