Reflection: Luke 10:13-16

Friday, September 30th, 2016, The 26th Week in Ordinary Time - Luke 10:13-16

Today’s Gospel is a “woe to you” gospel. Jesus is berating the Pharisees for their lack of openness to him and to his message. Even before Jesus began to preach the Pharisees had tried, judged, and condemned him.

Most of us, if not all of us, have a “Pharisee” within us. Judging others seems to be part of our human condition. Often I am not even aware of the judgments I am making about others. It happens so automatically. I may judge them on what they say, how they act, or what they believe. At these times I am being the Pharisee! Yet who am I to judge? We all do it, but we do not like it when others judge us.

Perhaps Jesus is reminding us to be mindful today. He may be asking us to be attentive not only to how and when we judge others but also to how we judge ourselves. We often are pretty vicious in judging ourselves. Today when we become aware that we are judging another or ourselves, may we pause, take a deep breath, and deliberately let go of our judgment. Today may we strive to have the mind and heart of Jesus!

Reflection: John 1:47-51

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – John 1:47-51

This is the feast day of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Now ask yourself: Is this feast meaningful to me? Do I believe in angels regardless of whether they are archangels or just regular angels?

Most of us learned about angels at a young age. There are angels in the Scriptures. In the past years, there have been books and TV shows focused on angels. Yet I suspect that many of us have not had a personal and up close experience of an angel, a heavenly being, appearing to us.

I believe that if we take time to think about it, we hopefully could name several people in our lives who are angels to us. It may be someone who notices us and asks how we are. Or perhaps it is someone who anticipates our needs. Or it may be a person who surprises us with a simple gift or their time or attention.

Today, take note of the angels that appear to you and strive to be an angel to the individuals you encounter. It can be a simple gift to give!

Reflection: Luke 9:57-62

Wednesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time - Luke 9:57-62

In today’s Gospel we see the enthusiastic response of an individual to Jesus’ preaching. This person was so enraptured by Jesus that he or she was ready to immediately leave home and family and become Jesus’ disciple. However, when Jesus tells the person what “following him” would entail (leaving home and family), the individual responds with many reasons why it would be impossible for him or her to follow Jesus. The reasons and responsibilities they had were very real. They had families to support and other responsibilities to take care of.

Think back: can you remember a time in your life when you were so “on fire” for Jesus and his message that you were ready to “give your all” to Jesus? At these times, our desire and plan to “give our all” to follow Jesus is very real. Then the reality of life intrudes. There is not enough time and we have too many responsibilities! Guess what happens?

Often it is impossible for us to follow Jesus as we initially thought we would do. It doesn’t mean that we have changed our minds and hearts. Perhaps we need to think of it differently. Jesus might be asking us to follow him by going about our regular daily responsibilities with greater love and care. Or we may find ourselves ministering to someone who needs a friend to listen to them. There are many different ways to follow Jesus and all of them are good! Today how is Jesus calling you?

Reflection: Luke 9:51-56

Tuesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time - Luke 9:51-56

Today’s Gospel reading is a foreshadowing of Jesus’s crucifixion and death. Jesus knew his arrest and death were likely, yet he held fast to his decision to travel to Jerusalem. He knew it was likely that he would be arrested. He also suspected that he might even die. Can you imagine the storm of emotions that must have been whirling around in Jesus’s mind and heart? Yet he decided to make the journey to Jerusalem.

Throughout the Gospels we see evidence of Jesus’s faith and trust in God. Today’s reading is a clear example of the depth of trust Jesus had in God. Do we have such faith? I hope so. We have to nurture our faith and trust in God each and every day. This creates a foundation and a relationship with God that will support and sustain us whenever we are in need. Today and every day let’s ask Jesus to deepen our trust and faith in him!

Reflection: Luke 9:46-50

Monday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time - Luke 9:46-50

Today’s Gospel presents a scene that likely is familiar to us. The disciples were arguing about which of them was the greatest. Sound familiar? Jesus was listening to them. Luke writes: “Jesus realized the intention of their hearts.” Was Jesus disappointed or frustrated with his disciples? After all, these men had been chosen to be servants to one another and to the people. Yet, here they were having a petty argument about who among them was the greatest.

Power! Throughout history, power and acclaim have dominated politics, religion and social status. It is natural and healthy that all human beings desire a certain amount of power. We all need a moderate amount of power in order to make choices for ourselves. This enables us to choose to have loving, healthy, and productive lives. Yet, as we know, the desire for power often corrupts – be that in the family, the Church, institutions, business or politics. The intense desire for power often is the downfall of someone who has great potential.

Today Jesus is disturbed that his disciples are so concerned about who is the greatest among them, which could be translated as the one who “has the most power.” Jesus does not directly confront his disciples. Rather he brings a child into their midst and says to them: “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me also receives the One who sent me.” Jesus then continues: “The one who is least among you is the one who is the greatest.”

Today may be a good day to ask ourselves: Are we content with being among the least? Or do we strive for power or influence? Can we be satisfied to be “one with the people” rather than a star or a leader? Today I also invite you to be attentive to those individuals you encounter who truly embody Jesus’ call to be the “least” (in a healthy way).  They can be a living example for us.