Breaking the Word

30^th Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 29^th October 2022 — Gospel:   Lk 14,1.7-11

Observing Jesus

In today’s Gospel, just as the Pharisees were observing Jesus on his extraordinary behavior, Jesus was also watching the inappropriate behavior of the guests. They were competing for places of honor like his disciples who had been competing for position in the kingdom of God. The observed turned out to be the observer. Jesus was not against an eligible person taking his seat of honor. However, ineligible people were also trying to occupy higher seats and were getting humiliated by the host. Observing these, in the world of individualistic and egocentric culture, where the spotlight and attention are always ‘for me,’ Jesus teaches contrasting values with his parable. He had advantage to tell the guests, on how to be a guest and a host. Instead of seeking approval, recognition, and popularity from others, he wants us to direct our energy and our hopes to more worthy goals. Instead of trying to focus on the impulses of others, he wants us to think about ourselves less, to occupy our minds with other things, and to be freed from vain self-absorption. Jesus asks nothing of us that he does not accomplish first. As Son of God, Jesus had every right to expect the highest place of honor, yet that held no importance for him. Jesus, who is the source of honor, chose dishonor and endured humiliation throughout his life by embracing human form.

Feasts of Sts. Simon and Jude, Thursday – 28^th October 2019 — Gospel: Lk 6,12-16

Called unto Himself

Today the church celebrates honoring the memory of two of the twelve apostles. In the Scriptures, little is known of Jude and Simon except that their names are included in the list of the twelve apostles. Jude is mentioned in the list by Luke, whereas Matthew and Mark mention Thaddeus. Therefore, Jude or Thaddeus are the same person. Simon is mentioned in the list by all the four evangelists. In two of the Gospels, he is referred to as “a zealot” but the Scriptures do not speak of his activities as a zealot. This title probably indicates that he belonged to a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. Jude is regarded as patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. Simon is identified as a man of great religious zeal. Tradition believes that they preached the Gospel in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia, where they had been sent.

In Luke’s version of the direct calling of the twelve, the three terms “the disciples,” “the twelve,” and “apostles” appear in one verse (Lk 6,13). These terms are not synonymous and do not refer to the same groups. From the larger group of the ‘disciples,’ he chose ‘twelve’ and designated them to be ‘apostles.’ The Greek word ‘apostolos’ refers to someone who is “sent out,” an envoy or an ambassador to continue the work of Jesus. Therefore, the apostles are called to be Jesus’ ambassadors to people. Like others, Simon and Jude responded generously to Jesus’ invitation to join him in his holy and healing work. Jesus called them out of the crowd “to himself” (Lk 6,13) for a mission that would include founding or building his Church and dying one day for the faith. He drew them close to befriend them, to teach them and to train them for their mission. Jesus has given a unique mission to each one of us. The only way to accomplish His mission is to allow Him to draw us “to himself”.  A disciple who remains close to Jesus will be sure to accomplish His will.