TAKE IT TO THE EXTREME.

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR B
SEPTEMBER 6, 2009.
(First reading: Isaiah 35:4-7a ) (Psalm 146:7, 8-9a,9. 9bc-10)
(Second reading: James 2: 1-5) (Gospel: Mark 7:31-37)


TAKE IT TO THE EXTREME

When it comes to believing in Jesus, we must take it to the extreme; i.e: When he speaks, we must hear all he has to say; when he gives us his life, we must take it all. Nothing less, nothing more; we must go to the extreme of receiving all he has for us. Nothing less than the extreme will make us true disciples of Jesus.

The prophet Isaiah tells us all that God has to give us: "He comes with vindication, to save you; He will open the eyes of the blind, He will clear the ears of the deaf, the lame will leap like a stag, the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, the burning sands will become pools" (Isaiah 35:4-7).

The Responsorial Psalm speaks in the same language: "God secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets captives free, gives sight to the blind, raises up those who were bowed down, protects strangers, sustains orphans and widows" (Psalm 146:7-9).

The Letter of James records that "the poor of the world are to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom" (James 2:5).

The Gospel, finally, shows us how Jesus takes us (individually) "aside from the crowd" and "opens our ears" and "removes the impediments from our speech" (Mark 7:33-35); so that we may hear all that he has for us to hear.

However, the world selectively minimizes and distorts the word of Jesus in order to prevent man from reaching his full liberation.

True belief in Jesus requires that we take him to the extreme, without watering him down nor distorting him. Thus, he who truly believes is Jesus is by nature an extremist.

By failing to take Jesus to the extreme, we will tragically shortchange ourselves.