Father Bill says...for the Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For: the Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time



Just this morning, I was walking past the garage – when I saw all of the second graders – covered with aprons and plastering paper onto a balloon – it was quite a sight – to see their hands and some of their faces – covered with the paste – each one had to show me their creation – an interesting adventure in being creative – I have never been good at creating – I guess I will have to get out their getting my hands and face into the paint and plaster.

This week began with Labor Day – went up to AuSable Forks for the Holy Name Parish annual festival – the pastor at Holy Name is my classmate Father Phil Allen – who will be retiring at the end of the month – so the Festival was a bit like a wake – I will have to see how he likes retirement – it may sound attractive.


This is a picture of the pieta – the statue created by Michelangelo of Jesus, taken down from the cross – and placed on the lap of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The theme of this week’s Scriptures concerns the message that the following of Jesus may involve suffering. So, the Old Testament reading from Isaiah – is from the section called – the Third Song of the Suffering Servant. Isaiah writes, “The Lord God is my help, therefore, I am not disgraces – See the Lord God is my help, who will prove me wrong?”

The Gospel for our Mass this Sunday – is from Mark – a dialogue – first, Jesus asks all of the apostle’s – “Who do people say that I am?” – Peter speaks right up – “You are the Christ.” - Peter seems to understand that Jesus is the Messiah – the chosen one from God - the Savior. Yet – Peter does not fully understand just what this means.

Jesus begins to tell the apostles that because he is the Messiah he may have to suffer – this is a bit too much for Peter - you may have heard this story before – Peter takes Jesus aside – and the Gospel says “he began to rebuke him.” - Basically, Peter wants to tell Jesus that he cannot accept that Jesus would have to suffer – but also – it will discourage the others if he talks like this. Jesus turns to Peter – and now says to him, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do?”

Try to imagine how Peter must have felt – one moment, he is inspired to recognize Jesus as the Messiah – and in the next – Jesus calls him – Satan – Peter simply could not accept the thought of Jesus suffering – Jesus now tries to make him and the others understand that suffering may be part of the following – “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Peter unaware of the true nature of Jesus’ identity – Peter would try to set aside the unthinkable notion of a suffering Christ.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the important Jesuit theologian and scientist – writes this – Christianity plays an irreplaceable role with its astonishing revelation that suffering, if rightly embraced, can be transformed into an expression of love and a principal of action. What is the suffering that will allow you and me to become our truest and most Christian selves? Each of us must find that answer in our lives – actually, each of us must answer that question each day – can I accept the sufferings of this day – they may be small – they may be huge – but can I accept them to bring the Spirit of my Savior – the love and peace of my God into my world.

Jesus, the Messiah, must suffer, die and rise – so too those who follow him must also take up their cross – accepting suffering when it comes their way – in order to save their lives – and with Jesus, to save their world, to save their family, to make the world a place of happiness and love and peace.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father – I turn to you this day – seeking you power and strength and help – I am not good at suffering – and, yet, I know that it will be part of my life – make me ready to accept what suffering comes into my life – for I believe that in your Spirit – my suffering may transform me – and make me ready to bring love and happiness into the loves of those I love. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.

Father Bill says...for the Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah - God comes to save - what are the signs - the blind with see - the ears of the deaf will be cleared - the lame will leap like a deer - the mute will sing.

Gospel of Mark - Jesus heals the deaf-mute - with ceremony.

Our Gospel reading ends with the people wondering just who this is - who can make the deaf hear and the mute speak.

What and whom did Jesus heal? Do you remember some of the healing stories in the Gospels? There are so many - even just in Mark's Gospel - the paralyzed man whose friends lower him through the roof of a house to the feet of Jesus - Jairus' daughter, who was thought to be dead - the woman hemorrhaging for 12 years - the blind man named Bartimaeus

In Luke's Gospel - John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus with the question, "Are you the one who is to come - or are we to wait for another? Jesus answers, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news brought to them."

Why did Jesus heal? - out of compassion, certainly - also as a signal that God's reign has come in Jesus.

However, something more - healing has to do with wholeness - Jesus healed to put the ill, the wounded, the living dead, the sinner on the way to wholeness - to genuine humanness.

Why Jesus healed? wa why Jesus took our flesh - to destroy the brokenness that sin has created - Deafness - blindness - and all sort of illnesses - are obstacles to a person's awareness of God's presence - keeps a person from responding to God's love - to knowing Jesus.

But - sinfulness must be healed also - sinfulness keeps us from the Lord - the ultimate healing - reconciliation - Jesus's healing power restores harmony - communion - with God - with each other - and with the earth.

Our Lesson - withing the Catholic boday - healing is an ever-present must - the Church is human - composed of sinners - Church is always in need of reform - Church is not whole - because of selfishness and sin - corruption and conflict - disease and death.

So we need the healing power of Our Savior - and we are called to be healers in the Spirit of Our Savior - we - the wounded healers.

Some Christians are called to image Christ the healer - by confronting phyusical or psychological sickness - healing us on the way to wholeness - we thank God for these healers who are united with the Savior as a healer.

We are all called to bring healing that is reconciliation - to destroy hostility between ourselves and God - to destroy hostility within and among ourselves - especially in families - to destroy holtillity between ourselves and teh rest of God's creation - our earth.

Without reconciliation - oneness with God, with one another , with our earth - our Christianity is a mockery.

Catholicism is not a head trip- how much we know - how learned we are - rather the final test - not what do you know - rather how well did you love.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father - I come to find you Lord that you may come more completey into my life - come into my life with your love and healing power - heal in me all that keeps me from you - heal in me all that keeps me from being a loving and good person - heal in me all that keeps me from being a saint - this is my prayer, Lord. Amen.

Please join me as we say together the Lord's Prayer.

This past week urned out to be a sad one for the diocese - one of our priests died - Father Jerry Bleaux - I knew him well - we served together several years ago - he was a fine priest - well-known for being rather out-spoken - but always sincere and caring. Please keep Father Jerry in your prayers.