Readings
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June 25, 2016
June 18, 2016
12th Sunday - C
Commentary
The
Christ of God
The
disciples see Jesus at prayer.
And
when Jesus asks for their opinion of who he is, Peter says, “The
Christ of God.”
Peter
and the other disciples recognize Jesus' identity through his
communication with God.
At
this point in their following of Jesus, they do not fully know what
that means. They are not ready for the cross.
Yet,
they know Jesus is the Christ of God.
So
it is with me. I can only become my true self when I am in touch
with God, my heavenly Father.
Happy Father's Day to all fathers. Thank you for leading us to God, the heavenly Father.
Happy Father's Day to all fathers. Thank you for leading us to God, the heavenly Father.
June 11, 2016
11th Sunday - C
Commentary
Prophet - One Who Tells Fortunes
But Whose Fortunes?
Simon the Pharisee in this Gospel passage expects a prophet to know the inner secrets and even the hearts of people. But Simon only sees negative things. So, he quickly dismisses any possibility of Jesus being a prophet when Jesus does not meet his pessimistic expectations.
Jesus, the true Prophet, tells a different kind of fortunes. He knows God's graciousness and love for God's children. Consequently, Jesus recognizes God's forgiveness at work. He recognizes the woman's great love in her action and courage as her response to God's forgiveness.
Jesus the Prophet tells God's fortunes.
June 4, 2016
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.
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