Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Matthew 11: 25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, often depicted as a heart surrounded by a crown of thorns and flames, has inspired Catholic devotion for centuries. Before diving into its meaning for us today, however, some historical context may be necessary.

Tradition states that the Lord appeared repeatedly to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a cloistered nun who lived in the 17^th century. 

At that time, the Church was still reeling from the devastating effects of the Protestant Reformation, as well as the fire of heresy rising from within its own ranks. 

There was one religious movement, in particular, known as Jansenism, which spread like a virus throughout the Netherlands and Saint Margaret Mary’s beloved homeland of France.

Oddly, the Jansenists believed that some people were born predestined to damnation, because God had foreknowledge of their sins. Furthermore, they believed that only the morally perfect were worthy of receiving Communion.

As a result, very few Catholics who followed them received Eucharist. But, as Pope Francis reminded us a few years ago, “The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak” (Evangelii Gaudium no. 47).

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It’s in this context that the Lord appeared to Saint Margaret Mary, emphasizing his infinite love and mercy for humanity, symbolized by his heart which remains pierced, longs for our devotion, and burns away our sins. 

The Lord also invited her to join him in praying for the conversion of souls, the reparation of sins, and the conversion of every human heart.

Perhaps this is where we come in. Each of us in our own way can share the message of God’s infinite love for humanity, not only by speaking about the Sacred Heart, but also by quoting the promise of Christ in today’s Gospel, which God alone can make.

“Come to me, all of you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

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There’s no better way to share that message than to speak from our own experience. On this Feast, may the Lord lighten the burdens we carry, may he forgive us our sins, may he make our hearts ever more like his and grant us his peace.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

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Image credits: (1) Faith Magazine (2) Portrait of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Wikipedia (3) Word on Fire

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Acts 11:21-26, 13:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

The Word of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Barnabas, whose birth name was Joseph. Barnabas receives his new name from the Apostles, which means son of encouragement, after proving himself to be a faithful and generous steward.

We first encounter Barnabas in the Acts of the Apostles after he sells a large field, laying the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles. 

But his greatest contribution comes later, when the Lord elects him to become the bridge builder between Saint Paul and the Apostles.

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Prior to his conversion, Paul was a leading persecutor of the Church. But after the Lord appeared to him in a flash of light on the road to Damascus, Paul had a dramatic conversion.

Although he was inwardly changed, Paul’s conversion could not wipe away his reputation amongst Christians; even the Apostles were fearful of him. He needed someone to vouch for his change of heart, lest he remain an outcast, the “black sheep” of the Church. 

Barnabas was the one who sought Paul out, bringing him to Antioch, where they meet with the local church and ministered there together for a year. It was in Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians.

Paul and Barnabas then traveled 1,400 miles together across Greece and Turkey as they risked their lives for the sake of the Gospel. This became the beginning of Paul’s ministry – a journey that eventually took him more than 10,000 miles on foot.

While Paul receives a lion’s share of the credit for spreading the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean, perhaps none of it would’ve been possible had Barnabas not opened the door, welcoming him into the company of the Apostles.

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Perhaps there’s a word in that for us. 

While there are some towering figures in the Church like popes, Saints, missionaries, and martyrs, any one of us can be like Barnabas.

We can all offer a word of encouragement; forgive a neighbor; provide an open door; or make some small contribution to the Church. Gestures which, when added up, move the mission of the Church forward from generation to generation. 

Saint Barnabas, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) Life Palette (2) Barnabas and Paul, Dust off the Bible (3) Center for Church Renewal

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Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Jesus divides Jews from Christians the same way he divides the bible in half. There’s the Old Testament and the New Testament with Christ as the hinge. Jews are still awaiting the Messiah, while Christians say Christ is the Messiah, God in the flesh.

At the very center of this debate is Christ’s identity, and by extension, his teachings.

As he says in today’s Gospel, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

So, what aspects of the Old Testament does the Lord fulfill and how?

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First, he fulfills the Law. As one scribe asks him in Mark’s Gospel, “Which is the greatest of all the Commandments?” 

Jesus responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, body, and soul. And your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus fulfills these commandments by dying obediently on a cross, while asking his Father to forgive his executioners, “for they know not what they do.”

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Secondly, Jesus fulfills nearly three hundred prophecies from the Old Testament, some of which were beyond his control, including where the Messiah would be born; the miracles he would perform; how he would suffer; even how he would die.

As the prophet Isaiah foretells, “The eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened. The lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute sing for joy.”

The blind, the sick, and the dead who were raised all give testimony to him.

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Whereas some may see a separation between the Old and New Testaments, Christians see a unity – or better a fulfillment – with Christ as the hinge. 

In him, everything fits together. May we give him glory and praise today.

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Image credits: (1) Pantocrator, Sinai (2) Magnific (3) The Jordan Valley