Reflection: Matthew 9:32-38

Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time – Matthew 9:32-38

This Gospel begins as several people bring to Jesus a man who was unable to speak because he was possessed by a demon.  Jesus approached the man and drove the demon out of him.  Immediately, the man’s speech was completely restored.  The crowds who witnessed this healing were awed and amazed!  They looked at one another and said: “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

Pharisees were in the crowd also.   After seeing Jesus heal the man, they were not awestruck; rather they made derogatory and dismissive comments.  They accused Jesus of driving out the demons by the power of the prince of demons.

Jesus did not allow the Pharisees’ criticism and disbelief of Him to deter Him from His mission.   Jesus traveled throughout the countryside, preaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and illness.  Jesus had a tender and loving heart;  He was sensitive to every person who was in need.  Matthew writes: “His heart was moved with pity for them as they were troubled and abandoned.  They were like sheep who had no shepherd to care for them.”

Jesus realized how deeply the people were in need.  After a time, Jesus looked at His disciples and said to them: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.  Ask the harvest master to send out laborers for his harvest.”   Today, we are Jesus’ disciples in our world and today Jesus looks at each one of us and says to us: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.”

Today and everyday, Jesus is calling us to go out and care for the people who are in need: individuals who are filled with sorrow, pain, or loneliness.  How will we respond to Jesus’ call?  Will we follow Him or will we ignore or dismiss Him when He calls us?

Reflection: John 14:23-29

Independence Day (Votive Mass for Peace and Justice) – John 14:23-29

In today’s gospel passage, we hear the familiar and loving words of Jesus, “My peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” I invite you to silently absorb these words for two or three minutes. Then after a time, slowly and mindfully repeat Jesus’ words four or five times.  Then sit quietly for two or three more minutes trusting that Jesus is with you.

Did you sense or experience the peace and presence of Jesus?  When we are upset, troubled, or fearful Jesus may feel very far away.  At these times, if we consciously breathe in His peace and His presence, we may begin to sense that He is with us.

Jesus is always with us; however, we are not always aware that we are in His presence.  We need to consciously and deliberately place ourselves in Jesus’ presence.  If we do so, He will not fail us!

Reflection: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Sunday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Today Jesus chooses seventy-two other disciples.  He immediately sends them out two by two into the villages to preach the Good News and gives them lengthy and detailed instructions. 

Today Jesus sends us forth to preach the Good News.  We may preach the Good News by our word, our example, and our love.  We may preach the Good News by noticing and attending to an individual we encounter.  Often it is the little acts of kindness that have the greatest potential to be gift to another individual.  We may preach the Good News with a smile or perhaps we spend 10-15 minutes of our time and sit down and listen to a friend who is struggling.  We may hear about a good cause and we decide to contribute to that cause.

In today’s world, we are Jesus’ disciples.  Will our actions, love and care for people demonstrate that we are Jesus’ disciples?  The acts we do may seem very small to us.  However, if done with great love, the smallest act may be a great gift to someone you encounter today!

Reflection: Matthew 9:14-17

Saturday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time – Matthew 9:14-17

Today some of John’s disciples approach Jesus and ask: “Why do the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not fast?”  Jesus said to them: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will fast.”

Jesus then uses another metaphor to explain what He means.  He say: “No one patches an old cloak with new fabric; if they do so, the new fabric will pull away from the old cloak and the tear will get worse.”  Jesus gives them another analogy: “Nor do people put new wine in old wineskins.  If they do so, the old wineskins will burst and the wine will be lost.  Rather, they put new wine in new wineskins.”  New wineskins have elasticity and thus, they expand while the new wine is fermenting. 

Today’s Gospel may prompt to ask ourselves:  What areas of my life are working well?  Who and what bring me happiness, joy, and peace?  Then pause and ask yourself:  What in my life would I like to change?  What are the behaviors, attitudes, or choices that do not serve me well? 

Jesus longs for us to be happy.  To an extent, what we choose may bring us happiness, peace, and contentment.  However, some of our choices may bring us unease or perhaps even unhappiness.  The difficulty is that no one else can choose for us or make it better for us.   Only we can choose what will bring us happiness, peace, and joy!  Jesus will walk with us and guide us if we invite Him to do so. 

Today pray to Jesus: “Jesus, show me the way to life.  Help me to make life-giving choices that daily will bring me happiness and joy.” Then pray for an open and listening heart!

Reflection: Matthew 9:9-13

Friday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time – Matthew 9:9-13

The Gospel reading for today is “the call of Matthew.”  Jesus saw Matthew as he walked by Matthew’s custom post.  Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” and immediately Matthew got up and followed Jesus.

Matthew then invited Jesus and the disciples to his home to share a meal.  Many tax collectors and sinners also were invited to the meal and they sat in the midst of Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they were scandalized.  They asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  However, the disciples did not have a chance to respond to the question.  Jesus had heard their question and he said to the Pharisees: “Those who are well do not have need of a physician, the sick do.  Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” Jesus then continued, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Pope Francis is a wonderful example in our day of a person who truly follows in Jesus’ footsteps. He reaches out to the poor, the needy, and the disenfranchised.  He is a man who embodies the grace of joy.  Joy flows out from his being. 

Today Jesus is calling us to follow him.  Will we follow him with a joyful and merciful heart? Our world is in desperate need of joy and mercy.  If we share our joy and mercy with others today, we may find that joy and mercy will return to us a hundredfold!