seventh sunday in ordinary time

Posted on by Cassie

After the conquest of the ten northern tribes by Assyria in 722 B.C., and then the fall of southern Kingdom in 587 B.C. to the Babylonians, the twelve tribes had never been reunited.  However, the common promise of the prophets was the prediction that the Messiah would reunite the twelve tribes.  Jesus’ choosing of the twelve made the claim that He was reuniting the twelve tribes around Himself.  The common expectation of the day is that the prophecy of the regathering of the twelve tribes would then be followed by the  destruction and judgement of the nations, the Enemies of Israel.  Jesus turns this expectation on its head when He commands that we judge not, lest we be judged.

What is striking in the Sermon on the Plain is that He makes the focus not the need to rise up and defeat the enemies of Israel, but the need to love Israel’s enemies.  How can the Jews forgive the Romans, and love them?  The point is profound: if you want to be the chosen people you have a high standard to live by  – God’s! “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners love those who love them.”  To be the people of God they must imitate God:  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  The people of God will defeat the nations not through violence but by witness to the love of God to such degree that they too will come to worship the God of love.  The generosity and compassion of God is the source and motivation for the ethical deeds of the  new disciple of Jesus.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

 

sixth sunday in ordinary time

Posted on by Cassie

After Jesus came down the mountain on which He chose His twelve apostles, a large crowd gathered to listen to Him on a stretch of level ground.  This “sermon on the plain” is similar to the “sermon on the mount” in Matthew’s Gospel.  It sets out the basic moral standards for those who chose to live within the community Jesus is establishing.

The four blessings declare certain groups of people to be privileged recipients of God’s special gifts.  God is on their side, not against them.  When the coming of God’s Kingdom brings about a dramatic reversal of status, these people will be exalted.

The four woes obviously parallel the blessings in form and contact.  Luke has already identified Jesus as the Messiah who has come to save the poor and lowly.  The contrast between human justice and God’s justice, brought out earlier in his Gospels by references to the Old Testament, is emphasized in Jesus’ new teaching.

Jesus’ goal is not simply that His followers should avoid transgressions.  He expects them to go further, to bear good fruit.  What does He consider good fruit?  Love your enemies, turning the other cheek, giving without expectations of return, mercy, forgiveness, repentance from your own sins, instead of judgment of others for theirs.  What we are like can be known by whether you bear this kind  of fruit or not.  There is no question that Jesus wants His followers to bear a kind of fruit that is impossible for fallen humanity on its own.  Later Luke will present Jesus speaking about the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom there can be an interior abundance that bears good fruit outwardly.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell

 

fifth sunday in ordinary time

Posted on by Cassie

The fisherman were washing their nets after fishing all night.  Jesus got into the boat of Simon Peter and asked him to go out to the deeper water.   It was a practical request because it served the purpose of getting Jesus away from the pressing crowd and still be able to teach the people.  It is also true that sound travels well across the water.  At this point Jesus begins to preach the word of God.

The word of God, manifested in preaching and teaching, is also exhibited in action.  When Peter witnesses the miraculous catch of fish, he recognizes that there is far more to Jesus than simply a profound teacher.  Peter’s response to Jesus is immediate: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

How natural it is for us when we are before God to focus on our sinfulness. Peter’s sins put him in doubt that he could be close to God.  And yet the point of the story is that Jesus can call a sinner into a close relationship with Him.  Jesus responds to Peter and our fears, which result from sin, that we need not part from God.  “Do not be afraid.”  What a message for all of us to remember.  Even though we are sinners, we need not fear God.  His  love and mercy are far greater than our sins and failures.  Peter learned this lesson and became a great fisher of mankind.  When we learn this lesson, God also has a great deal in store for us.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell