28th Sunday of Ordinary Time [B]

 


28TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B]


It’s been said that if you give a man a fish you have fed him for a day. However, if you teach a man to fish you have fed him for a lifetime. This ancient Chinese proverb ranks the intangible ahead of the tangible. A fish placed in your hands represents something tangible. Meanwhile, when someone teaches you how to fish, you’re being given something intangible. You are being endowed with elements of knowledge—elements of knowledge through which you will be able to catch fish on a recurring basis. Therefore the proverb favors the intangible. 


Our first reading this weekend likewise favors the intangible. This passage can be understood as a celebration of wisdom (Wis. 7:7-11). When you celebrate the virtue of wisdom, you’re celebrating something intangible. On the other hand, it’s possible that you might find yourself identifying with the rich young man portrayed in Mark chapter ten. This means that you have a preference for what is tangible. Additionally, it means that you are not on the same page with the Son of God. 


We hear Jesus preaching consistently about the intangibles. In this selection, we get to listen in as he issues an invitation to the rich young man. He’s inviting the rich young man to take on a new way of life. It’s a new way of life that will involve a new set of principles. The rich young man’s priorities will essentially have to be realigned. As it turns out, they are not on the same page with one another. Jesus is on one page; the rich young man is on another page. How does Jesus feel about that? 


First of all, he “looks” at the young man. In what way? Does he look upon him with disdain? With disapproval? With disgust? Actually, the account describes Jesus as looking upon the young man…with love (10:21). Maybe this strikes you as premature. Shouldn’t the love be withheld? After all, the young man has not demonstrated an intention to convert. It’s better to wait. Wait for the young man to convert. Make it a requirement. Then, once the condition has been met, you can proceed with the outpouring of love. 


And yet, we see that the Lord has his own way of handling these situations. Whether you are on the same page with him or not, either way, you’ll be receiving the gift of divine love. He’s not waiting for you to clean up your act. It’s not as if you have to get yourself straightened out. He’s loving you up front; it’s immediate and it’s unconditional. Make every effort to recognize the radical, premature nature of his love. And furthermore, here is something else that needs to be recognized: it’s not just love that is being sent your way. He’s also sending you HIS WORD. It’s a word that provides affirmation—but not always. Sometimes the word has an edge to it (see Hebrews 4:12). 


So the Lord loves you, just the way that you are. That being said, try to remember that we are talking here about a particular kind of love. It’s a love that has been infused by the power of the word. Therefore, it’s a love that will poke you, it’s a love that will prod you, it’s a love that will stir you. And as a result, you end up being precisely where it is that you need to be. The Lord meets you where it is that you are at. But through the influence of his word he moves you to where it is that you need to be. 

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome

 These are text versions of the sermons I have prepared for the Sundays of the calendar year. I am a Catholic priest of the diocese of Gaylord (Michigan), ordained in 1997. 
Read more

Second Sunday of Easter [B]

Image
  SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER  You will find that some Bible passages have a way of explaining themselves. These verses come across as straight-forward. You don’t need any help forming your interpretation. But then you make your way into the First Letter of St. John. Chapter five outlines a series of witnesses; referred to as the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood (5:6-8). Jesus comes to us by way of the Spirit, by way of the Water, and by way of the Blood. Upon consulting the commentaries you discover that scholarly opinion remains divided, regarding this selection. A definitive interpretation has not yet been reached. Generally, however, speculation has leaned in the direction of the Jordan River, with Jesus stepping forward to be baptized.   If you pray the Rosary, this ranks as the first of the Luminous Mysteries. You know that this mystery centers around the symbol of water. You know also that the Holy Spirit becomes visible in the image of a dove (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:...
Read more

Passion Sunday [B]

Image
  PASSION SUNDAY Because we are in the “B” cycle, this year’s Passion reading will come from the Gospel of St. Mark. Last year, with cycle “A,” we heard St. Matthew’s account. Next year, observing cycle “C,” we will hear from St. Luke. If you are wondering about St. John, we spend time in his Gospel every year, especially during the seasons of Lent and Easter. As for Mark, his Gospel bears a resemblance to both Matthew and Luke. These are called the “Synoptic Gospels,” because they appear to be synchronized around a common body of source material. We find plenty in the way of similarities, but we also find peculiarities---elements that are unique to each of the Synoptics. For example, with regard to Mark’s version of the Passion, attention is called to a particular young man who panics as the authorities come to arrest Jesus. He, likewise, very nearly gets apprehended, but they manage only to grip the hem of his tunic. The unnamed disciple slips out of his garment and runs off into...
Read more