Homily Reflections

15th-18th   Sunday in Ordinary Time

15th Sunday of Ordinary time
Reading I: Dt 30:10-14 II: Col 1:15-20

Gospel
Luke 10:25-37

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?"
27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion,
34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
36 Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
37 He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Interesting Details

• (vv.25-28) A lawyer was a person who interpreted and taught the Jewish law. Instead answering the lawyer, Jesus turned the question back for the inquirer's own answer. 
• (v.29) According to the Leviticus text, the neighbor is one's fellow Israelite. In this parable, 'neighbor' is the attitude a person has toward others rather than the blood or social bonding, or physical closeness in locality.
• (v.30) The route from Jerusalem to Jericho was a crooked trail descending over 3,000 feet from the green hills around Jerusalem to the desert wilderness below sea level at Jericho. The winding road surrounded by many huge boulders and nearby caves made it a likely place for ambushes by robbers.
• (v.32) A Levite assisted the priest in the place of service, taking care of the altarware and providing musical leadership, ushering, and teaching. Originally, the Levites were descendants of Levi, one of the sons of Jacob, and were charged with the care of the sanctuary.
• (v.33) The Samaritans were residents of the district of Samaria, located between Galilee and Judea. Because of intermarriages with other nationalities, they were not of pure Jewish blood. They also had a rival place of worship to the Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Gerizim. For these reasons, the Jewish had no dealings with the Samaritans. 
• (vv.34-37) While the lawyer wants to know who was his neighbor before he loves that person, the Samaritan did just the opposite. Being a Samaritan in Judea, he is in the wrong place and might become the suspect if caught near a victim, and yet he did the unexpected.

One Main Point

Jesus uses this parable to send His powerful message: love all and serve anyone who is in need. This action should not exclude those we are not normally associated with, it may appear to be against the law and we might be blamed for instead of being praised.

Reflections

1. There are certain people that I would normally avoid being in contact with (people with different political viewpoints, other races, drug users, unkind leaders, unfriendly people, etc.)? Is it because of my fear of being rejected or defeated, or taken advantage of by them, or fear of being misjudged and disrespected by others when I am around these people?
2. Am I ready to have courage in trying to reach out to everyone and care for those who need help?Corpus Christi Sunday
   Reading I: Genesis 14:18-20 II: 1Cor 11:23-26

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Genesis 18:1-10 II: Col 1:24-28

Gospel
Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."
41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42 one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."

Interesting Details

• This was on Jesus' last journey to Jerusalem. The town is Bethany where Lazarus and his two older sisters Martha and Mary lived.
• (v.38) In the ancient Mediterranean culture, the woman of the family owns the house, not the man. The oldest daughter will inherit the house when the mother dies. In some translations based on Greek manuscripts, i.e., 1986 New American Bible, the phrase "her house" is omitted.
• (v.39) Maria is the one who anointed with perfumed oil and dried the feet of Jesus with her hair (Jn 12:1-3).
• Given the popularity of Jesus during His last days, it is quite possible that Jesus was not alone with Martha and Maria. It is likely that some of His disciples accompanied Him into the house. Mediterranean homes are the dwelling place of extended families; other relatives of Martha and Maria could be in the room. In the tradition of the time, their brother Lazarus would feel compelled to chaperone his unmarried sisters at the presence of an unrelated man (Jn 11).
• In a culture where spaces were defined by gender, Maria definitely was seated with Jesus in a place reserved for men.
• The action of Mary emphasizes the love of God, whereas the action of the Samaritan in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37) emphasizes the love of neighbor.

One Main Point

Perform service for the love of God, not for the love of the work itself.

Reflections

1. Are our works bringing us closer to God? Are we paying attention to the works themselves, or do we do these works so that the name of God can be glorified?
2. Reflect on our kindness. Many times, we are so willing to be kind to other people, but only if it will not interfere with our plans for other things. We want to be kind to people, but in our own way.
3. Contemplate the context of this story. A few days before His passion, Jesus had been in many places preaching. He is exhausted. His heart is probably heavy with the gradually revealing of the image of the cross. He comes to your house because He considers you as his friend. What does he seek? A seven course dinner? Or is it your love that He seeks? Would He want your heart to comfort and listen to Him? If you are kind and you love Him, what would you do? Would you gently hold His hand and tell him: Lord I am listening to you. I am ready to share the pain in your heart. Listen to Him and let your love for Him guide you, meditate on the feeling that He shares with you.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Genesis 18:20-32 II: Col 2:12-14

Gospel
Luke 11:1-13

1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread;
4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation."
5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';
7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'?
8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;
12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Interesting Details

• (v.1) "Jesus was praying." Luke puts a prayer in front important event, such as Baptism, Transfiguration, and Crucifixion. This passage is not only preceded by prayer but also about prayer, and is emphasized by Luke."Teach us to pray." A prayer often distinguishes a community. For example, the Hail Mary marks the Catholics. A prayer can also summarize a catechism and teach people how to live.
  Prayer and control: Peasants in Jesus' world are controlled by landowners, tax collectors, leaders, weather, climate, and ultimately God. If they could influence God or a good patron through prayers, they can gain some control and get more for their needs.
• (v.2) "Father" gives children more than what they deserve by their efforts and abilities alone. If all peoples have the same father, then they are all brothers and sisters."Hallowed be your name." The true nature of God's name or identity would be revealed when evils no longer defile God's creatures, including our hearts and minds.
  "Kingdom" of God would unite people of different races, sexes, classes, etc.
• (v.3) "Bread" is the simple food to sustain life. Our life, both body and soul, depends on God for basic nourishment.
• (v.4) "Sins" of people, including Jesus' followers, are forgiven by the loving Father-God."Temptation" in Luke is always bad and does not lead to any positive outcome such as strengthening of characters.
• (vv.5-8) Mediterranean custom obliges hospitality to people who pass by the village. So the one who did not get out of bed also should share that obligation. To protect his honor, he must get up to fulfill his part to the obligation.
• (vv.9-13) God will also preserve His honor by providing for his children.

One Main Point

Jesus teaches us how to pray and live according God's rule of love.

Reflections

1. Do I need God? What, or who, controls my life? Am I too comfortable and self-sufficient to pray?
2. Does the "Our Father" prayer give me an identity? A rule of conduct, a catechism? The new Catechism has a lengthy section on this prayer.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Ecclesiastes 1:2,2:21-23 II: Col 3:1-5,9-11

Gospel
Luke 12:13-21

13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me."
14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?"
15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully;
17 and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.'
20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'
21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Interesting Details

• This passage is referred as the parable of the rich fool and only found in Luke. It was prompted by a dispute between brothers over inheritance.
• (v.13) In the inheritance laws described in Num 27:1-11 and Deut 21:15-17, the father's heritage was passed on to the following chain of beneficiaries: son, daughter, brothers, uncles and nearest relative. The oldest son always got a larger portion of the heritage. According to Roman law, a division of inheritance was required only if both parties requested it. However, Judaic law allowed the division on the petition of a single son (Lk 15:12 - the parable of the lost son).
• (v.14) Jesus was invited to be a judge and a mediator in what nowadays is called a civil case. At that time, there was no distinction between various facets of the law; a rabbi was expected to provide the answers in all cases even in family disputes. Jesus refused to be drawn into the conflict driven by greed but used the opportunity to teach about the trap of possessions.
• (vv.17-19) The words "I" and "my" were repeatedly used to emphasize the egocentric view of the rich man. Family, neighbors and God were all absent from his plan.
• (vv.20-21) God condemned the rich man as a fool because even with careful planning he would not know when the time came, then why he had to accumulate so much wealth.

One Main Point

The purpose of life is not to be rich in material possessions, but to be rich in the sight of God. That is to share the wealth to those in need.

Reflections

1. When I get involved in a family dispute, what is the driving force to settle the differences?
2. Similar to the rich man in the parable, do I spend so much time and energy to accumulate wealth and a great plan to secure a comfortable future? Do I totally control that future? What do I miss in my plan?
3. How do I treat my possessions? Do I rightfully earn them or consider them as gifts from God? How do I balance between the need and the excessive?