Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 21:5-8-20a; Matthew 8:28-34)

Yesterday’s gospel passage ended with Jesus’ disciples asking, “’What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?’"  Today’s passage provides at least a partial answer.  Jesus is a man with divine authority.  Not only do the elements obey him; evil spirits snap to his command.  Jesus only has to say one word (in the original Greek) “’Go,’” to send the demons away from the possessed.

Jesus’ divine authority begs a question, however.  If he can so easily discharge evil spirits, why does he not just say once and for all, “Devils be gone”?  Would not the world then be free of evil?  This might be the case if humans did not call evil spirits back into their lives.  As it is, however, free will, which lies at the base of human freedom, revolts against the serenity of doing God’s will.

We can say that living in the world we are constantly tempted to reject the good.  This situation may sound more dire than it is.  We can tame the surliness of our will by constantly following the Lord’s directives.  The more we do so, the more we grow in true freedom.; that is, freedom from inner compulsions which hinder our following the natural inclination to happiness.  And the more true freedom we have, the more peaceful our world becomes.

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

 

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Genesis 21:5.8-20a; Matthew 8:28-34)

Even Pope Francis cites the Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of Discipleship. It treats of the difficulties Christians are called to bear.  Of course, the benefits of discipleship more than outweigh its burdens.  Nevertheless, Christians must be ready pay a price when they commit themselves to Christ. Today’s gospel tells of people unwilling to do that. 

Jesus has just cleared the area of the Gadarenes of a threat.  He cast out the demons moving two men to menace the populace.  Jesus allowed the demons to enter a herd of swine that went berserk and plunged into the sea.  The swine were lost, and the town that much impoverished.  The townspeople react to the feat by asking Jesus to leave their territory.  Instead of following such a powerful man as Jesus, they want to rid themselves of him.  They are not willing even to consider the “cost of discipleship.”

We all have to bear suffering, but no one has to do it alone.  We can turn to Jesus for help.  He will make some demands on us which are included in the “cost of discipleship.”  But we should not doubt that we will accrue more happiness with his support.

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Independence Day)

(Amos 5:145-15.21-24; Matthew 8:28-34)

As the United States celebrates the anniversary of its foundation, stress fractures appear along its base.  The people are deeply divided on a number of fundamental issues.  At what point in a human life should a person be given the protection of law?  What constitutes a family?  Is there a right to take one’s life?   What responsibilities does the nation have for the poor of other lands?  To what extent should a person be allowed to protect her own life?  These questions are testing the strength of the nation.

Turning to Scripture for help with answers, we find in today’s first reading the prophet Amos exhorting Israel to act justly.  Speaking on behalf of God, he stresses the necessity that the people do what is good.  For Amos this means full adherence to the Mosaic Law, not just to its prescriptions for ritual.  Jesus in the gospel demonstrates how this is carried out.  He goes out of his way to liberate two men who are possessed by demons.  It is an act of justice as well as mercy.  No one should be subjected to the domination of evil.

As citizens of the United States we see Jesus as our hope as well as our model.  Like him we want to assist our neighbors live in peace.  We also pray to him for guidance.  We need his Spirit to discern how to promote universal flourishing.  We need as well his grace to lead the nation in making sacrifices for that end. 

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

NOTE: I have been posting reflections for ten years and have considered discontinuing the effort. 

However, it may be advantageous for me and perhaps helpful to you if I keep up the work.  You may notice that I will often be publishing reworked homilies like the following. 

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 5:14-15.21-24; Matthew 8:28-34)

In The Good Earth, Pearl Buck’s classic portrayal of pre-revolutionary China, the protagonist has a brief encounter with Christianity.  Having gone to the city to escape the famine that consumed the countryside, Wang Lung is handed a picture of the crucified Christ.  He is fascinated by the image but has no time to inquire into who the crucified one is.  Struggling to eek out a living for his family, Want Lung is impelled to continue working.

The people of Gadarene town on the outskirts of which Jesus casts out demons in today’s gospel seem little different from that of the Chinese peasant.  Charged by Jesus to leave two wild men, the demons possess a herd of pigs whom they send hurling into the sea.  The people might be expected to welcome Jesus for saving two men from a fate worse than Alzheimer’s.  But being practical, they weigh their loss of property as greater than the benefit of having two men restored to their senses.  Rather than thanking Jesus, they ask him to leave before he causes them more trouble. 

It is as easy for us to get so caught up with business – even Church business – that we ignore what Jesus has to offer us.  It requires patience to meditate on his words in our world of a ten thousand distractions.  We can also be sure his message will demand some sacrifice on our part.  But there is an upside to opening our minds and hearts to Jesus.  He brings us the same tranquility of spirit which the former wild men of the Gadarene territory now possess.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 5:14-15.21-24; Matthew 8:28-34)

In The Good Earth, Pearl Buck’s classic novel of pre-revolutionary China, the protagonist has a brief encounter with Christianity. Having gone to the city to escape the famine that consumed the countryside, Wang Lung is handed a picture of the crucified Christ. He is fascinated by the image but has no time to inquire into who the crucified one is. Struggling to eek out a living for his family, Want Lung feels impelled to continue working.

The situation of the people of Gadarene town on the outskirts of which Jesus casts out demons in today’s gospel seems little different from that of the Chinese peasant. Charged by Jesus to leave two wild men, the demons possess a herd of pigs whom they send hurling into the sea. We might expect the people to welcome Jesus for saving two men from a fate worse than Alzheimer’s. But as practical people, they weigh their loss of property as greater than the benefit of having two men restored to their senses and ask Jesus to leave before he causes more financial woe. The people seem curious about who Jesus is and respectful of his powers; nevertheless, they forego any message he might have for them.

It is as easy for us to get caught up with business – even Church business – that we ignore what Jesus has to offer us. It certainly requires patience to listen to his words as they come through the gospel, especially in our world of a ten thousand distractions. We can also be sure his message will demand some sacrifice on our part. But when we open our mind and heart to him, Jesus invariably brings us the tranquility of spirit which the former wild men of the Gadarene territory now possess.

Homilette for Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 21:5.8-20a; Matthew 8:28-34)

The townspeople of the gospel today seem like ingrates after Jesus relieves them of a public menace. They beg Jesus to leave their territory because he has cast out demons from two men who threatened travelers. But these people, who are pagan, may be just unsure of who Jesus is. Obviously he has supernatural power. Will he now use it against them? They simply do not want to take any chances.

Much of Matthew’s gospel probes the question, who is Jesus? His words calm storms and heal people’s lifelong illnesses. His teaching based on purity of heart possesses an authority that converts prostitutes and swindlers to righteousness. Jews as well as pagans wonder about the nature of this authority. Near the end the aristocracy of Jerusalem condemns him to death as an enemy of the people. But the final verdict is made by an objective observer, the pagan soldier who after seeing Jesus suffer nobly, declares, “Truly, this was the son of God.”

Many today wonder not so much about Jesus's identity but about the legacy he has left. They question whether Christians truly live the righteousness that Jesus taught. Although Christian virtue is bountifully manifest in figures like St. Francis, there is always evidence of coexistent vice. By daily pursuing the good in his name, we give mounting evidence that Jesus is truly the son of God.

Homilette for Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Matthew 8:28-34)

The townspeople of the gospel passage today seem like ingrates after Jesus relieves them of a public menace. They beg Jesus to leave their territory because he has cast out demons from two men who threatened travelers. But the townspeople, who are pagan, may be just unsure of who Jesus is. Obviously he has supernatural power, but will he use it for good or for evil? They will take no chances.

Much of Matthew’s gospel probes the question, who is Jesus? His words calm storms and heal people of lifelong illnesses. He teaches with a new ethic based on purity of heart that calls prostitutes and swindlers sinners to righteousness. Jews as well as pagans wonder about the nature of Jesus’ authority. In the end the aristocracy of Jerusalem condemns him to death as an enemy of the people. However, a pagan soldier seeing his gracious suffering pronounces the ultimate judgment, “Truly, this was the son of God.”

Many today wonder not so much about Jesus but about the legacy he has left. They question whether Christians truly live the righteousness that Jesus taught. Although Christian virtue is predominantly manifest, there is always evidence of coexistent vice. By daily pursuing the good, we assure the world that Jesus was truly the son of God who graces his followers.