Deacon Rudy Villarreal – Page 45

November 17, 2019November 1, 2019

Jesus is the Temple

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Malachi 3:19-20A
Responsorial: Psalm 98:5-9
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111719.cfm

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the Temple will be destroyed. Now this is a really an important point for us to discuss. You see, “temple” is one of the central patterns of the Bible. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time in this podcast to discuss this in more detail. Suffice it to say, temple imagery flows through Scripture from the Garden of Eden as temple in Genesis, to Noah’s Ark as a temple, to the First Temple, the Second Temple and ultimately the resurrected Jesus as Temple. Indeed, in the Book of Revelation, when the new Jerusalem is described, there is no Temple in the new Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus is the Temple.

In the first part of today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Second Temple. Why does this happen? To answer that, we need to understand Israel’s role as the chose people. They are “chosen” not for their own exclusive benefit. Israel’s purpose as the chosen people is to be a magnet to unite all the peoples of the world to God. According to the Bible, throughout history, the sin of the people disrupts Israel’s calling. Each time, this leads to purification – a cleaning out which of course means the destruction of the temple and starting over. So, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Second Temple, meaning that the sin of the people has reached a tipping point. Indeed, our first reading from Malachi tells us that, “the day is coming, blazing like an oven…and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” (Malachi 3:19-20).

But then the Gospel shifts. Those listening to Jesus ask when all these things will happen. Unbeknown to them, Jesus describes signs that will happen before his second coming. Yes, many of these signs come to pass before the destruction of the Second Temple, but as we understand this Scripture today, we believe he is speaking about his second coming. He describes the persecution his disciples will face. Indeed, in Acts, Luke describes the apostles rejoicing that they suffer on account of Jesus’ name, (Acts 5:41).

Our mission as disciples is to carry on come what may. Our first task is to spread the Good News. We must be beacons of light in a dark world trying to help lead everyone to the new Temple – to Jesus Christ. Jesus, healing the wounds of Original Sin, helps orient us back to right praise and worship of the Father. It is Jesus who will reign as Lord of all the nations. Our Gospel today points us to next weekend when we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Our responsorial tells us that the Lord our King will at last come to rule the earth with justice.

Homework! Fed by the Word of God proclaimed, and, in the Eucharist, and in anticipation of Advent, I encourage you to reflect on the following:

Think about how you’d like to receive the message about the Good News. What would be helpful for you to hear?
Use the ideas you come up with and combine them with your personal story of faith. Perhaps write this out but keep it brief – maybe 1 handwritten page. When you’re finished, you now have a basic script you can use to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Cool, right?

Okay, do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Then go and make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Church teaching:

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Christ is the true temple, 1197; the temple’s destruction a sign of the last days, 585; the Church persecuted, 675; times of the Gentiles, 58, 674.

November 10, 2019November 1, 2019

Resurrection of the Dead

a picture of a cemetery with several old tombstones in the foreground

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Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Responsorial: Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 or Luke 20:27, 34-38

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111019.cfm

Will the dead rise? No, I’m not talking about the zombie apocalypse. I’m talking about one of the “big questions” of life and our readings today grapple with this head on. The Sadducees who were part of the Jewish priestly class did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. In fact, after the experience of the Maccabean martyrs that we heard about in our first reading from 2 Maccabees chapter 7, the belief in the resurrection of the dead was growing. <1> Indeed, this is a central Christian belief today. We profess this idea in the Creed we recite every Sunday when we say: I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. We call this the doctrine of eschatology. <2>

The Sadducees use the resurrection of the dead to try to trap Jesus. They present their question about a woman whose husband died. According to the levirate law handed to them from Moses, if the dead husband didn’t have any children before he died, then his brother should marry the woman. At the end of their question, the woman has had to marry seven times, marrying a different brother each time.

Jesus answers saying, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,” (Luke 20:34-35). What does this mean?

The entire point of the levirate law, besides providing for the widow, was to help continue the line of the fatherless husband – to continue the family name. But Jesus points out that in the life to come – in the resurrection of the dead, “the worthy” cannot die. He says, “They can no longer die, for they are like angels…”, (Luke 20:36). Since they cannot die, there is no need to try to preserve the family name.

But Jesus goes on to say clarify that the Pentateuch which the Sadducees cling to demonstrates the resurrection of the dead. When the Lord presented himself to Moses, He identified himself as the God of the patriarchs, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” (Luke 20:37). Why would God refer to Himself this way if the patriarchs are dead and forever lost? God, Jesus points out, is, “not God of the dead, but of the living,” (Luke 20:38).

How can they be alive? The emerging Jewish teaching taught that there must be an intermediate state. <3> This teaching is affirmed by the Christian faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they “see him as he is,” face to face, (no. 1023).

Homework! Having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following:

Pray something like this: Jesus, thank you for destroying death so that I may live forever!
I encourage you to remember in your daily prayers your family and friends who have passed away and all the souls in purgatory.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Notes:
<1> The Gospel of Luke by Pablo T. Gadenz, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Baker Academic (2018).
<2> Himes, Michael, The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism (Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004), 119-124.
<3> Ratzinger, Eschatology, 124, as quoted in The Gospel of Luke by Pablo T. Gadenz, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Baker Academic (2018). Ratzinger writes: Indeed, Josephus (Jewish War 2.163; 3.372-74; Jewish Antiquities 18.14) explains that the Pharisees believed in both an immediate life after death because of the immortality of the soul and a future resurrection of the body.

Church teaching:

Catechism of the Catholic Church: resurrection of the dead, 575, 993; virginity as a sign of the coming age, 1619; angels, 330.

November 3, 2019November 1, 2019

Zacchaeus

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Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Wisdom 11:22-12:2
Responsorial: Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/110319.cfm

In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Zacchaeus, the short-statured tax collector who climbed a tree as Jesus was passing through Jericho. Can you imagine what it would have looked like to see Zacchaeus in a tree straining to catch a glimpse of Jesus? Can you imagine the smile that crossed Jesus’ face when he looked up and saw Zacchaeus? Now picture the look on Zacchaeus’ face when Jesus invited himself to dinner at his house. I suspect he was beside himself with joy!

My brothers and sisters, how many of us, I wonder, have done things in our lives that we are not particularly proud of? You see, Zacchaeus the tax collector who not only was a collaborator with the Roman occupiers, but who earned his income by adding a surcharge to the taxes he collected for Rome. Some might say the tax collectors extorted the people. And yet, Zacchaeus was a seeker. Something was missing in his life and he hungered for more. So, he came out hoping to see Jesus.

Jesus chose him for company at dinner. To enter a home, as Jesus did, was huge. When enemies would share a meal for example, it would have been an act of peace. So, Jesus eating with Zacchaeus was essentially an act of reconciliation.

Perhaps Jesus could see that Zacchaeus, like the prodigal son, was trying to find a way to return home to the Father. His gesture of climbing the tree to see Jesus was like the prodigal son walking home. Like the father who runs to greet his son, Jesus reaches out to meet Zacchaeus, figuratively speaking.

The Eucharist comes out of this eastern tradition where enemies eating together are reconciled and where we by our participation can be reconciled. The Eucharist can help us to do what we might not be able to do, or willing to do on our own – like seek forgiveness and healing.

But that’s not the end of the story. No! Moved with great joy by this act of reconciliation, Zacchaeus promises to amend his life and to donate a significant portion of his wealth to the poor and to repay those he’s extorted with interest. Wow! Such a sacrifice couldn’t be easy for him to actually carry out. Can you imagine? What would it do to your home to give away half of your possessions and to repay anyone you’ve taken money from four times over?

That, I think, is precisely the point. We, especially those of us in the west who want for little, are challenged to down-size, de-clutter and simplify our lives as best we can. But here’s the catch. It’s not really our things, our possessions or our wealth that is the problem. It’s our attachment to those things that’s the real problem. We might imagine we can’t do without them, so divestiture never enters our minds. Much to the chagrin of our family and friends, we might hoard the oddest things, like aluminum foil, or plastic bags, or whatever. At some level this means that we place more confidence in those things than in anyone else let alone Jesus Christ. As we find in Psalm 33:17, “A vain hope for safety is the horse; despite its power it cannot save.”

No thing – nothing can save us. Our salvation comes from Christ alone! I think Zacchaeus understood that.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God proclaimed, and, in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following:

As we approach Advent, now is a good time to clean out our closets and get rid of our excess – things we really don’t need. So, as you’re pulling out Christmas decorations, make a plan to get rid of the things you really don’t need.
Look through the places in your heart where you might store hurts or pains that you’re clinging to for whatever reason. As we approach Advent, now is a good time to allow the healing power of Holy Spirit to wash away the muck in our hearts and be reconciled to Jesus Christ.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go and make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Church teaching: