Year A
Philippians 1:1-11
Psalm 111:1b-2.3-4.5-6 (R. 2a)
Luke 14:1-6
LOVE AND ORDER
In the opening of Scripture, we see the Spirit of God overshadowing the waters. This was the beginning of order. Without Love there can be no order. Whenever Love acts order follows, because Love is the source of Unity. Todays readings are very interesting and we see how Love has done great works in the Philippians and Paul happy about them commending their way of life and praying that he who began a good work in them bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel we have a man who had dropsy and Jesus cured him on the Sabbath silencing the lawyers and Pharisees because they are ignorant of the purpose of the Sabbath, Salvation.
To begin, let me say something about the first reading, in St Paul's writings, the mentioning of Jesus Christ has within it the idea of Jesus Christ as from his beginning to the Cross, while Christ Jesus has with it the idea of resurrection or Jesus Christ's life from the Cross to his Ascension and Parousia. Thus one concentrates on before he entered his glorious state and the other on his glorious state.
1 Corinthians 2:1–2:
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
And
Romans 8:35, 37–39
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”
Even in today's reading he calls himself, Timothy and all believers us servants of Christ Jesus or Saints of Christ Jesus. But as he was about to talk about Love, he now begin to say Jesus Christ. It is Obvious that Jesus Christ became the Physicality of God's Love for us and its on the Cross that we see God's Love in action. Here Love is understood as Sacrifice, giving of Life to the lifeless. Love is the giving of life because Love is Life.
Now with this in mind, let us look at the first reading at a second time, in particular, " … he who began a good work in them bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Thus the day of Jesus Christ for the Philippians will be the day that they will become Martyrs for Jesus Christ, as he Paul who is in Chains is himself suffering for him. Understanding This is crucial to understand what was happening to the Philippians and Paul himself. In the first reading then, it is obvious that the Philippians are sacrificing themselves for each other. They are working hand in hand for the growth of their society and church, and Paul been glad prays that theirs can reach the standard set by Jesus Christ.
Its on the Cross where we see the perfect temple of God (Revelation 21:22), with Love flowing (cf. (John 19:34 and Revelation 22:1). It is from this temple that all order have their Source, because the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world (cf. Revelation 13:8). The Trinity from the beginning share what they are to the creature, Love.
It is in Love that we find Salvation, so in the Gospel, the stress is also on the action of Love bringing order. How Jesus silenced the lawyers shows how they love animals more than humans. They will go to every length to save their animals on the sabbath, but they don't want to save humans on the Sabbath, a day of Salvation;
Deuteronomy 5:15"You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out thence with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day."
Just us Jesus Christ brought order into the man's life by curing him out of Love, and also brought us order by pouring his life for us on the Cross, let us share love and bring order into the life of people.
by Sylvester Amakye-Quayson
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