John 13:16-20 Jesus Christ, You Are the Faithful Witness

Although this is how the truth of something is today in our world ascertained for the courts by attorneys seeking the truth, it is not unlike today’s story of St. Paul seeking the truth and presenting it to those assembled at the temple.  Paul had formerly been a Pharisee, which meant that he was an expert in the law, and knew how to draw truth out of statements and testimonies to present to the people for their edification.  In today’s story he calls forth the great leaders of the Jewish people and their prophets, especially John the Baptist who was still in recent memory, to give testimony that “God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.”  The truth of Christ has spread to all the known world, and Paul, the apostle whom Christ personally called after the others, gives testimony to this Truth.

In today’s Gospel Jesus promises to show us the truth that he is “I Am” through events that would fulfill the scripture about him.  He is leading us to know that he is not only the Way to salvation, but the Truth.  He is unified with the Father in this.  He assures us that those of us who accept him, accept our Father in Heaven for he says, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”  We are not to try to corrupt the Truth, for the Truth cannot be corrupted.  Christ Jesus is the faithful witness to that.  We are each called to share in that communion as witnesses today throughout words and our actions, which mark us as Christians, and our fidelity to the Truth.

John 6:1-15 Loaves and Fishes

In this first reading we again have the Apostles and other disciples preaching.  Recall that the Sanhedrin was putting them on trial with the possibility of death.  The Apostles and disciples had therefore been in jail and mysteriously released, but we know it was due to heavenly visitors.  Gamaliel was a Doctor of the Law, head of an important rabbinic school, and member of the Sanhedrin.   In recognition of God’s intervention for the Jewish people throughout their covenant, Gamaliel recognizes that God may be present here too.  He argued that they Apostles should not be harmed saying, “have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.  For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”  That which is of human origin will ultimately parish, but that which is from God will endure.

Truth endures forever.  The Apostles, the martyrs, and we seek the Lord, our Truth, and our refuge, for the Lord is our Light and Our Salvation.  Did he not teach us about heavenly things?  Does he not feed us with what we need to nourish ourselves? 

In today’s Gospel Jesus sits with the others and the crowds.  These are the people who walked to where he is currently, which the Lord crossed the waters in a boat with the Apostles.  The crowds had followed him seeking relief from their pains, anxieties, and sicknesses. His words ease their pains, and his heavenly touch and presence cures their ills.  Asking Philip and Andrew if there is enough food for all, he is told no. 

It is springtime.  The Passover is near, and they are with the Lamb.  The loaves and fish are distributed and it is a miracle, everyone receives and an abundance remains.  This is true of the grace and blessings of this feast with the Lord, then and now.  The Lord invites those seeking him into his company and provides nourishment at his banquet, providing the food himself through the Spirit. 

It is the same way at Holy Communion when the Lord invites us to his table.  Every time we receive the Holy Eucharist the Lords blessings and abundant graces are poured out for us.  Christ Jesus is our Paschal lamb.  We are still within the Easter season celebrating his death and Resurrection.  Matthew tells us, “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” 

Christ came not only to nourish us with bread and wine, but to feed us with himself: that is the Word of God.  The loaves and fishes are a foreshadowing of what happens in the breaking of the bread at mass.  The Holy Eucharist is Christ himself under the species of bread and wine.  The receiving of the host during the Sacrament of Communion is the outward and visible sign of that inward and divine spiritual gift, which is God himself.  May we always love the Blessed Eucharist for what it is, and learn to love being with Christ, the Pascal Lamb and the newness of life which he gives us through his death and Resurrection.  Amen.

He is Risen!

Jesus performed miracles and taught about the Kingdom of God.  We get a real sense from the way that the disciples hid and dispersed after Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday that their grief was so intense that they were lost.  They had such great hope in a man who lived humbly, but had such great love for them and had joined them together with himself.  With his death upon the cross Jesus and resurrection on the Lord’s Day, Jesus conquered death, and was raised into new life within the heavenly kingdom, and with him, because he joined us to him. 

In today’s Gospel of Matthew we encounter Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, whom St. Mark in Gospel identifies as the mother of the Apostle James.  They had come to anoint Jesus’ body with oil and spices as the burial tradition required.  These women had travelled with Jesus.  Remember Mary Magdalene was the one who was usually at the knee of Jesus to her sister’s dismay, listening to him as he spoke, interiorizing all that he said.  At the last supper Mary Magdalene had gotten down upon her knees and washed Jesus’ feet with the expensive oil and dried his feet with her hair.  The next time both these women would see Jesus was upon the cross.  Now at the tomb, Jesus is not there.  Their hearts leap with hope that Jesus’ words could be true, that he would rise.

As if it confirm their hopes, Jesus meets them right where they are, just like he meets us. Unlike the Apostles who doubt, these two Mary’s fall at the Lord’s feet and worship him even amidst the fears that they have that he may be an illusion or some sort of apparition.  He directs them to gather together all the disciples in his name in Galilee where they will be safe and where he will come to them.  How could they not be joyful or excited?  The Lord has come in his glory.  He has conquered death.  His kingdom is at hand.  We are to rejoice and be glad.   Alleluia, alleluia!

Happy Easter!

Luke 9:22-25 Thursday after Ash Wednesday

for today's reading (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021116.cfm)

Whomever Loses His Life for My Sake Will Save It

Today’s readings seem almost oppressive and foreboding.  Moses tells us that we must follow laws, statutes and decrees to live and grow numerous.  Jesus tells us about suffering, death, and following him with our own crosses. 

It is not always easy to follow rules.  Do we tend to see people slow down at stop lights when the light is yellow, or do people to try make the light?  How many times do we see people cross the road when they are not in a crosswalk?  How many people do we know who have received speeding or parking tickets? Rules within society are designed to help us remain safe and function together peacefully as a whole.  They serve a beneficial purpose though we may not always see it that way.

Currently among the high school/junior high group is a game called, “All Hail! Chairman Mao!” or simply “Mao.”  It is a game where the fixed rules are the ones regarding penalties.  The other rules are added by the first player each round of the card game.   Players must figure them out as they are played, and suffer the consequences for the rule violation.  It can be a frustrating game, but fun to watch each other struggle.  Sometimes players do become angry enough they don’t want to play anymore. 

If our lives were like the game of Mao and we would be ignorant of the right way to live and the wrong way.  We would be penalized for doing wrong in our ignorance.  How would we know that God loved us?  Would we love God the way we do?  Probably not.

In the first reading Moses reminds us that as God’s prophet he has laid out the two paths that our loving God has given to us, the path which if we follow the Lord’s commands, statutes and decrees, will allow us to live and grow numerous.  This is the way that God will bless us for our reciprocated love.  However, Moses says, “you turn your hearts away and will not listen, but are led astray…you shall certainly perish.”  When parents make rules within their homes for their children, it is out of love.  They want to protect, to teach their children to love and serve each other, and parents want to teach their children the path to righteousness.  Thus, when we look at the Laws of God, in this way, do we not want to obey them?  Can we not see that our Father guides us through them?  We are on a journey carrying our crosses whatever they may be, but God is providing us directions for the journey, calling us into communities that help us understand where we are being led, and will meet us at our journey’s end.

Jesus foretells of his suffering, crucifixion and death.  He states that he will be resurrected.  This was his journey, his death, his life so that we may have life.  Jesus revealed to us the fullness of God’s plan of salvation for his people, for us, because He so loves us.  We are called to acknowledge the passing of this life as merely transient, that we should be focused on what is eternal.  We are not to be afraid of death, but embrace it as a friend who will take us to the Kingdom.  Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whomever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whomever loses his life for my sake will save it.”  Our Lenten journey helps us to remember our crosses, the Way that Jesus taught so that we may have eternal life, and how grateful we are that God so loves us. 

Let us pray this Lent the words of St. Benedict:  Merciful God in infinite compassion, whose creating power called us forth from the dust of the earth, in this, the acceptable time, lead us inward to be at peace with you, impel us outward to be reconciled with our neighbor, that we may embrace the sacred discipline of lent with broken, humbled hearts so come to the blessed joy of the paschal feast cleansed and renewed.  We ask this of you.  Amen.

Mark 5:1-20 Legion

(for today's reading) http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020116.cfm

Have you ever experienced something in life that just felt like Divine intervention, that God was right there with you?  In today's Gospel reading Jesus and his disciples have left the crowded shores of the sea.  Jesus had been so exhausted that he'd slept through the storm, and then stilled the storm and waters showing his Divinity over even nature.  Now they have just landed in tiny Gerasenes where they meet they meet this man possessed.  To read the description of the possessed man it may invoke images of Grendel, that 'monster' in the 2007 production of Beowulf as he claws around the shore seeking for his cave. 

It is still a man Jesus and the others meet.  It is as if Jesus had them come here for some divine work that he had planned for someone that he has loved since the beginning of time; a man for whom he came to bring salvation from the evils that plagued him.  Jesus does this. With this story comes the hope of salvation for each of us as individuals. 

Luke 3:1-6

In today's Gospel we hear about all the big name political players at Jesus' time: The Emperor, the kings, the high priests of the temple, and other rulers.  One expects that the coming Savior would be born and proclaimed from among them.  Instead the reading, as the convention in the Gospels, is to turn everything upside down.  From the lonely desert a prophet to the people from the Lord God comes quoting Isiah, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.  The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all the flesh shall see the salvation of God."

John is preparing us for the coming of the Savior.  Those who are elevated will be humbled, difficulties will cease when one realizes the straight path, the Way to the Kingdom.  All will come before the Lord in judgement and be witness to the salvation of the world.  Do we hear the prophet's words?  Are we preparing for the coming of the Lord?  How do we help others in our families and communities prepare as well?