18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

 

I Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23: What does the man gain for all his toil? The attitude of the affluent towards their possessions is called “vanity.”

II Reading: Colossians 3: 1-5.9-11: You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is. A warning against materialism, greed and intolerance.

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21: This hoard of yours, whose will it be? The parable of the rich fool, highlights the futility of greed.

 

The Parable of the Rich Fool:

The Man of Wealth and What He Should Fear, Lk 12:13-21

Our life must be full of joy and full of meaning and not emptiness in life. “Vanity of vanities.” All things are vanity. This would mean, “everything is emptiness.” The word “vanity” is 25 times in the book. But the preacher also discovers the meaningful life: “Revere God and keep his commandments.” Your life will have meaning if you do, and no one ever regretted having done so when his life on earth ended. We must not replace God with our riches, possessions, power, greed, etc. Jesus warns the greedy for possessions that hinder them from entering the kingdom of God. The will of God regarding money and possession is to help and support the poor, and the needy and to continue good works in society. Let us work hard to inherit eternal life on earth and in heaven.

Let us examine the parable:

a) the farmer was a self-centered person: he said 6 times “I”, “Mine”, “My”. He did not even say once about God or his gift.

b) The farmer forgot about God and had self-satisfaction only.

c) The sudden shock: Jesus’ uttering a loud “Fool….”

The purpose of our life is to become rich in God’s sight as saint Paul would say in the second reading: a new life at baptism, a life that cannot be destroyed (Col 3:1). We should have Life in the Spirit. “We were clothed in Christ” (Gal 3:27). It is not I who live but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20).

The man of wealth is often self–sufficient, but there are some things he needs to fear.

1. A request for Jesus to give a judicial decision (v.13-14)

a. Brother’s desire for an inheritance and wealth

b. Jesus’ stern refusal

2. Fear this: Life does not consist of things (v.15-19)

a. The serious charge: watch out! Beware

b. The big sin: Greed or covetousness

c. The big “I” (6 times, 16-19): aggressively self-centered life

d. The big mistake: self-indulgence and extravagant living

3. Fear this: your life may be required and demanded tonight (v.20)

4. Fear this: wealth is not a permanent possession-someone else gets it (v.20-21)

Thought:

Our greatest treasure on earth is Life in the Spirit and living with Christ. Money and possessions are God’s gifts to help the poor and needy; we should make use of them in order to become spiritually rich. Our possessions should not become an obstacle on our way to God, as Jesus said to the rich young man, it is easier for a camel to enter into the eye of a needle than a rich man.

Greed-Covetousness (pleonexia): a craving, a desire for more. It is greediness, a dissatisfaction with what is enough. It includes both material things and fleshly indulgence. It is desiring what belongs to others; snatching at something that belongs to others; a love of having, a cry of giving me, give (2Pet 2:14; Mt 6:19-21, 24; 16:26; Eph 5:3-5)

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading: Genesis 18:20-32: I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak.

II Reading: Colossians 2:12-14: He has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.

Gospel: Luke 11:1-13: Ask, and it will be given to you.

The Great Subject of Prayer, Lk 11:1-13

This passage deals with the great subject of prayer. So we need to study time and again and learn how to pray without ceasing in life. The prayer of a Christian should resemble that of Christ. Jesus himself prayed often. What was Jesus’ prayer like? “Our Father” and He taught his apostles as we read in the gospel. He taught them to pray the way he himself did. The “Our Father” prayer as given by Luke, does not exactly coincide with the one given by Matthew (Mt 6:9-13). Luke gives a shorter form, but the content of both is essentially the same. Let us now examine the content of this wonderful prayer:

a) “Father…”- we are His loving children

b) “May your name be held holy”

c) “Your kingdom come”

The second part of the Our Father is:

a) “Gives us this day our daily bread…!”

b) “Forgive us our sins…for we ourselves forgive..!”

c) “Do not put us to the test…”- Give us the strength to resist temptation when the devil tempts us. Save us from the evil one (Mt 6:13).

Jesus taught us how to pray, how to converse with God our Father: with trust, with gratitude, with joy, just as he himself did.

1. Jesus prayed (v.1)

a. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray

b. John the Baptist had taught his disciples to pray

2. Jesus’ model prayer (v.2-4)

a. Thank God

  1) for being our Father

  2) for heaven

b. Praise His name always and don’t hate His name

c. Pray

  1) for His kingdom

  2) for daily bread

  3) for forgiveness

  4) for deliverance

3. Man’s part in prayer (v.5-10)

a. The illustration: man is to persevere and endure in prayer

b. The point: perseverance and endurance receive what is requested

c. The exhortation

  1) ask- shall be given

  2) seek- shall find

  3) knock- shall be opened

d. The answer assured

4. God’s part in prayer (v.11-13)

a. The illust.: God is not evil, but He is good-He is just like a father

b. The point: God is most willing to give- especially the Holy Spirit to dwell with man’s heart and life

Thought: Jesus Himself prayed to the Father always and asked His power and strength to continue His works and to do the Will of God.

Prayer makes us closer to God and helps us to love people with forgiveness and enables us to take up all kinds of responsibilities; even gives us lots of strength and courage to undergo sufferings or persecutions in life.

Man/woman is a bundle of needs; he/she needs to turn to God at every step, prayer is the way to do so. We must approach God in prayer with respect, with trust and with love.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading: Genesis 18:1-10: Abraham and Sarah unwittingly offer hospitality to God’s Angels and receive a blessing. Lord, do not pass your servant by.

II Reading: Colossians 1:24-28: Paul unites his own sufferings with those of Christ for the Church. A mystery hidden for centuries has now been revealed to God’s saints.

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42: Martha welcomed Jesus into her house. It is Mary who has chosen the better path.

The One Thing Needed: To Sit at Jesus’ Feet, Lk 10:38-42

The readings discover what the presence of Christ in our midst ought to mean in our life. The first and the second readings talk about the hospitality of Abraham, Martha and Mary. Jesus visits us time and again to carry on his work of salvation. How?

a) Jesus multiplies his visits to the Christian community:

i. when we gather to pray

ii. when the Word of God is read or explained to us

iii. when we celebrate the Holy Eucharist

b) Jesus longs to be the guest of our families

i. Jesus wants to be invited: the best invitation is family prayer

ii. we must make Jesus feel at home as a result Jesus gives the three gifts: unity, peace and joy.  If the presence of Jesus is not there these gifts disappear from the family or a person.

c. Christ ought to be the permanent guest of each Christian. The indwelling of God in each Christian is at the centre of our Christian life. Paul wrote to his Christians of Corinth, “Don’t you realize that you are God’s temples, and that the Spirit of God is in you?” (1Cor 3:16).

Christ visits us with particular love in times of suffering. He continues to suffer in each Christian that suffers for the church or faith. Now we can better understand the words of Paul at the beginning of today’s first reading: “It makes me happy to suffer for you as I am suffering now, to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.” (1Cor 1:24) 

In the Gospel, Mary and Martha’s experience teaches that waiting and sitting at Jesus’ feet is much more important than running to and fro trying to work one’s way into God’s favour. There is one basic essential in life, and that is sitting at Jesus’ feet and hearing His Word.

1. Jesus entered a village (v.38)

2. Two strong characters (v.38-39)

a. Martha’s character

  1) giving

  2) courageous

  3) caring and loving

b. Mary’s character

  1) loving and humble

  2) gripped with a spiritual hunger

3. Martha’s problem: She was distracted (v.40)

a. distracted by serving

b. distracted by material things: food and necessities and the cares of the world

4. Martha’s one need: to sit quietly and listen to Jesus’ words (v.41-42)

Thought: Our devotion and loyalty to Jesus Christ is a daily affair (Lk 9:23). Seeking to hear the Word of God and learning at the feet of Christ is very important as the believers or followers of Christ.

Listening to God’s voice, words and obeying His commands is very important; the Shema (Deut 6:4-9) “Listen O Israel, the Lord your God is the only God…love Him…and love your neighbours as yourself.” Even Jesus emphasized on the word “to listen” to him while preaching, teaching and healing the people. Jesus listened to his Father, Mary listened to the Word of God; so let us listen to Jesus always who is the Eternal Word and Life for us.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

  

15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

 

I Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14: The Word is very near to you for your observance.

II Reading: Colossians 1:15-20: All things were created through Christ and for him.

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37: Who is my neighbour?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan:

The Two Supreme Questions of Life, Lk 10:25-37

What is true religion? In today’s readings explain, there wonderful teachers, Moses, Paul and Jesus provide the answer to this question; let us examine them. Everyone can be saved as Moses said to the Israelites: “Obey God’s commands and you will live.” (Deut. 30:16)

The mistake of the Christians of Colossae was that they believed in the evil spirits being Christians as pagans than believing in the good spirit of Jesus Christ. Epaphras being a good Christian came and said to Paul when he was in prison in Rom about the bad news and false teachings led by false teachers. Hence Paul wrote immediately and said to his Christians; he is above everyone and everything; be united with Christ and you have nothing to fear about the evil spirits. Christ reconciled us with God through his death; so he is the head of the Church, a Body of which we, Christians are the members. Christ is our beginning and the end and our goal on earth and in heaven.

A parable about two “religious people” (a priest and a Levite) who had not grasped what religion was about, and a “Samaritan” (known as a pagan) who was despised and dejected by Jews in the society, through love and compassion for the wounded man (Jew) and helped him in the time of real need without any discrimination, came closest to God.

How many of us help and support the poor, sick, downtrodden, needy and oppressed or rejected ones in our societies like the Samaritan man to inherit eternal life?

There are two supreme questions of life, questions that could revolutionize the world if men would ask them and then heed their answers.

1. A lawyer (an expert in the law) tempted Jesus (v.25)

2. Question 1: How do we inherit eternal life? (v.25-28)

a. First, the law has the answer

b. Second, love God supremely

c. Third, love your neighbour as yourself

d. Fourth, obey and you shall live

3. Question 2: Who is my neighbour? (v.29-37)

a. The traveller: was foolish and irresponsible

  1) Travelled alone

  2) Was robbed

  3) Was assaulted and left half-dead

b. The priest: placed work above people

  1) Saw the injured traveller

  2) Rushed by him

c. The Levite: placed safety before compassion

  1) Saw him

  2) Stopped and looked

d. The Samaritan: placed compassion before prejudice and opinion

  1) Gave his heart: compassion

  2) Sacrificed his work, time, energy, goods and money

  3) The Lord’s compassion: go and do likewise

Thought: The Samaritan being a gentile and outcaste saved the Jew in need. According to Jews only relatives and dear ones were their neighbours, not the Samaritans who were known as despised and outcaste people in their eyes.

Let us help people in need without any reservations.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com

 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

 

I Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14: Towards her I send flowing peace, like a river.

II Reading: Galatians 6:14-18: The marks on my body are those of the Lord Jesus.

Gospel: Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20: Your peace will rest on that man.

The Seventy-two Sent Forth: Great Purpose, 10:1-16

Jesus appoints the seventy-two others and sends them forth for his mission in pairs. This passage tells the Christian labourer how he is to work and tells the hearer how he is to treat the labourer of God. Paul explains to us what it really means to be a Christ means to have become an altogether new creature, on account of the Life in the Spirit given to us at Baptism. It also means to belong to Christ and finally, Paul wishes “peace and mercy to all who follow the rule”, that is, to all who keep faithful to Christ (Gal 6:16).

Jesus sent seventy-two disciples to announce the kingdom of God who represents all nations or 72 tribes or clans of the earth (Gen 10), all the baptised, each one of us included. In contrast, the twelve apostles whom Jesus sent first, represent not only the apostles but their successors as well: the Pope, the bishops and priests, all those special messengers chosen by God. Number 12, (the number of apostles) stands in the mind of Luke for the 12 tribes of Israel, who in God’s plan, were to be evangelized first.

1. Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples to prepare the way for Him (v.1)

a. had many disciples

b. two by two: to support, encouragement and community life during difficult times

c. saw a tremendous need

d. sent as forerunners

2. First, pray for more labourers (v.2)

3. Second, go into an antagonistic world (v.3)

4. Third, trust God and sense the hour’s urgency (v.4)

5. Fourth, guard the message-do not force it upon people (v.5-6)

6. Fifth, accept compensation but do not seek luxury (v.7)

7. Sixth, be accommodating and adaptable (v.8-9)

a. identify with people

b. minister to people

c. proclaim the kingdom of God

8. Seventh, walk away from rejecters (v.10-15)

a. any town and people who reject

  1) symbolise God’s rejection by wiping off the very dust of the city

  2) reason: the kingdom of God came near, but they rejected it

  3) judgement: shall be greater than Sodom’s

b. any who only profess to be God’s people

  1) illustrated by two Jewish towns

  2) the reason: the works of Christ were seen, yet he was rejected

  3) the judgement: to be more terrible

c. any who have a constant witness but rejects: to receive the greatest judgement-hell

9. Eighth, , know that the Christian labourer presents the Lord (v.16)

Thought: Anyone who rejects the Lord definitely will be condemned.

 

The Seventy-two Return: Great Power, Lk 10:17-20

Jesus Christ gives great power to the person who truly works for him.

1. The Seventy-two returned (v.17)

a. with joy

b. with great results and testimony of power

2. The Christian labourer has power over Satan (v.18)

3. The Christian labourer has overall power enemies: perfect security (v.19)

4. The Christian labourer is to rejoice in his salvation, not in his power (v.20)

The Seventy-two Return: Great Privileges, Lk 10:21-24

The Christian labourer has three great privileges. Jesus was filled with joy over these privileges and praised God. The Lord’s heart longs to share these privileges with every person.

1. Jesus rejoiced (v.21)

2. privilege 1: The spiritual insight into truth (v.21)

a. into “these things”

b. God hides the truth from the wise and learned

c. God reveals the truth to babes

d. such action is well-pleasing to God

3. Privilege 2: The knowledge of God and of His only Son (v.22)

a. God and the Son alone know one another

b. The Son reveals God to some

4. Privilege 3: The insight and privilege of learning God’s full revelation (v.23-24).

Thought: God’s power is defeating Satan, delivering people from the power of Satan.

To be a Christian means to give oneself to Christ wholeheartedly.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com