Category Archives: Spiritual

Love without Limits

Jesus, asked by a lawyer, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ reminds the man of God’s commandment to love our neighbour. The lawyer, in response, tries to narrow the scope of the commandment. Who is my neighbour? To whom am I obliged to show care and compassion? In a word, what are the limits of love?

Jesus answers the lawyer’s question with the beautiful parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan is moved with compassion for the distressed traveller, and cares for him in the most practical and generous way. He does this in spite of the ancient animosity between Samaritans and Jews. Jesus has turned the lawyer’s question around, from ‘Who is my neighbour?’ to ‘How can I be a good neighbour?’ And his answer is: a good neighbour is one who shows the same unstinting love as the Good Samaritan. Jesus himself will give us the example of love without limits, when he gives his life for us on the Cross. As disciples of Christ, we are called to set no limits to our love, but to be neighbours to everyone.

This is my Body

Today, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ, we renew our faith in the sacrament by which Christ gives life to the Church from age to age. The Gospel reading shows Jesus responding to the needs of the crowd of people who have come to him. He has taught them and healed their sick, and then he feeds them abundantly. Those who had been present at this miracle would remember the day for the rest of their lives.

Jesus entrusts the food to the twelve apostles; they distribute to the people what the Lord has provided. Paul reminds the Christians of Corinth that he passed on to them the gift of the Eucharist that he himself received from the Lord. In the sacrament of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ is entrusted to the Church’s ministers to be shared among the People of God. The theologian Henri de Lubac said that ‘The Eucharist makes the Church, and the Church makes the Eucharist.’ In the Mass, we are united as one people, nourished for the journey of life, and sent out to make Christ present in the world.

God at Home With Us

Jesus says: ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’ What does it mean for Jesus and the Father to make their home with us? It means that God is present with us in every moment of our lives – in all that we do, and in every choice that we make. It means that we keep Christ’s words – not obeying a set of rules which are somehow alien to what we really are, but becoming more like Christ, following Christ’s way of love for the Father and love for God’s children. This dwelling with the Father and the Son is made possible for us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the Advocate, the Counsellor, the Companion who gives us life. At Pentecost, the power of the Holy Spirit is revealed in a dramatic way, when the apostles are transformed into fearless witnesses, able to preach in all the languages of the world about the marvels of God. We will be transformed too, if we welcome the Spirit.

May they all be one

On the eve of his death, Jesus prayed to his Father for his disciples, that they might all be one. But today’s reality seems to be ever-increasing division; between the rich and poor nations of the world, between the wealthy and the excluded in our own society, between opposing political positions. The Church founded by Christ is divided, too.

Today is Communications Sunday, when we are asked to pray for those who work in the media, and especially for those whose task is to communicate the Catholic faith. But as long as we are divided, our witness to Christ is compromised. We will not achieve unity by suppressing disagreement, or by trying to silence those who differ from us. We can only move towards unity by deepening our love of God, sharing in the love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This will lead us to a greater love and respect for our neighbour – a readiness to accept others and learn from them.

With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me,and that I have loved them as much as you loved me. (John 17:23)

My Own Peace I Give To You

It’s always hard to say ‘goodbye’ to someone we love. At the Last Supper, Jesus is about to say goodbye to his disciples, who have been with him since he began his ministry. The disciples are anxious and fearful, but Jesus offers them words of reassurance: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.’ Jesus knows that he is not saying goodbye to his friends forever. They will see him resurrected and glorified, and after he ascends to his Father, he will send the Holy Spirit to guide and accompany the Church.
Jesus leaves his disciples the gift of peace – a peace that the world cannot give. The peace of Christ is not a superficial contentment. There are real trials and struggles to face in life, but if we are living in the love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we will be at peace, in spite of the difficulties, just as Jesus was at peace because he rested in the love of his Father.

Walking With Jesus

In Holy Week, we walk with Jesus through his Passion. Today, on Palm Sunday, we join the crowd of disciples who welcome the Lord as he enters Jerusalem. On Holy Thursday, we are present at the table of the Last Supper, and watch with Jesus in the garden, as he faces the horror of the death that awaits him. On Good Friday, we are witnesses to his condemnation, crucifixion and death. On Holy Saturday, we wait quietly, before sharing in the joy of the Resurrection on Easter night.

The Church’s liturgy invites us also to share in the emotions of the Passion. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and abandoned by all of his closest friends. The crowd who welcomed him with ‘Hosannas’ shout for his blood. On the Cross, he even feels forsaken by his Father. He dies, mocked and discredited. The Son of God empties himself completely for our sake. The more deeply we enter into the reality of Christ’s sufferings, the more we will understand the depth of God’s love for us, and the greater our joy in the Resurrection.

Women like this…

It takes two to commit the sin of adultery. But only the woman is brought to Jesus. She is publicly humiliated by the scribes and Pharisees – made to stand in full view of the crowd. The Law of Moses prescribed stoning to death as the punishment for adultery, but by Jesus’ time, that penalty had fallen into disuse. Jesus’ opponents are setting a trap for him. Will he contradict the Law, or will he encourage the crowd to lynch the woman there and then? The accusers are full of righteous indignation. Jesus’ response shows up their hypocrisy. Not one among them is confident enough of his own sinlessness to throw the first stone.

We live in an unequal society. It is still, often, women, the poor or the powerless who are judged and condemned. As disciples of Christ, we must not be self-righteous accusers. Knowing our own need for God’s mercy, we should follow the example of the Lord, who does not condemn.

Repent

Jesus speaks to the crowd about two shocking incidents. A group of worshippers have been slaughtered by Pilate’s troops while offering sacrifice to God; and a tower has collapsed and killed eighteen people. It was commonplace in Jesus’ time to believe that such misfortunes were God’s punishment for sin, but Jesus rejects that idea. His Father is a loving God, who desires that every one of his children should live and flourish. But in our fallen world, life is fragile. We do not know the day or the hour when God will call us out of this world. And so Jesus uses these examples to teach the people to repent. Repentance is a change of heart and mind – a turning back to God – a reorientation of our whole lives. Repentance brings fruits of faith, hope and love. The season of Lent is a time for repentance. As in the parable of the unfruitful fig tree, God gives us the opportunity to repent and be fruitful. Now is the time.

Avoiding the Pit

The images used by Jesus in today’s Gospel hit home. It’s easier to spot the splinter in someone else’s eye – their trivial faults or mistakes – than to acknowledge our own, perhaps far more serious sins. If we have the responsibility of guiding others, we can only find the right way if we first allow the Lord to open our eyes. Otherwise, we fall into the pit of hypocrisy. The Greek word ‘hypocrite’ means an actor – one who wears a mask. If our apparent holiness is a mask, we cannot guide others well. We cannot produce good fruits for Christ unless we have been converted and had our hearts turned to him.
This teaching of Jesus challenges us; not to give up on our responsibility to witness to our faith, to teach and to lead, but to be constantly aware of our own need for God’s mercy. True humility is a sincere recognition of our own weakness and sinfulness. In humility, we can guide and help our fellow disciples, and we can be fruitful.

A Hard Teaching

In today’s Gospel, we hear one of Jesus’ hardest teachings. When we suffer injustice, our instinct is to fight back, even to seek revenge. If we see someone as an enemy, we want to make them suffer. But the Lord calls us to do the opposite: to love our enemies, and to offer no resistance to those who do us violence. It’s an incredibly radical message. We might wonder if it’s even possible to live by such a teaching. But when we look at our world, we see the damage that is done by violence, the will to power and the desire for revenge. Surely someone has to break the cycle, by responding with forgiveness instead of vengeance.

It is impossible to live out this teaching, in human terms. We can only live it by God’s grace. Our example is Jesus himself, who, as he was nailed to the Cross, prayed for his executioners. If we reflect on the mercy and compassion that we ourselves have received from God, perhaps we can learn to show the same compassion to one another.

Living in God’s Kingdom

In today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses an audience made up of two groups: ‘a large gathering of his disciples’ – those who have made a commitment to him and his teaching – and ‘a great crowd of people from all parts’ – those who are drawn to him, but hesitate to commit themselves. Jesus ‘fixes his eyes on his disciples,’ but his teaching seems to be directed to everyone. And it is a starting message. The poor, the hungry and the sad, Jesus says, are happy or blessed, while those who are wealthy and comfortable should be grieving.
Jesus is describing the values of the kingdom of God. God has a special love for the poor, while the wealthy and privileged have a heavy responsibility. Recognising their good fortune, they are called to act with justice and love towards their brothers and sisters. The kingdom of God, in our Lord’s teaching, is not just a place where we hope to go when we die. The kingdom of God begins here and now, in our hearts and in our Christian communities. Jesus is calling us to action, here and now.

Jesus the Prophet

Jesus is speaking in the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth. At first, his words meet with approval. But as he begins to challenge the worshippers, their mood changes. Jesus sees that the people of Nazareth are looking for miracles and wonders, like the ones they have heard about elsewhere, before they will put their faith in him. He reminds them that their ancestors rejected all of the prophets sent by God, and that God’s love and mercy are not restricted to one nation, but are for the whole of humanity. No wonder the members of the synagogue congregation become angry, and try to drive Jesus out of town!
The rejection that Jesus suffers in Nazareth recalls the rejection suffered by the prophets before him, and points forward to his ultimate rejection and crucifixion. Jesus will stand firm in the face of all the attacks on him. His response to opposition is not anger, but perfect love.

This text is being fulfilled today

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks in public for the first time. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he begins his ministry of teaching. In the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth, he chooses the words of the prophet Isaiah, to tell the people that his coming is good news for the poor, for prisoners, for the sick and the downtrodden. The promises that God made through the prophets are being fulfilled in Christ.
The Gospels show Jesus encountering different reactions to his ministry. Those who are poor and powerless will welcome his message of hope. The sick will flock to him for healing. Others, though, will reject the challenge of his teaching – the call to act justly and to forgive those who wrong us. The Word of God is life-giving, but also disturbing. It is a Word that changes the world. The Spirit of the Lord has been given to us, too, and the Spirit calls us to action.

The First of the Signs

The wedding feast at Cana would be a huge celebration. The whole village would be invited, along with the family and friends of the bride and groom. It was a joyful day. But if the wedding party ran out of wine, joy would turn into embarrassment and social disgrace for the host family. Jesus’ mother spots the situation, and turns to her son, with absolute confidence that he has the power to help. Though Jesus at first seems reluctant, he works a miracle that saves the day: by changing water into wine, he transforms embarrassment into delight.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ miracles are described as ‘signs.’ They are signs that God is with Jesus, and working through him. The signs bring about faith, for those who are ready to see. This miracle, prompted by the unquestioning faith of Jesus’ mother, reveals Jesus’ glory and leads his disciples to believe in him. The revealing of the Son of God, which begins at Christmas and continues at Epiphany, reaches a new stage. Now Jesus will be revealed to the whole world.

YOU ARE MY BELOVED

John the Baptist drew the people with his message of repentance. They came to John for baptism in the River Jordan; a symbolic action, showing their desire for forgiveness of their sins and a new direction in their lives. So why does Jesus come to be baptised by John? He is without sin, and has no need for repentance or forgiveness. But, by immersing himself in the waters of the Jordan, Jesus shows us that he is fully immersed in our human condition. His baptism symbolises his unconditional ‘Yes’ to his Father’s plan of salvation. Without sin himself, he will share fully in the consequences of sin, all the way to the Cross. After his baptism, Jesus receives the Holy Spirit and hears words of consolation and encouragement from God the Father: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved.’ In our own baptism, we said ‘Yes’ to God’s plan for us, and we were adopted as God’s children – brothers and sisters of his beloved Son.

look into the sky

On Christmas night, the shepherds looked into the sky and saw angels announcing the birth of Jesus. The wise men, experts in the movements of the stars, also looked into the sky, and they saw the star that signified the coming of the Christ. The shepherds symbolize Israel, God’s chosen people; the wise men stand for the Gentiles, the ‘nations of the earth.’ On the feast of Epiphany – ‘manifestation’ – the coming of the Son of God begins to be made known to all the nations. The wise men follow the star, seeking the truth. They are an example of ‘faith seeking understanding’ in the words of St Anselm. In contrast to the wise men, King Herod and his advisers have access to the Scriptures, but are not ready to hear the message of Christ’s coming. The wise men bring handsome gifts – gifts fit for a King – expecting nothing in return. They show us an example of the open and generous response of true disciples to the birth of Christ. The Feast of the Epiphany reminds us that true disciples are drawn from all the nations of the earth. Christ comes to unite us in faith.

Blessed is she who believed

Today’s Gospel shows us two expectant mothers rejoicing together. Mary is a young woman, not yet married; Elizabeth is older, and she thought that her time for bearing a child had gone. Each has become a mother through God’s miraculous intervention, and they celebrate. John the Baptist, in his mother’s womb, shares in the rejoicing, leaping for joy at the presence of the unborn Jesus. Elizabeth and Mary are faithful daughters of Israel, and they rejoice at God’s fulfilment of his promises to his people. Mary is carrying the Saviour in her womb, Elizabeth the great prophet who will announce his coming. Each of these women will faithfully play her part in God’s plan of salvation.
Sadness, too, lies ahead for both mothers. As Simeon prophesies, ‘a sword will pierce the heart’ of Mary, and Elizabeth will also see her son’s life cut short. Their faith will be tested. But at this moment, they can rejoice. Even before their children are born, hope has been born; hope for the whole world, thanks to God’s faithful love.

What must we do?

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist is asked three times, ‘What must we do?’ John’s preaching has awakened the people’s conscience. He has shown them that they need to repent and change their lives, and so they come to him for guidance. John’s response is simple, practical and radical. Tax collectors and soldiers were despised as sinners, collaborators with the occupying Roman forces. John doesn’t dismiss their question, but simply tells them to be honest and not corrupt. More startlingly, anyone who has more than enough food or clothing is called to share what they have with the poor. John doesn’t tell his disciples to take on extra religious observances, or to withdraw from the society in which they live. Instead, he challenges the people to overcome injustice by acting justly.

Today is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday, when we can begin to rejoice at the Good News of our redemption. The Messiah is coming soon. We prepare the way for Christ by repentance; and our repentance is expressed in simple and practical ways – by acting justly.

Prepare the Way

Luke introduces the ministry of John the Baptist by saying that ‘the Word of God came to John in the wilderness.’ John’s message is one of repentance; a radical change of heart and mind. Like the Old Testament prophets who went before him, John challenges the people to turn back towards God with their whole hearts. The promise is that repentance will bring forgiveness; God in his mercy will set his people free from their sins. John’s prophetic word is addressed to us, too. In Advent, we are challenged to repent and turn back to God. By our repentance, we prepare the path for the Lord, clearing away the obstacles that stand in his way, so that we will be ready to welcome the Son of God when he comes.

The Coming of the Son of Man

As the end of the Church’s year approaches, today’s Gospel reading shows Jesus looking ahead to the last days. The powers of the world will fall. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of Jesus’ teaching will not pass away. He will return in judgement, to save those who believe in him.

As disciples of Christ, we are always looking ahead to eternal life. We live in this world, but we know that it will pass away, and that allows us to give the things of this world their true importance. Like the Lord himself, we do not know the day or the hour, and so we have to try to live every day of our lives in readiness for judgement. This doesn’t mean that we are indifferent to the world we live in: it means, simply, living out the commandments to love God and love our neighbour – putting our faith in the truth that will not pass away. Then we can face judgement, not with fear, but with trust in God’s mercy.