Tuesday word

23d Tuesday B (12 Sep 2006) 1Co 6. 1-11; Ps 149; Lk 6. 12-19
Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J.
Overhearing Jesus

Luke’s gospel up to this selection has shown Jesus healing and teaching: Jesus did both together. Some accepted him. Others rejected him. Some of the Pharisees, whose rejection-anger left them beside themselves, plotted to get Jesus out of their lives. Jesus extended his mystery of being God in the flesh: he appointed humans who accepted him and his message to be the ones who would proclaim it to others. The Apostles kept it alive for us by the power of the risen Lord, not their own power.

Notice how Jesus proceeded. First Jesus prayed: he discerned who would be the best of those who accepted him to continue his leadership. Notice, too, what followed Jesus’ choice of the Twelve: more healing, letting divine power go out from him. Jesus taught has he healed. Jesus taught, and the Twelve “overheard” him.

That is a profitable way to receive the gospels: like the Twelve, to overhear Jesus, to make room for him at the center of our lives. Jesus’ teaching is also healing: it transforms us if we give ourselves to him and his teaching. It’s how we’re washed...sanctified [and] justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God, as St. Paul wrote the Corinthians.

Our particulars are not identical to the Corinthians. Much overlap with them exists. Yet many of our needs are ours: for cleansing; sanctification; & behaving in ways which glorify God more with our bodies, in our relationships and by what we choose to do and not to do. The more we dispose ourselves to “overhear” Jesus like the Twelve did, the better we will learn Jesus and imitate the pattern of his life.