Friar’s Corner: May the Father of Jesus enlighten our whole being
Isaiah 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14
Last week we spoke of getting under the spout where the glory comes out,The glory referred to opening our being to receive as much of the life of God as possible for us to receive. We do that in reading the New Testament, receiving the sacraments frequently and through our prayer life.
This fills us up with the living-giving water Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in John 4:13-14, "Everyone who drinks this water (from Jacob’s well) will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life…the water I shall give will become in that person a spring of water welling up to eternal life." We want to drink often of that water, yes?
This week the Alleluia phrase before the Gospel asks God to enlighten our understanding for more of what God has for us. In St. John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks seven times about being the Light of the world. Before his passion to free us from our sins, Jesus appeared in his glory on Mt. Tabor with Moses and Elijah. Peter, James and John were with him and wanted to remain in that glorious light. On earth we cannot remain all the time in that light but only when we get to heaven. Yet through our prayerful closeness to Jesus, we gain more of this light. When we get closer to Jesus, we get our batteries charged and our light intensified so we "shine" brighter for him in the world.
This weekend three readings refer to a banquet of choice food and wine. And we have Psalm 23, the Lord is my Shepherd, which is so easy to memorize, "You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." As Jesus enlightens our minds, we can see these pointing to what happens each day at the altar at the Eucharistic Liturgy, the Mass.
At the beginning we learn a little more about our faith history and how we are to live our life here on earth. Then we are fed with the greatest meal on earth and Jesus is our food. "Take this all of you and eat of it for this is my Body, my Blood.” Does this thrill you? Yet most of our parishioners present on Sunday don’t even understand this great miracle.
Jesus comes again each day to feed us. This is the great wedding feast we are invited to share in, if we can come. Some responsibilities keep many who have to work each day from coming. We come hungry so God can fill us up. Then he blesses us and sends us out to feed those we meet during the day. We become little shepherds to feed and bless others. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.
Let us get closer to Jesus and continue to beg him to pour out more of his love and power on our country and especially throughout the Moslem world so they come to know him as their Lord and Savior.
Peace!
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2014 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
