Tag Archives: faith

Christmas Day 6: Now vs. forever

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The first reading is from 1 Jn 2:12-17. We continue reading John’s first letter where he addresses messages to specific groups.

[T]he world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (v. 17)

“On the one hand, ‘the world and its enticement are passing away.’ The fallen world with its enticements to sin will not endure, and when Jesus returns, the ‘world’ in this sense will definitively pass away. Paul says the same: ‘the world in its present form is passing away’ (1 Cor 7:31). On the other hand, ‘whoever does the will of God remains forever.’ the one who keeps the commandments of God and walk in the light hes eternal life. John’s point is plain: if we choose to love the world and its ways, we are loving something deceitful that will pass away; if we choose to love the Father and do his will, we will enjoy everlasting life with him.” (James, First, Second, and Third John [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], 165)

“‘The term ‘world’ has a number of meanings in Sacred Scripture. Here it has the pejorative sense of enemy of God and man, and includes everything that is opposed to God — the kingdom of sin. Following Christ involves a radical choice: ‘No one can serve two masters’ (Mt 6:24; ‘friendship with the world is enmity with God’ (Jas 4:4).”” (The Navarre Bible: Catholic Epistles, 171)

What leaps to mind is the old adage “you can’t take it with you.” What we can take are our sins and ungodly attachments. So, another slogan comes to mind: “you can pay me now or pay me later.” Best if we detach and refocus now on what matters (and all that ultimately matters is love of God and love of neighbor).

We continue with Luke (2:36-40) in today’s Gospel, here highlighting Anna, the prophetess, who was in the Temple at the same time as Simeon when the Holy Family arrived.

[Anna] was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. (vv. 36b-37a)

“Her name Anna (Hannah in Hebrew) recalls Hannah the mother of Samuel…[The excerpt above] suggests that if Mary represents Israel as virgin, Anna represents Israel primarily as widow (‘eighty-four’ equals twelve times seven– i.e., the number of Israel’s tribes times the number of perfection). Isaiah’s prophecy is being fulfilled: ‘The reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. / For your husband is your Maker; / the Lord of hosts is his name, / Your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel’ (Isa 54:4-5; see 62:4-5, 12). Isaiah is portraying the Lord God as Israel’s bridegroom redeemer — that is, the kinsman who redeems a childless widow by marrying her (see Ruth 4;5-6, 14).” (The Gospel of Luke [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], 72)

Talk about someone who is detached and focused. Anna devotes her whole life to the Lord and has the keen insight, aided by grace (and Simeon, no doubt), to recognize Him when He comes. Imagine her joy! She must not have stopped speaking of this day for the rest of her days, which I suspect, like Simeon’s, were short. This woman, probably looked on as a bit more than a little eccentric until this day, maybe gained some new found respect. Or not. Nevertheless, a lifetime of prayer, penance, and fasting, yielded the greatest reward for her at the end of this life, and undoubtedly upon this babe’s ultimate Resurrection.

God bless.

The Prophetess Anna Greets the Christ Child (2023 photo) by Lester Yocum

Christmas Day 5: Walk the walk

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The first reading is from 1 Jn 2:3-11. A challenge and a promise.

The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked. (v. 3-6)

“For St John, knowing God is not merely an intellectual exercise nor does he mean that the immensity of God can be grasped by man’s limited understanding. It refers to something much simpler and more important: knowing God means being united to him by faith and love — by grace…

“‘Keeping his commandments’ (vv. 3 and 4), ‘Keeping his word’ (v., 5), ‘walking in the same way in which he walked’ (v. 6): keeping the commandments is absolutely necessary, because there is no room for faith without works (cf. 1 Jn 3:17-18; Jas 2:14ff; Gal 5:6). Similarly, one must keep the work of God, that is , accept all revelation docilely (and idea found very often in John : c.f., e.g., Jn 5:38; 8:31, 51; 1 Jn 2;14). But, above all, Christians must identify their life with Christ’s….” (The Navarre Bible: Catholic Epistles, 168)

Christianity does not espouse an “easy believism”: “I’ve accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, so my ticket to heaven is stamped.” No, Jesus in the Gospels makes it clear, over and over, that the demands are great and the path is narrow. Our faith is not for the weak of heart or the weak of spirit. The good news, straight from the Lord, in times of temptation:

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)

We can do nothing without grace. But grace through faith allows us to move mountains — if only we accept these gifts.

JESUS AND THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

I just finished Dr. John Bergsma’s book. If the subject of the Dead Sea Scrolls is unfamiliar to you or seems uninteresting to you, this book will enlighten and interest you. The primary importance of these documents for Christians is how they enlighten our understanding of the sacraments and the early Church, being written approximately contemporaneous to the New Testament. Bergsma makes it interesting and accessible to the engaged reader — q worthy effort that I can highly recommend without reservation.

ST. THOMAS BECKET

Article: St. Thomas Becket

Pray for us!

God bless.

Christmas Day 3: κοινωνία

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The first reading is from 1 Jn 1:1-4, the prologue of John’s first letter which echoes the prologue of this same Apostle’s Gospel. Let us focus on a key word, rendered in Greek above:

[W]hat we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us (v. 3)

“In the New Testament the Greek word koinōnia is translated in a variety of ways: ‘sharing,’ ‘partnership,’ ‘contribution,’ ‘participation,’ ‘communion,’ and ‘fellowship.’ It can refer to the sharing of money and material resources within the Christian community (2 Cor 8:4; 9:13; Heb 13:16). It is used to designate the common life shared by the first Christians in Jerusalem after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: ‘They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life [koinōnia], to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.’ (Acts 2:42). Koinōnia also applies to our relationship with the persons of the Trinity: we are called to ‘fellowship with Jesus Christ’ (1 Cor 1:9); we jointly share ‘fellowship’ with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:3, 6); and Paul prays for an increase in: ‘communion’ with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:13 NRSV). Paul also speaks of our koinōnia (‘participation,’ ‘communion’) in the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist (1 Cor 10:16). When we have koinōnia with God, we share in his life and power; when we have koinōnia with one another, we place our lives in common and share our resources as brothers and sisters. In 1 John, koinōnia describes both our fellowship with God and with one another — a rich communion of life and bonds of love that are meant to characterize the faithful.” (James, First, Second, and Third John [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], 140)

Wow, the term koinōnia encompasses a lot doesn’t it — really, every relationship we have: natural and supernatural. The first sentence in the quote above lists six translations of koinōnia. It seems to me that a good exercise is to consider our relationship with God and our fellow humans by working through each of these possibilities and see how we measure up. What of us do we share with God? Are we willing to share with others? Are we partnering with God in His mission here on earth? Do we consider ourselves partners (“accompaniers”) of our fellow man in leading them to the fullness of truth? You get the picture.

John tells us that he is conveying what he has “seen and heard.” What did he hear? Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). The Apostle John was famous for endlessly repeating to his disciples, especially in his frailty near the end of his life, “My little children: love one another (see 1 Jn 3, as well).” Always, or even often, easy? Certainly not. An absolute requirement of the Christian? Definitely so.

As an interesting aside, what about the “other disciple” in today’s Gospel? Check out this article for a breakdown of the “beloved” and “other” disciple in John’s Gospel — you may be surprised.

I close with a fine article written just for today’s feast.

St John, Apostle and Evangelist, ora pro nobis!

God bless.

St. John the Evangelist (1486-1490) by Domenico Ghirlandaio

Christmas Day 2: An endurance test

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading is from Mt 10:17-22. Jesus promises persecution to His followers who are faithful to Him, but a happy denouement.

You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved. (v. 22)

“Persecution has an end, since it is created by man; salvation has no beginning and no end, because it is a participation in the life of God. ’Salvation’ does not come at the end of a persecution simply as a reward for having withstood the trials now past. ’Salvation’ is a full flowering and sure manifestation of that divine Presence that has been active all along in the believer’s witness. ’Salvation’ is the seed of trust and faith come full term ans yielding the fruit of indefectible glory. The physical mobility of Christians, as they flee persecution from city to city, is in eloquent contrast to their interior stability, grounded as they are in the confession of the one Name.” (Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, Vol. I, 570)

“The phrase ‘to the end’ can have different meanings. It might mean to the end of a particular persecution. It might mean to the ends of one’s life (verse 21). It might mean to the end of the present age, when Jesus will return (verse 23). Each of these possible meanings is linked with a corresponding meaning of being saved. If “the end means the end of a persecution, then being saved means surviving it. If the end is the end of one’s life, then being saved means receiving eternal life. If the end is the return of Jesus, then being saved means being rescued from the tribulation that was expected when this age comes to an end (see 24:29). It is not clear which meaning Jesus primarily intended for his listeners. Readers of Matthew’s gospel today might best understand Jesus to be speaking of the end of their days on earth and take his words as a promise of eternal life if they endure in their faith.” (Bringing the Gospel of Matthew to Life, 194)

With the second quote, I can’t help but recall a preacher years ago speaking of those who obsess about when the end of time will occur, scouring Scripture for clues, attempting to read the “signs of the time” and, from that, making predictions. His message: we don’t know when the end of the world is coming but we know for sure that our end is coming, so be prepared! I have long been content with Jesus’ exclamation, further along in Matthew, to those to whom He was speaking regarding His ultimate return:

But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone…
Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. (Mt 24:36, 42)

This reading promises that persecution will be part and parcel of being a faithful follower of Jesus — from the Lord’s own mouth. Fleeing from tribulations because of our faith is a fool’s errand. If we truly believe, we embrace our cross, whatever the cost. Our lives are less than a millisecond in the clock of eternity. May we never compromise our beliefs in the slightest and put our salvation in question. Yes, hostility toward religion in general, Christianity in particular, and Catholicism most specifically, continues to grow. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit for the gift of fortitude to withstand the ongoing persecution, that will continue to grow.

ST. STEPHEN, DEACON AND MARTYR

A good article for reflection. Yesterday we celebrated God’s birth on earth; today we celebrate the first Christian martyr’s birthday into heaven. The entrance of the second made possible by the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the first.

To learn more about this great saint, check out CatholicOnline, a go to spot for saints’ stories.

And to my deacon friends: being on the front lines, you are bound to experience little martyrdoms often. Pray for the strength to continue your witness despite it all. Who knows? God may use you to turn a misguided Saul into a zealous Paul.

St. Stephen, pray for us.

God bless.

Saint Stephen (c. 1575) by Luis de Morales

Christmas Day 1: Shepherding a Mirrored Heart

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading is from Lk 2:15-20. I have chosen readings from the Mass at Dawn since it is the Mass I attended. A focus on the shepherds, yes, but one very important line about the Blessed Virgin:

And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart. (v. 19)

“Mary contemplates Jesus’ birth and childhood, not from a distance, but as a participant in the mystery (1;35, 43; 2:51). Luke’s insight suggests that Mary is either the direct or indirect source of his information, since she alone could relate these hidden details of the story.” (The Gospel of Luke [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 24)

“Mary has had nine months to ponder what God is doing through her; the shepherds’ report is one more thing to ponder. Mary is apparently included in the ‘all’ who were ‘amazed’ by the shepherds’ words (verse 18), but her response is more than astonishment. ’Mary kept all these things’: the Greek word ‘kept’ has connotations of preserving something, being concerned about it, treasuring it. Mary treasured the events that had unfolded, ‘reflecting on them in her heart.’ The Greek word for ‘reflecting’ on means putting things together, pondering them. In the biblical view, the heart is the seat of thinking and feeling and willing. Mary takes to heart the amazing things that are happening and tries to fathom their meaning. Mary is a model of treasuring al that God says and does, meditating on his word, pondering his plans for our lives.” (Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 64)

Mary “is a true teacher of prayer. If we imitate her, if we guard and ponder in our hearts what Jesus says to us and what he does in us, we are well on the way to Christian holiness and we shall never lack his doctrine and his grace. Also, by meditating in this way on the teaching Jesus has given us, we shall obtain a deeper understanding of the mystery of Christ, which is how ‘the Tradition that comes from the Apostles makes progress in the the Church, with the help of the Holy Spirit.’ (Vatican II, Dei Verbum, 8)” (The Navarre Bible: The Gospel of Luke, 56)

Not only can we take a lesson from Blessed Mary (did anyone in the human history have more to contemplate than she?), but also from the shepherds. Filled with awe as these events unfolded, do you not think they spent many lonely hours on the job contemplating these things in the depths of their being. We must be more like the shepherds: being awestruck by God and taking the time to ponder all that He has done in history and all He has done for us, specifically.

THREE SONGS

A beautiful Catholic song for the season sung beautifully.

My favorite versions of my two favorite secular songs:

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Prayer, Blessed Virgin Mary by Juan Sanchez Cotan (1560-1627)

Advent Day 22: Son of David, Son of Mary, Son of God

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The first reading is from 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16. The establishment of the Davidic covenant, the last covenant of the Old Testament. We are given this today in a particular way to show how it is fulfilled in the New Testament. Let us explore this prophecy.

I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever. (vv. 12b, 14a, 16)

“The pledges made to David are provisionally realized in Solomon during the golden age of the united monarchy and, to a lesser extent, in the centuries that the Davidic dynasty ruled in Jerusalem. But definitive fulfillment awaits the coming of Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah grafted into David’s dynastic line (Mt 1:1-16) and the one chosen by God to sit on David’s throne ‘for ever’ (Lk 1:32-33). Like David, Jesus is anointed by the Spirit (1 Sam 16;13; Acts 10:38), and, like Solomon, he offers the wisdom of God to the world (1 Kings 10:1-10; Mt 12:42). The temple he builds is not a stone-and-cedar sanctuary in Jerusalem, but his body, the Church of living believers indwelt by the Spirit (Mt 16;18; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:4-5). In the Resurrection, Jesus’ humanity attains the royal adoption promised to David’s offspring (Acts 13;33-34; Rom 1:3-4), and, at his Ascension, he commences his everlasting reign (Lk 1;33) as David’s messianic Lord (Mk 12:335-37). Even now, he holds the key to the kingdom of David (Rev 3:7) and bears the distinction of being ‘King of Israel’ (Jn 1:49) as well as ‘he who rises to rule the Gentiles’ (Rom 15:12). According to the very first Christian sermon, all of this is the fulfillment of Yahweh’s oath to David (Acts 2:29-35).” (The First and Second Books of Samuel [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 80)

This should make us appreciate in a special way those times when Jesus is called “Son of David” in the Gospels, considering all that’s implied in that title. For an interesting Bible study, read the passages and context around those times the Lord is addressed in this way (here — note that Jesus is addressed this way only six different times with Matthew giving us all six [Mark and Luke repeat one of the stories, the blind beggar, in Matthew). Exquisite fruit for contemplation.

The Responsorial Psalm is Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29. We should be reminded of Mary’s Magnificat. Mary knew her Scriptures — I suspect, being a uniquely bright and holy child, that she was literate, although this is not necessary for her to have this depth of knowledge and interiority of the Bible.

Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations. (v. 4)

Jesus is Son of David and Son of Mary and Son of God. Wow.

The second reading is from Rom 16:25-27. Let us key in on the phrase “obedience of faith.”

…according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages…
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith… (vv. 25a, 26)

“the obedience of faith: Probably means ‘the obedience that is faith’ or ‘the obedience that springs from faith’. The expression stands like two bookends at the beginning and end of Romans (16:26). It holds the epistle together around the central theme of faith, which is the act of trusting in God and entrusting oneself to God. Faith inspires love (Gal 5:6) and is the indispensable basis for a living relationship with Christ (Rom 1:17; Heb 11:6) (CCC 143, 1814). (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010), 257.

The gift of faith comes to us with the other theological virtues (hope and love/charity) in Baptism and remains with us as long as we avoid mortal sin (thank the Lord for Confession!). It is a free gift, but it isn’t cheap. A simple statement of belief not followed by a life striving for holiness is certainly the devil’s deceit.

The Gospel gives us the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38). So much can be said about the seemingly infinite number of aspects of this encounter, but let’s focus on the first words of the angel:

Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. (v. 28)

Hail: Or ‘Rejoice!’ It crowns the theme of joy and gladness that punctuates Luke’s Infancy Narrative (1:14, 44, 47, 58; 2:10, 20). ● The call to rejoice echoes OT passages that address Daughter Zion. In the prophets this refers to Mother Jerusalem, whose faithful children will rejoice in the messianic age because God has chosen to dwell in their midst (Joel 2:23–24; Zeph 3:14–17; Zech 9:9). Mary, chosen to be the virgin mother of the Messiah, is greeted with the same summons because she is the embodiment of faithful Israel and the most privileged recipient of Yahweh’s messianic blessings. full of grace: This is the only biblical instance where an angel addresses someone by a title instead of a personal name. Two considerations help to clarify its meaning. (1) The expression full of grace is rooted in Catholic tradition and traced to St. Jerome’s translation of this verse in the Latin Vulgate. Although fundamentally accurate, it lacks some of the depth of the Greek original. Luke could have described her with the words full of grace (Gk. plērēs charitos) as he did of Stephen in Acts 6:8, yet here he uses a different expression (Gk. kecharitōmenē) that is even more revealing than the traditional rendering. It indicates that God has already ‘graced’ Mary previous to this point, making her a vessel who ‘has been’ and ‘is now’ filled with divine life. (2) Alternative translations like ‘favored one’ or ‘highly favored’ are possible but inadequate. Because of the unparalleled role that Mary accepts at this turning point in salvation history, the best translation is the most exalted one. For God endowed Mary with an abundance of grace to prepare her for the vocation of divine motherhood and to make her a sterling example of Christian holiness (CCC 490–93, 722). ● Gabriel’s declaration points in the direction of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. According to Pope Pius IX’s 1854 definition Ineffabilis Deus, Luke’s Annunciation narrative is an important indicator of Mary’s lifelong holiness. God is her ‘Savior’ (1:47) in the most perfect way possible: he sanctified Mary in the first instance of her conception and preserved her entirely from sin and even from the inclination toward sin that we experience. (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament [San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010], 105.)

Faithful Catholics have said the Hail Mary many, many times. How often do we contemplate these first words of the prayer (by the way, the Hail Mary is a biblical prayer!)? Put yourself in Mary’s sandals. This awesome creature surprises you with such a greeting. “Rejoice”! He calls me “full of grace”! What is about to happen? Might I have the inkling, the hope, that the long awaited Messiah is about to come? How will it happen? Will I be involved?

BP BARRON’S SUNDAY SERMON

Focusing on Nathan and David.

SANTA CLAUS

A nice article about Santa Claus and keeping children’s dreams alive: Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Myths, Fairy Tales and ‘Lies.’

ADVENT ENDS

Today we end the shortest Advent possible. Yes, we must go to Mass again this evening or tomorrow. This shouldn’t be a burden but a joy and a blessing. Honoring the Lord’s first coming and then having him come to us in Holy Communion — who could possibly want to miss it!

God bless.

David and Nathan (1672) by Matthias Scheits

Advent Day 16: A Righteous Man

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading is from Mt 1:18-25. Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s pregnancy follows. To find out how it turns out, just click on the link above.

Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly. (v. 19)

Mitch and Hahn succinctly give us the three prominent theories that could explain Joseph’s reaction to finding Mary, his betrothed and beloved, pregnant. Let’s read what they say about this verse.

“just: Or, “righteous”. Joseph is a man of sterling moral character, committed to living by the Mosaic Law (Deut 6:25; Lk 1:6). put her to shame: The Greek verb does not necessarily have a negative connotation. It simply means “to expose” or “to exhibit”. send her away: Catholic tradition proposes three main interpretations to explain why Joseph resolved to end his betrothal with Mary.

(1) The Suspicion Theory. Some hold that Joseph suspected Mary of adultery when he discovered her pregnancy. Joseph thus intended to pursue a divorce in accord with Deut 24:1–4 until the angel revealed to him the miraculous cause of the conception (1:20). Joseph is said to be righteous because he shuns immorality and directs his life by the Law of God. Proponents of this view include St. Justin Martyr, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Augustine.

(2) The Perplexity Theory. Others hold that Joseph found the situation of Mary’s pregnancy inexplicable. Divorce seemed to be his only option, and yet he wished to do this quietly, for he could not bring himself to believe that Mary had been unfaithful. Joseph is said to be righteous because he lives by the Law of God and judges Mary’s situation with the utmost charity. The main proponent of this view is St. Jerome, whose exegesis was adopted into the notes of the medieval Bible.

(3) The Reverence Theory. Still others hold that Joseph knew the miraculous cause of Mary’s pregnancy from the beginning, i.e., he was made aware that the child was conceived “of the Holy Spirit” (1:18). Faced with this, Joseph considered himself unworthy to be involved in the Lord’s work, and his decision to separate quietly from Mary was a discretionary measure to keep secret the mystery within her. On this reading, the angel confirms what Joseph had already known and urges him to set aside pious fears that would lead him away from his vocation to be the legal father of the Messiah (1:20). Joseph is said to be righteous because of his deep humility and reverence for the miraculous works of God. Proponents of this view include St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Curtis Mitch, “Introduction to the Gospels,” in The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010), 8.

As we see, there are great saints supporting each of these theories. All are certainly plausible. But I would like to think that it was out of reverence that Joseph had initially decided to take his leave of Mary. I’m not sure he could have ever forgiven himself, or looked Mary in the eye, if he had suspected the worst.

May we be as reverent as Joseph when we assess situations we find unfathomable.

God bless.

The Dream of St. Joseph by Anton Raphael Mengs (1773-74)

Advent Day 9: A Faith Stretcher

Posted on by
Reply

The Gospel reading is from Lk 5:17-26 . It is the famous episode of a paralyzed man whose friends tear open a roof to in order to lower him down to Jesus hoping for a healing.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
“As for you, your sins are forgiven.” (v. 20)

“Jesus sees their faith manifest in their actions. The paralyzed man and those carrying him have come to Jesus so that he may be healed. They refused to let anything keep them away from Jesus — not the crowd, not even a solid roof. Their determination is a reflection of their faith, their confidence that Jesus will heal the paralyzed man. Jesus responds to those who come to him in faith. He said, ‘As for you, your sins are forgiven.‘ He addresses the paralyzed man, but instead of healing him of his paralysis, he pronounces that his sins have been forgiven.

“Jesus’ words raise questions. Are the man’s sins the cause of his paralysis? Sin can lead to sickness or infirmity (see 1 Cor 11:29-30). but sickness or afflictions are not infallible indicators of sin (see 13:1-5; John 9:2-3). By granting the man forgiveness rather than healing. Jesus indicates that the man’s greatest need is release from the paralysis of sin, but Jesus does not indicate that the man’s sins are the cause of his physical paralysis.” (George Martin, Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life: Insight & Inspiration, 145)

I am reminded in this episode of Jesus’ talking about faith to move mountains (see Mt 17:20). Well, these guys may not have moved a mountain, but they certainly engaged in a difficult and unorthodox measure to help their friend due to their faith in what the believed Jesus; could do for him. It is edifying what they were willing and able to do to be with Jesus.

Nevertheless, today, so many Catholics cannot be bothered to go in their cozy cars to Mass once a week. And Confession, to hear those glorious words of absolution from a priest who (by God’s grace and due to their ordination, has the charism to act in the person of Christ) “has authority on earth to forgive sins” (see v. 24)? Perish the thought! We are able to encounter Jesus in all the sacraments, yet the faith of many is so weak, that they won’t take advantage of these great gifts, simple, easy, and accessible as they are. Let us pray for their return to the practice of the Faith, so that we all would have this attitude at Mass and in the confessional:

Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,
and, struck with awe, they said,
“We have seen incredible things today.” (v. 26)

God bless.

The Palsied Man Let Down through the Roof (Le paralytique descendu du toit)
by James Tissot (1886-1896)

Advent Day 2: We’re not worthy!

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel is from Mt 8:5-11, the famous passage in which a Roman centurion comes to ask a big favor of Jesus.

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed. (v. 8)

“The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile’s house as contracting legal impurity (cf. Jn 19:28; Acts 11:2-3). This centurion has the deference not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the eyes of his fellow Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that Jesus has power over disease and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just says the word, he will do what is needed without having to visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logical way, on the basis of his own professional experience. Jesus avails of this meeting with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that his Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every nation and race, of every age and condition, are called to follow Christ.” (The Navarre Bible: St. Matthew, 88)

“The Son of Man does not have a material resting place. Jesus lays his head instead on the pillow of the centurion’s confession, which has opened wide the doors of his life to the divine presence and activity. The crowds had been listening to Jesus all through the Sermon on the Mount. But this man now offers to Jesus’ ears the balm that alone soothes the stress of all his labor, the response that is the greatest act of thanksgiving possible on the part of man. The Lord does not add a single word to what the centurion says: even the Word cannot improve on those words of faith.” (Leiva-Merikakis, Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, Vol. I, 333)

“The centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant showed great trust in him. To trust is to have hope, to turn one’s heart to God. It means to root one’s life, to ground and center one’s concerns, in God.” (Bp Barron in The Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels, 63)

To close, I would like you to check out my previous posts on this episode, one of very favorites in all of Scripture. Follow the link (and all embedded links and video) below for my past insights:

“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

Also check out its excellent portrayal in Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth.

God bless.

Jesus and the Centurion in Capernaum (Matthew 8:5), miniature, de:Codex Egberti,
Trier, Stadtbibliothek, cod. 24, fol. 22r, detail