Paul's Reflections 31st Sunday in ordinary time, year c

31st October , 2010      31st Sunday in ordinary time, year c

 

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Loving the Living

[ Wis 11:22-12:2; 2 Thes 1:11-2:2; Lk 19:1-10 ]

 

The gospel for this Sunday offers us one of Luke's most delightful narratives: the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector.

 

JERICHO was a very wealthy and a very important town. It lay in the Jordan valley and commanded both the approach to Jerusalem and the crossings of the river which gave access to the lands east of the Jordan. It had a great palm forest and world-famous balsam groves which perfumed the air for miles around. Its gardens of roses were known far and wide. Men called it " The City of Palms." The ancient Jewish historian Josephus called it " a divine region," " the fattest in Palestine." The Romans carried its dates and balsam to world-wide trade and fame.  All this combined to make Jericho one of the greatest taxation centres in Palestine.

 

Zacchaeus was a man who had reached the top of his profession.  He is not, therefore, just anyone, but the chief tax collector, and he is looked down upon by Jews because of his collaboration with the ruling Romans. He was a rich man in a very rich and prosperous area. And he had become rich by taking much more than his fair share. And so, he would have been one of the most hated men in the district.

 

Zacchaeus was wealthy but he was clearly not happy. Inevitably he would have been very lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast, even if a rich one. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax-collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. Despised and hated by men, Zacchaeus was reaching after the love of God.

 

We don’t exactly know his motive for wanting to see Jesus, but we are told of his extreme enthusiasm and the efforts of this man, (short in stature) — hence his climbing a sycamore tree  to see Jesus.

 

Zacchaeus is determined to see Jesus, and would let nothing stop him. For Zacchaeus to mingle with the crowd at all was a courageous thing to do, for many a man would take the chance to get a nudge, or kick, or push at the little tax-collector. It was an opportunity not to be missed.  Zacchaeus would be black and blue with bruises that day.

 

He could not see— and the crowd would have taken a perverse delight in making sure of that. So he ran on ahead and climbed a a tree that has been described as  like " the English oaktree, and its shade is most pleasing. It is consequently a favourite wayside tree ... It is very easy to climb, with its short trunk and its wide lateral branches forking out in all directions." Things were not easy for Zacchaeus but the little man had the courage of desperation.

 

From his place in the tree, Zacchaeus receives the call of Jesus: “come down because I must stay at your house today.” At once, Zacchaeus hurries down the tree and welcomes Jesus.

 

Jesus enters Zacchaeus' house, but the story makes it very clear that Jesus is the one who invites Zacchaeus to open the door. The initiative comes from Jesus. Zacchaeus answers Jesus' invitation and, rising to his feet, responds by promising to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back those who have been victimized by his zeal for profit and his collaboration with the occupying Romans. Jesus' presence has an impact on Zacchaeus' lifestyle: he starts to give and to share.

 

Zacchaeus took steps to show all the community that he was a changed man. When Jesus announced that he would stay that day at his house, and when he discovered that he had found a new and wonderful friend, immediately Zacchaeus took a decision. He decided to give half of his goods to the poor; the other half he did not intend to keep to himself but to use to make restitution for the frauds of which he had been self-confessedly guilty.

 

In his restitution he went far beyond what was legally necessary. Only if robbery was a deliberate and violent act of destruction was a fourfold restitution necessary. (Exodus 22: 1.) If it had been ordinary robbery and the original goods were not restorable, double the value had to be repaid. (Exodus 22: 4, 7). If voluntary confession was made and voluntary restitution offered, the value of the original goods had to be paid, plus one-fifth. (Leviticus 6: 5; Numbers 5: 7.) Zacchaeus was determined to do far more than the law demanded. He showed by his deeds that he was a changed man.

 

A testimony by itself, of course, is utterly worthless unless it is backed by deeds which guarantee its sincerity. It is not a mere change of words which Jesus Christ demands, but a change of life.

 

This Gospel clearly shows that Jesus also addresses the rich. No one is excluded from the call to participate in the kingdom. But Jesus' call to the rich man is an invitation for him to cease to be rich, to cease to hoard for himself. The gospel underscores the fact that Zacchaeus is a tax collector, in other words, someone despised by Jewish society. The kingdom is also for those who are not socially well considered. Jesus does not exclude anyone. If people are excluded from the kingdom, it is because they have excluded themselves. Jesus' intention is always to save, especially to save those who are lost.

 

The text also questions the true kinship with Abraham. Being a child of Abraham — and here we can appropriately add being a child of God and brother or sister of Jesus — is not a matter of blood, race, or culture. Kinship (being part of God’s family), is the fruit of practice; it is a response to a call (2 Thes 1:11): sharing and living as a brother or sister of others. This is why Jesus recognizes this publican as a son of Abraham, a son of Abraham standing firm.

 

The story ends with the great words, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” We must always be careful how we take the meaning of this word lost. In the New Testament it does not mean doomed or condemned to Hell. Rather, “lost” really means “being in the wrong place.” A thing is lost when it has got out of its own place into the wrong place; and when we find such a thing, we return it to the place it ought to occupy. A person is lost when they have wandered away from God; and that person is found when they (once again)  take their rightful place as an obedient child in the household and the family of their Heavenly Father.

 

Zacchaeus (and all of us, who are rich in so many ways, blessed with so many gifts)….is called to “love the living,” as the book of Wisdom beautifully puts it (11:26). The God of our faith is the one who always forgives and who wants all people to put their trust and effort in him (Wis 12:2).

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REFERENCES: Thanks to extensive quotations from these two sources for this week’s homily.

SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

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Fr. Paul W. Kelly

24th October, 2010 Thirtieth Sunday of the Year - C. Mission Sunday

 

24th October, 2010      Thirtieth Sunday of the Year - C. Mission Sunday

 

(please take up the ordinary first collection at thi point, and the special, annual Mission appeal will be taken up at the offertory time).

 

Saint Therese de Lisieux is the Patron saint of the missions. 

I think that is really beautiful…  because St Therese, was a carmelite nun and once she entered the order never travel out of it…….   And yet she is the patron of missionaries….  It’s a reminder that its not about how far one travels but one’s attitude and encouragement of the mission of Christ which is to go out to all the world and proclaim and live the message of Jesus gospel… in the places one lives and works…. 

This weekend we think of those missinaries who have gone out to the ends of the earth…  Therese would have dearly loved to do that, but health and her vows prevented this.  But she prayed for them, wrote letters of encouragement and wisdom and so was a supporter of the missions and therefore a missionary..

 

Whenever we take an outward looking view of our role in the community…  seeing our role as being leaven in the dough of society.. the we are missionaries….  And the prayerful and financial support of the missions is very important and special too..

 

Rather fittingly too, today’s gospel is about…  true inner humility.. and not judging others…..

Thérèse's 'little way' was not just about doing little acts of kindness – that somehow little acts are better than big acts of love. It turns out that actually Thérèse's thinking did not focus on what one did but why and how. She also was too well aware, as St paul writes, that it is possible to do great acts of bravery or charity or sacrifice but for a wrong motive. Thérèse knew that a person can do a kindness to someone not out of love but of pride or superiority. The action is still good but it does not foster love within the person nor strengthen unity between God and ourselves. Also, a person can do something that appears selfish or hurtful but their inner intention and object was not that at all but was done out of love or well-meaning. Thérèse gives an example of a time her superior asked her and another nun who would like to go and open the door to let in the person delivering the Christmas tree. Thérèse believed that her fellow nun would have loved to do it so she acted slower to untie her apron and put her hand up. The superior, mistaking the motivation pointed out Thérèse in front of everyone and said 'ah, thérèse didn't want to go so she acted slower. No glory for you then!" everyone assumed she had acted selfishly but her inner motivation was not. She also determined never to try to justify or explain herself fo she felt it would be her pride that would be trying to prove that she did not act selfishly. Also thérèse would not have even shared this example to anyone even in her writing but she was ordered to write down her life and thought as an act of absolute obedience under her mother superior's direct request.

So thérèse showed that she had a suspicion and caution when it came to judging merely external acts. They can be ambiguous. Thérèse also had developed a disinterst in both receivinv either compliments Or condemnation from others. Her previous experience had taught her that the judgements of others as to her inner heart or anyone elses were unreliable. There is a little example that Thérèse cites which I love because this particular one happens to me too . One day she was walking along and a nun said to her, my my, aren't you getting chubby. My gooness you are putting on weight. Then thérèse walked down the corridor a little further and another nun said to her "my goodness child, you are so thin. Dear me you are wasting away. You are like a skeleton.  You will never be healthy if you don't get fatter." (i am adapting and extrapolating the incident to make the distinction clearer in my mind).  Incidents like these underlined to thérèse that she ought not rely on others opinions and judgements on her to get a sense of self worth, that really comes from her being as we all are a loved child of God and not by our own merits or virtues or what other people think of our hearts or motives. Thérèse also believed strongly in the scripture passage 'judge not and you shall not be judged.'

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

<![if !supportLists]>·          <![endif]>FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

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Fr. Paul W. Kelly

Parish Priest

Saint Mary's Catholic Parish, Maryborough.

 

269 Adelaide Street

Maryborough Queensland

Australia. 4650

 

Office:  (07) 4121 3701

Fax: (07) 4121 2829

 

Fr Paul's Mobile Phone:  041 778 6456

Please visit our website: www.marycatholic.com

 

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Paul's Reflections Feast of Mary MacKillop 16-17th October, 2010. On the Occasion of her Canonisation

Feast of Mary MacKillop    16-17^th October, 2010. On the Occasion of her Canonisation

This journey towards the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop has been a really special time of prayer and reflection and renewal for all of us.

Mary MacKillop is such a wonderful example of

            FAITH,

            COURAGE,

            JUSTICE,

            CHARITY,

            COMPASSION,

            GENTLENESS,

            FORGIVENESS AND

            TRUST IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE.

We will benefit so much from her example and her continued prayers for us as we strive to imitate her total dedication to Jesus and his good news

In the last year, and particularly in the last few months, I have been impressed by the special quotes that have surfaced from Mary’s writings.  They capture something of the charism of Mary. 

 

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Try always to be generous with God – 1882

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Be calm and full of hope – 1881

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>There,  (where you are), you will find God – 1871

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>God gives me strength for what is necessary – 1907

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>God’s love is too deep for words to express – 1870

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Many things that seemed unaccountable worries have proved indeed to be hidden blessings – 1870

 

 •      ‘Remember we are but travellers here.’ (1866)

•       ‘We must teach more by example than by word.’ (1867)

•       ‘Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.' (1891)

•       ‘Courage, courage, trust in God who helps you in all things.’

•       ‘We feel our crosses hard at times, but our courage should rise with them.’ (1882)

•       ‘Let God’s Spirit guide you in your choice.’ (1898)

•       Mary’s motto:  ‘Never see a need without doing something about it.’

•       When excommunicated by Bishop Sheil in 1871:   ‘I do not know how to describe the feeling, but I was intensely happy, and felt nearer to God than I had ever felt before. The sensation of the calm, beautiful presence of God I shall never forget.’

Having said that, I think that journalist and religious commentator Geraldine Doogue, in the ABC Compass tv programme, summed up something about Mary MacKillop that I think is spot on!

“The Mary MacKillop story gets better the more you know about it. This is why it behoves us all to read more and more about it. Often in journalism, the closer you get to a 'big story', the more it shrinks in character. Not with Mary: hers is a truly great Australian story that should rank up there with all that other heroism we admire among the blokes. I promise you, seek the details out and you'll be deeply affected.”  (Geraldine Doogue - ABC Compass)

 

So, the beauty, relevance and inspiration of Mary’s life goes deeper and deeper the more one delves…..

Many are drawn by Mary's compassion for anyone in need, regardless of race, colour or faith, and are inspired by the woman's goodness and reverence for the dignity of others especially those most neglected in society.

In 1868, she and the sisters opened a refuge for young women recently released from prison, an orphanage, and a house of providence as a home for older women, especially the frail aged.

In another test of her courage and humility, the Archbishop of Sydney in 1885 declared that Mary could no longer be superior general of the order and instead appointed another sister to that position. For 14 years the order that Mary founded was led by another sister, until Mary was re-elected in 1899.

On August 4 1909, Cardinal Moran visited Mary as she was preparing for death and gave her his blessing and words of encouragement. As he left he said, "I consider I have this day assisted at the deathbed of a saint".

Mary MacKillop's Foundational Beliefs

That God was active in her and in the lives of all whom she encountered

Let us love and praise God in all (1872)

Mary MacKillop's awareness of God's Presence and companionship seemed as natural as breathing. Her relationship with God gave meaning to her daily life.

That God was loving and provident

God's work does not depend on any of us (1895)

Mary MacKillop placed her trust in God, believing that God would provide whatever was needed in aspects of her life, be it a fare on the boat from Melbourne to Sydney, food and homes for the sisters, strength to face opposition and false accusation, or a way through a difficult situation.

That God, in Jesus called her and her sisters to show reverence for the dignity of all people

Make no reserves with God. Reject no-one. You never know what grace can do. (1871)

Mary MacKillop's reverence for all people meant she was incapable of 'giving up' on anyone.

That the compassionate love of God was available to all whom she met

If we have love in our hearts, we shall have God with us (1890)

Be kind to the poor foreigners. Remember I was one once, and as such was never laughed at nor unkindly criticized. (1875)

Mary MacKillop had a compassionate heart big enough to enclose all humanity no one was excluded.

That the will of God was integral to her life's journey

We must hold ourselves in readiness for God's will, whichever way things go. (1867)

Mary MacKillop was deeply attentive to the movement of God in her life encouraging the sisters to seek God's will. She exhorted them to true discernment which enabled them to determine the differences between their own ambition and God's will for them.

That the cross becomes the tree of life

God is good and has brought light and help when all was very dark (1899)

Mary MacKillop's endurance of suffering seems to have been an intimate part of her experience. When it came to suffering and hardship Mary MacKillop had more than her fair share including many tragic deaths within her family, a life- long battle with ill-health and many challenges from both within and beyond the church as she set about doing God's will. She trusted that through all these circumstances God's love would suffice.

That those who were most needy in our world come first.

Never be ashamed of work done for God and for God's poor. (1874)

Mary MacKillop and the sisters established "bush schools" and later, as needs arose, orphanages, refuges and other services for those most vulnerable in the society of their time.

That the work was a truly missionary one

Let Saint Joseph's true children remember their mission to seek first the poorest, most neglected parts of God's vineyard. (1890)

Mary MacKillop took her religious vows in response to what she perceived as a clear call from God to carry out a mission of love to the poor of the emerging Australian colonies. Mary and her sisters lived in and among the people going to places for which no other religious were available, responding to the God of life whatever the circumstances might be.

 

As we remember her final words, “Go on!”  we are overjoyed and filled with hope, that her spirit (which reflects the loving graciousness of God), is truly alive today, and her work in and for the Gospel of Our Lord, continues.’

Sources:

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Various Quotes from Mary MacKillop.

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Foundational Beliefs of Mary MacKillop. Pamphlet.

<![if !supportLists]>·        <![endif]>Blessed Mary Mackillop - true Australian hero. Published: The Catholic Leader, 9 August 2009

 

Paul's Reflections Twenty - eighth Sunday of the Year - C. 10th October, 2010

10th October, 2010      Twenty - eighth Sunday of the Year - C

A writer, whose name is not known, once declared….

 

“Happy are they who grieve not

for what they have not,

but give thanks for what they do have.”

 

“A boy by the name of Germaine Gardner was born with one eye, no nose, and a misshapen face. Doctors said he would be severely disabled and likely with little chance of intellectual development or action.  His mother wanted him to die.

 

Four years later…..   this young child was sitting in the day room of a Medical centre where he has received countless hours of treatment….   He was  playing a "thank-you" piano concert for 200 hospital employees. His musical talent was discovered accidentally when he was still a baby. He now has a memorized repertoire of nearly 200 classical compositions….. (by the way…….Germaine calls pop music "junk") and has played with world-famous singer and piano player…. Stevie Wonder.

 

The four-year-old's "thank-you" concert makes me ask, How grateful am I for what I have, and how do I show it?

 

It’s food for thought on this weekend which is also mental health awareness week…  whilst this boy had physical disabilities, they also thought he might have intellectual and emotional ones too…  but this turned out to be not the full picture. In any case, we keep in mind all people with physical and emotional illness, in our prayers today…

 

 

And the gospel today, is a very fitting reminder of the importance of being grateful for the gifts that God has given us…

 

So often it is all too easy to remember and stew over the things that have gone wrong…..  the burdens and struggles……   but it can be at the expense of forgetting and minimising all the wonderful things that Go provides to us.  There are so many things to be thankful for in life, that its so important to take the time out to remember them, and to give thanks…..

 

I have mentioned before how its always a nice thing to regularly sit in prayer, with a prayer journal and a pen and spend some time writing down any and every blessing, grace and joy that has come our way this day, or in our life….  To list only the positive things, the things we are grateful for… the countless gifts God has showered upon us….  It will certainly  keep our perspective….

 

We think of the gospel featuring the ten lepers….    One of the lepers was a Samaritan…  Samaritans were hated by the Jewish people…..   they were not accepted ….  What this shows is that these other Jewish lepers have accepted a Samaritan among them; pain has brought them together. There is no distinction amongst these outcasts……..   Also, Jesus accepts people with no distinctions…….  They are all in need of healing, and he gives them what they need…..

 

However, the Samaritan is the only one who comes back to give thanks. Considered inferior and half pagan, he is the only one who opens his heart to the Lord (v. 15) and thus expresses the real content of purity.

 

The clean of heart are not those who observe rules and appear irreproachable, but rather those who are consistent;……. and act with humility, according to the overwhelming and generous love that they have received.

 

In this text, the Samaritan is the one who remembers Jesus — a grateful man, doubly marginalized as a leper and as a "foreigner". Thus, while Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem where he will be killed at the hands of the defenders of formal purity, Jesus gives life: "your faith has made you well." The grateful Samaritan has to get up and go on his way (v. 19). Having been able to recognize the love of God, from that moment on he must give freely what he has received freely.

 

Remembering Jesus Christ as St Paul asks us to do in the second reading…… (2 Tm 2:8) implies our embracing Jesus' testimony of love without legal or religious boundaries.

Let us pause and take some time, over the coming week…..  to think of those, in our own time, who are in the same situation as lepers were in Jesus' time. 

 

Who are the people who are outcasts, rejects…..   people left out and forgotten……  to be shunned… who are these people and what are their needs today?

 

We must also embrace Jesus' preference for the poor and the despised.

 

The word Eucharist… which means ‘thanksgiving’  is not only what we do here on Sunday… it’s the people we are called to be in Christ…  people who ‘always and everywhere…  give thanks!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

MISSION 2000  – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR C. BY MARK LINK S.J.

SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

 

Paul's Reflections Twenty - seventh Sunday of the Year - C. 3rd October, 2010

3rd October, 2010      Twenty - seventh Sunday of the Year - C

 

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I think this gospel passage is really a key text. It is challenging, and surprising, but it is saying something very profound that all disciples of Jesus do well to heed and put into practice..

 

In the beginning of the Gospel, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their ‘faith.’ In reply, what Jesus seems to be saying is that what counts is not having more or less faith but rather having a strong faith and putting it into practice. We strengthen faith by practicing it. It is like saying that we learn to love by loving. We learn to believe by believing. Faith cannot be increased independently from putting it into practice.

 

In this unusual gospel….. there is a strong distinction being made between doing just the bare minimum…..   ‘being 9-5 Christians,  being weekday or Sunday Christians only…..  and having complete faith and conviction.

 

TO understand the difference, we have to know that God's love is complete and unconditional and available to us all the time and that from this comes God’s desire to help us …..Knowing this, we're confident that he can accomplish anything God wants in us and through  us. If we care like God cares, (not just like a reluctant employee.. but as a beloved shareholder and heir of God’s business…….  Then…………we go the extra mile with him. If we get hurt or tired, he restores us.

 

I think that the mindset of looking at things from a self-serving mindset is not only the opposite from what Jesus is teaching his disciples…  but it also taints and lessens all the good work that a Christian disciple can do, if they turn around and expect something other than merely the sense that they may have helped God’s Kingdom values to be established…

 

I have a little rule of thumb….   If one finds themselves thinking or saying…  “after all that I have done for them, this is the thanks I get..”  (that is an understandable feeling or saying)  but according to today’s teaching from Jesus… its not the mindset of the Kingdom of God…….    The response of a Christian disciple is… 
“after all I have done…   I am merely doing the work of Christian discipleship….   And expect nothing more than that.”   (It is a very challenging teaching…  but if you tink how many things can go wrong in a community or in the world or amongst a group of people, when other agendas and self-serving actions can distort the direction and focus of things….  it sounds like good advice….

 

I think we can benefit from this gospel teaching very much…….   Just thing of all the good work done by so many if later on, down the track…  the person ‘metaphorically ‘calls in the debt’  by demanding something be done for them and citing all the work that they had done in the past as a reason for assuming that they can demand the benefit or favour….    In doing so, they have absolutely , according to this parable, cancelled out all credit for the Kingdom…. And have forgone reward in the Kingdom……  And have undermined the original good motive of doing what was needed for helping God’s Kingdom…..    we need to be on guard for this always…..   in ourselves in and others…. As it is a corrosive dynamic…..

 

 

Let us reflect this week……..  let us think of  examples of service that show the difference between doing our duty and doing more. How does our actions, our values reflect the idea of “volunteering to serve above and beyond what's expected reveal God's love?”

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·          SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.