Month: August 2019

Biblical scholars agree that today’s “eye of the needle” gospel is about how difficult it is for those who cling to material wealth to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Fr Charlie points out that even those of us who don’t have much material wealth are born with great spiritual wealth that we must not cling to either. We are all born rich with a God-given capacity for love, patience, compassion, understanding, empathy, and forgiveness. All these we are called to give freely to others.

Today’s Readings

The angel of the LORD appeared to [Gideon] and said, “The LORD is with you, O champion!” Gideon said to him, “My Lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers told us?”
JGS 6:11-24A

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
MT 19:23-30

Jesus advises the rich young man in today’s gospel that if he wishes to be perfect he needs to sell all that he has, give to the poor, and then follow him. Like the rich young man, we might find it difficult to give away everything. But, in the end, it’s following Jesus that makes us who we are.  What else do we truly need if we “possess” the Lord?  

Today’s Readings

The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.
JGS 2:11-19

Jesus said to [the rich young man], “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
MT 19:16-22

Jesus declares that he has come to “set the earth on fire” in today’s gospel.  Fr Peter notes that the image of fire is used throughout scripture to signify the creative, cleansing, and redeeming power of God.  Dare we enter the fiery furnace of God’s love with Jesus?  If we can, we can be sure that God will not only preserve us, he will bring us to eternal life.

Today’s Readings

In those days, the princes said to the king: “Jeremiah ought to be put to death.”
JER 38:4-6, 8-10

Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.
HEB 12:1-4

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”
LK 12:49-53

Jesus’ focus in today’s gospel is on how wrong it is for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever. Divorce in 1st century Palestine, Fr Charlie points out, forced a woman into either begging or prostitution. Divorce itself isn’t the sin but forcing a person to choose between begging or prostitution for any cause whatever certainly is.

Today’s Readings

“I gave you a land that you had not tilled and cities that you had not built, to dwell in.”
JOS 24:1-13

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying,”Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”
MT 19:3-12

Fr Greg points out that Mary proclaims the Lord’s justice in today’s gospel.  Growing within her womb is the one who would fulfill God’s promise to Abraham and his children forever: The proud will be scattered and the mighty cast down; the lowly will be lifted up and the hungry fed with good things. When we lift up the oppressed around us we, too, become part of Mary’s song.

Today’s Readings

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB

Just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life.
1 COR 15:20-27

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…  [He] has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”
LK 1:39-56

Today’s gospel, Fr Charlie believes, is all about setting boundaries. If someone hurts you, speak to him or her about it respectfully. Hopefully, the disagreement can be resolved. But, if it cannot, “detach with love” rather than bitterness.

Today’s Readings

The LORD then said to [Moses], “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over.”
DT 34:1-12

“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.”
MT 18:15-20

Only a shepherd who is in “crazy love” love with his sheep would leave the ninety-nine to go after the one who is lost.  Yet that, Fr Peter points out, is exactly what Jesus is telling us God is like.  We have no need to be envious of anyone. God loves each of each of us as though we were the most important person on earth.

Today’s Readings

“[The Lord, your God,] will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.”
DT 31:1-8

 “It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
MT 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Today’s gospel about Jesus’ novel approach to paying the “temple tax” reminds Fr Paul how his father always managed to find the family’s weekly church contribution.  While he never had to send his son Paul out to catch a well-heeled fish, as Jesus did with St Peter, Fr Paul’s dad, like Jesus, always seemed to find a way. 

Today’s Readings

[The Lord] executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
DT 10:12-22

“Go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”
MT 17:22-27