A view from above

Let your light shine

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 8, 16-18)

Jesus said to the crowd: “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” This is the word of the Lord.

“Why do persons light a lamp? Why do we switch on the lights?” This is a question nobody is asking Jesus, however Luke reports him saying that one lights a lamp and puts it on a lampstand “so that those who enter the (house) may see the light”. Matthew’s rendering of Christ’s words is slightly different in that he states that one lights a lamp and “it gives light to all in the house” (Mt 5, 15). Let us remember that Luke is addressing former gentiles who are entering the Church, while Matthew is writing to Jews the Chosen People of God. For Luke, light is a sign of welcome; for Matthew it is a sign of deeper learning. For both Matthew and Luke, and for Jesus the fundamental message is that light is to be shared with those in the house and those who are outside in the dark.

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"How is your heart, today? "

Pope Francis suggested that we should ask God for the grace of “the wisdom to make peace, in the little things of each day, but aiming at the horizons of the whole of humanity,” especially today, in which “we are living a war and all are seeking peace.” And in the meantime, he said, it would be good to start with this question:

“How is your heart, today? Is it at peace? If it is not at peace, before speaking of peace, make sure your own heart is at peace. How is your family, today? Is it at peace? If you are not able to bring peace to your family, your rectory, your congregation, bringing it more peace, then words of peace for the world are not enough. This is the question that I would like to ask today: How is the heart of each one of us? Is it at peace? How is the family of each one of us? Is it at peace? That’s how it is, isn’t it? To achieve peace in the world.”

(Mass at the Casa Santa Marta - 08.09.2016)

Do not let fear paralyse you

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew. Jesus said to his Apostles: ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. This is the word of the Lord. (Mt 10:24-33)

“Have no fear of them” Jesus told his twelve apostles when he was instructing them before sending them on mission. Who are those who the apostles should not fear? What is the source of this fear? A few verses before today’s gospel selection Jesus warns the apostles: “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them.” I can imagine a question coming to their minds: “Why is he sending us like sheep to face wolves?” Indeed, he did not send them to face wolves, but he knew that wherever they went they would find wolves, and they would have to face them. Jesus himself faced this problem. When he became man, the Son of God knew that he would be among friends and foes, those who would listen to him and help him and those who were always planning against him. That is why he told them also that “it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master”. It seems to me that Jesus wanted to encourage them on their mission, so he told them not to fear, and he wanted to channel their enthusiasm at the power given to them, for the apostles could easily rejoice at their success so Jesus told them “not to rejoice that the spirits are subject to them; but to rejoice that their names are written in heaven”. (cfr. Lk 10, 20)

He set his face to go to Jerusalem

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ (Lk 9, 51-62)

At the beginning of today's Gospel, St. Luke tells us that "as the time drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus resolutely turned his face towards Jerusalem." I think that often we do not give much importance to this information. Jesus went to Jerusalem! What is important about this fact, if Jesus went regularly to the Holy City? For me this is a very important information for this trip comes at a crucial moment in the life of Jesus, and because it casts a light on the things that would happen later, in order to understand them better.

A throw away mentality

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.  Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. ‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. This is the Word of the Lord. (Mt 5, 27-32)

At the beginning of Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus teaches the crowd and the disciples that came to him. He starts by announcing what we now call The Beatitudes proposing them as sure ways of following him and of receiving God’s blessings. Then he says two very important things that will help us, I hope, to reflect on today’s Gospel selection.

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He stopped the funeral cortège

“Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus^[c] gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favourably on his people!’ This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.” (Lk 7, 11-17)

St. Luke is the only evangelist to tell us about the miracle of the resurrection of the son of the widow of Nain, which the liturgy presents for our reflection today. Perhaps, Luke received information about this miracle from the "pious women" who followed Jesus and his disciples when he visited towns and villages, preaching and making miracles. Luke mentions these women in chapter eight of his gospel. Surely, they had been deeply impressed by such an extraordinary miracle, and they wanted to inform Luke in order to keep a memory of it.

What is so important about this miracle?

“DO YOU NOW BELIEVE?”

A reading from the holy gospel according to John. The disciples said to Jesus: “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (Jn 16, 29-33)

I find this short dialogue between Jesus and his disciples which John presents at the end of chapter 16 of his gospel very interesting. In it the disciples profess their faith in Jesus and he questions them: “Do you now believe?” I have been thinking about this question because I feel that … I have the lyrics but I do not know the tune! I am curious to know how Jesus pronounced the question. On which word did he put more emphasis? How did it sound to the apostles? Did it sound like “Do you now believe?” or “Do you now believe?” Is there another sound to these words?
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I will come back

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 14, 27-31)

Jesus said to his disciples: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.  You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.  And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.

This is a selection from Christ’s discourse at the end of John’s version of the Last Supper. Perhaps we can understand it better if we read it in context.

In Chapter 13 John speaks of the Last Supper and he reports that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, a slave’s work, at which Peter was disturbed. When his turn came Peter told Jesus: “You will never wash my feet”. Jesus told him: “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand”. As Jesus insisted that he had to accept this humble service, Peter told his master: “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus answered: “You are clean, though not all of you!”

Then Jesus asked the disciples: “Do you know what I have done to you? … So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example.”

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Do you love me?

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin,^[a] Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.  

Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

It’s God’s wonderful mercy!

Today we celebrate the second Sunday of Easter, which the Church dedicates to the Divine Mercy. Actually, the Bible is a story that tells us about God’s mercy to all people. It is not enough for us to celebrate God's mercy once a year. We have to remember God's mercy during every moment of our life. Why? Because we need this mercy constantly in our lives; because we have to accept the mercy of Jesus, which is a gift of love. But a gift is not received if it is not accepted. Jesus told us: "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." ( Jn 15: 5 )

When we receive a gift, it is a sign of good manners to thank the giver. Are we good mannered with Jesus? Do we thank Him for His mercy? Do we participate in the Mass as a sign of gratitude? There are many people who only know how to ask for things but do not know how to thank and praise. Perhaps, they are not true Christians?

Silence at the empty tomb

A reading from the holy gospel according to John (20, 1-9)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. This is the word of the Lord.

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The other day I was listening to Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem with its beautiful, dramatic and tremendous music. It is awe-inspiring! It is not the first time I listened to it, but I was deeply impressed by the words and music of the Dies Irae, the Sequence that speaks of the coming Judgement Day, the Dies Irae, the Day of Wrath. The fourth stanza presents Death stupefied when it sees all creatures awakening in answer to the call for everybody to stand before the judgement Throne. The Requiem is a Mass for the Dead. It is not an Easter celebration. But it was Lent and I was thinking of Easter. Imbued as I was with Verdi’s music, I imagined Death dumbfounded, astonished and speechless at the resurrection of humankind on Judgement Day. I thought, how much more wordless must have Death been on that first Easter Sunday when Jesus resurrected to life on his own power. The Easter sequence we read today tells us that “Death and life contended in a spectacular battle: the Prince of life, who died, reigns alive”.

Master what do you say?

Early in the morning Jesus came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” (John 8, 1-11)

Through the prophet Isaiah, today God tells us: "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" I love these words because they tell me two things. First, they tell me that God is a creator God and that even today he is creating new things. He never stopped his work of creation. Second, they invite me to pay attention to what is happening around me. A Christian cannot live without being aware of God’s work, because he wants our help, not in order to create new things but as witnesses and as his messengers to all the people of God. This is our vocation. If we listen attentively to his words we will help in the building of a new world of justice and peace.

About returning home

Often during the year, and especially during Lent, the Catholic Church invites us to turn from our sins through repentance and confession. Some people are afraid to approach the priest for confession. The Church understands this very human feeling, and she teaches us that we must resist the temptation of the devil if we wish to live in peace with a pure heart.

Jesus teaches us that God is a father who loves us. When a disciple asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus replied: "When you pray say: Father! Hallowed be Thy name!" These words are very important because we use them to talk with our God. St. Paul said: "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name"(Eph 3, 14-15). This prayer is very beautiful because it reminds us that we are children of God and, as the Apostle Paul teaches us, we can cry, “Abba! Father!" (Rom 8, 15). Do not, therefore, be afraid of a father who is as good as our God.

We are pilgrims

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (13, 1-9)

At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

 

A homily worth listening

Funeral mass homily for Justice Antonin Scalia

delivered by his son Fr. Paul Scalia.

I enjoyed listening to this homily. Find it here.
Read the transcript here.

Is it true?

Taken from: Francis, the comic strip by Pat Marrin  |  Feb. 23, 2016

National Catholic Reporter - The Independent News Source

Some thoughts about the Transfiguration

On the second Sunday of Lent we meditated on the transfiguration of Jesus. We know the story. Jesus showed some of his glory to three of His disciples. It was like an aperitif. Jesus gave them a foretaste of the beauty of his glory.

Luke wrote: "While (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white". It is a fact that Luke is using human words that cannot describe the Divine reality. In fact, the transfiguration of Jesus is only a spiritual aperitif.

Why did Christ’s disciples need a spiritual "aperitif"? 

In the region of Caesarea Philippi, shortly before His transfiguration, Jesus asked His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah of God.” Then Jesus added: "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." This idea of a Messiah who must suffer and die was not their project. For Jews believed that the Messiah should be victorious in order to free them from the Romans. Jesus knew that he had to teach them and explain this mystery.

"Follow me!"

 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Lk 4, 1-13)

“SEND ME!”

 A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:1-11)

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. This is the Word of the Lord.

At the beginning of Chapter 6, Prophet Isaiah reports that he saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne in all his glory surrounded by Seraphim crying to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” At this sight he saw himself a sinner, “a man of unclean lips”. “Woe to me”, he said, “I am doomed!” One of the Seraphs then touched the prophet’s mouth with a live coal taken from the altar, removed his wickedness and purged his sin. He then heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Without really understanding the extent of the mission Isaiah answered: “Here I am. Send me!” (Is 6, 1-8).  
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Beg our mirthiful Father for the grace of humor

I enjoyed reading this.

 

.... We can learn a lot from Jesus, and – perhaps to Jim’s surprise – we can learn a lot from Mr. Gaffigan. If we take our faith so “seriously” that we clam up during a children’s liturgy, then we might be missing the mirth of God the Father’s tender heart. Becoming heated because the first graders didn’t reread the General Instruction of the New Roman Missal or memorize their favorite passages from Sacrosanctum Concilium before taking the ambo for the Universal Prayer might make us “smart”, but it doesn’t make us super-Catholics. Before we get wound up with all the in-fighting of the Church or the out-fighting with everyone else, beg our mirthiful Father for the grace of humor. Humor holds together the beauty and the absurdity we feel while living our Catholic faith. So, sing without restraint with your first grader because, as G.K. Chesterton noted while ending his book Orthodoxy, perhaps God’s greatest secret is His mirth.

Jacob Bearer comments on Jim Gaffigan’s book on family life, Dad is Fat

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You are children of the Most High, all of you!

A reading from the gospel according to Mark (Mk 2, 1-12)

When [Jesus] returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

This is the word of the Lord.

One short word, pronounced by Jesus in today’s gospel selection, caught my attention: “Son”, he said. 
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