Scripture: I Samuel 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-25. Psalm 103. I Cor.15:45-50 Luke
6:27-38.

Frequently, people ask whether the actual words of Jesus are recorded in
the Gospels. Over ten years ago, the "Jesus Seminar" created many doubts
about whether we could find the actual words of Jesus anywhere. But the
Seminar had its time and since then many people are on to new ways of
studying Scripture and also realizing that the works of the Evangelists are
primarily written by inspired writers who committed their lives to Jesus
and wrote from a faith-witness perspective to audiences who were believers
in Jesus and his words and actions. The Gospels are historical records
about Jesus and no other literature comes close to knowing about him as
these witnesses do. Some of the evangelists may have even been martyred
for their witness to Jesus. In fact, the word witness in Greek is Martyr!
The Gospels are clear pathways for the lives of Christian believers and are
cherished memories of the Savior for their and our journeys of faith each
day. To really get to the heart of the Gospels one must enter into the
inspired message as much as the Evangelists themselves. It is a thing of
the heart as well as of the mind when we read and reflect on the words and
actions of Jesus. What led me to think along these lines about whether
Jesus' words are authentic or not, was the tremendous impact the Gospel for
today had on me as I prayed and meditated on the text. I was led to feel
called to be generous, compassionate, and self-effacing. In a real sense,
one most lose one's life in order to gain it as Jesus said in Mark's
Gospel. Who else besides Jesus could have said as we hear today, " You are
to be as merciful as your Father is merciful."(Luke 6:36).This is one of my
favorite verses in the Scriptures and it conveys one of Luke's themes
throughout what he tells us about Jesus. For a believer the "Jesus of
History" and the "Christ of faith" are one and the same; each perception
leads to a deeper insight into who Jesus is. Who else but Jesus would
say, "Who do you say I am?" He was not asking this of philosophers or
exegetes but of ordinary people who gathered around to listen to him. I
can picture Jesus saying the words that Luke has recorded if I allow my
heart to listen with the faith I have received and developed since my
Baptism when I was signed with the Sign of the Cross maybe for the first
time. The other readings for this Sunday are the framework for the words
of Jesus and they help us to pray them with a faith-filled heart, "The Lord
is kind and merciful!" (Psalm 103: 8)."Yes, the Lord is full of compassion
and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."(See Exodus 24:6). In
the historical account of David in the first book of Samuel, we see that
David (his name means the Beloved), is merciful to the sad and envious
Saul. He could have ended the king's life, but spared him mercifully. As
I continued my prayer I was led to appreciate another prayerful line from
the Psalm which reads, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the
Lord has compassion for those who fear him." (v.13). Jesus speaks to us in
prayer and moments of reflection whenever we allow his words to enter into
the depth of our hearts. My memory led me to think of these words from the
Book of Revelation, "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you
hear my voice and open the door, I will come to you and eat with you, and y
ou with me....Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying
to the churches." (Rev. 3:20,22). This is how Jesus words move the believer
and the community of believers who share his words with one another. Amen.