10th Sunday - B (June 10, 2018)

Our Unity Glorifies God

Mark 3: 20-35

In the current social and political climate, one week after the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we have a Gospel passage on unity.  “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

On the contrary, St. Paul gives us a way of looking at the purpose of our diversity.  “The grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.”  

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

10th Sunday - C

Commentary
Luke 7: 11-17

God has Visited His People

Witnessing the miracle of Jesus raising the dead man back to life, people exclaim, “God has visited his people.”

This is the promise God made to their ancestors. And at the beginning of his account of Jesus’ life, Luke has announced the time of God’s fulfilling this promise (in the prayer of Zechariah, Luke 1: 68).

Yet, in Jesus, we witness not just the miraculous power of God. In Jesus, we come to know and live in God’s mercy.

“Unlike most miracle story, here Jesus himself takes the initiative. There is no request made to him to intervene.” [1] It was Jesus, who seeing the grieving mother, “was moved with pity for her.” We know the rest of the story.

Jesus notices a marginalized person – a widow whose only son has died. He speaks to her. And he helps her.

As he is helping the grieving mother, Jesus even makes himself ritually impure when he touches the coffin. That for sure is no concern for him.

He did all of these because his heart is moved with pity for the suffering widow. His concern is for her.

Jesus is the incarnation of mercy. In him, God, who is mercy, [2] has visited his people.

Each moment of our life is a moment immersed in God’s mercy because Jesus is with us.

And when we show mercy to others, we proclaim to them that God, in His mercy, has visited His people.


------------
[1] Francis J. Moloney, SDB., The Gospel of The Lord – Reflections on the Gospel Readings, Year C. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991; p. 134.

[2] Pope Francis.

10th Sunday - C (June 5, 2016)

Readings

Image source: http://www.agnusday.org

10th Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 7:11-17

Jesus’ Compassion and an Experience of God

Often, in a miracle, people ask Jesus for help.  Uniquely, in this miracle, it is Jesus, who is “moved with pity” for the mother, takes the initiative to raise her son back to life.

This miracle is only found in the Gospel According to Luke.

In two other passages that are unique to Luke, the same expression is also used.  

Jesus uses the same expression to describe the Good Samaritan’s attitude when he sees the man who has fallen victim to the robbers (10:33). There also, it is the Good Samaritan who takes the initiative to help the victim.  

And so is the father in the parable of the father and the two sons in Chapter 15 (more commonly referred to as the parable of the prodigal son).  When the younger son returns, it is the father, who “is filled with compassion,” runs to his son.

The English translation uses either “compassion” or “pity,” for the same Greek word used by Luke in these three instances.

In showing his compassion for others, Jesus reveals the presence of God’s love and God’s Reign.  In his compassion, people recognize that “God has visited his people.”

------------------------------------

Thomas E. Boomershine, “Storytelling Commentary on Luke 7:11-17.” 

 http://www.gotell.org/pdf/commentary/Luke/Lk07_11-17_commentary.pdf

10th Sunday - C (June 9, 2013)

Readings

Image source: http://fatherwatson.livejournal.com/104618.html