Connie's Ramblings

11 November 2018 – The 32^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

There are two widows in the readings this week…

The first is from the story of the prophet Elijah. The Kings of Israel had turned from the Lord. They “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all their fathers had done. For they also built for themselves high places, and pillars and Ashe’rim on every high hill and under every green tree.” (1Kings 14:22-23) There were many ‘Kings’ during this period following the death of Solomon… each listed as worse than the one before.

4 November 2018 – The 31^st Sunday of Ordinary Time

In the Gospel there is a scribe who comes forth and asks Jesus, “Which commandment is the first of all?” The scribes were the individuals whose life it was to study, meticulously copy, interpret, comment and debate on the Law of God. In ancient times, there were very few people who could read or write, the Scribes in their ability to do both were in a position of respect because of their knowledge, dedication and “appearance” of keeping the Law.

The Scribe in the Gospel comes forth and asks Jesus his question after listening to Jesus respond to a debate amongst the Sadducees. The Sadducees were the ones responsible for maintaining the temple and collecting the temple taxes. The Sadducees had come to Jesus asking about the resurrection: if there were 7 brothers who one by one married the same woman and each left her a widow without child, whose wife would she be in heaven. Jesus points out that they “know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Mark 12:24) “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Mark 12:25) Jesus tells them: “[God] is not a God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.” (Mark 12:27)

The scribe upon hearing this is intrigued and asks… “Which commandment is the first of all?” Continue reading “The 31^st Sunday of Ordinary Time”

Simon Helps Jesus with his Cross

28 October 2018 – The 30^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

A blind man sits on the side of the road and calls out:

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” – Mark 10:47-49

There are blessings in our sorrows… In our weaknesses…

In the sermon on the mount Jesus teaches the Beatitudes… Blessed are poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are those who are meek. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst… Blessed are those calling out asking… begging… to be seen by the second set of individuals Christ Blesses: Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those willing to be persecuted for righteousness’s sake… Blessed are those who know their strengths and use them for the benefit of others.

Here on the roadside leading out of Jericho is a man noticeably from the first set… a man considered poor in spirit, mourning in his blindness but eager with a hunger to see. His faith (the spirit is actually strong within him) urges him to call out even though as a blind man, he is considered a nothing… an individual of no worth… by humanity. Many of the people around him mock him. Rebuke him. Tell him to be silent. Even though they are crowded about the Lord, they have no concept of what Jesus REALLY stands for. They are simply eager for the show, the chance of seeing a miracle… of getting a glimpse of this Man who is so very unlike all other men. In telling the beggar to be silent, in rebuking him, they show they are not merciful… They are not pure in heart… They have no love of their neighbor… the blind beggar. Continue reading “30^th Week of Ordinary Time”