The True Worship

 "But GOD says this to the wicked:

'What right have you to mouth MY laws,

or to talk about MY Covenant?

You hate MY commands

and cast MY words behind you.

You join a thief when you meet one;

you keep company with adulterers.

You have a mouth of evil

and a deceitful tongue.

You speak ill of your brother,

and slander your own mother's son.

Because I was silent while you did these things,

you thought I was like you.

But now I rebuke you

and make this charge against you.

Give this a thought, you, who forget GOD;

lest I tear you to pieces with no one to help you.

Those who give with thanks, offerings, honor ME;

but the one who walks blamelessly,

I will show him the salvation of GOD.'" 

- Psalm 50:16-17. 18-19. 20-21. 22-23

(Lip service is not enough, nor is outward ritual observance.  The announcement is introduced with solemnity.  It uses a poetic devise called 'theophany,' in which, GOD appears as the LORD of nature.  HIS people offer sacrifices which GOD does not need.  With great candor, the psalmist presents GOD as condemning HIS own people for mistaking the outward ritual for the religion of the heart: honesty, purity, kindliness.  These are the true sacrifices of thanksgiving.  The lesson is applicable to us all.  The liturgy must have self-involvement as its purpose.  The offering we make is the offering of ourselves in union with the sacrifice of CHRIST.

GOD is coming to judge HIS people.  HE condemns those who replace the obedience of the heart, with offerings and material sacrifices, and those who recite the commandments, instead of practicing them.)

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Thanksgiving For Recovery From Sickness

 "I extol YOU, O YAHWEH, for YOU have rescued me; my enemies will not gloat over me.

YAHWEH, YOU have brought me up from the grave, YOU gave me life when I was going to the pit.

Sing to YAHWEH, O you HIS saints, give thanks and praise to HIS holy name.

For HIS anger lasts but a little while, and HIS kindness all through life.

'Hear, O YAHWEH, and have mercy on me; O YAHWEH, be my protector.'

But now, YOU have turned my mourning into rejoicing; YOU have taken off my sackcloth and wrapped me in the garments of gladness.

And so my soul, no longer silent, now sings praise without ceasing.  O YAHWEH my GOD, forever will I give YOU thanks."

- Psalm 30:2. 4. 5-6. 11-12. 13

('The devil was sick, the devil, a monk would be.  The devil was well, the devil, a monk was he.'  This is said of those persons who, in times of sickness or danger make pious resolutions, but forget them, when danger is past, and health recovered.  There is some truth in this.  Good health has its own unconscious arrogance and is even accompanied sometimes, by a deceptive feeling of holiness.  Sickness opens our eyes.  We look back on our lives and are frightened by the selfishness of our motives.  When we recover, our conduct may not improve, but at least we may be grateful for our recovery in our prayers.  But the real sickness is of mind and soul, and if we ask GOD to cure us of this, the dawn will break.

Nothing is definitive in this life.  The LORD alternates joys and sorrows according to what we need, for the development of our faith.  We are, at times, surprised: the trials discourage us as if GOD no longer existed, and when GOD grants favors, we find it hard to believe them to be true.

Those who know they are besieged by sickness and are threatened by death can pray with this psalm.)

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Peter's Faith; JESUS' Promises

"After that, JESUS came to Caesarea Philippi.  HE asked HIS disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'  They said, 'For some of them, YOU are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.'

JESUS asked them, 'But you, who do you say I AM?'  Peter answered, 'YOU are the Messiah, the Son of the living GOD.'  JESUS replied, 'It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but MY FATHER in heaven.

And now I say to you: You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build MY Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.'" - Matthew 16:13-19 

(One parable of the kingdom of GOD already foretold the Church [Matthew 13:31-33].  This present text openly refers to the Church:

- it tells us what its foundation is: faith in JESUS, the CHRIST and Son of GOD;

- it focuses on the primacy of Peter among all the apostles;

- it suggests that the Church will always need a visible head.  This is the successor of Peter, the pope.)

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Cure Of A Leper

 "When JESUS came down from the mountain, large crowds followed HIM.

Then a leper came forward.  He knelt before HIM and said, 'Sir, if you want to, YOU can make me clean.'  JESUS stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, 'I want to, be clean again.'  At that very moment, the man was cleansed from his leprosy.  Then JESUS said to him, 'See that you do not tell anyone; but go to the priest, have yourself declared clean, and offer the gift that Moses commanded as evidence for them.'" - Matthew 8:1-4  

(In this new section of his Gospel [8:1-9:35] Matthew has placed a collection of miracles.  For him, these miracles are not only extraordinary events: they contain lessons on what a disciple of JESUS is.  To begin with: the cure of a leper; on the part of JESUS this is an act of courage, and an act that openly violates the law of purity [see Mark 1:40].)  

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Wise And Foolish Builders

"Not everyone who says to ME, 'LORD!  LORD!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly FATHER.  Many will say to ME on that day, 'LORD, LORD, did we not speak in YOUR name?  Did we not cast out devils and perform many miracles in YOUR name?'  Then I will tell them openly, 'I have never known you; away from ME, you evil people!'

'Therefore, anyone who hears these words of MINE, and acts according to them, is like a wise man, who built his house on rock.  The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house.  But it did not collapse, because it was built on rock.  But anyone who hears these words of MINE, and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible collapse that was!'

When JESUS had finished this discourse, the crowds were struck by the way HE taught, because HE taught with authority, unlike their teachers of the law." - Matthew 7:21-29  

(Many will say to ME on that day.  Matthew probably quotes this sentence pointing out to the charismatic prophets who disturb his communities by not obeying precepts that are addressed to everyone.

Whether we teach or work miracles, these abilities and ministries given us for the good of the community do not assure us that we are in the grace of GOD.  True faith works through love [Galatians 5:6] and moves us to fulfill all the law: James 2:8.

Anyone wo hears these words of MINE.  JESUS means those who listen to HIS words and are converted: they believe themselves already saved.  If they do not use their initial enthusiasm to build their lives on solid foundations, such as scriptural meditation, generosity, resistance to evil inclinations, sharing in the Christian community--then everything will tumble down later.)

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The Tree Is Known By Its Fruits

"Beware of false prophets: they come to you in sheep's clothing but inside they are wild wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits.  Do you ever pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

A good tree always produces good fruit, a rotten tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit.  Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.  So, you will know them by their fruit." - Matthew 7:15-20 

(Most probably Matthew gives us these words of JESUS for the benefit of certain believers in the early Church who considered themselves as charismatic prophets.  They may well have received gifts of the Spirit but have degenerated since then.  In wider sense JESUS' words address all who encourage division, untruth and violence, even when they pretend to serve a just cause.

Prophets wore a sheepskin by way of a cloak: a wolf could hide in one.  The world has always had a number of "false prophets," usually prophets of easy life, and if the Word of GOD condemns them, many will say that word has been misinterpreted.  It would be well however to ask ourselves why our holy and sacred liberalism tends to sow death in all domains and smothers in so many the ability to believe and hope.

Do you ever pick grapes from thornbushes?  JESUS invites us to look at the facts before coming to conclusions.  We find it hard to carefully observe the reality in which we live.  We prefer to discuss and debate about ideas rather than to analyze particular situations.  JESUS, accustomed to manual labor, distrusts ideas and theories.)   

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Enter Through The Narrow Gate!

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs, or throw your pearls before pigs.  They might trample on them, and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.

So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there, you have the law and the prophets.

Enter through the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the road, that leads to destruction, and many go that way.  How narrow is the gate that leads to life; and how rough, the road; few there are, who find it." - Matthew 7:6. 12-14  

(Do not give what is holy to the dogs or throw your pearls before pigs.  JESUS addressed this warning to HIS followers living in a hostile world.  They should not tell everything to everyone.  GOD has given each of us wonderful gifts: we must not share them with everyone at once, believing that it will bring them to faith.

Enter through the narrow gate.  Maybe someone was asking JESUS: "Who, then, can be saved?" [Matthew 19:25].  In no instance did JESUS say whether those who would share in eternal life would be many or few.  HE did not say many times that very few would be chosen from among the many called.  That means that among the many people privileged to meet HIM, very few would experience the Gospel's riches and bring forth fruit in themselves and for others.  The chosen or approved are those who persevere and strive for perfect freedom.

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many go that way.  They stray from leading a life in which JESUS is everything for them.  They waste the gifts of GOD entrusted to them and apparently become useless for the kingdom.  Yet, even so, they are not deprived of GOD's mercy.)

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Birth Of John The Baptist

"When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful LORD had done a wonderful thing for her, and they rejoiced with her.

When on the eight day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.  But his mother said, 'Not so; he shall be called John.'  They said to her, 'No one in your family has that name'; and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give.  Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, 'His name is John,' and they were very surprised.  Immediately Zechariah could speak again, and his first words were in praise of GOD.

A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events.  All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, 'What will this child be?'  For they understood that the hand of the LORD was with him.

As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit; and he lived in the desert, until the day when he appeared openly in Israel." - Luke 1:57-66. 80 

(What was circumcision?  The cutting of the skin called "foreskin" of the male organ, was an ancient custom of Oriental people.  It was one of those "initiation rites" which, among some people, mark the passage of an adolescent into adult society.  Circumcision was a religious rite intended to ensure fertility.

Circumcision took on a new meaning for Israel:  it was considered the distinct sign of their belonging to the chosen people.  A foreigner could enter the religious community of Israel only by being circumcised.)  

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"Why Are You So Frightened? Do You Still Have No Faith?"

"On that same day, when evening had come, JESUS said to them, 'Let's go across to the other side of the lake.'  So they left the crowd, and took HIM along in the boat HE had been sitting in, and other boats set out with HIM.  Then a storm gathered and it began to blow a gale.  The waves spilled over into the boat, so that it was soon filled with water.  JESUS was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

They woke HIM up, and said, 'Master, don't YOU care if we drown?'  And rising up, JESUS rebuked the wind, and ordered the sea, 'Quiet now!  Be still!'  The wind dropped, and there was a great calm.  Then JESUS said to them, 'Why are you so frightened?  Do you still have no faith?'

But they were terrified, and they said to one another, 'Who can this be?  Even the wind and the sea obey HIM!'" - Mark 4:35-41 

(In Jewish mentality the sea is a daily reminder of primitive chaos, it is there the marine monsters move around, monsters which only GOD, for HE is the all-powerful, can challenge: Leviatan and Rahab.  In commanding the sea: Quiet now!  Be still!.  Just as HE does with the demons [Mark 1:25] JESUS affirms HIS divine power over the forces of evil.

Confronted with all the forms of evil that attack them, in the midst of tempests that arise, people, at times, wonder if GOD "does not sleep."  JESUS is there.  HE is not surprised by the disciples' fear of the tempest, but of their lack of faith; only trust in the victory of JESUS, Son of GOD, over the forces of evil, will allow them to overcome this fear.

At the very instant when they discover this divine power in JESUS, the apostles are terrified, as was Moses at the burning bush [Exodus 3:1], and Isaiah at the time of his vision in the temple [Isaiah 6:5], as all those to whom GOD shows HIMSELF in a special way: more than a friend, more than a master, JESUS revealed HIMSELF to them in the truth of HIS being.  This fear in discovering GOD so close to them was greater than the fear they had felt during the tempest a few moments earlier.)

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"Set Your Heart, First, On The Kingdom And Righteousness Of GOD; And All These Things Will Also Be Given To You."

"No one can serve two masters; for he will either hate one and love the other; or he will be loyal to the first and look down on the second.  You cannot, at the same time, serve GOD and money.

Therefore, I tell you, not to be worried about food and drink for yourself, or about clothes for your body.  Is not life more important than food; and is not the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, they do not harvest, and do not store food in barns; and yet, your heavenly FATHER feeds them.  Are you not less worthy than they are?

Can any of you add a day to your life by worrying about it?  Why are you so worried about your clothes?  Look at how the flowers in the fields grow.  They do not toil or spin.  But I tell you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was clothed like one of these.  If GOD so clothes the grass in the field, which blooms today and is to be burned in an oven tomorrow, how much more will HE clothe you?  What little faith you have!

Do not worry, and say: What are we going to eat?  What are we going to drink?  or: What shall we wear?  The pagans busy themselves with such things; but your heavenly FATHER knows that you need them all.  Set your heart, first, on the kingdom and righteousness of GOD; and all these things will also be given to you.  Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:24-34 

(No one can serve two masters.  Scripture had already taught that we must choose between GOD and false gods.  JESUS affirms that money is a false god, because it offers happiness and security for the future, but robs us of our only riches, that is, the present time.  Caught up in making money, we are unable to live truly and freely; we neglect our personal growth and family life, keep silent before evil and lie.  We ignore our neighbor and grovel before the powerful.

Why are you so worried?  The comparison with the flowers and the birds does not mean that we can fold our arms and be idle, because when GOD gave us arms and brains, it was for us to use them.  Rather JESUS teaches that, if GOD takes care of and beautifies the smallest of creatures, how much more will HE care for us that our lives may be beautiful and perfect.

Set your heart first on the kingdom.  It is a matter of concrete realities: the kingdom means the transparency of GOD in our life; HIS justice is a "putting in order" under HIS attention of all that we are and all that we do.  A risk to run for a young person, or a couple: to begin to think of the future, family and apostolic activity according to the criteria of the Gospel, no longer under pressure of Malthusian fear or the race to maintain their lifestyle.)

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The Lamp Of The Body Is The Eye

"The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be full of light.  If your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" - Matthew 6:22-23 

(Here eye is the conscience.  To be bright-eyed signifies generosity, to be dark-eyed signifies meanness.  JESUS emphasizes what HE has just said: a misinformed conscience leads us astray and turns us in on ourselves.)

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The Value Of Prayer Does Not Lie In The Quantity Of Words And The Mere Repetition Of Formulas, As If Accomplishing A Task.

"When we pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do; for they believe that, the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard.  Do not be like them.  Your FATHER knows what you need, even before you ask HIM,

This then, is how you should pray:

Our FATHER in heaven,

holy be YOUR name,

YOUR kingdom come,

YOUR will, be done

on earth, as in heaven.

Give us today, our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,

as we forgive those who are in debt to us.

Do not bring us to the test, 

but deliver us from the evil one.

If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your FATHER in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your FATHER will not forgive you." - Matthew 6:7-15  

(The value of prayer does not lie in the quantity of words and the mere repetition of formulas, as if accomplishing a task.  The value of prayer lies chiefly in our inner attitude of faith and love of GOD.  We should try to lift our mind and heart to GOD as a FATHER and a friend, a GOD who loves us and is always waiting for us to share a silent moment with HIM.  To pray is not to talk much, but to surrender our lives into GOD's loving hands.)

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Doing Good For GOD Alone

"Be careful not to make a show of your good deeds before people.  If you do so, you do not gain anything from your FATHER in heaven.  When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be noticed in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be praised by people.  I assure you; they have their reward.

If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret.  Your FATHER, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

When you pray, do not be like those who want to be noticed.  They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners, in order to be seen by everyone.  When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your FATHER who is with you in secret; and your FATHER who sees what is kept secret will reward you." - Matthew 6:1-6  

(After the six opposites ["but I say to you"], Matthew gives us three examples of another secret without which we shall not see GOD: work for HIM alone without wanting anyone to know, and in such a way that we ourselves will have immediately forgotten what we have done.

Those who make a show.  The expression appears three times with reference to good deeds, prayer and fasting.  JESUS uses a word often translated as "being hypocrites," which refers in a general way to those who make a show, or who are shallow, and make fun of the things of GOD.

It is perhaps difficult not to want to be seen by others, but it is far more difficult to do good without looking at oneself and being satisfied because: "I am good."  It is, nevertheless, the way of enabling us to enter into the secrets of GOD.)

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Love Of Enemies

"You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy.  But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your FATHER in Heaven.  For HE makes HIS sun rise on both the wicked and the good, and HE gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

If you love those who love you, what is special about that?  Do not even tax collectors do as much?  And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that?  Do not even the pagans do as much?  For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way YOUR heavenly FATHER is righteous and perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48  

(Love your neighbor.  Here we come to the last of the opposites between the Old Law and the New.  The Old Testament spoke of loving a neighbor and this was a matter of solidarity among the members of the people of GOD.  With the Gospel the word "love" is not only given a wider dimension: it introduces us into a world totally different.  Solidarity within the group is supported by an instinct inscribed in nature.  This love however does not cross the frontiers that separate social groups: these only exist and find their identity in opposing others.

Do not do good to your enemy.  The text is not found in the Bible as it stands but its equivalent is in several places [Deuteronomy 7:2].  Referring to enemies of the nation rather than to personal enemies, we are asked to be wary of them, rather than share their errors.  If in many countries today it is understood that there is no frontier for love, it must be recognized that this ideal is a fruit of the Gospel: JESUS has enlightened our minds by asking us to model the love of our neighbor on the universal love of GOD the FATHER.  We have only to open a newspaper to see that this love of neighbor, whatever he be, and even if he comes from a social, national or religious group, in enmity with ours, remains incomprehensible to the majority, even in Christian countries.  When we realize that there is a place for everyone in the present world and that GOD directs everything for the benefit of all, we see things as GOD does and are perfect as the FATHER is perfect.

Love your enemies:  Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; Romans 12:20; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; Romans 12:14; Ephesians 5:1.)

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Do Not Oppose Evil With Evil!

"You have heard that it was said: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  But I tell you this: do not oppose evil with evil; if someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn and offer the other.  If someone sues you in the court for your shirt, give him your coat as well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him.  Give when asked, and do not turn your back on anyone who wants to borrow from you." - Matthew 5:38-42

(An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  We read this in the Scriptures because in the world of that time it was a wholesome maxim [Deuteronomy 19:18-21].  It claimed to put a limit to the thirst for vengeance and reminded judges and the community itself of the duty to defend its members against those who abuse the weak.

Do not oppose evil with evil.  JESUS asks us to approach an adversary in the same way as this adversary may be approaching us: who is the wicked one?

Offer the other cheek: be the first to be free of the web of violence.  As in judo, surprise the other by making the very move he was not expecting: he may then see that he was mistaken.  JESUS has no doubt that this renunciation of violence and of our own interests obliges the FATHER to intervene and come to our aid.  Do not forget that JESUS wants us to "see GOD" at work in our lives.

If someone forces you to go one mile.  JESUS speaks to farmers who are humiliated and oppressed by foreign armies.  Many times, they are obliged to carry the burden of the soldiers.  Their usual reaction is resigned submission concealing hatred and desire for revenge.  Would they be capable of responding to such a counsel?  It is certain that had they practiced it, they might have saved their nation from destruction.)  

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The Seed Growing By Itself

"JESUS also said, 'In the kingdom of GOD it is like this.  A man scatters seed upon the soil.  Whether he is asleep or awake, be it day or night, the seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how.  The soil produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  And when it is ripe for harvesting, they take the sickle for the cutting: the time for harvest has come.'" - Mark 4:26-29 

(In every period of time, people become impatient.  When will the kingdom of justice be realized?  Will violence and corruption soon come to an end?  JESUS answers: invisible forces are already at work; the world matures, and the Kingdom grows on.)

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"In A General Way, Don't Take Oaths."

"You have also heard that people were told in the past: Do not break your oath; an oath sworn to the LORD must be kept.  But I tell you this: do not take oaths.  Do not swear by the heavens, for they are GOD's throne; nor by the earth, because it is HIS footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king.  Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.  Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes' and your 'No' mean 'No.'  Anything else you say comes from the evil one." - Matthew 5:33-37 

(Do not take oaths.  This sentence must not be understood: "You shall never take an oath", but: "In a general way, don't take oaths."

Many invoke the name of GOD on any occasion.  It is because they truly know HIM and have HIM in mind?  If we use HIS name casually, it is because we do not experience the weight of HIS presence.  What a lack of respect to call on GOD to testify to our sincerity when we do not even recognize all that is false and unclean within us!

Anything else you say comes from the devil, and even the preoccupation of defending and justifying oneself in the eyes of others.  See also Matthew 23:16; James 5:12.)

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If Your Right Eye Causes You To Sin, Pluck It Out And Throw It Away!

"You have heard that it was said: Do not commit adultery.  But I tell you this: anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent, has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

So, if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away!  It is much better for you to lose a part of your body, than to have your whole body thrown into hell.  If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away!  It is better for you to lose a part of your body, than to have your whole body thrown into hell." - Matthew 5:27-30  

(Do not commit adultery.  For many, conjugal fidelity is a burdensome and old-fashioned law, which they merely admire in others.  JESUS replaces fidelity among the laws of the interior world, where GOD, the Faithful One is to reign.

If your right eye... Here we must underline the opposition between: your hand, your eye, and: you.  In another place JESUS will say that we must be able to give up everything, but here HE dares to add: even your physical integrity.

All of us are looking for happiness, promotion and security, but what are those criteria worth?  All strive to live fully their life and enjoy without limits their own health and body, but here JESUS tells us that true life is elsewhere, and that true self creates itself while accepting mutilations of the present life.

Is it only a matter of sacrificing what could drag us to "major fault and sin"?  The word of JESUS goes far beyond.  As much as we complain about the misery and meaninglessness of our life, we conserve it at any cost with the hope of still enjoying this world.  What if real sin were to avoid any risk and self-sacrifice when GOD is calling?

JESUS speaks of a hell of fire, because there is nothing worse than this final result: a lost life that has not been fruitful, and the abortion of our eternal self.)

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Song Of Springtime

"YOU water the land and care for it,

enriching it with natural resources,

GOD's stream is filled with water;

so, YOU prepare the earth

to give us its fruits.

YOU drench the furrows in the land

and level the ridges;

YOU soften the soil with showers

and bless its crops.

YOU crown the year with YOUR goodness;

abundance flows everywhere.

The deserts have become pastureland,

the hills are clothed with gladness;"

- Psalm 65:10. 11. 12-13

(This material abundance makes us think of another kind and for which GOD assured HIS friends.  The Church also knows about spring rains, the summer harvest and songs of happiness.  That should not make us forget that GOD is at work through seasons and rainfall.  If the majority of Christians and Church communities no longer dare to ask GOD for the weather needed for harvest, that is not a proof that our faith is now more spiritual but that we unfortunately feel at ease with a helpless GOD.)

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More Perfect law

"Do not think that I have come to remove the Law and the Prophets.  I have not come to remove but to fulfill them.  I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or stroke of the law will change until all is fulfilled.  

So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.  On the other hand, whoever obeys them and teaches others to do the same will be great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:17-19  

 

(Here begins the presentation of the new Law.  It is far from what is often sought in a religion: practices to observe, fasts, prayers, good works with which one wins salvation.  JESUS says little about this because the Bible has dealt at length with this subject, and the study of the Bible itself shows that these laws and practices are always linked to a certain culture and have to be adapted to the times.

Law.  At times this word indicates all the religion of Israel.  The Law and the Prophets: was a way of indicating the whole Bible.

Not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law will change until all is fulfilled.  JESUS does not refer to the commandments.  Rather HE affirms that the religion founded on the Old Testament's Scripture was a temporary, yet necessary, step in the history of salvation.  The prophecies had to be fulfilled; the rites and sacrifices of that religion expressed in a veiled manner the mystery of sin and mercy that would be fulfilled in the person and the work of JESUS.  With HIM comes the perfect and definitive fellowship of GOD with humankind.

For us as well, observing the laws of the Bible is not an end in itself.  They are an expression of real love and are its guidelines.  In obeying them we become receptive to the Spirit who will lead us.  In this way we discover a "righteousness" or perfection far superior to the canonists of the time: the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments ... Here JESUS is referring to the commandments.)  

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Salt And Light

"You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt has lost its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It has become useless.  It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it.

You are the light of the world.  A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead, it is put on a lamp stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do, and praise your FATHER in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16 

(JESUS has just designated those who are called to the kingdom.  First of all HE will clarify their mission: to be the light of the world and not merely a light in the world.  This does not mean that all people are to enter the Church, but that the Church has to be salt and light to the world.  Scripture mentions salt as the element that preserves food.  The covenant of salt was the Covenant of GOD with those who were to serve HIM forever [Numbers 18:19].  So the disciples of JESUS are called salt of the earth because through them the world benefits from the lasting Covenant with GOD.  They must continually enkindle in the world the desire and struggle for true justice and perfection, and not allow human societies to become satisfied with mediocrity.

You are the light: JESUS does not mean "You are the best in the world," but "GOD has chosen you to be a minority and through you HE will make HIMSELF known."  You will experience [both you and the Church] much that you would perhaps prefer to avoid, but which will be for the world, a sign from GOD.)

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The Beatitudes

"Coming down the hill with them, JESUS stood in an open plain.  Many of HIS disciples were there and a large crowd of people who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem, and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon.

Then, looking at HIS disciples, JESUS said,

'Fortunate are you who are poor, for the kingdom of GOD is yours.

Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.

Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven.  Remember, that is how the ancestors of the people treated the prophets.

But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been comforted now.

Alas for you who are full, for you will go hungry.

Alas for you, who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Alas for you when people speak well of you, for that is how the ancestors of the people treated the false prophets.'" - Luke 6:17. 20-26  

(Matthew adapts them for the members of the church of his time.  Luke, on the other hand, puts the beatitudes here just as JESUS proclaimed them to the people of Galilee.  In the words of JESUS, the beatitudes were a call and a hope addressed to the forgotten of the world, beginning with the poor among HIS people, heirs of GOD's promise to the prophets.

In contrast with these beatitudes, Luke presents lamentations recalling those of Isaiah [65:13-14].  They are lamentations as used for the dead, not maledictions.  For the rich forget GOD and become impermeable to grace.  These lamentations are a sign of the love of GOD for the rich, as are the beatitudes for the poor, for HE loves them all, but in a different way.  To the first HE affirms that HE will destroy the structures of injustice, and to the others HE gives a warning: richness brings death.)

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Prayer Of Repentance And Trust

 "Out of the depths I cry to YOU, O YAHWEH,

O YAHWEH, hear my voice!

Let YOUR ears pay attention

to the voice of my supplication.

If YOU should mark our evil,

O YAHWEH, who could stand?

But with YOU, is forgiveness,

and for that, YOU are revered.

I waited for YAHWEH, my soul waits;

and I put my hope in HIS word.

My soul expects YAHWEH

more than watchmen, the dawn.

O Israel, hope in YAHWEH,

for with HIM, is unfailing love

and with HIM full deliverance.

HE will deliver Israel

from all its sins."

- Psalm 130:1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 7-8

(The psalmist, aware of HIS people's faithfulness, is equally sure of GOD's answer to repentance [cf. Nehemiah 1:7-9].  Israel was still waiting, when Simeon took the child in his arms and said: 'My eyes have seen YOUR salvation' [Luke 2:30].  He held the Infant Son of Man, who came to give HIS life for the redemption of many [Mark 10:45] --'with the LORD, fullness of redemption.'  But since this has come, how can we Christians still await it?  How can we sing the psalm?  Because, though called, we are not yet chosen, though heirs, we do not yet enjoy the inheritance.  Out of these depths, our call must be constant and, if it is constant, it may be confident also.  And there are some whose waiting is a purifying fire.  This, more than any other, is their psalm.)

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The Widow's Offering

"JESUS sat down opposite the temple treasury and watched the people dropping money into the treasury box; and many rich people put in large offerings.  But a poor widow also came and dropped in two small coins.

Then JESUS called HIS disciples and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who gave offerings.  For all of them gave from their plenty; but she gave from her poverty and put in everything she had, her very living.'" - Mark 12:41-44  

(The poor widow was the only one from among so many worshipers who make retribution to GOD as HE deserves.  She was the personification of those uncountable poor, who have practically nothing but somehow find a way to give part of the little they have.  The humble person is capable of sacrificing part of his paid time to study or participate in common activities in order to help his companions.  The small salary he loses is worth much more than the big salary that wealthy people are not willing to lose.  GOD calls on the poor before anybody else, because only the poor give all that they have to live on.)

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Song Of The Saved

"HE is the GOD of my salvation;

in HIM I trust and am not afraid,

YAHWEH is my strength: HIM I will praise,

the one who saved me.

You will draw water with joy

from the very fountain of salvation.

Then you will say: 'Praise to the LORD,

break into songs of joy for HIM,

proclaim HIS marvelous deeds among the nations

and exalt HIS Name.

Sing to the LORD: wonders HE has done

let these be known all over the earth.

Sing for joy, O people of Zion,

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel'."

- Isaiah 12:2-6

(We have here a song of thanksgiving.  About the fountains of salvation, see Isaiah 55:1 and the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4:1.)

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The Greatest Commandment

"A teacher of the law had been listening to this discussion and admired how JESUS answered them.  So, he came up and asked HIM, 'Which commandment is the first of all?'

JESUS answered, 'The first is: Hear, Israel!  The LORD, our GOD, is One LORD; and you shall love the LORD, your GOD, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.  And after this comes a second commandment: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these two.'

The teacher of the law said to HIM, 'Well spoken, Master; YOU are right when YOU say that HE is one, and there is no other besides HIM.  To love HIM with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice.'

JESUS approved this answer and said, 'You are not far from the kingdom of GOD.'  And after that, no one dared to ask HIM any more questions. " - Mark 12:28-34 

(You shall love the LORD, with all your heart.  You shall love HIM more than you love your loved ones.  You shall long for HIM, you shall forget yourself so that, in everything, you search for what HE wants most from you.

You shall love the LORD, with all your mind.  You shall devote the best of your intelligence to knowing HIM.  Looking into your own life, you shall understand how much HE has guided you.  You shall try to understand how the kingdom of GOD is coming through world and daily events.  Praying and reading the Scriptures regularly, you shall ask GOD to give you HIS own Spirit so that you may understand HIM better.

You shall love the LORD, with all your strength.  Since you are very weak in this, you shall ask for HIS help and strive to unite with the true servants of GOD, using the means that the Church makes available to you.

The commandment to love your neighbor as you love yourself comes second, because it cannot be understood or fulfilled without love of GOD.  For GOD asks for more than solidarity with one's neighbor, or concern for those who are suffering.  We should make an effort to look at our brothers and sisters in the same way that the FATHER does.  We should give them what the FATHER wants for them.  Among so many good things we could do for our neighbor, we should select those that the Holy Spirit inspires us to do.  All this requires that we first know and love GOD.) 

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Fan Into A Flame The Gift Of GOD You Received.

"From Paul. apostle of CHRIST JESUS, by the will of GOD, for the sake of HIS promise of eternal life, in CHRIST JESUS, to my dear son Timothy.

May grace, mercy and peace be with you, from GOD, the FATHER, and CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

I give thanks to GOD, whom I serve with a clear conscience, the way my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly, day and night, in my prayers.  I recall your tears, and I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, so like the faith of your grandmother Lois and of your mother Eunice, which I am sure you have inherited.

For this reason, I invite you to fan into a flame, the gift of GOD you received, through the laying on of my hands.  For GOD did not confer on us a spirit of fearfulness, but of strength, love and good judgment.  Do not be ashamed of testifying to our LORD, nor of seeing me in chains.  On the contrary, do your share in laboring for the gospel, with the strength of GOD.  HE saved us and called us--a calling which proceeds from HIS holiness.  This did not depend on our merits, but on HIS generosity and HIS own initiative.  This calling, given to us from all time, in CHRIST JESUS has just been manifested with the glorious appearance of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, who destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light, in HIS gospel.  Of this message, I was made herald, apostle and teacher.

For its sake, I now suffer this trial, but I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced, that HE is capable of taking care of all I have entrusted to HIM, until that day. -  2 Timothy 1:1-12  

(Fan into a flame the gift of GOD you received.  See 1 Timothy 4:14. Paul tries to give his own energy to Timothy, and he reminds him of GOD's love and promises.

HE is capable of taking care of all I have entrusted to HIM.  These words invite us to remember the exact meaning of the word "faith."  In Hebrew, for the Old Testament, the word "faith" had the same root as "to be firm," or "to lean on something."  In Greek, the word that has become "faith" signifies both the trust that could be had in a debtor, and the guarantee given to the creditor.  So, Paul considers all his apostolic life as the deposit he has placed in GOD's hands.  Like Paul a person of faith is not deceived by the mirages of a happy life but prefers to use his life in an often-thankless labor and persevere as if he already saw what couldn't yet be seen [Hebrews 11:27].)

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Politics And Religion

"They sent to JESUS some Pharisees with members of Herod's party, with the purpose of trapping HIM by HIS own words.  They came and said to JESUS, 'Master, we know that YOU are truthful; YOU are not influenced by anyone, and YOUR answers do not vary according to who is listening to YOU, but YOU truly teach GOD's way.  Tell us, is it against the law to pay taxes to Caesar?  Should we pay them or not?'

But JESUS saw through their trick and answered, 'Why are you testing ME?  Bring ME a silver coin and let ME see it.'  They brought HIM one and JESUS asked, 'Whose image is this, and whose name?'  They answered, 'Caesar's.'  Then JESUS said, 'Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to GOD, what is GOD's.'

And they were greatly astonished." - Mark 12:13-17 

(What is Caesar's can be understood: "what belongs to Caesar."  Rather it means: "the kind of things which fall under his rule."  With HIS answer "to Caesar what belongs to him, to GOD..."  JESUS separates religion and politics in cultures--Jewish and Roman alike--where politics always looked for religious justification.  From now on, religion should not be manipulated for political purposes, nor should religion confuse its political opponents with the enemies of the kingdom.)

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The Chosen Ones Of GOD

"Listen to another example: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.  He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants, and then, went to a distant country.  When harvest time came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest.  But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

Again, the owner sent more servants; but they were treated in the same way.

Finally, he sent his son, thinking, 'They will respect my son.'  But when the tenants saw the son, they thought, 'This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard.  Let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.'  So, they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?'  They said to him, 'He will bring those evil men to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others, who will pay him in due time.'

And JESUS replied, 'Have you never read what the Scriptures say?  The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  This was the LORD's doing, and we marvel at it.  Therefore, I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

(Whoever falls on this stone, he will be broken to pieces; on whomsoever this stone falls, he will be grounded to dust.)'

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard these parables, they realized that JESUS was referring to them.  They would have arrested HIM, but they were afraid of the crowd, who regarded HIM as a prophet." - Matthew 21:33-46  

(In this comparison, the vine represents the kingdom of GOD.  The Jews were GOD's people, and they came to consider that their own interests were those of GOD.  HE had to help them against others.  They had confidence that they would be saved and were not concerned about the fate of others who did not recognize GOD.

GOD entrusted HIS kingdom to them; in other words, HE guided them throughout the long span of their history, so that they would be an example to others.  They were to communicate their experience to others so that all would develop justice, a spirit of responsibility, a sense of community; these were the fruit GOD wanted to harvest.

GOD sent prophets to remind them of their debt: they were scarcely heard.  Finally, the only Son of GOD become human appears and the same thing will happen.  HE will be thrown out of the vineyard, in other words, rejected by HIS own people.  Which is why the kingdom of GOD will be given to others, to those believers converted from other nations and gathered in the Church of CHRIST.

Here ends the parable.  It could equally be applied to the Church today if it becomes a religion of one social class, or similar to the other religions, or if we do not find in the Church more obedience to GOD, more commitment to values that will save the world.  What would happen to Christian groups and their leaders if they began to feel they were the owners of the kingdom and its promises?)

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The LORD's Supper

"This is the tradition of the LORD that I received, and, that, in my turn, I have handed on to you; the LORD JESUS, on the night that HE was delivered up, took bread and, after giving thanks, broke it, saying, 'This is MY body which is broken for you;' do this in memory of ME.'  In the same manner, taking the cup after the supper, HE said, 'This cup is the new Covenant, in MY blood.  Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of ME.'  So, then, whenever you eat of this bread and drink from this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the LORD, until HE comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 

(All the Eucharists celebrated around the world each day and every minute of the day, remind us that the death of CHRIST fills up the time until HIS coming.

History cannot cease, nor civilization be stagnant as happened in past centuries.  Not only does technical progress force us to advance, but also the requirements of justice springing from the death of the innocent [and here GOD is the innocent] destroy the established order.  JESUS' death does not allow the world to rest or have peace.  The Church reminds us of the death of CHRIST, not to preserve the past, but to draw from this unique event new energy for both reconciling and condemning.)

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By What Authority Do You Act?

"They were once again in Jerusalem.  As JESUS was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to HIM and asked, 'What authority do YOU have to act like this?  Who gave YOU authority to do the things YOU do?

JESUS said to them, 'I will ask you a question, only one, and if you give ME an answer, then I will tell you what authority I have to act like this.  Was John's preaching in baptism a work of GOD, or was it merely something human?  Answer ME.'

And they kept arguing among themselves.  If we answer that it was a work of GOD, HE will say, 'Why then did you not believe HIM?'  But neither could they answer before the people that the baptism of John was merely something human, for everyone regarded John as a prophet.  So they answered JESUS, 'We don't know,' and JESUS said to them, 'Neither will I tell you what authority I have to act as I do.'" - Mark 11:27-33 

(JESUS did not ask any authorization to teach in the temple, or to drive out the vendors.  HE acted freely as prophets do.  Since the priests were the ones in charge of maintaining the true faith, it was normal for them to check whether JESUS was a real prophet or not.  But were they really concerned about truth?  Were they ready to recognize that JESUS had come from GOD?  Apparently they only thought to defend what was acceptable to them and, before even listening to JESUS, held HIM to be subversive.

That is why JESUS asked them about John the Baptist.   Because John the Baptist's preaching had been the most important happening in the previous two years, the priests should have taken a stand with regard to John.  They had not done so nor were they ready for that.  How could they make demands of JESUS if they spoke out only when it suited them?

JESUS' attitude obliges religious leaders of all times to see if they deserve to have others respect their declarations and condemnations.)

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