REFLECTIONS

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

This Sunday’s readings offer us some contrasts:  in the first reading there is the contrast between “God’s counsel” and “the deliberations of mortals.”  The second reading is the only time during our Sunday readings that we hear from Paul’s letter to Philemon.  Paul encourages Philemon to accept back his slave Onesimus, not as a slave but as “brother” “as a man and in the Lord.”  In the Gospel we hear the words of Jesus on the “cost of discipleship”.

Jesus’ words in the Gospel today are unnerving and challenging. Today’s Gospel starts with: “great crowds were traveling with Jesus.” At the beginning of the Gospel next Sunday the great crowds will diminish and Luke will tell us, “tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus.”  It is possible that less people followed Jesus because of the “cost of discipleship." Jesus challenged the people of his time and us to Love God above any person and even our own life and love God above possessions. We are to carry our cross. The two parables tell us to give careful conscious attention to what our following of Jesus means.  What does our discipleship mean to us?

As disciples we are to be involved in a personal process.  We are to explore the teachings of Jesus as they relate to our lives.  Jesus is a master to be followed.

Today’s first reading draws a comparison between the things of God and the things of men.  When Solomon was to begin his reign as successor of King David, he began with prayer.  He prayed that God would give him “an understanding heart.”  In the First Book of Kings we read that Solomon was presented with the claims of two harlots.  They lived in the same house and each had a child.  But one of the children died.  Both women claim that the living son is theirs. Solomon asks for a sword to cut the living child in two.  You know the rest of the story . . . .   We must ask ourselves whether when we are faced with decisions, do we begin with prayer?  Are we convinced that there is a difference between the wisdom of man and the wisdom from God?  When did we last bring a decision to God in prayer?

In the second reading we hear a part of Paul’s story.  His life was a continual and careful consideration of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus.  He is in prison for the Gospel.  He is sending Onesimus (the slave) back to his owner (Philemon). He calls Onesimus his heart. He would like for Onesimus to stay with him, but he sends him back.  He challenges Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave but as a beloved brother.  Paul wants him not to punish the slave but to welcome him.  Paul is ready to pay what Onesimus owes. Paul knows both Onesimus and Philemon.  He has taught them both about Jesus.  He wants them to know one another in the Lord.  This calls for a new relationship between them.  Is God calling me to any new relationship with another person?

Jesus in the Gospel today tells us that we must love him above everyone and everything.  We must carry our cross.  Matthew’s Gospel helps us to understand the meaning behind “hating one’s father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even one’s own life.”  Addressing this same concern Matthew says (Mt. 10:37) “whoever loves father or mother more than me.” These are not worthy of Jesus and cannot be his disciples.  Jesus also gives us the parables of the man calculating before building a tower and the king considering his forces and the opposition before going to war.  These parables encourage us to count the cost, give sober judgement, careful conscious acceptance. They encourage us to self-testing, earnestness and self preparedness. Conversion is not an all-at-once or once-and-for-all sort of experience and decision. Is there some part of my life that God is calling me to examine in terms of my following of Jesus?

Conversion must be continual and continuing.  We are called like Solomon and Paul and Philemon to a life time of serving the Lord. Solomon gave us the example of prayer before making decisions.  Paul in his words to Philemon calls us to examine whether we are being called to something new in a relationship.  From the Gospel we are called to examine our discipleship.  Is there any person or thing that is keeping me from following Jesus more closely?

Source of Reflection: Dave Jackson

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

As Luke does very often, he uses a meal setting to share with us some teaching of Jesus.  Jesus gives some advice for the guests and for the hosts.  We are invited today to the Eucharistic banquet.  But the invitation for us is also accompanied by a challenge.  Today the name of the challenge is humility.

When you hear the word “humility," what do you think of?  Humility is not a very popular virtue.  The musical Godspel says: “It isn’t the earth that the meek inherit, it’s the dirt.” Today we heard Jesus say, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Jesus also said, “Learn of me for I am gentle and humble of heart.” (Mt. 11:29)  Let us then together consider humility.

To meet a truly humble person is in my experience rare.  Some years ago while visiting in a nursing home I met a truly humble man.  He said to me after some conversation, “I only have half sense.  I have wisdom and knowledge but I don’t have any education.”  The sister that was visiting with me, and I talked about that later.  We both agreed that we had the education but wished we had more of his wisdom and knowledge.  We know many people with a great deal of education but wondered whether any of them would say they only have half sense.  The humble person gives a true estimate of self.  How difficult it is to have a true estimate of self.  We always seem to err either thinking too much of ourselves or not enough of ourselves.

There are many ways in which we exalt ourselves by thinking too much of ourselves:  boasting (“I could have gotten you a much better deal, price, etc.”) exaggerating, impatience, rigidity, compulsive talking, taking scandal at others, gossiping about other people (“I can’t stand so and so . . . ”)

But humility has also gotten a bad name by people who don’t think enough of themselves.  Humility is not: an inferiority complex, feeling sorry for myself, the attitude, “Oh I could never do that . . .” Humility is not fear.

True humility is spoken of in a different section of Sirach than we read in the first reading, Sirach 10:27 “My son with humility have self esteem, prize yourself as you deserve.” Humility means (as the first reading said) “what is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not.”  We all must come to terms with our limitations, age, health, background, ability.  Humility means being an attentive listener.  Someone has remarked, “God gave us two ears and one mouth to teach us something.”  Humility allows us to admit our mistakes, to forgive ourselves, others, God.  True humility I believe will be accompanied with a sense of humor.

Jesus said, “learn of me for I am gentle and humble of heart.” When we look at Jesus we see the strength of humility.  Jesus could wash the feet of his apostles. This takes humility but also strength. Jesus could eat and drink with sinners and outcasts.  He could be criticized for doing this and yet continue doing it.  In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus could greet Judas as friend.  Jesus loved Peter even after Peter denied him.  Jesus could say from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”

Humility for Jesus was not purely passive (receiving from others). It was an active virtue.  Jesus not only spoke about service, he served.  Jesus not only talked about inviting the beggars, crippled, lame and the blind.  He ate with beggars, he healed the crippled and lame and blind.

There is a double challenge in Jesus’ words to the host.  By inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind there is no hope of these people repaying in kind.  Secondly by inviting these people and associating with them, the host risks losing his own social standing.
   
So how do we become humble?  I believe that the root of humility is the absence of self concern.  It is the peace of knowing oneself accepted by God as one is and abandoning oneself to his love.  We are made to the image and likeness of God.  There is goodness and a spark of creation in all of us.  We tend to make God into our image: accepting only when good, loving those who love us.  God accepts us as we are (unfinished). We have to remind ourselves, “Be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet.”  God loves us when we are bad and when we are good.  God loves us not for what we do but because we are.

Source of Reflection: Dave Jackson