The gospel from yesterday (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) is another opportunity Jesus takes to try to enlighten the Pharisees and scribes to the error of their ways.  The line above is the response of these religious leaders to the types of folks who were gathering to hear Jesus.  Knowing this, Jesus tells the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  This very familiar story has one of two sons ask for his inheritance immediately.  He goes off, blows it all, and eventually finds himself in dire straits, starving.  Desperate, he decides to go back to his father, asking to simply work as a hired hand.  His father rushes to him when he sees his son far off.  He throws a lavish party for the returned son.  His brother is angry about this treatment and refuses to join in.  The father pleads with him and he tells the father off.  The father responds that they must celebrate the return of the “dead” brother.  Jesus, the sinless One, welcomed sinners (the prodigals) and shared the intimacy of meals with them.  We, sinners, have a much more difficult time doing the same with our fellow reprobates.  It does us much good to meditate on the horror of sin — starting with our own.  A large crucifix should be a fixture in every Christian home to remind us what sin did and what it continues to do, how it affects God and neighbor.  And it does us no good to compare sins (witness the Pharisee and tax collector: Lk 18:9-14) or be concerned to point out others’ transgressions (see Mt 7:3-5).  A good mantra, oft repeated the last five hundred years, is “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”  So, let us thank the Lord for sparing us from the fate of the grievous sinner while continuing our own reform, but let us look to bring him out of the muck by our prayers, concern, and love.  Eat with the sinner.  We may be the only encounter with Christ that he has.

As with the previous post, yesterday’s reading was addressed to religious leaders (this time, the chief priests and the scribes) (Mt 21:33-43, 45-46).  Jesus tells the parable of the vineyard owner who leased to bad tenants.  When the landowner sends people in his employ to get the produce of his land, they are beaten, stoned, or killed.  Thinking his son will get respect, he too is killed.  When Jesus asks His listeners what the landowner should do, the response is: kick out the current tenants and replace them with those who will properly care for the property.  Jesus concludes by telling His listeners that they will lose the Kingdom and that it will be inherited by others.  These men wanted to arrest Him but feared the crowds, as Jesus was very popular and considered a prophet.  Targeting God’s servants for maltreatment is nothing new.  Jesus talks about how the Old Testament prophets were abused; He is predicting here what may well happen to those who embrace the Lord and remain steadfast.  All that being said, we can also learn from this at the personal level.  We must be extremely cautions and introspective when we are challenged in encounters with others.  Folks who are real trials for us, especially those who tell us what we don’t want to hear about ourselves, should be treated with the respect due to all children of God.  Not to say that we must take abuse under all circumstances, but we should be more cognizant of opportunities to grow closer to God by acknowledging our real faults in all humility.  May we never figuratively (and, of course, literally) beat, kill, or stone a messenger who God puts in our lives in order to help us reform; rather, let us treat it as an opportunity to show our love for God through an authentic and heartfelt witness to the Golden Rule..

Two days ago we heard Jesus tell the Pharisees the story of the rich man and the poor, sick beggar, Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31).  While alive, the rich man lived well, never taking notice of the decrepit mendicant at his gate.  First Lazarus, then the rich man, dies.  Lazarus is carried to Abraham’s bosom while the rich man is tortured by fire in the netherworld.  Seeing the two of them far off, the rich man begs for a drop of water but does not receive even this relief.  Then he asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn the rich man’s brothers so that they might avoid the torment their sibling is enduring.  Abraham ends with the words at top.  An obvious allusion to Jesus’ forthcoming death.  While the Pharisees studied Moses and the other prophets of the Old Testament (as should we), as of yet did not have that event as an historical reality.  We, on the other hand, have had if for nearly two thousand years.  What is our excuse for endangering our immortal souls due to worldly pleasures?  Do we not believe the reality of torment in the next world, whether it be in purgatory or hell?  Even if we begin only with a servile fear of punishment, God can start to work on us from that point.  Of course, where we want to get to is rejection of sin purely out of love of God and the desire not to offend Him.  But that is a work in progress for us all, maybe a lifetime of work.  The good news is that Jesus meets us where we’re at but loves us too much to let us stay there.  His offer of grace and mercy goes far beyond anything we can do wrong.  But we must sincerely ask for these blessings and continue to forsake sin so that we are more open to receiving the good gifts God freely gives.

Nearing Jerusalem in the last days of His life, Jesus very specifically foretells to the disciples what will soon happen to Him (Mt 20:17-28).  He tells of His impending arrest, conviction, mocking, scourging, crucifixion, and resurrection.  After saying this, the mother of apostles James and John asks Jesus to place her sons at His right and left in the Kingdom.  Jesus responds by asking the two men the question above.  They respond in the affirmative.  Jesus, in reply, tells them they will drink the chalice but that their place in heaven will be determined by the Father.  When the other ten express their displeasure with these two Jesus reminds them of the importance of humility and service, offering Himself as an example, particularly His upcoming death for the ransom of all men.  As with most, if not all, questions Jesus asks of His hearers, this question is directed to us as well.  Continuing a theme we have been hearing often during Lent, Jesus calls everyone to imitate Him in service to mankind.  For Jesus this would lead to brutal torture and death.  This is the thanks He got for preaching the truth.  Do we expect something different?  We should be willing, even happy, to take the cup of suffering, and unite our trials and tribulations with those of Christ.  These things will come to pass anyway, so why not go through them with the One who preceded us in a trial we cannot even imagine.  He understands our pains on every level: emotional, physical, and spiritual.  He bore the weight of all sins of all time in His body, soul, and spirit.  Suffering will come in the normal course of everyone’s life.  If we joyfully exacerbate our difficulties by living and speaking the gospel truth in season and out of season, especially in this time “when people will not tolerate sound doctrine […] and will stop listening to the truth,” thanks be to God! (2 Tim 4:1-5 and cf. Acts 5:40-41)  The key is to have frequent recourse to the Lord who empathizes, heals, and strengthens.

Now Jesus addresses the crowds as well as the disciples (Mt 23-1-12).  He points to the scribes and Pharisees as worthy to be listened to because of their teaching authority (they occupy the chair of Moses) but their example is not to be followed.  They put burdens on others but take it easy themselves.  They flaunt their religious garb and love human respect wherever they go.  Jesus tells His listeners not to seek after or glory in titles of “Teacher,” “Father,” or “Master,” but rather recognize that compared to God, who is perfectly all these things, they are simply humble servants.  If they embrace humility, they will be exalted.  If they prefer pride, they will be humbled.  The words at top sum up the general attitude of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time.  They are not to be emulated.  So this lesson does provide us an excellent addition to a good examination of conscience for us.  Do we exalt in trumpeting good works we have done?  Do we wear our faith on our sleeves primarily to garner adulation, deference, or favoritism?  This should not be our way.  “I” should not be in the picture.  We read here how we are commanded to be servants (reinforced most prominently at the Last Supper — Jn 13:13-15).  Since this is so, we are simply to follow what we are told to do, that is, our duty, without patting ourselves on the back (cf. Lk 17:10).  If there is a good reason to share some experience of ours in this regard, the focus should be completely on God (for His goodness in inspiring and enabling us to do this work) and others (whom we are called to love serve), while avoiding heralding our own contribution.  If it is the Lord’s will, the good we do will be noticed for the purposes of inspiring other and prompting them to follow our humble lead.  But all we should require for contentment is to know that we are conforming to God’s will for us in our lives “and your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Mt 6:4).

The short excerpt proclaimed today (Lk 6:36-38) has Jesus once again teaching His disciples privately.  It is a short, intense lesson in which Jesus insists that they show mercy,  forgiveness, and generosity as opposed to judging and condemning.  He closes with the message above.  For the disciples (and us), this is a preview of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus will teach them in chapter eleven (vv. 2-4).  It follows His declaration of the Golden Rule just a few verses before (v. 31).  And of course it is perfectly in line with Jesus’ own example, most especially during His Passion.  If we generously measure out the sweet nectar of love and forgiveness, this is what we will receive from the Lord now and at the moment of death.  If we choose to ladle the poison of revenge and condemnation, then this, instead, is what we earn for ourselves.  Not that God exhibits these traits toward us, but rather it is we who show that this is the mode in which we are most comfortable and in which we prefer to exist.  Truly, it is the unrepentant sinner that condemns himself through his actions toward God and neighbor.  In a world which glories in vengeance, judges constantly, and condemns easily, may we be the counter-cultural voice that puts forward through our thoughts, our words, and, most importantly, our actions, the proper disposition (i.e., God’s disposition) towards others.

The Second Sunday of Lent gives us the scene of the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28b-36).  Jesus goes up the mountain with His three closest companions to pray.  While they doze off, Jesus’ face and closing change appearance and Moses and Elijah appear and converse with Jesus.  Now fully alert, Peter wants to make three tents for them but then a cloud overcomes them all, frightening the apostles.  A voice tells them to listen to Jesus the Son.  After this, all returns to normal.  The apostles do not share this experience with anyone for a time.  Very often in the gospels we find Jesus left alone because of betrayal (Judas), denial (Peter), fear (the disciples and other followers during the Passion and Jesus’ death, save a few), grief (these same three apostles during the Agony in the Garden), unbelief (the challenge of the Bread of Life discourse in John 6), His challenge (the rich young man), or simply when Jesus desired it (to pray to His Father and prepare for or aid His mission).  Now, of course, Jesus was never truly alone because, as part of the Holy Trinity, He can never be separated from the Father (cf. Jn 16:32) and the Spirit (although even this sensible perception could be taken away — cf. Mt 27:46).  God forbid that we would ever betray Jesus, giving Him up for worldly things (our own “thirty pieces of silver”); or deny Him when He becomes inconvenient to our own selfish desires or when belief in Him becomes inconvenient (or worse) for us in relation to others; or let fear overcome us when the “or worse” confronts us personally; or be so weighed down by grief that we don’t even think to turn to Him or somehow believe He can’t help — or won’t; or doubt Him or stop believing altogether when faith is challenged; or abandon Him because the challenge He presents is too great or does not fit into our plan.  An additional problem today, that we don’t hear of in the gospels, is apathy toward, or ignoring of, the Lord.  He certainly made His presence felt in His time.  It is different today as God more and more is pushed out of society increasing the danger that the same will happen in individual’s lives.  But it is precisely in these times that we need to embrace Him all the more and evangelize in a world that needs Him desperately.  This is where the positive lesson of Jesus reason for being alone comes: in recourse to prayer.  Jesus, alone today in many tabernacles, desires us to be with Him, to ask for anything, to pour out our hearts, to speak to us, to deepen or faith, hope, and love, to provide guidance, to bask in His presence, and to appreciate His goodness.  Just as Jesus was never truly alone, neither are we.  Whether by ourselves in our rooms, or ideally in adoration, let us spend much time alone with Jesus.

Back to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus famously tells His disciples to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors (Mt 5:43-48).  Loving only those who love you and greeting only those with whom you are close exhibits behavior no different from sinners and unbelievers.  Jesus closes with the words above.  A tall order, no?  Yet perfection is what is required to get to heaven.  If we die in the state of grace, we are assured eternal beatitude.  But nothing unclean gets to be with the Lord God.  In whatever way we fall short in our earthly lives, again assuming that we are not in mortal sin at death, we must expiate that remaining stain in purgatory.  If Jesus calls us to be perfect here and now, this is what we are to strive for.  “I’m only human” is not an excuse; we have the grace of baptism and the ongoing help of the sacraments available to us.  “I’m basically a good person,” while holding on to comfortable vices and “small” sins, will not cut it.  Jesus did not die for mortal sins alone, but for all sin.  This is a deadly serious business — just look at a crucifix.  And look at how many times Jesus refers to hell — it exists and one can decide to go there.  Sin is abhorrent to God.  And He knows (and we know, if we are honest) that letting “little” sins slide disposes us to justify and fall into more egregious — and even deadly — error.  Resist temptation and flee from sin into the arms of Jesus with recourse for intercession in difficulty to His Blessed Mother.

This Feast of the Chair of St. Peter brings us Simon’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Mt 16:13-19).  What leads up to this is Jesus asking His disciples what they have heard about who He is.  They give a variety of answers.  When Jesus asks the same of the disciples, Simon speaks up.  His correct answer (revealed to him by the Father) leads Jesus to say the words at top, giving Simon a new name.  He is also entrusted the keys to heaven, with the power to bind and loose sins.  This is a particularly poignant feast day considering the current pope will renounce the chair of Peter in less than a week.  What a wonderful gift the papacy has been, especially in recent years.  An authoritative voice, safeguarded by the promise of the Holy Spirit to be infallible in teachings on faith and morals, means we never have to be without an earthly shepherd who guides us in truth.  Great deference must be given to his teachings, as he assumes a unique position for Catholics (and, frankly, as a moral leader to the world).  Because of his awesome responsibilities it is very important to pray for the reigning Holy Father and, especially now with this unusual transition about to take place, the cardinal electors who are soon to choose his successor.  May God bless Pope Benedict in his remaining days as pope and on earth and may the Spirit of truth completely possess his successor.

Moving back to the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 7:7-12), we again listen in as Jesus speaks to His disciples.  He tells them to ask, to seek, and to knock — by doing so their Father in heaven will give them good things beyond compare.  He closes with the Golden Rule which He says summarizes the law and the prophets.  If we search for the truth, sincerely allowing God to lead us in this quest, we will certainly find real answers.  These may not always be the responses we would like to hear, but the Lord knows what we need to hear.   “The truth will set you free” Jesus tells Jewish believers in John’s Gospel (8:32).  And how will they come to the truth?   By remaining in His word (v. 31).  How’s that?  Sin obscures the light of truth.  Striving to remain in God’s word means we can no longer remain in sin.  As the dross of sin and vice is washed away, the truth becomes ever clearer to us.  The truth of revelation is found in Scripture and Tradition safeguarded by the Magisterium (i.e., teaching authority) of the Church.  Frequent recourse to Scripture, first and foremost, and the sure teaching of the Church (The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a superb place to begin) provides illumination on the truth.  As the Word takes root in us, we are better able to share it with other seekers or those who need the encouragement to begin to explore.  When the conviction of the truth finds a home in our hearts, it will shine through in our every thought, word, and action.  The truth has an irresistible appeal as the desire for It is placed in every human heart by its Creator.  May we be conduits of the Way, the Truth, and the Life.