COME TO ME TAKE MY YOKE

15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR I

MATTHEW 11:28-30

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is not offering us one more philosophy of God. He is offering us the view from the inside of the Trinity. And that is why we should respond to his compelling invitation: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” What everyone wants is rest, but not in the sense of relaxation. Rest here means achievement of joy. The great illusion is that joy will come from filling up the ego with goods. In fact, it will come from emptying out, from turning one’s life over to the direction of God. We also find in today’s Gospel those extraordinary words: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Jesus himself is bearing the yoke that he speaks of since he is yoked to the Father, doing only what he sees the Father doing. Jesus is, in his ownmost nature, the one who listens and obeys. What he is saying, therefore, is to stand next to him, just as one ox stands next to the other as they pull together. Just as Jesus is yoked to the Father, so we should be yoked to him, obeying him as he obeys the Father

WHERE DID THE BIBLE COME FROM?

WHERE DID THE BIBLE COME FROM?

One thing is for certain, it didn't drop out of the sky.

Christianity without the Bible is hard to imagine. But in fact, for the first 300 years of the Church, the Bible (meaning a single compilation containing all of the texts sacred to Christianity) didn’t exist.

The creation of the Bible was a long process. Leaders of the early Church sifted through numerous manuscripts and discerned, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which books to keep and which books to set aside.

The process of establishing a canon of Scripture differed for the Old and New Testament.

Formation of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is basically an ancient compilation of the Jewish Sacred Scriptures. These holy texts developed over time and were at first handed on orally from one generation to the next until they were finally written down and preserved.

About 200 years before the birth of Jesus there arose a Greek translation of the Hebrew texts that became widely accepted as a legitimate (even inspired) translation. Tradition relates how King Ptolemy II of Egypt ordered a translation and invited Jewish elders from Jerusalem to prepare the Greek text. Seventy-two elders, six from each of the 12 tribes, arrived in Egypt to fulfill the request.

Another tradition recounts how the translators were all put in separate rooms and told to produce their own separate text. When the task was completed the translators compared them all and it was discovered that each one was miraculously identical to the others.

The result became known as the Septuagint (from the Greek word for 70) and was especially popular among Greek-speaking Jews. This led to the Septuagint becoming a primary source for the Gospel writers and many other early Christians.

When formulating the official canon of Scripture the Church looked to the Septuagint to discern which books to retain. The Catholic canon of the Old Testament also includes some texts and additions to books (for example, the Books of Judith and Tobit, Wisdom and Sirach) originally written in Greek, not Hebrew, and therefore not considered part of the Jewish Scriptures,though respected and read by Jews.

Formation of the New Testament

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, various writers wrote down in the years following Jesus’ death the many stories circulating about the Messiah. These writers were either apostles, or friends of apostles who knew Jesus very well. They witnessed the events or interviewed people who had, and sought to preserve the authentic life of Jesus Christ and his many teachings.

As time progressed copies of these works were spread and various Christian communities gathered them to be read during the Sunday celebration of the Mass. Copies of St. Paul’s letters were also disseminated and were regarded by the communities as inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Already by the time of Saint Irenaeus (A.D. 182-88) there is mention of the “quadriform” Gospel, referring to the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

During the fourth century the need arose to officially codify the Bible, which by this point was already starting to come together. Some historians believe that part of the motivation to produce an official canon came from Emperor Constantine who commissioned 50 copies of the sacred scriptures for the Bishop of Constantinople.

The approval of which books to include started with the Council of Laodicea in 363, was continued when Pope Damasus I commissioned St. Jerome to translate the Scriptures into Latin in 382, and was settled definitely during the Synods of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397).

The goal was to dismiss all erroneous works that were circulating at the time and instruct the local Churches as to which books could be read at Mass.

Read more: The oldest, most complete Gospel book on Earth is in Ethiopia

The Church has always believed that this lengthy process was guided by the Holy Spirit. As the Catechism explains, “Holy Mother Church, relying on the faith of the apostolic age, accepts as sacred and canonical the books of the Old and the New Testaments, whole and entire, with all their parts, on the grounds that, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author, and have been handed on as such to the Church herself.”

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR "A" :Sower vs. Smartphone

The Sower vs. the Smartphone

 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). Mass Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 65:10-14; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

The timelessness of the Gospels is remarkable. Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel about the sower were spoken directly to those who gathered around

him — and they are almost more relevant to us in our highly technological age.

“As he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up,” Jesus said. God is speaking to us at all times, but our technology often steals our attention. He speaks to us in the important words our friends say that we never hear because we are looking at our phones, only half listening. He speaks to us in what our children and

grandchildren, or nephews and nieces, are saying and doing when we are busy picking a photo of them to post online instead of being fully present to them.

Jesus describes how the seed that fell on rocky soil “sprang up at once,” but “withered for lack of roots.” In the 21st century, we as a culture have reached new levels of superficiality

— and we are more rootless than ever. We used to read books, but now many of us only surf headlines. We used to be able to stand in line or wait outside and ponder; now we always

seem to need to be watching online videos or other media, reading notifications or listening to music or something else to fill the silence — in order to fend off boredom and, above all,

prevent silence and contemplation.

Last, Jesus said: “Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.” God plants seeds in us that“worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke.” So many are obsessed with the latest sports news, the latest atrocity and the craziest celebrity gossip; or looking for the next item to buy, the next gadget to try and the next app to download — and, consequently, God gets last place in many hearts and minds.

Jesus could easily be talking to many of us with earbuds and smartphones, Netflix and satellite car radios when he said: “Gross is the heart of this people. They will hardly hear with their ears. They have closed their eyes.”

He says if only they “understand with their hearts and be converted,” he will heal them. He can do that for us, too. It is just a matter of understanding the great gift we have in our

faith. The Divine Sower is doing his part — speaking his word, preparing for a fruitful harvest.

May we put down our phones to hear and heed his holy calling.

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR 'A'

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle “A”
No one can prevent God from sending down His Word to the earth, like gentle rain. What we do with it is quite another matter. Isaiah tells us in today's first reading that the Word will not return to the heavens until it has borne fruit. In other words, God's Will must come to fulfillment, no matter how long it takes for our hearts to soften, and our minds to expand and grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus compares the Word of God to seed that a farmer sows in the spring. Some years ago, I was driving to a meeting on a windy day in early May. From my car window, I saw a farmer spreading seed in his field. The wind caught much of it, and swirled it high in the air. The farmer had no idea how much would land in his carefully ploughed plot.

Like the seed in today's parable, some would produce a rich crop, but much of it would be wasted. In this parable, Jesus compares Himself to a farmer, and the soil to the hearts of His listeners. Some are flighty enthusiasts who go crazy with joy at hearing the Good News, but who haven't a clue of what to do with it. Their enthusiasm burns up with nothing to show for it.

And what about those whose minds and hearts get all choked up with the internet or morally unhealthy television shows and movies? Many teenagers and adults spend too much time in "virtual reality" and not enough time in real life prayer, or growing time with their spouses and children. They're too busy for generous serving time for their Church and community.

Then there's the big question we have to ask as we hear today's Word. "Where do I fit into this parable?" Will I have a "U-Haul" truck full of good deeds to bring to my judgment day? Or am I a waster of God's seed? How many friends will testify on my behalf? Will I have a redeemed heart, a heart full of love for God and people--all my fruitfulness from hearing the Word of God?

It just takes a little more focus, a bit more determination to till the soil of my soul-making quiet space for reflection, and time for those who need me. After all, how many millions of people throughout history would have made so much better use of the seed if it had fallen in their territory? In God's mysterious providence, that seed did fall in my back yard. That Word did fall on my ears, and, (to change the metaphor), Christ has knocked on the door of my heart thousands and thousands of times. Was I home to Him? Lord, please help me to do better.

 

SOWER VS. THE SMARTPHONE. 15TH. SUNDAY "A"

The Sower vs. the Smartphone

 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). Mass Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 65:10-14; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

The timelessness of the Gospels is remarkable. Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel about the sower were spoken directly to those who gathered around

him — and they are almost more relevant to us in our highly technological age.

“As he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up,” Jesus said. God is speaking to us at all times, but our technology often steals our attention. He speaks to us in the important words our friends say that we never hear because we are looking at our phones, only half listening. He speaks to us in what our children and

grandchildren, or nephews and nieces, are saying and doing when we are busy picking a photo of them to post online instead of being fully present to them.

Jesus describes how the seed that fell on rocky soil “sprang up at once,” but “withered for lack of roots.” In the 21st century, we as a culture have reached new levels of superficiality

— and we are more rootless than ever. We used to read books, but now many of us only surf headlines. We used to be able to stand in line or wait outside and ponder; now we always

seem to need to be watching online videos or other media, reading notifications or listening to music or something else to fill the silence — in order to fend off boredom and, above all,

prevent silence and contemplation.

Last, Jesus said: “Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.” God plants seeds in us that“worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke.” So many are obsessed with the latest sports news, the latest atrocity and the craziest celebrity gossip; or looking for the next item to buy, the next gadget to try and the next app to download — and, consequently, God gets last place in many hearts and minds.

Jesus could easily be talking to many of us with earbuds and smartphones, Netflix and satellite car radios when he said: “Gross is the heart of this people. They will hardly hear with their ears. They have closed their eyes.”

He says if only they “understand with their hearts and be converted,” he will heal them. He can do that for us, too. It is just a matter of understanding the great gift we have in our

faith. The Divine Sower is doing his part — speaking his word, preparing for a fruitful harvest.

May we put down our phones to hear and heed his holy calling.

MATHEW GOT UP AND FOLLOWED

MATTHEW 9:9-13

Our Gospel for today is the simple but magnificent story of the conversion of Matthew. I urge you to read it and meditate upon it this week, for it’s about you. The Bible says that Jesus told Matthew, “Follow me.” The call of Jesus is meant to get into your mind, and then past your mind into your body, and then through your body into your life into your most practical decisions. And then we hear that “Matthew got up and followed him.” The verb used here in the Greek is the same verb used to describe the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: Matthew rose. Conversion means a transition into a higher life, arising from a preoccupation with the goods of the world and a reorientation to the things of God. Then we hear what happened after Matthew’s conversion: “And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples.” This deeply annoys the Pharisees, who ask of Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” The answer is that Jesus loves sinners, and he doesn’t require perfection before he approaches them.

FAITH TRANSFORMS

MATTHEW 8:5-17 Faith is transforming

Friends, today in our Gospel Jesus praises the faith of a Roman centurion. How often the Bible compels us to meditate on the meaning of faith! We might say that the Scriptures rest upon faith and remain inspired at every turn by the spirit of faith. One of the most fundamental statements of Christian faith is this: your life is not about you. This is not your project. Rather, you are part of God's great design. To believe this in your bones and to act accordingly is to have faith. When we operate out of this transformed vision, amazing things can happen, for we have surrendered to "a power already at work in us that can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine." This is precisely what we see in the lives of the saints: Mother Teresa moving into the worst slum in the world in an attitude of trust; Francis of Assisi just abandoning everything and living for God; Rose Hawthorn deciding to take cancer sufferers into her own home; Antony leaving everything behind and going into the desert; Maximilian Kolbe saying, "I'm a Catholic priest; take me in his place." This is how faith transforms the Christian life