We must be instruments of reconciliation in these divisive times (readings for Oct. 26, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

Commentary

Hyperlink

Reading 1 EPH 4:1-6

I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace;
one Body and one Spirit,  as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6

R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded itupon the seas and established itupon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:54-59
“When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

We live in divisive times. Our secular politics are increasingly, and sometimes intentionally, strained. That division sadly carries over among the faithful. Today’s readings plainly tell us that we must be instruments of reconciliation, and tell us how to do that.

1.    We must be humble in our own bearing and gentle with others. That requires patience with others, particularly others we disagree with. (first reading). This tracks what Jesus told us in Matthew 5:38-48.

2.    This requires real effort; our natural reaction is to separate ourselves from or dismiss people/ideas we disagree with. Today’s readings tell us that we must intentionally seek to overcome that reaction. The first reading speaks of “strivingto preserve [] unity,’ and the gospel tells us to “make aneffort” to resolve differences (emphasis added).  That sounds a lot like the effort Jesus described in Matthew 5:39-41.

3.    How do we do that? Today’s readings give us two specific directions:

A.    “[J]udge for yourselves what is right.”   Avoid influences that inflame; cut out media that stokes division. Turn off Fox News, MSNBC and similarly partisan media (and their counterparts in your country if you are reading this outside the U.S.).

B.    Focus instead on God. Follow the suggestion of today’s psalm and “seek[] the face of the God of Jacob.” Prayer brings peace. As the alleluia verse tells us, God will reveal His peace if we approach him. An even more effective approach is to get busy actively serving God by serving your fellow man.  Psalm 37well summarizes these dynamics. 

Following Jesus is hard, but worth it. He helps us. (readings for Oct. 25, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

Commentary

Hyperlink

Reading 1 EPH 3:14-21

I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant youin accord withthe riches of his gloryto be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehendwith all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting.Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORDthe earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver themfrom death and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Alleluia PHIL 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:49-53
"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

1.    Following Christ sometimes requires us to go through tough, conflict filled, situations/circumstances. It does, at some point or another—usually at multiple points—require us to give up peace, comfort, and other things that are desirable by earthly standards. (gospel, alleluia verse).

2.    That is worth enduring because God’s inherent, ultimate, goodness—and His plans/purposes for/from us—surpass any earthly good. (first reading, psalm, implicit in the alleluia verse and gospel). That is why Jesus endured what He did. SeeHebrews 12:2-3. He told us that we will experience the same dynamic. John 15:20and John 16:20-22. 

3.    God gives us what we need to get through those sacrifices. He gives us “power through his Spirit in [our] inner sel[ves].” He gives us hope by reminding us and giving us glimpses of “the breadth and length and height and depth” of His goodness and love. (first reading). His eyes are upon us and He helps us through the difficulties involved in doing His will. (psalm).

4.    So how do we access those helps, how do we get through the difficulties? Today’s readings give us several specific directions:

A.   Pray. We should follow St. Paul’s example and “kneel before the Father.” (first reading). See also Philippians 4:6-7and James 1:5.

B.    Thank and praise God for the graces/blessing He has given us and others, in the past and in the midst of what we are presently dealing with (psalm). That will get our mind off the immediate difficulty and give us hope. That’s probably why God also gives us that direction in Sirach 2:10-11.

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C.    “Hope for his kindness,” as today’s psalm tells us. Remember that good will come from the present sacrifice and will far outweigh the pain we experience to get there. (psalm, implicit in the alleluia verse and gospel).  Accord, Hebrews 12:11, Romans 8:18, Sirach 2:8-9.

Matthew 11:28-30 Annotated

Key:
What we are told to do
What we are promised

Matthew 11:28-30 

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰Yes, my yoke is easyand my burden light.'

“Come” = δεῦτε or deute= come hither, come here, come: followed by an imperative; come after me 

“shoulder” = αἴρω or airō= to take upon oneself and carry what has been raised, to bear

“yoke” (v.29) and “yoke” (v. 30) = ζυγός or zygos= laws imposed on one *** the commands of Christ 

“learn” = μανθάνω or manthanō= to learn by use and practice

“rest” (v. 28) =ἀναπαύω or anapauō= to recover and collect [] strength

“rest” (v. 29) = ἀνάπαυσις or anapausis= tranquility of soul 

“gentle” = πραΰς or praÿs=  that disposition of spirit in which we accept [God’s] dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting * * * the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation.

“humble” = ταπεινός or tapeinos= lowly in spirit