The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, September 10, 2006
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 35:4-7a
Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
James 2:1-5
Mark 7:31-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

This coming Monday marks the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attack on Americans. The fear and insecurity that were created that day has left our minds and hearts scarred and vulnerable. Thank God that this Sunday’s readings are filled with assurances that, once again, our land and our people will prosper and rejoice at the lavish blessings that will come to us.

In the first reading, Isaiah tells us that life will spring forth from the desert. It will bloom with fresh beauty, and the pools and springs will again overflow with refreshing water. What do we need to do? God tells us to strengthen our weak hands, and make firm our feeble knees. Good advice! Furthermore, we are to encourage one another with words like Be brave! Fear not! In other words, we are to rebuild the “ground zeros” in our lives left barren of hope and courage.

Fear can paralyze, causing our hearts to wither, and our souls to selfishly clutch our possessions to ourselves, not sharing with those who are poor and destitute. In Isaiah and in James, we are warned of God’s punishment on narrow and exclusive behavior. If we “kowtow” to the rich and powerful, and ignore and insult the poor man, God will exclude us from the kingdom.

In the Gospel, Jesus shows us the way to openness in sharing. Traveling into non-Jewish territory and, much to the astonishment of His disciples, He heals some gentiles. These, in turn, exclaim in wonder, “He does all things well; He even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak!”

This weekend, we beg Christ to open our eyes and ears to His message: “Be brave. Be courageous, be impartial in sharing your possessions, especially the Good News.”

Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(pwhitmore29 at yahoo dot com)