Tag Archives: Ordinary Time

The crowd was pressing in against Jesus as he was teaching them.  I’m sure it was noisy with the crowd pushing and shoving to get a better position to hear Jesus.  There were two boats along the lake, and the fishermen were cleaning their nets on the shore.  Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, Jesus asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.  Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 

This has numerous advantages, for it gives Jesus a chance to be heard by a much larger group of people.  Sound carries much better over water.  Have you ever been by the lake and heard voices from quite a distance away, sometimes across the lake if the lake is narrow?  This is especially true if the land wraps around a small bay.  The slope of the land coming down to the land acts as an amphitheater projecting the sound even further. 

Jesus sat down in the boat to teach just as he would have done in the synagogue.  The people were eager to hear what Jesus, the great miracle worker and teacher, had to say to them.  Due to the contour of the land and water, his voice carried to the people who were listening. 

When Jesus finished teaching, he asked Peter to move out to deeper water and lower the nets.  Peter tells Jesus that they had fished hard all night and caught nothing, but he would do as Jesus told him.  It’s obvious that there were others in the boat when Peter pushed out from shore because it takes several people to lower the nets to fish.  Even though he is not mentioned by name, it is believed that Andrew was one of the partners in the boat that day.  

The Natural History of the Bible tells us that: “The density of the shoals of fish in the Lake of Galilee can scarcely be conceived by those who have not witnessed them.  They sometimes cover an acre or more on the surface in one dense mass.” 

This made catching a large number of fish easy if you could find one of these shoals of fish.  Peter and his partners had worked hard all night without any success finding fish. 

The scholar John Pilch helps us understand the Mediterranean culture of that time: “Fish became a popular commodity in the Greek and Roman period, and it is reasonable to guess that this specific partnership flourished.  

The act of a man calling followers in Mediterranean culture is readily recognized by every native as a process of a patron gathering clients.  In cultures like that where central government was perceived to be weak and ineffective, people banded together for mutual assistance. 

For the most part, families stuck close together and helped each other out.  But sometimes it became necessary to reach beyond the family and to form “family-like” bonds with others who could lend the help that family members couldn’t.  One of these others is a “patron,” that is, a person with surplus means, who distributes that surplus by purely personal whim and choice. 

By providing seasoned and experienced fishermen with a bountiful catch after a frustrating night of work, Jesus presents himself very obviously as a patron.  A patron can get for you something you could not obtain by your own abilities, or on better terms than you could arrange for yourself.  Jesus gets the better of these fisher folk at their own game!” 

John Pilch tells us that “By falling at the knees of Jesus, Simon Peter uses a specific gesture that recognizes him as superior, as a patron.”  I believe that Peter recognized that Jesus was much greater than a patron; he understood that Jesus was the Son of God.  Peter acknowledged that by his language; “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful person.” 

Peter recognized Jesus’ holiness and his own unworthiness.  In Luke’s Gospel Peter, James, and John clearly perceive Jesus as the Son of God.  They give up their ability to provide for themselves by fishing and follow Jesus. 

John Pilch also gives a commentary on our modern society; “In mainstream U.S. culture, we take great pride in standing on our own two feet and in not having to rely on anyone else.  We applaud those who pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.  Our Mediterranean ancestors in the Faith would consider this insane, an invitation to death and extinction.  Following Jesus as a client in the Mediterranean world or a disciple in the modern world involves a willingness to be dependent.”  

It’s true.  We don’t want to be dependent on anyone or anything.  Our pride will not let us do that.  This makes it difficult for us to let Jesus be in charge of our lives.  Jesus calls each of us just as he called Peter, James and John that day on the shore of Galilee.  They responded by saying yes and leaving their lucrative partnership, their family and friends to follow Jesus. 

How will we respond?  Will we say yes and put Jesus above everything else in our life?  Or will we be too dependent on ourselves to let Jesus have control? 

The need is great.  We live in a broken world filled with hate, violence and evil.  Disciples are needed to go into the world sharing God’s love with everyone, regardless of their status in life, their culture or their color.  The lonely need someone to sit with them, the bullied need someone to stand up for them, the grieving need someone to hold their hand.  Are we too busy getting ahead at work to notice?  Are we too busy with family activities to stop and pray for someone who we know needs help; and then go to visit them? 

Jesus was more than a patron to the disciples, and he is more than a patron to us today.  Jesus, our Lord, is calling each of us.  How will we respond?  Will we put our pride aside and, like Isaiah, say “Here I am Lord, use me.” 

Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 

In a couple of weeks, we will receive ashes on our foreheads and hear the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel”.  Ash Wednesday is on February 14^th this year.  It is early so, even though we are in Ordinary Time, as we begin to look toward Lent and Passion Week, we should begin to ask ourselves “Do I really believe in the Gospel?” 

John Pilch tells us “Scholars believe that after his baptism, Jesus became a disciple of John, preaching his message of repentance and baptizing others.  Over the course of time, Jesus began to discover a new ministry for himself.  According to Mark, Jesus embarked upon it after John was arrested. 

The theme of Jesus’ preaching is quite similar to that of the Baptist’s: “the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news”.  Jesus invites his listeners to give undivided loyalty to God whose definitive reign is about to begin.” 

Jesus then calls the first four of his disciples to follow him.  We are still in the first chapter of Mark and a lot has happened.  John the Baptist preaches a message of repentance.  Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist and then tempted by Satan; just like we are tempted.  Jesus begins his ministry and calls the first disciples and begins his miracles of healing. 

The disciples immediately leave their livelihood and follow Jesus.  This always seemed strange that they just stopped what they were doing, left their father and the hired help and followed Jesus.  John Pilch helps us understand the culture of that time. 

“Cultural background and information shed light on the story.  It is highly likely that Jesus and the four followers he summons here are not strangers.  If they have not personally met each other before this time, they were aware of each other’s aspirations and objectives.  News traveled quickly in the ancient world thanks to gossip networks.  (And I might add, it seems that hasn’t changed in two thousand years.) 

Jesus the artisan moves from Nazareth, an insignificant village, to Capernaum, a hub of activity on the Sea of Galilee at the crossroads of major highways.  His presence and activity stir curiosity and become the topic of gossip.  He does not seem to have gone there to seek work.  Instead, he appears to be seeking people to join him in a common venture.”  

Jesus has been in the background for most of his life.  He is thirty at this point and worked as a carpenter just like his earthly father, Joseph.  This was common to learn the trade from your father and have the same position in life as your father.  As we proceed through the Gospels this theme appears several times.  His father was a carpenter so how is he now a teacher or Rabbi?  It was out of place in that society. 

Jesus became noticeable because he taught with authority, not like the scribes and leaders of the synagogue, he spoke out against the establishment, against those who followed the Law so closely that they allowed no room for worshiping God. 

Sometimes we too get like the Pharisees; congregations become divided over where the altar should be placed or how to process into mass or which songs to sing, or not sing.  We adhere so precisely to the rules that we lose sight of the real message “The Kingdom of God is at hand.  Now is the time of fulfillment.  Repent and believe in the Gospel.” 

Jesus called many others to follow him during his ministry.  The young rich person who had many possessions and went away sorrowful because they were unwilling to put Christ above their possessions.  The person who wanted to wait for their parents to die before following Christ.  Our egos to get in the way.  We desire to have prestige, to be noticed for our accomplishments, to have power over others, to dream of being the hero in a difficult situation and receiving acclaim for our actions. 

We lose sight of the real message of Good News that Jesus taught, Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”  When Jesus calls us to “Repent and believe in the Gospel” we seem to hesitate.  Why?  What is holding us back?  What are we afraid of?  Scorn from co-workers, being held back from a promotion because we are Catholic, attachment to material things or placing family above God? 

Two thousand years later, Jesus calls each one of us to follow him, just like he called Simeon, Andrew, James, and John.  I have often wondered what the world would be like if I had the zeal of the early Apostles or St Paul.  They didn’t just preach the Gospel; they lived the Gospel. 

It seems that most of the time we are like Jonah.  We hear God’s call but don’t want to follow it.  We have our reasons just as Jonah had his.  The Ninevites were an enemy of Israel.  Jonah wanted them to be destroyed so the land would return to Israel. 

Jonah disobeyed God and ran away from his call.  How many times do we do the same thing.  Like Jonah, we have our reasons.  God continued to call Jonah to fulfill the mission that God was calling him to do.  We sometimes run away from it like Jonah, wanting to follow our own path in life. 

Each of us must ask ourselves, “What is God calling me to do?”  Is God calling me to speak to someone about God’s love, about his forgiveness and the true peace that only Christ can give?  Is God calling me to be a Priest, or join an order of religious life? 

How will we respond?  Like Jonah and run away from his call, or, like the disciples, and follow Christ? 

Today’s readings give us two very different views of God.  We may wonder how Elijah’s experience of a small still voice and Peter’s experience of the storm could be so different and yet be God.

John Kavanaugh gives us some insight into the readings.  “Elijah, having been promised that he would find the Lord on the mountain, left the shelter of his cave. Sure enough, God showed up, but not in mighty gales or crashing rocks. The Lord was not even encountered in the earthquake or the fiery extravaganza. It was a tiny whispering voice that made Elijah cover his face in the presence of the Most High. Elijah was called in the quiet.

Peter and his companions, tossed about by waves and wind, saw the Lord as a ghost upon the water and were terrified.  The voice over the tumult said: “Get hold of yourselves!  It is I!  Do not be afraid!”  Peter heard the call to cross the raging waters. But daunted by the strength of the wind and his own frailty, he began to sink in fear.  Even so, despite his going under, Peter was called to faith in the midst of turmoil.” 

Life is not easy.  There is a lot of tumult in our lives.  The stress of everyday living is overwhelming at times.  We feel helpless from the blowing winds of stress and uncertainty, and it seems as though we are sinking into total despair.  Everything is crashing around us, and we look for God but can’t seem to find him. 

We often think that we must be on a retreat or somewhere special.  Peter felt this way at the Transfiguration.  He wanted to build three booths, one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Christ.  Indeed, it was a special experience; but then they came down off the mountain to everyday life. 

After the wind, the earthquake and the fire, Elijah found God in the whispering voice, and he covered his face with his mantle in the presence of God.  Peter found God in the raging wind and sea when he was drowning in his fear.  Jesus reached out and saved him. 

Today’s Gospel reminds me of a time when I was a child and experienced a similar event.  My family would go to Florida every summer.  Sometimes we went fishing on a charter boat out in the Gulf.  One time, a storm came up and the engine would not start because the battery was dead.  It took some time for the crew to take the battery from the fish finder and install it in the engine compartment.  The waves got high and without power the boat turned sideways so it was rocking violently from side to side.  Spray was blowing over the side of the boat. 

My grandfather was squatting in the doorway and said he had to look up to see the light outside the door on the opposite side of the boat and then look down on the light.  I was sitting on a bench inside the cabin next to my mother and laid my head on her lap. 

The waves were big, and the boat was really rocking.  I was scared but found comfort in my mother’s lap.  Peter was scared too.  I understand how Peter felt when he saw how powerful the wind and the waves were all around him. 

After the batteries were changed, the boat headed for port and the ride smoothed out and the waves didn’t matter any longer.  I fell asleep in my mother’s lap.  Peter cried out to Jesus for help and Jesus reached out and saved him.  When Jesus entered the boat, the waves and the wind stopped. 

When Peter walked on the water, he was in the depths of despair; he knew that he was going to drown in the sea.  When Peter asked Jesus for help, Jesus immediately reached out and saved him. 

We often think that Jesus is not in the storms of life, that he has totally abandoned us.  We feel that we are all alone without anyone who cares.  Peter found Jesus in the storm, and Jesus saved him from drowning in the sea of fear and despair. 

Jesus is there for us just like he was for Peter when we are in the depths of despair and have nowhere to turn or go. 

In Psalm 90, the Psalmist wrote a description of our life: “Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are toil and sorrow; they pass quickly, and we are gone.” 

Most of our years are full of sorrow and tears.  We worry about our children who have left the church.  We worry about how we will live with so many businesses cutting back or closing.  What if we lose our job and are unable to support our family?  We worry about sickness, especially if a family member or close friend has a terminal illness. 

Elijah waited through all the tempest and horrors of the windstorm, the earthquake and the fire for God to appear.  We must wait too.  Calm our nerves and anxieties.  That’s not easy when we are suffering or full of pain.

The verse from the Alleluia states: “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for his word.”  Elijah waited for the Lord on the mountain and found him in the small whispering voice.  Peter waited for the Lord and found him in the storm when the Lord rescued him. 

It’s easy to be a Christian when we experience the highlights of our spiritual lives.  Peter was typical of us when he experienced the Transfiguration on the mountain.  But when they came down off the mountain and Jesus begins his travel to Jerusalem and his crucifixion it all changes.  In a very short time, Peter went from the ecstasy of the Transfiguration to denying that he even knew Jesus. 

Sound like your life?  It sounds like all our lives.  Even with the pain, suffering and tears in the storms of life, Jesus is there to immediately rescue us just like he did for Peter. 

When we like Peter say “Lord, save me” Jesus will immediately reach out and grasp our hand to lead us to safety. 

We only need to ask: “Lord save me.” 

Today’s readings talk about treasure.  Solomon has the opportunity to ask for anything and God will give it to him.  Jesus tells the parable of buying an object of great value under dubious circumstances. 

In the first reading God appears to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”  What if you could ask God for anything and you would receive it?  What would you ask for? 

The Jesuit John Kavanaugh wrote: “Some prominent sages have written that the root desires of human existence are the pride of power, the accumulation of money, and the experience of pleasure.” 

He continues: “This opinion is not limited to ivory tower theoreticians; it’s expressed in the language of ordinary people when they appeal to the “real” motives lurking behind all human actions: “Looking out for Number One,” “We’re all out for a buck,” “Everybody’s on the make.”  

We have all heard and maybe even used expressions like these.  In our society, it’s all about climbing the corporate ladder, buying a bigger house or car, and having a good time. 

He wrote a summary that says: “The billions spent on advertising presume, quite successfully, that the foundations of all value and meaning are things, privilege, and self-indulgence.” 

We are a very privileged people and for the most part unaware of the many blessings God has given us.  We have freedoms, even though they are becoming more restrictive, than any other people in the world.  We have food, shelter, clothing, and luxuries that many people think is impossible to attain. 

In view of all these blessings, what would we ask for?  Power, wealth, health, a long life, world peace, climate change, what is it?  God was pleased that King Solomon did not ask for any of these things but for wisdom to lead his people.  He gave Solomon so much wisdom that none before him nor after him would  ever have such great wisdom. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of two people who find an item of great value and sell all that they have to obtain the items.  One has misguided intentions while the other has worthy intentions. 

John Pilch helps us to understand the culture of Jesus’ time.  “Burying valuable objects was a common practice in antiquity. Retrieving them was also common.  Forgetting about the treasure or dying without telling one’s heirs or before being able to retrieve it are possible explanations for the finding of treasure by those who don’t own it.  

Rabbinic lore is filled with debates concerning how to determine whether the finder had a right to the find or not.  The circumstances of Jesus’ parable suggest that this man did not. Why else would he hide it again?”  Jesus tells us that the man sold all that he has to buy the field. 

John Pilch provides further insight into the man’s situation.  “Worse, he now owns a field with a buried treasure which he dare not dig up because it will raise questions about ownership of the treasure, the morality of buying the field, and the character of this “lucky” (!?) finder.  (Recall that in a society like this one which believes that all goods are finite in quantity and already distributed, when someone suddenly has increased possessions, that increase must be explained.)” 

Even in our culture today, there would be some questions if someone were to suddenly become wealthy beyond their means.  “Did they receive an inheritance?”  “How did they get it?”  Are they doing something illegal?”  Let’s face it; the questions and remarks would be endless. 

Jesus continues the parable by saying: “the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets.  What is bad they throw away.  Thus it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” 

Then Jesus asked his disciples: “Do you understand all these things?”  They answered, “Yes.”  I sometimes wonder if the disciples really understood the full implication of what Jesus was teaching.  That question is important for us today. 

Do we understand that Jesus was always looking at the intentions of the heart?  Are we like the one who buried the treasure again and buys the field knowing we don’t really own the treasure?  Or are we like the merchant who buys the pearl of great price to rightfully own it?  Do we seek the kingdom of God for our salvation, or do we just want to fit in with those around us? 

Being a Christian was never easy.  In the early Roman Empire, Christians were persecuted and put to death.  It required real discipleship in those circumstances to remain true to our faith to the end.  If a person was like the one who bought the field for the treasure knowing it did not belong to them, it was easy to renounce the faith to preserve one’s life. 

It’s no different today.  We are silenced by our peers and society around us who shame us into submission.  We remain silent when we see injustice to others because speaking out will bring ridicule and possible backlash, being passed over for that promotion or left out of the “In Group”. 

In circumstances like this it is easy to become cynical and question our faith.  We can sometimes forget the love, mercy and forgiveness that God has for each of us. 

Solomon sought wisdom over a promotion, over power, over wealth, over health and over pleasure.  When we come to the end of our life and God looks at our lives will our intentions be honest and worthy of reward or will we be cast into the fiery furnace? 

What is my treasure?  Is God pleased with what I seek? 

In today’s Gospel Jesus refers to his Father as ‘Lord of heaven and earth’.  Jesus establishes his father as Creator and ruler of heaven and earth to put everything into perspective.  God’s love is revealed to the lowly ones because the rich and powerful are convinced of their self-righteous positions and unable to acknowledge God’s love and mercy for themselves and others. 

They like to dictate to those who are below them how to live and worship but bend the rules to suit themselves.  Jesus spoke out about these actions in the Pharisees throughout his ministry. 

Father Rolheiser, retired president of Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio Texas, helps put this into perspective when he wrote:

“…  it wasn’t their vices that Jesus was referring to, but their virtues.

What was the virtue of the scribes and pharisees?  In fact, they had a pretty high standard.  The ten commandments, strict justice in all things, compassion for the poor, and the practice of hospitality, these constituted their ideal for virtuous living.  What’s wrong with that?  What’s required beyond these?

This is definitely a different view of the Pharisees.  Father Ron continued:

“Simply put, if I’m living the virtue of the scribes and pharisees, I react this way: if you come to me and say, “I like you! You’re a wonderful person,” my response naturally will be in kind: “I like you too! Obviously you’re a wonderful person!” What I’m doing is simply feeding your own good energy back to you. But that has a nasty underside: If you come to me and say, “I hate you! You’re a charlatan and a hypocrite,” my response will also be in kind: “I hate you too!  Clearly you’re a very petty person!”  This is ultimately what “an eye for an eye” morality, strict justice, comes down to. We end up feeding back the other’s energy, good or bad, and replicating the other’s virtue, good or bad.  That’s the natural way, but it’s not the Christian way. 

It’s precisely here where Jesus’ invites us “beyond,” beyond natural reaction, beyond instinct, beyond giving back in kind, beyond legal rights, beyond strict justice, beyond the need to be right, beyond even the ten commandments, beyond the virtue of the scribes and pharisees.” 

Father Ron helps us to understand that Jesus is calling us to a higher standard than living by the rules and only doing things so we can receive favors in return. 

Father Rolheiser asked a series of questions that get to the heart of the Gospel:

Indeed the litmus-test for Christian orthodoxy is not the creed (Can you believe this set of truths?) but this particular challenge from Jesus: can you love an enemy?  Can you fail to give back in kind?  Can you move beyond your natural reactions and transform the energy that enters you from others, so as to not give back bitterness for bitterness, harsh words for harsh words, curse for curse, hatred for hatred, murder for murder?  Can you rise above your sense of being wronged?  Can you renounce your need to be right?  Can you move beyond the itch to always have what’s due you?  Can you forgive, even when every feeling inside of you rebels at its unfairness?  Can you take in bitterness, curses, hatred, and murder itself, and give back graciousness, blessing, love, understanding, and forgiveness?  That’s the root invitation inside of Christianity and it’s only when we do this that we move beyond “an eye for an eye.” 

These questions are the Gospel that Jesus preached in his ministry.  The leaders of the day were so engrossed with making sure that everyone else was obeying the rules that they failed to live God’s love and mercy for all.  The truth and wisdom was hidden from them due to their blindly enforcing the rules. 

We live in a world that is self-centered and only seeks immediate gratification.  Power over and control of others as we saw during the pandemic satisfies the ego, but it is the same sin that Jesus decried among the Pharisees. 

We live in a nation that worships the idols of ideologies.  These are the idols of “Transgender Rights”, “Gay Rights” and “Women’s Health Care or Abortion” in an attempt to be something other than what God made us to be.  We are longing for something we are not.  We are searching for happiness trying to find it in everything but God.  We are trying to be what we are not and are unable to realize that the Lord of Heaven and Earth is who we desire. 

Our leaders in Congress and our President proudly proclaim that they are Catholic and yet defy Jesus’ and the Church’s teachings.  The truth and wisdom of the Lord of Heaven and Earth is hidden from them because they are seeking the self-gratification of the praise of those around them instead of God’s will.  They have led us on a worship of the idols of ideologies that are as sinful as the molten and wooden idols the Children of Israel worship in the Old Testament. 

The world has become so blinded by it’s worship of self and “me” that they boldly demand that everyone agrees with their position.  It’s easy for us to criticize our leaders while at the same time quietly believing what they proclaim ourselves. 

The Gospel that Jesus taught was to love God our Father with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves.  And yes, that means even the person who is our enemy.  The questions that Father Rolheiser asks are pertinent to us.  Are we willing to take these to heart and seek God before anything else? 

Are we willing to live the truth and wisdom of the Lord of heaven and earth?  In today’s world it truly means taking up our cross and following Jesus.  Speaking out against the evils of these ideologies makes one a target for the extremists who believe in them.  This is evident in the attacks on Catholic Churches and individuals. 

These attacks are increasing and becoming more violent as time goes on.  It may mean that Catholics could be martyred for their faith, for their belief in the Lord of heaven and earth. 

If so, “Am I willing to defend my faith even though I could possibly die for my faith in Christ?” 

Today’s Gospel talks about the old and the new.  When Jesus was asked why his disciples didn’t fast like John’s and some of the religious leaders of the synagogue, Jesus said that they would fast after his death even though that was still in the future. 

When we think about fasting, there are several examples that come to mind.  We fast for an hour before mass.  We fast on Fridays in Lent.  We abstain or fast from meat on Fridays in Lent and some people do that year-round.  Jesus used a parable to explain the difference between the old way and the new way.  He talked about things that everyone listening knew were absurd. 

Jesus talked about sewing new cloth into an old garment.  He talked about putting new wine in old wineskins.  Everyone knew that you didn’t do that because of what would happen. 

The same is true for our lives.  When we think about our lives, there were probably many times when life was going along quite happily when suddenly everything changed.  The old and comfortable became new and different.  Sometimes it becomes difficult or even disastrous, a lot like the new cloth in an old garment that tears it when it shrinks or new wine in old wineskins that will burst as the wine ages.  

We sometimes ask ourselves “Why?” or resent what happened in the past.  It’s easy to carry frustration and hatred toward someone who hurt us, even though it may have been years or decades ago.  The old hurt is still tearing our hearts apart after all this time. 

The solution is for us to spend some time in prayer.  Not that God will necessarily change that person but pray that God will bless them and help me to become more loving and kinder in my heart.  I know that this is difficult for me at times.  That’s the hard part for most of us; striving to be the Christian that God calls each of us to be regardless of how we feel. 

Then, we must be open to God’s healing touch.  Praying that God will take care of everything is the easy part.  Opening our hearts for God to ease the pain is more difficult to do.  Sometimes it’s easier to hold onto the pain and resentment than it is let God work in our lives.  The result is that our hearts remain broken, and our suffering continues. 

We decide to fast for a couple of meals and instead spend that time in prayer to show God that we are serious in our request to help us change.  Fasting is not something we do very often today.  The Apostles and the Saints spent a lot of time fasting and praying for God’s mercy and direction which is one of the reasons they were so effective in spreading the Gospel. 

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus said, “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined.  Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” 

Through prayer and fasting, we ask God to heal us and make us whole again.  We must also open our hearts to God’s healing, so we are not ruined like the old wineskins by our anger and resentment. 

May our hearts be like new wineskins ready to receive God’s healing power into our hearts.  Then God’s love and mercy will flow to us to draw us closer to him and flow to those around us. 

John the Baptist said “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.  He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.  I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” 

It’s interesting that John did not know who Jesus was to recognize him upon sight.  One would think that they would have been close friends.  After the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced the Incarnation and told Mary that Elizabeth would bear a child, Mary rushed to Elizabeth and stayed three months.  This would indicate a strong bond between the two women. 

However, we must keep in mind that after the children were born, life was very different for both women, but especially Elizabeth because of her age.  The primary means of travel was walking and traveling long distances would be difficult with an infant and even more so with a toddler.  Think about it: “I’m tired.  Can we stop?  My feet hurt.  When are we going to eat?  Are we there yet?” 

After the Magi came, Joseph was told to flee to Egypt to protect the child Jesus.  They had no choice but to travel at night to build a life in a new country.  When the Holy Family returns years later there is no record of the two families meeting, not even at the Temple on Holy Feasts. 

John knows and understands his life’s mission.  He is the person who is to identify Christ to the world.  While he is unsure who that person is in real life, he knows the sign that will reveal him.  John said “’A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”  This was John’s mission in life. 

John the Baptist said that Jesus was the Lamb of God.  Jesus himself said that he was God.  In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asked the disciples “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 

Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus then said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.  For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.  And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”  Jesus said that he would build his church upon that Rock of faith which was revealed to Simon by his Father.” 

Peter Kreeft wrote: “Jesus does not give us the option of belonging to one church or another.  For him there is only one, and that is the one he spoke of when he changed Simon Peter’s name to Peter, or the Rock. 

Peter Kreeft continues: “If you are not convinced and convicted that Jesus is right about that, that the church is right about Jesus, that John was right about Jesus, that Jesus was right about Jesus – then you are not a Catholic Christian.  For that is the single essence and center of absolutely everything in our religion.” 

Strong words but it sums up our faith.  Are we convinced that Jesus is the Son of the Living God?  Do we really believe it?  Does the way we live our life show that we believe it? 

Even though Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter based on his conviction that Jesus was the Christ, Peter still struggled to live that faith.  When Jesus is arrested and put on trial, Peter, the Rock of Faith that Christ said he would build his church, denied that he even knew Jesus three times.  But Jesus saw something in Peter that he knew that Peter was the right person to lead his Church. 

That gives us hope that even though we sometimes fail and fall, that Jesus loves us and will give us strength to ask forgiveness and get up to follow him and proclaim to the world that Jesus is the Son of God. 

John the Baptist, Peter the Rock, Paul the Apostle, and all the Saints up to this day have testified that Jesus is the Son of God.  It’s one thing to hear it, it’s another to believe it, and still another to live it. 

Both Peter and Paul could be labeled failures because of their actions against Jesus.  Peter’s denial and weakness hiding from the Roman authorities; and Paul’s persecution of the early Church would seem to disqualify them for the positions that God chose for them to serve.  They were changed from failures to devout and passionate witnesses of the Risen Christ. 

At the end of today’s Gospel, John the Baptist said, “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”  Peter and Paul spread the same testimony throughout the world.  We are commissioned to do the same. 

I have often wondered how different my life would be if I truly believed that Jesus is the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world and was as passionate about Christ in my life like Peter and Paul after their encounter with the Risen Lord. 

We must each ask ourselves, “Do I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God?”  If we answer “Yes”, then we must examine our lives to determine if our life reveals it to the world.  We have the same mission as John the Baptist.  We must reveal Jesus to the world with the same passion and testimony as John the Baptist, Peter and Paul. 

Jesus sees something in each of us just like he did in Peter.  Jesus is asking us today, “Who do you say that I am?” 

Today’s Gospel sounds a lot like our nation today.  It seems to be all gloom and doom, especially for Christians being persecuted here in America.  We must always remember that we are so blessed to live in America compared to the rest of the world but at the same time know that the Church is being persecuted by the evil forces in the world. 

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of the people’s refusal to worship God.  Jesus weeps over America for our refusal to worship God and strive for peace with each other. 

Origen, one of the Church Fathers, lived from 185 to 254.  We are fortunate that Origen’s homilies were preserved for us today.  Origen gives us a unique perspective on Christ’s teachings and life. 

He wrote in a homily: “When our Lord and Savior approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept.…  By his example, Jesus confirms all the Beatitudes that he speaks in the Gospel.  By his own witness, he confirms what he teaches. “Blessed are the meek,” he says.  He says something similar to this of himself: “Learn from me, for I am meek.”  “Blessed are the peacemakers.”  What other man brought as much peace as my Lord Jesus, who “is our peace,” who “dissolves hostility” and “destroys it in his own flesh”?  “Blessed are those who suffer persecution because of justice.” 

No one suffered such persecution because of justice as did the Lord Jesus, who was crucified for our sins.  The Lord therefore exhibited all the Beatitudes in himself.  For the sake of this likeness, he wept, because of what he said, “Blessed are those who weep,” to lay the foundations for this beatitude as well.  He wept for Jerusalem “and said, ‘If only you had known on that day what meant peace for you!  

Origen tells us that even though Jesus gave us the Beatitudes as a guide to live our lives, Jesus lived his life as an example of those Beatitudes. 

That statement really struck me as a new perspective of Jesus’ life.  I never heard it put in these words that Jesus lived the Gospel he taught.  But why wouldn’t Jesus live what he preached?  We don’t think of it in those terms. 

Origen admonishes us to be peacemakers like Jesus.  It seems that very few people attempt to make peace with others today.  We are so polarized on all fronts; political is the most obvious but ideological and philosophical too.  If you don’t think the way I think, you are wrong and you need to change to think like me. 

Let us take some time to pray and ask God to help us to be considerate and kind to others even if we don’t accept their beliefs.  Ask God for his mercy and strength to become peace makers in the world we live in today. 

We criticize our nation’s leaders rather than pray for them.  Let us begin to pray for our nation’s leaders that God will draw them and us closer to himself so we will recognize the time for our salvation and work for peace.  

In those days, a person who was unable to work or was rejected by society, such as lepers who were even unable to be with their families, were only left with begging as a means of income.  Everyone looked down on beggars in that time much as we look down on homeless people today. 

When the blind beggar asked what all the commotion was about, the crowd told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.  The blind man immediately started calling out “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”  The crowd scoffed at him telling him to be quiet.  After all, who would even care about a poor beggar at the city gate? 

Jesus was obviously a household name by this time in his ministry.  Jesus was considered a Rabbi from Nazareth because of his teachings and miracles.  Many considered Jesus to be the Messiah that would save them from the Roman forces that were so oppressive to the Jewish people. 

Even the beggar at the gate, an outcast of society and shunned by everyone, knew about Jesus.  The beggar called to Jesus as Son of David referring to his Messianic title.  Jericho is about eighteen miles from Jerusalem.  Jesus and the crowds are on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.  Soon Jesus will be praised as King by the crowds.  And then the same crowds would turn against Jesus and demand his crucifixion. 

The blind man, who would sit at the gate begging, would hear what the people coming and going were talking about.  He understood the significance of who was passing his way.  When he cried out “Jesus, Son of David”, he is acknowledging that Jesus is the prophesized Messiah. 

The beggar called out louder and louder as the people told him to be quiet, Jesus won’t be bothered with you.  Jesus knew the beggar was there and stopped, asked for the blind man to be brought to him and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”  He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” 

In the New Jerusalem Bible, the blind man replied, “Sir, let me see again.”  We often take our physical sight for granted, but to a blind person, who can only see darkness, it is a treasure.  This is especially true if a person had sight at one time and lost it.  That person knows what they lost.  The blind man could have asked for material wealth or power.  Instead, he asked for his sight which was more valuable to him than anything else in the world. 

Jesus said to the blind beggar, “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.” 

If physical sight is so valuable and important to us, how much more critical is spiritual sight!  Are we willing to seek God’s will in our lives and then have the courage to walk in the path that God leads us?  Or will we take the easy way and continue on the path that we have been walking in the past? 

If we pray and call Jesus unceasingly, he will hear us, stop, and despite the noise of the crowds, ask us what we want.  What is it that we really want?  Will we too turn against Jesus like the crowds that demanded his crucifixion?  Do we want wealth, power, or fame?  Or, will we be like the blind beggar and ask for spiritual sight from the Holy Spirit?