“Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you.” The Gospel reading for today’s Liturgy comes from Evangelist Matthew. Matthew thematic focus on the life of Jesus is that of the Kingdom of God. The people have been looking for the Kingdom to be unified, fortified, sanctified, and ruled by a powerful king; the Messiah, the anointed one. Matthew does a great job making sure that they (and we) recognize that kingdom is before us. The Gospel of the day is heavy in nature. In fact, it may be hard to read if your faithful follower of his. The Gospel of the days goes on to call out those who are just stuck in their ways. Those who have conformed to a comfortable faithfulness. Those who live their lives in a habitual manner and manage to overlook, because of their comfort, the fact that Christ has more authority than original thought. The Gospel of the day takes place early in Jesus’ ministry. This passage is a part of the conclusive remarks his Sermon at the Mount. This discourse, or homily is where Jesus establishes the teachings of the New Covenant. Like fire refines precious metals, the words of Jesus refined and made new the moral laws of the Old Covenant. However, this homily was not attempting to “devalue” the Old Covenant, rather, it “releases the hidden potential” (CCC #1968). The hidden power in the Old Convent was something that many of God’s faithful forgot about. They were created in His image and likeness, therefore, had the divine nature of Love within them. Their eyes became fixed on themselves and how they prayed to God, and they forgot to look at Him and love as he does. Does this sound vaguely familiar? Almost like its talking to us directly; today. The Sermon at the Mount was a homily on how to live life as a follower of his, and challenged the status quo. Jesus didn’t speak as just one who studied the word, but as the Word (the logos; the Word made flesh); hence the amazement of all who heard and said “he speaks with authority and not just as a scribe”. His discourse was setting up the scene for an epic internal battle between the Law of Moses or Law of Jesus, and whether or not all who heard would accept; that Jesus was the fulfillment of the former. Mind you those listening are faithful to the Old Covenant, therefore could have received this sermon as contradicting, dismissing, or challenging the laws of Moses. Although the former is not true, the latter is the full truth. He was challenging the old ways, in order to release the “hidden potential” in the Law. How did they hear it? Did it convict, condemn, or motivate? Was this man speaking as a false prophet, or as the Man that the prophets spoke about? Was Jesus speaking “presumptuously” or would there be fruit to his teaching? (Deu 19:22) These are the possible questions running the minds of those who are listening. These question would eventually be the determining factor of whether or not they accepting the Law of the Gospel. This specific passage challenges the current situation, and introduces Jesus as divine judge. “Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you.” When speaking to co-worker about the divine judge she directed my thoughts towards the word “knew”. First let’s reset our mental picture of Judge. Erase, Judge Judy, Judge Mathis, or Peoples Court. Rather think of the etymology of judge. Judge has it Latin roots iudicem, which is a compound of ius “right, law”. A Judge in Hebrew history was one that was given temporary power and clothed for war, like in the Book of Judges. Secondly, let’s take a look at “knew” from knowledge which means “know (perceive a thing to be identical with another” and -ledge (take action). Why does this mean anything? Because the word on paper make speak to our current understanding of the text, but its deeper than just mere words. The Divine Judge looks and asks “are you identical to the image in which you were created, and did you take action?” If they were identical to the image of likeness of God, then they would have grown in relationship with him, therefore, could not have had room to set their eyes away from him. That is why he will divinely Judge, whether our actions were just actions or did we move because we were moved by him. Jesus in the Gospel is asking the faithful a simple, yet tough question, where will they build, from what they have heard. In other words, with the questions being asked in their minds (their internal Old versus New Civil War) will they chose to be as wise as Solomon and build a temple that all would want to see. Will they take His sermon as the foundation of that Temple in their hearts, come to know the divine image and likeness in which they were created, and take action. Or will they allow those questions to sway them to build on soft unstable ground and watch the Kingdom they built sink into the mud of mediocrity and compliancy.
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I landed in Dallas Love-field Airport not knowing what to expect. Actually, It wasn’t so much of the expectation as much as it was anticipation. This has been a long time coming for Texas. In fact, this conference sold out within four hours of opening registration. What should have been an 1800 capped conference became a 3500 teen conference with 2,000 on a waiting list. Needless to say this Steubenville Conference, on it inaugural year, became the second largest conference of the many offered throughout the summer. Was is this important to note…well that goes without saying (but I will say, in order to make all Texans proud); Texans only know how to make thing BIG, and they left their mark on Steubenville Conferences, like a Cowboy branding his cattle.
The team, Ike Ndolo, Emily Wilson, Mary Bielski, Mark Hart, Chris Stefanick, and this short little dude who considered himself to be a Puerto Rican Ostrich (it’s me) ; were ready to take Texas by the horns and ride the Lone Star right into a heavenly sacramental encounter with our Lord Jesus the Christ. They were ripe and ready to get right into it. The 3500 teens were asked to encounter, and meet Jesus at the well (John 4:10). At the well Jesus who was thirsting to bring the Kingdom of God to all, also acknowledge the unspoken spiritual thirst of the Samaritan women. We are all that Samaritan women looking for water in the same place only to leave thirsty again. But after here encounter with Jesus his words were simple “I am the living water” the eternal thirst quencher, so why not “Obey our Thirst” properly and take in the water that is life giving. The Spirit moved in that room, like a Puerto Rican Ostrich being shot forward into the air via a giant sling shot (I explain this in a later Blog). In other words, the Holy Spirit moved in that room, and the teens did not attempt to “tame” the wildly creative, yet healing power of the breath of God. This conference taught me a very valuable lesson, expect nothing, but anticipate greatness whenever you allow the Holy Spirit to move. The Lone Star state does things big; as does the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when a region is open to big things, then they will receive big blessings, because the Holy Spirit doesn’t work in increments. He is in the business of filling. Dallas Lone Star if you are still Thirsty after this conference than you have not been drinking for the Well of the Living water. |
AuthorOscar "Two Ten" Rivera is all about bringing the fire. Passionate, comedic, and driven to deliver the truth, the right way. Archives
February 2022
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