The First Flash Mob

Have you ever made a complete fool of yourself in the name of love? Have you ever gone over the top to impress someone? Have you ever worn your emotions on your sleeve for all to see? Have you ever made yourself vulnerable in front of others? Our wealthy chief tax collector, named Zaccheus, gives us quite the undignified scene in today’s gospel. Zaccheus “was seeking to see who Jesus was.” Raise your hand if you are seeking to see who Jesus is. There were many obstacles in his way because Jesus was being pursued by hundreds if not thousands of people and since Zaccheus was short (which is such a great detail don’t you think, I mean he is forever the short dude in the Bible!) in stature, he runs and climbs a sycamore tree so that he doesn’t miss a glimpse of Jesus as he walks by. There are many obstacles in the way of our seeing Jesus aren’t there? Each of us will have a whole list of those obstacles and it is a good exercise to acknowledge what those are. Zaccheus did not let those obstacles and/or his own limitations keep him from seeing who Jesus was. I wish I had this much tenacity and self-awareness. 

Here is a picture of the sycamore tree in Jericho that Zaccheus climbed so we can get a

great mental image of this humorous scene. Climbing this sycamore tree would not have been an easy thing for a short guy to do especially sporting leather sandals and tunic! I mean I don’t know about you, but perhaps Zaccheus is the one who created the first flash mob as in he probably flashed the mob that day while climbing a tree in his tunic!! Just sayin. Anyway, this was a spectacle, to say the least, and it most definitely caught the eye of Jesus even among the many obstacles. How many times have I caught the eye of Jesus doing outrageous things (shenanigans perhaps) in the name of seeking to see who he is? What a great and unusual prayer practice! Jesus’ heart immediately went out to him. He’s the friend that would tell you about the spinach in your teeth or take the “kick me” sign off of your back. It says that, “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.’” Let’s focus on the fact that “Jesus looked up”!! First flash mob!! He could have said, “Zacchaeus, get down here right now! No one needs to see that!” But, instead he honors Zacchaeus in this shameful situation by choosing to dine with him in his home. Jesus saw that Zacchaeus was being mocked and ridiculed (he was also the chief tax collector – boo, hiss, boo, hiss!), when all he wanted was to merely see Jesus, and Jesus in turn made a sincere effort to go to him and to invite himself into his home and more intimately into his life. 

Jesus doesn’t need much to draw his heart towards ours and sometimes it might even be our foolishness that gets his attention where his compassionate spirit moves in immediately to save us from disgrace. You see it does go deeper than just an indecent exposure. Zacchaeus not only exposed his shame, he exposed his heart, and Jesus could not help but to befriend him. I am convinced that Jesus’ whole interaction with Zaccheus in the tree that day was done with a huge smile on his face because he delights in us most especially when we are willing to put ourselves completely out there, exposed and vulnerable, for his sake. 

Because Jesus treated Zacchaeus with complete dignity in an undignified situation, he was willing to respond accordingly, "But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,‘Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,and if I have extorted anything from anyoneI shall repay it four times over.’And Jesus said to him,‘Today salvation has come to this housebecause this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seekand to save what was lost.’” Jesus wants to save us, he wants to find us and for us to find him. He’s willing to meet us in any situation if we but try to see him. Let’s not let our weak or short stature deter us from looking for Jesus and welcoming him into our home. 

I am sure the Zacchaeus story was a family favorite for years to come in both Zacchaeus’ household (“Hey remember the time dad climbed a tree and flashed the Savior of the World?!!!!”) as well as among Jesus’ disciples (“Hey remember the time when Jesus pulled the nut job Zacchaeus out of the tree?!!!!”). Jesus wants your exposed heart today and every day so that he can come and dwell there as your true friend who delights in you. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 RV 3:1-6, 14-22

I, John, heard the Lord saying to me:
"To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this:

"'The one who has the seven spirits of God
and the seven stars says this: "I know your works,
that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die,
for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent.
If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief,
and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.
However, you have a few people in Sardis
who have not soiled their garments;
they will walk with me dressed in white,
because they are worthy.

"'The victor will thus be dressed in white,
and I will never erase his name from the book of life
but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father
and of his angels.

"'Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

"To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this:

"'The Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the source of God's creation, says this:
"I know your works;
I know that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either cold or hot.
So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of my mouth.
For you say, 'I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,'
and yet do not realize that you are wretched,
pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich,
and white garments to put on
so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed,
and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise.
Be earnest, therefore, and repent.

"'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him,
and he with me.
I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne,
as I myself first won the victory
and sit with my Father on his throne.

"'Whoever has ears ought to hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

Responsorial Psalm PS 15:2-3A, 3BC-4AB, 5

R. (Rev. 3: 21) I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R.  I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

Alleluia 1 JN 4:10B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God loved us, and send his Son
as expiation for our sins.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
"He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over."
And Jesus said to him,
"Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost."

What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

The scene in today’s gospel should resemble or foreshadow Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem complete with lots of paparazzi, flamboyant hosannas, fan girls, Super Bowl-sized crowds, and if a Pope Mobile were invented yet it would be swerving enthusiastically through the masses. Jesus was a serious celebrity with as many haters as groupies just like today’s celebrities. Celebrity’s lives are lived under a microscope and every word uttered by them could and would be used against them at some point in their career. Today, the crowd was for him! “WE LOVE JESUS, YES WE DO, WE LOVE JESUS, HOW ‘BOUT YOU?!!!!!!!!!!”

Visualize how the blind beggar felt with hundreds of rowdy fanatics invading his corner, his sales turf, probably stepping all over him, pushing, and shoving, with lots of Middle Eastern yelling. When he learns that Jesus is the reason for this commotion, he immediately joins in. I can imagine that an experienced blind beggar’s voice probably had some well developed volume behind it as he was heard over everyone else and of course when Jesus’ entourage (picture dudes in black and white suits, ear pieces, sunglasses, brisk purposeful walking, and no smiles) tried to silence him, the blind man had nothing to lose and just shouted louder! Have you ever had nothing to lose? It gives you a certain confidence, unusual courage, and the guts to just go for it, doesn’t it? The blind beggar put it all out there. Remember that illness, affliction, mental disorders, disease, ailments, etc. were all associated with someone’s sin and when the blind man addressed Jesus as the Son of David (Messiah), he also admitted that he himself was a sinner, “have mercy on me.” The definition of mercy is: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm, implying that the one receiving mercy did indeed do something to merit punishment. We are all fall short and this cry for mercy is our cry as well. 

What an excellent example of how God responds to us in prayer. When we cry out to him with full heart and voice, He will stop and bring us close to Him, the way Jesus does in the story, and then He will dialogue with us, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked the blind beggar this question because he knew that when his sight was restored, his begging career and livelihood would also be destroyed. This was a huge sacrifice and Jesus needed to make sure he knew exactly what he was asking for. So Jesus, in his kindness, checked first with the blind man, and his answer was the right one, “I want to see.” He knew the heart of the matter…the gift of understanding; the fruit of faithfulness, and that is how Jesus knew that God was working in the blind man’s life. His request was motivated by faith rather than by selfishness, and as a result, many people witnessed him immediately start following Jesus and praising God. They in turn did the same because the miracle of sight was also granted to them. God’s work in our lives spills over into the lives of those around us. 

The blind man traded his livelihood to follow Jesus. He gave up what he knew, and what was comfortable because he put his trust in God. He cried out to Jesus in the midst of chaos, admitted that he was weak and in need of mercy, and because he had nothing to lose, he gained everything. Let’s get to the heart of the matter in our own lives. Jesus asks us today, "What do you want me to do for you?" What do we really need? Are we willing to trade our current status to attain it? Are we willing to cry out to the Lord with full voice? Will we immediately follow him once we are healed? Will we only ask for things that are safe and comfortable? And last but not least do we believe that God’s mercy is bigger than our sin? Think on these things and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 RV 1:1-4; 2:1-5

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,
to show his servants what must happen soon.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who gives witness to the word of God
and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message
and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.

John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne.

I heard the Lord saying to me:
"To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this:

"'The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
"I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
and that you cannot tolerate the wicked;
you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not,
and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name,
and you have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.
Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."'"

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (Rev. 2:17) Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

Alleluia JN 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Proclamation Of The Kingdom

Today’s gospel is one of those that if we actually grasped it we might literally explode. The Proclamation of the Kingdom is no joke and yet it kind of flies under my radar all the time because it might be too much for my pea brain to handle. Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is among you.” In my NIV translation it says, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Excuse me Jesus can you please repeat that? “The Kingdom of God is among and within you.” Like God’s Kingdom? “Yes.” And that is when I usually go get a beer because I just can’t understand how an entire Kingdom of an almighty God, creator of the universe, and unconditional love can dwell within me. 

Every now and then, we get glimpses into the glory of God here among us: a song that gives you goose bumps, a sunset that takes your breath away, an unexpected affirmation from someone, a break through on retreat, a collective experience of joy, a deep sense of knowing, etc. These experiences are the Spirit of God moving within us reminding us that “The Kingdom of God is within you.” What would our world be like if we actually believed this statement and lived accordingly? “On earth as it is in heaven” is a real thing, friends. Jesus says so. It becomes more and more difficult to believe especially when the evening news is filled with grief, ugliness, and anguish. However, the current state of the world is all the more reason to get our heads wrapped around today’s gospel and to be living signs of the Kingdom of God currently at hand. The world needs it. Our country needs it. Our church needs it. 

We need grace to understand. We need revelation to help our unbelief. We need truth to break through our limited thinking. We need the Holy Spirit to be released in all that we do. How? Receptivity to God’s Word, to a relationship with Jesus, and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us. We have all that we need, but we don’t necessarily know it yet. Prayer and meditating on His Word are the only ways we will be able to connect to this amazing reality…The Kingdom of God is here! Let’s imagine how our lives would be if we and everyone we know lived according to this proclamation. Let’s picture a world infused with the Spirit of God. Let’s dream about a life completely surrendered to God’s will. As we go about our day, let’s release the Holy Spirit through our receptivity to God’s presence within us. His presence is love, mercy, peace, and kindness. Perhaps my pea brain can’t handle this concept, but I pray that my soul will continue to be widened in such a way as to live it. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 PHMN 7-20

Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother.
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
I rather urge you out of love,
being as I am, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.
May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm PS 146:7, 8-9A, 9BC-10

R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 15:5

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
"The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or, 'There it is.'
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you."

Then he said to his disciples,
"The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
'Look, there he is,' or 'Look, here he is.'
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in his day.
But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation."

The One

Today’s gospel gives us a beautiful sequence of prayer. “Ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” I know for me, since I’ve met Jesus, I find myself often yelling at him from a distance, “please see me and heal my wounds!!” Jesus does see and hear the lepers, and he tells them to “Go show yourselves to the priests.” Jesus did not just say, “you are healed,” and he sent them on a journey if you will toward wholeness. Showing themselves to the priests required obedience and trust on their part and in that very act of obedience they were made well. Sometimes Jesus’ answer to my prayer is mysterious and my simple obedience to his response is what opens my eyes. “As they were going they were cleansed.”As I go where Jesus sends me, I am becoming who he wants me to be. 

“And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” “And oneof them…” It reminds me of the gospel a few days ago when the shepherd left the ninety-nine for the one. The one returned, gave glory to God in a loud voice, and fell at the feet of Jesus to thank him. The one that realized he was healed knew without a doubt that he needed to praise God and so he returned (repentance means to turn back), no longer at a distance, but at the feet of Christ (intimate relationship), and gave thanks. “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” There are times in my life when I am “The One” and there are times in my life when I am the other nine. Conversion is an ongoing journey and requires me to return to the feet of Jesus daily, not just every now and again. Sometimes I get too caught up in religious practice and forget to simply praise God for seeing me and loving me. 

“Then he said to him, ‘Stand up and go;’ your faith has saved you.” Jesus died for all of us to stand up and go free from affliction, but we can only come to truly know that through faith. In today’s gospel faith begins with meeting Jesus at a distance, crying out for mercy from our woundedness, being obedient to his reply, after first returning ourselves back to God in praise, and coming close to Jesus through worship and thanksgiving. Then and only then can we stand up and go cleansed, healed, reconciled, and saved. Today I choose to be The One that returns to God in praise, worship, and thanksgiving so that I can stand up and go, saved by faith, and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 TI 3:1-7

Beloved:
Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities,
to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.
They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate,
exercising all graciousness toward everyone.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded,
slaves to various desires and pleasures,
living in malice and envy,
hateful ourselves and hating one another.

But when the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
he saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1B-3A, 3BC-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Alleluia 1 THES 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed. 
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. 
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine? 
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" 
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."

Jennifer Server

When I started working at the assisted living care facility for the elderly, I was hired as a “waitress” in the dining room. I had come off a long much needed break from ministry and still grieving the loss of my dad, and I remember feeling a bit apprehensive in a “how the heck did I get here?” kind of way. It was my first day of work and as I was walking into the building, the Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks and had me look down at my nametag. It said “Jennifer” and directly underneath my name, “Server”. I have not been called Jennifer since high school and/or only at the doctor’s office, but I was very aware in that moment that a name change in the Bible means a person is being called out of something old and into something new for a very specific purpose: Abraham & Sarah, Peter, Paul, etc. Prior to this I had been feeling a bit dejected and a little sorry for myself as I had taken a very significant pay cut and perhaps this new job was “beneath” my gifts and me. Jesus reminded me, through the Holy Spirit in that moment, who I am, who I have always been, and what my truest vocation is: Server. My vocation is to serve and always had been. I, Jen, needed a name change AND a title change to remember that. That one moment changed me forever. It was so significant, like a burning bush, take off your shoes for this is holy ground encounter, and it launched me into the most beautiful career path I could ever hope for. I serve the most vulnerable of our community and it is an honor to be their “server”. I am theirs and they are mine and taking care of their most basic needs is exactly what God has called me to do as remembrance that I serve Him. I am to love each person He puts in front of me and I am to serve him or her humbly. What an amazing gift? Side note: when I looked at everyone else's nametag, mine was the only one that said "Server", the rest said "Wait Staff" or "Dietary." I love it when God is that specific!!

Today’s gospel message was directed specifically at the Apostles and the focus us on service. He commissions the Apostles to serve and that following the Master’s commands is their primordial obligation. He is setting them up for the display of this kind of service when Jesus would soon be washing their feet. Servant leadership is a command from God through Jesus. It does not seem optional. We are an apostolic church and therefore, this call applies to each and every one of us: to serve God. Service to God looks exactly like service to one another because God lives in each and every one of us. To serve means to expect nothing in return and to do so because it pleases the Master. I know for us, today’s gospel might seem a bit archaic as in we don’t have “servants” anymore, however, everyday I allow my nametag, Jennifer Server, to remind me that I am called to serve. I looked up other words for “serve” and here’s what came up: help, minister, work for. Yep, that pretty much sums it up. May each of us help, minister, and work for our amazing Master today and it is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Lectionary: 492

Reading 1 TI 2:1-8, 11-14

Beloved:
You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine,
namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified,
self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance.
Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior,
not slanderers, not addicted to drink,
teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women
to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers,
under the control of their husbands,
so that the word of God may not be discredited.

Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves,
showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect,
with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech
that cannot be criticized,
so that the opponent will be put to shame
without anything bad to say about us.

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of the great God
and of our savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.

Responsorial Psalm PS 37:3-4, 18 AND 23, 27 AND 29

R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
The just shall possess the land
and dwell in it forever.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Alleluia JN 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles:
"Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?
Would he not rather say to him,
'Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished'?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded, say,
'We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

Lord, Increase Our Faith

“Lord, increase our faith.” This is a prayer that prayed authentically will change our lives. So many times in the gospels Jesus tells people it is your faith that healed you, never have I seen so much faith, your faith has saved you. I like Brene Brown’s definition of faith; “Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” In today’s gospel Jesus tells us that there will always be causes of sin: betrayal, abuse, anger, woundedness, unforgiveness, family history, temptation, selfishness, and pride. He gives us two sure ways to dispel these inevitable conditions: forgiveness and faith. 

Faith is the courage to live in mystery and sometimes God’s ways, like perpetual forgiveness and mercy are super difficult to understand or practice. He definitely instructs us today to “rebuke” sin if and when it enters our lives. He uses the image of sin being a millstone wrapped around our necks and it causes us to plunge to the depths of darkness. We become slaves to sin especially when we don’t encourage one another in love to turn away from it. Our addictions, bitterness, anger, negativity, bad habits, judgment, self-loathing, woundedness, etc. become these heavy burdens that keep us down, trip us up, plunge us into darkness, and take our eyes off Jesus. While it is important for us to rebuke sin, it is as important to do so in love and through the eyes of mercy, with the hope for repentance. Public shaming, or gossip, or spreading someone’s sin is not what Jesus intends for us to do when he says rebuke. This only adds weight to the millstone and makes repentance all the more difficult. We should always will the good of the other when we are admonishing sin. And the whole purpose to admonish sin is to give the “sinner” the encouragement to repent and turn away from that sin. “If he repents, forgive him. If he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” I know this sounds almost impossible to do and that is why an increase in faith is absolutely necessary. 

Forgiveness is a place of mystery and faith gives us the courage to trust that Jesus is showing us the way to eternal freedom. This uncertainty would be agonizing if we did not have the faith to let go of the fear of the unknown. “Perfect love drives out all fear.” 1 John 4:18 It just hit me that faith, hope, and love are the driving forces of today’s gospel. Faith leads to hope, and love flows from hope, but hope resides in the middle of both. Hope binds the mystery of faith to the testimony of love and together a trinity of grace circles the soul, singing you into wellness, cheering you to thrive, and catching you when you fall. Jesus wants us to be well, to thrive, and to be caught in the arms of mercy. Lord, increase our faith, hope, and love and it is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Lectionary: 491

Reading 1 TI 1:1-9

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life 
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

For this reason I left you in Crete
so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you,
on condition that a man be blameless,
married only once, with believing children
who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious.
For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant,
not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive,
not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness,
temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled,
holding fast to the true message as taught
so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine
and to refute opponents. 

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1B-2, 3-4AB, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia PHIL 2:15D, 16A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day 
and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'
you should forgive him."

And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."