What We Are to Do

Gospel: Matthew 9: 36 -10: 8

In today's Gospel portion Jesus calls people to carry out the mission he himself has been undertaking in every town and village.  It is to go about healing people of the infirmities they have; liberating people from the demons that hold them bound; and feeding people at table wherever we go.  Those are the three fundamental tasks of every disciple whom the Lord calls to the work in his vineyard in every part of the world in every time.  

What is more, the disciple is called to live a life of simplicity.  This work cannot be undertaken with the burden of many possessions.  The work cannot be done in elaborate episcopal palaces or clad in the fineries of office.  For this work takes place among the people - where they live, where they work, and where they congregate.  The work requires that we go out to meet people where they are at, not to sit confined in cathedrals amidst golden liturgical wares and statuary.  

People in need cannot wait for listening sessions, paid consultants, and endless meetings of ecclesiastical bodies to make decisions and action plans.  We do not need expensive programs on discipleship to tell us what to do.  Today's Gospel passage gives us all we need.  Let us go forth into the world healing people, liberating them, and feeding them as the Lord Jesus had done, living simply and humbly among those we serve and care for. 

 

On Honesty

Gospel: Matthew 5: 33-37

How often do we hear people begin a sentence with "Truthfully" or "Honestly" or "I'm not gonna lie."  Does this mean that sentences we utter that do not begin with such qualifications are dishonesties?  What do we mean when we use such language?  We love to create elaborate language for our utterances.  Consider the time people spend writing wedding vows, or the angst of the politician deciding on what Bible upon which to take an oath - and yet the promise itself?

This is Jesus' point in today's Gospel portion.  Our speech must be simple, direct, and honest.  Let it be yes if we mean yes, and let it be no if we mean no.  If we are setting about to construct elaborate prose and poetry before either of those words it often means we are looking to obfuscate or equivocate.  If we spent as much time discerning the actual honesty of our answer - yes or no - as we do on creating the smokescreens for them, we would be much better off spiritually.

So, today is a day for us to put away the verbal filler and extensions.  It is a day for us to reflect on the meaning of our words and intentions, to take up the way of simple speech that is honest and direct.  When confronted with the temptations of the world - its power, wealth, and influence - let us be people of the no.  When invited by the Lord to extend mercy and love in the world, let us be people of the yes.  The Christian life is really that simple. 

Where the Heart Is

Gospel: Matthew 11: 25-30

Where your treasure is, there also is your heart.  Consider where the heart of Jesus is continually present throughout the Gospels.  It is in the care of the sick and lame.  It is in the liberation of those in the grip of demons.  It is in the feeding of people who are hungry.  These are the things that Jesus is about.  These are the things that Jesus talks about and sends out his disciples to do in the world.  The heart of Jesus is a heart for the poor and marginalized.  

In today's Gospel portion he tells an oppressed people that his labor and yoke are easy and light - this to a people weight down by oppressive work just to survive due to an oppressive political and religious system.  Jesus' burden is light because we are all encouraged to help one another with the burden.  It is not because of some cosmic magic that the burden lightens.  It is because each one of us takes up the burden of others, because we are in solidarity with one another caring for the common good of all.  

If we find life burdensome it is perhaps because Christians are not living this solidarity in the world, that they have preached self-interest and individualism in contradiction to the Gospel.  Consequently our world has less solidarity, less concern for the common good.  Today is a day for us to take up the burden of others, to lighten the load others bear.  Today is a day to recommit to solidarity with others and the common good.  Today is a day for our heart to beat in unison with the heart of the Lord Jesus.