Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Monday – 31 st Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke14:12-14 Strangers in a Strange Land Sacred Heart Parish, Camden Mississippi Ginger and I spent last weekend on a pilgrimage to a number of missions in Mississippi.   In the space of 2 packed days, we visited 4 different parishes/missions maintained by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, some of them in existence since the mid-1940’s.   One was a mission to members of the Choctaw nation; others were black churches whose parishoners suffered greatly from racism, particularly in the 1960’s and a predominantly Guatemalan parish who continue to recover from ICE raids and forced deportations. This was our first visit to these missions and, while we may have seen ourselves as strangers, we were welcomed and embraced as friends.   We never went hungry!   Each day we were treated to lunch and dinner, a feast really!   This was no simple take-out order from the local Panera or Italian restaurant.   No, these were

  31 st Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke19:1-10 From Great Heights Sycamore Tree, Jericho My mom is a bit on the short side!   And there have been plenty of times over the years when we have been asked to get something off the top shelf in the pantry or closet, something she couldn’t reach.   Of course we did have a small step-stool that she would use from time to time to do it herself.   And sometimes that would lead to some mis-adventures as she might insist on reaching for something herself.   So I have to wonder whether today is National Short People’s Day, in honor of Zacchaeus in today’s Gospel.   Poor guy! Not only was he short and probably picked on because of it but he was also a tax collector and, in fact, the chief tax collector.   So not only was he teased; he was also despised by his fellow Jews for working with the Romans.   He was powerful and wealthy and hated for it.   He was looked on as a traitor and a cheat, pocketing money not only from his clie

  Saturday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke14:1, 7-11 Humble Pie Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Remember that school assembly when you were convinced you were getting a special award/recognition?   Remember how much you ‘knew’ you deserved it?   And remember when someone else got the honor and not you?   Were you happy for the other student?   Did you congratulate them?   Or did you skulk away with a scowl on your face and a foul mood in your heart? We live in a very narcissistic, selfish ME society these days!   We see it on the news, in ads, in movies and in so many random interactions at the store or in line for food.   There is this singular drive to be #1 – to be the best teacher, athlete, politician, to have the most power or possessions, the biggest house and the most adulation, to have less wrinkles and more money!   And apparently it is all at the expense of others; it doesn’t matter who I have to step on or use to get there.   It’s all about ME!

  Friday – Sts. Simon and Jude Gospel – Luke6:12-16 Hey Jude! Along the Via Dolorosa I proudly share my name with my Dad – William Joseph Frere!   But God help me if he or my mom ever called me by that full and formal name!   Then I knew I was in big trouble!   And if they added in your Confirmation name?   Well, life as we knew it was over!   Names!   Simple things and, for some, so many variations!   I could have been Bill or Billie, Will or Willie or the very formal ‘William’.   But I am and always have been called “Bill”.   And my Dad?   He was always “Will.”   Truth be told, secretly I always wished I could have been known as ‘Will’ just like my dad, out of a sense of pride and honor for all he has done for me, to carry on his legacy and memory. Today we celebrate the Feasts of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles!   Simon, but not Peter!   Jude but not Judas!   Except for Simon being called a Zealot and Jude speaking to Jesus at the Last Supper, we have very little de

  Thursday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke13:31-35 Fear is the Mind-Killer Along the Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem Wow!   Now this is different; some Pharisees are actually concerned for Jesus’ safety.   And they are warning Him to stay away from Jerusalem because Herod wants Him dead.   But Jesus is not deterred; He is not afraid!   He is determined to continue on His mission and will soon come to Jerusalem where He knows He will be put to death, like so many other prophets! I am a sci-fi fanatic – Star Trek, Star Wars, you name it!   I even, nerd that I am, have a Star Trek uniform perfect for Halloween when I answer the door.   That devotion also extends to literature. And my all-time favorite sci-fi book is Dune by Frank Herbert!   Throughout that book and the entire series, the hero Paul Atreides has a mantra that he recites in moments of trial and doubt! “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I