Weekly Reflection 10/4/2020

REFLECTION

The Twenty-Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time

October 3-4, 2020

In this year of 2020, what is the new normal?  Will masks become a permanent addition to our wardrobe?   Will handshakes be replaced with the elbow tap?  Are hugs, outside your immediate family, a thing off the past?  It has been over six months and we still don’t know the answers to these questions.

The early Christian community faced emotions that ranged from joy to uncertainty to fear.  Jesus had turned their world upside down.  He welcomed repentant sinners and spurned many of the Jewish leaders.  He emphasized the spirit of the law (love) over strict adherence to every rule or tradition.  A man of peace, He was killed in the most violent way yet claimed the ultimate victory in rising from the dead.

History teaches us that what we think is new has all happened before when examined more closely.  Each generation believes that they lived in a better time than the present one. We resist change and complain that or world is worse than ever. Yet the one thing that has not changed, and is always certain is God’s constant love for us.

Despite persecution and death, loss of possessions and families, the first followers of the Way, continued to not just survive but thrive.  They did so by  finding strength and guidance from the words of wisdom from their leaders, based on their faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Let us find solace, assurance and strength in those same worlds.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians could have been written to us:

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is anything worthy of praise think about these things.

Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in (Christ).

Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Patrick J. Perkins