Category: Uncategorized

***

Gospel: Matthew 4: 18-22

“As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father 
and followed him.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Why did Jesus choose fishermen to be among his first disciples?

***

They possess some of the same qualities needed in ministry.

***

For example, fishermen are patient. 

If they get agitated and rock the boat, then they’ll scare fish away. They must gently cast their lines and wait.

Similarly, if we are to bring people to Jesus then we must be gentle. Being quick to judge or forceful only scares people away.

***

Secondly, fishermen have a keen sense of timing. Fish tend to eat at certain hours, So fisherman know when to cast their nets and when to wait.

If we are to bring people to Jesus, then we, too, must have a keen sense of timing, knowing when to speak and when to hold our tongue.

***

Finally, fishermen understand that different baits work with different fish.

We cannot win everyone over with the same approach or argument. We must know our audience, listen to their concerns, and then share the faith.

***

This is how the disciples brought some of the first believers to Jesus – and how we can still do so today – being patient, knowing how to listen, and when necessary, when to speak.

***

***

(1) Red Door Sioux Falls (2) PastorJud.org (3) Mike Arauz

***

Gospel: Luke 21: 5-11

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” 
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ 
Do not follow them! 
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.” 
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

People have wanted to know when the world will end, seemingly from the beginning of time. Even the disciples question the Lord about this in today’s Gospel.

“Teacher, when will this happen?” they ask.

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,” the Lord says. “But it will not immediately be the end.”

Although Jesus speaks about the end of the world, he will reveal neither the day nor the hour, because Christians should live in every age as if the Lord is on his way.

“Stay awake!” he says.

***

Perhaps it’s wise for us to focus on two things that we do know are coming to an end.

The first is quite obvious – we’re quickly approaching the end of the year. The leaves have fallen, the days are getting darker and colder, the time for the harvest is over.

Winter is at hand.

As we wrap up yet another year, perhaps we can spend a moment today looking back, finding a few things we’re grateful for.

***

The second ending is similar. Although we know neither the day nor the hour, we also know that life – my life – is ending at some point.

This is not meant to be a point of sadness, but anticipation. Pope Benedict XVI described the moment of death as, “the great encounter between God and his creation.” Death removes the veil between heaven and earth, allowing us to see the Lord face to face.

This is what all of the prophets longed for in the Old Testament. As the Psalmist says, “Like a dear that years for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, O God. When can I enter and see the face of God?”

***

As we reach the close of another year, now is the time ponder these bigger ideas – death and life; endings and beginnings.

What am I grateful for? And how deeply do I long to see the face of God?

***

***

Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) Pixels (3) Pinterest

***

Gospel: Luke 21: 1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

On the surface, none of us is poor like the widow in today’s Gospel.

I imagine her slightly bent over, her grey hair up in a bun, she’s entering the Temple leaning on a cane. Her stomach has a slight growl, her clothes reek of dust. 

She makes her way over to the collection bin, smiles, then lets go of two copper coins… literally all she has.

It’s a beautiful act of surrender. If fear were her motivation, then she would’ve either kept both coins for herself, or left one hiding in her pocket. But she gives them both to the Lord. 

In her own prophetic way, she foreshadows the poverty of Christ, who during his final night on earth gave his final “two coins” away – his very own Body and Blood.

***

It’d be difficult for us to mirror that type of surrender – certainly day by day. 

But we’re all poor like the widow in the sense that there’s one thing we lack; one thing no human being ever has enough of – time. 

Time passes through our fingers like fine grains of sand. In our youth, it seems like we have forever. Then we look back and realize how quickly time has passed.

During this holiday season, the clock will tick even faster, which is why we’re given the example of this widow in today’s Gospel. In the midst of the holiday business, we must remember the Lord.

In what ways can I offer God “two coins” of my time?

***

Perhaps it means spending a few extra moments in prayer; stopping by the church before picking up the kids from school or during the day while out running errands.

Maybe we can share an hour with a neighbor making a phone call, writing a few a cards, taking someone out to lunch, or watching the neighbor’s kids to give another parent a few moments of rest.

***

“This poor widow put in more than all the rest,” the Lord says. While the others made a donation form their surplus, she did from her poverty.

May we all dig a little deeper today – and offer someone else our time.

***

***

Image credits: (1) The Widow’s Mite by Howard Lyon (2) St. Ignatius Catholic Community (3) Mayo Clinic Health System