While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,
his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some Pharisees said,
"Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?"
Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."
In this passage, Jesus is reminding us that the Sabbath was made for man, not man made for the Sabbath. This means that religious practices are meant to be life giving. In going to church, participating in the ecclesiastical community, and celebrating the sacraments, we gain something. We benefit from building community and celebrating together. If participating in these activities is exclusionary or hurtful, then one must immediately stop. Religious institutions are meant to bring us to God but what sometimes happens is the exact opposite. Here Jesus reminds us that God wants us to be happy and that religious practices should bring us to God.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Luke 5:1-5 We are called to be like St. Peter
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
Simon said in reply,
"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets."
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men."
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
In today's passage we see the call of Peter. Here Peter is told to catch men meaning he will call others to follow Christ. The fact that he "left everything and followed him" means that Peter was not held back by his job, status, family, or friends. Peter freely chooses to follow Christ. This is our call, to love one another and follow in the foot steps of Christ without anything holding us back. This is the true meaning of being an apostle (one who is sent).
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
Simon said in reply,
"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets."
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men."
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
In today's passage we see the call of Peter. Here Peter is told to catch men meaning he will call others to follow Christ. The fact that he "left everything and followed him" means that Peter was not held back by his job, status, family, or friends. Peter freely chooses to follow Christ. This is our call, to love one another and follow in the foot steps of Christ without anything holding us back. This is the true meaning of being an apostle (one who is sent).
Monday, August 29, 2011
Mark 6:17-29 May we look to John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ, for strength.
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Today's passage celebrates John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ. All we know about John the Baptist comes from the four gospels. Mark, being the first to document the life of John the Baptist, presents a man who appears to challenge the political authority of the king. He is beheaded in prison and his head is presented on a platter. This story is rich in detail which points to the direction it is likely illustrating a historical event. This story also tells us that John had disciples and they were wealthy enough to secure a tomb for his body. The fact that the story calls John, the Baptist, means he has already had such a following that he bears the title "Baptist". In contemporary iconography his head on a platter is a very sacred image. May we look to John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ, for strength.
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Today's passage celebrates John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ. All we know about John the Baptist comes from the four gospels. Mark, being the first to document the life of John the Baptist, presents a man who appears to challenge the political authority of the king. He is beheaded in prison and his head is presented on a platter. This story is rich in detail which points to the direction it is likely illustrating a historical event. This story also tells us that John had disciples and they were wealthy enough to secure a tomb for his body. The fact that the story calls John, the Baptist, means he has already had such a following that he bears the title "Baptist". In contemporary iconography his head on a platter is a very sacred image. May we look to John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ, for strength.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Matthew 16:21-27 We don't have to prove ourselves to be loved by God
Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life"
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct."
In this passage we see the christian paradox: "whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it". What an odd statement to make. But when we reflect on its meaning we come to realize that Jesus is trying to save us from our false-selves. We often create a false image of ourselves that we believe to be our true selves. We think that we are what we do or we are what we think we are but in reality we are sons and daughters of God. We don't have to prove ourselves to be loved by God. We simply are loved because of God's grace. Jesus helps us deconstruct our false-selves by telling us to love God and one another. When we get away from ourselves and look to others we end our self-centredness and begin a live with God in the centre.
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life"
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct."
In this passage we see the christian paradox: "whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it". What an odd statement to make. But when we reflect on its meaning we come to realize that Jesus is trying to save us from our false-selves. We often create a false image of ourselves that we believe to be our true selves. We think that we are what we do or we are what we think we are but in reality we are sons and daughters of God. We don't have to prove ourselves to be loved by God. We simply are loved because of God's grace. Jesus helps us deconstruct our false-selves by telling us to love God and one another. When we get away from ourselves and look to others we end our self-centredness and begin a live with God in the centre.
Matthew 25:14-30 We need to uses these gifts to serve God and our neighbour
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
After a long time
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents
came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’'
In today's passage, we reflect on the how we are using God's gifts. In this parable those servants who used their talents (money) to increase their amount of talents were rewarded and the servant who did nothing but his talent was punished. These talents are like the gifts that we have been given. We need to uses these gifts to serve God and our neighbour. So often we don't like taking risks. We fear ridicule from our peers and fear failure. Here the servant who gave into his fears received punishment because he did nothing with is talent. So if you are gifted in speech, share it with the world. If you are a writer, write. If you are cook, cook. Share your gifts with the world because these gifts come from God.
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
After a long time
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents
came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’'
In today's passage, we reflect on the how we are using God's gifts. In this parable those servants who used their talents (money) to increase their amount of talents were rewarded and the servant who did nothing but his talent was punished. These talents are like the gifts that we have been given. We need to uses these gifts to serve God and our neighbour. So often we don't like taking risks. We fear ridicule from our peers and fear failure. Here the servant who gave into his fears received punishment because he did nothing with is talent. So if you are gifted in speech, share it with the world. If you are a writer, write. If you are cook, cook. Share your gifts with the world because these gifts come from God.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Matthew 25:1-13 The escaton is both here and not yet
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
"Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!"
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
"Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out."
But the wise ones replied,
"No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves."
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
"Lord, Lord, open the door for us!"
But he said in reply,
"Amen, I say to you, I do not know you."
This passage reflects again the nature of the Kingdom of God. The escaton is both here and not yet. It has been ushered in with Jesus but only God knows when it will come to its full fruition. Here in this parable, Jesus explains that it will arrive when we least expect it. If we are not ready there will be no mercy, no entrance, and only judgement. If we do not live holy lives and prepare ourselves for the coming of the Kingdom of God, then like the virgins who were not ready, we will be left behind. So stay away, be ready, live out the teachings of Christ. Amen
"The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
"Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!"
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
"Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out."
But the wise ones replied,
"No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves."
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
"Lord, Lord, open the door for us!"
But he said in reply,
"Amen, I say to you, I do not know you."
This passage reflects again the nature of the Kingdom of God. The escaton is both here and not yet. It has been ushered in with Jesus but only God knows when it will come to its full fruition. Here in this parable, Jesus explains that it will arrive when we least expect it. If we are not ready there will be no mercy, no entrance, and only judgement. If we do not live holy lives and prepare ourselves for the coming of the Kingdom of God, then like the virgins who were not ready, we will be left behind. So stay away, be ready, live out the teachings of Christ. Amen
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Matthew 24:42-51 Stay Awake and Avoid Sin
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time"
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,'
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant's master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
This passage reminds us that the escaton is something of a mystery. The kingdom of God has started with Jesus but one never knows when the Jesus' final coming will happen. Here we are reminded to stay awake and avoid sin. So often in our faith we become lax and forget to pray, minister to others, and worship with others. We are called to constantly be vigilant so as not to fall prey to routine. The greatest enemy in spiritual warfare is routine. It dulls our senses and makes us complacent. Even our secular culture says life is short and one never knows when it will end. We must always make the best of what we have and always remember that being a person of faith is not only about prayers and worship but of serving the needs of others.
"Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time"
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,'
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant's master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
This passage reminds us that the escaton is something of a mystery. The kingdom of God has started with Jesus but one never knows when the Jesus' final coming will happen. Here we are reminded to stay awake and avoid sin. So often in our faith we become lax and forget to pray, minister to others, and worship with others. We are called to constantly be vigilant so as not to fall prey to routine. The greatest enemy in spiritual warfare is routine. It dulls our senses and makes us complacent. Even our secular culture says life is short and one never knows when it will end. We must always make the best of what we have and always remember that being a person of faith is not only about prayers and worship but of serving the needs of others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)