Jesus, looking at him, loved him

"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,"You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." (Mark 10: 20,21)

Reflection

Jesus did what the 10 Commandments can’t do … establish a relationship with the believer.  At the start of today’s Gospel, Jesus recites a rather robotic list of laws.  Laws can’t love another person, but a living Person can.  It is Good News that Jesus moves the believer out of an over-emphasis on right-vs-wrong (kind of like Presidential debates), and does what cold commandments can never do:  look back in relationship, and love.

Thus being freed from “the list,” Jesus invites a creative response, such as: going out to others, giving away the excesses of life, and following Jesus in His next steps.  It seems this freedom opens up a hornet’s nest of further discussion and argument (which happens in the second half of the Gospel reading).  Good!  Such is the nature of a personal relationship:  people work out next steps with one another based on the law of love.  Struggling with Jesus is a great form or prayer.

So, today's Gospel urges us to value human persons, despite the differences, despite how hard a call it might be, despite the arguments and struggles.  Which relationships in your life need to be reignited with a good argument or some hard questions?  Look at that person in your imagination, as Jesus did for real, and see what comes from the invitation to love your enemy.  Fear not, Jesus would say, one sign that your Christian life is alive and well is that you have followed the Lord drawing closer to another human being.  That example is a healthy step forward.

And dismiss her

Jesus said to the Pharisees, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." (Mark 10:4)

Reflection

One of my favorite movies is The Breakfast Club.  This 80s film showed the interactions among five high-school kids during Saturday detention.  At one point, during a sharing about how parents inflict punishments and penalties, the Emilio Estevez character asks the Ally Sheedy character “What do they do to you.”  The girl replies, “They ignore me.”  How devastatingly true and unfortunate for many teens, to be ignored, discounted, dismissed.

For us too, we have had experiences where we have chosen to ignore a person, a relative, a group of people, perhaps an entire gender.  To some degree, have you chosen to “dismiss” someone simply because the relationship is inconvenient or too challenging?  This was the case in the time of Jesus.

Apparently, the Mosaic law had been altered to allow Jews a divorce – the dismissal of a person – simply because the husbands’ hearts were too hard, small, and shallow.  Self-absorbed perhaps.  In response, Jesus hearkens back to the earlier time at Creation when God saw the true capacity of human life and love.  “No human being must separate.”  That is exactly how the kingdom of God will look:  all will be joined together in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in Christ, in praise of the Father.  This Trinitarian relationship lasts forever.  

 So, Jesus places that challenge to the Pharisees and to us in our personal and earthly relationships.  Do not seek for dismissal of another, but strive for deeper commitments that reveal the self-less self-giving love that Jesus would later show.  Strive for the divine-like.  Practice a love that is “for keeps” and committed to Christ the ever faithful Companion.  Whether in marriage, family challenges, tough neighborhoods, warring countries, or painful social encounters, Jesus offers you a daunting test as well:  no human being must separate.  Can you ignore that invitation?

He does not follow us

"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."  Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him." (Mk 9:38,39)

Reflection: The phrase “to follow” has a new meaning in this age of Twitter.  I opened a new Twitter account recently: @pfairbanks, and I have a grand total of three “followers” – people who receive my tweets.  Granted I don’t put out many tweets, but it is nice to have that contingent of friends and acquaintances to accompany you down this yellow brick road of social media. 

That’s what Jesus knew was valuable as His new Apostles were testing their new social wings of evangelization.  Jesus knew that those who perform mighty deeds in His name were just as included in the circle of friends as those who follow the same God under a different screen name.  That is, part of our participation in the social medium we call the Kingdom of God means that we drop the urge to prevent (control) the unfamiliar, and rather accept the work of stranger and alien as Jesus did.  After all, we have more to learn about God’s Twitter account than a simple laptop can provide.

Send them out in pairs

“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7)

Reflection: Jesus used a tactic in his mission whereby each of the Apostles traveled with another on mission.  This likely created a small community for support, shared prayer, and practical assistance.  Where one man had this gift, perhaps Jesus paired him with another Apostle who brought a complimentary gift.  Stop and think: who traveled with Judas?  Who got to walk with Peter?  Which Apostle would you choose to go with on mission?

In the course of your life, you probably were paired with another person (by chance or on purpose) and found the work you were doing a lot easier.  Maybe a roommate in college, a co-worker, a close confidant.  Who was that person for you?  What did you learn from her or him?  Be grateful for those pairings in your life, and remain open to that apostolic mission today whereby you find authority in shared faith for the building of the Kingdom.

(PS:  As a new teacher, I found a close friend in Patrick Meade.  We both taught the same students at a Catholic elementary school.  I was language arts; he was social studies.  Indeed we were “paired” for three years as we lived out that mission.  More on this pairing elsewhere.)

What kind of wisdom

 “They said, "Where did this man get all this?  What kind of wisdom has been given him?  What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!”  (Mark 6: 3)

Reflection:  How did the listeners in the synagogue know that Jesus brought a new kind of wisdom?  What did he say and do that seemed so unusual?  Likely his wisdom came from a fresh place of prayer and confidence (faith) all his own.  This new way of seeing the world and God’s role in our lives was “given him” as a gift.  All Jesus had to do was listen carefully and place faith in the Source – his Father.

What would be your way of expressing wisdom from your own faith and prayer?  Long ago, when I was in high school, an art teacher asked me how I saw a certain painting.  I was amazed that she would even presume I had an opinion.  It took a lot for me to even examine my own feelings and interpretations, but for sure they were mine and I had faith that she valued that response.

You too are called to look at life and express the wisdom of God found in your own prayer and actions.  Perhaps today you too will amaze people with “mighty deeds” that come from deep faith and divine insight.  Even though you are “the carpenter in your own house,” you still have gifts given by the Father and a voice to proclaim wisdom each day.  Step up.

He spoke the Word to them

With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. (Mark 4:33)

Reflection:  Back then, Jesus used familiar farming imagery to get through to his followers about God's order and the future of our lives with God (the Kingdom):  scattered, sown, mustard seeds, grain, blades, bushes, branches, birds.

What parables does God use today to communicate the Word to you?  Your family.  Technology.  Nature. One of your hobbies?

It is not likely that God stopped speaking to us in parables.  For example, when I look around at the people in Church on Sunday, I used to sit in judgment about many things.  But one thing unites us:  we all walk through the door as sinners and share that one reason for being there:  to bring our weakness humbly before God, grateful for his strength and grace.  This is a parable too about the Kingdom.

On the last day, we all walk through the gate into the Lord's embrace.  We know not how.  We are all taken into His gaze and ordered as He designs.  We know not how.  Each day He speaks the Word to us as we are able to understand it.  Let us observe carefully so as to be prepared for the coming of the Lord.

Look upon him

They will look upon him whom they have pierced. (John 19:37)

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Reflection:  I imagine if Jesus walked on the earth today he would not be looking so much at TV or a computer screen (which, alas, we are doing at this moment).  Rather he would want to look upon the faces of the poor and the suffering.  

The last line of today's Gospel from the Sacred Heart of Jesus invites us to pay attention to the people to whom we have done harm or neglected.  Many who gazed upon the tortured body of Jesus were moved to a change of heart.  We too desire to transform our actions from the routine and bland to the renewed and generous.  For example, one act of charity today would be to choose to linger your eyesight upon someone or something you normally ignore:  the poor, a news article, an enemy, your Bible.  What flows from that act of blessed attention?

Jesus chose to look upon people in need.  May the Sacred Heart move us to do the same

Note: Upon the twelfth anniversary of my Ordination, and as a response to recent prayer, I have decided to resume this good ol' blog highlighting a phrase and passage from Sunday's Gospel.  My hope is that the truth will offer you some portion of the freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:21).  Pat

This is my body

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." (Mark 14:22)

Reflection:  What Jesus does to bread, he does to each of us.  The Eucharist is an invitation for us to join in the four-fold donation of ourselves, in the way Jesus did.  Like Jesus we are to TAKE up our lives of faith (which we do at Baptism), and we BLESS life through our participation in the Sacraments.  Next, we are invited to BREAK ourselves of an ego-centered life by dying to self, humbly claiming our brokenness before God.  Finally, we are to GIVE our lives unto others.  Some do this by way of service, commitment, vocation, generosity, or a change of life to set the world on fire.

What Jesus did to the bread, He asks to be done unto us.

Take the initiative and donate your body back to the One who first gave it to you.  In what way have you lived out these four actions of the Christian life?

People kept coming to him

The [healed leper] went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. Jesus remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere. (Mk 1:44,45)

Reflection: It may seem that Jesus ran away from the people he was sent to heal and serve. It sounds like he went to deserted places to get away from the pressure -- to escape. No, that's how WE might behave.

The intention of Jesus to go to deserted places was for prayer, for closer communion with his Father. Not to get away from the people, but to be able to better serve. They were more attracted to him because, the more he communed with his Father, the more he knew himself and his purpose.

That's why they kept coming. He was more powerful with every visit to the desert -- with every chance to clear away the noise and focus on God whom he loved above all else.

In the same way Jesus kept coming to his Father, so we must keep coming to him for renewal.

He prayed

Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

Reflection: I've always heard that a real wedding engagement requires "a ring and a date." Otherwise it's just a nice idea between two people. In spiritual terms, a real relationship between you and God requires "a time and a place." Yes, we can all pray on the go and find God "in all things." But we need that specific commitment to a real (not ideal) relationship with Christ, in the same way that he had with his Father. He liked praying early and in a place removed from distractions.

When and where do you pray? Choose a place where you can focus, and make a time happen that is regular. Keep to it and believe you can meet Him there for whatever it is you need.

Lower your nets

Jesus said to Peter, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” He said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. (Luke 5:6,7)

Reflection: Deep water scares us, probably because we think we might drown in it or that it contains harmful creatures we cannot see. The words of Christ, “Do Not Be Afraid,” invite us ever lower and deeper into the realities of this life so that we might benefit from the realities of His life.

The word “suffer” comes from the Latin, meaning to bear under or carry down lower. When we remain with Jesus, and delve more courageously beneath the superficialities of difficulty and work, we are richly rewarded with an abundance of life.

Jesus passed through

"Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away." (Luke 4:30)

Reflection: His hometown friends were angry because Jesus tended to favor "outsiders" over them. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus makes His way particlarly to women, Gentiles, the poor, and the sick: outsiders. Unfortunately, some did not follow Him out as he passed through.

Unless we notice and find our way to the outsiders, Jesus passes us by too. We ought to see them in our midst, and come to know them in our hearts. Identifying with the poor, we are able then to see His face in theirs, and thus follow Jesus on His way. He is never far from any of us. Just look around.

Jesus advanced

"And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man." (Luke 2:52)

Reflection: It seems people grow old just because time passes. You don't have to "do anything" special to age -- kinda like wine. But because we are worth more than aging bottles of wine, we also depend on the gift of God's wisdom and the feeling of ever being "good" in the eyes of God (favor). Yes, we are seen as wise and good before God.

But the Gospel also reminds us that being found favorable in God's eyes MEANS that we also reflect His goodness among others. That is, to really advance in wisdom and favor, we must act our age and treat others with charity and respect. Happy New Year.

Blessed Are You

"Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:45)

Reflection: We watched Polar Express again the other night: me and my sister and her hubby and kids. The message that the main hero receives is "BELIEVE," and his faith is represented by his ability to hear the ringing of a single sleigh bell. In today's Gospel, we hear several examples of people of faith who listen for God's Word: Elizabeth (who heard Mary's greeting), the unborn infant John who hears it too, and Mary who has heard the message of an angel weeks before. God speaks to us all the time.

Whether through music, bells, the voices of loved ones, the wisdom of Scriptures, the message of an angel, or the Good News on Sunday ... God can speak no other sound than "I love you," and tomorrow's feast invites us to listen to the quiet ring of the Lord each day. We BELIEVE his spirit rings through our world in deeds of service and charity.

Come to Me

"And Jesus said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him." (John 6:65,66)

Reflection: We like to think that it is up to us to achieve holiness and "come to God." Jesus reminds us that it is always God's initiative and grace which leads us, feeds us, and ultimately saves us. All we need do is accept that and live accordingly. But the hard part is accepting the Truth that it is not up to US to win God's favor or increase the graces and blessings which freely come from God. Many of Jesus' disciples lost sight of that ... maybe because it seemed too easy (unlike the Jewish law) and so wandered off to listen to ... God knows who or what ... but they didn't accompany Jesus any more.

On our pilgrimage in life, are we also taking over too strongly where God ought to be the one in charge? Can you still hear the daily call of God to "come to me" as Jesus did?

Listen to Him

"Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.'" (Mark 9:7)

Reflection: Sometimes, when our lives get cloudy, we think that God is either taking the day off or upset with us for some human condition. Nope. His awesome power might seem scary and threatening (like a thunderstorm). But changes in climate can reveal God's care and comfort (especially during the dog-days of hot August).

More important than the transitory clouds are the eternal words of the Father: "despite all the changes, listen to my Beloved." The Divine Word (Jesus) is ever present and His voice ever comforting.

Next time you are overshadowed by fear, Listen!

Jesus gave thanks

"Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted." (John 6:10-11)

Reflection: So often we are troubled by questions like "How will I make it?" or "What will I do?"
These questions confronted Jesus when it came time to feed a large crowd of hungry people. We are that crowd, and Jesus shows us how to receive all that we want. Give thanks.

Once we recognize where our blessings come from, and what we did to deserve them all ... more comes. Freely. Let us recline (relax) and not worry so much about what WE have to do, but rest assured that God will grant to us all we need and all we want.

As we wait for waht we need, we give good thanks (in Greek: "Eu Charistia" "good graces")

Jesus summoned the Twelve.

"Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits." (Mark 6:1)

Reflection: The authority of Jesus appears to us as community. Family, church, and social fabric. The number twelve represents a community of leadership and the unity of the disicples. The numbers "two by two" symbolize our need for each other. No one follows Jesus alone, and no one is saved alone.

Expelling unclean spirits is a community effort.

Jesus was not able

"So Jesus was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith." (Mark 6:6)

Reflection: It's hard to imagine Jesus as incapable or powerless. But that reveals how much power he gets from cooperation with us. He doesn't want to act or live alone (who does?).

Until we believe (in faith) that we are always connected to Him and acting with Him, he just stands by in amazement at how long it takes for us to see Him (and trust His work).