Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Matthew 19: 23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Samuel Johnson, an 18^th century author, once visited a friend’s estate in the English countryside. After seeing all of the ornate rooms, Persian rugs, and priceless paintings on the wall, he said:

“These are the things which make it difficult to die.”

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Jesus never says it’s impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. But, he does warn us in today’s Gospel, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the needle of an eye than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.“

Riches are not a sin. But they are a danger, because we can easily become too attached to them, valuing earthly things more than heavenly things.

For example, think about how we might feel if we woke up tomorrow morning and our house was downsized; our closet cut in half; our bookshelves emptied; and our car ten years old older.

It’d be shocking! Some of us might be saddened by it. I know I would be. I like my little home and creaturely comforts.

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Meanwhile, there are families who cannot make ends meet; refugees seeking shelter; children who haven’t eaten since yesterday. 

Or even the day before.

This doesn’t mean that we have to turn our lives upside down and sell everything we have. But we should do what we can.

As Saint Paul says, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

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In what ways do I share my blessings with others? Am I attached to – or detached from – them?

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Like Samuel Johnson, if we find ourselves feeling a little too attached, then perhaps it’s time to part with some of our riches, sharing them with those most in need. 

After all, God loves a cheerful giver.

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Image credits: (1) My Faith Radio, X(2) Shutterstock (3) Silhouette Design Store

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Gospel: Matthew 9: 16-22

A young man approached Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him,
“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
for he had many possessions.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Jesus looks upon the rich young man…and “loves” him.

The Lord must’ve delighted in his zeal for religion, and in his effort to be, “perfect as his heavenly Father is perfect.”

But what happens when Jesus “loves” him? 

He peers into the young man’s heart, inviting him into even deeper holiness. “You are lacking in one thing,” Jesus says. “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor…then come and follow me.”

The man walks away sad, “for he had many possessions.” Though he was a pious man, the Lord occupied second – not first – place in his heart, a constant challenge for any believer.

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When Jesus gazes upon us, he “loves” us just the same. He sees our zeal for God and all of the good works we do to serve him in our neighbor.

But Jesus also sees those things that impede our spiritual growth. That’s what love does by its nature; it seeks to remove things that block further intimacy between two souls. 

What might impede my own spiritual growth? What keeps me from growing in intimacy with God?

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Perhaps my prayer life has become rote or dry. Maybe I try compartmentalizing my life, allowing my faith to influence some – but not all – of my decisions. Maybe there’s a particular person, memory, or habit that keeps drawing me away from the Lord. 

Maybe I don’t give God enough of my talent, trust, or time.

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Ultimately, the rich young man walked away from Jesus out of fear; he feared that following Jesus would not be enough; he feared leaving the security of his possessions behind, as if they could satisfy him more than Jesus.

We know that isn’t true. The Lord is more than enough. May we do whatever we must to keep the Lord where he belongs – in first place, at the very center of our lives.

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Image credits: (1) Grammye’s Front Porch (2) The Rich Young Man, Heinrich Hofmann (3) QuoteFancy

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Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Some of you may still remember a story that made the headlines, capturing global attention for more than two months.

Back in August of 2010, the entrance to a mine in northern Chile collapsed, leaving 33 men trapped nearly half a mile beneath the surface of the earth.

One minute, life was normal. The next, these men were trapped in total darkness, a horrific saga lasting for 69 days.

News of their situation went viral as these miners became known as, “the 33.”  A team of international doctors, scientists, and engineers was swiftly assembled in an effort to do the impossible: rescue these men from the hot, humid darkness.

Miraculously, all of them were saved.

As “the 33” were being extracted out of the earth in a custom designed steel rescue capsule, one of the primary threats to their life was, ironically, light. 

Although light is necessary for our survival, if we are deprived of it long enough, then instant exposure to it can feel like fire, singeing our eyes and skin.

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses strong language to describe his mission. “I have come to set the earth on fire,” he says, “and how I wish it were already blazing!” 

What exactly is this “fire” that he is referring to? 

Clearly, he isn’t speaking of the physical brush fires enveloping arid parts America and Europe. 

Rather, Jesus desires a spiritual fire – a divine inferno – that clears away any part of our lives that does not bring us closer to God or to one another. This is never a destructive blaze; it’s a divine passion that purifies, and yes, at times can burn. 

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If we are in a good place spiritually, then God’s love feels like a “fire” in the best sense of the word – it warms and illumines our path.

As the Psalmist says, “Your word is a lamp for my path and a light for my steps.” 

God’s love also fills us with enthusiasm. As the prophet Jeremiah cries out from a muddy cistern in our first reading, “Your WORD is like a fire in my bones; woe to me if I do not preach it!” 

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But, if we’re not in a good place spiritually, then that same “fire” of divine love can feel painful as it purifies our hearts, ridding it of sin.

For example, the first day of sobriety can feel like fire to an addict. But through the sobriety, God is burning away an addiction that might otherwise destroy a person’s life.

Telling the truth can feel like fire to someone caught in a lie. But through the honesty, God is burning away the dishonest tendencies that can rupture a relationship.

Forgiving a deep-seated wound can feel like fire to someone who’s been nursing a grudge. But through the forgiveness, God is burning away the anger that steals our peace.

Discipline, honesty, and forgiveness… these are all good things! They’re necessary for spiritual growth and healthy relationships.

But, in order for these virtues to grow, the Lord must purify our flesh . That’s hard. It burns.

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Think about those Chilean miners stuck inside a cave for 69 days. They were deprived of light for so long that immediate exposure to it could’ve seared their eyes and skin. They needed gradual exposure before returning to full communion with the light.

Similarly, the more distant we are from God, the more his love for us can burn like fire as it slowly purifies our lives. But this leads to holiness; peace; and salvation. 

As the Book of Wisdom reminds us, “The souls of the just are in the hand of God…because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them.” 

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Every soul must journey through that furnace of divine love to be purified. 

So, how does the warmth of God’s love console me?

And where does it feel like a purifying fire?

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“Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us,” the author of the Letter to the Hebrews writes, “and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of our faith.”

Today the Lord comes to set the world on fire with his divine love. How he wishes it were already blazing!

May it begin with us.

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Image credits: (1) Divine Mercy University (2) NPR (3) Planet Photoshop