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Growing in Love and Holiness

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Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
Responsorial: Psalm 103 1-4, 8, 10, 12-13
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022320.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

In today’s readings, Jesus continues to challenge the people about what fulfilling the Law means. Fulfilling the Law doesn’t mean doing the absolute minimum or following the pagans who subscribe to retributive justice, like an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. In Leviticus, we hear that God holds the people to a higher standard of conduct. “Be holy for, I the LORD your God am holy,” (Leviticus 19:2). And so, doing just the minimum isn’t gonna cut it.

Jesus explains that to be holy like God is to strive to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, (Matthew 5:48). What does that mean? That means we need to imitate the perfect love of our heavenly Father, who himself is love, (1 John 4:8).

Let’s look at what that means from the perspective of a married couple. Think about a story you’ve read or a movie or a show which was set in feudal times where there was an arranged marriage planned between an older lord and a young lady. Maybe this was done for some political or monetary advantage right. Well this is probably the dramatic setting of the story that will be resolved by a knight in shining armor who comes along to save the fair maiden. Right? Why? Because this idea of a marriage without love or romance is so depressing.

And a couple cannot grow in love unless that love is challenged by the stuff – the messiness of everyday life. It’s only through a couple growing in love and patience and kindness that they can to one another and, “I screwed up,” “I’m sorry,” and, “I forgive you.” Does that make sense?

Jesus tells us that image of growth in love should be applied not just to our spouses, but by all believers, to everyone all the time everywhere. It’s not enough to subscribe to the idea of an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth. That’s what it means to grow in love and holiness – what it means to emulate the Father.

That’s what St. Paul is talking about in his letter to the Corinthians. It seems like the church there is on the verge of splitting. It seems like the church is being pulled apart by different factions. Boy does that sound familiar. It sounds like our countries and even the Church itself are on the verge of being pulled apart by different factions in our own age. And we risk being pulled apart if we can’t look across the aisle with the love and the compassion of God.

Now these readings which challenge us to grow in love and holiness are particularly important this weekend. Why? Because we’re about to start our Lenten journeys and part of the exercise of Lent is to challenge ourselves to grow. Lent is a great opportunity to do what so many businesses do: pause and do some strategic planning. It’s a time to reflect on what’s worked, what hasn’t worked and what they need to do in the future. Each of us is challenged during Lent to look at our past year honestly – with a critical eye. What did we do this last year? What did we do well? Where did we go wrong? What do I need to change in my life that what will help me grow?

How do I do this? I can grow with the power of the Holy Spirit, and with the strength I draw from the sacraments. As I reflect on my life, I can bring to the Sacrament of Reconciliation those sins or root causes of sin in my life that are preventing me from growing or that are damaging my relationship with God. That leads us to our Lenten sacrifice.

A Lenten sacrifice should challenge us to grow spiritually. Let me suggest that what that can’t be is giving up chocolate. Let’s say you’re the type of person who kicks the dog or bites your sister, or maybe you bite the dog or kick your sister. How will giving up a piece of chocolate like a Dairy Milk help you overcome a sinful pattern in your lives? I don’t think it will. We need to dig deeper and figure out what will challenge me to grow in holiness.

Maybe this year you could go to mass every Sunday? Or maybe you could go to adoration for one hour every month? Maybe you could set aside a little time to pray – I mean really pray to Jesus. What I mean by that is sitting down and just trying to have a conversation with him. You can start out by saying you don’t know what you’re doing or if he’s listening – that’s okay – but just opening yourself up a little to talk with Jesus could be a start. But if we are going to grow in love and holiness, we have to start somewhere.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I would like you to reflect on the following two questions.

  1. What are the things in my life that are preventing me from growing in love and holiness?
  2. What is my Lenten sacrifice going to be?

I think doing our homework will help prepare us for Lent so that we can grow in the love and holiness of God. Do you got it? Do you get it? Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

  1. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
  2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
  3. Montague, George T. SM. First Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011.
  4. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

  1. Jesus, Lord of the world, 450
  2. Church as temple of the Holy Spirit, 797
  3. Purgatory, 1030-32
  4. Christian perfection, 1693, 2013
  5. Love of enemies, 2303, 2844

Resources:

  1. Learn more about being a Christian steward: http://usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/stewardship/index.cfm

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 79
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022320.cfm
First Reading Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
The LORD said to Moses,
“Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD.”

Responsorial
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Brothers and sisters:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Let no one deceive himself.
If any one among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Alleluia
John 2:5
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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The tax collector’s love

a drawing of the solar system with the word me at center and planets are my stuff

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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
Responsorial: Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102719.cfm

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor,” is our responsorial today and in the first reading from Sirach we hear, “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds…” Again, in these passages as we have heard before, those who are “poor in spirit” are those who do not put other things before God, like wealth or other worldly attachments. In other words, this is a poverty that is not focused on me, but on God. Indeed, these readings lay the foundation for what we hear proclaimed in the Gospel according to Luke today.

Consider this idea from the noted Catholic theologian Karl Rahner, from the time we are born, we as individual babies are perhaps the most self-centered beings in all creation. We behave as if we are the center of the world, and perhaps that’s how it must be if we are to survive. But as we grow and develop – that is, as we mature – the goal is for us transcend our selfishness and move toward openness to the other. Shifting our focus away from ourselves and toward other is truly an act of love. As Christian disciples, our ultimate goal is to shift our focus away from ourselves and this world and to focus on the God who saves us through Christ Jesus.

To illustrate this point in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee in prayer to God describes just how much better he is over everybody else because of the things he does. What is that prayer about? Well, he’s all me, me, me, isn’t he? You have to wonder if the god he prays to isn’t really himself and in that sense, perhaps the Pharisee is without love.

But the tax collector comes before God and bows low. He knows he has lead a life of sin by collaborating with the Roman occupiers. Maybe he considers himself unworthy, and yet he finds the courage enough to approach God and ask for mercy. His prayer is simple and beautiful. In contrast to the Pharisee whose prayer is turned inward, the tax collector who probably does the things he knows he shouldn’t, but can’t for various reasons stop himself, prays to God and begs for mercy.

His prayer has become known as the Jesus prayer, and I encourage you to learn it. The prayer is a reminder that we are not the center of the universe – that we are accountable to the people around us and to the God who will judge us at the end of time. Even if there are circumstances in our lives that lead us to sin that we cannot get rid of, we must continue to seek mercy as we endeavor to make changes in our lives. We should strive to be like we heard in our second reading from 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” Indeed, for those who keep the faith, we remember that Christ is our King. His throne is a wooden cross and that is where His victory was won, and He is King forever.

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

  1. Make a list of the good things you do and could brag about if you wanted to. We should be mindful of those things we attach an inordinate amount of pride to.
  2. Make a list of the things you do that make you feel unworthy and in need of God’s mercy.
  3. When you finish your lists, read them carefully, then pray silently the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

I think by doing our homework this week we might be reminded to exercise our focus away from ourselves and toward those around and ultimately toward our Savior Jesus Christ. Do you go it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Notes:
1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus Prayer nos. 2616 and 2667.

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Let the Dead Bury the Dead

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Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:16B, 19-21
Psalm: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

Today’s readings, in particular the first reading from 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21, and the Gospel from Luke 9:51-62, sound harsh. But really, at the heart of these readings is the question of attachment. From where do we draw our faith: from our belief in God or from the things of this world? This is a source of great tension in the world. The world, perhaps now more than ever, is so completely intertwined in our lives that it’s difficult to not be “in the world,” so to speak. The lure of social media seems too powerful.

But these readings offer a caution to us all – not just the community of believers. Look, we’re all surrounded by stuff. Indeed, some of our homes are so crammed with stuff that it’s difficult to even walk around. Isn’t it funny how attached we are to things or to our cell phones or to various social media sites? Have you ever had the experience of sitting with someone who was so absorbed with their cell phone that they didn’t know what was going on around them? That can be so frustrating! Sadly, some forms of social media can really bring out the narcissist in people. Some of our family and friends seem obsessed with posting selfies of themselves in various poses or wearing various outfits.

In many ways, people like this, people so absorbed with their stuff, are dead. They’re dead to what’s happening around them. It’s as if they don’t really care – or they might care a little as long as you don’t interfere with their stuff. The minute you cross the line – the minute you ask them to put their cell phone down – well, you might as well have asked them to cut off their arm. Paul describes obsession with the stuff of this world as in today’s second reading from Galatians 5:1, 13-18, as the yoke of slavery.

Paul says we shouldn’t waste our freedom on things that will dull our minds or our senses – and that includes everything from drugs, alcohol and food addictions to binge-watching shows, losing hours to online gaming or social media – you name it! All this stuff belong to the flesh. But we are called to be integrated bodies and souls. So we need to be careful with worldly distractions. Paul reminds us that the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: You shall love your neighbor as yourself, (Galatians 5:14). If we believe that God is love, and if we believe Jesus’ command that we are to love God with every fiber of our being and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, then we can’t allow ourselves to become so distracted with worldly things that we forget to look up and see the people around us, starting with our own family and friends.

We were not created to be alone with our stuff. We were created to be part of the community. We must resist the temptations that pull us out of our community – that try to isolate us, for it is when we feel alone that we are must vulnerable to give in to temptations.

Homework!

  1. First, try to tally up the time you spend watching shows on TV or over the internet, the time you spend playing any sort of video game, and the time you spend on social media. Can you reduce that number by 5% this week to spend with your family and friends?
  2. Second, in what ways are you present to the people around you? Try to name a few concrete examples for yourself.

I think by doing our homework, we might shift our time and attention away from the allurements of this world and more toward loving God by loving those around us. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!