This week’s gospel reading recounts “the sending out of the seventy-two” disciples to preach the bursting forth of the Reign of God. They were preaching this reign that was “at hand” and is still coming upon us. Last week the theme of Sunday’s readings was “God’s call”. And so we reflected on God’s call to each of us, here and now.
God’s call to each of us is at the same time unique for each one of us and yet the same in that we are all called to preach the Gospel and to live in and build up the Reign of God. But are we ready to “live” the Reign of God? Jesus makes it abundantly clear that it will not be easy. And, in fact, our very lives may be at risk for proclaiming the Gospel and “living it”. Jesus cautions us that we are being sent out into the world “like lambs among wolves”.
As we have just celebrated the 4th of July, the great “high feast day” of our nation, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we as citizens are working to build a country that reflects the values of the Gospel; the values of the Reign of God? Are the homeless being housed…are the thirsty quenched…are the hungry being fed…are immigrants, migrants and refugees being welcomed? Is achieving true racial justice a national value and goal to which we are actively working? Are all these realities not signs of the bursting forth of the Reign of God?
And when we as a nation fail to feed the hungry, to shelter the homeless and to welcome the stranger -- the immigrant, migrant and refugee -- we fail in creating true racial justice and then we fail “the mission”. We fail to build up the “Reign of God”. We fail to live out our discipleship!
The vast majority of Congress claim to be followers of Jesus. How then is it that the laws they pass are in direct violation of words, vision and the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
How does hunting down hard-working, tax paying immigrants and refugees and deporting them to third party countries where they have no relatives, may not speak the language, are not wanted and have no real possibility of building a viable life -- how is that welcoming the stranger? How is that loving my neighbor?...which Jesus told us, in the final judgment, would be exactly what we will be judged upon.
How is canceling USAID which will lead to the death of millions upon millions of people around the world in the next few years, and the canceling of US food programs for the poor and most vulnerable of our nation along with gutting Medicaid and other social safety net programs for the poor – how is that morally and ethically defendable?...all while giving tax breaks to the wealthy.
In what world is terminating and reversing all federal DEI programs, and attempting to bully private institutions and businesses to do the same – in what world is this a morally and ethically defendable course of action?
There is a very important message of hospitality that runs through today’s Gospel. In it there is a cultural expectation that the disciples will be received and offered hospitality in the towns and villages that they go to, to preach the Reign of God. They are told by Jesus to accept the hospitality in whatever form it is offered and to not move around seeking the best accommodations, the better food and drink, but to take what is offered and be satisfied.
And just as importantly, they are to wish peace upon the house and its inhabitants. So, there is a twofold nature to the giving and receiving of this hospitality. The recipient of the hospitality not only just receives, but also offers the gift of peace to the family and to the very home itself.
It speaks to a way of being in the world -- it is about the stance one takes towards the other and towards the world. It is a
fundamental stance of openness and love; of leaning into the encounter, led by the Spirit, aware of the presence of God in the moment and in the other and in the world.
And it seems that over the past few years there has been a seismic shift in the stance that many Americans have taken towards the other and towards the world. It seems to have become a stance of anger and resentment, closed off to the encounter and a rejection of the presence of the Divine in the other who is not like them.
Perhaps, in light of the celebration of our nation’s birthday, for those of us who are Christian, we should take a few minutes to reflect on how, we as a nation -- our elected officials and our fellow Americans who claim to be Christian -- are doing living out the mission Jesus gave us. And, ask ourselves what we might need to do differently, as individuals and as a nation, to readjust our fundamental stance towards the other and towards the world.
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
God’s call to each of us is at the same time unique for each one of us and yet the same in that we are all called to preach the Gospel and to live in and build up the Reign of God. But are we ready to “live” the Reign of God? Jesus makes it abundantly clear that it will not be easy. And, in fact, our very lives may be at risk for proclaiming the Gospel and “living it”. Jesus cautions us that we are being sent out into the world “like lambs among wolves”.
As we have just celebrated the 4th of July, the great “high feast day” of our nation, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we as citizens are working to build a country that reflects the values of the Gospel; the values of the Reign of God? Are the homeless being housed…are the thirsty quenched…are the hungry being fed…are immigrants, migrants and refugees being welcomed? Is achieving true racial justice a national value and goal to which we are actively working? Are all these realities not signs of the bursting forth of the Reign of God?
And when we as a nation fail to feed the hungry, to shelter the homeless and to welcome the stranger -- the immigrant, migrant and refugee -- we fail in creating true racial justice and then we fail “the mission”. We fail to build up the “Reign of God”. We fail to live out our discipleship!
The vast majority of Congress claim to be followers of Jesus. How then is it that the laws they pass are in direct violation of words, vision and the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
How does hunting down hard-working, tax paying immigrants and refugees and deporting them to third party countries where they have no relatives, may not speak the language, are not wanted and have no real possibility of building a viable life -- how is that welcoming the stranger? How is that loving my neighbor?...which Jesus told us, in the final judgment, would be exactly what we will be judged upon.
How is canceling USAID which will lead to the death of millions upon millions of people around the world in the next few years, and the canceling of US food programs for the poor and most vulnerable of our nation along with gutting Medicaid and other social safety net programs for the poor – how is that morally and ethically defendable?...all while giving tax breaks to the wealthy.
In what world is terminating and reversing all federal DEI programs, and attempting to bully private institutions and businesses to do the same – in what world is this a morally and ethically defendable course of action?
There is a very important message of hospitality that runs through today’s Gospel. In it there is a cultural expectation that the disciples will be received and offered hospitality in the towns and villages that they go to, to preach the Reign of God. They are told by Jesus to accept the hospitality in whatever form it is offered and to not move around seeking the best accommodations, the better food and drink, but to take what is offered and be satisfied.
And just as importantly, they are to wish peace upon the house and its inhabitants. So, there is a twofold nature to the giving and receiving of this hospitality. The recipient of the hospitality not only just receives, but also offers the gift of peace to the family and to the very home itself.
It speaks to a way of being in the world -- it is about the stance one takes towards the other and towards the world. It is a
fundamental stance of openness and love; of leaning into the encounter, led by the Spirit, aware of the presence of God in the moment and in the other and in the world.
And it seems that over the past few years there has been a seismic shift in the stance that many Americans have taken towards the other and towards the world. It seems to have become a stance of anger and resentment, closed off to the encounter and a rejection of the presence of the Divine in the other who is not like them.
Perhaps, in light of the celebration of our nation’s birthday, for those of us who are Christian, we should take a few minutes to reflect on how, we as a nation -- our elected officials and our fellow Americans who claim to be Christian -- are doing living out the mission Jesus gave us. And, ask ourselves what we might need to do differently, as individuals and as a nation, to readjust our fundamental stance towards the other and towards the world.
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
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