Blessed Are the Merciful, the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time--Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

Today’s Gospel presents us with “the Beatitudes,” essential teachings of Jesus found in “the Sermon on the Mount” (see Matthew 5:3-12). These admonitions and promises were meant to guide his followers as they went about their lives at home, and also in the “public squares.” Jesus said: “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness sake, reviled, persecuted, and falsely accused because of their faith.” He promised those who were so disposed would receive great blessings in return; they would be “given the kingdom of heaven, comforted, made inheritors of the land, satisfied, shown mercy, granted visions of God, called children of God, and bestowed with great rewards in heaven.” Isn’t it true these teachings of Jesus, so familiar to us today, were some of the most thought-provoking he offered to his followers? There’s no doubt even people from other faith traditions have taken great inspiration from them as well! And as they guided the earliest of Christians, they continue to provide great and much needed wisdom for us today.

I think my favorite Beatitude is “blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” And it’s not surprising to me this one was highlighted by Jesus right in the middle of these teachings. This suggests to me it was a “very central theme” of this sermon! The great need for “mercy” among the people in Jesus’ day probably wasn’t too much different than in our own time. Even though we are Christians, like those who first heard the preaching of Jesus, any one of us might be tempted to “withhold mercy” from those who have “sinned against us,” from those who have disappointed us, and from those who may have caused us emotional damage or pain. I’m sure all of us can think of individual people, and even organized groups of people, who’ve fit these descriptions – some of them we’ve encountered close to home, and others we’ve been beset by in the “public square.” And let’s be honest, when people have wronged us, isn’t it then very easy to “withhold mercy” and not to forgive? I know this is true for me!

Of course, Jesus’ all important teaching on mercy is also notably found in the words of the “Our Father,” perhaps the prayer most often recited by every Christian. In it, we say “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” With these words in mind, and as we contemplate all of the Beatitudes, especially the one about “mercy,” let’s ask ourselves if we really believe these basic teachings of Jesus. Do we affirm and give witness to them with all of our thoughts, words, and actions? If not, it might be a good idea for us to think about how we might once again conform our lives to the wisdom of Jesus! This is no easy thing to do, but it’s required of us because we call ourselves “Christians.” At same time, and with just about every teaching contained in “the Beatitudes,” I believe we should remind ourselves “mercy and forgiveness” have more to do with those who give, than with those who receive (but that’s the subject of another essay).

Remaining faithful to the teachings of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” can be challenging, as well as the source of great blessings. As devoted Christians, we can be confident we will be “given the kingdom of heaven, comforted, made inheritors of the land, satisfied, shown mercy, granted visions of God, called children of God, and bestowed with great rewards in heaven.” May “the Beatitudes” always inspire us, especially in the manner in which we show mercy and we forgive others, both at home and in the “public square.”

Praise God! Friar Timothy

 

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Today's Inhabitants of Zebulun and Naphtali, the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time--Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

Today’s Scriptures speak of those who were “sitting in darkness” and who were “dwelling in a land overshadowed by death.”  According to Matthew the Evangelist, such people, who were also spoken of by the great Prophet Isaiah, were liberated when Jesus, “the light,” began his ministry of preaching and healing in “the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” (see both Isaiah 8:23-9:3 and Matthew 4:12-17).

That area can be found along the eastern shores of the Lake of Galilee, and was also the location of the ancient town of Capernaum, the place where Jesus began his public ministry.  It was in that little fishing village where he first effectively preached, healed the sick, and forgave people of their sins.  As Jesus launched his ministry there, the Gospel tells us he called upon the people “to repent, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand.” (cf. Matthew 4:17).  For that reason, many people of Capernaum, and from “the region of Zubulin and Naphtali,” responded to his preaching, and because of their “repentance from sin,” they were “saved” by God; this is what “shed the light upon them,” and what “freed them from darkness and death.”

In order to understand more clearly who such “saved” people were, let’s also recall some other words from Isaiah found in the Gospels.  Jesus quoted the Prophet when he said he himself was “the one anointed to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, to give sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (cf. Luke 4:18).  It was such people, those who were most “marginalized” by others, whom Jesus very much hoped “to save from darkness and death.”  And therefore, it seems to me the cause of that “darkness and death” was not only or necessarily their own malice or sin, but also included circumstances and/or maltreatments that until then, and for most of them, had been beyond their control.  Jesus had come “to set all people free.”  In this sense then, and for many, “repentance from sin” was simply newfound control over their own lives, and this was made possible through the power of Jesus’ message and ministry.  I believe this is how we can best understand Jesus’ mission “to lift up the lowly.” Therefore, those who were “saved by Jesus” were the ones empowered by him; such people were then restored to emotional and/or physical health, and they also were enabled to reject any type of sin for which they might have been guilty.  But even more, they were also freed from victimization and abusive oppression previously threatening “darkness and death” in their lives.

If all of this is so, then it seems to me we don’t have to look too far in our own time in order to find metaphorical inhabitants of “the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali.”  Today, this would include all of those “marginalized people” around us who likely “sit in darkness” and who are probably “overshadowed by death.”  Such people can be found by merely glancing at newspaper headlines, the television news, and/or social media feeds; we certainly come in contact with them, in one way or another and every day, as we go about the business of our lives.  I believe it’s our responsibility, as followers of the Lord Jesus, and as best as we are able, “to bring the light to them, to save them and to set them free.”

We can do this by championing causes that promote the emotional and physical health of the poor and the needy.  We can do this by reaching out with compassion and action to improve the lives of the homeless, the mentally ill, drug addicts, alcoholics, and those who’ve in any way “lost their way.”  We can do this by promoting the value of every human life, “from the womb to the tomb.”  We can do this by standing up for the rights of those who have been abused, victimized and/or oppressed in any way.  And we can do this in so many other countless ways as well . . .

My friends, let’s not tire in our efforts to be part of the “liberating” force of Jesus Christ!  As we work for justice and well-being in our world, and as we seek “to free others from darkness and death,” let’s never cease to help them “to see the great light.”

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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Behold the Lamb of God!, the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time--Year A

My Sisters and Brothers: 

Today, and before receiving the Eucharist, we will pray together: “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us!” Then, shortly after we pray these words, and as the priest presents the Body and Blood of Christ for all to see, he will echo the words of John the Baptist, and will proclaim: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world!” These words are spoken and prayed because we believe Jesus is our “sacrificial lamb.” We believe this Eucharist is the visible, eternally enduring sacrifice offered for our salvation by Jesus upon the Cross “once-and-for-all.” And so we believe through it we are forever saved from sin and death!

It’s a good idea to keep the Eucharist in mind as we contemplate today’s Gospel. In it John the Baptist calls Jesus “the Lamb of God” (see John 1:29). He did so to clearly connect the reality of who Jesus was with the ancient understanding of the sacrificial use of lambs as “sin offerings” and “burnt offerings.” As “sin offerings,” such lambs were effective as substitutes for God’s people, saving them from danger, punishment, and damnation. As “burnt offerings,” they were given to God within ritual acts of thanksgiving, and served to demonstrate the gratitude of the faith community. Those ritual lambs, and John the Baptist’s reference to “the Lamb of God,” foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus upon the Cross, and the significance of the Eucharist we now share.

Perhaps the most prominent and ancient example of the sacrificial lamb was the “Passover Lamb” referenced in the Book of Exodus (see Ex 12:1-30). Because it saved the Israelites from death wrought by the “tenth plague,” they were able to flee from their Egyptian captors, and to begin their long journey to the “Promised Land.” To this day, Jewish people eat the “Passover Lamb” in commemoration of that most memorable and lifesaving event.

In olden times in the Temple in Jerusalem, “Sacrificial Lambs” were offered daily by its priests; these lambs were used as atoning “sin offerings.” The thanksgiving “burnt offerings” of lambs were also made there for various purification, ritual and religious acts, as well as to commemorate important feast days (numerous examples of these can be found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and in other books of the Old Testament).

Those who lived at the time of John the Baptist would have grasped very well the religious significance of lambs, and how important they were as conduits of God’s grace. And so when he saw Jesus and proclaimed: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” he actually made a very definitive statement about whom and what Jesus was, and is, for all of humanity.

At that moment, John the Baptist identified Jesus with the “Passover Lamb,” and so his words said a great deal about Jesus’ similar transformative role in salvation history. His words also identified Jesus with the “Sacrificial Lamb” and therefore foretold the saving power of Jesus’ death upon the Cross; Jesus himself would become the ultimate “Sacrificial Lamb,” the perfect conduit of God’s grace, and therefore he would win salvation for all people of all time. Because Jesus would “take away the sins of the world,” it would no longer be necessary for God’s people to offer lambs as sacrificial “sin offerings” or “burnt offerings.” Jesus was and is “the Lamb of God” definitively, and for all eternity!

My friends, as we receive the Eucharist today, let’s not forget that Jesus, the one proclaimed by John the Baptist to be “the Lamb of God,” has taken away the sins of the world, and he has indeed been very merciful to us! As we share this sacred meal, let’s always be grateful to Jesus, our “sacrificial lamb.” And let’s remember he is “the Lamb of God” who died “once-and-for-all” upon the Cross, and through him we now have the promise of eternal salvation!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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The Epiphany of the Lord, "20+C+M+B+17"

My Sisters and Brothers:
 
    Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, we recall the story of the “Three Wise Men” who came “from the east” (see Matthew 2:1-12).  Because they “came from afar,” we can say the Wise Men represent all people of from every corner of our world.   And so, on this day we are able to focus on the universality of the Christian Church, and to recall that all peoples (meaning more than one group of people), are invited to be part of God’s chosen family.

    This means all men and women are included, from every century and era, from every land and nation, from every culture and background, from every social class and status, from every persuasion and orientation, and from all other divisions or distinctions, including those caused by nature and/or by humans themselves.  This is the reason it’s very significant those Wise Men, those foreigners, went to Bethlehem, and “saw the child with Mary his mother and prostrated themselves and did him homage.”  In that moment, they received and at the same time represented God’s embrace of all peoples, including those of us who gather to worship today!  And as followers of such a God, we are called to do exactly the same.      

    This makes me think of a sign I recently saw at the entrance to a local Methodist Church; it reads “WE WELCOME ALL . . . and ALL MEANS ALL!”  Would that we could hang such signs at the entrances to our own churches, to our own homes, and to our hearts, and actually mean it.  On this Feast of the Epiphany, we should then remind ourselves that “all peoples” actually means “all peoples.”  If all are welcome, then all are welcome, even those who’ve “rubbed us the wrong way,” those who’ve been “different,” those who’ve “sinned against us,” and even those who’ve held different political, theological and/ or societal viewpoints.  Honestly, and as difficult as it might be to admit (especially in this day and age), “ALL MEANS ALL!”  I believe this is an important message of our faith, and one so poignantly underscored as we recall the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem. 

    Today, and with the “three Wise Men from the east,” we continue to celebrate the Incarnation and the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  On this Feast of the Epiphany, let’s also recall our Savior came to redeem all people from every place and time, and from every corner of our world and universe!  Our church and our community of faith, and even our hearts, must then always be places where all are welcomed, and all are esteemed as part of God’s chosen family.  My friends, by the way we live our lives, and without exception, let’s then always receive, believe, and put these ideas into practice! 
                                       
Praise God!  Friar Timothy

It is traditional on this feast day to chalk the numbers, crosses, and letters 20+C+M+B+17 above the entrance doors of homes.  These include the initials of the three magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar), and/or an abbreviation for words Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ bless this house); the crosses represent the Cross of Jesus, and the numbers at the beginning and end signify the current year. 

 

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May the Lord Bless You and Keep You!, the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God–Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

     It’s no coincidence as we begin the New Year, and celebrate the “Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God,” we are invited to contemplate the following prayer and its promise:

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

     These words, found in today’s first reading, were part of God’s covenant with Moses.  When conveyed to the faithful through his brother Aaron, the Prophet and High Priest, all these things were promised to authentic people of the Covenant (see Numbers 6:22-27).  Because of these words, the Israelites, the Chosen People, always trusted God’s blessings would remain with them!  And so, as they began new days, months, and years, they always took comfort in the words of the promises made to them.  As we are people of the New Covenant, and sisters and brothers in the Lord Jesus, we believe we have also inherited these promises of God’s blessing.  And so, as we look to our own futures, we too can be sure God’s blessing will be with us.
  
     Isn’t this exactly what the Incarnation and birth of our Savior is all about?  Because of the Holy Child born of the Virgin in Bethlehem, can’t we claim to be blessed, enlightened, and also treated with graciousness, kindness and peace?  And can’t we say that Mary, because of her sublime cooperation with God’s will, was surely and perfectly instrumental in passing on these great blessing from God to all of us?  And it’s for this reason, she who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, and the one the Angel Gabriel proclaimed to be “Full of Grace,” has been called the “Mother of God.”

     She’s also been called Ark of the Covenant, Cause of Our Joy, Cause of our Salvation, Comfort and Help of the Afflicted, Gate of Heaven, Health of the Sick, Lady of Good Counsel, Loving Mother, Mother of Sorrows, Queen of Heaven, Refuge of Sinners, She Who Shows the Way, and Throne of Wisdom.  Any one of these titles, and so many others attributed to her, describe a woman destined by God as a channel of grace and of blessings for all who believe.  This is exactly what we celebrate in this Christmas season, and in a special way on this “Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.”

     On this New Year’s Day, as we celebrate the Divine Motherhood of Mary, may we be confident about the blessings we have and will receive through her.  We once again contemplate the birth of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and his mother’s role in our salvation.  These things promise us many graces and blessings for today and for always! 

     And so, may the words of that ancient prayer, given to Moses and spoken through the Prophet and High Priest Aaron, inspire us as well.  My friends, with confidence in the continued protection and guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and with hope for a bright New Year, let’s pray with confidence: May the Lord bless us and keep us, may his face shine upon us, and be gracious to us; may the Lord look upon us kindly and give us his peace! 

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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