31st Week in Ordinary Time, Wed. Nov.8th, and Thursday, Nov.9th

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18. Psalm 27:1.13-14. Luke 14:25-33

Several of the great themes of the Gospels are the proclaiming of God's realm or kingdom, the call to discipleship, and the theme of love. Today's Gospel is about the call to discipleship and it is Luke who is the one who gives this call a universal quality. Jesus is speaking to the "crowd" and calling them to take up their cross and follow him. I am reminded of the expression of Vatican II which is termed "the universal call to holiness." That means everyone of us is called by God no matter what our vocation may be. We are to be wholesomely holy. I think it crosses every barrier of language, race, and religion. We are all in this together. Today's paper showed how prayer can help us realize that we are a global people now and that peace is possible if we all take time to pray and lay aside the weapons of war, anger, and selfishness. The two parables that Jesus uses today are meant to make us think very seriously about this call to holiness. It requires reflection, prayer, and a good prudent decision if we are to follow the call of holiness and be the saints who come marching into the kingdom.

Those who have realized this and are following God or Jesus have to finish what the call to discipleship has begun. This means ongoing development and formation as disciples of God or Jesus. Each day offers us an opportunity for growth in the life of Christ within us. St. Paul is a good model for us. He comes to the conclusion that for him to live is Christ. The letters we have been hearing or reading are proof-positive that he followed the path of holiness after his extraordinary conversion to stop persecuting the Jewish Christians and to follow the words and example of Christ and the apostles. He even says that he is in labor with each person till Christ is formed in them. I like the last sentence of today's reading from Paul: "Even if my life is to be poured out as a libation over the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad of it and rejoice with all of you. May you be glad on the same score, and rejoice with me." Amen.

Thursday, November 9, 2006. Scripture: Philippians 3:3-8. Psalm 105:2-7. Luke 15:1-10.

Today we get a lot of information about Paul's origins and the beauty of this is that it comes directly from him as a first hand source. He is thoroughly Jewish in his origins. Circumcised on the eigth day, born of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee who sees the importance of keeping all 613 precepts of the Torah. Yet, he experiences a profound and dramatic change in his way of living religiously through his conversion on the way to Damascus. He is to stop persecuting the new followers of Jesus who will be called Christians. He takes up the new faith and is baptized and acknowledges Jesus not only as his personal Savior but as the Redeemer of all humankind. He now proclaims and preachers Christ everywhere. For him to live is Christ. His conversion was probably the most remarkable ever recorded in history and many are convinced that it is he not Jesus who founded Christianity! I personally do not think so, but he surely made this new faith in Christ grow as a religion centered on the proclamation of the kingdom of God based on Jesus' words and example.

Today's Gospel from Luke shows Jesus extending mercy and forgiveness to tax collectors and to sinners. He offers them reconciliation and forgiveness and shows them how to turn from their bad habits and sins. They have a new lease on life and are certainly welcome to any table where he is dining. Then he gives them two parables to point out what he means by forgiveness. The recovering of the lost sheep and the lost coin may well represent the sinners and the tax collectors respectively. Now both sinner and tax collector enjoy the freedom of the children of God.

Our own conversion experiences take place in new ways each day. They are an ongoing process of continually turning to the Lord and not ourselves. We are invited to practice the virtues and live out the commandments of God today with renewed vigor. Today is another new opportunity for us to experience the value of our initial conversion experience and to deepen it through our convictions and perseverance. Amen.