A Homily – The Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

A Homily – The Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading – Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 102(103):1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 ©

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 ©

Gospel Acclamation – John 14:23

Alternative Acclamation – 1 John 2:5

The Gospel According to Matthew – 5:38 - 48 ©

 

(NJB)

 

 Listen!

 Hear the word of God and know this, there is no justice without mercy.

 Give thanks to God, the creator of the universe, be thankful for God’s blessings: the blessing of life, of freedom, of self-determination and every other aspect of our persons.

Give thanks to those the loving, to the peacemakers; bless them as you are able. Bless all of God’s children, bless them as God does, love everyone: the good and the bad, the helpful and the harmful, the just and the unjust.

Remember this!

God is not a king, God is not a Lord. God does not favor one group over another. God does not intervene in the affairs of human beings…and God has made everyone free.

Remember that the living God dwells within the living you, and within the living God everyone comes to be: all beings, at all times, in all places have there being in God.

God dwells in you, and I, in your adversary (whoever that might be); God is present in everyone and where God is present, God is present fully.

Be mindful!

Wisdom is wisdom, and folly is folly, and you are not special except insofar as you are loved.

You are loved no-more, and no-less than any other; you are no-more and no-less wise; you are no-more and no-less a fool.

We are all journeying along the way, and the way of our journey leads to God, the beginning and the end of all things and beings.

Be Mindful!

The grace of God is not transactional. Love fosters love, and there is always love for the divine is always with you. God dwells in all people, regardless of their character or the quality of their life judged by whatever standard you might care to devise.

Some people bear are able to bear witness to the way, to exemplify it through their actions…emulate them. Others confronted us with the need to be merciful, to demonstrate through our own actions the same spirit of mercy and forgiveness Jesus called us to. Some express the love of God, while others call for a loving response. listen to them, learn from them, try to understand them—each as they are.

Consider the Gospel for today:

The traditions holds that the old law was a vehicle for retribution; in it there was little consideration for mercy. Under the old law it was thought that whether you do good deeds or bad deeds you are paid in equal measure.

Most religious systems adhere to a view of justice based on this concept. The laws of Karma articulated in what we refer to as Hinduism are the most succinctly articulated and concisely conceptualized version of this system.

Every religious tradition that directs its adherents believers to some kind of afterlife, utilizes some variant of a mythology that shows the individual being weighed or measured on the scales of justice before receiving their eternal reward, or punishment, as the case might be.

In the aforementioned Hindu system of beliefs, the individual remains on the wheel of life until the karmic scales are balanced, at which point they are released.

The Jains, the Sikhs and the Baha’i, all imagine something very much the same, imagining that the soul enters the world in a state of purity and light, but life in the flesh, which entangles the soul in the dirty business of existence…soils them.

Life makes a person unclean., and upon coming to this realization the task is then to move toward the light, avoiding all things that contaminate the soul, until at the end they are once again burning pure and bright.

Allow me to reprise: the old law was a law of retribution, it was only one stage better than the law of terror which read: Not an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but a head for an eye and a tribe for a head.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is somewhat better in its approximation to true justice, but it is not best!

Jesus instructed us in the divine law, and the divine law is reflected in the way of mercy; teaching us that to sacrifice (to make something holy) is to forgive, and this is the path to holiness.

 When it came to the exhibition of mercy, Jesus taught us to go beyond what is ordinary, to surpass all conventions, to act out of love and to walk with humility, even with those you would otherwise shun or fear.

 This is the way and there is no other.

 Both Jesus and the Buddha believed that a person could balance the scales in a moment; that we are not in bondage to our past, to our history, to our station, or to our ancestors.

 We are good when we are doing good, we burn brightly when we are on fire with compassion.

 It is as simple as that.

  

First Reading – Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 ©

You Must Love Your Neighbour as Yourself

The Lord spoke to Moses; he said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them:

‘“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.

‘“You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence; this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.”’

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 102(103):1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 ©

The Lord is compassion and love.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

  all my being, bless his holy name.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

  and never forget all his blessings.

The Lord is compassion and love.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,

  who heals every one of your ills,

who redeems your life from the grave,

  who crowns you with love and compassion.

The Lord is compassion and love.

The Lord is compassion and love,

  slow to anger and rich in mercy.

He does not treat us according to our sins

  nor repay us according to our faults.

The Lord is compassion and love.

As far as the east is from the west

  so far does he remove our sins.

As a father has compassion on his sons,

  the Lord has pity on those who fear him.

The Lord is compassion and love.

 

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 ©

You Belong to Christ and Christ Belongs to God

Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.

Make no mistake about it: if any one of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise. Why? Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As scripture says: The Lord knows wise men’s thoughts: he knows how useless they are; or again: God is not convinced by the arguments of the wise. So there is nothing to boast about in anything human: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life and death, the present and the future, are all your servants; but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

 

Gospel Acclamation – John 14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

 

Alternative Acclamation – 1 John 2:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said, God’s love comes to perfection in him.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew – 5:38 - 48 ©

Love Your Enemies

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.

‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’

 

The Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

A Homily - The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

A Homily – The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 First Reading – Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 118(119):1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 ©

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ©

Gospel Acclamation – 1 Samuel 3:9, John 6:68

Alternative Acclamation – Matthew 11 :25

The Gospel According to Matthew – 5: 17 - 37 ©

 (NJB)

 Listen!

 God, the creator of the universe, God has prepared the way for you, look ahead you can see it; the lane is clear and smooth, it yours to follow, and you must be mindful, for on the margins there are ruts and grooves, there are stones and roots, and other things to stumble on.

 Consider this:

 You may take which ever path you like, because all paths lead to the divine; stop and look and you will see that you are in its midst already…Look into the fire and there is God, dip your cup in the well and there is God.

 Be mindful.

 Water cleanses without hurt, fire cleanses as it burns; in the scriptures both fire and water are symbolic of the divine and our encounter with God’s spirit, turn around and God is with you, plant your feet and God is there. Close your eyes and stop your ears, God always remains…abiding in your heart.

 Nothing evil comes from God, and without God not one thing exists, everything participates in the good.

 Listen!

 God’s law is written in our hearts. God speaks to us there. All other versions of God’s law are merely reflections of the divine law that each of us carries with us, it is the seat of conscience, it is the house of reason, it is the spirit of wisdom that dwells within us.  

 God’s law is a living flame. Look into your heart, see it shimmering there, glowing amidst the coals. God’s law is to love, and there is no other law; to love is its own reward, you will receive no other.

 Remember this!

 Those who fail at loving are not unloved by God. We are called on to love; even the hateful are called to love, as we are called to love them, knowing that love is the only cure for hatred.

 When you petition God, do not petition God for favor; do not ask God for special treatment or to prefer you over any-other-one of God’s children...and do not promise to do for God what is not within your power to do.

 When you petition the divine, be wise and ask for wisdom. Do not lie to God, or yourself when you petition God. Do not ask of God what it already lies within your power to do for yourself.

 God will not rescue you until the end beyond the ending.

 Now be mindful of the sacred text, always handle it with care and humility, it has been made a tool for human beings, the greater part of it is little more than vanity, propaganda and myth.

 There is no mystery waiting to be found within its pages except for the mystery of love, which we are commanded to…as best as we may, to love one another as God loves us. This is the demand the divine law makes on our conscience; to act mercifully in the interest of justice, to live a life filled with compassion, and be humble while following the way.

 When a leader arises among us, we must acknowledge them and their appointment if it is a reflection of the will of the people. When that leadership is pure and can we see that their work is holy, we must acknowledge that, but in the acknowledgment of these things it is important that we do not embellish a thing…let their work speak for itself, and the consequences that flow from their work speak to the generation to come…you will know the seed by the fruit that it bears.

 Remember!

 God speaks to all people. The voice of the creator speaks in the human heart.

 There fore be mindful of what the gospel teaches!

 Here is the good news: God loves you, and you are saved.

 It is as simple as that: You are saved and you are loved.

 You are not saved for anything that you have done, you did not earn it, you are saved because God loves you and for no other reason. The promise of gospel is not that you will be spared from suffering and torment in hell, or that when you are judged God will forgive you.

 God has already forgiven you. You are already saved. God has prepared you and everyone for eternal life. That is the good news, believe it!

 Believe it! And let the goodness of the promise flow through you, begin to live your life…renewed, Act as if you believed this were true.

 We are not called to believe in the idea that Jesus is this or that, the Holy One of God; we are called to act on the principles of his faith, to live lives of charity and service to each other.

 The teachings of Jesus cannot be treated like a shell game, though they are, and have been since the beginning, as Matthew’s Gospel illustrates. The way of Jesus is not a long con, neither is it a bait and switch, it is a simple teaching that cannot be controlled or owned by any one group of people.

 God has hidden nothing from you. The truth is in the openm it is there for anyone to see.

 The wise and the powerful, the learned and the clever, the weak and the meek, everyone has access to the same truth, to the knowledge of God, the meaning of justice, the freedom to hope and love, because the truth lies within us as we are all the children of God.

 Who are the wise and powerful, who are the learned and the clever, who are the faithful and childlike. In every generation, you will see a new group labeling the elder group as out of touch, blind, privileged, in the dark, corrupt, and they themselves the hers to the promise.

 It is all vanity.

 It is an endless cycle and the truth remains the same; love justice, be merciful, do good, serve God through the loving service you provide to one another: your family, your friend, your neighbor, the stranger, even your enemy, this is the way Jesus asked us to follow.

 Just because a person is wise and powerful, learned and clever, or a child of the church, does not mean they recognize the truth when they see it, or act upon when they do. It is not your station in society, it is not how other people regard you, it is not the titles you have earned, or the ways that you have been marginalized that give a person the tell on how to fulfill the calling and follow Jesus. What matters is what is in the heart, and your willingness to trust in the content of your hops.

 Consider the Gospel reading for today.

 The way is simple and elegant, and among the most difficult paths to follow, though it is accepting of everyone and forgiving to all.

 In the reading for today the writers of Matthew’s Gospel attempt to summarize Jesus’ teaching on the law. They had known Jesus, or who had been instructed in the faith by those who knew him, they believed sincerely that they understood what was in his heart.

 Nevertheless, their summary of his teaching falls short of the mark, because, as with all matters pertaining to the divine, our capacity to understanding is conditioned by our life on Earth.

 In this passage, the kingdom of heaven which Jesus refers to is not a place beyond this world. It is the world we live in; though it is not the world as it is, but the world as it could be, if we find the patience to see God in our neighbor and reconcile ourselves with the divine.

 Know this.

 The hell which the gospels refer to is not a place beyond this world, it is not the diametric opposite of heaven, it is the realm of the dead, it is the place where we are, for as long as we cling to our sins.

 We have a choice, one we can exercise right now; we may choose follow the way, to live in a community of peace and love, or to live in a world conditioned by fear and greed, strife and pain.

 If we chose the way, no matter how much we may desire it, we cannot have it, or share it with others, if we are not reconciled to the community we live in. if we hold a grudge, if there is enmity; we must address these first and come to a place of healing.

 Every action we take matters, but in the way, our intentions matter as much…and more.

 A person may not be a thief, but if they covet their neighbor’s possessions there is no peace between them. What we hold in our heart determines the nature of our relationships with each other. To forgive and be forgiven, is not a transaction, it is a simple injunction. Let go of the hardness and covetousness in your heart, accept the mercy that is offered to you. Be loved, and love in return.

 

First Reading – Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21 ©

God Predestined Wisdom to Be for Our Glory Before the Ages Began

If you wish, you can keep the commandments, to behave faithfully is within your power.

He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer.

Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.

For vast is the wisdom of the Lord; he is almighty and all-seeing.

His eyes are on those who fear him, he notes every action of man.

He never commanded anyone to be godless, he has given no one permission to sin.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 118(119):1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 ©

They are happy who follow God’s law!

They are happy whose life is blameless,

  who follow God’s law!

They are happy who do his will,

  seeking him with all their hearts.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

You have laid down your precepts

  to be obeyed with care.

May my footsteps be firm

  to obey your statutes.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Bless your servant and I shall live

  and obey your word.

Open my eyes that I may see

  the wonders of your law.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Teach me the demands of your statutes

  and I will keep them to the end.

Train me to observe your law,

  to keep it with my heart.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

 

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ©

God Predestined Wisdom to Be for Our glory Before the Ages Began

We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: the things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.

  These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.

 

Gospel Acclamation – 1 Samuel 3:9, John 6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

 

Alternative Acclamation – Matthew 11 :25

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,  Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew – 5: 17 - 37 ©

You Have Learnt How it was Said to Our Ancestors; but I Say this to You

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

‘You have learnt how it was said: You must not commit adultery. But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.

‘It has also been said: Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you: everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’

 The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)      

                                                                

Observation - February 8th, 2023, Wednesday

February 8^th, 2023, Wednesday

Observation

 

 Ambulance pulling up across the street

 Lights and sirens…beep…beep

 Window shades tinted with blue and red

 A gurney clatters for the dead

Observation - February 7th, 2023, Tuesday

 February 7^th, 2023, Tuesday

Observation

 

The sky is gray

 

It is pleasantly cold,

with a dampness to the air

 

The frost has left a shine on the cement

A Homily - The Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

A Homily - The Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

 First Reading – Isaiah 58:7-10 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 111(112):4-9 ©

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ©

Gospel Acclamation – John 8:12

The Gospel According to Matthew 5:13 - 16 ©

 

(NJB)

Listen.

Meditate on the scriptures and consider the meaning they express when they refer to the light of God; in this moment we should reflect on the School od Isaiah, as Jesus often did, and be mindful of these precepts:

Our light shines we it shine with the justice of God, the creator of the universe, our light shines when we are merciful; we are light when we communicate love and compassion, acting as servants to those who are in need, we shine with light in our humility.

Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, care for the poor and clothe the naked, these acts will heal you from your own sin and sickness, they will heal you as light cures the cancer, shrinks the tumor that divides our hearts and in our minds, the material-disease, hoarding wealth to feed our greed.

When we are giving we are good, and God’s light shines through us like an unhooded lantern or a beacon on a hill, it shines in all directions signaling to those who see it that we are unafraid for we have made a dwelling in our hearts for God.

Uncurl the clenched fist; let the light shine.

Release the captive; let the light shine.

Be kind to the oppressed, see them all around us…know that not-one-of-us is free until our light shines’ we are prisoners of the world. Let it shine in the darkness and our shadow departs, shinning brightly above us as if we it were the sun at noon.

Let it shine and be mindful!

This is what the scriptures are speaking to when they preach to us about God’s light.

Consider the words of the psalmist who speaks to us of a just God, the good of infinite compassion.

We are destined for the divine, to nurtured by the Word; coming to fruition when the seed that was planted in us, sprouts and blossoms into God’s own self…not the image of God, but God’s fullness.

Be mindful!

Righteousness and compassion are their own reward, nothing extra comes to you from God in exchange for the good things you do; the way is not a lane of commerce.

 What is good and true does not require a letter of introduction; understand that a person’s past deeds are not necessarily a prelude to their future actions, the good may do ill, and the wicked may do good….take each day as it comes, be mindful of the present moment.

 The way is guarded nor are those who follow it suspicious of each other’s motives.

 We are all on the way, the way which excludes no-one. We are moving inexorably toward the source of all creation, all of us together: the cooperative and the recalcitrant, moving in wisdom toward the divine.

 Consider the Gospel for today and know that this: There are no guarantees in life.

 Listen to Jesus’ teachin; he understood the natural failings of human beings; he knew that same person could be salient and good in one moment, bitter and coercive in the next.

 Even the disciples, as close as they were to Jesus, even they were free from these propensities. Why would it be any different for the Christian man or woman who follows them two thousand years later…?

 It is no different.

 If you set out to teach, to be a light in the world…do it; live intentionally. 

 Be mindful of what Jesus said:

 A lamp…once lit, should be put on the lamp-stand, but still provide it constant attention; the oil must be replenished, the wick must be trimmed and replaced, the soot must be cleared from the vessel.

 If you intend to live your life as an exemplar of the way, you must be diligent, watchful, mindful of yourself and humble.

  

First Reading – Isaiah 58:7-10 ©

Then will your light shine like the dawn

Thus says the Lord:

Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked and do not turn from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.

Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 111(112):4-9 ©

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

He is a light in the darkness for the upright:

  he is generous, merciful and just.

The good man takes pity and lends,

  he conducts his affairs with honour.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

The just man will never waver:

  he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;

  with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

open-handed, he gives to the poor;

  his justice stands firm for ever.

  His head will be raised in glory.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

Alleluia!

 

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ©

The Only Knowledge I Claimed Was of the Crucified Christ

When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

 

Gospel Acclamation – John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew 5:13 - 16 ©

Your Light Must Shine in the Sight of Men

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

 

The Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)