23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Prayer
O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
to You I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying You. Amen.
Commentary
1st Reading: Wisdom 9:13-18
We have come to the conclusion of our six-week retreat for the heart. We have been asked to pattern our hearts on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
As we look to the Book of Wisdom, we see that patterning our heart on Jesus’ own heart is the secret to “conceiving what the Lord intends.”
This 1st Reading shows that the Holy Spirit plants wisdom and the thoughts of God in our hearts. We should beg the Holy Spirit each day to be the fire burning within us. It is the Spirit who makes Christ known; not just intellectually, but intimately.
This intimate relationship that we have with Jesus allows us to know – in a mystical way – the mind of God. It is like a marriage that develops and grows over the years where man and wife become more like each other. The two truly become one in mind, heart, and soul. Developing an intimate relationship with Jesus offers us similar benefits.
Question:
How has your heart conformed to the heart of Christ of these past six weeks?
2nd Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Philemon is the shortest of the letters from Saint Paul. Writing on behalf of Onesimus – a fellow prisoner of Paul and presumably a slave of Philemon – Paul sends this letter in anticipation of Onesimus’ return to his slave-owner.
Paul urges Philemon to let Onesimus free for he is now a “man and in the Lord.”
Paul says, “I am sending [Onesimus] my own heart,” back to Philemon. The communion of our hearts with the Sacred Heart of Jesus translates into a fuller communion with the hearts of all Christians. Saint Paul was so conformed to the heart of Jesus that the love that flowed between their hearts demanded a love for Onesimus.
Love begets love. In marriage this is found in a unique way through the bearing of children. The love of husband and wife begets children. The love of the human heart with the heart of Jesus begets charity.
Question:
How do you see love and charity flowing from your union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
These words of Jesus seem hard to grasp. “Hating father and mother, children and siblings?” Does he really mean that?
Of course, in light of our six-week retreat for the heart, we understand that the love we have for each other cannot begin without our union with God who is Love. The old adage is true: “We cannot give what we have not first received.”
Our world tries to find peace on human terms, charity on human terms, and love on human terms. Yet, where has this brought us? Outside of the Lord, is our world at peace? Is it more charitable? Is it more loving?
Jesus is using his harsh words to wake us up to the reality that we need to let go of our need to fix things or create plans to make the world a better place. He wants us to take a radical departure from what we are used to and trust completely in him.
Only then – only when we conform our hearts completely to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – will we love our parents, spouses, children, siblings, and even ourselves in a complete way. This complete way brings complete joy.
Jesus once said, “If you live in my love, you will have joy and your joy will be complete.”
Who wants incomplete joy?
As we conclude this retreat for the heart, let us avoid making love or making peace. God is the maker of love and peace. He has already accomplished it through Jesus whose eternal peace and love pours from His Most Sacred Heart.
Question:
Do you trust in Jesus’ eternal love and peace for you?
This Week’s Task
Review these past 6 weeks of Christ in Our Neighborhood.
Group Prayer
In lieu of a prayer, members are invited to share what they have gained from this retreat for the heart. How have these last six weeks changed your heart and your life?
The prayer continues with Psalm 90.
Psalm
Response: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday,
now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.
R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Conclude with an Our Father