FrNikola

15th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday

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It’s not often that the Lord becomes angry in the Gospels. Like a concerned parent faced with a misbehaving child who doesn’t entirely understand the consequences of his actions, Our Lord expresses his displeasure for the good of others, not out of hate. Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had seen many miracles and received special attention from Our Lord, yet they didn’t take the first step of conversion: repentance for their sins.

In using the examples of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, Our Lord is telling them how much more attention and preparation Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had received. Tyre and Sidon were pagan cities that had negatively influenced Israel in the past and had led the people of God to idolatry. Sodom was destroyed for its iniquity and perversion. The first step in repentance is acknowledging that there is something for which you should repent: in contrasting the two sets of cities Our Lord is warning his audience that they needed to repent for their sins and that they risked a similar spiritual destruction if they didn’t.

Our Lord didn’t cast off his human nature when he rose from the dead: he can still be displeased with us, but for our own good. Let’s examine the blessings he’s given us in our lives to see whether we need to do something more or something differently in order to please him and to ensure our own spiritual well-being.

Readings: Exodus 2:1–15a; Psalm 69:3, 14, 30–31, 33–34; Matthew 11:20–24.

15th Week in Ordinary Time, Monday

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When Our Lord calls us to follow him more closely, no matter what path of life he’d like us to walk, it is often not at the same speed or in the same way as those we love. Sometimes we can feel like we’re being treated like the black sheep of the family when we’re the only white one: we have to choose between the love of God and the love of our family in questions of sin, the only scenario in which love for God and love for our family can truly be in opposition. We pray that we never find ourselves in that situation, but Our Lord warns us in today’s Gospel that he can be a source of division. However, if he does shake things up in a family it is to help the conversion of one or more members be a source of grace and conversion for the rest. Each one in the end has to welcome the gifts of grace from God, so sometimes divisions will remain, and we must continue to love and pray.

We are all responsible for each other to draw closer to God, which is why we must not only foster openness to God’s will in our own lives, but openness to his action in the lives of our loved ones as well. When God appears to be calling a son or daughter to the priesthood or consecrated life, that can be a test of whether we put God or ourselves first: suddenly it seems that son or daughter loves Someone Else, and jealousy can ensue, but if we truly seek blessings and happiness for that son or daughter in faith we support them knowing that God’s path is the best one.

Let’s pray for all those “white sheep” out there in a family of black sheep, and also for those considering any vocation to be open to God’s will for their lives.

Readings: Exodus 1:8–14, 22; Psalm 124:1b–8; Matthew 10:34–11:1.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

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In today’s Gospel Our Lord teaches the Twelve that to be an apostle means to give a Gospel example in order to foster a more effective proclamation. One example is poverty: today he tells them to take what they need, but to keep it simple. Our testimony of Gospel simplicity in the things we use is also a way we evangelize. We live this poverty in order to fulfill our mission as apostles. In the First Reading, when the priest accuses the prophet Amos of being a beggar preaching to make a living, Amos responds that he owned a flock and sycamore trees: he had property and possessions. He was a prophet because Our Lord sent him to prophesy, and like the Twelve in the Gospel today, being a prophet doesn’t involve being well equipped or focusing on making a living.

This Gospel poverty also helps us to see the true treasure we possess, a treasure so eloquently expressed today in the Second Reading by St. Paul: before the foundation of the world the Lord has wanted us to be holy and blameless before him. Holiness is the ultimate happiness, even if it seems tough at times, and a great peace comes from having our sins forgiven, making us blameless before Our Heavenly Father. He has adopted us as his sons and daughters. Lastly, he makes his will known to us as the best path to holiness and happiness: we may not like it at times, but it is a source of spiritual fruitfulness for ourselves and those we love.

Let’s thank Our Lord today for all the spiritual wealth he has lavished upon us, and ask him to show us, in the light of those spiritual treasures, what things we really need, and what things we don’t.

Readings: Amos 7:12–15; Psalm 85:9–14; Ephesians 1:3–14; Mark 6:7–13.

14th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday

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Today’s Gospel reminds us that every member of the Church, regardless of whether they wield authority in it or not, is a disciple of Christ. If anyone’s got an issue with him, they’ve got an issue with us, and vice versa. The only way to avoid that would be to stop being a disciple of Christ, and Our Lord warns us that denying him would lead to our denial before the Father. This touches on what he describes as the real thing to be concerned about in trying to follow him, the things that are healthy for the soul. He doesn’t leave us alone in those dangers; the Father knows everything that goes on, watches over each little detail and each big moment of our lives with loving concern.

If the Father permitted the Son to undergo the cross, we shouldn’t be shocked if we have to experience crosses in sharing his message. It can’t stay hidden in darkness or confined to whispers; many elements of society would like us to just keep to ourselves and not bother them. It’s hard when we try to share truth, goodness, and love with others and they reject it or threaten us if we don’t shut up. In the light of eternity those threats mean little; the real threats are the ones that make us question our faith or our resolve to be followers of Christ. Christ will stand up for us on the Judgement Day if we stand up for him in this life. Even if we’re not always vindicated on the time table we’d prefer, we will be vindicated in serving and loving him.

Let’s ask Our Lord today for the courage to share his Gospel on the housetops and show that we’re his disciples.

Readings: Genesis 49:29–32, 50:15–26a; Psalm 105:1–4, 6–7; Matthew 10:24–33.

14th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

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In today’s Gospel Our Lord counsels us to be “shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Sharing is the Gospel must be done kindly, but intelligently. People are more receptive to something a kind and gentle person has to say, and in the context of the persecutions that he also describes today, public opinion will also be less inclined to condemn someone who leads a kind, simple, and humble life. If people see us as sheep, harmless, humble, and not complicated, it will be easier for them to see our adversaries for what they often are: wolves who are cunning and predatory.

However, being kind and gentle is not enough. If what we do and what we share lacks substance, if it doesn’t strike a chord in our listeners, we’ll be wasting our time and theirs as well. Christianity started with a few disciples called by Christ and conquered the world, not with a militarily, but armed with a love that was not just skin deep. We’ve received love from Our Lord, a love that is profounder and more lasting than any love we could experience in this world, and it’s from the profundity and stability of this love that we share the Gospel with kindness and a desire to share the gift, no matter what the cost. The Gospel message is a message of true and lasting love, and everyone is seeking that, whether they’re aware of it or not.

Even the first apostles like Paul knew they had to be strategic: he traveled to places in the Roman empire that were the crossroads for all the cultures found within its borders, and in sharing the Gospel there he knew those passing through would take it everywhere. He also had to face difficult pastoral situations with wisdom and love: in many of his letters the passion for his communities shine through and still provide guidance for us today. Let’s ask Our Lord today to help us be neither superficial or mean in sharing his Gospel, his love, with others.

Readings: Genesis 46:1–7, 28–30; Psalm 37:3–4, 18–19, 27–28, 39–40; Matthew 10:16–23.