Friday, November 15, 2013 - How would you fare if the Son of Man were to judge you at this moment?

To read the texts click on the texts: Wis 13:1-9; Lk 17:26-37

This section starts with the examples of the days of Noah and Lot (17:26-29). Just as in the days of Noah and Lot the life of the people at that time proceeded normally and people were going about their daily business until all of a sudden the flood and brimstone and fire respectively destroyed the people, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. This means that decisive action is absolutely necessary. There will be no turning back. Lot’s wife who turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back (Genesis 19:26) is given as an example of the dangers of looking back. 

When the Son of Man does indeed come, then the choice of those who will be taken and those who will be left will be made. In answer to the disciples’ question, “Where, Lord?” (17:37), Jesus answers with an enigmatic proverb, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (17:37). The point of this proverb here seems to be that just as it is sure that vultures will gather where a corpse is found, as surely will the judgement of the Son of Man fall upon the wicked.

Decisive action does not mean desperate action. It means steady and regular action. If one is at any given moment in time doing what one is supposed to do, it may be regarded as decisive action. A person engaged in such an activity is always ready.

Thursday, November 14, 2013 - Instead of focussing too much on the afterlife, will you focus on life here and now?

To read the texts click on the texts: Wis 7:22-8:1; Lk 17:20-25

The first two verses of this section (17:20-21) are exclusive to Luke though Matthew 24:23 and Mark 13:21 contain part of Luke 17:21. In Luke the Pharisees pose the question about the future coming of the kingdom. In his response, Jesus speaks not of the time when the kingdom will come, but about the very nature of the kingdom. Since the pronoun “you” is plural, Jesus’ saying that the kingdom is “among you” is unlikely to mean that the kingdom is within a group of individuals. Rather it seems to mean that the kingdom is in Jesus who is among them at that time.

The next verse (17:22) begins the discourse of the coming of the Son of Man. There will be a long period when the disciples long to see even a glimpse of their deliverance (one of the days of the Son of Man). Though some will point here and others there, the disciples must not be taken in. When the Son of Man does appear he will be visible to all everywhere. However, before he comes, he will have to endure suffering. The Son of Man who comes will be the Son of Man who has suffered and been rejected.

Obsession with the afterlife does not help us to live fully the life we have here and now. Too many questions about death and what will happen after death result in life passing us by. While as Christians we do believe in the life to come, we are also instructed in many places in the Gospels that the life to come will not be a totally different kind of life, but a life which will continue in a fuller way the present one we have. Our focus therefore ought to be on living this life fully at every moment of every day.

GRATITUDE IS AN ATTITUDE

Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - How often have you thanked God for the wonder of your life? Will you do that today? How?

To read the texts click on the texts: Wis 6:1-11; Lk 17:11-19

The miracle of the healing of ten lepers is found only in the Gospel of Luke. The mention of Samaria at the beginning of this miracle story prepares us for the Samaritan who gave thanks at the end. Lepers were not allowed to live within the city limits and had to live outside (Num 5:2-3). They also had to cry out that they were unclean when anyone approached them (Lev13:45-46). This is why Luke has the lepers in this story stand at a distance (17:12) and call out in unison addressing Jesus as Master, which only disciples do in the Gospel of Luke. Their cry for mercy would ordinarily have been a cry for alms, but in this case, it seems to be for much more. When Jesus sees them, he issues a command that they go and show themselves to the priests and as they obeyed this command, they were made clean. It is interesting to note that the healing here takes place after they obey Jesus’ command. 

One of the ten on realising that he was healed began to praise God and his action of falling prostrate at Jesus’ feet is an indication that he recognised God as acting in and through Jesus. Though ten were made clean, only one of them and that too a Samaritan who was despised by the Jews and regarded as an outcast and foreigner has returned to thank God. The faith of the man here is shown not before but after his healing. This results in the man receiving not just healing, but salvation.

Gratitude does not come naturally to many of us. Before the favour can be done for us, we are willing to do anything for the person who can do us that favour. However, often once the favour has been done, we forget to thank. While the person concerned might not expect any thanks from us, it is our responsibility to acknowledge our gratitude by our thanks.

ZERO EXPECTATIONS ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - Do you constantly expect thanks and praise for all the good that you do? Will you perform one act today without any expectation whatever?

To read the texts click on the texts: Wis 2:23-3:9; Lk 17:7-10

These verses are exclusive to Luke and contain a parable. In the first part of the parable the disciples are cast in the role of the master through Jesus’ question, “Will any of you who has a servant…” (17:7). No one would expect a master to ask a servant to sit at table and serve him, rather the servant would be expected even after he has come from the field, to get the master’s supper ready and serve the master. Moreover, the servant will not be thanked simply because he has done what was required of him. At the end of the parable and in the relationship with God, the disciples are cast in the roles of servants. They must realise that like the servant of the parable they will also have to do all that is required of them and not expect any thanks because they have only done what was expected of them.

Very few of us regard that we have been given the thanks due to us already in the service that we have been allowed to provide. We wait for further thanks and commendations. It is not only spiritual but also prudent and practical to do what we are doing and expect no thanks at all. If it does come we accept it in all humility, whereas if it does not come we are not disappointed.

HOW MUCH FAITH IS ENOUGH?

Monday, November 11, 2013 - Do your words and actions build up rather than pull down? Will you speak an enhancing word today?

To read the texts click on the texts: Wis 1:1-7; Lk 17:1-6

There are three units in this section. The first concerns being a cause of scandal (17:1-2), the second is on forgiveness (17:3-4) and the third is on faith (17:5-6). This section is addressed to the disciples.

Since we are living in a sinful world, occasions for sin will continue to be present, but humans cause these and the one who is the cause for such an occasion must accept responsibility. In a striking metaphor in 18:2 about a millstone being hung around the neck of the one who causes scandal and he/she being cast into the sea, the Lucan Jesus makes the point that the one who is responsible for causing the scandal will not be able to escape the consequences of his/her action. Since this is a warning addressed to the disciples, the term “little ones” in this context must be interpreted as those who are just beginning to believe and so will need all the help that they can get to enhance their faith. These must not be scandalised.

The next unit concerns forgiveness, but also speaks of rebuking the one who commits sin. This has to do with not turning a blind eye to the faults of others but challenging them to rise higher. It is a matter of “carefrontation” rather than confrontation, since it speaks also of forgiveness that must be granted if the offender repents. In order to drive home the point of forgiveness, the next verse (17:6) is the command of Jesus to forgive repeatedly even seven times in a day.

The final section begins with a plea to Jesus to increase their faith. This is an indication that faith is not static but dynamic and continues to grow. It also means that the Lord can give the grace required for faith to grow. In his response Jesus challenges them to reflect on whether they have faith at all. It is not a matter of little or great faith, but faith per se. If the faith of the disciples was even as small as a grain of mustard seed they could achieve the impossible. 

READ THE SUNDAY READINGS CAREFULLY TO ANSWER

Across

2. How many brothers of the Maccabees were arrested?

3. Who is the first Patriarch mentioned in the Gospel text?

7. From which Old Testament Book is the first reading of today taken?

Down

1. Which other Patriarch is mentioned besides Jacob?

4. To whom did God reveal himself as a God of the living in the bush?

5. To which Christian community is the Second reading of today addressed?

6. Which group asked Jesus the question about the Resurrection?

November 10, 2013 - THIRTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - "Death thou shalt die!"

To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Mac 7:1-2, 8-14; 2 Th 2:16-3:5; Lk 20:27-38

What happens to us after we die? Do we continue to “live?” Is it only the “soul” which continues to exist? Does the body also exist in some other form? These related questions have been fodder for much theological and philosophical discussion for centuries. The Sadducees of Jesus’ time had such questions and, two thousand years later, we continue to have similar questions. 

The response to these questions cannot be made by trying to answer each one separately.  All these questions arise from a more important one, namely: Who is your God? The answer to this question, as Jesus points out to the Sadducees in the Gospel text of today, determines our belief about the afterlife.

For those, like the Sadducees, who are not able to reconcile with the idea of God as a living God, it is not possible to believe in the Resurrection. For them, everything ends on earth.  There is nothing to come later. However, for those who are fortunate to encounter the God made visible in Jesus, the resurrection is not only possible but a fact. This is because the revelation of God is of a God who lives and who wants all to continue to live forever. It is not a revelation of a temporal God or of a limited God. Rather, in Jesus, God is revealed as one who raised Jesus from the dead and who will, in Jesus, raise the whole of creation.

Precisely because Jesus said so little about the nature of life after death, his words in this text are extremely significant. The ones who die in God are children, not of death, but of the resurrection. This is why they will never die again.  This is why they will live forever in and with God.

The resurrection from the dead is spoken of also in the first reading of today.  The seven brothers are unafraid to face death because they know that, for them, death is not the end. Their image of God is of a God who will raise them. They remain faithful in this life and thus, are sure of God’s fidelity to them in the next life. Rather than place their trust in humans and in temporal rewards, they are willing to die for what they know will be their eternal reward.

Though the scriptures do not tell us about the “how” of the Resurrection, all Evangelists speak of the Empty Tomb and of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. This must be enough for us. However, more than worrying or wondering about the resurrection, we must be concerned about our lives in the here and now. This is why Paul, when writing to the Thessalonians in the second reading of today, exhorts them to be faithful and to keep on doing what they have to do. They need not concern themselves about the future, since through Jesus Christ, God gives eternal comfort and good hope. The hope is that that Lord is faithful and the Lord has shown his fidelity in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To be concerned about our lives in the here and now means living fully in the present moment knowing full well that the future is in God’s capable hands. Though we do not really know what the future holds, we know who holds the future and this must be our motivation and inspiration. Too much speculation about things that are beyond us can lead to unnecessary worry and tension. It prevents us from doing what we have to do. If we keep in mind that our present will determine our future, then instead of worrying about tomorrow and the afterlife, we will ensure that we live fully today and in this life.

This is why for us, as disciples of Jesus, death is not something to be feared or dreaded. It is only a transition from this life to the next. Even Jesus had to die in order to be raised. It is a necessary condition for us to enjoy the eternal life that God has in store for us. Though there is nothing in us as humans that is naturally or inherently immortal, God’s gift of life after death makes us immortal. This is why we also can say, like the 17^th Century poet, John Donne, “One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.”

Following in the footsteps of those who have gone before us to eternal life, we trust in the indestructibility of the bonds of love that join us with God. Since it was God who invited us into this covenant relationship, surely God will see that this bond endures through death and beyond, whatever that beyond might hold. We believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.