Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 127

Reading 1

Ezekiel 33:7-9

Thus says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.
If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, "
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself.
 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
 

Reading 2

Romans 13:8-10

Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, "
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
 

Alleluia

2 Corinthians 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel

Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that 'every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. 
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. 
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 

Jesus is with us. Jesus said that God was the God of the living and not the dead. In other words, those who accept Him and are born again, will be recognized by God. Those who reject God or the divinity of Jesus Christ will not even be recognized. Being the God of the living, means that He dwells within us. His presence can be felt if we take the time to search for it.

 

“ Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.”

 

Seeking means pursuing wisdom, prayer, and worship. Each of these are of equal importance and cannot be ignored. If we choose to ignore even one of these, then our relationship with God will be compromised. Our relationship with God is much like any other relationship we enter it: How deep that relationship is and how impactful it is on our lives is in direct correlation we approach it and engage God.

 

Being created out of love, to love, and to be loved sets the initial criteria for our relationship. Love must be at its foundation; our actions based on its presence. Not only does this apply to our relationship with Him, but to all those whom we interact with. There cannot be any conflict or ill-will. What we have been given by God (life here on this earth and eternal life in Heaven), was given to us freely and we merely have to react to it. The reaction to love should always be love and, in this situation, it still remains the answer.

 

Part of being loved and loving, means that we must have concern for our fellow human beings. This can come in both physical, mental, and spiritual interactions. As Christians, we can already have a greater understanding of the world around us and the proper way to interact with other people. Having love in all interactions, our concern for others should take on a priority as much as the way we look out for our own welfare. Jesus spoke of this in a parable:

 

 

“That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely;^t  the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

 

These preparations come in the form of our personal conduct. There can be no divisions amongst those who claim to be Christian, only healing and acceptance. Those who enrage us or promote discord, should be ignored.  Part of this has to do with the ministry of Jesus Christ (who we model our lives afterwards). His mission is one of love and he promoted it that way.

There is no mistake when God indicated to Ezekiel that he was a “watchman,” keeping an eye on the community if they strayed from what God wanted for them. This commissioning is also directed to us through Jesus Christ: if we notice a brother sin or, in some way or another, hurt himself and other people, it is our duty to correct. The correction comes from the heart and with love, not with the intent to do another harm. This is why Jesus explains the process in which to correct a person’s actions without embarrassing them or causing disruption in the community. The method is personal and with love; a corrective guidance to guide the person back to good standing and away from sin. If there is resistance, then the process of possible redemption because a little more intense, each step inviting more friends and people into the process until, if there is no positive conclusion, the whole Living Body gets involved.

There is an indication that there is understanding and a desire to bring the person back into the fold without harming anyone. The most extreme measures are taken only when the actions of the sinner are not abandoned but are embraced instead. We, as members of that Living Body, are participators in that process because it is something that we can use in our relationships, promoting love, healing, and correction. Each of us become a watchman of sorts, looking out for our brothers and sisters; all the while they look out for us. Sin not only hurts the sinner, but it effects everyone the sinner interacts with, spreading like a cancer sometimes throughout the whole community.

 

Right conduct and right action starts with each of us individually and then spreads outward, much like the actions of the sinner but in an obviously more positive way. We should always want to follow the model of healing and forgiveness presented by Jesus Christ. Coming from Him, could there really be anything better?

Jesus reminds His disciples that when two or three are gathered in His name, He is in their midst. We read of this promise a lot throughout the Gospels. The fact that we are never alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and Jesus Christ walks beside us, while the Father watches over us. Even when we think we are alone, we are not: the Spirit dwelling within us moves us towards Jesus who then shows us the way to the Father. The cycle never stops. We are participators in this merely because of our birthright as Children of God. As a result, we are also members of the holy Mother Church, founded through Jesus Christ and established by the Apostle Peter here on this earth. There is a beautiful inclusivity that binds us all together. It is through a loving, tender relationship with God and with our fellow human beings that we stay in that fellowship and reap the rewards thereof.

 

Deacon Tom

 

 

 

 

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 124

Reading 1

Jeremiah 20:7-9

You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.
All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me.

Whenever I speak, I must cry out,
violence and outrage is my message;
the word of the LORD has brought me
derision and reproach all the day.

I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.
 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
for your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. 
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
 

Reading 2

Romans 12:1-2

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
 

Alleluia

cf. Ephesians 1:17-18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel

Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised. 
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." 
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. 
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me. 
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life? 
Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct."

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

The Pleasure Principal is a theory in psychology that says that we, as human beings, are driven by things that give us pleasure and that we instinctively avoid things that cause us pain. These are some of the most primitive instincts that drive us throughout our lives. As we get older, these factors may develop into a way that we live. What causes us joy and happiness? What causes us to be hurt both physically and mentally? Joy and happiness can easily be linked to our physical reaction to stimuli, releasing endorphins and dopamine; enforcing the behaviors that we are either engaging in or seeking relief from. This can then lead to subconscious or conscious decision-making based on the “reward” we seek based on these actions. Much like a dog that can be trained in this understanding, we too can train ourselves to be seeking pleasures and avoid sometimes necessary pain in order to find an easier way to live. This entire concept is rooted in the physical world and a society that emphasizes this in daily living. This can be a challenge to many people and can lead to a pursuit of things that offer material satisfaction and relief above that which is spiritual. We as Christians understand that this way of thinking and living leads to an unhealthy focus on the material, while the mental and spiritual aspects of our existence suffer as a direct result. We become sick and desolate; a slave to our passions. Being a Christian means that, in order to experience our lives the way that God intended, these physical motivations must be controlled and sometimes eliminated from daily living. The primary focus must be on God and our spirituality instead of physical needs, wants, and desires. If we put our physical longings first, then we will naturally pull away from God as a result;, for God is beyond the restraints of physicality; He is not bound by anything that is constructed within the physical realm.

 

The physical realm is only one small part of us and must be put into perspective regarding its relationship to our mental and spiritual existence. Our mental and spiritual capacity extends far beyond that which is physical. If we choose things of a physical nature, then we are immediately restricted by that which we choose to experience. Shackled with the chains of physical stimuli, we can never experience things that originate in the spiritual realm and that which includes God Himself. Enmeshed in these things will also entrap our decision-making capabilities and create a cycle of seeking, using, and discarding objects that satisfy us in the moment, but cause damage to us in the long run. Any person who suffers from an addiction can probably relate to what is being described. Others whose behaviors are erratic, if not socially acceptable, can most likely see how the behavior is created around the Pleasure Principal: they want something and will do just about anything to get it, even leading to types of criminal behavior.

 

The Prophet Jeremiah gives a powerful example of the internal struggle he faced while bringing the Word of God to the people. He faced opposition, ridicule, imprisonment, and torture. His social status was reduced and there were those who plotted to kill him. All of this could have been avoided if he decided not to tell the truth and instead take that easier path of going along to get along, whereupon he would have been able to lead a pleasurable life with all the benefits of being in agreement with those in positions of power. Yet, when confronted with opposition and pain, he rose above it. The Spirit moved him and caused him to speak out. When his body and mind urged him to avoid the pain and torment, the Spirit of God overwhelmed him to a point where it burnt his heart and seeped into his bones. He ignored the physical rewards in return for something greater: the spiritual reward and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It overwhelmed him and caused him more joy and happiness than whatever this world and the moment could offer.

 

The Apostle Paul reminds us that this takes a “renewal of the mind.” What is good, pleasing, and perfect in the eyes of God are not the same things that we find in the allures of the flesh. The flesh is corrupted while God is not. Thus, that which comes from God will always be of greater quality and better for us in the long run. Even suffering takes on a different form. This is not something to be avoided but is something that should be embraced; taking on the image of the Crucified Christ, going forth in this life, proclaiming His name. A renewal of the mind takes a transformation of sorts; fundamental change in the way one does things. Jesus could have easily avoided His own crucifixion and continued His ministry, but ministry alone was not the reason for the Incarnation. It was only a part of it. His crucifixion was an intricate part of our salvation story and one that we need to model our lives after. Each day presents us with an opportunity to see what things we are doing correctly and incorrectly based on the ordering of our desires in relation to our spirituality. What do we put first? What are our motivations? Things that are grounded in the physical will always have a physical end with an expiration date. Those which are spiritual never end. The Apostle Paul knew very early on in his ministry that what he was doing would eventually lead to his death. In fact, he encouraged it. Jesus also knew and embraced it. Even though both struggled in their humanness regarding this, there was victory over the temptations with prayer and a reliance on God: “Thy will be done not mine.”

 

Reliance on God is the key to victory over those things that will lead us down the wrong path and ultimately to our destruction. Putting God first and us second, deflating our ego, and turning our will over to Him is necessary to free us from our natural focus on things that might give us pleasure and satisfaction in the short-term, but will impeded our relationship with God and degrade the part of us that goes beyond the material with its limitations: the spiritual aspect of our existence. There is a spiritual realm and that is eternal. The physical part of God’s creation has its limitations and a definite expiration date. We may be drawn to it because our physical bodies are a part of it, but our soul is naturally drawn to God. If we reduce our attention on that which is physical, then the spiritual will rise in prominence and power, overtaking that which could lead to our downfall. This can take a reset of our values and our moral compass but, with God’s assistance, this can be accomplished and we will be better off as a result.

 

God wants us to be joyous and free from the bondage of sin, which have their roots in this world. To rise above it does indeed take a “renewal of the mind.” With the guidance of Jesus Christ, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the assistance of a loving Father, it can be accomplished. We do not need to be slaves to our passions. Instead we can choose to be slaves to Jesus Christ. One leads to destruction while the other has no limits. The choice is ours.

 

Deacon Tom