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?