Wicked drug addicts - Sunday's reading reflection

"For the sake of those ten, I will not destroy it."

But ten he could not find.  They were all wicked.  So after Lot and his family left, it was destroyed.  At least, that is how it has been interpreted for us in the oral and written stories that combined to form the Book of Genesis from which we read today.
  

We hear about the wicked, too, in the Gospel today.  Jesus, speaking to his disciples said, "If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."  And these were not those who were persecuting him but his disciples.

So we see there is a wickedness to man that is almost inherent. We have called in original sin and after Baptism, which we hear about in the second reading, concupiscence- the active and dynamic stain of original sin.

Let's look at the ones who society usually condemns as wicked. The drug addicts.  Criminals.  Ex-Catholics.  The list can go on forever before it reaches its origin and end- ourselves.  How should we treat them?  Should they be destroyed by the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah?  Should they be nailed to the Cross with the law that bound us to punishment and death?  

"If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."  If the wicked know how to be kind to their own children, can't you see how much more our Heavenly Father, who is not wicked, can be kind to all his children?

Have you been watching the news about Pope Francis?  Did Fox report that he destroyed the imprisoned youth on Holy Thursday?  Did he destroy the drug addicts at St. Francis Hospital in Brazil?  Has he destroyed the ex-Catholics that have reached out to him in hope?  No!  He has embraced them!  Kissed them!  Listened to them!  Encouraged them!

And so our Holy Father has shown us the love of our Heavenly Father.  And in doing so, Pope Francis as become a living icon of the Lord's Pray that we hear Jesus himself teaching in the Gospel today.  Through his actions, Pope Francis becomes a living definition of the words "and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us."  Our modern translation, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."  

Do not seek to destroy the wicked for you know not why they are "wicked". See to follow the Pope's example as he follows Jesus' example.  Embrace and kiss the wicked in loving mercy and forgiveness.

What did Jesus really say? - Tomorrow's reading reflection

"Jesus said to his disciples"

Did Jesus really say this to his disciples?  Ahh, here is where the Scripture scholars are energized.  Some say "yes, kind of".  Some say, "no".  Either way, two things are clear: 1) that the scholars do not agree; 2) Jesus didn't say it exactly as it appears in our readings today.  Is that my own personal view?  Why yes it is.  But it happens to be in accord with the USCCB Magisterial teachings in the NAB.  

The notes that explain this "Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds" say the following:

In this explanation of the parable the emphasis is on the various types of soil on which the seed falls, i.e., on the dispositions with which the preaching of Jesus is received. The second and third types particularly are explained in such a way as to support the view held by many scholars that the explanation derives not from Jesus but from early Christian reflection upon apostasy from the faith that was the consequence of persecution and worldliness respectively. Others, however, hold that the explanation may come basically from Jesus even though it was developed in the light of later Christian experience. 

So what did Jesus actually say to his disciples.  There is no way to know, exactly.  Maybe all he said was what we heard in yesterday's Gospel:

“A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,

and birds came and ate it up.

Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.

It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,

and when the sun rose it was scorched,

and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.

But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,

a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Either way the early Church felt that what was said needed to be explained in greater detail and in a way that applies directly to the obstacles to following through on what Jesus originally said.  And the early Church's explanation of the parable, if indeed it was the early Church who added it, is pretty decent with regard to what it offers as commentary on Jesus' original parable.

Simplified.  Either way, what Jesus said and what the Church explained was: make sure you are open to hearing the Word of God; that you are fertile soil ready to receive the Word of God.

Did the Father let you sit at the right or the left of Jesus? - Tomorrow's reading reflection

"to give his life as a ransom for many"

One online dictionary defines the word "ransom" as: 1) the redemption of a prisoner, slave, or kidnapped person, of captured goods, etc., for a price; 2) the sum or price paid or demanded.  When looking at how our Gospel uses the word today, to describe Jesus who gave his life as a ransom for many, one can say, "Well, those definitions together pretty much sum it up."  

The word Matthew uses for ransom is found in the New Testament in only one other place, and that is in Mark, from whom Matthew borrowed heavily.  The notes from the Revised NAB, however, tell us that the word, "does not necessarily express the idea of liberation by payment of some price. The cognate verb is used frequently in the LXX of God’s liberating Israel from Egypt or from Babylonia after the Exile."  So the online dictionary definition is not enough to describe the Paschal Mystery.

Different from the dictionary definition is the object of price.  Jesus paid no cash or property.  He paid with his life.  Missing also from the online dictionary, as one can expect, is the issue of sin.  That comes to light as we look at how Mark and Matthew take the Old Testament use of the word and apply it to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  What also comes to light in the verse is the harmony between service and ransom.  We hear, "Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."  So what we see is that it was an act of service, the greatest in fact, to give his life as a price demanded for redemption, or the "leading out" of the slavery of sin those who were held captive.  

St. James, whom we celebrate in today's feast, lost his life doing just that.  Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to those who would listen, and to those who wouldn't, he was beheaded for preaching the good news of salvation to those who were willing to hear and believe that, in Jesus, their sins had been forgiven and their lives had been ransomed.

Pray for us St. James, Holy Apostle of God.  (P.S.- Did the Father let you sit at the right or the left of Jesus?- Inquiring minds want to know)

Sittin' on the dock of the bayyyyy - Tomorrow's reading reflection

"On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea."

Rather than get into the very clear and self-explanatory parable of the seed and the sower, along with all its moral implications, let's focus on something simpler.  "Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea." Why?  Maybe it had nothing to do with theological or pedagogical reasons.  After all, he talks about a farmer when he's sitting next to a lake.  You'd think he would use a parable about fishing.

What if the reason he went and sat down by the sea was just so he could enjoy nature.  Looking out over the beautiful Sea of Galilee may have been something he wanted to do, just to do it.  The crowds came and gathered around him but his intention may have been just to appreciate creation and be calm beside the waters he would later walk on.  

What's the point?  Stop today, leave your house or place of work and sit down to appreciate nature, even just for a short time.  Appreciate God's creation before you, whether it be the sky, a body of water, a forest, a field- whatever. Take a deep breath, relax, and soak it all in.  Jesus did.

Who are my brothers? - Tomorrow's reading reflection

“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

The first reading of Moses and the parting of the waters is near the headwaters of our Catholic understanding of Baptism. Moses leading the chosen people out of slavery through the waters of the Red Sea are important to our understanding of Christ leading his chosen ones out of the slavery of sin through the water of Baptism. 

Immediately after a baptism comes the anointing with Sacred Chrism or Chrismation.  The priest or deacon prays, "God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people."  

And therein lies the answer to Jesus' question.  What he actually says in the Gospel today, as he stretches out his hand toward his disciples, is “Here are my mother and my brothers.  For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”  In a sacramental sense, though, how do we become his disciples, his family?  First listening to his call and then responding.  For an infant, it is the parents who hear and answer that call for the child, thus giving the child an incredibly graced privilege- the opportunity to be counted as a brother or sister of Christ.

Many people these days throw around opinions of what they believe makes someone Catholic or not. Before throwing around opinions, let's remember what is prayed at the Chrismation: "God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...welcomed you into his holy people."  

Let God decide who is and who is not part of his family.  

Cleared for takeoff

Off he goes to his first World Youth Day.