Breaking the Word

27^th Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 08^th October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 11,27-28

Path of Enlightenment

Jesus began his first sermon on the Mount with an emphasis on the word: Blessed. To be blessed is to live in the light of God’s love and under the guidance of God’s wisdom. Here in this context, Jesus heard the compliment from a woman of the blessedness of Mary, his mother. He wanted to bring her along the path of enlightenment. He wanted her not only to admire and enjoy him but to follow him. Therefore, Jesus points out the sole path to that dynamic following: blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. While Jesus does not deny that his mother is indeed blessed, he uses this opportunity to extend the blessing to anyone who, like his mother, will hear the word of God and put it into practice in their lives.  Entering into the full communion with God’s love means: To hear God’s word and heed it; to discover God’s will and embrace it; to begin to see oneself, others, and the world as God does and to act in accordance with that spiritual insight. This is how we grow in intimacy with Christ and increase our experience of everything that gives true and lasting meaning to our lives.  If we consistently embrace and fulfill God’s will in our lives, we will consistently experience the peace and joy of God’s kingdom here on earth.

27^th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 07^th October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 11,15-26

Signs of the Finger of God

The narrative focuses on the Lord’s power, which springs from the Spirit (4,14) in whose fullness Jesus overcomes the forces of evil.  When He cast out a demon from the mute man, some accused him of using the power of the devil; others demanded another sign. But Jesus expressed that he did through the finger of God (Mt 12,28 has ‘Spirit of God’). After the plague of gnats, Pharaoh’s magicians recognized the “finger of God” in the miracles of Aaron (Ex 8,19). In both “finger of God” meant signs of God’s power working to free his people from bondage to evil. Just as pharaoh’s heart was hardened, so also were the hearts of those around Jesus. Thus, these saving works demand a response from each of us. What Moses began, Jesus has come to complete. Jesus’ actions cast him in the role of God’s agent, announcing the in-breaking of the reign of God. If they were to open their eyes and their hearts to Jesus’ doings, they would realize that the kingdom of God has come in their midst. Even though the Jews didn’t accept him, Jesus did establish God’s kingdom on earth through his miracles, his teachings, his death, and resurrection. We need to acknowledge the presence of the kingdom in this world, through our lives while we await the fullness of this kingdom when Jesus comes again.