A Touching Moment

Gospel: Mark 5: 21-43

In the midst of a big crowd it is inevitable that a person will be touched by many others.  Most of these touches are unintentional and the result of the chaos of the crowd itself.  Some touches are intentional, performed by those who like to say they've touched an idol or famous personality.  But other touches are most rare like this one in today's Gospel portion: both intentional and life-changing.

Imagine the state of this woman: she has been afflicted with this condition for many years and medicine has been of no avail.  She is legally unclean and therefore unable to be touched by anyone.  She hears of Jesus coming to her town, and she forms a plan.  It is bold and daring, but she believes that if she but touch him she will be healed.  That is in fact what happens, but then comes so much more.  She has a personal encounter with the Lord that animates her whole being.

What sort of touch do we seek with the Lord? Are we just a member of the chaotic crowd who touch the Lord with no intention at all? Are we the idol seekers who do seek an intentional touch of the Lord to boast about it to others? Or are we like this woman - recognizing our deep need for the Lord's healing touch in our life, desiring a personal encounter that transforms us and changes our life? 

On Keys and Commandments

Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-19

There was a time when the this Gospel portion and the power of the keys had meaning in the Christian world.  But no longer.  Ask any "faithful" Catholic what it means and they will begin by listing all the exceptions and various escape clauses they have created to avoid any obligation to abide by things they would rather not.  The keys are things that open doors of exception for them, but not for others.

It is not unlike the ten commandments that will now be displayed in public school classrooms, not because we believe in them but as a sign of religious imperialism.  How many exceptions to the commandment against killing have we created to justify what we'd like? Are we really going to take the commandments against adultery and bearing false witness seriously from the politicians who have imposed the posting of these commandments?  The keys and commandments no longer hold sway among us...

When we made the Christian faith about cults of personality instead of the Person of Jesus the Lord the authentic meaning was lost.  Peter and Paul are great figures because they followed the Lord Jesus.  They chose to model their lives after his example, not their own.  That is the key.  That is the commandment.   

The Real Secret

Gospel: Matthew 8: 1-4

In today's Gospel portion we find Jesus giving a familiar instruction to one whom he healed: don't tell anyone about it.  Just give the required thanksgiving to God and that is enough.  The learned and clever will tell us this is the Messianic Secret, a theological device related to Jesus' identity and divinity.  The reality is that Jesus is giving us a spiritual lesson on humility and gratitude.

The message Jesus gives us is not one we are apt to accept in our age of self-promotion and showboating.  Whenever we have some healing or miracle, we immediately post it on social media; we "testify" about it to the church: then, the cottage industry evangelists pick it up for syndication.  Meanwhile, we practice our touchdown dance for the frenzy to come.  

We will say all this is for the Lord, for advancing the kingdom.  But it's not.  It's all about us - our brand and our kingdom.  Jesus knows that, which is why he offers this lesson time and again throughout the Gospels.  The way of Jesus is a humble way, one of gratitude for mercy received, one of mercy extended outward once received.  It is the way of the lowest seat at table, the way of the servant, the way of the Cross.