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Dear Preachers:
Those of us gathered for worship today are truly diverse: from different cultural backgrounds, countries of origins, races, etc. But what binds us together is our baptism in Jesus. Whatever our differences and whatever language we speak, we all say together, “We believe in Jesus Christ and so his way is our way.” Our basic identity is that we are a community of Jesus’ followers and we love him. Therefore, our love for him urges us to live like him.
But does not hearing the Sermon on the Mount these Sundays leave you weak in the knees? How can we ever live these teachings? How will we even know how to live them? Because of his miracles and teachings Jesus had attracted great crowds. In order to teach those closest to him, he took them up a mountain. Two Sundays ago, we heard the Beatitudes, the introduction to a collection of his teachings which we call the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes called for the profound inner change necessary for anyone wanting to follow Jesus. That kind of change is spelled out in his subsequent teachings.
When we hear Jesus’ sermon, what Paul says in 1 Corinthians today is true: we are called to live, not according to the wisdom of this age, but according to God’s wisdom. That wisdom, Paul reminds us, has been revealed to us in the life of Jesus made known to us, “through the Spirit.”
Through the gift of the Spirit, we have come to accept Jesus Christ as God’s full revelation in the flesh. We need to remind ourselves today that the same Spirit makes it possible for us to live according to Jesus’ teaching. After all, Jesus is not just giving us a stricter, higher code of ethics. That is not what makes his teachings special. Rather, through our baptism and the gift of his Spirit, we have the desire and divine power to live what we are being taught again today. That new Spirit in us is what enables us to live, as Jesus tells us, with a “holiness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees.
I am choosing the short form of the gospel today. The longer offering (5:17–37) just seems like a lot. I do not want to overwhelm the congregation with a long list of “do’s and don’ts.” But even in the shorter version we hear Jesus calling us, not to a superficial, exterior performance of commandments, but to a far more profound response – deeper, interior change that will enable us to do as he instructs.
How discouraged his followers must have been when Jesus taught in this way! After all, the Pharisees were considered the righteous and holy ones. Jesus’ challenge though was not only to his followers, but to the Pharisees and scribes as well. Their religion was to go deeper than exterior works – the right motives had to support right behavior. His demands are high indeed! They seem impossible to achieve.
The Pharisees spent a lot of time and energy fulfilling the Law. They were of the middle class and, unlike the desperately poor, who comprised most of Jesus' followers, the Pharisees had the education and leisure to pursue purity of observance. What chance did the illiterate, overworked and burdened poor followers of Jesus have? For that matter, what chance do we have in fulfilling these teachings? And yet, Jesus calls for a holiness that surpasses those scribes and Pharisees!
From today’s gospel selection, we hear that Jesus wants to cut short, at its inception, a path that might lead to murder. So, he says to his disciples they are to control their anger. In cases of adultery, families would seek retaliation on the couple because of the shame brought down on those families, especially on the husband. To prevent adultery and the subsequent blood feud that would erupt, Jesus tells his disciples not even to think such a thing – no lusting after another. In addition, good community relations, especially among believers, would be possible if people behaved honestly with one another; if they could trust each other’s words. So, no lying.
Jesus called his disciples to exemplary behavior. Such ways of being with one another, besides forming loving relationships in the community, would also draw attention to that community and to the teachings of the one they followed – Jesus. Today he is giving concrete examples of what we heard him say to his disciples last week. They are to be “salt of the earth,” “light of the world” and a “city set on a mountain.”
Note the structure for the sayings. Each begins: “You have heard of the commandment….” Then Jesus presents his unique teaching, “But I say to you….” He credits the former teaching and by giving specific examples, calls his disciples to a greater righteousness, a more exacting “law.” A “new law.”
We Christians are called to a different way of living, in our relations to each other and then to the world. We seek reconciliation where there is anger and alienation. We take our desires despite the license of the world around us. We are faithful to one another and so, when we make promises, we keep them.
What will help us live the challenges Jesus places before us? Certainly, we cannot do it merely by gritting our teeth and putting our nose to the grindstone. Instead, we fix our eyes on Jesus, and we turn to each other in mutual love and support. Sound idealistic? Yes it does, but Jesus would not ask us to fulfill something he would not help us accomplish.
It is no wonder that our Sirach reading was chosen today. It is part of the Wisdom tradition in the Hebrew Scriptures. According to that tradition human actions have specific consequences. We are free to conform our lives to God’s ordered ways, or not. In today’s reading, though short, the word “choose (s)” is mentioned three times. This Wisdom reading underlines our freedom and so encourages us to use it to make choices in accord with God’s wisdom. As difficult as these choices may be at times, the believer hears Sirach’s words of encouragement: “trust in God, you too will live.” We are assured that making these choices will be life-giving, for God’s eyes rest on the faithful. (“The eyes of God are on those who fear God....”)
Jesus’ life showed us what the Sermon looks like when enfleshed. He is now our wise teacher who shows us the way to life and gives us his Spirit to help us to choose those life-giving ways. His disciples are to continue putting flesh on the Sermon in their lives. Whatever our circumstances, people who may never read the Sermon on the Mount should be able to learn its content by examining our lives.
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021526.cfm
“The Sermon on the Mount fills me with bliss even today. Its sweet verses have even today the power to quench my agony of soul.” ---Mahatma Gandhi
Blessed are they who observe God’s decrees, who seek the Lord with all their heart —Psalm 119: 2
As we just celebrated St. Valentine’s Day, thoughts of the heart are still fresh on our minds. For many of us, it is a day of showering our dear ones with visible signs of our love. I wonder how many of us Christian adults took this day to shower God, hidden in the guise of a stranger, with love? What would our children learn from loving encounters with the disadvantaged and the poor?
Beginning in 1843, The Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies active in over 130 countries throughout the world. The Missionary Childhood Association seeks to: inspire children to be open-hearted in their communities; help children experience the joy of being part of a global family where everyone is important and helps one another; and educate children in a missionary outlook, expanding their awareness of the needs of children worldwide. It serves as a vital tool for children to grow in faith and develop a sense of universal solidarity, the sensitivity to others that is an essential dimension of Christianity. MCA’s motto is “Children Helping Children” through prayer, evangelization, and action. To learn more: The Missionary Childhood Association - Pontifical Mission Societies
A bit of history about MCA: Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson was much in demand by French bishops, who were serving as missionaries in the USA – the “Missions” of his day, to visit the young U.S. churches and then return home to encourage support for their work. In 1839, Bishop Forbin-Janson did just that, sailing across the ocean and landing in New York. He also visited New Orleans and Baltimore, as well as Canada, all on horseback. When he returned to France two years later, he met an old friend – Pauline Jaricot – who had founded the Society that was helping to support the missionary efforts he had seen firsthand in the United States. During a conversation between these two friends in 1843, Bishop Forbin-Janson shared his own longtime dream – to help the children of the Missions. He was convinced that children rich in faith and love were capable of playing their own part in the Church’s mission – and of even stirring adults to the same generous missionary spirit. Sometime during the course of their talk, the Holy Childhood Association, now Missionary Childhood Association was born. It continues to be love on a mission.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC
Mini-reflections on the Sunday scripture readings designed for persons on the run. “Faith Book” is also brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home. From today’s Gospel reading:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Reflection:
What will help us live the challenges Jesus places before us in the Sermon on the Mount? Certainly, we cannot fulfill them merely by gritting our teeth and putting our nose to the grindstone. Instead, realizing our limitations, we turn to Jesus and ask for a renewed gift of his Spirit. Sound idealistic? Yes it does, but Jesus would not ask us to fulfill something he would not help us accomplish.
So, we ask ourselves:
Postcards To Death Row Inmates
“One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out.” ---Pope Francis
Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.
Please write to: Edward Davis #0100579 (On death row since 3/12/1992) Kenneth Rouse #0353186 (3/25/1992) Michael Reeves #0339314 (5/14/1992) ---Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131 Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.
For more information on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org DONATIONS
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