Twenty-Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jan 12 2025

Opening Your Invitation

“What a day this has been!” I sighed to my new wife as the last of the clouds turned orange over the sea. This morning as the sun rose in the eastern sky, my heart had beaten with excitement: the wedding is coming! We will feast for seven days! The clamor in the kitchens proclaims the abundance to come. My father the king is so kind. My cup will overflow with joy. All will be good.

Then all was not good. The guests would not come. They rejected his invitation. They mistreated and killed our servants. It felt as though a web of darkness had descended, like a veil covering their eyes. How could they so scorn his generosity? They twisted his open handed invitation into a disaster. I was devastated.

My father was not going to let me down. He sent out servants to bring in anyone, anyone at all, shouting into the streets, “Come to the feast, you will all be well fed!” He knew the new guests wouldn’t have wedding clothes, for they didn’t know that they would be invited. I watched the servants carry armloads of garments to the doors. All would be taken care of. And they started pouring in. The crippled and the beggars, the hungry and the weary—they all threw on the fine clothes that my father provided. Rich food and choice wine—oh, they had never tasted such goodness! They lacked for nothing. (There was one who tried to ruin the day, but enough talk of calamity.)

I turn my face to my bride. The look in her eyes and her eager “yes, yes, and yes!” more than make up for the numerous exclamations of “no!” this day. The night is here. A blessed new day will dawn.

Consider/Discuss

In what ways do we look into the Bridegroom’s eyes and bring him joy with our “yes, yes, and yes”? What do we look forward to in the new day that will dawn?
How has the lavishness of God fed us even when we have not expected it? What is our responsibility in response to that generosity?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, you are our God! You have been a refuge to the poor, a haven to the needy in times of distress. We are the poor. We are the needy. Sometimes we reject you and push you away and do not let you clothe us. Strengthen our “yes” so that it becomes eager and consistent, for we do not ever want to disappoint you. Lavish your Spirit upon us, for we hunger to partake of your feast.

Jan 12 2025

Scripture Study for

Chapters 25–27 of Isaiah contain certain elements found in later apocalyptic literature: worldwide judgment, cosmic upheaval, God’s defeat of dark powers and deliverance from them, and the enthronement of God in the temple on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. The image of a banquet, which God hosts on this mountain, conveys the abundance and joy that the rescued faithful will experience once God has defeated the dark forces. The most powerful of these, death itself, will also fall, leaving nothing to mar the joy of God’s reign over “all nations” as the devastated world is renewed. Those who have been brought to God’s mountain will be safe from all harm, for the divine protection (“hand”) will rest on the mountain.

Paul has apparently received some money from the Philippians, prompting him to comment on the vicissitudes of his apostleship, which has its material as well as spiritual high and low points. At times he has been comfortable and at other times his circumstances have been more “humble.” From this he has learned how to “go with the flow,” accepting whatever comes along. As always, the strength to persevere comes from Christ, who supplies everything Paul could possibly need. This confidence in the providential care of God allows Paul to be open to whatever comes. Throughout the letter, in various ways, this theme of radical selflessness has appeared, rooted not only in the example of Christ but also trust in God.

Jesus teaches consistently in Matthew’s Gospel that while absolutely everyone is invited to enter the kingdom of heaven, the price of admission is high. The gate is narrow and the road is difficult, and few find it (7:13–14). The guest in the parable represents those who have failed to understand this fundamental teaching. He has taken up the king’s generous invitation, but by failing to dress appropriately (even though, we must assume, he could have), he has demonstrated an overly casual attitude, treating the event as if it were simply a matter of “come as you are,” an insult to the generosity of the king. The kingdom of God, the parable reminds us, is not something we should take for granted.

Jan 06 2025

Surprising Messengers

First, go to your Bible and read the entire fifth chapter in Second Kings for this most enjoyable story of the prophet and the Gentile general with leprosy, highlighting the power of God’s word to heal. With today’s familiar Gospel story of Jesus and the ten lepers, the focus is on God’s salvation coming to “outsiders” like Naaman and the Samaritan as both healing and conversion. We see God’s compassionate outreach for those whose leprosy placed them outside the community, for leprosy was a social stigma as well as a physical condition. What I love in the story of Naaman is the role of the servants, the “little ones.” A servant girl captured in a raid first tells Naaman’s wife about “the prophet in Samaria.” After Naaman arrives at Elisha’s door, a servant brings the prophet’s message to wash seven times in the Jordan. And finally, it is the general’s own servants who convince him to follow this command when he gets all huffy about washing in the Jordan instead of the beautiful rivers back home. But down he goes and cured he is.

Leprosy is a stand-in for the condition of sin that alienates us from God and each other. God’s greatest desire is that we know divine, saving grace, a desire often brought home to us by the surprising messengers God sends us—including the prophet from Nazareth who continues to surprise us after two thousand years. So be on the lookout for how God is working to draw you closer and deepen your faith.

Consider/Discuss

How has God’s word brought healing into your life? How has it deepened your ongoing conversion?
Can you think of any surprising messengers God has used to “get through” to you?

Responding to the Word

Open our ears, Lord, to hear your word. Open our eyes to see the many ways you reach out to us through those you bring into our lives who help us to know you. Help us to see that all people are your beloved children, and that all earth is holy and bears your presence.

Jan 06 2025

Scripture Study for

The story about Naaman focuses on healing, gratitude, conversion, and worship. His cure was clearly miraculous; all he had to do was submit himself to the ritual that Elisha prescribed. This cure champions monotheism and universalism. Naaman may have needed a miracle to recognize the universal power of the God of Israel, but recognize it he did! Something else makes this story exceptional. Though there were many people suffering from leprosy in Israel, God chose to heal a foreigner. This divine act demonstrates God’s love and concern for all, Israelite and non-Israelite alike.

Paul writes from prison, making his appeal to Timothy even more poignant. He exhorts his disciple to remember what is at the heart of the gospel that Paul has preached. The kind of remembering of which he speaks is a way of witnessing to the authenticity of what is remembered. In this case, it points to a twofold truth: Jesus Christ is raised from the dead and he is a descendant of David. The agony and indignity that Paul bears in his imprisonment are seen by him as a share in the “birth pangs of the messiah,” that necessary suffering that will precede the birth of the reign of God.

The Gospel narrative echoes the story recounted in the first reading. It is the story of a foreigner who suffered the pain and indignities of leprosy, was cured by the power of God, and returned to give thanks. He, along with his companions, had recognized Jesus earlier and had hoped for a cure. They all believed that Jesus had the power to heal them and they all went off to show themselves to the priests. What made this man unique was his gratitude. Furthermore, it was a Samaritan, one who was despised by the Jews, who showed gratitude to the Jewish wonder-worker. Jesus made this point quite clearly. Once again the last (a Samaritan) will be first (held up as an example).

Dec 12 2024

Gratitude

Be grateful. It is good for our health. Doctors say so. Psychologists say so. Jesus approves of the leper who returns to thank him. St. Paul says to give thanks in all circumstances. As we allow the Holy Spirit to nurture within us a continual attitude of gratitude, life grows rich and meaningful. We see the world more appreciatively. Gratitude is good. Gratitude is healthy.

Naaman the Syrian is so grateful for his healing from leprosy that he wants two mule-loads of earth to take home to praise the God of Israel. What is that all about?

Scripture scholars tell us that Naaman believed that the power of a god is limited to a certain place, a particular territory. God connected to dirt . . . might that seem antiquated and a bit amusing to us nowadays?

But is there something that we moderns misunderstand or have lost sight of? We who have poured concrete over the richest soil on earth to create urban highways; we who philosophize God into abstract concepts that float like wisps into the sky . . . might a faith that flees the earth become rootless and artificial?

There is a sacredness to the earth in which we live. There is a blessedness to the ground on which we walk. We are created from dust and to dust we shall return. The incarnated God took on our flesh and became one of us, people of the earth.

Naaman was from Syria. The leper who returned to thank Jesus was from Samaria. Two “outsiders.” There are certainly holy places and sacred spaces in Israel, but the healing desire of the Creator is not limited to a location or to a particular people. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God!

The Lord gives us the earth for our flourishing. There is much to be thankful for in that.

Consider/Discuss

You wouldn’t just floss your teeth on the morning before your dentist appointment if you want your teeth to be healthy. Likewise, you don’t just throw fertilizer and mulch on your dirt in May when you put your marigolds into the ground if you want your plants to be vigorous. If you have “bad dirt,” then now, in October (in the northern hemisphere), is the time to do something about it. Throw in leaves. Throw in manure. Add compost. These earthy things are gifts from God to nurture the soil. What can you do to care for the earth this week, in gratitude to God for the gift of creation? What can you do to make “your” earth flourish?
Naaman the Syrian saw Israel as a holy place. God did promise Abraham a land and a people; God promised to be with him in that place; God promised to bless his descendants. Take some time each day this week to treasure and savor the land and the people that God has given to you.

Living and Praying with the Word

Creator of all, we look into the skies and we adore you. We look at the earth and we bless you. The mountains skip like rams in praise of you. You have made all that is good. You give health to the leper and food to the oxen. Give us a faith that loves the earth. How great you are! Holy Spirit, fill us with gratitude for the earth.