The Twelve Apostles

"At this time JESUS went out into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer with GOD.  When day came, HE called HIS disciples to HIM and chose twelve of them whom HE called apostles: Simon, whom HE named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James, son of Alpheus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas, son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would be the traitor." - Luke 6:12-16  

(JESUS keeps those whom HE loves the most in HIS prayer.  The success of HIS mission will depend upon them; other people's faith will rest on them.  JESUS does not want their call to be HIS own will: before calling them, HE wants to be certain that HE is doing the FATHER's will.  For the simple reason that CHRIST chose them and entrusted HIS Church to them, they will be tested in a thousand ways.  Therefore, JESUS wants to safeguard them through the power of HIS prayer.  The day before HIS death HE will have the consolation that not one of those the FATHER gave HIM has been lost [John 17:12].)

 

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The Mustard Seed And The Yeast

"JESUS offered them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.

It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it is fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant; like a tree, the birds came and rest in its branches.'

HE told them another parable, 'The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast that a woman took, and hid in three measures of flour, until the whole mass of dough began to rise.'

JESUS taught all these things to the crowds by means of parables; HE did not say anything to them without using a parable.  This fulfilled what was spoken by the Prophet: I will speak in parables, I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the world." - Matthew 13:31-35  

(With the parable of the mustard seed JESUS shows us that the kingdom of GOD must be a sign; it has to be something very noticeable in the world.

Any spiritual aspiration, cultural innovation or revolutionary movement must be expressed concretely, through one or several institutions, to make it a clearer and more visible entity.  Likewise, JESUS projects HIS Church as the bearer [not the owner] of the kingdom of GOD.  Church means: 'Assembly of those called together.'  Two of the characteristics of this Church are indicated here:

- first, it must be very visible and fruitful for the world, like a tree giving shade to birds;

- secondly, it must be immersed in human reality.

Believers are not to separate themselves from those who do not believe, for they the yeast of the world.

JESUS does not want an "invisible Church," that is an emotional fellowship and spiritual communion among all those in the whole world who believe in HIM.  HE wants a gigantic tree [in another place JESUS says: a city built on a hill], so that everyone can recognize that the seed was good and full of life.  We need organized Christian communities, a hierarchy...  Nevertheless, the believers are not to enclose themselves in their chapels or little communities or to spend all their energies working for "their" Church.  They must be useful and fruitful in the world together with all people of goodwill.

Let them be yeast for the dough, not small separate and finer dough.  The yeast transforms human history, not by bringing all people into the Church, but by infusing into human activity the spirit that gives life to humankind.)

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The Healing On A Sabbath Day

"JESUS was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath and a crippled woman was there.  An evil spirit had kept her bent for eighteen years so that she could not straighten up at all.  On seeing her, JESUS called her and said, 'Woman you are freed from your infirmity.'  Then HE laid HIS hands upon her and immediately she was made straight and praised GOD. 

But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant because JESUS had performed this healing on the Sabbath day and he said to the people, 'There are six days in which to work; come on those days to be healed and not on the Sabbath!'

But the LORD replied, 'You hypocrites!  Every one of you unties his ox or his donkey on the Sabbath and leads it out of the barn to give it water.  And here you have a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound for eighteen years.  Should she not be freed from her bonds on the Sabbath?'

When JESUS said this, all HIS opponents felt ashamed.  But the people rejoiced at the many wonders that happened through HIM." - Luke 13:10-17  

(The word untie was used by the Jews to express that someone's sin or penalty was cancelled.  It also meant freeing an animal from its yoke.  JESUS frees the human person and invites us to follow HIS example.

 

We should not be surprised at the indignation of the chief of the synagogue. Since he had never been able to help his sick sister, he must have felt discredited by JESUS' move.  Would it not be the same with us?  It never occurred to JESUS to ask the authorities for permission to save people.)

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The Gospel We Brought You Was Such Not Only In Words

"The gospel we brought you was such, not only in words.  Miracles, the Holy Spirit, and plenty of everything, were given to you.  You, also, know how we dealt with you, for your sake.

In return, you became followers of us, and of the LORD, when, on receiving the word, you experienced the joy of the Holy Spirit, in the midst of great opposition.  And you became a model for the faithful of Macedonia and Achaia, since, from you, the word of the LORD spread to Macedonia and Achaia, and still farther.  The faith you have in GOD has become news in so many places, that we need say no more about it.  Others tell, of how you welcomed us, and turned from idols to the LORD.  For you serve the living and true GOD, and you wait for HIS Son, from heaven, whom HE raised from the dead, JESUS, who frees us from impending trial." - 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10  

(Faith, endurance, love.  For us, sometimes hope [or: endurance] goes unnoticed between faith and love.  For Paul it has two important meanings:

- Those who hope bear trials and persecutions with patience and perseverance.  That is why Paul speaks of faith, perseverance and love.  As we know from the Gospel, hope is not an easy optimism; it is the capacity to endure when faced with trials.

-  The person with hope looks forward to the glorious coming of CHRIST who will judge this world and take us to the next one.  HE frees us from impending trial.  In those years, all believers were convinced that judgment was imminent and that they would witness CHRIST's coming.

The gospel we brought you was such not only in words.  There were many signs, miracles, and other manifestations in Thessalonica.  Perhaps GOD increased the signs in view of the coming persecution; since very soon there would not be many with adequate formation to orient the community.  In fact the Gospel cannot be proclaimed without GOD doing something to confirm it [Mark 16:17].  JESUS criticized those who came to HIM to see miracles, but HE performed miracles throughout HIS ministry.  Let us not say: "I do not need miracles to believe."  Human beings as we are, we will have quite a different enthusiasm if we see that GOD is beside us, doing the incredible to confirm HIS word.)

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The Fig Tree Without Fruit

"One day some persons told JESUS what had occurred in the Temple:  Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.  JESUS replied, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this?  I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.

And those eighteen persons in Siloah who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem?  I tell you: no.  But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.'

And JESUS continued with this story, 'A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it but found none.  Then he said to the gardener: 'Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none.  Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?'  The gardener replied:  'Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on.  But if it doesn't, you can cut it down'." - Luke 13:1-9    

(In this passage JESUS questions the idea we have of GOD's punishment.  We cannot believe in GOD without believing in justice.  For the Greeks whose gods were capricious and not very honest, justice was a divine power superior to the gods.  We always tend to make ourselves the center of the world and believe we are better than others.  If misfortune falls on someone else, we think it is just, but when it is our turn, we ask:  "What have I done against GOD that this should happen to me?"

The Gospel deals with several aspects of the question.  First of all, let us try to free of a ghetto mentality [see Luke 6:32]:  the evil done by our enemies is not worse than the evil we do.

The justice of GOD goes far beyond our justice and is only really fulfilled in the next life [the case of Lazarus, Luke 16:19]. 

 

The misfortune, which to us here below appears as the "punishment of GOD," is no more than a sign, a pedagogical measure used by GOD to make us aware of our sin.  And GOD often converts a sinner by granting him unexpected favors [see the case of Zaccheus, Luke 19:1].

 

Then why is there so much about GOD's punishment in the Old Testament?  GOD's people did not know yet an afterlife, so it was necessary to speak of GOD's punishment in this life, for these people to believe in HIS justice.  In fact, GOD continues to give such signs both for persons and for communities.  It is good to know how to recognize them, keeping in mind they are not the last word of GOD's justice.)

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We Shall Become The Perfect Creation

"Therefore, I, the prisoner of CHRIST, invite you, to live the vocation you have received.  Be humble, kind, patient, and bear with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep, among you, the unity of spirit, through bonds of peace.  Let there be one body, and one Spirit, just as one hope is the goal of your calling by GOD.  One LORD, one faith, one baptism; one GOD, the FATHER of all, who is above all, and works through all, and is in all." - Ephesians 4:1-6   

(Here, Paul returns to an important problem in communities where the style was still very free, we might say very charismatic, since the community counted on the unpredictable action of the Spirit through the charisms of different members.  It is necessary that all in their own vocation work for the building up of the one body.  Paul enthusiastically names all that we have in common through CHRIST and the action of the Spirit.  It is not merely a temple that is constructed [see Chapter 2:19-22]; it is the Body of CHRIST, of the Perfect Man, the mature one, in which CHRIST expresses HIS fullness.)

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I Have Come To Bring Fire!

"'I have come to bring fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled; but I have a baptism to undergo and what anguish I feel until it is over! 

Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.  From now on, in one house five will be divided: three against two, and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.'" - Luke 12:49-53  

(I have come to bring fire.  Must we think of fire as referring to something precise such as love, the Gospel or the gift of the Holy Spirit?  It is better to stay with the image of the fire that purifies, burns all that is old, gives warmth and fosters life; fire of the judgment of GOD destroying all that is not surrendered to its reforming action.

JESUS comes to remake the world and to bring the jewels that will remain for eternity out of the rubble.  Those who follow JESUS must participate in this work of salvation, directed at a situation combining work, violence, suffering as well as great dreams wise or mad.

I have a baptism to undergo...  JESUS is the leader and will be the first one to face death as a means of obtaining resurrection.  This step, as "agonizing" for JESUS as it is for us, is the baptism of fire that introduces us into a glorious and eternal life.  It is the true baptism of which the others, baptisms of water and Spirit, are only a preparation [Romans 6:3-5].

I came to bring division.  This is followed by words of JESUS that are so upsetting for those who expect of HIM a peaceful life.  JESUS is a source of division among nations and social groups.  Often people have tried to use religion as cement for national unity or family peace.  It is true that faith is a factor in peace and understanding; but it also separates those who are truly alive from those others, be they relatives or friends, who cannot have all that is now the most important to these true believers.  Many times, the wound and the scandal of this separation are so painful for them, that they turn into our persecutors.

The Gospel does not put this world on the road to an earthly paradise, but it challenges it to grow.  The death of JESUS brings into full light what was hidden in hearts; likewise, it reveals the lies and the violence underlying our societies, just as it revealed those which underlay the Jewish Society of HIS time.) 

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The Son Of Man Will Come At An Hour You Do Not Expect

"Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into.  'You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.'

Peter said, 'LORD, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?'  And the LORD replied, 'Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward, whom the master sets over his other servants, to give them wheat at the proper time.  Fortunate is this servant if his master, on coming home, finds him doing his work.  Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.

But it may be that the steward thinks, 'My Lord delays in coming,' and he begins to abuse the male servants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk.  Then the master will come on a day he does not expect, and at an hour he doesn't know.  He will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

The servant who knew his master's will but did not prepare and do what his master wanted, will be soundly beaten; but the one who does unconsciously what deserves punishment, shall receive fewer blows.  Much will be required of the one who has been given much and more will be asked of the one who has been entrusted with more.'" - Luke 12:39-48  

(The Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.  We should not think that this refers only to the day of death, nor should we be afraid of GOD's judgment if we live in HIS grace.  JESUS tells us about the master returning from the wedding, who is so happy that he reverses the usual order and begins to serve his servants.  If we have been serving GOD for years, how could we not reach another phase of spiritual life in which it would seem that GOD is concerned only in giving and feasting with us?

Peter said: This new paragraph is aimed at those who hold responsible positions in the Church.

My Lord delays in coming.  Those in responsible positions may betray their mission.  More often, they make the mistake of seeing only to the good functioning of the institution and they forget that CHRIST is coming.

GOD comes all the time through events that, unexpectedly, ruin our plans.  Therefore, the Church must not rely too much on planning its activity: who knows what GOD has in store for us tomorrow?  Instead, the Church should see to its prayers and its availability so that the LORD will let her be in the best situation when HE shakes up our little universe.

Be awake to admire, rejoice in and discover the presence of GOD and HIS blessings that enlighten our lives.)

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Be Ready!

"Be ready, dressed for service, and keep your lamps lit, like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding.  As soon as he comes and knocks, they will open the door to him.  Happy are those servants whom the master finds wide-awake when he comes.  Truly, I tell you, he will put on an apron, and have them sit at table, and he will wait on them.  Happy are those servants, if he finds them awake when he comes at midnight or daybreak!" - Luke 12:35-38  

(JESUS develops the parable of the servant expecting his master's return.  This servant is here contrasted with the rich of the preceding paragraph [12:13] who was only concerned about a long and comfortable life.  The servant works for GOD.

Happy are those servants whom the master finds wide-awake.  Wide-awake, that is, concerned about tomorrow's world.  Wide-awake also means being aware of the truth; we do not consent to call 'good' evil, and 'evil' good; we do not forgive ourselves for allowing evil and we are not intimidated before injustice.)

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Greed

"Someone in the crowd spoke to JESUS, 'Master, tell my brother to share with me the family inheritance.'  HE replied, 'My friend, who has appointed ME as your judge or your attorney?'  Then JESUS said to the people, 'Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life.' 

And JESUS continued with this story, 'There was a rich man and his land had produced a good harvest.  He thought:  'What shall I do?  For I am short of room to store my harvest.'  So this is what he planned:  'I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth.  Then I may say to myself:  My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years.  Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.'  But GOD said to him:  'You fool!  This very night your life will be taken from you; tell ME who shall get all you have put aside?  This is the lot of the one who stores up riches instead of amassing for GOD'." - Luke 12:13-21   

(Who has appointed me as your judge?  JESUS does not resolve legal differences as do the teachers of the Law since it was the Law that decided civil and religious questions.  JESUS reserves HIS authority for what is essential:  suppressing the greed ingrained in our hearts is more important than looking at every person's right with a magnifying glass.

 

Avoid every kind of greed.   JESUS does not say people should be resigned to mediocrity or destitution, satisfied to have ten people sleep in the same room, and without any opportunity for education.  We know that all this prevents the growth of people in awareness of their dignity and their divine vocation.  JESUS does not criticize our efforts to achieve a more just society, since the whole Bible requires it.

 

It is one thing to seek justice, knowing that without justice there is neither peace nor communion; it is quite another to look at what others have with the desire to share their greed.  Today we clamor for justice, but tomorrow we may only seek more superfluous "necessities".  Such greed will never let us rest and, what is more, it will close the door of the Kingdom on us [Mark 10:23; 1 Timothy 6:8].

 

Possessions do not give life.  Make sure that your concern to have what you lack does not make you neglect what could give you life now.

 

In this regard, we should allow the poor to speak, all those brothers and sisters of ours who, though immersed in poverty, continue to be persons who live, in the strongest sense of this word.  Should we pity them, or should we count them among the few who already enjoy the Kingdom of GOD?  One of the greatest obstacles preventing the liberation of people is their own greed.  The day they agree to participate in powerful boycotts and not go their own way in the pursuit of advantages for one or other category, they shall begin to live as people.
 

 What shall I do?  The rich man in the parable planned for larger barns for his sole profit and JESUS condemned him.  We too must consider what we should do to bring about a better distribution of the riches of the world.

 

The person who amasses for GOD knows how to find happiness in the present moment.  Wherever she is, she tries to create a network of social relationships through which everyone gives to others and receives from them instead of wanting and getting things in a selfish way.)

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