Category: Uncategorized

***

Gospel: Matthew 18: 15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.
If he refuses to listen even to the Church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Some of us cringe at the idea of conflict. We’d rather hold things in, suck it up and keep the peace, than speak the truth. But the Lord reminds us in today’s Gospel that silence isn’t always possible. 

Sometimes, we need to talk.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone,” Jesus says. 

It’s never a matter of if– but when– crucial conversations need to happen.

***

Jesus had several such conversations with Peter.

For example, after giving Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, Jesus predicts his crucifixion and death, which Peter protests vehemently. 

Immediately, the Lord pulls Peter aside, and says, “Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do.” 

A stern rebuke. But Peter humbly accepts his fault and gets back in line. 

Jesus and Peter have another crucial conversation after Peter denies knowing Jesus three times. Once the Lord is raised from the dead, he appears to Peter on the shores of Galilee and asks him simply, “Peter do you love me?”

Jesus doesn’t show up to shame Peter; rather, to be reconciled with him, to remind him of the responsibility he bears, and to send him out on mission.

***

Like Peter, sometimes we make mistakes. We say or do things that hurt someone we love. And like Jesus, sometimes we’re the one who needs to speak up for the sake of reconciliation. 

When these crucial conversations happen, remember the promise of the Lord, who assures us, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The Lord comes to bring us reconciliation and peace, even when it means… 

We need to talk.

***

***

Image credits: (1) It’s a God thing (2) Domine, Quo Vadis! Annabale Caracci (3) The Sacred Page

***

Gospel: Matthew 18: 1-5, 10, 12-14

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Chapter 18 of Matthew’s Gospel deals with Christian ethics. Jesus tells us how we are to behave in this world, using two familiar images – both of which provide points of reflection – a child and a sheep.

***

First, the Lord tell us to turn – or return – to the innocence that we had as children. Back then, life was simple. We trusted our parents implicitly; we were arrestingly honest; humble; we saw the world with awe and wonder, and that made us joyful. 

Perhaps it’s an urban legend that children laugh 300 to 400 times per day. But adults certainly laugh less than children. Part of what Jesus is calling us to do is to find joy in simple things, to laugh more, and to trust God the way your children trust you.

***

Secondly, see yourself as a sheep.

Sheep have a natural herding mentality. They know instinctively that they cannot survive on their own. Their strength does not come from within; rather, from their closeness to their shepherd.

Throughout our lives, we must fight against the temptation of self-reliance; we cannot make it through life alone. 

We need the strength that comes from living in community – in this community – and above all, the strength that comes from staying close to Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

***

Am I joyful like a child? Do I laugh often? Do I trust the Lord implicitly?

Like a sheep, do I make every effort to stay close to my shepherd, or at times do I wander?

***

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” the disciples ask Jesus.

Those who are joyful like children and stay with the flock.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Daily Dependence (2) Adobe Stock (3) Psephizo

***

Gospel: Matthew 17: 22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
And they were overwhelmed with grief.

When they came to Capernaum,
the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said.
When he came into the house, before he had time to speak,
Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,
“Then the subjects are exempt.
But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Who do you know more about, Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Clare?

***

Most of us would probably say, “Saint Francis of Assisi.”

He was a lover of animals; he started the Franciscans; he was an itinerant preacher; he lived in Italy; and he wrote that fabulous prayer, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

***

But what about Saint Clare, whose feast day we celebrate today? 

Both Francis and Clare were born into wealthy Italian families. Both jettisoned their fortunes to follow the Lord. Both are considered Saints. They were also best friends.

Clare was drawn to Francis’ deep spirit and jovial nature. In fact, they became so close that she founded a second order of the Franciscans, the Poor Clares.

To this day, both religious orders remain active around the world, some 800 years later.

What draws me to Saint Clare is the fact that she’s the lesser known of the two. Although both she and Francis helped to rebuild and reform the Church; although they both left everything behind to follow Jesus, Francis receives most of the recognition.

And for Clare, that was okay. She didn’t need the spotlight; she was content playing a supportive role, seeking only to glorify God. In the words of John the Baptist, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

***

Clare’s life leaves us several questions to ponder.

Like Clare, do I seek to glorify God with my life? Am I content with being unnoticed, or do I need recognition for doing good?

Do I have a holy friend like Francis of Assisi, someone who points me closer to God? Am I that friend for others?

***

Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Home of the Mother Youth (2) Renovaré (3) iStock