VII Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Today we have a recurring guest blogger:  Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, pastor of PRESENTATION OF THE B.V.M CHURCH, PORT EWEN AND SACRED HEART CHURCH, ESOPUS. For more information on this parish, check out their website at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Sacred Heart Churches - Port Ewen - Esopus, NY (presentationsacredheart.org) 

Article for the blog of Dcn. Thomas Tortorella by Fr. Arthur F. Rojas on the readings of the VII Sunday in Ordinary Time (c) All Rights Reserved personally by Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, February 22, 2025 (c)

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB

We, your clerics, strive to preach the message of Our Lord Jesus Christ to you and as many people as we can reach.  The Greek word for message is "euanggelion" or "Gospel" in English.  A more literal translation of "euanggelion" may be found in English in the word "evangelical."  Thus, may my preaching today be "evangelical" first and foremost.  It strikes me not as coincidence but as Divine Providence that earlier on Saturday, February 22nd, our Church observed the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle, which among other things reminds us of the teaching aspect of Holy Orders, of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, and of the Church in general.

The message linking the first reading with the Gospel reading of today is one that needs repeating in today's culture of rampant entitlement and egotism, namely that just because you can do something or have the ability to have something done, does not mean that you should do it or have it done.  Out of fear for his throne, which had been given by God, and his envy of David, King Saul sought to kill David and thus frustrate God's plan to have David succeed Saul to the throne of Israel due to Saul's own sins and his infidelity to God.  But one night David was in a position to take King Saul's life.  David refrains because he remembered that while God may have plans for him, Saul was still anointed divinely.  It was not David's place to deal with Saul in that way.  Instead, David ironically demonstrates even more power over Saul by his solution as he respected Saul's anointed state.  Thus, David exercised a legitimate right of self-defense without offending God.  More importantly for David and for us, David shows that the ends do not justify the means!

The Gospel proclaimed to us in Luke 6 provides a radical extension of Psalm 103, our responsorial psalm, and a profound challenge to us to imitate God's kindness and mercy.  As St. Paul would teach us in Romans 15, the Gentiles - that is, the peoples of the Earth apart from the Jews - would glorify God for His mercy.  If we want to receive mercy from God, then He may expect that mercy to change who we are and how we live as individuals and as communities.  As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in the second reading (1 Cor 15:45-49), to live not only for the Earth while on Earth but also to strive for Heaven, which is eternal union with God.  Holiness may call for radical change from us and further to live in contradiction of the ways people around us think and believe.  Again, the ends, even if good or even noble, do not justify any means to achieve them.  As Christians, let us use virtuous means to achieve virtuous ends, or at least morally neutral means to reach those ends.  How many trials and tribulations did St. Paul face for preaching and teaching what his audience needed to hear and not always what they wanted to hear?

Although numbers of attendance, collections, sacramental statistics, and at times, even ratings, do have their importance, neither we, your clerics, nor you, the Catholic faithful, communicate the message of Christ firstly for approval but for the conversion and sanctification of those who listen or read what we try to convey.  Along with instruction and exhortation, however, Psalm 103 reminds us that there are times to convey comfort and consolation.  Nonetheless, all aspects of the teaching, sanctifying, and governing by the Church, her clerics, her faithful, and instrumentalities such as New York Catholic Radio firstly should be oriented to matching the earthly image we bear as human beings to the heavenly image we put on in Christ not only sacramentally but as a way of life.  May that be reflected not only in our goals and plans of action as individuals and families but also in our communities and the decisions that are made on the issues and challenges of today.  

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

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

Being a follower of Jesus Christ is not an easy way of life. Jesus is calling us to place Him and His teachings at the center of who we are. Following Jesus means that we will face hardships and difficulties in our lives since other people in our lives may not fully understand why we are attempting to live out a Christian life.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He taught His followers that the commandments are summed up in this way: love God with your whole mind, heart and soul and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. And how do we carry this command of love of God and love of neighbor out in our day-to-day life?

In the gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 25, where Jesus teaches on the final Judgement, he gives a list of what’s to be expected of those who claim to be his followers. “I was hungry, and you gave me food.” “I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink.” “I was naked, and you gave me clothing.” “I was in prison and you visited me.” In all these examples of helping other people, our Lord is teaching us that what we do for others, we are doing for him. Seeing Jesus in other people is not always easy. Human nature being what it is, it’s sometimes hard to deal with people we don’t like. But by doing these good deeds to other people is where we carry our cross. Doing good to people, especially when it’s not convenient or easy, can be difficult. But that’s where we deny ourselves and pick up our cross: by seeing Christ in everyone that we meet, and in this way, we are loving God with our whole being.

Pope Francis is quoted as saying, “Works of love directed to one's neighbor are the most perfect external manifestation of the interior grace of the Spirit….” Let us pick up our crosses daily by loving God and loving our neighbors.

He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop | USCCB

We hear in today's gospel about Jesus healing the deaf man with a speech impediment. I find it interesting that Jesus took this man away from the crowd to be alone with him. Jesus could have very easily just said the words of healing and the man would have been healed. Why did Jesus feel a need to take this man away from the crowd, and further, why did he feel a need to touch his ears and tongue to give the man healing? Jesus could have just said be healed and the man would have been healed.

I think that it's possible that Jesus saw in this man a need for the personal touch. It's possible, because of the man's disabilities, that he felt distant from people. People probably kept their distance from him for whatever reason. So, Jesus sensed the need for physical contact that this man may have never really had. This was part of the healing. Not only was he being healed of his deafness and speech impediment, but he was feeling the love and warmth of human contact. In addition to the healing, he was being made to feel important. 

Jesus reaches out to each one of us in our own unique way. We are all different and are in need of different healings that can only come from Jesus. Whether it's physical healing, like this man, or emotional healing that is unique to each one of us. All we have to do is to turn to Jesus and seek His help and healing. We can do this in various ways: though the reading and meditating on scripture, through quiet time alone in prayer with Jesus, by going to Him in the Sacrament of Confession, or by reaching out to Him in Holy Communion. It is during these times with Jesus that he will grant us the healing we need. It may not be as dramatic as the man in today's gospel, but we will be healed according to our need. 

As you approach Jesus in prayer, ask Him to grant you the healing and peace that you need. 

Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our gospel for today we hear of the excitement the apostles had in all that they were doing in their ministry for the Lord. They came to Jesus and reported everything they did. Jesus, seeing not only the good they were doing, but also saw the need for them to step back from their ministry to others and to minister to themselves, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31)

Our Lord was worried that they may "burn out" with all they were doing. He also knew the importance of taking time to be alone with God in prayer and meditation. This is good advice for all of us, whether we're in active ministry (whether clergy or lay ministry) or just ministering to our family in the day-to-day concerns with caring for those we love. Often, it's hard to get away for any extended time, for instance a weekend retreat. But if we plan out our days to incorporate a little time to be in that "deserted place" with God in order to pray and meditate on scripture, or to just be alone with God, to share with him all your cares and concerns, he will refresh your soul to be able to continue your service to Him and to those you love. 

Make time each day to be with God and start each time with Him with the words from Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."