My Seven-Minute-Homily June 23rd 2013
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Book of Zechariah 12.10-11; Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians 3.26-29 and the Gospel of St. Luke 9, 18-24
The first reading today, from the Book of Zechariah, speaks about events in the time of Zechariah but also is a foretelling of the life of our Savior. Seven hundred and fifty years before its fulfillment, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the prophet Zechariah foretold the piercing of the Lord Jesus on the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and the mourning of many for the One that they loved so much. This prophecy foretold of the tears of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the other women who were present, the Apostles and the many followers of the Lord who admired Him as a great Teacher.
The second reading today is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians and is a profound teaching showing how Christians are incorporated as children of Abraham. Far too often we forget that we are children of Abraham, children of the promise, children of faith. God will not abandon us. God is the God of the living. We are invited to believe even when it looks as if God’s promises to us are empty. This is the faith of our father, Abraham. We are reminded that through the Sacrament of Baptism, we have become children of God, sons and daughters of God. Our adoption in the Divine family echoes that we are of Abraham's seed. This does not mean that we are of Abraham's biological seed but rather his spiritual seed. He was the first of God's people. Us, we are counted among the endless number of believers who have embraced the God of Abraham through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Gospel from Saint Luke today tells us about Jesus conversation with his followers while they are alone and apart, praying. The words of Jesus tell of his sufferings that will come. Just as we do not want our friends and loved ones to suffer, neither do the followers of Jesus want Him to suffer. The challenge is really about how we accompany one another in suffering. The apostles had to learn with some very hard lessons that their task was to embrace the sufferings necessary to proclaim the good news. When Peter was asked who he thought that Jesus was, He answered, "The Messiah of God." The word "Messiah" is Hebrew for the word "anointed." The Greek translation is "Christos" from which comes the word Christ. In Israel, kings, like priests, were anointed. The future King, who was to be the Savior of His people and the world, came to be spoken of as "the Anointed One."
The Gospel draws our attention to Jesus' prophecy that He would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law. And finally, He would be killed. But on the third day, He would rise from the dead. Such a prophecy must have been hard for the Apostles to swallow. It was only after His glorious Resurrection that the Apostles would remember his prophecy. The Gospel also draws our attention to the necessity to renounce one's life and to follow Jesus by persevering in the trials that may cross our daily path. Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow me." That is not just a bunch of words; it is a strict command by the Lord Jesus Himself, to follow Him. This week, let us reflect on these Sacred Words of Jesus. Let us ask ourselves if we are being obedient to the Lord Jesus, if we are taking up our cross and following Him. If so, then praise the Lord. If not, then it is never too late to begin. This week, let us also pray for one another, especially for those who need to take up their cross, that they may find the strength to do so for the glory of the Lord Jesus.
All readings of this Sunday are strong because they speak about the necessity of suffering in life and about the suffering of the Savior. None of us humans, not even Christ Himself, really likes suffering. We much prefer a life that is full of meaning, perhaps has some small challenges or even large ones, but which does not involve really strong sufferings. Today when celebrating twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we are invited to look at our own lives and choose to suffer when that is necessary for the sake of following the Lord Jesus. We must become accustomed to suffering without necessarily seeking suffering. We must come to have the wisdom and knowledge that through the suffering of Christ the world has been redeemed. We are invited to be part of the redemption and we too will suffer. Let us walk forward in faith.
Oremus: O Lord Jesus, we want very much to be your followers but many times we did not deny ourselves but the cross. We do in the opposite way as your followers. Help us to live our Christian life as a life of Jesus Christ lived. Amen.
Father Great Rice
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Book of Zechariah 12.10-11; Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians 3.26-29 and the Gospel of St. Luke 9, 18-24
The first reading today, from the Book of Zechariah, speaks about events in the time of Zechariah but also is a foretelling of the life of our Savior. Seven hundred and fifty years before its fulfillment, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the prophet Zechariah foretold the piercing of the Lord Jesus on the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and the mourning of many for the One that they loved so much. This prophecy foretold of the tears of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the other women who were present, the Apostles and the many followers of the Lord who admired Him as a great Teacher.
The second reading today is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians and is a profound teaching showing how Christians are incorporated as children of Abraham. Far too often we forget that we are children of Abraham, children of the promise, children of faith. God will not abandon us. God is the God of the living. We are invited to believe even when it looks as if God’s promises to us are empty. This is the faith of our father, Abraham. We are reminded that through the Sacrament of Baptism, we have become children of God, sons and daughters of God. Our adoption in the Divine family echoes that we are of Abraham's seed. This does not mean that we are of Abraham's biological seed but rather his spiritual seed. He was the first of God's people. Us, we are counted among the endless number of believers who have embraced the God of Abraham through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Gospel from Saint Luke today tells us about Jesus conversation with his followers while they are alone and apart, praying. The words of Jesus tell of his sufferings that will come. Just as we do not want our friends and loved ones to suffer, neither do the followers of Jesus want Him to suffer. The challenge is really about how we accompany one another in suffering. The apostles had to learn with some very hard lessons that their task was to embrace the sufferings necessary to proclaim the good news. When Peter was asked who he thought that Jesus was, He answered, "The Messiah of God." The word "Messiah" is Hebrew for the word "anointed." The Greek translation is "Christos" from which comes the word Christ. In Israel, kings, like priests, were anointed. The future King, who was to be the Savior of His people and the world, came to be spoken of as "the Anointed One."
The Gospel draws our attention to Jesus' prophecy that He would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law. And finally, He would be killed. But on the third day, He would rise from the dead. Such a prophecy must have been hard for the Apostles to swallow. It was only after His glorious Resurrection that the Apostles would remember his prophecy. The Gospel also draws our attention to the necessity to renounce one's life and to follow Jesus by persevering in the trials that may cross our daily path. Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow me." That is not just a bunch of words; it is a strict command by the Lord Jesus Himself, to follow Him. This week, let us reflect on these Sacred Words of Jesus. Let us ask ourselves if we are being obedient to the Lord Jesus, if we are taking up our cross and following Him. If so, then praise the Lord. If not, then it is never too late to begin. This week, let us also pray for one another, especially for those who need to take up their cross, that they may find the strength to do so for the glory of the Lord Jesus.
All readings of this Sunday are strong because they speak about the necessity of suffering in life and about the suffering of the Savior. None of us humans, not even Christ Himself, really likes suffering. We much prefer a life that is full of meaning, perhaps has some small challenges or even large ones, but which does not involve really strong sufferings. Today when celebrating twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we are invited to look at our own lives and choose to suffer when that is necessary for the sake of following the Lord Jesus. We must become accustomed to suffering without necessarily seeking suffering. We must come to have the wisdom and knowledge that through the suffering of Christ the world has been redeemed. We are invited to be part of the redemption and we too will suffer. Let us walk forward in faith.
Oremus: O Lord Jesus, we want very much to be your followers but many times we did not deny ourselves but the cross. We do in the opposite way as your followers. Help us to live our Christian life as a life of Jesus Christ lived. Amen.
Father Great Rice