Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Luke 14: 1-6

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”
But they kept silent; so he took the man and,
after he had healed him, dismissed him.
Then he said to them 
“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” 
But they were unable to answer his question.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Jesus healed people seven different times on the Sabbath. Each time he does, the hearts of the Pharisees are hardened. They’re so focused on following the “letter” of the Law – of performing no work on the Sabbath – that they fail to see the goodness of God at work.

In today’s Gospel, for example, a prominent Pharisee invites Jesus to dine in his home. But this wasn’t an invitation extended out of kindness; it was a trap.

The Pharisee planted another guest at that table who was suffering from dropsy, meaning his chest and stomach were filled with fluids, which often lead to organ failure. This man was sick. Perhaps near death.

The Pharisee puts him near Jesus to see what he will do. The word used here for “watching” Jesus literally meant to, “stare with a sinister eye.” Will Jesus break the Law and cure him on the Sabbath? 

Of course, he will. Jesus was never bound by a strict interpretation of the Law. As he himself says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13).

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The Pharisees remind us what happens when religion goes rogue; when strict interpretations of the Law prevent people from receiving grace. 

This Pharisee should’ve rejoiced that the man was healed from dropsy, even if on the Sabbath, but his heart was hardened, instead. How unfortunate.

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So, what’s the point?

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As Catholics, we follow a treasure trove of laws, moral codes, and traditions. These are meant to make us more virtuous, happier people. But we should never let our religion get in the way of God’s mercy.

Rather, we’re called to be kind and merciful to everyone, even to those who do not follow our faith entirely. Who knows, the Lord may still fill their hearts with grace.

And if he does, we should rejoice.

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Image credits: (1) Crosswalk.com (2) Christ.org (3) Christ Healing at Pool of Bethesda, Murillo

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Gospel: Luke 6: 12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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(Did you catch the joke in the meme above? Always nice starting the day off with a little laughter).

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Jesus chose the Apostles, including Saints Simon and Jude whose feast day we celebrate today, for some of the same reasons that he chooses us:

First, he chose them to be his friends. Jesus wanted people to share his life and ministry with.

Do you feel that same invitation from God, calling you to be his friend?

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Secondly, he chose them to be his disciples. To be a disciple means to “learn” from a teacher. Thus, Jesus wanted to teach his disciples how to live a fulfilling life – and ultimately, how to find eternal life.

Are you a disciple of Jesus? Do you “learn” from him?

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Finally, he chose them because they were ordinary. We know at least some of the disciples were either fishermen or tax collectors. None of them were wealthy, powerful, or well educated. They were all “blue collar” men, who would change the world.

There’s still a lesson in that for us: God doesn’t need the wealthy or powerful to do his will; he only needs ordinary believers who have an open mind and a willing heart.

Am I open to doing the Lord’s will?

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Saints Simon and Jude were ordinary people whose lives were changed by the Lord. 

May we, too, be friends of Jesus who love him, learn from him, and follow him into eternal life.

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Image credits: (1) Jesus Calling Yearly Planner (2) Catholic Memes, Reddit (3) Society6

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Gospel: Luke 13: 10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
“There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?”
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Once again, the Lord teaches us how to live as Christians.

In the Temple, Jesus spots a woman who’s been hunched over for 18 years. His heart is moved with compassion for her … and immediately he acts.

“He laid his hands on her,” the Gospel tells us, “and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.”

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This is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus: we see someone suffering – and, immediately, we do something about it.

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Too often our hearts are moved with compassion for the sick, the poor, and the lonely, but we fail to act. This isn’t because we don’t want to, but for one reason or another we put it off.

Consider the difference between these few examples:

“I should call and check up on my neighbor.” Versus, “I will call them now.”

“I should forgive those hurt feelings.” Versus, “I will ask for the grace to forgive now.”

“I should be more generous to the less fortunate.” Versus, “I will do something about it now.”

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Jesus saw a woman hunched over for 18 years and, immediately, he healed her.

May we have that same type of compassion – and responsiveness – to the needs of others today.

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Image credits: (1) seizetheday-blog.com (2) Northside Christian Fellowship (3) Common Sense Leadership