Category: Luke

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Friday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

Christianity does not require us to be constantly changing, but it does require us to grow deeper in our relationship with God.  The Old Covenant was satisfied with external practices that were necessary and part of belonging to the people of God.  The New Covenant is a new way of belonging to God, it is not based on repeated performances.  The New Covenant is a belonging that is rooted in love – not one based in having the same opinions or practices as other believers.

So even though Tradition and traditions are important to our identity (individually and collectively), the goodness that comes from their venerable age cannot substitute the active discernment Charity demands.  We’ve said and done things certain ways for hundreds or thousands of years.  The only reason to continue, however, is because those ways and those things conform to Charity and Truth.  If we discern that the old garment is no longer Christ, we must first put on Christ – put on Charity – not simply patch up the old. read more

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Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA:

Zacchaeus was leader of the tax collectors, a man entirely abandoned to greed, whose only goal was the increase of his gains. This was the practice of the tax collectors, although Paul calls it idolatry,4 possibly as being suitable only for those who have no knowledge of God. Since they shamelessly, openly professed this vice, the Lord very justly joined them with the prostitutes, saying to the leaders of the Jews, “The prostitutes and the tax collectors go before you into the kingdom of God.”5 Zacchaeus did not continue to be among them, but he was counted worthy of mercy at Christ’s hands. He calls near those who are far away and gives light to those who are in darkness. read more

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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE:

We defeat the adversary only if we fight with tears and with prayers, in continual humility of heart. It is written, in fact, that “the prayer of the humble penetrates the clouds and is not withdrawn from God until it is answered.” The weeping of the humble is therefore a great antidote against carnal concupiscence. Tears that spring from compunction of heart defeat the enemy and gain for us the gift of a victorious happiness. In fact, those who “go out weeping, scattering their seeds, will return rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.” How wisely the holy prophet teaches that the seeds of good works must be watered with rivers of tears! Indeed, no seed germinates without being watered. Nor does a seed bear fruit if it has been without the benefit of water. We also, therefore, if we wish to harvest the fruits of our seeds, should not cease watering them with tears, which should spring from the heart more than from the body. This is why we are told through the prophet to rend our hearts, not our garments. read more