Ascension Thursday (on Sunday) – Cycle A (June 1, 2014)

My apologies for the delay again.  Thank you for your patience.

First reading: Acts 1: 1-11

“In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.  He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.  While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for ‘the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

They asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’  He answered them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’  When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.  While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.  They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Second reading: Eph. 1: 17-23

“Brothers and sisters:  May the God of our lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.  May the eyes of you hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.”
 

Gospel reading: Mt. 28: 16-20

“The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.  When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.  Then Jesus approached and said to them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

 

Introductory theme summary:

The common theme of today’s readings in on the anticipation of the great event to come, Pentecost. 

Reflection:

In the first reading we have Jesus instructing the apostles to not be concerned with “when” the kingdom will be restored, or even specifically “how” that will be accomplished.  Rather, Jesus redirects their attention to the power and responsibility they will receive when they become baptized with fire as John had told them Jesus would do for them – Receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

In the second reading we have Paul instructing us on what we are all to look for as a result of receiving the Holy Spirit, each of us in our own turn.  His prayer is for us all to receive the Spirit in the fullest possible measure, even to the extent of fully participating in the oneness of the body of Christ, thereby sharing in the fullness of Christ himself.

There is a slightly different specification in the gospel reading, however.  While addressing the apostles specifically, Jesus commands them to, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”  The contention is that this command Jesus gave to the apostles he also gives to all of us.  However, only the apostles knew first-hand what Jesus had commanded them, therefore this statement could only apply to the apostles specifically.  From this we gather that there is a specific responsibility charged to the apostles exclusively: that being keeping the Church faithful to Jesus’ original message. 

If you recall, on the second Sunday of Easter the gospel reading describes a specific encounter the apostles had with Jesus after Jesus’ resurrection, which goes, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’  This account informs us very clearly that the apostles received something unique in relationship to everyone’s reception of the Holy Spirit.  In this reading we have the declaration that the apostles receive Jesus’ power to remove sin. 

Returning to today’s gospel reading we learn of an additional power Jesus charges to the apostles: the governance of the Church.  By the words of today’s gospel, they received in addition to the power of governance, also a charge of responsibility.  In fact it is in view of their responsibility to safeguard the authenticity of Jesus’ original message that they are given this power, for all power is given to serve a specific function.  Furthermore this power and responsibility was to continue until the end of the age.

As life continued, and the apostles began to die, it become obvious that the Second coming was going to be delayed beyond what they originally anticipated.  This led to the realization that there was an inescapable need for the responsibility Jesus charged the apostles with to continue to be carried out.  Thus we have what in now known as the apostolic succession.  The apostles appointed specific men to carry out their responsibilities in their stead after they became deceased.  There remains only twelve apostles.  Those who have been entrusted with the succession of their ministry are in fact fulfilling the same ministry of those original twelve apostles, thought their numbers have necessarily grown to accommodate the present size of the Church.

The descent of the Holy Spirit we celebrate on Pentecost is rightly considered the birthday of the Church, but equally important is accepting the apostolic succession as an intended part of our Lord’s Church.  For by it alone can we know what is consistent with Jesus’ original message, because the Lord assured us of that very thing when he said, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.  But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.  He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.”  (Jn. 16: 12-13)

I know how difficult it is to subject oneself to authority in this day and age of defiance, but that remains an essential part of true faith in Christ. 

Obedience ...  the ignored virtue!

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary time - Cycle A (February 9, 2014)

First reading: Is. 58: 7-10

“Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.  Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: here I am!  If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.”
 

Second reading: 1 Cor. 2: 1-5

“When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive [words of] wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”
 

Gospel reading: Mt. 5: 13-16

“You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?  It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.  Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

 

Introductory theme question:

We are the light of the world, but what exactly is meant by the metaphor of light?  Is it simply performing charitable works of mercy as described above, or is there more to it then that?

 

Reflection:

In this day and age where Christian values are commonly understood, they are often ‘used’ to convey the impression of ‘being good’ in order to promote a certain type of ‘image’ of one’s self for some self-serving reason.  Yet the Lord said to not perform your good deeds so as to be seen, because that is what the hypocrites do.  Clearly, there must be a deeper level meant by the metaphor of conveying our light through our deeds than simply performing charitable works of mercy.

If we consider the first reading we must project what type of society those works were being performed in, to appreciate them as light.  It was a society of extremely sinful behaviors that completely lacked our basis for belief in eternal life – the life, teaching and resurrection of Jesus Christ giving validation to his words.  For them to perform deeds consistent with our Christian faith without all the helps our position in time affords, it is truly remarkable and thus warranting the correlation with signs of light.

For us in our time to achieve the same distinction we must do more than simply perform these works so that they may be seen.  We must embody the spirit of charity to actually convey light through these deeds.  We have no need to look any further that Paul’s description in 1 Cor. 13: 4-7.

“Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it sin not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

This is the spirit we need to display through our works in order to represent the light to the world.  In addition we must perform these works without fanfare.  A perfect validation of this principal is our Lord’s use of a single candle for his explanation.  A single candle can only give off a small amount of light, very modest in itself.  Consistent with this image we are to display our examples simply in our day to day lives without going out of our way or making special efforts: whenever the daily circumstance of life presents us with opportunities to perform those charitable deeds.  In other words, when we find ourselves ‘put on the spot.’  Yes… when we don’t expect it, and… when it isn’t convenient for us to perform them.  Then, is when our charitable works of mercy performed with a true spirit of charity become authentic deeds of light for the world to see!

Come, let us be true lights for the world to see, and by that we can actually show that Christianity truly does work, one person at a time.

The Baptism of the Lord – Cycle A (January 12, 2014)

First reading: Is. 42: 1-4, 6-7

“Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.  A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.  I the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.”

Second reading: Acts 10: 34-38

“Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, ‘In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.  Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.  You know the word [that] he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power.  He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.’”

 

Gospel reading: Mt. 3: 13-17

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.  John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?’  Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’  Then he allowed him.  After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him.  And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”

 

Introductory theme summary:

The theme common to all three readings is the Holy Spirit.  In the first reading we have the declaration of its being put on the Messiah; with the second reading conveying the testimony that it had been given to Jesus and the works that confirmed it having been so; and the gospel reading giving not only a physical description, the dove, but also a contextual one.

 

Reflection:

Most significantly . . . , the gospel gives us the Father’s declaration that Jesus is his “Beloved Son”, as the context for the image of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove, which was to then remain with him.  The image of the dove conveys the gentility of the Spirit given to him as described in the first reading; but even more important is the declaration of “Beloved-ness”.  The beloved-ness is the essence of the Holy Spirit itself.  Any authentic reception of the Holy Spirit by anyone will recognize that same Spirit of beloved-ness as well.  Without perceiving the overwhelming beloved-ness conveyed by the active presence of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit has not yet been perceived by that soul.  This is not to imply that such a perception is not possible, but rather it has yet to occur. 

The reason is likely due to not fulfilling the conditions of discipleship.  What is seldom realized is the full significance of Jesus conditions of discipleship; “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, daily, and follow me.”  (Find quote)   That significance involves recognizing these are conditions for anyone who wants to enter into the same relationship with God the Father as Jesus had – becoming beloved, and thus know the beloved-ness described above. 

Part of the problem also involves fulfilling the individual elements of those conditions of discipleship.  The first condition being: denying the self.  A truly unappealing message to the people of our present society who seek personal fulfillment as a measure for distinguishing a good life.  It is truly not possible to seek personal fulfillment in this life and fulfill this condition of discipleship.  (For more on the subject)  The second condition is: picking up our cross daily.  Again, what this actually means is largely unknown.  Due to the fall from grace, our flesh is in a state of disorder in rebellion against God’s ways of holiness.  Accepting our individual responsibility to resist this state of rebellion while persevering in conforming our lives in compliance with God’s ways of holiness is precisely what is meant by carrying our cross.  (For more on the subject)  The third condition is: Following him!  As simple as this may seem, it isn’t.  It actually involves subjecting our will to God’s will.  This is illustrated for us by Christ ‘cup’ metaphor in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In essence this condition involves our becoming a slave of Christ as Paul[1] and so many other disciples[2] referred to themselves.  (For more on the subject)

It is by fulfilling these three conditions of discipleship that we show ourselves as truly loving God the Father; for it is only by loving God with our entire mind, heart, spirit and strength that these conditions can be met.  Unless the individual soul has fulfilled these three conditions just described, the beloved-ness conveyed by the gospel image has not yet been realized.  Regardless of how wonderful one might perceive God’s love as being, imagine how it must pale compared to this state of Beloved-ness, once these conditions are met.

Truly!  Following Christ in this way will involve a complete change of one’s entire being, but don’t be put off by how intimidating it all seems.  If you aspire to become beloved of God there is no other way.  This state is open to all as is clearly explained in the second reading; “Anyone who fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”

So come, take heart and surrender to the Lord.  The love of God will never fail.

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[1] Rom. 1:1

[2] Phil. 1:1; Col. 4:7; Col. 4:17; James 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:1; Jude 1:1