Liturgical Calendar

Reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 10:17-30

By Catechist's Aide on October 11, 2018 1

Sunday, October 14, 2018

28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Today’s Gospel reading is Mark 10:17-30, The Rich Man.

Desiring God

The rich young man in today’s gospel is eager to inherit eternal life. We read that he ran to Jesus and knelt before him. He greets Jesus as “good teacher” so we can assume that he has been listening to Jesus preach. It appears that the man wants to move beyond just hearing the word of Jesus. He has tapped into something that resides within each of us. Created in God’s image, we were made to know and to love our Creator. We were made to be in relationship with God. This is the “God-shaped hole in the heart of every man” that Blaise Pascal referred to. Pascal said that within each of our hearts is a longing – a desire for something which is not of this world – and which can only be satisfied by God himself. The rich man in Mark’s Gospel has found in Jesus, the one thing that fills his heart to overflowing, and now he wants to have it for all eternity. So, he asks the question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Minimum Requirements

Jesus responds first with his own question. He asks the man if he has kept the commandments given to Moses.

My daughter is a personal trainer, and when she gets a new client, the first thing she does is a sort of inventory to determine where they are now so she can develop the proper plan to get them where they want to go. If this young man had gone to a personal trainer and asked for advice on how he can create more muscle mass, the trainer would probably start by asking about his general health. The trainer would want to know if he is eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting the proper rest, etc. She might suggest that he get rid of junk food and sodas and concentrate on getting his required daily nutrients. But that’s just the starting point. The trainer would also point out that, if you’re really interested in changing your body composition, you’ll also need to commit to a rigid workout and training schedule. Likewise, keeping the commandments, while essential to fostering a good relationship with God, is a kind of minimum daily requirement for us. When Jesus asks if he keeps the commandments, he is asking, are you doing the bare minimum?

Total Commitment

Moving beyond the minimum, we must tear down any obstacles that stand between God and us. To be in right relationship with God, we must rely entirely on him, not ourselves. In the reflection for last week’s gospel, we said that eternal life is a gift that God offers to us. It isn’t forced on anyone, and we are free to say, “No, thank you.” To accept God’s gift of eternal life, we must be like little children – utterly dependent on Him. We can’t be the one in control. And this is essentially what Jesus is telling the rich man today. Jesus says that if he wants to have a deeper relationship with God – if he wants to go “all in” – then he must let go of his wealth. When Jesus tells the rich man to give everything he has to the poor and follow him, he is asking him to trust God completely. By giving away his earthly treasure, the rich man will find an even greater treasure. Jesus wasn’t making a bargain with the man. The “letting go” was the only way he would experience true charity and giving of self. This is the love that God wants us to experience with one another. This is the love for which we were created.

Who Can Be Saved?

We read that the rich man “went away sad, for he had many possessions.” Jesus lamented, “how hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” He said this, not because wealth is a sin, but because it’s so easy for those with wealth to rely on themselves rather than trust in God. We don’t know what happened to the young man in Mark’s Gospel after his encounter with Jesus. Change is never easy, but Jesus tells us that with God anything is possible. I like to think that the rich man went home and thought about what Jesus asked him to do. Even though he couldn’t fully commit that day, perhaps he was able to take a first step by letting go of one possession, and then another and another. What is the first step that we can make today that will move us toward giving our whole selves and trusting God completely? What can we do today so that we don’t walk away sad?

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 10:2-16

By Catechist's Aide on October 3, 2018 0

Sunday, October 7, 2018

27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Marriage and divorce

In the first part of the Gospel reading (Mark 10:2-16), the Pharisees approach Jesus and test him by asking whether it is permissible under God’s law for a married couple to divorce. Jesus quickly draws a distinction between divorce as allowed by Moses and the permanency that God wills for marriage. Jesus clarifies that Moses permitted them to divorce because of their “hard hearts.” In other words, they had closed their hearts to God’s will. The people placed their own desires before what God had commanded. Jesus recalled that from the beginning, God intended that marriage be a permanent, lifelong union between a man and a woman.

Things are not all that different today. There continues to be a growing list of challenges to marriage. We all know someone, or we have ourselves experienced the pain of divorce in our families and among our friends. We are not called to judge, but to bring compassion and offer prayers of support for all those affected by the breakup of a family.

Bringing their children

The reading continues with what seems to be a disconnected event. People begin bringing their children to Jesus in the hopes that he might bless them. As this is happening, we read that the disciples “rebuked them.” We can picture in our minds, the disciples turning away people as they approach Jesus with their children. Perhaps they thought that the children might interrupt or annoy Jesus. Our young teens can relate to this scene all too easily. In fact, all of us can surely recall an experience where, as younger children, we were admonished to be seen and not heard.

But it’s not these young innocents who are bothering Jesus. The only thing annoying him at the moment is his disciples turning them away. The Gospel tells us that Jesus became indignant. He instructs the disciples to let the children come to him, and he goes on to say that “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Accepting the kingdom

Then Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He says, “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” So, first of all, we know this is really important because Jesus begins by saying “Amen, I say to you.” This is Biblical code for “listen up because I’m about to drop a truth bomb!” What I find most interesting here is that Jesus says that we need to accept the kingdom of God. He does not say that we must work hard to earn it, only that we accept it; and we can only accept that which is offered to us.

The second part of the statement tells us how we are to accept the kingdom of God – like a child. There are many child-like qualities that would make us good candidates for citizens of God’s kingdom, but the one that is possibly the most important is dependence. If we read back in verse 13 it says, “And people were bringing their children to him.” These were not young school-aged children who could have easily run up to Jesus on their own. The children that people were bringing to Jesus were babies – infants. These little ones were totally dependent on their parents for everything. Jesus is telling us in this Gospel reading that if we are to enter the kingdom of God, we must be completely dependent on Him, His love and His Word.

Being Child-like

How do we become like children? I think it starts with recognizing that everything we have, and more importantly everything we need, comes from God. As we get older we like to think that we can handle things on our own. We don’t like to think of ourselves as being needy, but that is exactly what we must do. Accompanying that understanding is trust. Little children trust that their parents will provide for them. We must place our trust in God that He will provide for our needs. And like little children, who know to turn to their parents for help, we must continually bring our worries, our concerns, and our problems, to our heavenly Father. Finally, we must be obedient, like little children, to God our Father, and His will for our lives.

Jesse Tree December 25

By Catechist's Aide on December 25, 2017 0

December 25: Christ is born

Traditional Ornament: Manger Scene

Reading: Luke 2: 6-21

“For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

The waiting is over. Christ is born!

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2: 13-14)

God’s love for us is constant, even when we disobey and turn away from Him. On Christmas Day we celebrate God’s faithfulness when our loving Father’s promise to send a Redeemer is fulfilled through the birth of His only begotten Son.

Jesse Tree December 24

By Catechist's Aide on December 24, 2017 0

December 24: Journey to Bethlehem

Traditional Ornament: Donkey, Sandals

Reading: Luke 2: 1-5

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.” (Luke 2:1)

Luke’s gospel is the only place that we find the details of Jesus’ birth. At the end of her pregnancy, Mary and Joseph are called to travel to Bethlehem to be enrolled in a census. The journey takes place because of a political decree, but make no mistake this is God’s plan in action.

The theme of the journey is significant. Joseph and Mary journey to Bethlehem where their baby will be born. The shepherds in the fields journey in haste to the stable after a visitation from a host of angels. In Matthew’s gospel, we read that the magi journey, following a star, that led them to the Christ child, whom they honor. And, on this Christmas Eve, we come to the end of our Advent journey.

All of these journeys lead to the same place – the coming of Jesus Christ into the world and into our lives. But the journey does not end there. When we meet Jesus, our Savior, He takes us on another journey back to the Father.

Jesse Tree December 23

By Catechist's Aide on December 23, 2017 0

December 23: Joseph

Traditional Ornament: Carpenter’s Tools

Reading: Matthew 1: 18-25

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (Matthew 1:24)

In Matthew’s gospel, he begins by recording the genealogy of Jesus through his adoptive father, Joseph, tracing his roots back through the house of David to Abraham. Matthew also tells us that Mary was betrothed to Joseph. In the Old Testament, this meant something more than a modern-day engagement. Betrothal was basically the first stage of marriage. A couple who were betrothed had been legally married in front of witnesses, however, the bride would have continued to live in the home of her parents. After a year, the wedding was officially celebrated in the tradition referred to in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, where the groom ceremonially goes to the home of his bride’s parents and bring his wife back to his home where they would live together as husband and wife.

Since they were already legally married, Joseph had decided to quietly divorce Mary when he learned of her pregnancy. Otherwise, there would be no need for a divorce. But, Joseph had a dream that changed everything. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus.” (Matthew 1: 20-21)

The Bible contains no direct spoken word of Joseph, but his actions speak volumes. Upon waking from the dream, he did not hesitate. He dutifully obeyed and he continued to obey God’s commands throughout Jesus’ life. Like Mary his bride, Joseph let his faith and trust in God guide his actions.

Jesse Tree December 22

By Catechist's Aide on December 22, 2017 0

December 22: Mary

Traditional Ornament: Rose or Lily

Reading: Luke 1: 26-55

“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31)

Today’s reading begins with the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she is to be the mother of the Son of God. Each year on March 25^th we celebrate this day with the Solemnity of the Annunciation which marks the moment of Jesus’ conception and incarnation (the Word made flesh). The importance of the Annunciation cannot be overstated. Jesus became human not on the day of his birth, but at the moment of his conception in his mother’s womb. Jesus had the full human experience, including that of an unborn child.

We sometimes refer to Mary as the “New Eve” because of her humble “Yes” to God. In the garden, Eve had appropriated for herself that which was God’s to give. At the Annunciation, Mary was the willing recipient of what God wanted to give to her, and through her to all the world. Mary’s response was not that of a pre-programmed robot, she had the freedom to say “No” to God, just as Eve had. God does not force His will on us, and Mary’s Immaculate Conception did not preclude her own free will.

At the Annunciation, the salvation of all humanity rested on Mary’s response, just as it had with Eve in the garden. This Advent, as we hopefully wait for the coming of the Savior, we also recognize that it could not happen without the free and humble “Yes” of Mary.