July 26, 17th Sunday in OT. B.

Today’s Gospel reading focuses on God’s amazing abundance. Two stories of “Plenty” form the first reading and the Gospel. Both involve bread, both involve hungry people. Have you thought of the connection between Eucharist and hunger? Isn’t it “odd” that we celebrate the abundance of Eucharist–the presence of the One Who gave enough food to fill the hungry and have much left over–in the midst of a society with so many women and children in poverty, and in the midst of a world with so many starving? I don’t know about you, but instead of concentrating, today, on what God’s “abundance” can mean for us, who already have so much, why don’t we concentrate on what we can do to bring abundance to those in need? I think Christ would be pleased with that response. We should call it “Eucharistic Living.” What do you say?

July 19, 2009, 16th Sunday in OT. B.

This week’s readings are centered in the theme of “shepherds” and “shepherding.” The prophet Ezekiel lived about 600 years before Jesus, at the time of the Babylonian Exile. He saw much of the nation carted off into slavery. He was contemptuous of the kings and court counselors whose policies had resulted in this debacle. Those are the “shepherds” about whom he is speaking. Jesus, on the other hand, lived in a time of the occupation of the nation by the Roman army. The figurehead government was composed of the High Priest and his counselors, so it is of this group that Jesus speaks, but both he and Ezekiel are speaking of poor political choices, they are not speaking of improper priestly attention to people. So, what are we to learn? Maybe we should think of the role of politicians as old-fashioned “role models” for us and our children. We should be encouraging the finest standards of citizenship from them, not the worst. It is often, though, that they let us down, simply because no one is perfect. Yet, let’s encourage a moral striving among them, and among all public figures. We need role models. And let’s try to be role models. ourselves! Peace!

July 12, 2009, 15th Sunday in OT. B.

Paul teaches that when God was creating the earth, we, too, were in the Divine Mind, and we were, at that time, “destined” to be members of the Church of God as Christ established it, and that our lives were meant to be a continual “Praise” of Him. Amos, nearly 800 years earlier, had suggested in his book of prophecy that we were destined to serve God by lives of justice, opposing all forms of human degradation. In the Gospel, Christ cautions His disciples about pursuing lives of simplicity as they serve God. What is it that connects simplicity, pursuing human justice and goodness, and praising God? I suggest that the readings are haunting. They seem to say that if we can’t answer that question about “connections,” something is missing in our spiritual life. So, how would you answer the question from your own experience?