For 28 June 2024, Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop, Doctor, Martyr, based on 2 Kings 25:1-12, Matthew 8:1-4

Jesus tells us to "enter through the narrow gate" and "do unto others as we would have them do unto us." But these things are not always easy, as we see when King Hezekiah is faced with a siege of Jerusalem by the King of Assyria.

John the Baptist was not named after his father, Zechariah, because he was not to follow in his father's footsteps. Instead, he was the herald of something new, The Reign of God in Christ Jesus. Do we have sufficient faith to say yes to God when asked to break with the past and move in a new direction?

The law says "thou shalt not kill", but Jesus adds that even if we are angry with our brother or sister we are liable to judgement. Even more radically, if our brother or sister has reason to be angry with us, we also need to heal that division before we come to the altar. Relationship is a two way street.

Jesus tells us that he came to fulfil the law, and that we should still follow it, because those that don't will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. But least in the Kingdom is still in the Kingdom.

For 9 June 2024, The Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, based on Genesis 3:9–15

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, pointing out how there is more going on under the surface than meets the eye. In the first reading Adam and Eve play the blame game over who is at fault for eating the forbidden fruit, showing that there was already tension under the surface in the Garden of Eden. In the second reading, Paul tells the Corinthians that he is strengthened in his faith because he is suffering for them.

Seeking to understand the center of faith, a scribe asked Jesus, "what is the first commandment:" The answer was to love God with all of your heart, understanding and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is the center of our faith, not rubrics and sacrifice.

St. Paul tells us that he worships God "with a clear conscience as my ancestors did" even though his faith is moving in a different direction. Are we still open, in good faith, to allowing the Power of God to lead us in new directions in our understanding of scriptures?

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Feast of the Ascension, contrasting how the disciples were told to wait for the Holy Spirit, but were also to go out and use those gifts to preach the Good News to the ends of the earth.<br>