Opinion-Editorial NEWS

On this feast of St. Andrew the apostle, the Gospel narrates the call of the first four disciples. Note that the call is a personal invitation by Jesus. Also, they are called amidst their daily activities: they were “casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.” This invitation to Peter, Andrew, James, and John has two dimensions: “Come after me” (become my disciples) and you will be “fishers of men” (sent out as apostles on a mission to preach the Gospel).

MARK 13:33-37

Pope Francis points out that “Jesus, many times in his preaching, cautions us to be vigilant, to hold vigil, and keep watch.” The Pope adds that on one occasion, “Jesus advised watchfulness, ‘for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ Indeed, ‘vigilance’ should be practiced ‘in relation to the coming of the Lord.’ On other occasions Jesus makes this same recommendation emphasizing the importance of ‘being prepared,’ for example, in the case of the ten maidens—both the prudent ones and those who were imprudent or unprepared.’ The former ‘had everything prepared, even the oil for the lamps’; the latter, however, were complaisant, ‘without a thought to being prepared.’ ”

The Lord Jesus, in the Gospel, “teaches the disciples by simple examples to understand what is happening.” As Pope Francis explains, Jesus invites them to look at “the fig tree and all the trees” and notice that when they sprout leaves, summer is coming. “Jesus encourages us in simple words to think and understand… not only with our heads,” but also “with heart and spirit,” with our whole selves. That is precisely what “thinking as Christians” means, so that we can “understand the signs of the times.”

Jesus said to His disciples: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the Scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

During this entire last week of the liturgical year, scripture often presents us with strange and frightening images. For example, in the Gospel Jesus speaks of persecution and imprisonment, betrayal by family and friends, and even hatred because of our faith. Is this a time of surrender, panic, disorientation, and confusion? What should be our attitude in face of these many difficulties?

To live in poverty deprived of life’s necessities is not a value. Human persons, created in God’s image, are to have a dignified existence. Yet, Jesus declares those “blessed” in God’s Kingdom whose lot is actual poverty caused by circumstances or persecution—if they remain generous, even in their need.

MATTHEW 25:31-46

A pious tradition holds that as a child Mary was presented and educated near the Jerusalem Temple. This apocryphal story can serve to remind us of how Mary is honored and called blessed in the Church.

Pope Francis comments on Jesus’ cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem, which he does “with whip in hand.” Jesus drives out “pagan ways, in this case the behavior of the traders who were buying and selling.” He declares, “It is written: my house shall be called a house of prayer” and “not anything else.” “The temple is a holy place. And we should enter into its holiness to worship; not for anything else.”

The Gospel finds Jesus weeping at the gates of Jerusalem. The city has closed its heart to Him and His message, not wishing to receive Him. Pope Francis notes, “This closing makes Jesus weep; the closure of the heart of His chosen One, His chosen city, His chosen people, who didn’t have time to open the gate.” Even today, “Jesus is still knocking on doors, as He knocked at the gate of the heart of Jerusalem: At the doors of His brothers, of His sisters, at our doors, at the doors of our heart, at the doors of His Church.”

Gospel • LUKE 19:11-28 [or MATTHEW 14:22-33]

The Gospel narrates the experience of an “unseeing” man, a blind man, who ends up being cured. Commenting on this scene, Pope Francis notes that, though the man was blind, “he wasn’t foolish; he knew all that went on in the city.” Thus, “he heard the noise and inquired: what’s happening?” “When he heard Jesus was coming, he cried out.” And, when “they told him to be silent, he cried out even louder.” Francis asks, “What was the reason for his behavior?”

MATTHEW 25:14-30 [or 25:14-15, 19-21]

Commenting on this Gospel about the widow who insistently implores the corrupt judge to give her justice, Pope Francis notes it manifests that God always wishes to answer His people’s needs. For Francis, “knocking, asking, complaining of many problems, many sufferings, and asking the Lord to free us from those sufferings, those sins, those problems,” is actually our “human strength.” “Prayer, even the humblest person’s prayer” is powerful, because if God has a weakness, Francis explains, it is for people’s prayer. “It’s God’s weakness. The Lord is only weak about this.”
This Gospel gives us food for thought about “God’s power, which is so clear, so strong.” Francis notes that the Church speaks about it especially at Christmas time, because “the culmination of God’s power, God’s salvation, was the incarnation of the Word.” “When darkness and sin covered the world, God’s Word leapt from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed.” Indeed, for Pope Francis, “the incarnation of the Word was the high point of our salvation.”
We are to be “like the widow: Praying, asking, knocking at the door of God’s heart — every day.”

The Pharisees in the Gospel are again testing Jesus through many questions: When will the Kingdom of God come? Where is it to be found? Is it “here” or “there”? Jesus simply replies that God’s Kingdom is already in our midst. Thus, we should remain calm, not running about excitedly, seeking to find some hidden source, a new visionary, or some miraculous event.

The Gospel narrates the merciful action of Jesus in curing the ten lepers. Certainly, to be healed of such a horrible affliction is a great gift, flowing from Jesus’ compassion. Surprisingly, only one returns to express his gratitude to Jesus and to praise God. Thus, Jesus asks, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” And he was a Samaritan!

The Gospel for the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, known as the “mother of all churches,” emphasizes that God’s temple is holy and must not be profaned. We all should be deeply grateful that we are members of the Catholic Church. Many reasons can be given.