A New Being

Gospel: Matthew 8: 1-4

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount - a giving of the Beatitudes and an application of them in questions of the Law.  The remainder of the Gospel will now be the practical living out of the Beatitudes in the daily life of Jesus.  Jesus will show us by example the way to live out the Beatitudes in every encounter we have with other people.

In today's reading Jesus comes down the mountain and encounters a leper who asks for his help.  Jesus heals the man and he is a new being inside and out.  This first miracle is a shocking one, as it comes to one who was an utter outcast in ancient society, one no one wanted to be near.  And yet Jesus comes to the man and heals him in every way.  The outcast is brought into our midst and out of the shadows.

The Beatitudes transform our leprous lives of sin into lives of great happiness and joy.  Our materialism is banished by poverty of spirit; our pride and anger washed away by meekness; our lust removed by purity of heart; our vengeance ended by mercy; our war and violence abolished by peace making.  By living the Beatitudes we too can bring healing to a world disfigured by sin, made new again and brought into the kingdom of God by our loving deeds of mercy. 

Those We Admire

Gospel:  Matthew 16: 13-19

Every superhero has their flaw and their inner struggle: Batman struggles with vengeance, Spider-Man with self-image, and Superman has his kryptonite.  Those we admire in real life have their flaws too, and yet they have helped us be better versions of ourselves, more virtuous.  The same is true in our life of faith, and today's feast day patrons reflect that fact.

Everyone is familiar with Peter's vacillations in faith throughout his life, and Paul's vanity is replete throughout his letters.  And yet both are also inspiring figures of our faith, people who are foundational to our tradition and own faith life.  We find much of ourselves in them, and yet God changes both of their names to reflect the fact that, in spite of their faults, Peter and Paul can be worthy vessels of ministry to others.  

Peter's name means rock, and we too are living stones of faith.  When we acknowledge the presence of Christ in others and serve them, our little stone of faith becomes joined to Peter's rock and other living stones that create an assembly of hospitality and welcome, of healing and grace that welcomes all, serves all, and a sacramental witness to the world of the power of faith and love. 

Picking Good Fruit

Gospel: Matthew 7: 15-20

Anyone who regularly shops for fruit knows that first appearances can always be deceptive.  At first glance a piece of fruit may appear very good; its outer appearance looks ripe and fresh.  But upon closer inspection, once the fruit is picked up and inspected more closely it is clear the outer appearance has masked fruit gone soft and mealy.  It is a piece of fruit that cannot nourish us.  

The same is true in the ethical and spiritual lives.  We often give the outward appearance to others of being just and ethical people.  We put on airs of living holy lives by outer expressions of piety or the wearing of religious affectations.  But what are we inside? Is all this exterior adornment just to mask the fact that we are not what we appear to be?

The Beatitudes are a sure way to guarantee that our fruit is indeed good.  The inward dispositions to be poor in spirit, meek, merciful, peacemaking, pure of heart and patient in suffering will animate our entire being and make our outward appearance - our words and deeds - truly good and thereby help others produce good fruit in their lives.