Reflection: Luke 11:42-46

Wednesday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:42-46

This Gospel opens with attention-getting words.  Jesus scathingly says to the Pharisees: “Woe to you Pharisees!  You pay tithes of mint and rue but you pay no attention to judgment and love for God!”  What strong words!  And to make it worse, Jesus says this to the Pharisees in a public forum. 

 

Jesus then accuses the Pharisees of enjoying “seats of honor in the synagogues and deferential greetings in the marketplace.”  He likens the Pharisees to unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.   Finally, one of the scholars spoke up and said: “Teacher, you are insulting us.”  However, this does not stop Jesus.  He continues: “Woe to you scholars of the law.  You impose heavy burdens on the people that are difficult and painful.  Yet you do not lift a finger to touch them!”

 

Now take a moment and put yourself in the shoes of the Pharisees.  How would you react to such a public and scathing tongue lashing?  Jesus does not mince any words.  The reality is: we all have “a Pharisee” within us.  It naturally comes with our human condition.  The challenge for us is to recognize when our internal Pharisee is activated.  When we become aware that we are judging another, we then have the opportunity and choice to release our judgment.  If we can do this, we not only “release” the person we were prepared to judge, we also release ourselves.  And most likely, we may find that by not judging others, we are happier, more peaceful and more content.  Judgment will “poison” us if we do it frequently.  The choice is ours to make.  What will you (and I) choose today?

Reflection: Luke 11:37-41

Tuesday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:37-41

This Gospel reading begins with a Pharisee inviting Jesus to his home to share a meal.  When Jesus arrived at the man’s house, he reclined at the table to eat.  Now the Pharisee was watching Jesus closely.  He was amazed that Jesus did not observe the customary washing before a meal.  Jesus was well aware of the Pharisee’s thoughts.  Then Jesus said to the man: “O you Pharisees!  You cleanse the outside of cups and dishes but inside you are filled with evil and greed!”  Imagine the Pharisee’s response to Jesus’ criticism!  I wonder if the Pharisee was angry with Jesus.  Or did the Pharisee realize that Jesus had seen through him?  Or was he perhaps a bit ashamed that Jesus read him so clearly? 

 

Now: imagine how you would react if someone accused you in this manner.  How do you think you would react to the accusation?  Most all human beings naturally want to look good to the people around them.  Thus, we typically strive to hide our weaknesses and failures from the people around us.  I doubt that any one of us enjoys looking fragile, upset or needy.  Yet our human reality is that we all have parts of us we try to hide or ignore.  However, Jesus wants us to be clean and transparent.  He tells the Pharisees (and us) that if we give what we have as alms, “Behold, everything will be clean for you.”

 

“Alms” most likely is not a word that most of us use frequently.  Alms often is defined as money or food given to help the poor.  I assume that all of us give “alms” in various ways.  It may be money, food, housing, or perhaps we help build a Habitat House.  There are many ways to “give alms” that do not require money.  However, at times it may be easier for us to give money rather than to give of our time to an individual in need. 

 

Today be mindful of the people in your life who may need alms.  It may be monetary.  However, it also might be an individual who needs companionship, help with a project or a ride to the grocery store.  Also be aware of the individuals who today share their alms with you.  They are giving you (and me) a great gift!  Alms are a great gift to give and to receive.  Pray for the individuals who gift you with alms today!  And pray for the people with whom you share your alms!

Reflection: Luke 11:29-32

Monday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:29-32

Today Jesus picks up from where he left off in yesterday’s Gospel.  Today Jesus bluntly tells his listeners: “This generation is an evil generation!  The people seek a sign, yet no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah.”  Jesus then likens himself to Jonah.  He says that just as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, he, Jesus, is the sign for this generation.

 

I suspect that we human beings at times also ask Jesus or God for a sign.  Perhaps we hope Jesus will affirm a decision we are making.  Or we simply would like to receive a sign that Jesus is present with us.  Personally, I always want my sign to be clear and evident!  Yet Jesus tells his listeners that, he, Jesus, will be the sign to the present generation just as Jonas was the sign for the Ninevites.  Is Jesus enough of a sign for us?  Or do we desire something more visible or tangible?  Or will we trust that Jesus is present to us now and every moment of our lives?   Today and always may we believe that Jesus is the sign given to us by God!  And may we trust that Jesus is with us every moment of the day! 

Reflection: Mark 10:17-30

Sunday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:17-30

In this Gospel, we hear the story of the rich young man who came to Jesus and asked him: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Instead of answering the man’s question, Jesus asks him: “Why do you call me good?  No one is good but God alone.”  Jesus then names several of the commandments.   After Jesus had finished speaking, the young man told Jesus: “I have observed these commandments since I was young.”  Mark writes: “Jesus, looking at the man, loved him.”  Jesus then said to the man: “You are lacking one thing.  Go, sell all you have and give the money to the poor.  Then, come and follow me.”  When the young man realized what Jesus was asking of him, Mark writes: “At Jesus’ statement, the man’s face fell, and he went away sad for he had many possessions.”

 

Now ask yourself: How would you (and I) respond if Jesus looked at us and asked us to sell everything we have, give our money to the poor and then leave home and follow him?  Would we truly be willing to “give our all?”  Or would we respond as the rich young man did?  Would we also walk away from Jesus, sad and troubled?  Possessions and wealth have a dangerous potential to possess us if we are not careful and mindful.  Every ad we hear on TV and the radio encourages us to buy, buy, buy!  For many people in the first world countries the slogan “more is better” is lived out every day! 

 

Yet Jesus clearly understands that our “need” for more possessions or upgraded possessions may begin to “possess” us!  If you ever go to a mall the day after Christmas, you see people buying items that are a great bargain.  However, do they truly need those bargains?  Or do they buy the item simply because it is a bargain?  I confess that at times, I am one of those shoppers.  However on these occasions do we buy only what we truly need? 

 

If we are not mindful, our possessions may begin to “possess” us.  Today Jesus warns his disciples (us) to be mindful and aware!  Jesus wants us to be completely free to follow him.  The question is: are we willing to give up all we have and follow Jesus?  What is your (and my) answer? 

Reflection: Luke 11:15-26

Friday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:15—26

This Gospel begins with Jesus once again “driving out a demon.”  Some of the individuals who witnessed Jesus’ power to drive out demons were critical and suspicious of him.  They accused Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub.  There also were other unbelievers in the crowd who wanted to test Jesus.  So they asked him to give them a sign from heaven.  However, Jesus knew their thoughts and their motivation.  He realized that they were testing him. 

 

Most likely Jesus’ reply was not the answer they expected or hoped for.  Jesus tells them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.  And house will fall upon house.”  Then he asks: “If Satan is divided against himself, will his kingdom stand?”  Jesus continued, saying: “Some of your members also drive out demons!  From whom do they get their power?”  Jesus’ questioners did not answer him.

 

Ask yourself: what are your demons?  We all have them.  No one is exempt.  When we read the daily newspaper we may read stories of individuals who were driven by demons.  Perhaps they broke into a house and stole several items.  Or perhaps it is the story of a child, woman or man being abused.  Or the headline of the evening news may be on the never-ending fighting in the Middle East. 

 

Our human reality is: we all have our own personal demons.  Ask yourself: what are my demons? Can you name them without pausing?  Or do you have to sit and think about it?  No human being is exempt from demons, not even the saints.  However, the saints testify to us that with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit in our lives, with the grace they gift us with, we can control our demons.  And hopefully over time with God’s grace, we may be able to “dis-empower” our demons.  Most likely they will not completely disappear from our lives.  However, we will be better able to recognize them and control them, rather than our demons controlling us.

And with our more powerful demons, only the grace of God or Jesus’ grace will do.  Today be attentive to your demons.  Take your demons to Jesus!  He will drive them out!

Reflection: Luke 11:5-13

Thursday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11: 5-13
 

Today Jesus once again is criticized by the crowd for driving the demon out of a man who was possessed.  Some of the people said: “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons.”  Others tried to test Jesus in a variety of ways.  However, Jesus could read their thoughts and hearts.  Finally Jesus says to them: “Every kingdom, city and house divided against itself will be laid waste and eventually will fall.”

 

Sad to say, Jesus also is warning us about Beelzebub.  Typically Beelzebub appears to us in a friendly and disarming manner.  For children, Beelzebub may appear in the guise of a playmate who invites them to steal a candy bar or to throw rocks at a neighbor’s window.  Or perhaps it may be a friend who encourages us to taunt a playmate who is shy or backward.  For adults, it might be a co-worker who encourages us to criticize the boss.  Or it may be a neighbor who seems to aggravate us just for the pleasure of it.  The reality is that we typically have more than one “Beelzebub” in our lives.  Thus, we have to be consistently alert to how these “Beelzebubs” strive to divide us.

 

Can you remember a time in your life when you experienced being divided?  It may have been a personal struggle.  Or perhaps you were caught between two friends who were “at war” with each other.  Or your parents were concerned about the friends you were running around with.  Yet, they were your friends!  Or at work, you were asked to do something that seemed shady or dishonest.  As you remember, what was that experience like for you?  Most likely, it was not a peaceful or easy time for you.

 

Today most people do not talk about “demons.”  However, the “tempters” are all around us.  Their temptations often seem minor or insignificant.  Yet if we give into these small and seemingly insignificant temptations, our life may evolve in a way that is not healthy for us, our families or our communities.  The reality is: we do need to be vigilant.  Most every day we receive an invitation to stray from the path we have chosen.  The invitation may come through the internet, a TV show or another person.  Be especially alert to your personal demons.  They can “get us” before we realize it! 

 

Today Jesus reminds us: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; know and the door will be opened to you.”  Jesus is always with us.  And Jesus will grace us and lead us.  True, we may have Beelzebub/s in our lives.  However, we are never alone!  Jesus will grace us and gift us with the insight and strength we need!  What more can we ask?

Reflection: Luke 11:1-4

October 7^th: Wednesday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:1-4

In this reading from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus presents a scenario to his disciples.  Suppose you have an unexpected guest who shows up in the middle of the night.  Now this friend has traveled quite a distance and is hungry.  However, you don’t have any food in the house.  It’s late and all the markets are closed.  Thus, the only option available was to go next-door and ask a neighbor for some food . 

 

However, in this scenario when the man goes to his neighbor’s house and says: “I need some bread,” this neighbor tells him to leave him alone!  After all, it was the middle of the night and everyone was in bed asleep.  However, the man persisted.  He did not leave but rather continued to ask!  Finally the neighbor opens the door and gives the man some bread.  He did this not because he wanted to but rather he simply wanted to silence this neighbor so he could get some sleep.  And so it was!  The neighbor was grateful for the food and the man finally went back to bed.  As we know, if the man had not been persistent in his request for food, he and his guest would have gone to bed hungry.

 

Jesus encourages us to be persistent as well as patient.  He tells us that if we ask, we will receive.  And if we knock, eventually the door will be opened.  And if we are steadfast in our seeking, we will find.  The question for us may be: Will we patiently wait?  Do we truly trust that Jesus will open the door to us?  Do we believe that Jesus will satisfy our hunger?  Only we can answer those questions.  Do we trust that Jesus will gift and grace us with what we truly need?  I pray we do!  He will not fail us!

Reflection: Luke 10:38-42

Tuesday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:38-42

Today we have the familiar story of Martha and Mary.  As we know Martha was the workaholic and Mary was the contemplative.  When Jesus came to the town where Mary and Martha lived, he went to their home.  Martha welcomed him and then immediately went to the kitchen to prepare a delicious meal for him.  Most likely Jesus had not had a home-cooked meal in quite a while.

 

Mary, however, sat down at Jesus’ feet.  She talked with him and listened attentively to him.  Over time, Martha began to get angry.  She was doing all the work!  In Martha’s mind, the least Mary could do was ask her if she needed some help.  However, Mary did not do so.  Martha was upset and angry.  Here she was slaving away at the stove while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. 

 

Finally Martha’s anger escalated to the point where she had to express it.  She says to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that Mary has left me to do all the work?  Tell her to help me!”  However, Jesus does not respond to Martha as she anticipated.  Jesus gently scolded Martha for being so anxious and worried.  He then tells Martha: “There is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” 

 

Now put yourself in Martha’s shoes.  How do you think you would respond to this seeming reprimand?  Would you react as Martha did (at least initially)?  Or would you pause and reflect on Jesus’ statement and your reaction to his statement?  Or would you think to yourself: am I jealous of Mary’s relationship with Jesus?  Or are my priorities out of order?’ 

 

Today Jesus is asking each of us: What takes priority in my life?  One way to answer this question might be to ask ourselves: How do I use my time?  Do I fritter it away?  Do I work 12 hours a day?  Do I spend quality time with the people I care about?  Do I make time for prayer?  Do I spend time with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? 

 

No one else needs to know the answers to these questions.  However, your answers to these questions may give you some insight into your life.  In our busy and distracting world, it is very easy to get “off-track.”  Today Jesus is inviting us to come away and spend time with him.  What a wonderful invitation!  Will we accept this invitation?  Or will we ignore this invitation?