Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - November 3, 2024

In today’s Gospel passage, the scribe asks Jesus what is the “first” or “most important” commandment. Jesus responds by reciting the “shema” prayer, which practicing Jews have recited twice each day for thousands of years: “Listen, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your might.” The scribe agrees with Jesus’ answer and even commends Jesus for His response.

Then Jesus says, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” If “not far” means “close,” then Jesus is saying that the scribe may be a good man, but he may not make it into the kingdom. When I was growing up, we had an expression, “Close, but no cigar.” Except in horseshoes, you didn’t win anything for being close. Being close is of little consolation when you “just miss” spending eternity with God.

Many people, like the scribe, know and agree with Jesus but refuse to be transformed by Him. They want to know what is required but are not anxious or eager to meet those requirements. Mere knowledge can be used for all kinds of misguided purposes. Knowledge of, and agreement with, God’s law only brings one near, not into, God’s kingdom.

Christianity is less about knowledge of doctrine and theology and more about passion and action. The scribe approaches Jesus and the law as objects of study. However, God’s law is not to be studied as much as it is to be applied. John Wesley once said, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Knowing about God and agreeing with His commandments, gets us “not far from the Kingdom of God.” However, if we want to enter the Kingdom, we must be transformed by Jesus and inspired to live His Good News every single day. Who is Jesus to me? Is Jesus simply someone I know and agree with, or is He my Lord and savior? Do I simply admire Him for what He taught, or do I love and live for Him because of who He is?

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - October 27, 2024

“Master, I want to see.” 

In last week’s Gospel, James and John ask Jesus, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you” to which Jesus replies, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?”  They said that they wanted to sit at His right and left when he came into His glory.  Jesus reminds them that the kingdom of God is not about them and their desire for glory.  They should desire to serve, not to be served.

Today, Bartimaeus calls out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”  He recognizes that people regard him and his family as horrible sinners because he was born blind and that he is destined for a life of begging and isolation.  Unlike James and John, Bartimaeus is not making demands of Jesus, but is simply seeking his mercy.  His request for pity is more like a prayer than a request.  Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Bartimaeus answers, “Master, I want to see.”  He is not seeking personal glory, but only the same basic ability to see that almost everyone else has. 

Despite their physical sight, James and John were blind to Christ’s mission and their role in that mission.  On the other hand, although Bartimaeus was physically blind, his sharp spiritual vision enabled him to understand and appreciate Jesus far better than James and John.  His deep faith caused him to approach Jesus with heartfelt humility, to be persistent even when he was told to be quiet, and to ask for something that would transform his life.  He does not want a place of honor, he simply wants to see.

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - October 20, 2024

In the second reading this weekend, Paul explains that we have a “high priest” in Jesus Christ who is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses…” and “who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” In other words, because our God became man, He understands how difficult it is for us to have faith, to follow the commandments, and to avoid whatever leads us to sin. There is no limit to His compassion.

The word “compassion” is the combination of two Latin words “com” which means together or with and “passio” which means to suffer. After my wife recovered from cancer, she made it her personal mission to speak with anyone who was diagnosed with cancer, who was undergoing treatment for cancer, or who had someone in their family who was battling cancer. She believed that her own battle with cancer gave her a unique perspective on what other cancer patients were facing or feeling. All with whom she spoke appreciated the sincerity and depth of her compassion. Her own battle with cancer gave her the ability to “suffer with” those whom she was trying to support.

Jesus understands us and our human struggles, weaknesses, and failings because He walked among us. Throughout the Gospels we see the depth of His compassion each time he encounters someone in need. Whether he is forgiving sinners, speaking with taxpayers, Gentiles, or Roman soldiers, exorcising demons, or healing those suffering from physical disabilities like leprosy, blindness, deafness, or lameness, He gives His complete attention to each afflicted person whom He encounters. In His compassion, He turns no one away.

Jesus carried a heavy burden of knowing that He would face a cruel death. Some of us carry that same burden when we receive a diagnosis of a terminal illness. But even those of us who are healthy are burdened by concerns that our beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions may be leading us further away from God rather than closer to Him. We forget that Jesus, who is both our high priest and a human being, understands our struggles and extends to us His infinite love, mercy and forgiveness. If we turn to Him in our struggles, He is there for us. If we seek His help, He helps us. If we suffer, He suffers with us.