Gospel Reflections for December 13 2015
A surprise Christmas gift idea!
Is your Christmas shopping done? If not, the Gospel suggests a wonderful and unexpected gift. (I have some advice for Presidential Candidates as well)
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to three groups about what they can give others. (These are normal and should not be unexpected)
To the crowd: If you have a lot of nice things, help those who don’t.
To Tax Collectors: Be fair, and don’t overcharge poor people.
To Roman Soldiers: Don’t use your power to intimidate people.
Jesus says they must each give what is just and due to the people they meet.
To the poor, give real and practical help.
To the taxpayer, give fairness in assessing taxes.
To the people under Roman rule, restore peace and protect the people
This is the very definition of Justice; that we give people what is their due. If I steal five dollars from you, justice demands I give it back. If we steal respect, fairness, and dignity, we must restore them as well.
What if these are all new behaviors? What if it is the first time that people help the poor, or tax collectors are fair, or Roman soldiers ensure peace?
Now we are talking about giving the gift of a “changed life.” What a surprise gift that might be to our family and friends!
Where before I never noticed your needs, now I will pay attention and offer real help.
Where before I used to take advantage of your weakness, now I will strengthen you.
Where before I used to start arguments, now I will bring reconciliation and peace.
We need that peace now. We face unjust Radical Islamic terrorists who take innocent human life. When God creates a person, our Catholic sense of justice perfectly corresponds to the American ideal that every person has due …their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is not God’s plan that innocent people should die. After the San Bernardino event, some ask “Why does God allow this?” Actually, God asks, “Why do we allow it?” He wonders why we don’t join together more to confront evildoers.
I am especially glad that more and more Muslim communities are joining to reclaim their faith from this radical fringe. Terrorists are often known in local Muslim areas, so the cooperation of these communities with the FBI is vital to confronting this threat.
Elections are often filled with attention getting comments but now is not the time to alienate Muslims simply for being Muslim. That will deeply hinder this fight and it is simply not just to do so. They are more and more presenting a “changed life” in that they recognize and fight the threat to their own faith from groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda.
That is a welcome gift!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Father Dave, Love your precious words of giving a beautiful gift of a changed life at Christmas!!! To become the miracle of love to others that Jesus wants us to be would be the most touching gift of all!! We can all touch the world in someway with Jesus’ amazing Love!!!To pray for peace, to pray forJesus’ healing touch for others, to pray for the defeat of ISIS, to help the poor, to respect all persons , to be pro life, to make a difference for good in the world, to become the loving person God created us to be, to live Jesus’ love with our loving families, dear friends and others, to stand up to the wrongs in the world and to radiate Jesus’ love to everyone!!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it and love you Father Dave for being an example of Jesus love to us!!!
Merry Christmas and much joy and love to you!!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
I am glad you liked my message!
Father Dave, I know that you are in communication with local leaders of other religions like Muslim. The rest of us only know what we see on TV or in some fortunate cases we talk to a Muslim friend or co-worker. .So it is a particular Christmas gift that you give us with your educated advice.
It is terribly hard to be reconciled with Muslims in general since there is so much confusion about their teaching of justice for infidels. It is good to hear that many moderate Muslims are speaking out about the injustice of terrorism.
Yes, I am especially glad that more and more Muslim leaders are reclaiming their faith from the radical fringe!
Fr. Dave,
Thank you for your insights. What do you make of no one wanting to bury the body of the female terrorist who died in San Bernadino? Is there opportunity for Christian outreach in this case?
Yes, individual Catholics could step forward to help bury her body somewhere. The Catholic ceremonies are for Catholics, but Catholic people could provide for her simple interment in some nearby cemetery.
What a meaningful way to think about priceless gifts of great value Fr. Dave!
What great thoughts to think about!
It is in helping others that we help ourselves. If we have inner strength, conviction and a bit
of humanity we can be a positive influence on others’ lives.
The “Me” generation who are egotistical, overconfident, entitled and lazy would do well to evaluate
their thinking on “self fulfilment” and instead consider social responsibility as a valuable choice.
Well said!
I live in a place where people are constantly giving to one another. This reminds me of that scripture where, where if you have 2 give one to the poor. We have atable in the common room where if you don’t need it maybe someone else does The items placed there are an abundance of what they already have. There have been not just cheap items but microwaves, refrigerators, dishes (nice ones) etc. We are people of all faiths or none at all. I never thought of this until this Gospel message but many here are being so generous with one another. When I look at all the needs in this country alone and then see articles on the web about people with so much and how things are so important. It makes me look at myself to see how things tend to be too important to me. Then in your last statements about seeing what God has done for us. Ia am so grateful that he has given me healing from the past and that some of the things that were so bad are no longer there. With Gods grace I hope to accomplish much more with my life and try to be more of a blessing to others. The one thing about that table in the common room. When I put something there, they don’t know who put it there. We don’t need the glory, we need the Lord.
Thank you for your beautiful message!
God Bless You, Fr. Dave! Words of wisdom, compassion, insight and challenge!