Last Sunday, the readings remind us that hearing something and listening to it are two different things.
In the first reading we have part of Isaiah’s prophesy of the Suffering Servant who brings salvation through his horrendous sufferings and death on the Cross. Today we heard the third of four prophecies of the Suffering Servant who would save us through his sufferings. But at the time of Jesus, no one would have made the connection between the Suffering Servant and the prophesy of the Messiah. It was unthinkable for them to believe that the Messiah would suffer like this.
This is why St Peter objected strongly to Jesus, whom he acknowledged as the Messiah, having to suffer, be rejected and be put to death. But Jesus told Peter that he was thinking not as God thinks but as man. This event was in the third year of Jesus’ public ministry, and it would really take the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost for Peter and the other Apostles to fully understand that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Suffering Servant prophesy, who came to suffer and die that we may live. On Pentecost Sunday Peter preached specifically about how Jesus is the fulfilment of those prophecies and how He is the only way to the Father in Heaven. There is no other way.
In the second reading St James reminds us that Faith and Works go hand in hand. They show that we have not only heard the words of Jesus, but listened to them and acted upon them. Thus, the words of Jesus are not only a call to repentance and Baptism, but also a call to action.
The Saints learned this lesson well have produced great fruit. One that comes to mind is St Angela Merichi, the foundress of the Ursuline Order or women religious. She grew up in Northern Italy in the sixteenth century. As a young girl both her parents died, and she and her older sister were entrusted to a wealthy uncle to be brought up. But then Angela’s sister who was her best friend, also died. Bereft of family and friends, Angela was plunged into depression. But then God gave her a special gift, a vision of Himself, in which He told her that her older sister was happy with Him in Heaven. Angela was so overwhelmed with the experience of God’s goodness and love that she became a Third Order Franciscan and threw herself into a life of prayer, self-discipline and service to others. A few years later she started her amazing life mission of founding the Ursulines for the Catholic education of girls, especially the poor. It was knowing that she was personally loved by God, that made the difference.
We all need to live the life of Christ and be witnesses in the world to his Love through our deeds.
Scott Hahn was a former Presbyterian Minister, but now he is one of the most prolific and influential Catholic writers and teachers. For years though, he was vocally very anti-Catholic, but he was also actively pro-life. The more pro-life activities he became involved in, the more Catholics he met personally. Over and over, he saw that the same people who went to Mass, prayed the Holy Rosary, filled the Churches with statues and other holy images (which he had previously considered un-Christian and idolatrous) were also sacrificing their time and reputations in the pro-life movement to protect the unborn and promote true Christian values. In those Catholics he saw deeds of charity that made it impossible for him to doubt any longer that their Faith was alive and true. Through that experience he began to see the Catholic Faith in a new way which opened the door of his heart to conversion.
Our Faith must be a living and active Faith, always ready to help others in need. For Faith works through Love. In living out our Faith, we also have a moral obligation to be merciful and never bear grudges. For God will treat us in the way we treat our neighbour. Vocal prayer, such as the Our Father is very important, but so is Christian Mediation or mental prayer. The Church recommends Lectio Divina (Especially: using the Scriptures) which involves reading, reflecting and responding. In that way we incarnate the Scriptures in our hearts by reflecting on them and learn how to live them out, through our deeds. In addition, to a solid prayer life, remember to offer up all crosses that come your way because God can use these for the salvation of souls. Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever!