5 July 2015 / 14th
Sunday (Year B)
Ezekiel 2:2-5 _ Psalm
123
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 _
Mark 6:1-6
[__01__] At times, our Savior
was rejected by those whom he served.
We
read, for example, that the Son of Man had nowhere on the map to lay his head,
that the infant Jesus / child Jesus had no GPS to find room at the inn.
This
rejection – by others – did not mean that his mission was halted or stopped or
even hindered.
Rather,
it means that the Lord’s personal relationships…became more important…
· Within the Holy
Family of Jesus – Mary – Joseph
· Within the circle of
the 12 apostles
· With his friends and
disciples such as the Martha and Mary
and Lazarus.
The
struggle and journey of our salvation, in this regard, took place on a small
scale first.
These
circles of short radius were– and are– more important than a big crowded circle
of popularity ... or a press conference.
A
prophet is not accepted in his own land. This is a message of the Gospel today.
[__02__] This does not mean that you and I, as prophets, will be
rejected by ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE all the time.
Even
Peter/Saint Peter who denies Jesus three times… is repentant and quickly
reconciled.
And,
while we may experience rejection – in the “town”- we certainly rely on our
friends, families, spouses, for support of our values.
And,
we also rely on the personal relationship we have – and can have – with our
Savior.
He
is present to us in our prayer, in our consciences, in meditation and
contemplation.
We
read in Psalm 139, “Where
can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If
I sink to the nether world, you are there.” (Psalm 139:8)
[__03__] We may, at times,
experience rejection on a small scale or large scale of Christian principles.
Sometimes,
this rejection is presented or wrapped up in something very subtle such as the
recent movement – and Supreme Court decision – to legalize marriage as a civil
right accessible to those of the same gender or same sex.
This
decision, we are told, does not demean or diminish Christian values because
Christian matrimony is a private religious event. But, we would submit that all marriages –
and family arrangements – are public testimonies.
In
Washington D.C., Archbishop Donald Wuerl wrote recently …
“that some may think that
because the civil law definition of marriage has changed, so too has the
Church’s teaching on what constitutes marriage.”
However,
while this definition has not changed,
Archbishop Wuerl writes:
“the Church has always and
always will meet people where they are and bring them closer to Christ.”
If
people do not share our values, we do not reject them. We do not even wish to
say that God rejects or condemns anyone.
[__04__] The distinction between “sin” / “sinfulness” …. and the …. “sinner” applies to all of us. Archbishop Wuerl wrote that “disagreement”
over what is sinful is not “discrimination.”
While
Jesus may be the prophet whose values we
resist or reject… Jesus still visits our land, hometown ..he always invites us
to conversion, into conversation, to draw closer to him.
Jesus
is not necessarily the conquering hero returning triumphantly to us on a parade
float. This was not true in ancient Jerusalem. It is the same today.
A
prophet may not be accepted in his own land.
Jesus comes to meet all of us, sinners in need of God’s grace.
Archbishop/Cardinal
Wuerl continued …”if
the Church were to welcome only those without sin, it would be empty. Catholic
teaching exhorts (invites) every believer – every one of us – to treat all
people with respect, compassion, sensitivity, and love. All are called to walk
with Jesus and so all who try do so have a place in the Church.”
Love
includes dialogue, speaking, listening, …and loving those with whom we
disagree.
Can
we not love those with whom we differ?
Here
at LOURDES, we are grateful to many through whom we grow in our faith …
[__05__] Within our parish are many who hear God’s
call and make God is present even when we may be feeling distracted or outright
ignoring him…
These
include many volunteers … our …
· Children’s Liturgy of
the Word volunteers … every Sunday at 11:30 am MASS.
· Our catechists and
aides in Mrs. Eileen Morgan’s Faith Formation program and Mrs. Morgan.
· Our Pre-Cana marriage
preparation team – Catholic husbands and wives who may not view themselves as
“heroes” …. But it is by their ordinary everyday sacrifice – and sharing this –
that we can form and guide new couples preparing for the lifetime commitment of
the family and marriage in the Sacrament of Matrimony.
· Our RCIA team and
many others.
He is present when we ignore him in the midst
of a family controversy… present when we feel Christian values ignored by our
friends and neighbors … present when we feel discouraged by our own faults and
fragility.
God
is present when we reject him even in own land … in our own conscience.
[__06__]
On this July 4th / Independence Day
weekend, we recall that freedom is a value and virtue purchased at a price …and
paid for still with soldiers and sailors and national defense.
In
other words, FREEDOM is a value we share – COMMUNALLY …not something we own
individually.
And,
freedom is also a Christian virtue …which invites us to consider our love of
God and love of neighbor at all times..
This
is not a freedom to do anything we want …but it is the freedom to do what our
Lord and Savior asks …even if it is not easy path.
It
is the freedom to …
· Forgive even those
who do not ask for forgiveness.
· Love even those who
do not love us.
· Teach – by our words
and actions – even those who seem to ignore us.
· Ask – for God’s mercy
and forgiveness… even if we are discouraged by our faults and fragility.
Yes, at times, we may be rejected.
Yet, freedom rings.
And, we know that God – as Father, Son and
Holy Spirit always awaits our return to the security of his homeland and to the
spirit of his word.
[__fin__]
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