16th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

16th Sunday of the Year (C), July 21, 2013 (edited)

Liturgical readings
Genesis 18:1-10
Psalm 15
Colossians 1:24-28
Luke 10:38-42

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel


"One thing only is required."

Jesus entered a village


where a woman named Martha
welcomed him to her home.


She had a sister named Mary,


who seated herself at the Lord's feet

and
listened to his words.


Martha,
who was busy with all the details
of hospitality,


came to him and said,


"Lord,
are you not concerned that my sister
has left me all alone to do the household tasks?


Tell her to help me."


The Lord in reply
said to her:


"Martha, Martha


you are anxious and upset
about many things;


one thing only is required.


Mary has chosen the better portion
and she shall not be deprived of it."

Gospel Reflection

This gospel story of the Lord Jesus visiting the house of Martha and Mary presents to us two spiritual paths in serving God. There is Martha's path - which is to serve the Lord directly by detailing all food and drink necessities, and other matters of hospitality. And there is Mary's path - which is to sit by the Lord, keep him company, and listen to his words. Both paths are good and holy. But what makes Mary's path "better" in the eyes of the Lord, is its opportunity to listen to Him, give Him importance in one's life, and receive the freedom to set as corollary the many cares and anxieties that can accompany Martha's path.

Traditional interpretation of this gospel passage teach that Martha's path is followed by Catholics in the active apostolate: by the clergy, religious, and lay; in ministry to the family, the education apostolate, the media, health sector, and in parish or missionary work to both Catholics or non-Catholics. Mary's path, on the other hand represent those who are pure contemplatives: the monks and the cloistered nuns. The simplicity and constancy of life of the monks and the nuns makes it easier for them to follow the "one thing only is required". On the other hand, those in the active apostolate can accomplish many things, but have to avoid the temptation and anxiety of so many cares that they forget that "one thing only is required".

Up to this time, there are very few who are called to the purely contemplative life. The majority of Catholics balance both contemplation and activity in each of their respective states of life. In practice, both "Martha's path" and "Mary's path" are really integrated and intertwined with each other in one's daily life of prayer and work. One only needs to discern at times what balance of prayer and activity can help achieve all that has to be accomplished and at the same time listen to the Lord well and discern which work should be given priority over another in obedience to His will. This gospel passage is an eye-opener for all. It raises two important questions to the soul. Is the Lord calling us to be more prayerful at this time, or is He calling us to be more active in doing His will? What balance of prayer and work can remind that "one thing only is required"?

Scripture quotes:

• "The Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre." (Genesis 18)
• "He honors those who fear the Lord." (Psalm 15)
• "A mystery hidden from ages and generations past but now revealed to his holy ones." (Colossians 1)

Reference:

Disclaimer

15th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

15th Sunday of the Year (C), July 14, 2013 (edited)

Liturgical readings
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Psalm 69
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel


On one occasion


a lawyer stood up
to pose this problem
to Jesus:


"Teacher,
what must I do
to inherit everlasting life?"


Jesus answered him:


"What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"


He replied:


"You shall love the Lord your God


        with all your heart
        with all your soul
        with all your strength
        and with all your mind;


and your neighbor as yourself."


Jesus said,
"You have answered correctly.
Do this and you shall live."


But because he wished
to justify himself
he said to Jesus,


"And who is my neighbor?"


Jesus replied:


"There was a man
going down from Jerusalem
to Jericho
who fell in with robbers.


They stripped him,
beat him,
and then went off
leaving him half-dead.


A priest happened to be going down
the same road;
he saw him
but continued on.


Likewise
there was a Levite
who came the same way;
he saw him
and went on.


But
a Samaritan
who was journeying along
came on him
and was moved to pity
at the sight.


He approached him
and dressed his wounds,
pouring in oil and wine
as a means to heal.


He then hoisted him
on his own beast
and brought him to an inn,
where he cared for him.


The next day
he took out two silver pieces
and gave them to the innkeeper
with the request:


'Look after him,
and if there is any further expense
I will repay you on my way back'."


"Which of these three,
in your opinion,
was neighbor to the man
who fell in with robbers?"


The answer came,


"The one who treated him
with compassion."


Jesus said to him, 'Then go and do the same.'

Gospel Reflection

"Then go and do the same." Jesus presented to the lawyer, who questioned Him about eternal life, the strong and positive influence of good example. We need a lot of this in our times. This Sunday's gospel portrays a parable to show what good example is. Jesus makes this point clearer through the parable of the Good Samaritan which He presented not only to the lawyer but to everyone in the crowd. This parable is a familiar story not only to Catholics and Christians of other denominations but also to non-Christians.

The parable has many lessons to teach us. When a man who was on a journey fell into robbers and was left half-dead, notice who left his focus on what he had to do, to attend to a call to practice compassion and charity.

• A priest saw him and passed him by.
• the Levite did the same: he saw him and went on.
• But when a Samaritan saw him, noticing that he was a Jew (Jews of that time looked down on their Samaritan neighbors), his heart was nevertheless moved with compassion.

Despite the racial barriers between them, the Samaritan took care of the wounded Jew.

Compassion is a universal virtue. It is a language understood by all. It went beyond the racial boundaries between Jew and Samaritan. In today's AI-mindset, compassion is an irreplaceable human skill and gift from God which AI cannot automate. Only humans can practice compassion. If the Samaritan in biblical times can practice it, so can people of warring nations do the same. The Spirit of Christ's compassion can possess any soul in the battlefield. It is the stuff that produces heroes, like St. John Paul II.

Compassion is also the reason why St. John Paul II drew huge audiences wherever he went in his missionary journeys. Everyone understood well the language of compassion he spoke. His respect for life in all its stages, enkindled and encouraged every soul who sought God earnestly and sincerely. His devotion to the Blessed Mother of God influenced the entire world, to work for the cause of peace, and to care for the sick, the elderly, and life at its most vulnerable stages.

"Then go and do the same." Like Jesus and John Paul II, we are called by our baptismal consecration, to cultivate in that same quality of compassion and care for others in whatever circumstances our work and life leads us. We need not be itinerant missionaries like Jesus and St. John Paul II, but each one has the potential to practice compassion. And for the lay faithful, the spirit of compassion Jesus has shown by his life and mission can be brought to places of work and in secular environments which the clergy or religious cannot attend to. The call of Jesus in the gospel will always be with us: "Then go and do the same."

Scripture quotes:

• "This command is something very near to you, already in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." (Deuteronomy 30)
• "For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah." (Psalm 69)
• "Christ is before all else that is. In him everything continues in being." (Colossians 1)

Reference:

Disclaimer

14th Sunday of the Year (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

14th Sunday of the Year (C), July 7, 2013

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 66:10-14
Psalm 66
Galatians 6:14-18
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Author's note: Below is a Paraphrase of the gospel with a reflection written below it. This paraphrase of the gospel is based on Fr. Ver Miranda's (CICM) method of presenting the gospel for the purpose of exegetical studies. His method is more effective on a blackboard. I have adapted his method for a blog and not for exegetical purposes. This may help the reader understand the gospel from the perspective of reflection.

Gospel paraphrase

The Lord appointed
a further seventy-two


and sent them in pairs before him
to every town and place
he intended to visit


He said to them:
"The harvest is rich
but the workers are few;


therefore


ask the harvest-master
to send workers to his harvest


Be on your way,
and remember:


I am sending you as lambs
in the midst of wolves.


Do not carry a walking staff
or traveling bag:


wear no sandals
and greet no one along the way.


On entering any house,
first say,
'Peace to this house.'


If there is a peacable man there,
your peace will rest on him;
if not, it will come back to you.


Stay in the one house
eating and drinking what they have,
for the laborer is worth his wage.


Do not move from house to house


Into whatever city you go,
after they welcome you,
eat what they set before you,


and cure the sick there.


Say to them
'The reign of God is at hand.'


If the people of any town you enter
do not welcome you,
go into its streets and say,


'We shake the dust of this town
from our feet
as testimony against you.


But know that the reign of God
is near.'


I assure you,
on that day
the fate of Sodom
will be less severe
than that of such a town."


The seventy-two
returned in jubilation
saying,


"Master
even the demons are subject to us
in your name."


He said in reply:


"I watched Satan
fall from the sky
like lightning.


See what I have done;


I have given you power
to tread on snakes
and scorpions
and all forces of the enemy,
and nothing shall ever injure you.


Nevertheless,


do not rejoice so much
in the fact
that the devils are subject to you


as that your names
are inscribed in heaven."

Reflection:

In the gospel for the 14th Sunday of the Year (C), Jesus commissions seventy-two disciples to extend his mission "to every town and place he intended to visit." The mission he intends to do is a mission of peace, healing the sick, and expelling evil spirits. When the 72 disciples finished completing the mission, they received much success from their efforts. But these efforts were done in the name of Jesus. They were jubilant because they were able to expel demons. Jesus sobered them up from their experience and told them this truth: there is a greater joy and reward than what they have accomplished here on earth - an eternal reward where their "names are inscribed in heaven".

The mission which Jesus gave to the 72 disciples is also the mission of all the baptized in the Church. By one's baptismal consecration, we become part of this mission of peace the Lord and His seventy-two disciples began. We may not have the gift to cure the sick, nor the power to expel demons, but we all have the potential to be peacemakers - to bring peace to every family or house we visit informally, or formally, through a parish apostolate or charitable cause. What we are called to do is one of the Beatitudes: "Blest are the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God." St. Francis of Assisi made popular this beatitude through his prayer for peace: "Make me an instrument of thy peace".

Probably the best source of peace we can receive in prayer is in the Eucharist. The whole Mass itself is a gift of peace for all who participate. There is a prayer (which may seem unnoticeable due to its familiarity) after the prayer of the Pater Noster. But it exactly prays for the peace the whole community needs: from the priest-presider, everyone in the altar, and all those who attend the Sacrament. It is the priest who prays this short prayer:

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is a short prayer before we make the sign of peace, but it is effective in increasing the faith of the community. A prayer to: "deliver us from every evil"..."grant peace in our days"..."to be always free from sin"..."safe from all distress"..."as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior".

Scripture quotes:

• "In Jerusalem you shall find comfort." (Isaiah 66:10-14)
• "Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness." (Psalm 66)
• "Peace and mercy on all who follow this rule of life." (Galatians)

Disclaimer