Ordinary Time

At the time of this writing, it is the season of Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time has th distinction of learning about the teachings of Jesus, more than the events in His life. It is a time for us to concentrate on the application of what he teaches us here and now.

A good way to discover how to apply His teaching is to look at the audiences he had. Basically, there are three. 

The first of His audiences was the crowds. They saw Jesus as a phenomenon, and entertainer, so to speak. They moved to be momentarily inspired, mostly because of their hatred of Rome or their dislike of the temple leaders. They wanted a “feel good” message, much like many today. They liked the miracles and saw them almost as magic. Politically, they saw him as a possibility to replace a king. They shouted “hosannas.” But when the miracles stopped, the feel good messages ceased, and Rome and the temple authorities exerted their power, they shouted “Crucify him!”
 
The authorities, saw Jesus as someone stealing their thunder. He had disarming answers for all of their challenges. They were presented as  “self” righteous, rather than righteous as “holy.” They saw themselves as the “chosen.” But, they forgot what they were chosen for, which was to be the instrument of God to bring forth a Savior of the World. They were more concerned with their loss of authority than the fulfillment of God’s promise. They were concerned with identity.

The third sector of audience were those who were the disciples. These who looked to the “disciplines” of Christ’s teachings, looked beyond the miracles and parables for deeper meaning to apply to our lives. They moved from the old law’s “love your neighbor as yourself,” to Christ’s final command to “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Let’s face it! Sometimes we don’t love ourselves that well. If we loved others the way we often love ourselves, it would be with fault. But, if we love others as Christ has loved us, unconditionally accepting where we are to bring us forward, we find ourselves improving humanity towards heaven.

When we as disciples see a paralytic who could not fend for himself lowered through a roof to Jesus’s feet, we see a communal action of restoration. It’s not merely a “magic trick” to cure someone. The authorities would be jealous that they couldn’t do it. The crowds would be wowed by the sensationalism of it all and walk away.

When you hear the Gospel during this Ordinary time, how do you hear it?