Fr. Bob’s Weekly Reflections

A priest friend of mine asked a group of second graders, “Advent is a time of getting ready…. Who is coming?” They all answered, “Santa Claus!”         We smile at this, but this is what much of our culture thinks of at Christmas. A jolly guy, over at Macy’s, in a red suit, squeezes himself down a chimney and brings toys.

A man took his son to the top of a mountain and showed him everything around. He pointed out the trees, the flowers, the expansive sky above, and the tiny houses below. He told his son there was something else down there as well and asked if he could see it? The boy screwed up his eyes, and looked and looked, yet could still only see the distance.

A young child climbed to the top of a large tree. His mother, worried, called out to him, “What are you doing?” “Nothing,” the boy replied. “Well, then, get down here,” his mother answered in an angry tone. The child was confused. “Why should I get into trouble for doing nothing?” he wondered.

The Master was going on a journey and before He left, He called in His servants and gave them each strange and wonderful gifts. To the first, He gave a power which, until then, had never been heard or seen in the land; it was to make music and to dance. The gifts of melody and rhythm were put into his keeping.

There is no doubt about it, the first Christians fully expected Jesus to return soon. But they were disappointed as days, weeks, months and years went by, and Jesus was a no-show. Some began to wonder if Jesus was coming back at all.

A single sentence that is supremely significant in our Gospel today, it is right at the end of the Gospel so it could easily escape our ears...  “The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Today in our gospel we see Jesus surrounded by Pharisees. They were somewhat like hostile reporters hustling a political candidate. Everyone was shouting out questions.

During the past few weeks we have seen Jesus on the attack and He has spoken three parables. The first was “The Parable of The Two Sons.” The one son told his father that he would go into the vineyard, but didn’t.

Around 1990 I was asked by our friars in Kingston, Jamaica, to give a youth retreat. Many think of Jamaica as an island of wonderful beaches and great hotels. That is true in the north of the island.

Neil Diamond sang a song many years ago.  I can only remember one line - “Song sung blue everybody’s knows one”. That line is so true.

Many parents can identify with the Gospel today, but Jesus is not speaking about wayward children; he is speaking about the chief priests and the elders.

We have a very beautiful first reading from Isaiah – “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”  Lovely poetry, often quoted but the beginning of this reading is perhaps, more practical. 

It is said that the only person who can hurt us is someone we love and the deeper the love the worse the hurt. A total stranger can hurt us physically but only someone we love – a trusted friend can injure us emotionally.

It is said that the only person who can hurt us is someone we love and the deeper the love the worse the hurt. A total stranger can hurt us physically but only someone we love – a trusted friend can injure us emotionally.

We hear a dark message from Jesus today…He is not the sweet Jesus, meek and mild. He is brutally honest and straight forward.