Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The fact that King Herod remains haunted by the death of John the Baptist is a sign that Jesus’ public ministry is working. 

The Lord has given his authority to the Twelve Apostles, not only to preach, but also to cast out demons and cure diseases of every kind. 

Hope in a different king is spreading.

This stage in the development of the Church reminds us that preaching and healing go hand in hand; we cannot simply speak about the kingdom of God. We must also back our words up with action.

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For example, I ran a bible study in a prison in Rome for three years. Week after week, I’d teach a handful of inmates about what Christ said, including, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.”

So when one of the inmates complained about being cold, I brought him a beanie to cover his head. One of the guards noticed and asked me why I’d do such a thing,

I responded simply, “How can you believe in God with a cold head?”

That man was Christ in distressing disguise.

A belief I not only needed to teach; I also needed to act on.

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Much like the Apostles who not only spoke about the kingdom of God, but also did something about it, our faith must always be supported by our actions. As Saint James reminds us, “Faith without works is dead.”

What might it look like to put our faith into practice today?

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Image credits: (1) Be Still… (2) The Catholic Miscellaney (3) QuoteFancy

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Gospel: Luke 9: 1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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On the surface, it seems as if the Lord is stripping his disciples bare, making them fend for themselves, totally reliant upon the charity of others. 

While there is an element of truth to that, on a deeper level, Jesus is building upon a Jewish tradition, which the Apostles would’ve understood. 

In ancient Israel, it was customary for a person to part with their walking staff, shoes, and money belt, and to cleanse the dust from their feet before entering the Temple to pray, allowing them to address God without any other distraction.

After leaving the Temple, that person could gather their belongings and re-enter the world.

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By instructing his disciples to part with all of their possessions before preaching and healing, Jesus is teaching them to treat the entire world – including every person they meet, and every home they enter – as if it is within the Temple.

Everything and everyone is holy, a potential dwelling place for God.

As Christians, we’re called to maintain that same perspective, treating all as another Christ. As Jesus later instructs his disciples, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.”

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But we should also remember this: if the disciples are going out without a thing to their name, then they’ll need the good will and support of their neighbors along the way.

While the Gospel should always be preached free of charge, it is an honor to care for those who have given their lives to preach it.

Perhaps this is what the Lord is asking of us today: to see the world as holy; to care for the poor; and to support those who preach the Gospel – not only by their words, but also by their very lives.

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Image credits: (1) The Order of Preachers, Independent (2) Sonlife (3) Hope with God Radio

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Gospel: Luke 8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers 
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Saint Augustine once said, “It means more for Mary to have been Christ’s disciple than to have been his mother.”

If you ask any mother, they will tell you that the bond they share with their child is inseparable. 

They carried their child in their womb; they nursed their child at their breast; they raised, cared for, cried over, and sacrificed in immeasurable ways for them.

And, I’m sure, would do it a thousand times over.

Mary would’ve felt the same about Christ her son. 

That first Christmas night, as she gave birth to him in a stable and cradled him in her arms; as she urgently fled with him into Egypt; as she looked with fervor for him in the Temple; as she stood before his Cross.

So, why is Mary’s relationship to Christ as his disciple more important than being his mother?

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus is preaching inside someone’s home. Suddenly, he’s notified that his mother and cousins are outside looking for him, as if the house should clear out making space for them.

But Jesus uses this as teaching moment, clarifying the distinction between his earthly and heavenly relatives. “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it,” he says. 

Which is not only true for us, but also for Mary.

While it was her singular honor to carry Christ in her womb, Mary’s greatness lies in the fact that she followed Jesus as his first and most loyal disciple, ensuring her place in God’s kingdom.

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You and I are invited to do the same – to hear the Word of God and act on it.

Doing so creates an unbreakable bond as brothers and sisters in Christ, ensuring our own place with Mary among the angels and Saints.

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Image credits: (1) Seminary Now (2) Instagram (3) Church Investors Fund