Gospel Reflections for December 11 2016
“The Least of these in the Kingdom of God is greater!”
No one would have understood Jesus when He said that. In every ancient Kingdom; Roman, Greek, or Egyptian, those who were weak, poor, or sick were ignored, forgotten, and even despised. They meant nothing.
People in those days admired only power and being on top. For example, if you walked around the corner of a street in ancient Rome, and came upon three men beating up an old man lying on the ground, your instinct would be, well …to join in! It would never occur to people then to help a weak and defenseless person. Why help a loser? They would naturally join the more powerful and winning side.
That seems so strange to us today. I am sure you would be horrified to witness such a scene and instantly come to the aid of any person in trouble. Your heart naturally goes out to those in need even if they are in countries thousands of miles away. Why are we so merciful today?
Remember that 2,000 years ago, the Almighty God of the universe came to earth as a little child …weak, vulnerable, and in great danger. That the God of the universe would do this tells us something important about caring for anyone who is weak, vulnerable, and in danger. Our instinctive desire to help the old man on the ground is the happy legacy of 2,000 years of Christianity, and over 2,016 Christmas celebrations that remember how the God of the Universe arrived in humble Bethlehem.
Today’s Gospel affirms that Jesus helped, “the blind see, the lame walk, the dead rise, and the poor have the Word of God preached to them.” No one is ignored, forgotten, or despised in the Kingdom of God!
At St. Bruno’s we continue what Jesus started with the Gift Tree Toy Drive, the Adopt-a-Family program, and Our St. Vincent de Paul Poor Boxes.
Our world still has a long way to go before all injustice is gone, but we can be glad that most people around the world today are horrified when bad things happen and want to help in some way, and that is the remarkable progress of Christianity since that first Christmas, and that ancient Roman street.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
I especially found inspiration in your reflection today. It reminds me to have hope and to trust in God’s timing. Look how far we had to come in these two thousand sixteen years. How far we still have to go! At least we can trust that in the big sweep of time things go in the right direction.
Yes, hope and trust in God’s timing, which rarely coincides with ours, but is for the best.
Beautifully expressed Father Dave!!! I love the thought of over two thousand years of of our Jesus living in us through the precious sacrament of the Holy Eucharist!! Then it up to us to touch the world with Jesus love!!!!Ilove the saying Faith defines who you are!! We are lovers and followers of our Jesus of love and we must make our life a gift of love to others!!!!Sooooooooooooooooooooo glad I am a Catholic!!! for Jesus lives in us!!!! We must help all the precious people God has placed in our lives!!!
A most precious Christmas filled with Jesus’ love and joy to you!!! You are a precious gift to St. Brunos and to us!! Love all the beautiful gifts you have given to us and now are giving at your loving new parish!!! Jesus lives beautifully in you!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and dick
Thank you!
Father Dave, I can usually find a connection between the artwork at the head of your commentaries, but this one escapes me. What am I missing? Thank you for revealing how the coming of Christ changed the world with his Gospel of Love.
Hi Wes, We don’t know each other, but your question opens up an interesting dialogue, and I’d like to comment.
The illustration represents transformation. The poor, suffering souls on earth are transformed to an extraordinary place in the kingdom of heaven. Those who were once the least of us on earth are elevated in heaven; hence, we see a man in a fine suit attached to a colorful balloon far ahead of the colorless ones.
Can’t help but think of the beatitudes….
Yes, I think your idea captures the picture of the ascending person. Thank you!
The colorful person stands out among the rest. The Gospel invites us to see the unique color and value of every person, even among the lowliest. Sometimes the artwork helps …and sometimes it doesn’t! I appreciate your puzzlement. Sometimes artwork can be too obtuse.
Thank you for reminding us of our 2,000 year legacy. The solo balloonist symbolizes “the least of the kingdom”. He rises above all the others!
How thankful we are for the gift of Christian life, so well represented by you and so many others not only in
religionist service, but in all who live the Christian life.
We send loving and prayerful thanks for how much you enriched this Gospel message here at St. Paschal’s,
but also to the county of Ventura by your service to Catholic Charities.
A genuinely appropriate message.
HAVE a Merry Christmas!
Bob and Rose Mary
Thank you for your thoughtful message. Catholic Charities does such immensely valuable and important work in Ventura County. I have always been glad to help.
Thank you F Dave for the beautiful reflection on the Gospel. Truly, all of us are called to do something for the Lord just like John the Baptist did: “prepare the way of the Lord.”
Adele and I experinced how beautiful it is to know and be with the Lord and we notice there are many who do not know or knows only little abou our Lord Jesus is in their lives. We are in St John Eudes Parish and we will be joinig and helping launch the ALPHA Program here on Jan 21, 2017.
Please include us in your prayers so we can help the parish.
God bless you, your family and your parish.
Roy and Adele Vargas
Please be assurred of my prayers for the ALPHA Program at St. John Eudes parish!
Dear Father Dave:
Thank you for constantly nudging us into the heart of our faith.
May our dear Lord bless you today and always.
Kathleen
Thank You!
In reading this Gospel I can remember when Jesus came and was baptised by John and he knew who Jesus was at that time. Know in this Gospel He wanted confirmation. That can give us hope that at times we can doubt and God does understand. There is still hope for us. Then as said we can read His word and see all the healings and know that we know that we know.
Well said!