Reflection: Luke 4:38-44

Wednesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time - Luke 4:38-44

In today’s Gospel, we experience the healing power of Jesus.  After leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon.  When he arrived, Simon’s mother-in-law was very ill with a high fever. When Simon brought Jesus to his home, his mother-in-law was instantly healed and fully restored.  She got up from the bed and began to serve them.

At sunset, many people who were ill were brought to Jesus.  They had a variety of diseases.  Jesus laid His hands on each of them and they were cured. ! Demons came out of some of the people and they began to shout at Jesus: “You are the Son of God!” Jesus firmly rebuked the spirits.  He did not allow them to speak because they recognized that He was the Christ. 

At daybreak, Jesus left town to find a deserted and quiet place.  He needed time to rest, pray, and have some solitude.  However, the crowd of people followed Him and tried to prevent Him from leaving.  (Who would not want a healer close by?)  Jesus told the crowd that He must go and proclaim the “good news of the Kingdom.”

To whom do you take your troubles?  Do you allow Jesus to be the Lord and Healer in your life, family, and community?  God’s healing power restores us not only to health, but also to active service and care of others.  There is no trouble he does not want to help us with and there is no bondage from which he can’t set us free. 

Reflection: Luke 4:31-37

Tuesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time - Luke 4:31-37

Today Jesus traveled to the town of Capernaum in Galilee.  When he arrived there, Jesus taught the people.  His listeners were astounded at his teaching.  As they listened to him, they realized that Jesus was very different from any of the teachers they had heard before.  Jesus spoke with great authority, authenticity and yet with humility!

There was a man in the synagogue that was possessed by an unclean spirit.  When the man heard the people talk about Jesus and the astounding deeds he had done, the man cried out to him, saying: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Are you here to destroy us?  I know that you are the Holy One of God.”  Jesus then rebuked the demon that possessed the man by saying: “Be quiet!  Come out of this man!”  In that moment, the demon threw the man to the floor and came out of the man’s body.

All the people who witnessed this healing were amazed and astounded. They said to one another: “What is it about this man?  Where did he get this authority?  How does he have the power to exorcise unclean spirits?”  The news of Jesus and His power and abilities spread throughout the region quickly. 

Now take a moment and ask yourself: What are the unclean spirits that possess you?  How do these unclean spirits affect your life and the people in your life?  Do you long to be freed from these unclean spirits or have they become an integral part of your life?  And perhaps more importantly, have you asked Jesus to exorcise the unclean spirits that may slowly be destroying your happiness and perhaps your life?

Today (and every day) come to Jesus and beg Him to rid you of any unclean spirit that is plaguing you or perhaps destroying your life. You may not receive an immediate miracle; however, you may begin to notice a difference in your life, in your emotions and in the quality of your trust in Jesus.  Jesus is with you!  Open your heart and trust Him!  He will not fail you!

Reflection: Mark 6:17-29

Memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist - Mark 6:17-29 

Today we recall the Passion of John the Baptist.  Mark chronicles John’s arrest, imprisonment and death.  It is a horrific story and it mirrors the atrocities that we human beings continually perpetrate on one another. 

John’s crime was that he bluntly told Herod that is was not lawful for him to marry Herodias, his brother’s wife.  When Herodias heard this, she harbored a grudge against John and she was determined to have him killed; however, she did not have the authority or means to do so.  Herodias was a clever, manipulative and conniving woman, however, and she began planning how to get revenge on John.

It so happened that Herod had a birthday celebration.  He had invited many esteemed guests to his party.  During the celebration, Herodias’ daughter performed a beautiful dance that enchanted Herod and his guests.  Herod was so enthralled by her performance that he said the girl: “Ask of me whatever you will and I will give it to you, even if you ask me for half of my kingdom.”

The girl quickly went to her mother and asked her what she should ask of Herod.  Her mother immediately said: “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”   Herodias’ daughter returned to Herod and told him that she wanted the head of John the Baptist on a platter.  Herod was distressed by her request.  He admired John and respected him.  Yet, he had given his oath and all of his guests had witnessed this oath.  What would they think of him if he did not keep his word?  Herod truly was in a bind.

Finally, Herod gave the order to have John beheaded.  And so it happened: John’s head was brought to Herod on a platter.  Herod gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. 

I assume that at times all of us have been in a bind.  Perhaps we were asked to do something that we knew was not right.  At some point in the future we likely will be in a similar situation.  It is difficult to stand up and do what is right when there is pressure from others to conform to what they do.  At these times, will we have the strength and courage to stand our ground and do what we know is right and just?  Or will we cave in to please others or to look good? 

Today may we pray for the strength and courage to do what we believe is right, even if others may not approve of our choice or our action.  May we always strive to have the integrity and courage of John the Baptist, who stood firm in his beliefs even though it ended up costing him his life.  What a wonderful and brave model is for us!  May we strive to live as John lived!

Reflection: Luke 14:1, 7-14

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 14:1, 7-14

On the Sabbath, Jesus was invited to dine at the house of a prominent Pharisee.  There were other guests in attendance and they intently observed Jesus.  When Jesus arrived, he noticed how many of the guests had vied for places of honor at the table.  After a time, Jesus said to the guests: “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in a place of honor at table.  It may happen that a guest deserving of a place of honor may arrive and need a high seat of honor.  Thus, the host may approach you and ask you to give your place to the honored guest.  And you would experience the embarrassment of having to move down to a lower place.”

Jesus tells his listeners that it is better to take a lower place at the table.  Then the host may come to you and say: "My friend, move up higher.”  The other guests then may hold you in high esteem.  Jesus concludes with the statement: “For everyone who exalts himself/herself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself/herself will be exalted.”

In today’s world, individuals vie for fame, fortune, power, and status every day. The people who have achieved any of these advantages typically are held in high esteem.  However, Jesus completely reverses this idea.  He proposes that it is always best to choose a lower place rather than a higher place.  Thus, you will never be embarrassed by being asked to move to a lower place, and possibly you may be invited to move up to a higher place.

Status-seeking is rampant in our world.  Many people seek fame, power and recognition.  However, there also are many individuals who live their lives quietly and simply.  They are content with God, family, friends, and a simple lifestyle.  Fame may look glamorous.  However, almost every day in the newspaper or on television we hear stories of how the famous and the glamorous have fallen or been disgraced, often by their own choices.

Today Jesus encourages us to be content with what seems to be the lowly and least. Often it is in the small and seemingly insignificant gifts of everyday life where we may experience the greatest love, joy, peace, and contentment.  Today, be mindful and notice the many small gifts you receive.  Thank the giver and thank God!

Reflection: Matthew 25:14-30

Saturday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time - Matthew 25:14-30

Today’s Gospel is the parable of the talents. In this story, the master of the house is going on a fairly long journey and he wants to safeguard his money while he is away. He gave one servant five talents, the second servant two talents and the third, one talent. The master, however, had an unspoken expectation. The master expected these servants to increase the amount of his money while he was gone.

The first servant and the second servant did what the master expected. They took the money and invested it. These investments increased the master’s money significantly. The increase varied, but the master was extremely pleased with these servants. They had been excellent stewards of his resources.

The third servant, however, was a fearful person. He knew his master could be harsh at times. This servant decided that he simply would keep the master’s money safe. He buried the money in the ground and then waited for the master to return.

When the master finally did return, naturally he asked the servants for an accounting. Each servant came and reported what they had done with his money. The master was very pleased with the first two servants. Their investments had made him more money. However, the master was not pleased with the third servant. Yes, the man kept his money safe, but the master had expected him to use it well and increase the amount of money, at least to some degree. Burying the money in the ground kept it safe, but the master expected more, much more!

How do we steward the resources that God has given us? Do we use them well and invest them wisely? Do we share them with others? Or do we hide them or dismiss them as insignificant? All our resources are given to us to share with others and the world. Do we believe that the resources or gifts we have are good enough? I pray