In the Gospel for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus teaches his disiples about pride. He tells a parable about a servant. “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at the table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do'” (Luke 17: 7-10). The servants work at the bequest of their master. The master hired them. They did nothing to earn the job. They are grateful for the job. Christians are God’s beloved servants. God’s love is a free gift. We have not earned it. Our loving service to others is our response to God loving us first. God’s love compels us to love others We respond with gratitude and love. How do you respond to God’s love for you?
In the Gospel for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus teaches about the cost of discipleship. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish’ ” (Luke 14: 27-30). Following Jesus is not easy. It involves crosses. Disciples stay close to Jesus even through the struggles of life. Closeness to Jesus brings the joy of the presence of God. God’s presence is priceless. How do you calculate the cost of your Christian discipleship?
In the Gospel for Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time C, Jesus teaches a lesson about hospitality during at dinner hosted by a leader of the Pharisees. “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14: 12b-14). God is generous with God’s love. God loves everyone, especially the unfortunate. Christians especially welcome with generosity and love all in unfortunate circumstances. I have poor, crippled, lame, and blind people in my life. Christ wants me to care for those who are suffering from a chronic disease, struggling with an addiction, trying to pay the ren and feed a family, recovering from the death of a love one, and more. Who are the poor, crippled, lame, and blind who need your loving care.
In the Gospel for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus teaches about the doorway to salvation. “Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’ He answered them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough’ ” (Luke 13: 23-24). Disciples of Jesus keep on the “straight and narrow” by loving God and neighbor. Like squeezing through a narrow passageway, doing the loving thing can be a struggle. Love demands commitment. Loving spouses, children, friends, and even strangers requires determined effort. Jesus wants us to persevere in following his example of love. How do you experience the narrow gate of loving God and others?
In the Gospel for the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time C, Jesus warns his disciples about the opposition that they will encounter. “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12: 49-51). Jesus came to set the world on fire with God’s love. God loves everyone. God wants us to love everyone including the mentally ill, people of color, victims of trafficking, migrants, and LGBTQ people. Those who burn with love for these marginalized can encounter the opposition of racism and sexism. Yet the fire of God’s love burns down all obstacles and divisions. How does the fire of God’s love burn in your heart?
In the Gospel for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus tells the Parable of the Servants Waiting for the Master’s Return. “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them” (Luke 12: 35-37). Jesus wants his disciples to be ready for the reign of God. Christians today must be ready for Jesus’ return. We ready ourselves by loving others. But God loves us first. In the heavenly banquet, God, like the master, will be serving us. God waits for us lovingly. God gives us all good things. God waits on us providing all we need. God lovingly waits for us to love in return. How does God wait on you? You on God?
In the Gospel for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus tells the Parable of the Rich Fool. The rich man reaped an abundant harvest. He decided to build larger barns to store the grain. He planned to live on his stockpile of grain eating, drinking and merrymaking. “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. All the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ” (Luke 12: 20). None of us can take our possessions with us when we die. Love of God and love of neighbor is all that lasts. My sons will remember me more for my love for them than for the cars I owned. My love for them will live on in the love they share with others. How does your love for God and others give purpose to your life?
In the Gospel for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus sends his disciples to proclaim the reign of God in word and deed. “Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you” (Luke 10: 3-6). Jesus does not promise his disciples a life without trials. He wants us to love God and others even in the face of great difficulties such as ilness, grief, family discord, financial hardship, and more. Jesus does promise God’s protection amidst life’s struggles. Empowered with the love of God, we will prevail over the hardships of life. As lambs among wolves, we remain safe in God’s loving care. We can be at peace even during most challenging times. How have you experienced God’s loving care in difficult circumstances?
In the Gospel for the Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time C, Jesus invites others to followers him on the way to Jerusalem. “As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head’ ” (Luke 9: 57-58). Jesus tells this parable about foxes and birds to explain the challenges of following him. He left his home and security behind to proclaim the Reign of God. Jesus calls his disciples to leave their comfort zones in loving others. Christian disciples follow Jesus wherever he takes us. Following Jesus means putting the needs of others before our own. Parents, spouses, friends care for one another like this. Jesus also wants us to care for those whom we dislike; who look different from us; who have hurt us; and who are addicted, poor, homeless, incarcerated, and destitute. How is Jesus calling you to follow his example of love?
In the Gospel for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ C, Jesus and the Apostles feed 5000. A large crowd had gathered to hear Jesus preach and to ask for healing. Like the crowd, the Apostles were getting tired and hungry. “As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said ” ‘Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.’ He said to them, ‘Give them some food yourselves.’ They replied, ‘Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.’ Now the men there numbered about five thousand” (Luke 9: 12-14a). After Jesus blessed and broke the bread, there was enough to feed everyone. I can relate to the Apostles. I get weary taking care of other people. Making another meal. Responding to another request for help. Listening to anotherr story of woe. Careing about people who need food, clothing, housing, employment, and more. Participating in prayer walks to stop the violence. With Jesus’ help the Apostles were able to feed everyone in the crowd. By the grace of God I find the strength to help those in need who ask for my help. The Eucharist nourishes me with God’s love so I can share God’s love with others. How do you nourish others with God’s love.
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