LSC-July B – Season of Patterns. In this month’s liturgy we get His pattern through the prophets; not only in how they are similar but how they are different. Our Gospels give us a blueprint of ministry to follow. The Living Seasons of Change broadcast “Season of Patterns” includes the 14th to 17th Sundays of Ordinary Time of Year B. Hosted by Patti Brunner with Msgr. David LeSieur. For audio link and the script and references please continue reading.
Link to Listen to Audio: Season of Patterns
When God created the sun and the stars, He laid down for us a pattern that can be followed and used so that we don’t get lost. The Lord also lays down a pattern for us to follow through Sacred Scripture and apostolic tradition. In this month’s Liturgy, we get his pattern through the prophets; not only in how they are similar but how they are different. Our Gospels give us a blueprint of ministry to follow. The scripture readings of this season show us a pattern of the single mindedness of bringing the light of Christ into the world. The prophets and leaders of the Old Testament laid the groundwork giving us a ‘roadmap’ of hope and expectation. Even though there was failure, the Divine Will of God appointed holy men to perform righteous acts. These can be found throughout the writings. As we look at the healings and mighty deeds, we see the pattern of the kingdom. Man is not meant to live in the darkness of sin and death and disappointment; man is created to live in the presence of God. For transcript, outline and list of readings please continue reading.
Radio Transcript of Seasons of Patterns, Living Seasons of Change
Patti: Welcome to Living Seasons of Change and the Season of Patterns. Our listeners can find the readings and the references for our show today at PatriarchMinistries.com. When God created the sun and the stars, He laid down for us a pattern that can be followed and used so that we don’t get lost. The Lord also lays down a pattern for us to follow through Sacred Scripture and apostolic tradition. In this month’s Liturgy, we get his pattern through the prophets; not only in how they are similar but how they are different. Our Gospels give us a blueprint of ministry to follow. I’m Patti Brunner and my co-host is Msgr. David LeSieur, a priest of the Catholic Church, here in the diocese of Little Rock. Welcome, Monsignor!
Msgr. David LeSieur: Thank you, Patti. The first readings on the 14th through 17th Sundays of Ordinary time bring us the prophets Ezekiel, Amos, and Jeremiah, and, from 2nd Kings, the prophet Elisha. The prophets and leaders of the Old Testament laid the groundwork, a ‘roadmap’ of hope and expectation.
Patti: Even though there was failure, the Divine Will of God appointed holy men to perform righteous acts. We look to those prophets—and the single-mindedness of the righteous acts that they perform—as we recognize our own call.
Msgr.: Like the prophets we are called to the single purpose or single mindedness of bringing the light of Christ into the world. We are all called by God to listen to His word, and to share His word.
Patti: When you look at the underlying need for these prophets, they are all very similar. Their calls, however, were very different. Our four readings show us how God calls assorted people. When we think about people who are called by the Lord, we might think that just the priests or the religious are called. But the liturgy readings show us that it’s really a scattered pattern. We have the priest Ezekiel who has visions before he is called by God and our reading says how he is “filled with the spirit and “set on his feet”[i] and is sent forth by the word of God. Then we have Amos who wasn’t trained at all.
Msgr.: He was a “Dresser of sycamore trees”.
Patti: Right! He cut wood for a living and he was a shepherd. He was just a working guy. Then, there’s Jeremiah, who was called in the womb. He was especially reluctant. He was young.
Msgr.: Very young.[ii], the Lord says in Jeremiah 1: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” That was his excuse, “I’m too young.” “I don’t know how to speak, I am only a child”[iii].
Patti: Then we have Elisha who was in training. This guy wanted it. He followed Elijah around and wanted to be God’s prophet.
Msgr.: Even asked for a double portion of the Spirit[iv].
Patti: He did, he did. So, this pattern of variety shows us that we can fit in there, too, young or old, trained or untrained, eager or reluctant.
Msgr.: Like the apostles, these prophets have such different backgrounds. Amos was a regular person. He was a shepherd, a dresser of the sycamore trees. Jeremiah was called from a very, very early time in his life. Elisha followed Elijah’s pattern. Elijah was a very powerful prophet. Ezekiel was a prophet of the exile time in Israel’s history; so was Jeremiah. During those crises times of a nation’s history, God raises up people to speak, to give hope and also to challenge and call people back to fidelity.
Patti: Elisha evidently was wealthy because he had 24 oxen—12 pair—he was the one who burned his plow and fed people his yoke of oxen to prove he wouldn’t be tempted to go back to his farm.
Msgr.: But he was also working when he got the call. He was behind the plow of the 12th pair of oxen.
Patti: So, the Lord can call the wealthy and the poor. Amos preached in a time of prosperity and peace rather than in economic turmoil; because, the people in their prosperity had started relying on self and turning away from the Lord. It shows how we have a continual need for people to turn us back to the Lord. When we are in turmoil, we need that light of Christ shining forth, but we need it other times too. The prophets stepped in where leadership failed, when people were in darkness for whatever reason.
Msgr.: God would not let the people go without someone to remind them or to draw them back or to cajole them, or perhaps to “get angry” with them. As God’s nation was formed, Moses led the people. Then, after that time, you had the Judges, then you had kings who were to be a shepherd for the people. Intermixed with the kings you had the prophets. There is always somebody. God will never let His people go without some kind of faithful leadership. If the royal leadership fails, the prophet will straighten them out. The prophet Nathan straightened out King David when he committed adultery. God will not let his people go without a shepherd. We believe that the Church is our leader and we have a pope who leads the church on earth.
Patti: I’ve been reading a little book about Pope John XXIII. When he was elected Pope they thought he was going to die right away.
Msgr.: He was expected to just be a “do nothing” interim pope yet by divine inspiration he established Vatican Council II.
Patti: John the 23rd did so much! His inspired wisdom is patterned after the prophets. One time he talked about evil as he compared facing communism to facing the giant Goliath, he said, “We are face to face with someone who seems awesome. But he is not strong; he is not powerful, because he is the expression of error, of covetousness, of violence. Sometimes we are invaded by misgivings and become fearful at the thought of the morrow. Nevertheless, this giant must succumb before the will, the grace and the mercy of God. Nor must we think that the victory of this Goliath need bring destruction and universal ruin in its wake, because, even at times when he is dominant, there are still souls nourished with the same light as ourselves, and who remain faithful and very close to us and who share the same Christian and apostolic ideal” [v] We can apply these words of Pope John 23rd to the threats of terrorism and the rising anti-Christian factions—they are expressions of error and they will fail.
Msgr.: Yes. Their light is darkness.
Patti: Trust God. Everything is going to work out because the Lord has put this failsafe in us. He is not going to allow darkness to triumph–ever.
Msgr.: “I am with you always until the end of the world.”
Patti: That’s right. It might look dark but it’s not.
Msgr.: And if we will follow the light – look for the light, discern it and not let the darkness be our guide—Communism or any kind of ideology like that is just “off”. It will lead you in the wrong place every time. It’s like when a man is flying a jet, one of these supersonic jets or fighter jet, you are way up there. You don’t know if you are right side up or right side down. You can’t tell. So, if you are upside down and you think you are going up, you will hit the ground sooner or later. So, if your guidance is skewed or upside down, you are going to crash sooner or later. You might think you are going in the right direction but you are not. This is what Pope John was saying about atheistic communism. It’s going in the wrong direction. It can’t possibly succeed because it’s flying upside down. Its pathway is a dark pathway. It doesn’t lead anywhere.
Patti: We can say the same thing about terrorism.
Msgr.: Terrorism. Terrorists. That’s a dark life. Terrorist leaders convince the people who explode suicide bombs; they have been sold a bill of goods by the terrorist leaders. Why don’t the terrorist leaders set off the suicide bomb? Why don’t they do that? They get other people to do it.
Patti Brunner: When you follow Christ and the leaders He has anointed, you step out of the desert, and the fullness of the Lord is upon you. As you step from darkness into the light you see clearly what was hidden in darkness. Through the redemption of the Cross all creation is once again restored to heavenly purposes. We should not fear the darkness; it can never take over. The Light of Christ forever prevents that.
Msgr. David LeSieur: On the 17th Sunday we hear about the prophet Elisha and an Old Testament account of multiplication of loaves.
Patti: Elisha feeds a hundred people, fulfilling a prophecy or word from the Lord.
Msgr.: II Kings 4:42-44 –A man brought Elisha “twenty barley loaves made from the first-fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said. But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha insisted. “For thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’” And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the Lord said.” It was a prophetic action that Elisha did – multiplying loaves—to speak about God’s abundance. When Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes there were 12 baskets left over. That gospel is from the 6th chapter of John which is the beginning of the Bread of Life Discourse. Every summer in Year B we do the Bread of Life Discourse. Be sure and listen in next month for it.
Patti: Let’s go back to the 14th Sunday and the 12th chapter of 2nd Corinthians. I’ve heard lots of different ideas of what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” could be. I myself have thought the Corinthians themselves were the thorn. One commentary says that in scripture a thorn is a euphemism for an enemy[vi]. I thought that was interesting. In other words, Paul’s enemies are persecuting him. It could be a particular sect or person that is causing him a lot of problems.
Msgr.: A thorn in the flesh: Paul says it’s “An angel of satan to beat me to keep me from getting proud.”[vii] Some people have thought it might have been bad eyesight because in his letter to the Galatians Paul said, “You would give me your very eyes if I asked you to.”[viii]
Patti: I have heard it said that it was some physical problem he had. He can heal others but he himself was not healed.
Msgr.: Paul had scales on his eyes as he was converted. There might be some fallout from that. I’ve always thought it was some kind of sin he deals with. When people confess a sin that they committed many times before, I say, “Maybe that’s your thorn in the flesh.” St. Paul begged the Lord to remove this thorn and the Lord said, “My grace is enough.” I try to encourage people sometimes by saying, “The Lord will give You His grace and His grace will be enough even if He doesn’t take away the temptation to this sin. He will give you the grace to withstand it.
Patti: The “thorn” tries to get you to lose your focus, coming between you and what you should be doing––it draws you away from that. When you quit focusing on the “thorn” you can say, “Okay, it’s there. Let’s move on.” That really helps you to return to a single-mindedness like the prophets. When you keep focused on what you are called to do, the other stuff falls to the wayside, even thorns.
Msgr.: To acknowledge it; right, then don’t give it any more credit. You just say, “Okay, it’s there. Let’s move on.”
Patti: Pain can be that thorn, or sinfulness or temptation, aggravation, failure, a lot of things. Our gospels this season show us the pattern Jesus had in ministering; he healed everyone! Even when He set aside time to be with His disciples, He still continued to minister. He also taught his disciples to minister and insisted on their on-the-job training, like the saying: give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. Jesus gave us a pattern of tapping into the supernatural to take care of people’s needs. Jesus lays down for us a pattern to bring the presence of God to others through ministry.
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Patti Brunner: Welcome back, I’m Patti Brunner and I’m talking with Msgr. David LeSieur.
Msgr. David LeSieur: On the 15th Sunday of Ordinary time, our gospel is Mark chapter 6: verses 7-13. Jesus sends the disciples out two by two.
Patti: He is sending them off two by two to heal and cast off demons. This is the first time He sends them off. He says to not take anything with them, just each other. That shows our need for Christian community as we step out.
Msgr.: The fact that they take nothing with them on this trip except what they might be wearing has always indicated to me if you are going to preach the kingdom you have to trust the kingdom. The kingdom of Heaven is trusting God. In a different gospel, Matthew chapter 6, Jesus expands on trusting, explaining that the birds do not sow and do not reap yet the Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more important than them? Seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness and all else will be given to you[ix]. Seeking the kingdom basically means trusting the Father. Here in Mark Jesus sends them out two by two with nothing, to speak of, depending upon the hospitality of those they preach to. This is a very simple lifestyle they are supposed to lead. That challenges Christians and even Christian priests and ministers. We don’t go without too much. Monks take a vow of poverty but priests don’t. I think we are challenged to live as simply as we can.
Patti: In the Gospel of Luke the first time He sends them out, in chapter 9, Jesus says, “Don’t take anything.”[x] The second time, in chapter 22, Jesus says, “Take your money bag.” [xi]
Msgr.: In Mark 6: verse 8 & 9 Jesus told them to “take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.”[xii]
Patti: It is right before Jesus was arrested, in the Gospel of Luke, that we hear Jesus’ 2nd set of instructions in Luke 22: “He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.” Jesus wants them to realize everything is about to change and that they, too, will be persecuted. As long as they were going out and healing people and casting out demons, they were going to be accepted. Everyone was going to welcome them in. When they start preaching “change your ways!” and the Resurrection and that sort of thing, then they are going to start being persecuted.
Msgr.: Going out two by two, traveling light. In Mark chapter 10, Jesus said it’s hard for a wealthy man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven[xiii]. If you are going to enter it or preach about it, you can’t be burdened down too much, with too many possessions, or maybe even too much worry. The less you have, the less you worry about losing it. You might worry about where your next meal is coming from but if don’t have a computer you don’t worry about it breaking. In the 16th Sunday’s gospel of Ordinary time, the apostles return from their initial mission trip.
Patti: They are giving their report. By going out they have really stirred up the countryside. The people are seeing the works that these guys are doing and that’s drawing them in. The crowds are coming to hear Jesus and to get more. The crowd, following Jesus, is growing. The people have pressed in and Jesus says, “Let’s take some time off to rest”;
Msgr.: People were coming and going in great numbers and Jesus and the apostles had no opportunity to even have time to eat.
Patti: I bet you can speak to that.
Msgr.: I always take time to eat.
Patti: But the needs of the people are so great sometimes.
Msgr.: They can be. I’m sure it was overwhelming for them. The more they ministered to people the more people came. It is like they are creating a perpetual motion. Many came to know about them and they hastened on foot. “All of the towns arrived before them”. It says “people saw them leaving.” They anticipated where they were going to be. Jesus tries to take the apostles away to rest but the people find them.[xiv] Jesus said to the apostles, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” He wants to get away so the crowds don’t make Him a king. But the people find out where He is and they follow.
Patti Brunner: Instead of resting, Jesus ministers to them then He teaches them. There is definitely a ministry pattern of taking care of people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual needs: healing, feeding, educating, resting. And he does each abundantly—with leftovers!
Msgr.: That’s it. The abundant God is superabundant when He ministers to us. He feeds us. He isn’t stingy with His gifts.
Patti: Our Bishop calls his priests away for retreats, to regroup and have quiet time. Recharge your batteries and so forth. It is important for ministers to receive ministry.
Msgr.: Yes, they need time away. Jesus wanted to give that to His apostles. They were all tired, I’m sure. The work you do can be great, it can be energizing; still, you do need time to recharge your batteries, not only to recreate but also to have quality time with the Lord. It is almost as though the twelve were with Jesus but they were always busy and they didn’t have time to enjoy Him or be with Him, so He said, “Let’s go apart and rest awhile so we can be together.”
Patti: And the need for community—to have someone to relax with when you are finished with what you are doing. You draw from each other in that you are rejuvenated when you relax with someone who thinks the way you do.
Msgr.: Yes. Paul traveled with Barnabas and Silas.
Patti: He did. Paul usually had someone with him. John Mark when he was young.
Msgr.: Timothy is with Paul as he writes the 2nd Letter to Corinthians we hear on the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Paul is in prison as he writes to the Ephesians that we begin on the 15th Sunday. At the end of Acts, Paul is by himself preaching to them in his house arrest.
Patti: I’ve always liked that Chapter 2 of Ephesians where Jesus breaks down the dividing wall. One new person in place of two, thus establishing peace. He overcomes the barrier of whatever it is that is keeping us from the fullness of God.
Msgr.: In Ephesians, he was writing to Gentile Christians. They had been separated and they were brought in. The separating wall was broken down between Gentile and Jew by Jesus. That was Paul’s mission to preach to the Gentiles. Ephesians chapter 2 says, “He broke down the dividing wall, one new person in place of two, thus establishing peace.” Even though we have Gentiles and Jews, they can be one. We can give all kinds of examples. In our parish we have Anglos and Hispanics. We are one. We are one body. We feel the differences between ourselves because we have different languages and even different ways of thinking sometimes. Yet, we must remember that the dividing wall has been broken down because we all belong to Christ. We are all Catholic. We all share the Body and Blood of Jesus.
Patti: We see that especially on the 17th Sunday where in Ephesians 4 Paul lists 7 things that we are ‘one’ in. We are one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Father of all us[xv]. Paul is pointing out how much we are one. Sometimes when we are visiting with someone, or ministering, they will say, “We go to so and so church”; they are not a Catholic. I say, “You know, it is the same Jesus, the same Holy Spirit.” It is a common denominator that we have. We are one. We may not look at things the same way but we are one.
Msgr.: One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Patti: Paul also lists virtues. He instructs us: “Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received with all humility, gentleness, patience, bearing through love, unity in the spirit through the bond of peace”. He is calling us to remember that’s the pattern. That’s what is going to happen. If we follow Christ, people will be able recognize the light of Christ in us because of these things.
Msgr.: Being a person of Christ doesn’t mean you are going to be shielded from difficulties, but you are given the strength to deal with them.
Patti: Paul says in II Corinthians that the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient.” We’re not called to be poor or to be weak but Paul is showing that even in weakness, even in poverty, we can receive that fullness of the Lord. I think you’ve got to be submissive to the Lord to receive His fullness.
Msgr.: There could be other kinds of weakness, a weakness that you are ashamed of. The weakness of not being able to be courageous when the time comes, like Peter. Peter backed down, denying the Lord. That was a weakness that led Peter to repentance. In that sense, Peter’s weakness was an occasion for God’s grace to be stronger in Peter. He went out and wept. In weakness, he wept. Yet, in it, he was forgiven.
Patti Brunner: God’s strength can work its best in us when we are weak in the sense we don’t depend upon our own strength. We can be very strong people yet be submissive to the Lord; very good, solid, strong people and still be humble about it.
Msgr. David LeSieur: I think that is what he is talking about. Even if we have strong characteristics and are good and righteous–Joseph was a righteous man. He submitted to the Lord when he got the dream about taking Mary as his wife. There is never any indication in Scripture that Joseph was not righteous. My point is we don’t depend upon our strength but upon God’s. His strength can take over because there is room in our hearts for His strength. If it’s our strength, there is no room for God.
Patti: I know when we minister at the hospital it is pretty easy to see that most people really turn to the Lord in their need.
Msgr.: Because they are at their weakest; in terms of being weak and recognizing how much we need the Lord in our weakest moments, that’s when He does His best work, when we let Him.
Patti: And, again, Jesus shows the way with the mighty deeds and the healings, they show us the light of Christ. We are not meant to live in the darkness. As you said, “the Lord’s plan for us”. He will always give us a way to find Him again. He always provides that; whether He raises up a prophet or He allows the illness or whatever, He will give us a way to find Him again. He is always going to give us the choice because we are created to live in His presence. As we look at the healings and mighty deeds, we see the pattern of the kingdom. Man is not meant to live in darkness, the darkness of sin and death; the darkness of disappointment; man is created to live in the presence of God.
Msgr.: The choice is always ours. If we truly choose Him out of free will, it means we love Him. If He forced us to choose Him, there is no love in that. God wouldn’t want that. God wants our free acts of love, just like anybody else would, too. All of us want that. We don’t want to force anybody into loving us or liking us. In fact, you can’t.
Patti: He does help us to choose him. God will always appoint people to perform righteous acts so that we can see them, so we have someone to follow. Of course, Jesus is our number one pattern. His righteousness is lived out in others so that we can look at that person we consider holy or righteous and want to be like them. We can see the peace they have or the joy they have.
Msgr.: We want that.
Patti: We want that; or their giftedness in the spirit—if they have a gift of teaching or a gift of preaching or a gift of exhortation or whatever. We long to have what they have.
Msgr.: We have to want it for the right reasons, though. Not like Simon the Magician who wanted to buy the gifts.
Patti: That story is in Acts, chapter 8. Simon the Magician wanted to buy the gifts to get the power[xvi]. Prophets and leaders of the Old Testament laid the groundwork, a road map of hope and expectation. We look at Paul and we look at the gospels. I think that is what we see today, too, with the people the Lord lifts up, the expectation of receiving a fullness of the Lord. In times when there is so much turmoil and unrest in the economy, we continue to trust in the Lord. Even though He expects us to do things, because He has given us the ability to operate in the world, He still is going to take care of us. The bottom line is He is going to take care of us.
Msgr.: Because He knows we can’t take care of ourselves. If we try to take care of ourselves, then I think He holds back and says, “We’ll see how far you go with that.” Hopefully, that causes us to cycle back and say, “Okay, I can’t do that on my own.”
Patti: Ever since we were getting ready to build this church, I have had a sense there was going to come a time, of turmoil, when people were going to turn to the church in their great need and there would be people just waiting to come in to be ministered to. We would even be running shifts of people ministering because the great need would be there, even taking care of their physical needs. I don’t know what the fulfillment of that is, when it is going to happen, or how it is going to happen. Currently, at our parish food pantry, we are taking care of people’s physical needs. It’s amazing where the food comes from, that we are able to take care for so many families.
Msgr.: Yes. Now, that jobs are scarce.
Patti: When economic times get worse the Lord steps up His grace and with his grace comes peace.
Msgr.: Maybe He steps up the ability to get the food. I just think that He invites us to trust Him and when we finally do trust Him, He shows you what He can do. It is when we don’t trust Him, in a way we tie His hands. If we don’t trust Him, it is as if He is going to say, “All right, I’ll step back since you want Me to.”
Patti: When we trust him, He steps forward into our lives. For example, once my youngest daughter’s car had a mechanical problem and the “check engine” light came on. We took it in for servicing but when she picked it up it still had the issue and that caused some stress in our family. I don’t know anything about cars. On my way to deal with it, anxiety started churning up but then I thought, “Wait a minute. The Lord is taking care of us. He is going to take care of this. It will all work out. “Lord, I put it in your hands. I trust you. You will take care of it one way or the other”. All of sudden, that divine peace came in. All the turmoil was gone. And the Lord did take care of it.
Msgr.: The light went out?
Patti: No. We had to make another trip down to the service place. But because there was this confusion, instead of costing $200 there was no charge to fix it.
Msgr.: So the engine light was not malfunctioning, it was on for a reason.
Patti: It was on for a reason. The Lord worked it all out. What a blessing! Trusting in the Lord gave me peace and a new witness of his provision! He is going to see us through. Sometime He does that by providing somebody that does know what they are doing!
Msgr.: I think that probably happens a lot. Maybe we don’t realize it or we don’t make the connection that it worked out better than what I thought it would. I must say, in my life, things always tend to work out all right.
Patti: I have another example, this year my husband didn’t get his incentive bonus because his employer didn’t make the profit that was their target. I just put that in the Lord’s hands. “Okay, we didn’t get the bonus. You provided for us all these years we got the bonus. Thank you, Lord, for the years past.” Then, the grad school my daughter decided to go to gave her an entry grant and a scholarship she did not apply for at all. She did not apply for them. They wrote her and said, “We have this unusual scholarship for someone from Arkansas and you qualify.” We said, “What do we have to do to apply for it?” and they said, “You don’t have to apply for it. You just have to accept it.” When we totaled up those two awards they are the same amount of the bonus he would have gotten.
Msgr.: That’s amazing.
Patti: Time after time the Lord does for that for us.
Msgr.: Miracles are little reminders that “I am here. Call on Me.”
Patti: It’s just trusting. It is that confidence to sit back and say, “I trust you, Lord.” It is not that we do nothing and are presumptive of Him but it is that stepping back from worries, stepping back from anxiety and stepping back from the fear, and just trusting the Lord and thanking Him for what He has done. If He hadn’t given us that little bonus of the scholarships it wouldn’t have caused us to love Him less; but by giving us this, it’s just another opportunity to thank Him and give witness to His abundance, His leftovers.
Msgr. David LeSieur: Right, his twelve baskets of leftovers. On the 17th Sunday we switch over to John’s Gospel and we go on to a more Eucharistic theme. Here Jesus told Andrew, “Will you give them something to eat? You feed them.” “We don’t have but two loaves and a couple of fish. What is that for so many?” Maybe we could relate that to the prophets, saying “What can I do? What can I do?” As Isaiah said, “I’m a man of unclean lips. I can’t be a prophet.” Jeremiah said, “I’m too young.” “Amos said, “I’m just a dresser of sycamore trees. I’m just a shepherd.” We have all these excuses. And Jesus’ answer in John: “Well, give them what you’ve got. Let me have what you have, little though it might be.” When we do that, when we offer Him what we have, He can do lots of things with it if we are willing enough to trust Him with our few abilities.
Patti Brunner: So, a reluctant prophet, like Jonah who finally got it and finally went to Nineveh, with a halfhearted attempt at preaching, the people converted.
Msgr. David LeSieur: So, we allow the Lord to work through us with our seemingly small abilities. I deal with this all the time. I feel like, “How can I do all this?” Yet, the Lord will help me or He will send someone who can help me with it. It gets done. Usually after some amount of stewing about it or saying, “What am I going to do? This is just too much.” I think He just wants us to trust Him enough to say, “Okay, here’s what little I’ve got, Lord.” He can expand it. He can be abundant with us. But we have to give it back. He gives it to us to begin with, the talent or whatever ability. If we will say, “Okay, here it is back.” I try to do that with my days. At the beginning of my day when I pray I say, “Thank you, Lord, for giving me this day and I want to offer it back to you. I want to give this day back to you as a gift or as a sacrifice and I hope it will be pleasing.” Of course, I have no idea what the day is going to be like. Hopefully, at the end of the day I will have done something that is pleasing to Him; if nothing else, just going through my schedule, being faithful to that schedule. Prophets are human beings who have their own problems, have their own agendas, their own downsides, I guess. If they will just step out there and let the Lord work with them, they can do amazing things. The Lord will do amazing things through them. He’ll speak to people He’ll help people. He wants to do it through us. He will do it Himself if He has to but He wants to do it through us.
Patti Brunner: Monsignor, would you give us your blessing?
Msgr. David LeSieur: [blessing]
Patti Brunner: Thank you Monsignor. To get a copy of the references in today’s show or to read the Liturgical readings please check the website PatriarchMinistries.com and to listen to this show or previous broadcasts click paduamedia.com and Padua Media – Living Seasons of Change [spell Padua media .com and Living Seasons of Change].
References below.
[i] Ezekiel 2: 2 “ As he spoke to me, spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking 3 say to me: Son of man, I am sending you”
[ii] Jeremiah 1: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” RSV
[iii] Jeremiah 1:6 “I don’t know how to speak I am only a child.”
[iv] 2 Kings 2: 9 “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.””
[v] Wit and Wisdom of Good Pope John collected by Henri Fesquet. Catholic Family Book Club. 1965. Pope John XXIII quoted p237 “We are face to face with someone who seems awesome. But he is not strong; he is not powerful, because he is the expression of error, of covetousness, of violence. Sometimes we are invaded by misgivings and become fearful at the thought of the morrow. Nevertheless, this giant must succumb before the will, the grace and the mercy of God. Nor must we think that the victory of this Goliath need bring destruction and universal ruin in its wake, because, even at times when he is dominant, there are still souls nourished with the same light as ourselves, and who remain faithful and very close to us and who share the same Christian and apostolic ideal.”
[vi] Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers Year B 2009. Mary A. Ehle. Liturgy Training Publications. P 227 “In the Old Testament thorns were symbols of enemies (Numbers 33:55).”
[vii] 2 Corinthians 12:7 “Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.”
[viii] Galatians 4: 12 I implore you, brothers, be as I am, because I have also become as you are. You did me no wrong; 13 you know that it was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the gospel to you, 14 and you did not show disdain or contempt because of the trial caused you by my physical condition, but rather you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 Where now is that blessedness of yours? Indeed, I can testify to you that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
[ix] Matthew 6: “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 28 Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29 But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32 All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34 Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
[x] Luke 9:1 “He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (the sick). 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” 6 Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”
[xi] Luke 22: “35 He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. 36 He said to them, * “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.”
[xii] Mark 6: “8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick–no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 9 They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.”
[xiii] Mark 10: “23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!””
[xiv] Mark 16:34 “Jesus tries to take them away to rest but the people find them.”
[xv] Ephesians 4: “4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
[xvi] Acts 8: 18 When Simon [the Magician] saw that the Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money. 21 You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven. 23 For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity.” 24 Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 So when they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the good news to many Samaritan villages.
Outline for Season of Patterns:
1st readings about prophets Unusual calls/ the naming of the prophets by God
[14th]Ezekiel 2:2-5 Ezekiel’s call by God to be a prophet, Ezekiel filled with the Spirit
[15th]Amos 7:12-15. Amos was a layperson, a shepherd when called as a prophet into ministry
Jeremiah, called in youth, Jeremiah 1: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” [RSV]
Elisha, trained by Elijah, sign from God: to see Elijah depart in the supernatural chariot of fire
The need for prophetsAmos: time of prosperity yet decadence; current ministry inept; indicted exploitation of the poor and distorted justice;
Jeremiah: the people’s extreme disobedience to God causing Babylonian captivity
Ezekiel: Ezek 2: preach to the rebellious. Also ministered/encouraged people during Babylonian captivity; international crisis and conflict; he also preached against wicked shepherds [Ezek 34]
Elisha
Jeremiah’s call to clean out the leadership [16th] [God will adjust the leadership when it is needed]
Righteous acts Elisha’s multiplication of loaves for 100 with leftovers [2 Kings/17th]
Ezekiel was a visionary, instilled hope [after the fall of Jerusalem]; He used strength & courage even though the people were hard of face & obstinate
Single-mindednessEzekiel: preaching submission to God as key to blessing [ 9:4, 16:60-63,18:30-32,36:22-38]
Elisha: chose ministry above wealth burning his plow and slaughtering the oxen
Amos’s vision: a proper view of God brings everything else into perspective 7:10-17
14th 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul’s thorn [enemy] in the flesh, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient” “When I am weak, then I am strong” Paul was willing to put up w/persecution for the sake of Christ. His submissiveness/weakness allowed the power of Christ to dwell within him.
As you look at the healings and mighty deeds, you see the pattern of the kingdom. Man is not meant to live in darkness, the darkness of sin and death; the darkness of disappointment, man is created to live in the presence of God.When man lives in darkness, the Lord sends a prophet to bring his light. Jesus shows us how to live in LightIn the Gospels, Jesus lays the pattern for us to follow, bringing the presence of God through ministry:
Ministering to others [15th Sunday Mark 6:7-13] sending them in twos [called by name] to heal and cast off demons; the pattern of Christian fellowship “two” showing our need
Showing the need for retreat, especially by those in ministry; yet how the needs of the people press in on even time of rest. Jesus teaches them –also very important. [16th Sunday Mark 6:30-34] 17th Sunday John 6:15 “Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”
John’s Gospel 6:1-15 shows us that we can tap into the supernatural to take care of people’s temporal needs’ echoing 2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha’s miracle for 100 [17th Sunday] [in a modern calamity/or during great need/ Jesus’ disciples can feed the hungry. The Eucharist feeds millions each day.
16th Ephesians 2:13-18 Jesus “broke down the dividing wall”: one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace”15th Ephesians 1:3-14 hymn of blessing. He chose us. In Christ we have: redemption, forgiveness, riches, wisdom, insight, etc. “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” the “first installment of our inheritance”
The effect of the prophets, Jesus, and disciples:17th Ephesians 4:1-6 Live worthy of your call; Virtues listed; 7 unity one: body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God & Father in all.
The challenge: We are all exposed to the plan of God but we can reject it and use doubt to limit the power of God in our lives. Neighbors of Jesus heard him teach [14th Mark 6:1-6] and knew of the mighty deeds but they “took offense” at his message, but their lack of belief, their lack of faith limited the power of God in their lives.
References
Ezekiel 2: 2 “ As he spoke to me, spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking 3 say to me: Son of man, I am sending you”Jeremiah 1: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” RSV
Jeremiah 1:6 “I don’t know how to speak I am only a child.”
2 Kings 2: 9 “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.””
Wit and Wisdom of Good Pope John collected by Henri Fesquet. Catholic Family Book Club. 1965. Pope John XXIII quoted p237 “We are face to face with someone who seems awesome. But he is not strong; he is not powerful, because he is the expression of error, of covetousness, of violence. Sometimes we are invaded by misgivings and become fearful at the thought of the morrow. Nevertheless, this giant must succumb before the will, the grace and the mercy of God. Nor must we think that the victory of this Goliath need bring destruction and universal ruin in its wake, because, even at times when he is dominant, there are still souls nourished with the same light as ourselves, and who remain faithful and very close to us and who share the same Christian and apostolic ideal.”
Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers Year B 2009. Mary A. Ehle. Liturgy Training Publications. P 227 “In the Old Testament thorns were symbols of enemies (Numbers 33:55).”
2 Corinthians 12:7 “Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.”
Galatians 4: 12 I implore you, brothers, be as I am, because I have also become as you are. You did me no wrong; 13 you know that it was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the gospel to you, 14 and you did not show disdain or contempt because of the trial caused you by my physical condition, but rather you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 Where now is that blessedness of yours? Indeed, I can testify to you that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Matthew 6: “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?” … “33 But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34 Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
Luke 9:1 “He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (the sick). 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.”
Luke 22: “35 He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. 36 He said to them, “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.”
Mark 6: “8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick–no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 9 They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.”
Mark 10: “23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!””
Mark 16:34 “Jesus tries to take them away to rest but the people find them.”
Ephesians 4: “4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Acts 8: 18 When Simon [the Magician] saw that the Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money. 21 You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven. 23 For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity.” 24 Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 So when they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the good news to many Samaritan villages.
Readings
New American Bible (NAB) readings are referenced from the Lectionary for Mass, for use in the dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition ©1997, 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
14th Sunday in Ordinary Ezekiel 2:2-5 Ezekiel’s call by God to be a prophet, receiving the spirit 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul’s thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient” “When I am weak, then I am strong” Mark 6:1-6 Prophet without honor in native place, Jesus unable to do miracles due to lack of faith
15th Sunday in Ordinary Amos 7:12-15 false prophet tells Amos to get out. Amos was a shepherd when called as a prophet Ephesians 1:3-14 hymn of blessing. He chose us. In Christ we have: redemption, forgiveness, riches, wisdom, insight, etc. “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” the “first installment of our inheritance” Mark 6:7-13 sent “them out two by two” taking nothing; shake dust, the twelve successful in healing and driving out demons
16th Sunday in Ordinary Jeremiah 23:1-6 Woe to shepherds that mislead; I will appoint shepherds, “the days are coming” “raise up a righteous shoot to David” Ephesians 2:13-18 Jesus “broke down the dividing wall”. One new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace” Mark 6:30-34 after disciples returned the crowds kept them busy. Jesus took them on a retreat but the people found them and Jesus taught them
17th Sunday in Ordinary 2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha’s miracle of multiplication of loaves for 100 with leftovers as prophecy said Ephesians 4:1-6 Live worthy of your call; Virtues listed; 7 unity one: body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God & Father in all. John 6:1-15 Miracle of the loaves & fish of 5000 men; 12 baskets leftovers; reaction: recognition of Jesus as messiah; Jesus withdrew alone
