Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - July 28, 2024

Paul urges the Ephesians to, “live in a manner worthy of the call [they] have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love…” The church in Ephesus was in disarray because people had begun to criticize each other and to lose patience with each other. Paul felt that, as they lost their relationships with one another, they would ultimately lose their relationships with Christ.

Paul knew that relationships are based on mutual respect and trust. The quickest way to erode that trust is to speak poorly about one another. He was warning them not to communicate negativity, discontent, and general unhappiness. Catholics today would do well to take Paul’s message to heart. Too often we hear vocal criticism of Pope Francis or certain Cardinals or Bishops. Sadly, Catholics today are especially impatient with or intolerant of other Catholics who may be more “traditional” or more “progressive” than they are. This is the opposite of what Paul is demanding of the Ephesians.

We must recognize that, as Catholic Christians, we are all part of a “universal” Church. We are on the same team fighting the good fight against evil. This fight is not with fellow Catholics, or even fellow Christians. It must be directed toward those in the world who would gladly see us fail. While the world revels in loudly judging and criticizing each other, we are “called” to support each other with kind words and charitable actions. Even when we disagree, we must not make negative personal comments intended to be hurtful or divisive.

Once I saw a sign on the door to a TYKE classroom that said: “THINK before you speak: Is it True, Helpful, Inspirational, Necessary, and Kind.” We are trying to teach our 4-year-olds a skill that many of us have not mastered at 34 or 54 or 74. When Paul tells the Ephesians to “bear with one another through love,” he reminds them (and us) that we cannot truly be in loving relationships with Jesus unless we are in loving relationships with one another within His Church. Paul tells us that we can only accomplish this if we are gentle and patient with others whose moral, political, or religious positions differ from our own.

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - July 21, 2024

In the Old Testament, God is often portrayed as the shepherd of his people. In Psalm 23, a ‘sheep’ says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters.” Mark tells us that Jesus was moved with pity for the crowd because, “they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Just as sheep are defenseless and totally dependent upon their shepherd, the people of Israel needed a shepherd to guide them. Like a shepherd, Jesus protects, guides, and nurtures His flock. In fact, He is willing to lay down His life for His sheep.

The Pharisees were well aware of the condemnation of shepherds found in Jeremiah 23 (and in Ezekiel 34) leaders of Israel who had led the people astray and had sought their own glory. These so-called shepherds were arrogant, selfish, and uncaring. In Jeremiah 23, the Lord says: “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture…You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.” He then promises another shepherd that was to come later, “a righteous shoot to David.” That shepherd was Jesus, the promised Messiah.

As our shepherd, Jesus loves us and cares for us. He protects us from harm, seeks us when we are lost, goes before us to find the best pasture, and gives us comfort in the best places to lie down and rest. Psalm 23 promises that the Lord will care for us as a shepherd “all the days of [our lives].” We must trust our Good Shepherd – who looks after us and knows what is best for us. Sheep wander away from their shepherd because they don’t know any better. We wander away from God because we make terrible choices that could easily jeopardize our future lives. When we allow Jesus to be our Shepherd and we follow Him, our future is secure and we “fear no evil” for he is at our side.

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - July 14, 2024

When I was young, my mom taught me that once you accepted an invitation to someone’s house or some event, you were bound to follow through on your word. This was true even if you “got a better offer” for that same day and time. Jesus is telling the apostles the same thing as He sends them on their first evangelization mission: “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.” In other words, don’t keep looking for a better offer. This instruction is not only good manners and social etiquette, but it also allows the apostles to focus on what is most important during their mission. In fact, all of the requirements that Jesus imposes on the apostles are intended to sharpen their focus.

The word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” Until now, the disciples were merely followers. In this passage, Jesus calls them to their true vocation as apostles who are being sent to share the Good News. Their focus on this first journey is on preaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick. He sends them two by two so that they are accountable to each other and, in turn, can support each other. He tells them to give up any “creature comforts” and take only the bare minimum to survive. In fact, Jesus prohibits not only frivolous items, but essential ones as well. His requirements go beyond simplicity to a profound act of faith. He expects them to trust in God and in the good will of those to whom they are being sent.

The apostles go where Christ sends them and do what Christ tells them to do. They are not great men, but Jesus called them to a great purpose. They could accomplish great things in Christ’s name because they were not distracted by trivia. We are all “sent” in one way or another. Jesus sends some of us as priests, religious, missionaries, lay evangelists, etc. But He sends most of us to simply be the best examples of Catholic Christians that we are capable of being. He calls us to model the behaviors that He teaches in the Gospels. He instructs us to live ordered lives so that our Catholic mission is never compromised by our secular priorities. God Bless!