it is the last hour

The Lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church comes to the end of the calendar year with texts from John which bring the old year to an end with a letter that warns of the anti-Christ forces who are attempting to destroy the relationship between humanity and the Divine. The intimate communion with Jesus is this relationship. The text from the Gospel of John welcomes the new year with the Incarnation description. This Gospel relates the event of the “Word becomes flesh” in language that reaches to put in words that which is beyond human expression. John presents Jesus, foretold by John, eternally in the world since Creation and being born in flesh and living among us. The psalmist exhorts us to sing a new song in praise of the Lord who brings righteousness and truth to the world.

The Return to Nazareth and Normal Life

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him (Luke 2:40)

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer some tension on the role of life in the world for the believer. The advice in the first letter of John not to love the world or the things of the world is wisdom which appreciates that the passions and desires which cause believers to put self satisfaction, wealth and privilege ahead of the relationship with the Divine are addictions to the attractions of the world and worldly living. The psalmist reminds us to ascribe to the Lord the glory that is due God. The traditional first commandment and the reason for our being in the Baltimore Catechism place God as the object of all our knowledge, love and service. The Gospel of Luke tells of the prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who confirms her revelation that the child, Jesus was the one to save Jerusalem. Luke concludes today with “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him”. This passage invites a second look at living in the world. It is the path chosen for the Child by the Father to bring the Word to Flesh amid the temptations cited by John and to set the Child on a development path with human parents in a human community for the purpose and growth and increase in strength. The area of process theology looks at the development of Jesus into a mature human as an important model of spiritual development for all believers.

Authenticity of our belief

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today suggest exploring the authenticity of our belief. The letter of John points to the idea of walking in the shoes of Jesus if we profess our belief in Him. We are drawn to the need to remove hatred from our lives as we begin to follow the example of love from Jesus. The psalmist praises God who comes in judgement. This aspect of the Divine seems in tension or conflict with the overwhelming compassion, forgiveness and intimate love we understand in Jesus. It is not a conflicting characteristic. The wisdom of the indwelling Spirit equips us with judgement in situations to choose life and love. Our sense of justice needs is routed in our being and is part of our relationship with the Divine. How that justice tension is resolved is the source of many questions.

If anyone in the Middle East has earned the right to hate, it is a Palestinian father, physician and, now, first-time author by the name of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. (an Israeli attack killed his three daughters and niece)


But here’s the paradox: Abuelaish refuses to hate.


Instead, he remains deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation, and now he has written a vivid, haunting and all but heartbreaking account of that commitment, a position he refuses to abandon even in the face of Job-like provocation — the violent deaths of three daughters and a niece.


I Shall Not Hate is set for publication in Canada.

The Gospel of Luke presents the revelation to the faithful Simeon that the Messiah, who he had been inspired to expect through his authentic relationship with the Divine, had been presented in the Temple. The transcendence that accompanies the life of those of authentic faith is often brought to mind by people of faith in our circle of friends who expect and experience daily revelation of the Will of the Father through their relationship with God. The Good Challenge is presented in time for New Year’s resolutions!

Massacre and Guidance

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today bring the darkness of massacre of innocents to mind. The Gospel of Matthew is an account of the flight of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to Egypt to escape a persecution in which Herod traditionally executed male infants, up to the age of 2, in Bethlehem. Historic accounts of this event remain unreliable. It is known that such an atrocity would not be out of character for Herod and certainly much genocide in our world needs to be recalled and brought to our prayer. Joseph continues his example as leader of a family guided by an intimate relationship with the Divine. The letter of John presents two truths which thankfully stand together. We sin. We are capable of great evil against our fellow humans. We have forgiveness and the opportunity to start over through our relationship with God. This time of year we may be blessed by reconnection with old friends. The past days are often seen with rose coloured glasses. Like the psalmist, we may be blessed with an opportunity to recall past events through which we survived “by the grace of God”. As the psalmist puts it “We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped”. Why? There may be a Divine Plan for us that required we “come out of Egypt” too.

The Word of Life

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are for the feast of St. John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth book of the Gospel. The text from the first letter of John reveals his desire to share the story of Jesus with us so that we might share the joy that he knows in relationship with Jesus. The intimate pictures in the Gospel which include John, described as the one whom Jesus loved, are capped as John lying on Jesus breast at the Last Supper. The presentation of the intimate relationship with the Divine is beautifully mystical in John’s Gospel. The psalmist tells of the knowledge of the grandeur of God from observation of the heavens which surround us. Certainly this observation of the majesty of the universe was more easily observed in the dark skies of the Jesus time and place then from the light pollution which obscures the celestial canopy. The passage from the Gospel of John relates how Peter and John find the empty tomb and are convinced of the Resurrection on that first Easter morning. The liturgy through John reminds us that the Word was made flesh in the Incarnation and the Lord transcended death in the Resurrection, thus contacting two fundamental touchstones of Christianity.

Holy Family attends to spiritual guide

The wonder of Christmas has many aspects. The Gospel tells us that Jesus was born while the “family” descended from David has gathered in Bethlehem, the city of David, in response to a Roman census. Families gather at this time of year and often travel thousands of kilometres through challenging events to reunite. The gathering and the suspension of the usual routine for hours or days for the family is a wonderful and very observable characteristic of Christmas. The Lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church chooses texts today which offer a guide to the family life which over time produces much fruit. The Book of Sirach, which offers wisdom to the reader for self guidance in many aspects of life, advises family members to attend to the father and the mother of the family. This attention and respect will of course assist in the growth and well being of your own children. The children learn from the parent how to treat their parents. During the Christmas gathering bringing the grandchildren to see Mom and Dad is such a powerful time to set and model the love and respect which are so essential in growing together as families. The letter of Paul to the Colossians advises that we “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience”. These attitudes and practices will go a long way to making the family gathering all that it can be. The psalmist reveals that the fruit of an attempt to live as family where there is attention to Divine guidance is the family gathered around your table. This is probably the most visible opportunity to reflect on the blessing of family and to be thankful for each and every member of the family. The Gospel of Matthew continues the story of the early life of the Holy Family. The author emphasizes the role of Joseph as the one who attended to the guidance of God as he made decisions about where and how the family would live. Some reflection on the role of Joseph presented in Christian text and tradition, opens a powerful model for those today who have the vocation of leading a family.

Prophecy of Zechariah

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today take us to the Book of Samuel where David declares to the prophet Nathan that he intends to build a house for the Lord. The apparent arrogance of this assertion stands out and offers the opportunity for Nathan to report that the Lord declares His intention to make the “house” or lineage of David great. From his line the “saviour” for the people of God will be descended. The psalmist echoes the understanding that the descendants of David have been chosen to be the “throne” of Israel for all generations. Zechariah understands that the miraculous birth of his son John is part of a greater event which will give light and peace to many.

The need for a Divine intervention

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary open today with words from the prophet Malachi who when surveying the state of the relationship of the Hebrew people with God finds that corruption of the priests, the neglect of God's Temple, and the personal sins of the people have returned the society to a state similar to that before the Babylonian exile. The prophet foresees the need for a new messenger to return the hearts and minds of the people to the Lord in anticipation of the “day of the Lord” when the great gap between the practice of the people and the righteousness of the Divine will act as purifying agent among God’s people. The psalmist praised the steadfast love and faithfulness of God for those who keep his Covenant. Luke’s Gospel reveals more of the special circumstances surrounding the birth of John the Baptist who will fulfill the role of the “messenger” calling the people to prepare for the Lord by returning to the relationship they know in their hearts as the way of righteousness. The Incarnation of the Divine as a baby, in humble human existence is the first of the indications that the aspects of humility, forgiveness and compassion are the characteristics of the New Covenant which were not anticipated as the appearance of the longed for Messiah. The Presence of the Divine in the world today of corruption of the priests, the neglect of God's Temple, and the personal sins of the people is witness to the steadfast love and faithfulness to the relationship of the Divine in continuous offering of forgiveness and compassion to the worn and weary through the indwelling Spirit.

A Never Ending Story

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today reinforce the continuity of the history of salvation from the earliest understanding of the Presence of God in the lives of humanity to the intimacy offered today with the Divine through the indwelling Spirit. The texts celebrate miraculous birth as a sign of great moments in the history which have shaped trust, faith, hope and action. The situation of Hannah is steeped in an intimate prayerful relationship with the Lord (HaShem). She is supported by a righteous husband, Elkanah, who attends to the worship at Shilo, even though the state of the priesthood in control of the holy location of the Tabernacle was in decline and was accused of acting in hypocritical ways relative to the beliefs of the faithful. Luke relates the prayer of Mary who in her visit to Elizabeth, a devote temple of the blessings of the Divine who is carrying another miracle child who like Samuel, Hannah’s child, is destined for service of the Lord. This prayer, the Magnificat, echoes the psalm of Hannah and reviews the action of God in salvation history as well as predicting the action of the Word Incarnate, Jesus Immanuel, the miracle birth which is her acceptance of the mission offered her through her intimate relationship with the Divine and her righteous husband Joseph. The Covenant with God is about to be presented to humanity through Incarnation in Human flesh!

A Day of Joy

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today are full of joy! The passages from the Hebrew Testament look to love and forward to the spring. It is the time of the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere. The days have begun to get a little bit longer. The sun is not going to disappear! The natural events of November and December, increasing darkness and stormy conditions show promise of reversal! Luke tells of the visit of the young Mary to her more mature kinswoman, Elizabeth the wife of Zachariah who is carrying in her womb, John the Baptist. The response of this child reported by Elizabeth brings great joy to the two women. Elizabeth and Zachariah are living a miracle of their own by following the will of God in their calling to present the barren woman with the child called John who is to carry out a prophetic mission for God. His revelation of the Divine Presence begins in the encounter known in Roman Catholic culture as the ‘visitation’. A community of women believers is touched by the Spirit and brought to joy. This model is a very effective example of how the Good News is proclaimed and spread. A community of joyful Spirit filled women is probably the most powerful evangelism known!

The Spirit responds with yes

Today the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary again start with the prophesy of Isaiah, given as a sign to Ahaz, that a child would be born as Immanuel (God is with us). Luke’s Gospel tells of the Annunciation to Mary by the angel of God that she has been chosen to give birth to Immanuel. Yesterday, the Lectionary contained Matthew’s account of the annunciation to Joseph, in a dream, that he is chosen to take Mary as his wife and ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’ Both Joseph and Mary are greeted by angels who implore them not to be afraid. This greeting anticipates the fear that naturally would accompany such requests from the Divine. The evangelists who relate these events have different backgrounds and different audiences for their work. Matthew is a Jew writing for Jews to help them understand Jesus as the fulfillment of the expectation of a Messiah to renew the Covenant between God and His people. Luke writes as a Gentile and a physician and student of human nature. He is one who has accompanied Paul and met with the believers of Jerusalem who have known Jesus. The “yes” of Mary is the model to Christians to moving with the Spirit in the direction prompted which may not be one that is understandable in human experience and within human time. Joseph is called in maturity to change his piety to one of action with and for the Holy Family. Mary, in her immaturity, calls on a Spirit which proclaims the goodness of the Lord even as the path ahead is completely uncharted and will require continuous communion with the Divine. The reflection in the days leading up to Christmas renews the understanding that the “Word is made flesh” and this intimacy of the Divine becoming flesh and being integrated within the being of humanity, and all individual humans, is the Covenant that is eternal.

Patiently seeing beyond appearances

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the fourth Sunday of Advent call us to two difficult practices for our times, patience and seeing beyond appearances. A response to living in an impatient world is to teach techniques for people to achieve goals quickly in ways which indentify “low hanging fruit” and “opportunity ventures”. These strategies have produced results. Have they produced progress? What is the balance to immediate gratification? We should not “judge the book by its cover” but rather than patiently working through the “book” we try to make the”cover” more attractive to entice the reader to continue. The authority to allow us to wait and to struggle to see and understand is the Promise from the Divine that our patient plodding and pondering is the key to significant progress in our personal pursuit of place and peace. (The progression of “p” words is a mental pathway for reflection). Fr Larry Gillick SJ writes with openness on the topics of patience, longing and standing at the ‘stable’ and seeing, like Joseph, more than meets the eye. Tradition holds that Joseph, a man of prayer and patience, is approached prior to the death of Mary’s parents to be guardian of Mary when she leaves the protection of the Temple at the age of twelve. The man who has experienced the communion with the Divine, through dreams at times, is prepared to patiently consider the time scale of the action of God is entirely not the understanding of humanity which lives “in the time”. Time is not finite and linear in the universe of the Eternal and Omnipotent. The “God is with us” promised through Isaiah to Ahaz and to Joseph through the angel is the understanding of the Intimate relationship experienced by believers who like Paul live with the resurrected Jesus as the Body which carries, in Paul’s case today, the Good News of the fruit of patience and vision to the Gentiles.

The Righteous Branch of David today

The history of the reassurances of Jeremiah in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is that the Lord God has provided for the people of Israel (and Judah) from the earliest times. The path of salvation from the experiences of Abraham and Moses and David has been that the Lord God with outstretched arm and mighty hand has returned the people to the Covenant. “You are my people and I am your God”. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in the 6th century BCE is the event which is overshadowing the people who have turned away from the practices of their faith in relationship with the Divine to idolatry, and material concerns have overtaken the need for a relationship of peace and righteousness with humanity through intimacy with the Divine. Matthew’s Gospel, written for an audience of Jews, introduces the birth of Jesus as the dawning of the fulfillment of the promise of a Messiah who would lead the Hebrew people to return to great intimacy with God through the action of the Spirit which is evidenced in miraculous birth of a descendent of David who is the Son of God.

Genealogy Gentiles and the Messiah

The texts of the Roman Catholic lectionary today are presenting a path from Genesis to the Jesus; the Messiah who the psalmist anticipates will bring deliverance, righteousness and peace. The Messiah will be a descendant of David and a son of Abraham. Matthew writes as a Jew to his fellow Jews to present to them the evidence for Jesus' claim to be the King of the Jews. (Introduction to The Gospel of Matthew) Matthew presents the line of ancestors of Jesus to position Him as the long awaited Messiah. How important is Jesus lineage to Christians two centuries after Matthew’s appeal to people of his heritage. The texts and traditions which have come to Christianity from Judaism are rich in probing the relationship between Divine and humanity. The daily liturgies of Christianity resound with the prayer, joy and expectation of the Hebrew people. Linear time is a constraint of humanity. It is not a condition for the Divine. The Lord of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David is the God incarnate in humanity through Jesus. The line of time is a reminder of our limited status relative to the Divine. Nevertheless, God continues to invite all (of all time) to an intimate relationship through the indwelling Spirit.

You have turned my mourning into dancing

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today provide images of the desire of God to restore the relationship with the people of Israel who have been exiled and who are being encouraged by Isaiah to return to Jerusalem and their relationship with the Divine which will last even if the mountains should fall and the hills turn to dust. This passage is a reminder of the re-enactment of the destruction of Mount St Helens done by the US Geological Service where the mountain disappears before our eyes. On the side of the mountain at the observation station the missing mountain stands as witness to the awesome change in the landscape of Washington state. Luke presents Jesus discussion about John the Baptist, the witness to the restoration of intimacy with the Divine through the Messiah. It is similar to the description of Matthew read at the Mass for the third Sunday in Advent except that Luke states openly that the Pharisees and the lawyers has rejected God’s purpose for their lives. The spiritual journey which we are invited to embrace is to determine our identity and purpose relative to the intimate relationship with the Divine through which this discovery is revealed.

More Messengers from John the Baptist

The Lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church today uses the Gospel of Luke to pose the same questions posed on the 3rd Sunday of Advent form the Gospel of Matthew. On Sunday, the reader was able to compare the actions of Jesus in healing and showing compassion to the marginalized to the vision of Isaiah of the nature of life when the people of Israel returned “right” relationship with God. Isaiah in the texts for today emphasizes the authority and power of God Creator and Sustainer. It is tempting to reduce God to a soft cuddly support for the blue days. The call to faith is a call to trust that the all powerful and infinite Divine seeks a personal intimate relationship with humanity! The scandal is the evidence of the complete love and graciousness at the core of God and His creatures.

Second Thought a very good thing

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today set up choices to consider. The prophet Zephaniah contrasts those who will be exiled from Jerusalem with those who will remain and received Divine support in their struggle to restore the peace and righteousness of the community which once again hears and acts on the guidance of God. The psalmist appeals to all to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. We often decide on whether a particular choice or action is for us before we actually know much about it. Our reluctance to change our minds may be closing doors to a fuller life. Matthew tells the story of the choice of two sons concerning going into the field for their father. The change of heart of the first son is contrasted by Jesus to the decision by the establishment not to follow the marginalized as they hear of compassion and forgiveness in the prophesy of John the Baptist. The change of heart of the least appreciated members of society will lead them to the peace and righteousness of an intimate relationship with the Divine

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

The texts of the Roman Catholic lectionary today bring the challenges of dual thinking into consideration. The religious authorities in the excerpt from Matthew’s Gospel attempt to force Jesus to declare the source of His authority. He positions them in the tough position of choosing between two extreme positions. The strategy is often proposed to ‘solve problems”. The example of the Gospel shows that dual thinking often leads to no solution. Franciscan theologian Richard Rohr explores this method in his recent book “The Naked Now”.

Impulsive and Patient

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the third Sunday in Advent proclaim change and at the same time encourage patience. This combination is often totally frustrating. How often do we want to launch into the task, get the reward, be there now! It is a part of our nature which is important for our lives. Being alive is evidenced in our response to new opportunities and changes. The impulsive tendencies are in tension with patience. The text from the letter of James uses the growing cycle as an example of required patience. The impatient may tend to be concerned with today and living this minute with attention to others. The reward described by Isaiah to the Hebrews in exile in Babylon took years for realization. We know that the riches of healing and support for the poor and the end to war are still being patiently sought by faithful believers. Matthew uses the dialogue between Jesus and the disciples of John to indicate that the change which would make even the great prophet, John the Baptist, in the image of Elijah, the least in the Kingdom which was beginning to change the relationship between humanity and the Divine. Fr Larry Gillick SJ reflects on these themes from the Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Creighton University in St Louis. The waiting for Christmas which can be seen as an experience of the tension between impulse and patience is a gift to instruct our being in the understanding of our relationship with the Divine through the indwelling Spirit

Prophets Then and Now

The lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church presents texts about Elijah and John the Baptist. The prophet Elijah battled the attraction of the Israelites to practices out of step with their Covenant with God. The power of his actions against the evil and evil doers was awesome. The justice and righteousness of the Divine is anticipated as the action of the One who comes in the name of God. Matthew tells us that John the Baptist was the returning Elijah who precedes the King od the Jews, Jesus, the Messiah. Yet Matthew tells us that the King and the Messiah will, like John the Baptist, suffer persecution and death at the hands of the authorities who have missed the significance of the invitation to return to the Covenant primarily of forgiveness compassion and love. The justice and righteousness of proper relationships follow the living of love in the relationship

The Choice needs to be made

As the second week of Advent draws to a close, the Lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church offers texts which put the choice of Advent in front of us. Isaiah laments the state of the people of Israel who decided not to listen to the guidance of the Divine through listening to the indwelling Spirit. The psalmist offers the comparison of the choice between those who follow the advice of the wicked and those who hear the law of the Lord. Matthew offers the behaviour of the people of his generation (and every generation) as not seeing able to see the option for peace, joy and love which is evidenced before their eyes. The lessons of the evangelist include persistence. Peace, joy and love are visible to today’s generation when believers live the lives to which they are called and empowered to reach through the intimacy with the Divine.

The Greatness and the Goodness

The words of the Prophet Isaiah in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer help for the poor and needy people of Israel from the consolation and care of the Divine present to them as they return to an intimate relationship with God as a physical return to Jerusalem after exile in Babylon and as a spiritual homecoming to a personal relationship guiding their individual journeys. The psalmist reflects on the greatness and goodness of the God known by Israel as graciousness, faithfulness and compassion. Matthew’s Gospel enlightens our understanding of the role of John the Baptist as the Elijah figure expected to precede the messiah awaited by the Jewish believers. This Gospel is written as a Jew to his fellow Jews and Jesus is presented as the Messiah, King of the Jews.

A Birth existing for eternity

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is celebrated in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The texts are from Genesis and Luke. The Virgin Mary is the new Eve. The plan of the Divine “destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ” according to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is made flesh through the “yes” “‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word”. The recognizes the interaction of the temporal and the eternal in the celebration of the Mary’s conception as the immaculate being to carry the Promise to flesh. The Word is made flesh and dwells among us in a timeless existence. The entry of the Divine into the “time” and the intimacy of the contact is the joy of today’s liturgy

People of God Are Comforted

The themes of comfort and Judgement are present in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Isaiah speaks of the return of the people of God who have been in spiritual and physical exile to the relationship with the Divine which will be evidenced by the richness of the path travelled in company of God. He speaks of the care of God for the people as like a shepherd carrying the lambs. The psalmist praises the equity, truth and judgement of the Divine in relationship with the people. The life in the influence of these qualities of God will be marvellous and joyful. Matthew uses the image of sheep and shepherd to convey through Jesus teaching that each person is the concern of the Divine Shepherd. The search is always in progress to find and call the lost back to the flock where rejoicing will accompany their return.

Faith in Forgiveness

The theme of forgiveness is running through the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The scribes and the Pharisees are questioning Jesus authority to forgive sins in the Gospel from Luke. Jesus is drawing crowds and Luke records that the power (from God) to heal was upon Him. The story reveals the faith of the friends of the paralyzed man to work in an extraordinary way to bring the man to Jesus. Isaiah continues to reveal that we need to expect the action of the Divine in our lives to be extraordinary. The limiting factors are within us. The decision to be absent from the Presence of the Divine through selfish choices (also known as sin) is ours. Hopefully the faith of our friends can literally carry us when we only see our afflictions.

The Proclamation of Conversion

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the 2nd Sunday in Advent are themed today around the topic of conversion. Isaiah creates the image of the peaceful kingdom, which is a fruit of conversion, where the lion and lamb lie down together. The psalmist looks to the time when the righteousness of God is evident in the lives of the people. Paul proclaims that the Good News which he is called to deliver is news of communion with the divine for all humanity. The most observant Pharisee of them all is inspired to know the invitation to intimacy with God is not just for the Jews but is from the Jews to the Gentiles. Matthew tells of the preaching of John the Baptist, who was the immediate predecessor of Jesus, calling for the opening of the people to conversion through abandonment of the practices of self aggrandizement.

Healing the helpless and harrassed

The theme of healing after adversity is in the texts of the Roman Catholic lectionary today. The prophet Isaiah sees a time when the relationship of the people of Israel with God brings great fruit. The consequence of developing this relationship with the Divine will be the peace which comes from the ability to see the bigger picture and to look beyond the adversity and trial of today with the faith which encourages trust in the plan of God and a desire that His will be done. The psalmist praises the gracious action of God to the people in gathering outcasts and healing the wounded. Matthew makes it clear in his Gospel that the healing and the spreading of peace to the harassed and helpless is the mission of Jesus and those who are called to labour in the fields where the harvest is plenty and the labourers few. The season is one of expectation the Liturgies of the Church help us to become involved in the continuous expectation of Emmanuel “God is with us”.

Hope for the Future

The prophet Isaiah offers an very hopeful view in the texts of the Roman Catholic lectionary today. He writes “And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction”. It seems that these two characteristics of human nature cause many obstacle to the development of intimacy between people. This intimacy is the promise of the growth of the intimacy between the indwelling Spirit and the Divine. The psalmist proclaims that “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”. Matthew’s Gospel tells of two blind men who followed and waited for Jesus to bring them new sight. We often need new insight. How do we heal our errors in spirit? How do I take courage and face the need for new sight? Follow, petition trust and wait!

The development of a relationship

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today have the theme of the means by which people develop their relationship with the Divine. Paul ponders the mystery of how people come to confess with their lips the communion they have encountered with God through Jesus. The exhortation to tell the world of the good news is echoed by the psalmist who hints that using words may not be as important as action by the faithful. The calling of the first disciples is recounted in Matthew’s Gospel. It was the personal attractiveness of Jesus invitation which had Peter, Andrew, James and John leave their work to join His Company. The indwelling Spirit informs the life of the faithful and the fruit of this Life in the Spirit is attractive and draws the Spirit in others to develop increased intimacy with God.

The past is history the future is mystery

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today begin the season of Advent. The new liturgical year begins for the Church. The Book of Isaiah creates the picture of that time when the tribes of the Earth will come together drawn to the mountain of the Lord where they will learn to beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Today this time appears distant and the yearning of the faithful for the time envisioned by Isaiah is strong. Matthew relates the episode where Jesus is instructing the disciples about the certain coming of the “end times”. Fr Larry Gillick, SJ, compares the instruction of Jesus to the announcement to a class in school or college that the test will be coming. (Gillick SJ, 2010) This always seems to generate questions about the timing and nature of the examination. The ability to live in expectation of the second coming prepared to trust in the faith which has grown through the living of the intimate relationship with the Divine is the gift of Jesus to us at Christmas. The gift may be received at any time. It is never refused or revoked. The teacher suggests that anxiety about the test or confusion about the test contents are not required for those who have kept up with the daily work of the course. The daily life in the Way of intimate relationship with the Divine is the reassurance that the time seen by Isaiah is in the future for humanity.

Gillick SJ, L. (2010, November 28). Daily Reflections. Retrieved November 2010, 2010, from Creighton University Online Ministries : http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html

The Coming of the Son of Man

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are appropriate for the ending of the liturgical year this week. The end times are presented as being preceded by a time in which the evil and the injustice which has dwelled in human society will meet the judgement of God. That judgement is described as being evidenced by the destruction of cities. The remaining faithful who endure the trial will witness the restoration of intimacy of humanity and Divinity. The destruction of evil and the triumph of good is necessary. The final outcome is the “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19: 9) will live in that blessing. The important thing is that all are invited to the intimacy which is described as the marriage supper. No one need miss the “the Son of Man coming in a cloud”.

Plagues Praise and Persecution

The texts from the Roman Catholic lectionary today pose questions about discipleship. The imagery of the Book of Revelation takes the reader from visions of great struggle and today the hint of the last of many plagues visited upon people. This contrasts with praise to God for glorious action and judgement. The psalmist also praises the victory of God and the faithfulness to Israel which is seen in the judgement of the Divine. The Gospel of Luke gives us Jesus teaching that persecutions will be endured by those following His Way and the indwelling Spirit will provide in communion with the Divine the words to address the persecutors. The battle between good and evil is not mythical. It is raging continuously as a part of our being and the nature of human frailty. We can rejoice in the daily victories over self and in the anticipation of a greater “New Jerusalem” for those who endure and are “washed clean in the blood of the Lamb”.( Revelation 7.14)

Destruction of Our Temple

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are not historical records. The imagery of the Book of Revelation provides mush fuel for the imagination to explore the sense of a Divine harvest of the fruit of the earth. The psalmist imagines the earth responding with great praise to the return of the Lord for judgement. The judgement of God is a characteristic that we expect of the Divine. The “good” will have their day is a sentiment that is perhaps too over desired by the faithful. Our understanding of the judgement of God is dim. The imagery we rely on is open to much interpretation. The “prediction” of the end times including the destruction of the Temple in Luke’s Gospel is confused by the likelihood that the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (70CE) was likely complete when the Gospel was written. The Temple which risks or is destroyed is the Temple we are... of the indwelling Spirit. This destruction of the inner Temple is as frequent as wars, hurricanes, earthquakes and storms... a daily or weekly occurrence. The great change in the faith of the Hebrew people which was precipitated by the actual Temple raising by the Romans is significant. The faith of Christians that the inner Temple, though destroyed is able to be re-built through the abundant and ever available mercy and forgiveness of God.

The Widow Offering All

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today raise the question of Who are the worthy ones? Christians recall that Paul exclaims that “All have sinned... All have fallen short”. From this point of view, we are all unworthy. Our worthiness is not the issue. The intimate relationship with the Divine is offered to all. The worthy and the unworthy together are invited to intimacy. Those who live in the power and influence of the relationship with the Divine show a measure of the actions of the “worthy” to which we aspire. The Book of Revelation today is not a text to be taken literally. Some groups who interpret the text literally have been distressed by the number 144,000. The understanding of the worthy virgins also may be a difficult qualification for some. The sense behind the imagery is that there are qualities of righteous people. The psalmist continues to describe some of these virtues. These are targets for the faithful to struggle towards. The impact of our growth is not accounted in human measures. Luke points to Jesus presentation of the widow as the example of the faithful follower who has given (and received) much.

an experience for others to witness

The last Sunday before Advent is the time for the Christian Church to celebrate Christ as King. The Lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian Lectionaries select the description of Luke of Jesus dying on the cross and the dialogue which passes between the “King” and those who are attending to these final moments of human life for Christ. This scene is in sharp contrast to the understanding we have of king even today, when monarchy appears in the press when there is a wedding or scandal to observe. Fr Larry Gillick, SJ discusses the meaning of the “King on a cross” and explains that Jesus is now and then “an experience for others to witness”. (Gillick SJ, 2010) What do Christians display when they live the exhortation of Jesus to be ‘salt of the earth’. Paul proclaims Jesus kingship to the Colossians and we hear that the Will of God which Jesus lives is to reconcile to God all things and bring peace through the blood of the cross. Today, Christians who have accepted the invitation to intimacy with the Divine through the indwelling Spirit are called to bring that reconciliation and peace wherever we are called to live. Martin Warner, writing in the Anglican journal, the Church Times, describes how the familiar strangers in society, postal workers and garbage collectors, bring a regular point of contact to people in a disconnected society. (Warner, 2010) The mission of the King and for the King is to be the human Body of Christ in the world and to reconcile, bring peace and witness as salt in world seeking a flavour of love, hope and faith. Nicky Gumbel, presenter of the Alpha Course series of videos in understanding Christ and Christianity, emphasizes the mission of Christians to be salt and light and allow others to see Jesus, the King, in the everyday acts of people attempting to live the will of God.

Gillick SJ, L. (2010, November 20). Daily Reflection. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from Creighton University's On Line Ministries: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112110.html

Warner, M. (2010, November 19). This Sunday's Readings Christ the King. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from Church Times: http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=104062

The Question about the Resurrection

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today bring reflection on a few aspects of the journey to live our full potential in communion with the Divine. The imagery of the Book of Revelation describes the struggle between good and evil and even though the struggle is intense and the end looks like defeat for good, the resurrection of good in the company of the Presence restores the rule of the Divine. The psalmist appeals to God to prepare the people for the time of struggle which is called war. The ongoing wars on the planet seem to indicate that we will always have violent confrontations. The goal of the swords being beaten into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks, as proclaimed by Isaiah, seems far off. The theme of success after struggle may be more valuable to consider continuing faith in Providence. Luke tells of Jesus discussion with the Sadducees about the ‘rules’ surrounding resurrection. Jesus defeats their argument and exhorts us to maintain the faith which has sustained the relationship since ancient times.

Sweet Jesus Cleanses the Temple

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today might be described as “sweet”. This slang word was popular a few years ago. It is used today to describe the reaction of people to the Word and guidance of the Divine. The experience of the intimacy of Divine reassurance and affirmation is difficult to put in words. Images like those in the Book of Revelation help. The poetry of the psalms gets the sense of “sweet” and the action of Jesus, described by Luke, as He clears the Temple evokes the “sweet” assessment from the faithful.

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today have an air of disappointment and perhaps despair that the Promise of the Covenant and the Free Gift of intimacy are being ignored or rejected by the people for whom it was attended. John’s vision in the Book of Revelation questions how the gift will be distributed without a worthy entity to be the instrument of God’s gracious providence. The Lamb or Christ is found worthy to be the agent of intimacy with the Divine through complete adherence to the will of the Father that all barriers be destroyed between Creator and creatures. The psalmist is in praise of the joy given to the assembly of the faithful who continue to live in the Promise of the Divine. Luke shares Jesus concern that the destruction of Jerusalem will be the marker of a people who failed to appreciate the invitation to life from God.

Praise for God Surpassing Greatness

The texts in the Roman Catholic lectionary today position the Divine relative to humanity. The response in Revelations and from the psalmist is praise. The refusal of the human to recognize the position of the Divine and to ignore the appropriate response and to move in the awe with praise and thanksgiving to attempt to follow the Divine guidance may lead to disaster. The path of understanding and enlightenment involves action and movement. Christians are aware of the intimate invitation to accept the relationship of ‘God is with us” in the resonance of our Spirit with the Divine Spirit

Listen I am standing at the door

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today speak of the invitation to be in an intimate relationship with the Divine. This will be a life changing experience. The author of Revelations paints the image of Christ standing at the door knocking. The decision is ours. Jesus travels through Jericho in the account from Luke’s Gospel. The chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, and Roman Collaborator desires to see Jesus and because of his short stature climbs a tree along the path Jesus is travelling. Jesus calls him from the tree and invites Himself to dinner with Zacchaeus. The tax collector accepts and vows to change his life and repay his debts. The lukewarm and those who have not been washed in the blood of the lamb are standing back outside the intimacy and outside the grace for life change. The psalmist predicts the life changing consequences of the decision to walk with the Lord. Truth, honesty and generosity are virtues of the committed which are supported by an intimate relationship with the Divine

Try not to bind the power

The main thing emphasized in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is that we not get distracted from the Way by secondary or tertiary concerns. The mission of John in Revelations is to restore the fundamental practice of Christians to the seven churches. That characteristic is that “they should know us by our love”. The Christian who has replaced love with judgement or rule making is in need of repentance. The psalmist advises that the company we keep impacts the attitude we have to others. The law of love requires that we not be scoffing, cynical and wicked. Our impact on those who live in these states must be to attract them to love by love. Jericho was a place accursed in Hebrew tradition. Healings were prohibited in the vicinity of that town. The love and mercy of the Divine is not bound by place, time or any temporal boundary. Our actions must not try to bind this power.

Aware and on guard

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today advise that we should be aware of the great gift we have in the intimacy with the Divine from which we receive the very strength of God to be lovers of all. The “laws” of God, understood in the broadest sense, are those practices and behaviours which bring and intensify the intimacy we have through our indwelling Spirit with the transcendent being of Divinity. The Gospel of Luke reminds that the “end” can come upon us suddenly. Our decision to flee the disaster is the same decision to flee those occasions in which the relationship we have with Father, Son and Spirit is threatened. The temptation to stay, remain calm and “take a look” may engulf us in the event which stimulates initially but robs us of the gifts of love, patience, humility, peace, righteousness and communion with God .

The LORD sets the prisoners free

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today have freedom as a theme. Paul writes about Onesimus who has been ministering to and with him during his imprisonment for the Gospel. On the return of Onesimus to Philemon, Paul pleads that he may be received as a brother rather than as a slave. The “freedom” is delayed and it comes after faith and hope have been a daily part of the live with Paul. The psalmist proclaims the nature of Divine Providence to set the prisoners free. The Gospel of Luke continues the revelation of the Kingdom of God in the intimate relationship with the Divine which is marked by the complete giving of Jesus to humanity. The wait will include the passion and death of Jesus humanity and the release of humanity to freedom in communion with the Divine.

Life in intimate communion

The impact of life with the intimacy of the indwelling spirit and the Divine is illustrated in the letter in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today from Paul to Titus. The arguments and distain of the former life can be replaced by the understanding of the great mercy experienced in intimate communion with the Divine. The fruit of that relationship is the extension of the grace mercy of God to others. The ways in which we are bound by convention and law are shown in Luke’s Gospel as Jesus raises the question of why only the Samaritan of the ten lepers healed returned with thanksgiving to God for the mercy shown. The ability to live the relationship praised in the 23rd psalm is the place of faith and hope in our lives.

Temples that are temporal and eternal

The liturgy today celebrates the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. This building for the gathering of Christians dates back to the 4th century after Emperor Constantine permitted Christians to celebrate their religion in the Empire. The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary highlight the “life giving “ nature of the faithful community when it gathers in the “temples” of stone and wood. The “Living Temples” of the indwelling spirit are celebrated by Paul as the source of our intimacy with the Divine. The “temple” cleansed by Jesus in John’s gospel is prophetic of the power of intimacy with Jesus, through the Spirit, to cleanse our “temples” or earthen vessels.

Guidelines in promoting Good

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today offers texts with advice for practical problems in ministry. Paul writes to Titus to offer some guidelines for the selection of Bishops to lead the faith in communities. The contrast between the portrait of the suitable bishop and the apparent group of misfits that Jesus selected as Apostles is a lesson in selection. The eyes of the Divine see the human state in a different way. “God’s ways are not our ways” is a saying which introduces the selection of “Jesus sayings” from Luke’s Gospel. The gravity of being an obstacle to the development of the intimate relation with the Divine is outlined. Luke is clear to indicate both the responsibility of the disciple to rebuke community members for stumbling and to always be prepared to forgive and receive them back into community. The enterprise of being the servant of the people of God requires faith that trusts that Divine Providence will guide and redeem our motions to be harmonious in the Grand Symphony of the mystery of Life.

Living which is seen as a threat

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary reveal that the faithful have persecutors. The message portrayed by the lives of those who live in relationship with the Divine is apparently threatening to others, who perhaps are taken over by spirits of evil bolstered by false understanding of the nature of our existence and the false need to gratify our lusts and ambitions to satisfy the hunger of ego. The encounter of Jesus with the Sadducees over the person who is married in the eternity is addressed by referring the questioners to the tradition of the relationship between God and the patriarchs. Distraction is also a technique to avoid focus on the main question of living the intimate relationship with the Divine for eternity. Standing firm in the practice of your beliefs requires strength and courage. A play on Tomkinsville which presents the story of Father Jimmy Tomkins of Reserve Mines Cape Breton who worked to close the gap between rich and poor before WW2 through the actions of education and cooperation which became known as the Antigonish Movement. The privileged and the powerful push back when popular movements attempt to establish social justice.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today continue the theme of the relationship of the Disciple to wealth. Paul proclaims that the relationship he has with Christ has strengthened him to live in all circumstances. Paul has professed to the Philippians in earlier parts of this letter that he values all as rubbish in comparison to the relationship he has with the Divine. The psalmist reminds that the life of the righteous person is marked by justice and fair dealing. The Gospel from Luke suggests that there are no circumstances where the investment of disciples in spreading the Good News is unwise. The message is for all and those who are faithful in less significant practices will be faithful to greater movements. The faithfulness to ‘worthy endeavours” may be suspect in those who neglect the “lesser” activities.

Losing the search for the lost

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today have an underlying consideration for value. Paul tells the Philippians of how the value he puts in the things of the world and the flesh have bee reduced to nothing in comparison to the value he puts in his relationship with Christ. We have some human experiences which allow us to get close to understanding Paul’s attachment to Christ. Our experience of loving relationships is the basis to explore the possibility of love greater than our experience to date for which all else counts as nothing. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus raises the value question for the religious authorities. The Laws which prohibit actions to help the misfortunate on the Sabbath are perhaps adjusted to allow action which might impact on personal wealth. The examples of the care to search for the missing coin or the wayward sheep are examples more of the Divine concern for all regardless of their value to the world than actual examples of action of most people, especially today who would “cut their losses” and not spend time and energy to return the low valued goods.

Holding the Ideas in Tension

Harsh comments to show the truth


The words in the Gospel text from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today seem harsh. Luke is presenting Jesus discussion on the cost of Discipleship. On the journey along the spiritual path to intimacy with the Divine, we encounter many contradictions and paradoxes. These are not easy for human understanding. Perhaps our evolution has created a need to resolve cognitive dissonance. We are urged both to plan and to put our faith (as in deep trust) in Divine Providence. Paul has celebrated the unity of the Philippians within the Body of Christ and today urges them to look to the God within for direction as to the Divine will and pleasure. The full immersion in the Life of the Disciple requires the practice of holding in tension apparently contradictory concepts. The rush to dismiss what is difficult closes down the growth being offered. Richard Rohr, Christian theologian and Franciscan philosopher writes in the Naked Now of the need to reject dualism in thinking to embrace the fullness of understanding.

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

The liturgy today is for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary reflect the faith based on trust and intimate experience with the Divine that the relationship of Father to children and of Creator to creature is eternal. The delight of the Divine in those created in His image is not temporal. The teaching of Jesus through John’s Gospel is that those who die with Jesus will bring much life through Jesus. The Mystical Body of Christ which includes those living in the present and those “who have gone before” into the eternal is celebrated daily as the primary community to which we belong. Job proclaims “For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;

and after my skin has been thus destroyed,

then in my flesh I shall see God,”

Saints Today

The Texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today outline the liturgy for the Solemnity of All Saints. Who are the saints? The Gospel from Matthew is the Beatitudes. The Saints live as Beatitude people. The Saints are also very aware of Divine mercy and forgiveness. It is the experience of the relationship they have with the Divine. The living of the thanksgiving for the delight the Divine expresses in their being, is seen in the images from Revelation. The Saints are those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb

Intimacy provokes change

The author of the Book of Wisdom and the psalmist in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary agree on the nature of the Divine as abounding in steadfast love (for all creation). The Prayer of Paul for and to the Thessalonians speaks of being worthy of the call of God. Luke tells the story of jesus encounter with the tax collector Zacchaeus. He was despised by his community for collecting taxes and getting rich working for the Roman occupiers. Jesus calls this apparently unworthy person and invites him to the intimacy of a visit to his house. Fr Larry Gillick SJ reminds us that intimacy with Jesus brings change. The tax collector repents and makes restitution for his sins. The feast of All Saints, the eve of which is observed as Halloween, is the day where we reflect on the lives of the Saints who dropped their masks and disguises as they became intimate with the Divine through Jesus.

Service and Humility

The texts of the Roman Catholic lectionary today share two attitudes that are characteristic of those who are on the journey to greater intimacy with the Divine. The joy of Paul, expressed in his letter to the Philippians, that his life is the life with Christ and as long as he is in service to Christ, that life may be now in the time or it may be after death in the eternity. Death has no power over Paul. Jesus indicates again in Luke’s Gospel that the blessed are humble.

Gratitude generosity and graciousness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are full of praise for the actions which reveal the glory and compassion of God. Paul expresses the “attitude of gratitude” for the relationship he has experienced with the people of Philippi. He expresses thanksgiving and confidence that their love will be evidence of the righteousness of the Way they are following to intimacy with the Divine. The psalmist observes how the glory of the Divine is revealed in the generosity and graciousness to the people. The response is to praise God. Luke continues to present Jesus taking action to be the compassion of God only to have the authorities criticize him for going beyond what is permitted by the Law. Jesus hints that “going beyond the Law” is not so uncommon among his critics. The issue that traps many humans in the relationship with the Divine is control. We have a very strong desire to maintain it. There is an obstacle to our growth.

Special Tasks to Serve the Body

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today illustrate the nature of the human organization of the followers of Christ. Paul has instructed the Ephesians in their role as the living body of Christ. This living structure which is infused with the indwelling sprit of its members rests on the foundation of the prophets and apostles. Luke documents Jesus selection of twelve disciples who would become the Apostles. In prayer ,Jesus comes to the selection as the action of the Trinity, inspiration of the Spirit, will of the Father and action of the Son come together to call the twelve to special roles. The special role is to support and serve the structure which at best works to implement the will of the Father, inspired by the Spirit and reconciled through the Son. The mission and movement of this group is possible at its best without personal agenda, pride and power. The last shall be first operates as a direction and a consequence of this group

The Happiness from Reverence and Respect

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today describe the qualities and evidence of the fruit of life in Christian households. Paul exhorts the Ephesians to “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ”. The concept of being subject is not easily understood in Western experience. The decision to be a disciple of Christ and a member of the living Body of Christ is a decision to accept the Way of Christ for our lives. The intimacy of the relationship with the Divine, through Christ is the awe and power and the source of our knowledge of our unworthiness. Our position is to be subject to the unbalanced love of this union of creature and Creator. The comprehension that the experience of the Divine by the individual is not only the experience to which all individuals are invited, but the Body formed by those individuals as a sacred community is the Body of Christ. The reverence accorded to Christ is to be extended to all members of the Body. The fruit of living in this understanding is proclaimed by the psalmist as the “Happy Home of the Faithful”. The small seed of being subject to others brings to life the full size plant as servant to others. The small of leaven of respect and reverence for others makes a great deal of difference in a community or family.

Direction of Distraction

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary present messages similar to the psalmist today “do not follow the advice of the wicked”. It is a frequent temptation to listen to and act on the apparently rational and often legal advice of the people who scorn, scoff and dismiss the Life which is led by intimacy of the indwelling Spirit with the Spirit of the Divine. In the conscience informed by the intimacy with God is the spiritual resource to see the Way and to bypass the distractions fuelled by our pride, ego, lust, idolatry and self gratification. Paul reminds the Ephesians about the obvious truth that unity with the Body of Christ is not found in the direction of distraction. Luke’s Gospel reveals how Jesus ignores the advice of the legal authorities concerning healing on the Sabbath to do the will of the Father.

Adult Decisions and Spriitual Growth

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are encouraging believers to move to mature levels in their lives in the Body of Christ. Paul reminds the Ephesians and us that we have been gifted by the Spirit for service to the Body of Christ. The adult exercise of this gift is the path to deeper understanding of the mystery that is our relationship with the Divine. Luke’s Gospel, through Jesus examples and the parable of the barren fig points out to us that we should not delay in our movement toward holiness. We are spared the circumstances of living which may seriously threaten our growth. Jesus, the gardener, will continue to offer us the nourishment we require for growth.

Unity and Tension

The advice in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today seems to be wide ranging. The pattern which runs through it is that we sometimes fail to use the senses and ability we have to process and act on the obvious. We question the simple action not because we don’t understand it but because the simple straight forward approach may be a set back to our pride and ego which perhaps expected a tougher policy or paradigm would apply to a stronger better person. The simple truth is simple. The gifts of the Spirit are to maintain the unity of the Body of Christ.  Empowered by the Spirit the many diverse “Christians” can maintain a “tension of diversity” which keeps the many forms and possibilities of the intimacy with the Divine available to all. The signs of the time often point in a direction which involves our acceptance of living in awareness of others. This path will help us to seek the “clean hands and pure hearts” which according to the psalmist are necessary to enter the Temple of God.

Come to bring fire

The text today from Luke’s Gospel in the Roman Catholic Lectionary initially seems to be a contradiction of Jesus message of peace and love. Looking around at the conflict which surrounds the battle between secularism and spirituality and the debates between fundamentalist and atheist there  is truth in the observation that division results from the consideration of the Good News of an intimate relationship with the Divine. The text points to these divisions occurring within the family unit. When the debate is distant, in the media, it can be treated as “news’. The discussion within families can be divisive and ironically the efforts to maintain the dialogue can be seen as “Christian action”. Richard Rohr, the Franciscan theologian, might see the necessary tension between concepts as the only path to move forward in understanding. The other point of view is never won over by argument or force. The opening of the mind to possibilities is the first step in conflict resolution. The possibilities of the life in communion with the Divine are expressed eloquently in Paul’s prayer from the letter to the Ephesians which is the first text for today.

The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate the gift of an intimate relationship with the Divine. Paul praise God that he is the servant of the Word and Will of God bringing Good News of the inclusion of all in the family of God to all he can contact. Isaiah praises the source of life he knows in the intimate relationship with the” Holy One of God in our midst”. In the Gospel from Luke, we hear the caution that the experience of the intimacy with the Master make us knowledgeable of the Will of the Master. Our decision to act contrary to this Will is serious betrayal.

Watch for the Opportunity

Paul addresses the Ephesians in one text from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. He tells them that they are a great living structure. He presents the image of a building containing God with Jesus at the cornerstone. The Body of Christ is the community of indwelling Spirit that serves to be Divine presence. Luke exhorts the servants of Christ to be watchful for the return of the intense understanding of Jesus presence and to be prepared to enter into that experience. The idea that there are watchful slaves who will be able to enter into the delight of the Master predicts that there are less watchful people who will likely miss the occasion or pass through it without experiencing the intensity of Divine Presence in that event. The knock will come to the door. Will we hear it?

Hanging in There

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contain a theme of “hanging in there”. The “personal instructions” in Paul’s second letter to Timothy indicate that Paul has been abandoned by quite a few friends. Luke is still with him. The work of the “labourers in the field” often involves “hanging in there”. Tradition has it that Paul was a difficult person to live with. The tendency to “move on” when the difficulties set in is not the approach that Jesus is directing his workers to follow in Luke’s Gospel. The worker stays in one place and receives the gifts of the community. The adoption of the attitude to “hang in” opens the door to new understanding of our call to intimacy in the Body of Christ.

Brother Andre’, the Millennium Generation and practice of faith

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today features texts with surprising twists. The Book of Exodus tells of Israel’s success over an enemy army by the apparently unrelated act of Moses holding up his arms as he sought the intervention of God. The letter of Paul to Timothy exhorts him to use Scripture for teaching and to be persistent rather than being caught up in scheduling, strategizing and planning. Persist in the action is the message in Luke’s Gospel as the persistent widow finally gets justice for the corrupt judge. Jesus comments on the relationship of this persistence to faith. Faithfulness is evidenced in persistence. Who “practices the faith”? The faithful grow in faith and understanding through persistent practice. The amazing story of Brother Andre, the door keeper of St Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, who today is canonized as St Andre Besette, sought to enter studies with the religious order at St. Joseph’s Oratory and they “showed him the door”. From this place at the door, he brought healing, compassion and love to thousands. The great diversity, openness and social ability of the Millennium Generation as they move through their education to the work force generates hope that the problems of the world will fall to capable hands. The model of Brother Andre will offer the patience and faithfulness to complement the energy of youth.

Prayer of Paul

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today begin with the prayer of Paul for the Ephesians that the spirit of God would continue to give them the wisdom and the revelation to know the glorious inheritance to which they are called. The movement of the Spirit invites us to come to know. This growth is ongoing. Great movement may be experienced or steady change may be the pattern. The openness to this change is the key. Luke’s Gospel echoes the power of the Spirit to bring strength to the faithful when required. The power of the movement of the Spirit in our relationship with God, places abuse of that power in the category of a serious blaspheme.

Knowing Our Place

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today point to one of the tensions in the pursuit of the journey to intimacy with the Divine. Paul reassures us that we have the inheritance of kinship with Jesus and the life with the Holy Spirit becoming living praise to God. At the same time as the psalmist tells us of the love of God for the righteous and just and that evidence of the love of God is everywhere in the world, the writer reminds us of the distance between heaven and humanity. The Gospel of Luke contains warnings against hypocrisy. The righteousness we may flaunt through practice of piety needs to be based in the knowledge that even though “all have sinned” and “all have fallen short”, God is faithful to the relationship and Jesus exhorts us to fearlessness in the living of our relationship to the Divine.

Not under our control

The Gospel of Luke in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today describes the building hostility of the Pharisees and lawyers to Jesus as He points to the hypocrisy and devious ways in which they have controlled others and have given surface attention to the tradition and the Covenant with the Divine. The psalmist has the spirit of awe and joy in the understanding of the richness to the people of maintaining faithfully the relationship with God. Paul explains to the Ephesians that the life of the Spirit which they are experiencing has been the will of the Divine for them for all time. The controls and conditions which humanity attempts to put on the infinite and eternal are futile acts of fear. The intimacy of children of God is the position in which the Spirit will resonate with the Divine.

The Fruit of the Spirit

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law (Galatians 5:18)

The texts in the Roman Catholic lectionary today challenge us to be in touch with the indwelling Spirit which informs our conscience and our behaviour. The intimate relationship to which we are invited with the Divine offers the “Law” that is written in our being. When we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we are moving towards holy and wholly existence. The legalism of our time, and as Luke shows, of Jesus time, so often offers the surface of propriety but can be a shield to avoid compassion, forgiveness, peace, solidarity and love because it is not required “by the Law”.

Looking around thankfully

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today speak to the freedom that Paul proclaims as one of the gifts of the intimate relationship with the Divine. The son of Abraham, Isaac, who was Sarah’s son, is the son of the free woman. The birth of Isaac, when Sarah was very old, was one path through which the promise to Abraham of many descendents would be fulfilled. Tradition suggests that this special birth was not difficult but free from distress. The psalmist proclaims that the Lord God is to be praised for His help to the needy. He frees the poor and needy. Luke tells of the insistence of the religious authorities for a sign of Jesus divinity. The power of God acting through Jonah to restore Ninevah and the discovery of the “Queen of the South” of the Divine inspiration of Solomon in his wisdom were the signs that Jesus invited his questioners to “see” through reflection on his forgiving and teaching ministry. The “signs” can often be right before our eyes. We can practice “Thanksgiving” and when we look up we will see many signs of the relationship with Divine love already present to us.

Compassion Gratitude and the Rules

A commentary on the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today suggests that Luke’s Gospel contains two stories about Good Samaritans. Today Luke tells us that Jesus healed ten lepers and the only one to return and express gratitude to God was the Samaritan. The commentator suggests that both this act of a “good” person and the actions of the more widely known “Good Samaritan” were enabled for the one outside Jewish culture and tradition because the laws about avoiding the unclean and adhering to “Temple practice” did not encumber him. The priest, Levite and Jewish lepers perhaps placed the observance of the Law before compassion and gratitude. The psalmist reminds us of the love and faithfulness of God throughout the ages. What is the proper response to this love and faithfulness? Paul advises Timothy that living the life of Christ has been his life giving response to the faithful love of the Divine. Action speaks louder than words.

There is no longer Jew or Greek

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort the freedom from the Law that being baptized in Christ meant to Paul. The exhortation of Paul is that all are members of the Body of Christ and that the difference between Greek and Jew, slave and free, male and female have been removed. Some observations of Christianity may suggest that this lack of difference has yet to be realized in areas such as ordained ministry within the Roman Catholic Church. The call to ordained ministry has gone out to females in the other Christian Churches. This invitation of the Spirit to minister is a sacred and Divinely blessed vocation. Luke’s Gospel proclaims that the mother of Jesus was truly blessed in the uniquely female actions which only she could share with Him. This is true. Jesus expands the understanding of blessedness to those who hear the Word and act on it. There is great agreement among Christians in the understanding of Divine Presence in the lives of humanity. For the central community action of Christians, the Celebration of the Eucharist, there is not uniform agreement around Divine Presence. The hands of the priest in the Roman understanding are the instruments of God’s action in being Present in the form of bread and wine. The call to this mystical priestly service of the Body of Christ may be the difference. Acting on the Word and the mission to sanctify the world is the call to all Christians. All Christians are invited to the freedom proclaimed by Paul. All are members of the living Body of Christ.

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today push us to accept that we are spiritual beings. We are living in the present yet our ancestors and our grandparents influence our attitudes and customs. Paul reminds the Galatians that the patriarch Abraham is influencing their relationship with God as the mission of the presentation of the Promise to the Gentiles was being fulfilled in their reception of the Good News. Humanity lives on a time line. Our existence is finite. The Eternal Divine is without time line. Past, present and future are meaningless. The intimacy with the Divine to which we are invited is a contact with timelessness. In thanksgiving, the psalmist proclaims “He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.” In the Gospel from Luke we are presented with the contradiction that the evil spirit which is driven from our lives as we contact with the Divine may return with a vengeance as the temporal and finite nature of our being longs for the creature comfort we have rejected.

Intimacy with the Divine

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today offers reminders that the status quo is not the goal and the next step in the journey may seem highly unlikely as we approach it but on reflection may be recognized as a response to an invitation to growth. Paul explains to the Galatians the highly unlikely situation that brought him to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles” from the position of great persecutor of the Way. The psalmist reflects that the very mystery of our being and the marvellous construction of our body is testimony to a plan and a direction beyond our human ability to comprehend which nevertheless is as intimate to us as our heart beat. How do you behave when the opportunity for intimacy with the Divine is sensed? The traditional tasks may be best set aside.  The transcendent God offers the opportunity to sit “at His feet”. Our response is neither predictable nor ordinary!

Not of this world

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the faith of Christians is not of this world. The perfection of God is praised by the psalmist. It is not the usual situation that the precepts which we hold are from the Divine. This is the Gospel. The Good News of forgiveness and compassion from the inspiration of the indwelling Spirit in relationship with the Divine. Paul indentifies the contact with the Divine as a revelation rooted in his relationship with Jesus. The legalism of the religious rulers of Jesus time demanded a clear definition of “neighbour”. Richard Rohr might suggest that they were trying to trap Jesus in duo mode thinking. This is right. This is wrong. However Jesus tells the parable of the Samaritan, sinner by the rules of heritage and culture, who proves to be the “neighbour” who the Law commands to love and be loved. It is not what we expect. It is not what we a comfortable with. It is not of this world!

How do we live in faith?

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ask the question about how we live. What are our expectations? What is our response to the fulfillment or the apparent failure to realize the expectations? The events in life may have biased our response to this question. We have almost always realized expectations or perhaps we have often been disappointed. The Prophet Habakkuk is advised to wait on God. The proud will be impatient. The misunderstanding of our place in the scheme of things may cause us to attribute more importance to our desires and will than it is best for our growth in the intimate relationship with the Divine. The ancients try to tell us that this is not a relationship between equals. It is a relationship initiated and maintained by God. It is the gift of delight in His creature. It is a journey to fulfillment of God’s will for us which faith in the unseen and faith beyond the limits of our senses is required. The full vision is not likely to be ours as it is far beyond the limits to which we can usually surrender our human nature but the vision and the promise of kinship with the Divine are revealed in the lives of those we encounter and within which we recognize the action of the Divine. Fr Larry Gillick picks up on the theme in Luke’s Gospel that entering the Kingdom will be a violent attack on our ego. Jesus delivers the faith we will need to surrender ego and be prepared to be “washed in the blood of the Lamb” not as heroes earning recognition and glory but as servants doing the will of the Master.

Faith and the Angels

The Texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today give us some insights from Scripture on the nature of angels. The task of leading the faithful in the path desired by God is given to an angel. The believers are advised to listen attentively to the instructions of the angel. The psalmist celebrates the protection of those undergoing trials by the angel of God. The faith of the humble is a gift through which the care of God for humanity is known. The passage from Matthew’s Gospel is assurance of the value of the least to thr Divine.

Job knows Immanence and Transcendence

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today cause reflection on both the immanence and transcendence of the Divine. Job has experience of the transcendent God who creates and changes the face of the earth and the immanent God who speaks personally to his faithful child. The psalmist praises the inescapable nature of the Divine. It is difficult to think of events and situations where the Divine Presence cannot be sensed or appreciated if only through the exercise of “breath awareness”. We resonate with Job that understanding of both our insignificance in the eternal infinite universe and personal intimacy with the Divine through the indwelling Spirit. Luke describes the consequences likely to befall those who rejected the evidence as Jesus made His journey to Jerusalem.

Faith that trusts beyond the senses

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today give accounts of the deep faith which believers are invited to live through the intimate communion of the indwelling Spirit with the Divine. Job retains the trust beyond the evidence of his eyes and senses that he will experience, in his words “in my flesh I shall see God”. This faith proclamation of Job and the praise of the psalmist are often part of the Resurrection Liturgy (funeral) in the Catholic tradition. The disciples are set out to bring the Good News in the passage from Luke. The faith to follow the prescribed and inspired instructions regardless of the human effort expended or the “pay-back” expected is the invitation to the disciples. The trust, faith and obedience work together in formation of the person to surrender, openness and freedom from pride and ego.

Awesome Wonders and the continuing Battle

There are at least two aspects of a relationship with the Divine which are eluded to by the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The Divine is the source of the awe and wonder which stops humans in their tracks and causes great cognitive dissonance and often physical response from emotions and locations as ancient as Creation. We are linked through the in dwelling Spirit to the awe of the mega and micro all around us. As we live the tension between Divine child and human ego we know the struggle between good and evil. We are conscious of those actions and movements which are towards others and which use Jesus as model. We also know the movements that are solely for personal gratification and preservation of our pride. The texts remind us that the victors have no self interest and have willing given all, including human life, to ensure the will of the Father is accomplished. The eternal questions are not easily resolved.

Reject the rejection

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invoke thoughts of the situation of rejection and how we handle it. Luke relates that Jesus disciples are enraged by the rejection of Jesus in Samaria as he heads to Jerusalem. The suggestion that the wrath of heaven be brought to bear is refused by Jesus who moves on to the next town. Job, a man with a deep relationship with the Divine finds himself at the point of despair for his very life. The complete story of Job is important. The despair is real and deep. Job too moves on and the message encourages us to put one foot in front of the other if that is all we can do.

Many phrases to ponder

There are many phrases in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary which provide seeds for reflection on the nature of the relationships between the Divine and humanity and the relationships between people. At the conclusion of the 1^st chapter of the Book of Job, after losing everything, Job proclaims ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ The texts in the Christian prayer, Liturgy of the Hours pose the paradox that we thank God for good things, should we not also thank Him for the bad? The thought that our total existence, good or bad is the gift of Divine love is a difficult meditation. Our ego centric nature often is blind to all the evidence that contradicts our presumption that “man created God” and somehow we are the master’s of our destiny. The apostles seek to control the healing power that is ministered through humans but is the power of the Spirit of God in communion with the sacred seed in all creatures.

Look around

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contain advice to avoid being complacent concerning our welfare particularly in a spiritual sense. Amos accepted the mission from God to speak to the powerful in Israel to exhort them to attend to the life of the people in the face of the threats from neighbouring peoples. The consequence became that they were taken in exile by the conquering army. The psalmist proclaims the preference of God for the widow and the orphan. As Luke shows in the Gospel account of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the poor and the people who live the real life have insight and wisdom to share. The wealthy are not aware of the needs they have to develop the spiritual self which delights in all as the indwelling Spirit reveals the world through Divine eyes

Youth Life and a Stumbling Block

The author of Ecclesiastes in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary writes “the breath returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:8). The end of life for Jesus, particularly, as the result of being betrayed into the hands of His enemies was difficult for His disciples to understand. The psalmist proclaims the understanding of the devote that the Almighty could “sweep them away... like a dream” The paradox, stumbling block, mystery of the temporal and the infinite, the human and the Divine coexisting while being in communion through the indwelling Spirit is are the questions which stumped the Apostles. They are still the questions which we try to answer today.

A Season for Everything

A Season for Everything


The Roman Catholic Lectionary brings some reflection on the cycles which people seem to repeat over and over again. People are like the seasons as the passage from Ecclesiastes reminds us. Tension is also part of the human experience. Cognitive dissonance describes that situation where there is a difference between what we understand and what we experience or attempt to input about an event or a situation. The apparent contradiction of a God of Love and the psalmist’s praise of the protector of Israel who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle encourages reflection. One option is to walk away from the tension and paradox. Peter faced the situation where the person who was the “Messiah” of Israel declares that He must suffer and die. The strong arm and mighty hand which had caused exodus from slavery in Moses time was to die as a human? The contradictions are not resolved by walking away. Peter stayed with the struggle.

Perplexed and Proud

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reveal that Herod was perplexed about the impact Jesus was having on the people. He appears confused between John who previewed Jesus message and was executed and Jesus. The subtle characteristics of people and their beliefs often escape our notice. There is a tendency to group them all together and try to explain traditions of belief and life which are often thousands of years old by a comment or a sentence.  The psalmist reflects that even the longest time we can imagine is only a brief moment in Divine time.  The passage from Ecclesiastes on vanity can be rephrased as a passage on pride. Our lack of a healthy humble perspective causes us to dismiss the most awesome elements of our existence as irrelevant to our needs. The understanding we attempt to seek with ourselves at the centre is truly distorted.

Authority over Demons

The Gospel from Luke in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today tells of Jesus giving the disciples authority over demons as He sends them on missions to bring His message to others. The text from Proverbs and the psalmist echo the desire for people to be free from the demons which draw us away from the intimate relationship offered through our indwelling Spirit with the Divine. The ongoing battle to focus on care of others (widows and orphans) over self and the discovery of our mission in the intimate relationship with God as opposed to our need to satisfy pride and indulge our inadequacies is a condition of life. We have an understanding that we could win more of the battles if we surrender to the invitation to be disciples of the mission today.

Maintaining the bond of peace

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer an alternate lifestyle and encourage us to maintain the bond of peace within the Body of Christ. The calling of Matthew in the Gospel is a sign to the religious orthodoxy of Jesus day that the traditional shunning of those considered sinners is not the understanding of the Divine that Jesus is going to support. The officials who would add this public demonstration to the list of offenses being committed by Jesus would eventually succeed in making the case to the Roman authorities that He be crucified. The response of the followers of Jesus to the real attempts to break the peace must be to forgive, forget and forge on.

The Conditions of Humility

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today raise questions and offer observations about the nature of God and truth which provide background for reflection on the execution of our daily relationships with others. The text from Proverbs and the psalmist reveal the preference of the Divine for the humble and generous person who conducts affairs mindful of neighbours and concerned about their point of view. The Gospel from Luke exhorts those who have come to know the path of life which is pleasing to the Divine to make it visible to the world. The apparent contradiction of showing or demonstrating a clearer vision while actually living humbly and peacefully with God and neighbour is resolved by the remarkable singularity that living humbly and simply is in our society.

Lessons from the texts need wide context

The texts today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite some study. Fr Larry Gillick SJ advises that the Gospel should be taken in the context of Luke’s Gospel theme of learning to live wisely with the gifts of God for us. He suggests that the distribution of wealth was an important message of Luke in contrast to the ‘wisdom’ of accumulating wealth. The ‘long term’ wealth for which we strive will prove to be fleeting and the friends who have a life in communion with the Divine will be there when the materialism disappoints. The psalmist praises the preference of the Lord for the poor who will be raised up. Paul exhorts the believers to continue to pray for those in leadership that the peace of prayer will encourage them to support a peaceful existence for all. Fr Larry recommends that Amos accounting of the failure of Israel by viewed in the context of his full mission of prophesy to Israel. A troubling impatience of modern times appears to be not to seek the full context of the events and issues in our lives. This impatience may be at the heart of the misunderstanding between Western attitude and the culture of other, often aboriginal, cultures.