Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Matthew 11: 25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Christians are called to live in “ecstasy.”

So, what exactly does that mean?

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The word, “ecstasy” originally referred to a religious experience.

It meant to, “step outside of yourself,” to see the world from someone else’s perspective; to walk in another person’s shoes.

Isn’t this what God did when he took on flesh?

In the Incarnation, the Lord stepped outside of heaven; he came down to earth, and learned what it felt like to live and move as a human being; to flee King Herod as a refugee; to feel the twinge of hunger; to know the embrace of a mother; to be loved; and even to be hated.

The Lord stepped outside of himself whenever he encountered his neighbor. He was constantly healing the sick, forgiving the sinner, teaching the curious, and stretching people’s minds to experience what it means to be loved.

Jesus reveals that God has the heart of a shepherd, as we hear in today’s Gospel.

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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

While this feast reminds us of the infinite mercy of God, it also challenges us to step outside of our own selves, seeing the world from the perspective of the tired, poor, hungry, and lonely.

It’s something we can do in the smallest of ways: we can listen before we speak; reach out to a neighbor; feed an empty stomach; or pray for a person in need. 

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In what ways do I live in “ecstasy”? How do I step outside of my own thoughts and plans in order to see the world from someone else’s perspective?

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May we continue to model our lives after our merciful God, who has loved us and given himself for us.

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Image credits: (1) ABC Religion and Ethics (2) Carl Dietrich, Sacred Heart of Jesus (3) Braving the Hot Mess

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Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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There was a unique, almost strange, practice in some of the early Christian churches.

If someone was expelled from the faith community because of a moral issue, or if the person left the faith willingly, before being accepted back, that person would have to lay on the floor at the church’s entrance and say to the other members who entered:

“Trample upon me who was the salt which lost its flavor.”

Such a humbling practice – being trampled upon – was derived from Jesus words in today’s Gospel. 

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its taste, it is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Perhaps these Christians took the Gospel too literally, though it certainly made a point! Salt is only good if it retains its flavor. Similarly, Christians can only build up the kingdom of God if they retain the “saltiness” of their faith.

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Just as salt flavors everything it touches, in what ways does my faith “flavor” those around me?

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“Trample upon me who was the salt who lost its flavor.”

May those words never be said of us. 

Rather, be a “salty” Christian, the light of the world.

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Image credits: (1) Lifeword (2) Dreamstime.com (3) LetterPile

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Gospel: Matthew 5: 1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 
He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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A friend texted me recently: 

“Father, please keep my friend, ‘Jane,’ and her husband in your prayers. They had a house fire yesterday and are now homeless. They are very faithful people. After losing everything she owned, ‘Jane’ texted me the lyrics to the song, ‘Goodness of God.’ You should listen to it.”

“I love you, Lord,” the lyrics go, “for your mercy never fails me. All my days, I’ve been held in your hands. From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head, I will sing of the goodness of God… You have led me through the fire. In the darkest night, You are close like no other.”

“Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

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How can someone lose everything in a house fire and still sing of the “goodness of God”?

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“Jane” is the type of person who’s blessed in today’s Gospel. 

This word, blessed – in Greek, markarios – describes a joy that is self-contained; untouchable. It is completely independent of the joys and sorrows of life. It can neither be taken away nor destroyed.

It’s the type of stillness, inner peace, which Jesus promises to his followers. “No one will take your joy from you,” he says in John’s Gospel.

A change in weather, a change in fortune, a collapse in health, or a fire that consumes your home can steal the “happiness” the world offers. But nothing can take Christian joy away because it’s rooted in Christ.

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Imagine that type of joy. 

Regardless of what each day brings, there’s a stillness within; a feeling that all will be well; a comfort knowing Christ is with you and will never let you be tried beyond your strength.

We invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts now, asking for that type of joy – a joy, a peace – which Christ alone can give and no one can take away.

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Image credits: (1) Malcom Guite, WordPress (2) The Capranica (3) Semi-Permanent Tattos