CONTRIBUTED BY FATHER PAUL S. VOISIN, C.R.
Father Paul is a Waterloo native, was ordained to the priesthood as a Resurrectionist on May 14, 1977. He has served in pastoral ministry in Kitchener and Brantford, Ontario, education and pastoral ministry in La Paz, and formation and pastoral ministry in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He served as Provincial Superior of the Ontario-Kentucky Province from 2005 to 2008. He is presently the Vicar General of the Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda, and Rector of St. Theresa’s Cathedral.
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 27, 2015
GATHERING TIME (10-15 minutes)
Introduction to the Word of God:
A popular game in my childhood years was dominos. Actually, with some friends in recent years, dominos have made a comeback as an evening of entertainment. (It is not just for learning your numbers!) After one tired of the game, there was always the opportunity to stand them up in a row, and finally pushing the first one down, only to see the movement cause each and every one to fall. I have seen, on television, individuals or groups who have lined up hundreds of thousands of dominos in complicated and attractive designs and patterns, only to see days of work disappearing in a short time.
I thought of this when I first read the Gospel of today, as Jesus talks to us about the importance of our example for others. He uses dramatic and severe examples of how serious our rejection of temptation and sinshould be. He talks about the source of sin—a hand, a foot, an eye—being sacrificed, rather than being a source of sin and condemnation. To misuse what God has given us is an offence against God, but to teach others by our example to do the same is even more serious. Leading others into sin is despicable and to be avoided at all cost. If we expect the "reward' that only he can give, we must show by our words and actions that we belong to him, that we have chosen grace and redemption over temptation and condemnation. By sharing in his life, he is empowering us to choose grace over temptation, and redemption over condemnation. If we truly believe in the new life of Christ in us, we have no doubt that we can do this: that he can do it in us!
Warm-up Activity:(about 8—10 minutes)
This exercise opens us up to truly understand, apply, and live the Word of God. Our reflection should be sincere, and our sharing humble and honest.
We know that Jesus is not calling us to self-mutilation, but rather to respond to his grace and give an example of faith, hope and love to others.
1.How do I react when I realize that I have sinned, chosen temptation over grace?
2.How do I react when I realize that my sin, my bad example, has led someone else to experience temptation and sin?
3.How have I changed this course of action and chosen grace and redemption?
THE TABLE OF THE WORD
In our world today there is a very serious temptation—in people of all ages—to not accept responsibility for themselves. It is not only naughty children caught in the act in school, or disobedient teens who defy their parents’ rules, but trusted employees and executives who misuse their power and influence, or people in loving and caring relationships who make poor decisions and fail to reflect the generous, unconditional and merciful love of God.
Out of convenience, I believe, many people convince themselves that "no one is watching", or "no one is listening". Therefore, "it doesn't matter what we say or do". "It is of no consequence".NOT TRUE! Our words and actions have a great deal of power and influence in the lives of others.
Just like the falling dominos, we have an influence and power over others—in our family, at our work, at school, among our friends, and even strangers whom we encounter at the supermarket or on the street. Our words and actions are taken note of.Sometimes (we hope) they lead others to respond with honest, integrity and generosity. Other times (we fear) they lead others into responses that are dishonest, unjust and uncharitable. How uplifting it is to have someone help us recall something we have said or done—years ago—that touched them and made them a better person. How discouraging and embarrassing it is to have someone remind us of a weak or vulnerable moment when we made the wrong choice, did the wrong thing, and made them question our motivation, our authority, our integrity, or our love. This is our human condition!
At times I also believe that people underestimate their influence and power because they do not want to accept responsibility for themselves, and telling themselves it really doesn't matter gets them 'off the hook' from doing the responsible thing, and being a good steward of all that God has entrusted them with.
The readings this week call us to responsibility—for ourselves and for others. If God asks this of it we know that his abundant grace is with us. He has not set us up for failure, but rather for victory—victory over temptation and condemnation.
Leader:God has entrusted us with so much, because he is with us, leads and guides us.
Lord Jesus,you call us to responsibility and stewardship,Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus,you are the source of grace and redemption in our livesChrist, have mercy.
Lord Jesus,you protect us from temptation and sinLord, have mercy.
Let us pray
O God, who manifest your almighty power
above all by pardoning and showing mercy,
bestow, we pray, your grace abundantly upon us
and make those hastening to attain your promises
heirs to the treasures of heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.Amen.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION TIME(45 minutes)
FIRST READING (Numbers 11: 25–29)
The Lord came down in the cloud, took some of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied.But they did not do so again.Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING (James 5:1–6)
Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire.
You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.
The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL (Mark 9:38-45, 45, 47–48)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.
After Jesus had finished teaching the disciples, John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.For whoever is not against us is for us.For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.”
The Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Lectio Divina means “sacred prayer.” It was a popular form of prayer in the early Church. This Word proclaimed today is God’s own Word, God’s way of speaking to you today through his own Spirit. So take a few moments to be quiet, allowing this Word you have just heard to touch you as you reflect quietly on the three readings. Is there a word or thought that somehow attracts you or has your interest? If so, simply identify it—no need to explain it—just identify it.
COMMENTARY:
There is always a unique and strong relation between the First Reading and the Gospel in the Liturgy of the Word. Today's readings reflect this. Both of them speak of an 'unauthorized' person doing the work of God. In both cases, Moses and Jesus help the others to know that God is at work, and at work beyond the confines that we may place upon God. His grace and power goes to whom he chooses, and to those who open themselves to his influence and power.
In the First Reading God abundantly blesses the people, in particular with the gift of prophesy. His power was so great that he even blessed Eldad and Medad, who were not present with the others of the community when they received the spirit of God that had been given first to Moses. Moses, corrects Joshua, and assures him that (in my words) God knows what he is doing. There is a lesson in this for all of us!
In our Second Reading St. James delivers words of condemnation to the people. Their irresponsibility will bring them suffering and retribution. Retribution, because they have been the lucky ones, they have had the opportunities that others have not, and they have misused that influence and power. They have been responsible for the suffering of others. They have been selfish, unjust, and cruel. Their riches and treasures will not save them—rather they will condemn them. I can imagine that the words of James, like those of Jesus, were met with disgust by those to whom they were directed. They did not want to listen, as that would make them reflect on his words and recognize the call of God to respond in a responsible, selfless, just and loving way. Such is our human condition without the grace of God!
Although we may think of our Gospel as filled with condemnation, there is a glimmer of hope. Jesus tells us that "For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward." This prepares us for what we hear in Matthew 25:31-46, when he separates the sheep (the 'good guys') from the goats (the 'bad guys'). There, the sheep, upon being exalted and rewarded, were not aware of what they had done, and so Jesus pointed out to them the importance of their feeding of the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. There, too, the goats, upon being chastised and punished were oblivious to the consequences of their lack of action and charity. May we be preserved from such a blindness to our lack of love, solidarity and generosity to others! We do not want the analogy of the "great millstone … around the neck" as referring to us. We do not want to be "thrown into the sea". Rather than depress us and worry us, this reading should serve as an impetus to open ourselves to the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven.
In no way is Jesus encouraging self-mutilation to keep us from being tempted and sinning. Rather, he wants us to recognize the urgency in responding NOW to his words, and opening ourselves to God's grace NOW, so that we will not delude ourselves into believing that "it really doesn't matter". It does!
Allow about 5–10 minutes for the participants to react to the Commentary
to identify a newly discovered insight or idea.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion:
Be sure to allow the members a few minutes for quiet reflection on the questions.
1."Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets" (Numbers 11: 25–29)
God's grace has been abundantly poured out on all of his people. There is no room for observers or passive people, but only for participants and active people.
a)How have I allowed the Spirit to speak and act through me, as an instrument of God's truth and love?
b)How have I been aware of when I have been more of an obstacle to God's truth andlove, and have not served God faithfully, or given good example to others?
2."Weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you" (James 5:1–6)
We have all been given so many opportunities to grow and develop in our faith. We have discovered we can articulate our faith. We have learned what it means to be responsible for ourselves, according to God's teachings, and we recognize the influence and power we have on others.
a)How have I "kept back" the "wages" of others—that which was their 'due' (a sharing in the life of God, etc.)?
b)How have "luxury and pleasure" influenced my life and led me to give bad example to others?
c)How have I made "the righteous" suffer?
3." For whoever is not against us isfor us" (Mark 9:38-45, 45, 47–48)
Jesus alone knows the secrets of each human heart, mind and spirit.In our human condition, sometimes our exterior and our interior are not in sync. Our appearance (or even our self-awareness) may appear in line with Christ, but our heart, mind, spirit and will may be far away. Is that not often how we explain our sinfulness? The comedian Flip Wilson use to say, "The devil made me do it." Perhaps there are also 'demons' that keep us from living fully this message of the Gospel.
a)How conscious am I of the example I set for others—at home, at work, at school, and with my friends?
b)How do I deal with sometimes being a "stumbling block"?
c)What do I need to "cut out" of my life, in order to live more fully my life in Christ?
CARING-PRAYING TIME(15-20 minutes)
1.Word for the Week:"Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets!"
2.Suggestion for the week:Jesus Christ calls us to a quality of life, and a quality of testimony that bears witness to our life in him. This week, let us reflect on our responsibility, and irresponsibility, in being faithful instruments of God. May this reflection not depress us or make us anxious, but rather call us into action and to change—a transformation—so that our example in word and deed shines forth for others to see. Perhaps the 'Consciousness Examen' may help us to identify those moments each day in which we 'drop the ball' and fail to love and serve God. Such an exercise may help us to focus on the irresponsibility we are guilty of, and how we can turn to God for courage and strength, determination and will power.
3.Intercessions:(Response: Lord, hear our prayer)
Leader: As we bring our prayers before God, and share them with one another, let us recognize his call to witness to him in our daily lives.
That we might be forever grateful for that light of Christ in us, that helps us to witness to Jesus in the small and great things each day, we pray …
That the light of Christ will enlighten us to recognize the times that we have been obstacles to his will, that we may turn to him in humility and receive his healing grace, we pray …
That we, and all God's people, will be prophetic by our faithful following of Jesus and sharing of the Good News, we pray …
That we may have sincere sorrow for the times we have misused the influence and power that we have been entrusted with, we pray …
That our example in our Parish Communities may bear witness to the fruit made manifest in our times together, our prayer and reflection, our sharing and supporting of one another, we pray …