Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time--Liturgical Cycle C

Reading I: Kings 19:16b, 19-21
Responsorial Psalm:Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Reading II: Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

Text of Lectionary Readings

Homily

Having celebrated the great seasons of our church’s Year of Grace—Advent, Nativity, Epiphany, Nativity, Epiphany, Lent, Easter Sundays, Trinity, Corpus Christi, and Pentecost—we now turn to the “Ordinary” Sundays of the year, which we remember being named “The Sundays After Pentecost.” The season’s assigned liturgical scripture readings are anything but “ordinary.” In fact, they are quite “extra-ordinary.” They are full of the presence of the Spirit of Jesus calling those who hear the Word to discipleship.

As we heard last Sunday, those who recognize the values preached by Jesus and accept a call to this New Way of life must deny their very selves, take up the task each day, and follow in his steps. The disciple who ascribes to God’s plan must walk the walk. As Luke develops the story of Jesus, he takes him on a journey up to Jerusalem and we, the listeners, join in step with Jesus and pass through this life into life forever in God.

Today’s Gospel presents several “Jesus sayings,” including one of my favorites. “Whoever puts their hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit for the reign of God.”

That’s such a picturesque way of saying, “Once you have committed yourself to Christ, made a decision for Christ, keep your eyes focused on the values of the Kingdom Come.”

There was a little Amish settlement on the Taylor/Casey county line not far from where I used to live when pastor of the Campbellsville Church. In fact, they used the road my home was on to drive their one-horse black buggies to and from the shopping centers in Campbellsville. This spring while driving in their neighborhood I caught sight of one from the community plowing his field. The scene put flesh on Jesus’ words today. Here is this immense field, maybe seventy-five acres, lying ahead of the farmer and he sets off with his mule and single plow to cultivate what must have seemed like an everlasting, exhausting task. His neighbor with his $85,000 John Deere (with its seven plow hitch) could do the same job in a couple of hours. But this Amish lad sets out to plow that ground row by row, never stopping until the land is ready for disking and seeding. What looks impossible becomes manageable one step at a time. I think that is what Jesus is saying to us: “One step at a time.”

Once we have made that decision for Christ, and set out to build the Kingdom with our gift of life, even though the crosses and the tasks look insurmountable, don’t look back, don’t hesitate, don’t falter, don’t quit, and eventually the task will be done and the harvest will be.

When I was an associate pastor with Fr. Tim at Holy Name back in the 1950’s, I recall a young husband and father who made a point of being at the 6:00 AM morning mass every day. Winter and summer, spring and fall, he never missed a weekday, even Saturdays. I was told by Fr. Tim that he had made a commitment the day he was married that he would take this time out for God in order that his marriage and family might be blessed. One day I talked to him about it and I’ll never forget what he said. “Father, at first I thought I was doing a great thing, fitting one hour of God into my life and family each day. But now, God has taken over and I find that my little life and family is instead being fitted into God.”

The guy had made a commitment and he stuck by it. He put his hand to the plow and never looked back. What starts out being a daily cross ends up being a daily resurrection to life. At our Baptism and each year at Eastertime we Catholics make a solemn commitment, a solemn decision for Christ and His Way of Life, his Values. We put our hand to the plow and with our eyes focused on Christ, we prepare the ground for the harvest which will be.

In the Courier-Journal Forum (6/28/92), I read a news item: “Creating Active Citizens,” by Dave Broder. It read,

Citizenship begins with commitment rather than expertise. Citizens do not need special preparation, advanced education or bureaucratic permits to get involved.

Neither do committed Catholics need anything special to get involved in the Kingdom.
--Fr. Pat

Excerpt from "A Catholic's Companion: Liturgical Cycle C" (c)2000 C. Patrick Creed
Published by Watchmaker Press. Maggie Hettinger, editor

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time--Liturgical Cycle C

Reading I: Isaiah 66:10-14c
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
Reading II: Galatians 6:14-18
Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
Texts of Lectionary Readings

Homily

Luke presents Jesus “on the road.” It is not a static figure but one “on the move,” this Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem. All along the way, Luke is presenting the teachings and the values of Jesus—values to which we, the believers, give a solid, absolute assent. We want those values in our lives, in the lives of our loved ones, in the way our society lives, in our world. We believe that these values are what establish peace and justice. And this is exactly what Jesus means when he speaks about the “reign of God” as he does in our gospel today: “The reign of God is at hand.”

When our countrymen gathered at Independence Hall on this date in 1775 and signed their names to that grand document and launched our liberty, they knew and accepted the real possibility of death to themselves, the loss of their hard-earned property, the suffering of their family and friends. They knew, yet they put their lives on the line. They were men of passion, of vision, and they believed in the concept of self-determination and liberty. Watching and reading the news from China this past week helps us understand Patrick Henry’s outburst in that Philadelphia hall, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

It makes me wonder about my own passion for the “reign of God” in my life and in my world. Today is a good time to ask ourselves that question. How passionately have we accepted the values of Jesus, his way of life, in our hearts and minds? How much are we willing to pay for the “reign of God,” for these values, for this “way of life”?

Luke continues to present Jesus as teaching this cost of discipleship, of being a follower of Jesus, a Christian. Luke’s rendition makes three points:

1. The “Reign” must be established for each of us in our own hearts and in the situation in which we ourselves live.

2. The establishment, the coming, is urgent. It is for the disciples to act NOW, not tomorrow or the next day.

3. The disciple can expect to be misunderstood, even openly opposed and ridiculed.

Thus it is within our own hearts and within our own places of life that the “Reign of God” (Jesus’ way of life) is to be present: those values of peace and harmony, fairness, honesty, good will. It is in our families, among our friends, on the job that this “Reign” must come.

It is urgent. No one else can do it for us. We are the disciples. Only each one of us touches others and other lives in exactly the way each of us alone can do. In the history of the world, if each of us does not do it, no one ever will; for only each lives where we live, touches what we touch in exactly our own unique way. Each moment, each new opportunity, will never come again!

No one says the coming of the “Reign” will be easy. The cost of discipleship can be enormous. Like liberty itself, the Way of Jesus, those values, can cost even death. As Paul said today,

May I never boast of anything but of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reminds one of Patrick Henry. God’s reign is the narrow path. The one pointing it out will be opposed, ridiculed, and discriminated against.

We need to put an edge on our passionate declaration, our decision for Christ and his Way. Like those heroes of Valley Forge, we must renew our commitment to go the last mile.

Near the end of the second World War, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was invited to give the commencement address at a university in England. The story has it that after he was introduced by the headmaster with the pomp his status deserved, the Prime Minister walked to the podium and cleared his throat. In the manner of great orators, “My dear graduates,” he began in his very British accent, “I say to you, ‘Never, NEVER, give up’. “ I say to you again, ‘Never, NEVER give up’.” Then the great man walked to his place and sat down!

It is the conviction of what is right, what is truth, what is of value, what is of Christ, that sustains the disciple. The Reign of God will come to each, and when the each’s become the many, it will come to our world.

“Never, Never,” I say, “Never give up.”
--Fr. Pat

Excerpt from "A Catholic's Companion: Liturgical Cycle C" (c)2000 C. Patrick Creed
Published by Watchmaker Press. Maggie Hettinger, editor

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time--Liturgical Cycle C

Reading I: Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Reading II: Galatians 3:26-29
Gospel: Luke 9:18-24
Texts of Lectionary Readings

Homily

Our continuous reading of the Gospel of Luke during this Liturgical year left off the last Sunday of February. Then Lent, Easter and Pentecost intervened as well as Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi. We continue our readings today on the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary time with the ninth chapter. In order for us to get a full picture of the Lukan gospel we ought to go back and regroup.

At Wal-Mart the other day, I was shopping for a wrist brace. They had braces for ankles, flat feet, hips, back, elbows, wrists, neck. If you fall apart, you can GLUE yourself back together again with Velcro. It occurs to me that the Word of God is a bit like Velcro. You can pretty much find a brace in the bible for any ailment. We can pick and choose what suits us.

Actually, we need to be reglued by the whole gospel message, not just a band-aid here and there.

We have learned that we are on the journey with Jesus up to Jerusalem and the events of our redemption. We are numbered among his followers, listening to the teaching. True disciples, we learn, do not simply preach about Jesus and the reign of God but participate in the reversal of roles, status and concern which the coming of salvation brings. Some renounce everything for the Jesus company while others use their resources in ways quite different from the ways of the world. The disciples do not seek exchanges which would create obligations to reciprocate. They do not pile up wealth, consuming for themselves the good things of creation. Instead, the disciple aids people who will never be able to repay them. They give so no one in the company will be in need. The disciple’s only anxiety is acquiring heavenly treasure. All are to follow Jesus’ example of suffering service rather than demanding service from others.

Last week, the eleventh Sunday, we heard the marvelous story in Chapter 7 of Luke, in which the woman washed the feet of Jesus, drying them with her hair during the feast at the home of a leading Pharisee. We heard Jesus’ dramatic teaching on forgiveness, an insight which connected forgiveness with lovingly giving-for. “I tell you, that is why her many sins are forgiven – because of her great love. Little is forgiven the one whose love is small.”

The multiplication of the loaves is a development of this sense of loving giving, in the selfless gift of the lad, and its eventual image at the Last Supper. It is the broken bread given-for, forgiving, in the shared cup, the Blood poured out, given for you in this New Covenant.

When all had eaten until they had enough and twelve baskets were left over, Luke places Jesus at prayer in the gospel reading today where he asks the disciples “Who do people say that I am?” and again, “Who do you say that I am?”

The first question doesn’t matter much – what other people think of Jesus is unimportant and Jesus pays no mind to it. But the second question is the one that you and I must answer: Who do you and I say that Jesus is? The answer need not be theological. Just a simple, deep-in-our-hearts knowledge of Who Jesus Is for me.

Even more decisive than that question is a second one, the answer to which will put the Velcro brace on our whole selves. “Who does Jesus say that I am?”

How we experience Jesus is one thing. How Jesus experiences us is quite another.

Today’s gospel puts before us two important questions: The first is, “How do I experience Jesus?”

Do we travel with Jesus on the journey? Hearing the teaching all along the way, do we pick and choose only what we feel is our present need, putting a Velcro brace here, another there? Is the Word of God a cane, a crutch, and academic proof or an exercise? A few minutes each day and a bit more on Sunday and then on about the really important things in living!

Or does this Word glue us together, sustaining us in every way?

The second question is even more important: “How does Jesus experience us?”

As a disciple or as a fan? Do we imitate Jesus or simply admire him? Do we pick up our selfless, giving cross every day as we follow him, or do we sit on the sidelines and applaud as Jesus passes by on the road?

We risk our lives and resources, both personally and in communion, as we engage in diverse ministries in living out this mission of ours.

Who is Jesus in our life? In my life?

Who are we, who am I, in Jesus’ life?



--Fr. Pat

Excerpt from "A Catholic's Companion: Liturgical Cycle C" (c)2000 C. Patrick Creed
Published by Watchmaker Press. Maggie Hettinger, editor

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time--Liturgical Cycle C

Reading I: Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Reading II: Galatians 3:26-29
Gospel: Luke 9:18-24
Texts of Lectionary Readings

Homily

Our continuous reading of the Gospel of Luke during this Liturgical year left off the last Sunday of February. Then Lent, Easter and Pentecost intervened as well as Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi. We continue our readings today on the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary time with the ninth chapter. In order for us to get a full picture of the Lukan gospel we ought to go back and regroup.

At Wal-Mart the other day, I was shopping for a wrist brace. They had braces for ankles, flat feet, hips, back, elbows, wrists, neck. If you fall apart, you can GLUE yourself back together again with Velcro. It occurs to me that the Word of God is a bit like Velcro. You can pretty much find a brace in the bible for any ailment. We can pick and choose what suits us.

Actually, we need to be reglued by the whole gospel message, not just a band-aid here and there.

We have learned that we are on the journey with Jesus up to Jerusalem and the events of our redemption. We are numbered among his followers, listening to the teaching. True disciples, we learn, do not simply preach about Jesus and the reign of God but participate in the reversal of roles, status and concern which the coming of salvation brings. Some renounce everything for the Jesus company while others use their resources in ways quite different from the ways of the world. The disciples do not seek exchanges which would create obligations to reciprocate. They do not pile up wealth, consuming for themselves the good things of creation. Instead, the disciple aids people who will never be able to repay them. They give so no one in the company will be in need. The disciple’s only anxiety is acquiring heavenly treasure. All are to follow Jesus’ example of suffering service rather than demanding service from others.

Last week, the eleventh Sunday, we heard the marvelous story in Chapter 7 of Luke, in which the woman washed the feet of Jesus, drying them with her hair during the feast at the home of a leading Pharisee. We heard Jesus’ dramatic teaching on forgiveness, an insight which connected forgiveness with lovingly giving-for. “I tell you, that is why her many sins are forgiven – because of her great love. Little is forgiven the one whose love is small.”

The multiplication of the loaves is a development of this sense of loving giving, in the selfless gift of the lad, and its eventual image at the Last Supper. It is the broken bread given-for, forgiving, in the shared cup, the Blood poured out, given for you in this New Covenant.

When all had eaten until they had enough and twelve baskets were left over, Luke places Jesus at prayer in the gospel reading today where he asks the disciples “Who do people say that I am?” and again, “Who do you say that I am?”

The first question doesn’t matter much – what other people think of Jesus is unimportant and Jesus pays no mind to it. But the second question is the one that you and I must answer: Who do you and I say that Jesus is? The answer need not be theological. Just a simple, deep-in-our-hearts knowledge of Who Jesus Is for me.

Even more decisive than that question is a second one, the answer to which will put the Velcro brace on our whole selves. “Who does Jesus say that I am?”

How we experience Jesus is one thing. How Jesus experiences us is quite another.

Today’s gospel puts before us two important questions: The first is, “How do I experience Jesus?”

Do we travel with Jesus on the journey? Hearing the teaching all along the way, do we pick and choose only what we feel is our present need, putting a Velcro brace here, another there? Is the Word of God a cane, a crutch, and academic proof or an exercise? A few minutes each day and a bit more on Sunday and then on about the really important things in living!

Or does this Word glue us together, sustaining us in every way?

The second question is even more important: “How does Jesus experience us?”

As a disciple or as a fan? Do we imitate Jesus or simply admire him? Do we pick up our selfless, giving cross every day as we follow him, or do we sit on the sidelines and applaud as Jesus passes by on the road?

We risk our lives and resources, both personally and in communion, as we engage in diverse ministries in living out this mission of ours.

Who is Jesus in our life? In my life?

Who are we, who am I, in Jesus’ life?


Body
--Fr. Pat

Excerpt from "A Catholic's Companion: Liturgical Cycle C" (c)2000 C. Patrick Creed
Published by Watchmaker Press. Maggie Hettinger, editor