Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Matthew 9: 1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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“Take courage, your sins are forgiven.”

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As nice as that sounds – the forgiveness of sins – the scribes don’t seem to care at all. What they see is a man paralyzed, lying on a stretcher!

If Jesus is the miracle worker he claims to be, then why not heal this man’s body?

The scribes see what many do – only that which is physical.

But Jesus sees the entire person. He sees this man’s body, heart, and soul. The day will come when his body – although miraculously healed today – is placed in the earth.

But his soul – freshly purified by Christ – will live forever.

That’s what matters most, which is why Jesus forgives him before he restores his health.

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Christ the Teacher is always taking us deeper. He encourages this man – and all of us today – to focus on healing the deepest part of our selves, not just that which is visible.

Is there any part of me that needs inner healing?

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Let these words of Christ wash over you: “Take courage, your sins are forgiven.”

With a new day comes a new beginning.

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Image credits: (1) QuoteFancy (2) Jesus Heals the Crippled, Youngsung Kim (3) The Abundant Life Center

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Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This is the only moment in the Gospels where Jesus is found sleeping.

Surely, he slept most nights. He lived long days. He was human. Naturally, he’d go to sleep at dusk and rise at dawn like any one of us.

So, why would Matthew insist on telling us that Jesus fell asleep on that night, as opposed to any other night?

Because he fell asleep in the middle of a storm – and not just any storm, but one so strong it terrified the disciples! Keep in mind, these men were professional fishermen. They were used to choppy waters… just not a storm this size. 

Imagine them staggering like drunkards, struggling to find their balance on the boat… meanwhile, Jesus is asleep on a cushion.

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These are risky questions, but we must ask them:

What if Jesus fell asleep knowing that storm was coming? 

What if the disciples were right where God wanted them to be – stumbling in the darkness, holding on for dear life? 

What if this was all a test?

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Can’t we easily extend this imagery of drowning to our own world today – a world with mass shootings, cancer, mental illness, isolation, grinding jobs, and so on?

We know what it feels like to be one of the disciples. We know what it feels like to have a sinking feeling in our stomach, wondering if we’re going to drown.

And while our prayers can – and do – awaken a sleeping Jesus, perhaps the deeper invitation in today’s Gospel is to sit with that image of the disciples drifting in the storm… trying to find comfort – not in awakening the Lord – but simply knowing that he is there.

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“Be still and know that I am God,” the Psalmist says. In time, every storm will pass. Until then, know that you shall not drown; asleep or not, God is with you.

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Image credits: (1) Bernard Allen, Twitter (2) The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt (3) Reform Magazine

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Gospel: Matthew 8: 18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him,
he gave orders to cross to the other shore.
A scribe approached and said to him,
“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Another of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But Jesus answered him, “Follow me,
and let the dead bury their dead.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Saint Augustine is one of the most important theologians the Church has ever known. Once he converted to Catholicism, he proclaimed the Gospel with exceptional clarity and depth.

But prior to his conversion, he lived a storied life. Augustine was known for having many guilty pleasures, one being his love for women.

Around the time of his conversion, he’s famously quoted for saying, “Lord, make me celibate… Just not yet.”

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Augustine knew what was right; he wanted to do the Lord’s will… 

… Just not yet.

The same is true for one of the figures in today’s Gospel. “Lord,” this person says, “I will follow you wherever you go…But let me first go and bury my father.”

“Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead,” Jesus says. 

Meaning, stop making excuses. You know what is right. Follow me…now.

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In what ways do I make excuses to avoid doing the Lord’s will?

Maybe I’ve put off forgiving someone. I’ve clung to a habit a day too long. I’ve neglected to be charitable, honest, or prayerful.

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“Follow me,” the Lord says.

Not tomorrow. 

Today.

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Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) The Church on the Way, WordPress (3) Inspirations from the Funny Farm