Sunday Homily, September 27, 26th Ordinary Time
Readings:
Numbers 11, 25-29, Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets.
Psalm 19, The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
James 5, 1-6, Come now, You Rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Mark 9, 38-48, If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Says Harper, "Hi Folks, Welcome in."
Numbers: observation
In this reading, from the Torah, the Book of Moses, we are given a wonderful example of the expectation of the OT for the coming of the Messiah. It will be fulfilled by Christ, upon whom the Spirit rests, when he and his Father bestow the gift of the Spirit upon all who welcome, live, and proclaim the good news.
Genevieve, too, says, "Good Morning, Everybody, Welcome in."
Homily by Mike
In our gospel reading, John and other of the disciples had been building a barrier between themselves and the flock without realizing it, for they assumed that the Spirit was only going to rest upon them to bring forgiveness to others. Jesus corrects them.
All have a responsibility to sow the seed of the good news by word and example. Jesus continually taught those who were following him not to form barriers that would keep them from being one body.
Cole, The Candle Man of the Week, at work.
Recall Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, ‘There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female for all are one in Christ Jesus. Recall that in Advent and Lent we, each of us, live out our gift and responsibility to bring forgiveness to one another; for we are the body of Christ.
The Jewish dietary laws were a barrier between Jew and gentile. It kept them from eating together. So Jesus said to the Jews, ‘Its not what goes into the mouth that defiles; it’s what comes out of the mouth that defiles. In so doing he made all food clean. When does he tear down this barrier in the Gospel? Right before he invites both Jew and gentile to eat together at the table of the Lord.
Say the twins, Buddy & Victoria, "Happiness is a cupcake on my birthday, yippee."
All the early followers of Christ were Jews, and they did not even talk to Samaritans. Early in the John gospel Jesus’ disciples go into town for food and leave him at a well in Samaria. There is a barrier between Jews and Samaritans. They didn’t talk to one another.
When the disciples return, they see him sharing his good news to a Samaritan woman. Jesus lives the truth that God has no favorites. Jesus simply says to his disciples that they must be about sowing the seed of his word and reaping where he has already sown. Immediately the Samaritan woman begins to give witness in the town that Jesus is a prophet. And, maybe, he is the Messiah.
Cupcakes of the Week to Cole and Brent for special services.
Recall the tax collector who climbs the tree in his interest to see Jesus come into Jericho. Jesus looks up and invites Zacchaeus to come down so that he can eat at his house that day. The seed sown during lunch brought another into the flock.
Jesus’ disciples were Jews who saw the Romans as beasts. There are several stories in the Gospel about Jesus befriending a Roman Centurion. In each of them, Jesus tore down the barriers between them by sowing kindness, and goodness and forgiveness.
Georgie helping out.
Recall the story about the man who had committed serious sin in the Mark gospel. So much so, that the Jews would not forgive him, rather they expel him from their community. He comes to Jesus saying, ‘If you want to, you can make me clean.’ Jesus took his hand and replied, ‘Of course I want to, be made clean.” He again tears down barriers; and he expects us to do the same.
The Team at the elevation.
Whenever we isolate ourselves from others, we deny them the opportunity to become one with us. Take the opportunity this week to welcome or become closer to your neighbors this week, especially the newer ones. They were meant to be your brothers and sisters.
Says Genevieve, "May I have that mike, I would like to talk."