Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate

The scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081420.cfm

Our gospel for today deals with the challenge of personal relationships and marriage. The Pharisees are looking at marriage in a very selfish way, asking Jesus: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” Jesus reminds them of the serious and spiritual aspect of marriage “…from the beginning the Creator made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

However, the Pharisees were not content with Jesus’ response. They asked him why Moses commanded a man to give a woman “a bill of divorce.” Jesus did not directly answer their question. Rather, he told them that Moses allowed divorce because of the “hardness of heart” that was in the people. Jesus added: “Anyone who divorces his spouse and marries another woman, commits adultery.” These are extremely strong and unsettling words!

As we know, in today’s world, divorce is very prevalent. In many ways we have become a throw-away society. If we’re not happy with something, we just toss it into the junk pile and move on to the next attraction. It’s easier to just walk away from our relationships than to try to work it out and stay together.

If a marriage is not working, the couple may decide to divorce rather than go to counseling. If a marriage is not working out, they may decide to walk away from their vows. If one spouse has hurts the other, he or she may decide to end the relationship. It would be too difficult and painful to work it out. And would they ever be able to trust each other again?

Jesus was challenging the Pharisees and is challenging us to look at our relationships through the eyes of God. Relationships with others, especially in marriage, is not always easy. As Jesus points out, not everyone is meant to be married. But once in that relationship of marriage, we need to remember that in marriage, we are but one flesh. We need to be ready to have God as the center of that relationship to work out the challenges with love and forgiveness. Further, we need to be grateful to God for the presence of that person in our lives, as we live out the marriage promise: “In good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health.”

Lord Jesus Christ bless all married couples with the gift of your love and patience. Amen.

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me

For the scripture readings for today's mass you can go to: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080720.cfm 

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”

These are challenging words from our Lord. In order be his follower, we must forget ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him. He is to be the center of who we are if we wish to be true to our calling as Christians.

Just before this part of the gospel, Our Lord indicated that he was going to Jerusalem and endure great suffering at the hands of the elders, be put to death, and then rise on the third day. The apostles, especially Peter, had trouble accepting this. Peter said, “God forbid, Lord. Such a fate must never happen to you.” Peter, out of love for Jesus, was worried about such a horrible death that Jesus was going to face. Jesus quickly rebukes him and lets Peter know that we must think with the understanding of God, not of men. Jesus was making it clear that it is part of God’s plan for Jesus to go and be crucified and die for our sins. Further, Peter and the others disciples seem to miss the good news that Jesus will rise again on the third day.

The whole life and ministry of Jesus was to bring salvation to all people, and to have us turn from our sinfulness and selfishness and to turn to God for salvation. In these trying times with the virus still surrounding us, civil unrest shaking our cities, and the worries that come with everyday living, we need to be able to turn to Jesus and place all our cares and worries upon him. These are the crosses that Jesus is talking about. We need to take our cares and worries, carry them to Him, and he will be there to help us carry them.

It is natural to be worried about all the terrible things that are going on in the world and in our lives. But Jesus wants us to look beyond the pain and suffering and to know that He is present in every situation. Eventually there will be healing and peace.  

By praying and offering our prayers to God, eventually the virus will be gone from our society and there will be peace in our cities. But in order for this to happen we have to bring our crosses, in the form of prayer to Jesus, and ask Him to enter our society to bring that healing and peace that can only come from God.

Let us each day at mass offer up our cares and worries and offer our crosses to the Lord and ask him to help us carry them. And with the great Carmelite, St. Teresa of Avila, let us pray in these words: “Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God is unchanging. Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God: God alone is sufficient.” Amen.

 

A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and his own house

The Scripture for today's reflection can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/073120.cfm


By this point in the gospel of St. Matthew Jesus has already developed a reputation as being a great teacher and healer. His fame was spreading far and wide. By this point in the gospel Jesus has already been tempted by the devil in the desert, was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jorden, healed the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years, raised a dead girl from death to life, heals Peter’s mother-in-law, along with a few other healings that amazed those who saw them. He was also teaching about what it means to be in a loving relationship with God. People were attracted to Jesus because he was helping them feel loved by God and our Lord was able to help increase their faith in the fact that God loved them.

As was his right, Jesus spent some time teaching in the synagogue at Nazareth. The townspeople were quite amazed to hear the local carpenter’s son speaking as he did. “Where did he get his wisdom and his miraculous powers?” All his family were well known to the people and they knew he could not have got it from them but they failed to make the next step as to the real origin of what he was saying and doing. The people of Nazareth were so impressed with Jesus, yet they rejected him! He was just too much for them to deal with. A perfect example of familiarity breeding contempt and blinding the eyes to the obvious. And Jesus sadly comments that a prophet can get a hearing everywhere except among his own.

Probably all of us have had some experience, directly or indirectly, of this! In our call as followers of Jesus, we may find it easier to share our faith with people other than those in our family. People that we have become friends with in church seem to have a better understanding of who we are in our relationship with God then the people in our family who seem to think they know us better.

The gospel for today finishes off by indicating that Jesus was not able to work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. Throughout most all the healings that Jesus performed, faith was central to the healing. Earlier in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 8, after healing the centurion's servant, Jesus says to him, “Your petition has been granted because of your faith.” Let us keep our faith in Jesus strong and solid, no matter what the obstacles may be in our families. Jesus will bring us closer to God through our faith and grant us the emotional and physical healing that we may need. All we need is faith that He will do it for us.

Lord Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief. Amen.

The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it.

Following is my reflection on the gospel for the Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The scripture can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072420.cfm

I think that we all can relate to the different types of responses that Jesus is talking about in today’s parable. The seed that Jesus is referring to in this parable is the word of God that each of us hears from our Lord through prayer and reflection on the word of God: The Bible. Each day that we attend Mass we hear the scripture proclaimed to us to help us grow in our relationship with God. The Church encourages us to take time out of our day to meditate on these readings to grow in maturity in our relationship with the Lord. Taking a few minutes each day to sit down and reflect on them can help us grow ever closer to God as He speaks to us through the Holy Words of Scripture.

But with the different cares and anxieties in our lives, we don’t always respond in a good and positive way to what God may be trying to teach us through scripture. It all depends on where we may be at any given time in our lives.

There are times when we hear the Words of Scripture and we really don’t understand what God may be telling us. We become frustrated that we don’t understand the scripture we are reading and how it applies to our lives. It’s as if “the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in our hearts.”

Then there are times when we joyfully hear what God is telling us, but as soon as a problem distracts us from the Word of God, we fall away from God to dwell on whatever it is that is distracting us from our relationship with Him. This is also the case when we have worldly anxieties and the temptations of riches that takes our attention away from God and our devotion to Him. It’s very easy to get caught up in things of the world rather than continue to grow in our relationship with our Creator.

Finally, in the parable Jesus talks about the rich soil. These are the times in our lives that we listen to the Words of God and it seems easy to apply his Love and mercy in all aspect of who we are. We take the word of God and attempt to live it with Love for God and Love of our neighbor.

Let us not loose heart if there are times when we seem to be away from God and not open to what he is trying to teach us. Instead let us place our cares and concerns in God’s hands to help us through those tough times. He will be there for us.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your presence to us in scripture and help us to yield fruits that will bring us closer to you each day of our lives. Amen.

I desire mercy, not sacrifice

The scripture of readings for Friday of the Fifteenths Week in Ordinary Time can be found at  http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071720.cfm

Because the disciples are hungry, they begin plucking and eating heads of grain. The Pharisees object, pointing out to Jesus that his disciples are doing what is not lawful on the sabbath. Central to Jewish life is the sabbath. Although humane considerations were most important in Judaism, a first-century list forbade some 39 works on the sabbath, including both reaping and preparing food.

To the Pharisees, to be true to the Jewish faith, you could not deviate from the laws handed on down to them since Moses. They thought that the meticulous observation of all their traditions was the most important value, even higher than being merciful and sensitive to the concrete needs of others. Jesus shows them that even in the Old Testament God thought otherwise, for he desires mercy more than sacrifice. In today’s uncertain world this could also be a very real temptation: if I fulfil the law scrupulously I can feel fine before God. Yet Jesus challenges us to think and act otherwise.

Jesus was teaching Pharisees that he was the Son of Man and lord of the Sabbath. For the Jews the Sabbath was one of their holiest institutions, so that these were strong words indeed. Yet Jesus was not afraid of uttering them, and he knew he was making a huge claim - he was claiming he was God.

For us, nothing is more central to the Christian life than Jesus Christ, his life, death, resurrection and his words. Regulations about the Sabbath - all religious regulations - were put into perspective. Our faith is about a person who is both God and human, whose life touches all the important times of our life – birth, ministry, suffering and death. The way we practice religion is to lead us to the true way, to comprehensive truth and to everlasting life.

As we continue our return to the regular practice of our faith at the daily and Sunday celebration of Mass, let us remember not to be judgmental of those who may be away from the practice of the faith. Instead of judging them for not following the laws and rules of the Church, let us show them the love and compassion that Jesus wants us to show them. Further, we need to always include them in our prayers as they struggle with their faith in God, their relationship with Jesus Christ and the problems that they may be facing that keeps them from a deeper relationship with their Creator.

Lord Jesus, help us to be loving and compassionate towards all those you have put into our lives. Amen.

Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say!

Scripture for today's reflection can be found at  http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071020.cfm

Our Lord is presenting some challenging words to His disciples, and to us, in today’s gospel. I am sure the apostles were having some seconds thoughts about being Jesus’ followers when they heard that they will be handed over to courts and will be scourged for proclaiming the Word of God. Further, our Lord talks about family divisions for those who follow him: brother will hand over brother, father his child, children will rise up against parents. It doesn’t sound like the kind of life that most people will strive to live.

But that is the challenge we all face once we know the truth that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Our relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is central to who we are as Christians. We in the 21^st century will most likely not face death or martyrdom in our following Jesus. But we can and do face challenges in our relationship with others in our families and at our jobs because of our faith and following the commands of God. We have children or relatives who do not agree with the teachings of the Church and challenge us about these teachings. There are also those in the workplace that challenge us in believing and accepting the church’s teachings on such things as the sin of abortion. We are called to respond with the truth of God’s teachings in these issues.

 Our Lord promises that he will send the Spirit to inspire us to respond in a way that is appropriate. “Do not worry about what you are to speak or what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

As Catholic Christians we are called to not only share the truth of our faith in Jesus Christ, we are also called to pray for those in our lives that may not be in relationship with Him, and as a result reject the truths of His teachings. Each time you approach the altar to receive our Lord in Holy Communion be sure to pray for those in your lives that may be away from the church. Pray that they may be open to the truth of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ, your Son, as our Savior. Give us the courage to share this good news with others, and may they be open to receiving this good news. Amen.

My Lord and my God!

The following reflection is for the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, celebrated on July 3rd, 2020. The scripture readings can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070320.cfm

Today we celebrate the feast of the doubter, St. Thomas. In today’s gospel we hear of Thomas not believing that Jesus has risen from the dead. By this point Jesus has already appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and to those in the upper room. Jesus has appeared to several people, but yet, Thomas is having trouble believing it to be true.

The week before he witnessed the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the hard wood of the cross. How can it be possible, after such a terrible and cruel death, for Jesus to be alive? After Good Friday, Thomas went off someplace and wasn’t around Easter Sunday morning to witness the resurrection of Jesus, or the week that followed. I’m sure Thomas was someplace grieving over the death of his Lord. Jesus was someone Thomas followed and put his love and trust in. Thomas at one point was willing to die with Jesus. So, after the cruel death of Jesus on the cross, Thomas needed some time away to be alone and to think about what happened to Jesus, and to try to figure out what to do going forward. 

So. when he joined his friends in the upper room, the talk of Jesus being alive seemed like nonsense to him. “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put myhand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25) Much to his surprise, there appears out of nowhere Jesus saying, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:26) Then to Thomas Jesus says, “Putyour finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side,and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” (John 20:27) The response from Thomas was, “My Lordand my God.” (John 20:28) Thomas not only acknowledged that Jesus was alive, but that Jesus was God.

Then Jesus responds beautifully, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessedare those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29) Not only is Jesus praising Thomas for finally believing in Him and His resurrection, but Jesus is blessing us for believing without seeing him and touching him.

Every time we attend Mass and the priest holds up the host before we receive communion, let us join Thomas and say, “My Lord and my God.” Then we can give Jesus all our prayers and concerns to respond to in a way that can bring us comfort and peace. Then coming up to receive Holy Communion, we can, like St. Thomas, reach out and touch Jesus in Holy Communion and know that Jesus is truly present in the bread we are receiving.

Lord Jesus, with St. Thomas, I acknowledge you as my Lord and my God. Amen.