Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • October 15, 2021 5 9274 Hwy 49/Airport Gulfport, MS 39503 228-863-5525 1-800-880-2446 FAX: 228-863-9612 www.butchoustalet.com Thank you, St. Jude. BH A few years ago, I had surgery that kept me house bound for a while. Our daughter who lives 493 miles away, took a week off her very busy work schedule to be my chauffer and general caregiver. The week she stayed helped speed my physical recovery but did so much more. With just her, my wife, Mary, and me it was a beautiful time of peace, prayer, bonding, and love. Mary and I were also blessed with parishioners, neighbors, and friends who ran errands, filled in for my Adoration commitment, called, sent cards, and offered prayers for my speedy recovery. I never doubted how much I was loved, but this special outpouring of love was a shower of blessings I will always treasure. Sometimes it is difficult to see joy and blessing in suffering. For suffering, of itself, may not make good news readily evident. But when the family of God steps up and ministers to another’s need everyone shares in the blessings. Today’s first reading is the last of the suffering servant songs in the Book of Isaiah. First century followers of Jesus had difficulty reconciling his claims to be the Messiah considering His frequent predictions of impending suffering and death. The two seemed to be incompatible. Their concept of Lord and Messiah would have been a conquering warrior who would restore the glory to Israel. Even after his resurrection, his gathered apostles had the “conqueror/warrior” expectation. “Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6b). The servant’s sufferings are not due to his own personal sins; they are atonement for the sins of others. Matthew, after recounting some miraculous cures and casting out demons, sees Jesus Christ as being the servant foretold by Isaiah, who will cure the physical suffering of people as a sign that he is curing all the root causes of sin. The miracles worked by Christ for the sick are therefore a sign of salvation. Here again we see that suffering has redemptive value. Psalm 33 is a hymn in which the just -- those who love and live justice and follow the ways of the Lord -- are invited to praise God. Does an invitation to praise have to be extended or should we just naturally, as a response to God’s goodness, allow our gratitude to be expressed in praise and thankfulness? Each of us needs to decide this for ourselves. Pray for the natural, spontaneous habit of praising and thanking God for everything, even the trials and sufferings you experience. “Lord. Let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.” Today’s second reading from the book of Hebrews, tries to console and encourage the believers who were experiencing great temptation and pressure from their contemporaries to abandon the faith and turn to worshipping popular idols of the day. Hebrews’ author argues that Jesus, the great high priest, knows as God knows the weakness of our nature because as man He has also experienced the sufferings we have and more, although He was free from sin. Therefore, He can not only give us the help we need but aid us in responding to the Lord’s goodness by staying true to our profession of faith. He concludes, “So, let us confidently (without doubt or wavering) approach the throne of grace, (a symbol of Christ’s authority). Through the salvation won for us by Christ, the compassionate Priest and intercessor, God’s throne has become a judgment seat from which mercy flows. Jesus, compassionate and merciful, makes the way for us to receive mercy and forgiveness and receive timely help when needed. We can have no better friend. Jesus is never neutral, he is never on the fence that we love so dearly to straddle between having our way or surrendering to the Lord’s will for our lives. If we have not made him friend, we have made him foe and are missing out on the shower of blessings. Leading up to today’s gospel, for the third time, Jesus tells his disciples that He will be killed and three days after His death He will rise (Mark 10:33-34). Matthew and Luke each record Jesus making the same prediction to His disciples three times. For Jesus, the way to His glory was the cross. But not only that, Jesus tells His disciples that to gain eternal life they must take up their cross and follow Him. That if they want to save their life, they must lose their life. We should always see things not from our hyper-human emotional perspective. When bad news is given or suffering prevails; stop, pause, reflect, and pray seeking wisdom and discernment on how to handle it from God’s point of view. In today’s Gospel, James and John ask to be at Jesus right and left when He comes into His kingdom. Some think their request is a bit selfish or ambitious, but it can also be seen as a certain profession of faith. Even though Jesus would die, they truly believed that He would reign one day in glory. What situations in your life, now, can be viewed with a faith-filled perspective and turned over to the Lord for healing, restoration, and revival? With the help of God’s Spirit, we can find redeeming value (glory) in every person and experience. Jesus also uses James and John’s request to sit on His left and on His right when he comes into His glory, to address the indignation of the other ten apostles. He contrasts kingdom greatness with worldly ambition and personal accomplishment with gospel lifestyle. “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.” Our attitude should take its lessons from the Lord. Greatness comes by serving others and not expecting anything in return. To be the servant and not the master. How can you apply the principles of praise and thanksgiving to some current situation you are experiencing where nothing good seems to be happening? Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his web- site: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11 Responsorial Psalm: 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 2nd Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16 Gospel: Mark 10:35-45 Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Shower of blessings