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Posts Tagged ‘Care of the Poor’
Download 10th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Questions
- Elijah is a very special Prophet in the Old Testament. He does such great works of power in God’s name he was expected to return again to prepare and welcome the Messiah. Yet he suffered deeply. Elijah is being chased by King Ahaz and his ‘foreign’ wife Jezebel who imported over 700 prophets from her own religion attempting to turn Israel away from Yahweh. He seeks refuge in a Widows house and the son stops breathing! Have you ever felt nothing is going your way and blamed God? How could you develop the confidence of Elijah to move beyond moaning and trust in the power of prayer?
- In ancient Jewish society if a Widow loses her son it would most likely mean losing her legal title to land and home as well. She loses all her social security! In society today, who is vulnerable, without family support? Do you know the story of anyone suffering from HIV Aids? Homelessness? Addiction? Unemployment? A Migrant, Refugee? What action could be shared so that they might say ‘Now indeed I know that you are a person of God’?
- Paul’s first missionary journey took him to Galatia. The community there were very special for him. Unfortunately, after he had left, ‘Judaisers’ visited the community and claimed that Paul had ‘watered down the gospel’. Paul was not a ‘true Apostle’. They (the gentiles in Galatia) were told they needed to live many of the Jewish laws to be truly ‘saved’. Have you ever suffered from claims you are ‘watering down the gospel’ by not focussing on laws and commandments? What happened? Why do you think Paul made a journey to Jerusalem to visit Peter and James? Do you seek to move from conflict to communion?
- Another Widow appears in the Readings. Jesus is moved with pity for a vulnerable Widow. Strikingly Jesus willingly makes himself ‘unclean’ by touching a coffin (dead body) and then raises the ‘dead’ to ‘life’. And the truth is shouted… ‘God has visited his people’! Jesus is more powerful than Elijah (1st Reading). He is truly the promised Messiah. Finally the Kingdom of God, the poor being comforted and ‘lifted up’ is happening! Luke seeks to share discipleship is also continuing these ‘Kingdom activities’. Are you willing to get your hands and reputation ‘dirty’?
- Both Elijah and Jesus create a response of people glorifying God. What would help you arrive at a place in your heart where you are ‘moved with pity’ for those suffering? What words could you speak from God into your friendships and workplace? What actions could you live to bring comfort to modern-day ‘widows’? Is a ‘report’ spreading through the whole region that God is visiting his people ‘through you’?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
Download Feast of Christ the King
Reflection Questions
- The Feast of Christ the King was created by Pope Pius XI in 1925 responding to the ills of the time: The Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, spread of facism, Church’s loss of political power, decadence of 1920’s. Instead of simply writing a Church document which are read by only a few, Pius XI recognised a ‘Feast’ of the Church would be celebrated by the whole Church every year and speak not only to the mind but also to the heart. At first it was celebrated at the end of October but it now rests at the very end of the Liturgical year to enhance the experience of meeting Christ at the ‘end of time’.
- In a farming culture, the image of a Shepherd and Sheep was extremely special. Israel saw it as an image of God looking after them. Ezekiel uses this image and creates a picture of what God ‘will’ do (11 times!). Tend. Rescue. Pasture. Rest. Seek out. Bring back. Bind up. Heal. Destroy. Judge. What word speaks more to your life at the moment? Have you experienced a call to shepherd others?
- St Paul provides an image of the vital role the Church plays in history today. The ‘absence’ of Christ after his resurrection and our waiting for his final ‘return’ actually involves Christ working through the witness and works of the Church. Through our following ‘the way of Christ’ various powers and authorities are ‘overcome’ so that everything will eventually fall ‘under his feet’. What powers and sovereignties do you see at work in the world today which require christians to do ‘battle’?
- The Gospel of Matthew this year finishes with the scene of the Final Judgement. Interestingly, the final scene refers to something going on ‘now’. It is a judgement according to ‘works’ and ‘care of the poor’ (not faith and attendance at Mass). If you knew life’s final exam question for entry to heaven and it required showing ‘practical experience of care of the poor’ what would you do? Are you doing it ‘now’? Does the final question of life shock or surprise you? Matthew is pointing, finally, to Jesus’ command to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’. Is your love truly extending to your neighbour in need?
- Separating sheep (honorable) from goats (shameful) was a daily ‘end of the day’ task for shepherds. Goats were not as strong and did not manage the cold. Goats allowed male goats to access other female goats which was also considered a shameful behaviour. An honorable life is a ‘righteous’ life – where we show by our actions a care for those in need. Interestingly, the title ‘righteous’ was a title given by the poor to those who helped them. At the end of time would any of the ‘poor’ stand in your defence and give you the title ‘righteous’?
- What is one action that you will do to ‘livetheword’ this week?
Download 33rd Sunday Yr A
Reflection Questions
- The Book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings for daily living. Today a woman (not necessarily exceptional or beautiful as modern media might portray), does routine daily chores filled with wisdom and purpose. Her love extends beyond her family to the poor and needy. Her life and good works is spoken of ‘at the city gates’. Have you experienced ‘charm’ as deceptive and ‘beauty’ fleeting? Two quite different life-styles are presented as a ‘mirror’ to expose the reader. Where do you ‘see’ yourself?
- Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is the earliest New Testament Letter. They were concerned that ‘the Day of the Lord’ (Jesus’ return) had not happened. St Paul shares with them and us that the exact date of the ‘day of the Lord’ is not known. But we are all to be ‘living in the light’ following the way of Jesus. What image speaks more to you: not sleeping, staying alert, being sober? How could you apply this ‘image’ to an application in your life?
- The end of the Church’s Year is coming! Next week is the end: Christ the King. The Judgement Parable of the Talents is given to us today as a way of helping us to reflect seriously on the end of the world and the Lord’s second coming. A careful reading of the Parable reveals some disturbing realities
- One ‘talent’ is a large weight of metal equivalent to 15 years of an average wage ($750,000!). Is the Master generous or mean? What image of God do you ‘read into the text’?
- Two different ‘images’ and perceptions of the Master are found. Servants 1 and 2 are spurred into creativity, Servant 3 is filled with fear. He will take no risks, avoid any wrongoing, and will give back to God in ‘strict justice’ what was given. Is Servant 3 ‘self-ish’? His fear of judgement tends to paralyse him. He is not filled with a freedom and love for creative risk taking in works of mercy. Could this be an image of the Jewish community for Matthew? The Christian Community today?
- Very large amounts of money are being traded. Is this supporting capitalist greed and risk taking or is it reduced to a ‘small matter’ in comparison to the new ‘great responsibilities’ of the Kingdom of God?
- Reflect personally and name your ‘talents’. From this parable what do you think God asks of you? If you were to be judged on your current use of your talents what might be the conclusion?
- What is one action that you will do to ‘livetheword’ this week?