WHEN CHRIST FREED US, HE MEANT US TO REMAIN FREE

XIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Galatians 5:1,13-18

There is a universal struggle which reverberates through all cultures and all civilisations - the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, life and death. This is a very old theme, which has been a subject of discussion throughout the ages because human history is pervaded by this struggle. At all times, humanity has been presented with choices that may lead us in completely different paths. Whenever we recognise the others, respect their rights and accept their freedom, we walk on the road which leads to a peaceful society; or we may choose a different path, the one in which we oppress and exploit the others. There are times, when we are ready to make war on others, sowing destruction and death in order to affirm ourselves and to lord over them.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul speaks of an internal struggle, happening in our hearts - a struggle between self-indulgence (the flesh) and the spirit. If we allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit, then we will live by the Spirit and our actions will be guided by the only commandment that is according to the Spirit: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Paul's words sound very timely as if they were written for the modern man, who seeks to affirm human rights at all costs, being preoccupied with the exercise of freedom. In this affirmation of human rights and of freedom, our modern western society forgets that they are embedded in Judaeo-Christian tradition, which claims that our common human dignity comes from being created in God’s image. Paul gave a step forward, affirming that we are not slaves, but children of God (Ro 8:15-17). There is no reason for discrimination of any kind since all of us are one in Christ (Gal 3:28). We have been set free by Christ and therefore we are "called to freedom." However, while we are aware of the importance of social and political freedom, inner freedom of heart is the most fundamental. Without it, freedom becomes self-indulgence, and, under the pretext of freedom, we may become slaves to the vilest passions, which destroy us. Thus, the affirmation of "my" rights without any concern for "my" responsibilities leads to selfishness and hedonism that end up corrupting and destroying society. We must allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit who makes it possible for us to “serve one another in works of love”. Indeed, Paul presents the law of love, also known as the golden rule, as the norm of all morality: "Love your neighbour as yourself”. If we ignore it and allow ourselves to be guided by the desires of the flesh, that is, by worldly values ​​and instincts, we end up oppressing and exploiting others. If we let ourselves be led by the Spirit, we will be truly free and allow others to exercise their freedom.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME

XII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 9:18-24

There are simple questions, which are difficult to answer, even when the answer seems to be obvious.  “Who am I?” is a question that will leave me searching for an answer. Jesus asked such a question to his disciples, starting by asking them what people were saying about him. Indeed, many things are said about Jesus. However, what the others say is just a prelude for our own answer. About Jesus, there are many misconceptions and also many false expectations, so that we can be led astray. What others say may be helpful or become a hindrance. Jesus demands a personal answer, my own answer. His question is directed at each one of us: Who do you say I am? What do you say about me? 

In the name of the apostles, Peter gave the answer: You are the Messiah (the Christ). It sounded like the true answer, even though it was an incomplete and misguided answer. Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but not the kind of Messiah that Peter and his friends were hoping for. With all the Jewish people, the Apostles expected a powerful religious and military leader who would congregate the people of Israel, defeat all their enemies and become the ruler of the world. For them, the Messiah would be the king of kings, establishing the Kingdom of God on earth. However, Jesus was not going that way and he would not be that kind of Messiah; that’s why he forbade the apostles to speak about that, keeping it a secret.

Jesus presented Himself as the Son of Man who is rejected goes through suffering and is crucified.  The first reading, from the prophet Zechariah (Zech 12:10-11,13:1), speaks of the citizens of Jerusalem as feeling the guilt of someone’s death, whom they have pierced and whom they mourn as if he was their only son. The Church has understood those word as referring to Jesus who was crucified in Jerusalem. At that moment, the disciples could not understand that, and Jesus had to make it clear that all those who want to become his disciples must be ready to walk on his footsteps, going through suffering and carrying their cross as Jesus himself was going to do. Jesus’ way is not an easy way, but hard and difficult. One must be ready to lose his life in order to be faithful, as Jesus was.

GOD’S DELIGHT IS TO BE WITH THE CHILDREN OF MEN

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY - Romans 5:1-5

FIRST READING - Proverbs 8: 22-31 - Surrounded by peoples and cultures worshipping many gods, the Israelites became aware of their difference, for they believed in one God. Since Abraham, the first man to respond in faith to God’s call, the people of Israel discovered that it is always God who takes the initiative, revealing himself and calling human beings into a relationship with him. Even though they were tempted time and again to adopt the beliefs and customs of the neighbouring peoples, the Israelites remained as a people set apart, believing in one God, Yahweh. From the beginning, they realised that the Lord (Yahweh) is a God who wants to live in a relationship with the man and the world. And gradually, guided by the Spirit of God, they discovered that this relationship with the outer world reveals God as being a relationship in Himself. Therefore, the first reading presents us with the wisdom of God (who is God) in relation to God, who also establishes a relationship with the human being, because his delight is "to be with the sons of men".

SECOND READING - Romans 5: 1-5 - We are "justified by faith" and therefore "we are at peace with God," since we have been reconciled with him "through our Lord Jesus Christ." It is through Jesus Christ that we have access to grace, that we live "supported in the hope of the glory of God" and that we find the strength to go through tribulations and difficulties because "hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us”.  By his great love, God has a plan of salvation for us, calling us and reconciling us in Jesus Christ, his beloved Son. By the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, our hearts are filled with His love, uniting us to Jesus Christ and making us His children. God wants to recognise in us the face of his Son. In Himself, God is love and communion, calling us to be in this world an active and committed presence of love and communion.

GOSPEL - John 16: 12-15 - Jesus tells us about the relationship of the Holy Spirit with him and with the Father. The relationship of the Father with the Son is so profound and complete that they share everything so that what is said of one can be said of the other. The Spirit receives everything from the Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Spirit of truth who will guide us to the full truth, making possible the knowledge of the will of God and his plans. What he gives us is taken from Christ.

THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST - Acts 2, 1-11

Since the beginning and throughout the ages, the Church has been pushed forward by the Holy Spirit. Left only to herself, the Church would have disappeared long ago. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that makes the Church move forward as a witness to Jesus Christ, carrying out his mission.

With the death of Jesus, the disciples were disillusioned and began to disperse. The resurrection gave them encouragement and hope. In the Scriptures, they began to have glimpses of the meaning of Jesus' passion and death and became a community. It was, however, a closed community that was afraid to be known and afraid to appear in public. They avoided the limelight and kept away from the public’s eyes. In spite of that, they started meeting together and their prayerful attitude in those meetings made possible the reception of the Holy Spirit, who transformed them, filling them with strength, courage and motivation to bear witness to Jesus Christ, proclaiming him as Lord and Saviour. Jesus had promised that they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit, receiving his strength - that power of the Spirit which "renews the face of the earth" (Psalm 104,30). The disciples became aware of this transforming force when they felt something like  "a mighty rushing wind" and saw what appeared to be "tongues of fire”. The wind and the fire are symbols of the Spirit of God, which awakens us from sleep and fills us with dynamism for the mission of the proclamation of the Gospel. With the power of the Spirit, the barriers of isolation broke down and the doors got wide opened. They left the ghetto where they had taken refuge to meet people of other races and cultures. The Gospel has to be proclaimed to all peoples and in all languages, so that all may recognise and proclaim "the mighty works of God”.

In the second reading (1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7.12-13), Paul teaches us that faith in Jesus Christ is possible only through the action of the Holy Spirit. It is he who takes us to Christ; it is he who prepares our hearts to welcome him and opens our eyes to recognise him. It is the Spirit of God who gives us the wisdom to let ourselves be touched by the mystery of Christ, filling us with the strength to be his witnesses. The Spirit that brings us to Christ manifests and operates in many and varied ways. He is the Spirit of diversity so that in this diversity everyone will make his contribution, establishing bonds of communion.

YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES TO THE END OF THE EARTH

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD - 

FIRST READING - Acts 1: 1-11 - Sitting at the table with the disciples, Jesus gives them the last instructions. They must remain in Jerusalem until they are baptised with the Holy Spirit. It should be noted that Jesus speaks of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles as a baptism, which has no possible comparison with the baptism of John, which is a baptism with water baptism, that is, an earthly baptism, expressing a human of showing repentance. By being baptised with the Spirit, we receive His strength that gives you the courage and daring to be witnesses of Jesus Christ everywhere, "to the ends of the earth." Although Jesus exercised his ministry within the borders of the people of Israel, he prepared the disciples for a universal mission, where there will be no more boundaries. We are called to respond to the call of the Lord who sends us to be his witnesses and proclaim his Gospel.

SECOND READING - Ephesians 1: 17-23 - In the second reading, Paul presents us with another dimension of the Holy Spirit - He is "the Spirit of wisdom," which reveals to us the mystery of God. It is he who enlightens the eyes of our heart, to know him and recognise the hope he gives us. Without Him, we cannot recognise all that He has done and does on our behalf. The wisdom given to us by the Spirit makes it possible to recognise the resurrection of Jesus as the fruit of God's victorious action. Jesus was raised and exalted, and so there is nothing and no one superior to him since the Father has submitted everything "at his feet and gave him, as the head that dominates everything, to the Church." Jesus Christ, in whom the fullness of God is revealed "who fills all in all," is the head of the Church. As part of his body, we too will share his glory.

GOSPEL - Luke 24: 46-53 - In the Gospel, we hear Jesus speaking of the Holy Spirit as a force that will transform the disciples and make them his witnesses. The Holy Spirit will help to understand the Scriptures, which prophesied that "the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead." Therefore, our witness should focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is the "mystery of faith” that we proclaim in the celebration of the Eucharist. Besides giving testimony, the disciples of Jesus are called to preach "repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations in his name."