What keeps you from showing extraordinary mercy? - Sunday's reading reflection

"He answered, 'The one who treated him with mercy.' Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'”

We are to treat others with mercy, regardless of who they are or what they've done, Jesus shows us.  We hear in the parable that the man fell victim to robbers on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho.  Most likely he was traveling alone, others he would have not been attacked.  If he had not be alone, his friends most likely would have returned.  Traveling the dangerous road through the desert hills to Jericho alone was imprudent at best, deadly at worst.  His was almost a worst-case scenario.  Not a very bright idea at all.  

Yet the good samaritan treats him with extraordinary mercy, caring for him, transporting him, paying for his lodging and healthcare, and even promising to visit him on his return.  Jesus' point isn't obviously, "Thou shall travel the Jericho road with companions next time, dummy."  His point was that we treat everyone, regardless of religion or race, regardless of their decisions in life, with mercy.  "Go and do likewise," he says.

What kept the Levite and the priest from showing mercy?  Who knows.  For the priest, his piety may have gotten in the way of his charity.  He may have been too worried about becoming "unclean" by touching the man.  For the Levite, maybe he was prevented through fear.  It could have been that he thought if he helped, he might be attacked as well.  What are the things that keep you from showing extraordinary mercy?  Fear, misplaced piety, busyness, judgement, prejudice, public opinion, anger toward the victim, laziness, vengeance, pride (thinking you're too good to show a specific kind of mercy), apathy, cynicism (it wouldn't help anyway), intellectualism, doubt...?  

The scholar of the law had to have been an intelligent man to do what he did. We see, however, that he was too much in his head and not enough in his heart.  Jesus helped him move from his head to his heart.  Will his words help you do the same?
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An hour after writing this, I read this story about Pope Francis which illuminates the point of the reflection all-the-more. It comes from Vatican Insider.

Argentinean media have reported on the correspondence between Francis and Patricio Fontanet, a rock singer who was put behind bars for causing the blaze which claimed the lives of 194 young people in a Buenos Aires nightclub

VATICAN INSIDER STAFFROME

“You will have days when you feel down, but don’t be afraid. Be strong.Everything passes.” These were the words Francis addressed to rock singer Patricio Fontanet who was admitted to a clinic some time ago after being diagnosed with severe depression. The singer was found to be responsible for a fire which started in Cromagnon nightclub in Buenos Aires on 30 December 2004, killing 194 young people.

Today, Argentinean media published the Pope’s reply to a letter which the lead singer of Callejeros sent him a while back. “I got your letter three days ago. Thank you,” Francis wrote. “Though I am physically far away I am close to you and your group in spirit. It is as if I can hear everything you hear and say, from a distance.”

Straight after the tragic incident in Cromagnon nighclub, Bergoglio, who was still Archbishop of Buenos Aires at the time, met the band and asked them “not to give up.” Fontanet is carrying out a seven year prison sentence.

Beastliness - Tomorrow's reading reflection

"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men..."

Jesus, in the Gospel today, mentions in this verse sheep, wolves, serpents, doves and men.  Sounds almost like a lesson in zoology.  His point is made that a zoo may have better order than the walls outside it.  And indeed, that is true.

Sheep in the midst of wolves are harassed at best, ripped to shreds at worst.  And yet his apostles are to be as shrewd as serpents while still being as simple as doves.  That a tough order in itself.  It doesn't come easy when one is about to be ripped to shreds to remain simple and yet shrewd.  But it happens by the power of the Spirit as Jesus says.

Interesting too is our first reading.  Joseph, who was treated like a sheep amidst wolves was said to  have been attacked by an animals and torn to pieces.  The truth, of course, was that the wolves were his brothers- these wild animals who were going to kill him but instead decided to get rid of him and make some money by selling him into slavery.

No wonder Jesus says, "beware of men".  They can be beastly.  He himself found that out during his Passion.  And so did his apostles in their own martyrdoms.  As we look back on the 20th century, the bloodiest century to-date, we are reminded that beastliness in mankind hasn't been eradicated regardless of what the Enlightenment promised or the Church as worked for his Christ's Name.  So what is the lesson?  Jesus teaches it but in the english translation we don't see it.  We read, "so be shrewd..." but what he is giving is a direct command.  "YOU" be shrewd....  

We  cannot control the world but we can control our own beastliness by being innocent like sheep, shrewd like snakes and simple like doves.

Self-dependence or dependence on God - Tomorrow's reading reflection

"Freely have you received – freely give"

Do you believe that the gospel has power to change your life and the lives of others? Jesus gave his disciples a two-fold commission to speak in his name and to act with his power. The core of the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is imminent! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who freely submit to God and who honor him as their Lord and King. In the Lord’s prayer we pray for God to reign in our lives and in our world: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus also commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did – bringing the healing power of God to the weary and oppressed. The gospel has power to set people free from sin, sickness, fear, and oppression. The Lord will free us from anything that keeps us from loving him and our neighbor with joy and confidence.

Jesus said to his disciples: Freely you have received, freely give. What they have received from Jesus they must now pass on to others without expecting a favor in return, whether it be in form of a gift or payment. They must show by their attitude that their first interest is in serving God, not receiving material gain. They must serve without guile, full of charity and peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must  travel light – only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them – in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting special privileges or reward.  “Poverty of spirit” frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision.  The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.  Upon whom are you dependent?

Of course he's an exorcist!

"Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness."

It was news sensation in May!  Sadly, it showed us how ignorant the secular press can be when it comes to ecclesiastical realities.  USA Today, on  May 22nd, ran an AP story entitled, "Is Pope Francis an exorcist?". The answer is, "Of course he is!"  In fact, every validly ordained Catholic bishop is an exorcist.  How can we be sure?  The verse from today's Gospel, which can be found in the other Gospels as well, tells us so.  

If the bishops are the successors of the apostles, and the apostles were given the power to drive out demons, then of course the bishops are exorcists.  And the Pope, who is the Vicar of Christ, himself the Bishop of Rome, would be foremost among exorcists.  Therefore the Pope and the bishops have a ministerial responsibility to exercise their exorcistic competency. (I couldn't resist the wordplay, sorry.)