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Scripture:

Genesis 1:1-19
Mark 6:53-56

Reflection:

Often homes with young children have a space or a room which is disordered, cluttered, difficult to safely walk through and strewn with objects of various shapes, sizes and materials.  It is called the Toy Room, or in the case of my grandchildren, the Black Hole.  What goes in may never be seen again.  Periodically, the mother will feel compelled to bring order out of this chaos, to sort out the pieces, organize the games, reclothe the dolls, and establish some sense of purpose and potential wholeness to the randomly scattered components.  When finished, the mom will look about, smile in satisfaction, give and contented sigh and say to herself, “This is very good”.

In the beginning, according to Genesis, God took the formless wasteland and dark abyss and brought life giving order and potential to all that was. The disparate parts became whole and bursting full of the living breath of God.  All forms of life were an inter-related completeness of divine creation and became plentiful and fruitful and reflected God’s loving glory.  And God saw that this was good.

Jesus was thrust into the chaos of his time.  People from all regions would rush to meet him bringing the sick and infirmed to be in his presence and to hopefully touch the tassel of his cloak.  Jesus was known to have the power to bring wholeness to broken bodies and spirits and healing to the diseased and ailing.  The creative Spirit of God worked through Jesus to bring order to those living in the chaos of all manner of broken lives.  And Jesus knew that this was good.

Each of us through Baptism has been called to continue the creative life giving process of God.  In family life, in ministry, in everyday interactions with others we have the opportunity to be experienced as one through whom the creative Spirit works to bring the love and acceptance and joy that the world needs so much today.  And God knows that this will be very good.

Cathy Anthony is a former staff member of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

Scripture:

Isaiah 58:7-10
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Matthew 5:13-16

Reflection:

Can a person have an identity separate from their Christian identity?  Have you ever met a person who has one identity on Sunday but a different identity during the week?  I believe our true self, when we are most authentic,  is when we are rooted in Christ.  Who we are, is who we are in Christ.  And the readings this Sunday encourage that authenticity.

Our Gospel this fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time continues with where we left off last weekend.  Recall last Sunday, Jesus goes up on the mountain and begins to teach people.  He looks at those who have come out to hear him and sees people who are broken, lost, and trampled upon by society. And he calls these people  “blessed”.  He looks at those who have brought their relatives and friends to the mountain and he calls them “blessed”.  He looks at those whose lives are not complicated, in a simplistic way he asks, Do you know how blessed you are?   All the people gathered around him he invites to look at their blessedness. And so we continue with that teaching.

Today, he looks at those same people and instead of calling them “blessed” he now tells them that they are light, and they are salt.  Obviously, light is something that illumines, while salt’s purpose is to preserve and flavor.  How difficult would it have been for someone sitting on the hill that day to hear this?  Think about those whose lives were perpetually discredited, whom society frowned upon, and couldn’t make a contribution to society.  Many of those gathered at Jesus’ feet had no voice.  They were never listened to.  They were perpetually overlooked.  And if they tried to speak up they would have been quickly silenced and put in their place.    What must have their self-image and self-worth been like?   And to these people Jesus says, “You are Light.  You are Salt!”   For those hearing this for the first time, I wonder how many couldn’t hear it.  For being told by society for so long and so many years you are a nobody, being programmed to believe this, to hear someone like Jesus think highly of you or to see value in you when perhaps you couldn’t even see it in yourself may have certainly led to disbelief.   I wonder how many really questioned Jesus saying, “Seriously, I’m not light, I’m not salt.”  Then Jesus’ response would be, then obviously, you don’t know who you are.

Isaiah instructs us twice in this first reading that if you want your light to shine forth, if you want to shine with the glory of the Lord then it is as simple as sharing bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless, clothing the naked.  Matthew will restate this in the judgment scene directly before his passion narrative.  “When I was hungry you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.  I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me.  I was ill and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me.  I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least ones, you did it for me.”  (Matthew 25 :35,36, 40)  As believers in the risen Lord, this is our fundamental job description.

I’m also thinking back this day to a quote originally attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, but also borrowed, modified and reused by other political and religious leaders including Herbert Hoover and Cardinal Roger Mahoney.  “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”

It really doesn’t require discovering God’s light first and then planning a strategy of how we can let that light shine.  It’s first and foremost allowing ourselves to be so rooted in Christ that apart from Christ, I know that I am nothing.

Fr. David Colhour, C.P. is the pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Hebrews 13:15-17,20-21
Mark 6:30-34

 

Reflection:

The Great Commandment…Practically-Speaking

Today’s two Scripture selections and the Responsorial Psalm flow together in a lived application of the Great Commandment to “love God…love your neighbor…love yourself.” And as we’re close to the celebration of love highlighted in the ever-popular “Valentine’s Day”, these Scripture passages are a wake-up call to really let God’s love come alive in us – and in our world.

Our selection from the Letter to the Hebrews is the conclusion of the letter, issuing a call to its readers to “offer God a sacrifice of praise”…to “do his will”…and to give God glory forever and ever.  At a most basic level we’re encouraged:  Love God!

The writer also encourages the readers to “do good and share what you have.”  Most likely this encouragement is based on the prime example of Jesus and his apostles related in the Gospel selection from Mark.  The apostles gathered with Jesus to report on their tireless activities in sharing the Good News, and Jesus invited them all to go to a deserted place and rest a while…a welcome respite for any busy, hardworking person!  Off in a boat, to a deserted place, a mini-retreat…Love yourself!

Eager for healing and the message of mercy and love being offered, the crowds continued to pursue them – so much so that the needed rest and apostolic debriefing was put on hold while Jesus heart was moved and He reached out in love for those in special need.  These “sheep without a shepherd” were loved…Love your neighbor!

In our 21^st Century world we’re often overwhelmed with vivid stories of mistrust, violence, greed, poverty, discrimination, exclusion – you name it.  The rested, more contemplative spirit encouraged by Jesus helps provide a new and necessary perspective on our Christian faith meeting the needs of today’s world.  The Great Commandment is our rallying cry today, helping us provide a prophetic example to our needy brothers and sisters, based on the supreme example provided by Jesus Crucified.

So… Take a few moments; step aside from the hoopla and hype of Super Bowl, the warm fuzzies of the upcoming Valentine’s Day, the cold and perhaps frosty weather of the Northern Hemisphere.  Join Jesus for a few moments of peace and perspective in some “out of the way place”.  And, let these moments be a welcome breather, a life-giver – God’s love continues to be offered us all, and needed by each of us.  “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want…He refreshes my soul…He guides me in right paths.”  Amen.

Fr. John Schork, C.P. is a member of the Passionist community in Chicago, Illinois.