September 29, 2024 Virtually Sunday Reflection

Summary

In this reflection on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Father Tim Schilcox emphasizes the importance of the message of the Gospel over the medium through which it is conveyed. He discusses the universal call to spread the message of Jesus Christ, regardless of who delivers it, as the Holy Spirit works through various people and situations. Drawing from the readings in Mark’s Gospel and the Book of Numbers, he highlights that the core message of God's love, forgiveness, and salvation remains constant and central, no matter the method or messenger.

Takeaways

• 📖 The message is the most important aspect of communication, especially when sharing the Word of God.
• 👤 Marshall McLuhan's concept that 'the medium is the message' is addressed, but Father Tim suggests that 'the message is the message' when it comes to the Gospels.
• ✝️ Jesus' message in the Gospel of Mark emphasizes inclusivity—anyone who acts in His name is part of the mission, regardless of their background.
• 🙏 Moses’ story in the Old Testament illustrates that God's Spirit can be bestowed upon anyone, even those outside of the expected group.
• 🕊️ The Holy Spirit is given to all Christians through baptism, enabling them to proclaim the Gospel regardless of their status or role in the Church.
• 🌍 Diversity of medium and voices is essential in spreading God's message, as the Holy Spirit works through a wide array of people and methods.
• 💡 Vatican II highlighted the universal call to holiness, stressing that everyone is called to share the Gospel, not just clergy.
• ⛪ Roman Catholics trust in the Church's tradition, but also recognize the need to be open to God's voice in other cultures and Christian denominations.
• ✂️ St. James urges believers to cut out distractions and attachments that hinder their ability to live out and share the Gospel.
• 🙌 The message of Jesus Christ is one of salvation, forgiveness, and the overcoming of fear and sin through God's grace.

Q & A

What is the primary message Father Tim emphasizes in his reflection?

Father Tim emphasizes that the message of the Gospel, especially the message of Jesus Christ, is constant and should not be overshadowed by the medium through which it is conveyed. The core message remains essential, regardless of how or by whom it is delivered.

What does Father Tim say about Marshall McLuhan's concept of 'the medium is the message'?

Father Tim recalls McLuhan's concept, which suggests that how a message is delivered can shape its impact. However, he argues that when it comes to the word of God, the message itself is the most important thing, and we should not let the medium obscure it.

How does Father Tim interpret Jesus’ response to John in Mark’s Gospel?

Father Tim explains that Jesus’ response to John, when the disciples tried to stop someone from using His name to expel demons, illustrates that anyone who truly accepts the message of the Holy Spirit can share it. The message is not limited to a specific group or person.

What is the significance of the story of the 70 elders in the Book of Numbers, according to Father Tim?

Father Tim points out that in the story of the 70 elders, God's spirit is bestowed upon a broader group to spread His message. This shows that God’s message can be communicated through different personalities and approaches, but the message itself remains consistent.

What does Father Tim suggest about the universality of Christian baptism?

Father Tim suggests that Christian baptism gives all believers a share of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to receive and announce God's message, emphasizing the universal nature of the call to spread the Gospel.

How does Father Tim view the diversity of Christian denominations?

Father Tim acknowledges the existence of 34,000 different Christian denominations and believes that God can speak through each of them in different ways. He encourages openness to hearing the message of God through various voices and mediums.

What does Vatican II’s document on the laity say about holiness, as discussed by Father Tim?

Father Tim references Vatican II’s document on the laity, which states that everyone, not just clergy, is called to holiness and to announce the Gospel through their lives. This underscores the universal mission to spread God’s message.

What does Father Tim say about what should be 'cut out' according to St. James?

According to Father Tim, St. James encourages believers to 'cut out' want, luxury, injustice, and the lack of compassion, which hinder the reception and announcement of God's message. These distractions prevent individuals from living out the Gospel fully.

What is the key lesson from Father Tim’s interaction with missionaries from another denomination?

Father Tim shares that during a respectful conversation with missionaries from another denomination, the focus remained on discussing the message of the Gospel. This demonstrates that respectful dialogue about faith can help clarify and reinforce the central message of Christianity.

What final message does Father Tim leave the audience with?

Father Tim concludes by reminding the audience that the core message of the Gospel is Jesus Christ—His life, death, and resurrection. He encourages believers to share this message faithfully and avoid letting the medium overshadow its importance.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Reflections on the Core Message of the Gospel

Father Tim begins by introducing his reflections on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time and touches on Marshall McLuhan’s idea that 'the medium is the message.' However, he emphasizes that when it comes to the word of God, the message itself is paramount. He expresses concern that over time, creativity in conveying the message may obscure its core essence. Father Tim underscores that the message of Jesus Christ, his teachings, and the Gospels are central and that the preacher's role is to deliver this truth, not focus on who or how it is delivered.

05:02

🙌 Inclusivity in Spreading the Gospel

Father Tim discusses examples from Mark’s Gospel and the Old Testament to highlight that the message of God can be delivered by anyone chosen by the Holy Spirit. In Mark’s Gospel, John tries to stop someone who isn’t part of their group from expelling demons in Jesus' name, but Jesus asserts that anyone not against them is with them. Similarly, in the Old Testament, Moses is confronted when two others who were not present begin prophesying, but Moses defends them, stating that he wishes all people could receive the Holy Spirit. This reinforces that the message of God is inclusive and not restricted to specific groups.

10:05

🌍 Openness to Diverse Expressions of Faith

Father Tim explains how God can speak through different Christian denominations and cultural expressions of faith. He points out that Vatican II emphasized the universal call to holiness, and he encourages openness to the Holy Spirit working through various mediums and people. While Roman Catholics trust in their church’s teachings and traditions, they should also be receptive to God’s message in diverse ways. The core message of Christ remains constant, but the medium through which it is shared may vary across different cultures and denominations.

🧹 Removing Barriers to God’s Message

Father Tim reflects on the challenges and distractions that can hinder the reception and delivery of God's message. He refers to St. James’ teaching about eliminating want, luxury, and injustice, which can create divisions between the rich and the poor. These obstacles must be removed to truly follow the gospel. In the gospel reading, Jesus uses metaphorical language, urging believers to cut off anything that causes them to stumble, emphasizing that nothing should obstruct the core message of salvation. Father Tim asks listeners to consider what may be distracting them from fully embracing and sharing the gospel.

🤝 Sharing the Message Through Encounters

Father Tim recounts an encounter with missionaries from another religious denomination, where they engaged in respectful dialogue about their faiths. This meeting highlighted the importance of focusing on the message of Jesus Christ in all conversations, regardless of the medium. He reminds his audience that the message is clear: God sent Jesus not to condemn, but to save. Every person has the opportunity to be a medium of God’s message through their actions and words, spreading hope, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life.

✝️ The Message of Christ: Crucified and Risen

In his concluding remarks, Father Tim reaffirms the central message of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead. He reminds the audience that this core message is the foundation of their faith, and it should never be obscured by the medium through which it is communicated. The focus must always be on the saving grace of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection.

Keywords

💡Message

The 'message' in the video refers to the core teachings of Jesus Christ, specifically his words, actions, death, and resurrection. Father Tim emphasizes that the message remains constant regardless of who delivers it or how it is delivered. The video stresses that the message of the Gospel is central and cannot be obscured by the medium through which it is communicated.

💡Medium

The 'medium' is the method or person through which the message is conveyed. In the video, Father Tim references Marshall McLuhan’s idea that 'the medium is the message,' but counters that in the context of the Gospel, the message itself takes precedence over the medium. While different people and methods can communicate the message, the message itself must remain clear and central.

💡Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is presented as the divine force that inspires and empowers individuals to communicate the message of the Gospel. Father Tim points out that the Spirit is not limited to certain people or groups, but can work through anyone, as seen in both the Old and New Testament readings. The Holy Spirit ensures the continuity of the message across different cultures and people.

💡Prophecy

Prophecy in this context refers to individuals who are inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak God’s truth, even if they are outside the established religious hierarchy. The example of Eldad and Medad from the Old Testament reading highlights that God can choose anyone to share His message, challenging human-made restrictions on who can deliver divine truth.

💡Inclusivity

Inclusivity refers to the openness of God’s message being shared by all, not limited to a select few. In the video, Father Tim explains that Jesus teaches inclusivity by accepting those who spread his message, even if they are not part of the core group of disciples. This theme is reinforced through the example from Mark’s Gospel, where Jesus defends someone using his name to cast out demons despite not being part of the disciples’ group.

💡Jealousy

Jealousy is used to describe the reaction of people who want to restrict the message of God to certain groups. In the Old Testament reading, Moses’ followers were jealous when two men, Eldad and Medad, who were not present when the Spirit was distributed, began prophesying. Moses challenges this jealousy by affirming that God’s message is for everyone, wishing that all people could prophesy.

💡Sacramental Life

Sacramental life refers to the ongoing practice of faith within the Christian tradition, through which the Holy Spirit continues to work. Father Tim highlights that the sacraments, such as baptism, allow all Christians to share in the Holy Spirit and become vessels for spreading the message of Jesus Christ. This ongoing work of the Spirit ensures that the message remains alive in the Church.

💡Vatican II

Vatican II was a major Roman Catholic Church council held in the 1960s that called for renewal within the Church, emphasizing the 'universal call to holiness.' Father Tim references this council to illustrate that all people, not just clerics, are called to announce the Gospel and live in accordance with the Holy Spirit. Vatican II's teachings are used to support the idea of inclusivity and diversity in the spread of the message.

💡Cutting Off

Cutting off refers to the metaphorical language used by Jesus in the Gospel, where he advises cutting off parts of the body that cause sin. This dramatic imagery is interpreted by Father Tim as a call to remove anything that obstructs one's ability to receive or deliver the message of God. The focus is on eliminating distractions, temptations, and sinful patterns that prevent full participation in God’s work.

💡Universal Call to Holiness

The 'universal call to holiness' is a teaching from Vatican II that emphasizes that every person is called to live a holy life, not just priests or religious figures. Father Tim uses this concept to argue that the message of the Gospel is meant to be shared by all people, regardless of their position or status in the Church. It reinforces the idea that everyone can be a vessel for the Holy Spirit.

Highlights

The principle of Marshall McLuhan's book, 'The medium is the message,' and its influence on how messages are conveyed.

Reflection on the idea that creativity in communication can sometimes obscure the core message, especially regarding the Gospels.

Father Tim emphasizes that 'the message is the message,' especially when it comes to the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus' response to the disciples about someone outside their group casting out demons, showing that the message of the Gospel is not limited to an exclusive group.

The story of Moses in the Old Testament, where the Holy Spirit was shared with the 70 elders, highlights the diverse ways God communicates through different people.

Moses' response to the complaint about two men prophesying without being part of the original group—God’s message is not restricted by human boundaries.

The core of Christian baptism: all baptized individuals receive a share of the Holy Spirit, showing the universality of the Gospel message.

Reflection on the 34,000 different Christian denominations, and how God can speak through each one in unique ways.

Father Tim reflects on the importance of being open to the Holy Spirit working in diverse individuals and cultures.

The teachings from Vatican II on the 'universal call to holiness'—every individual is called to announce the Gospel by their life, not just clerics.

The idea that God doesn’t put limits on who can share the Gospel; the Holy Spirit works through various people at different times.

St. James' teaching on cutting out excess, injustice, and lack of compassion to live in a way that aligns with Jesus' message of love and healing.

Jesus' radical metaphor about cutting off body parts to avoid sin, emphasizing the need to remove anything that obstructs the Gospel's message.

A reflection on a conversation with missionaries from a different religious denomination, highlighting the importance of respectful dialogue centered on the Gospel.

Father Tim's concluding message: while the medium may change, the core message of Jesus Christ, his death, resurrection, and forgiveness remains constant and central.

Transcripts

Hello friends welcome to virtually

Sunday a presentation of whatsoever you

do Incorporated I'm norbertine Father

Tim schil Cox coming to you from the

formation Chapel At The Abbey and deer

with Reflections on the readings for the

26th Sunday in ordinary time we continue

track to track along in Mark's gospel on

this cycle around chapter

N9 in 1967 Marshall mclen who was a

Canadian Communications expert published

a a breakthrough book at least it seemed

like it uh the medium is the message I

remember as a junior high school student

our teachers were fascinated by it

basically the principle of the book was

the message depends on how you tell the

story The the medium becomes the message

so be creative be thoughtful all those

good things uh it it was widely accepted

and uh implemented for for decades

really uh I must say though thinking

about it as time was went on I realized

that in some ways uh the over-the-top

creativity or some of the uh indirect

creativity has served to obscure

messages along the way uh at least for

this old guy uh I've come to realize I

think another book needs to be written

uh the message is the message let's not

forget that the message is the message

especially when it comes to the word of

God especially when it comes to the

gospels of Jesus Christ that there is a

core message there that's presented to

us now that doesn't mean that the

homelist or the preacher or the teacher

or the columnist or the writer uh

doesn't know Their audience doesn't

creatively thoughtfully prepare doesn't

try to it an organized way that

will make it clear what the message is

that that all of that serves the message

but the message is the essential thing

it's not necessarily the who or the how

that convey

it and we see uh that truth played out

it seems to me in two of the three

readings this weekend uh from the ninth

chapter of Mark's gospel John said to

Jesus teacher we saw someone using your

name to expel demons and we tried to

stop him because he's not of our company

so not the right medium not the right

guy not the great credentials not

someone we know or we've trained we

don't necessarily trust

him Jesus say why try to stop him no one

can perform a miracle using my name and

at the same time speak ill of me anyone

who's not against us is with

us Jesus acknowledges that anyone who

seizes who has received the message that

comes from the Holy Spirit to an open

heart can announce the message can

announce the message as their prompted

by the holy spirit it's not an exclusive

Club in the passage from the book of

members the Old Testament reading today

uh a similar problem uh the Lord came

down in a cloud and spoke to Moses and

took some of the spirit that was his and

bestowed it on 70 elders how wonderful a

broader group to get the message out in

all sorts of different ways 70 different

personalities different approaches all

the rest but the message is still

constant

and then two who weren't there at the

time lad and mad uh they started

prophesying they received the Holy

Spirit so uh they complained to Moses

the other 70 you know they weren't here

when the spirit was poured out stop them

Moses and Moses comes right back at him

sees right through them their jealousy

they're trying to create a kind of

closed

shop are you jealous for my sake he

asked them would that all the people of

the Lord were prophets would that the

Lord might bestow his Spirit upon them

all and of course that's what happens in

Christian baptism brothers and sisters

isn't it that all of us receive a share

of the holy spirit it's outpouring the

message which is the word of God the

Eternal Word made Flesh and Blood Jesus

Christ what he said how he taught it how

he lived it how he healed how he forgave

how he challenged and comforted us how

he served and lived and died and rose

again and returned to the father that's

the

message and his death and Resurrection

his Ascension and the outpouring of the

Holy Spirit at Pentecost which continues

through the sacramental life of the

church and however God chooses to pour

out that Spirit U affirms that the

message is constant across the immense

diversity of the human

Spectrum remember looking last year

34,000 different Christians

denominations why would why would God

not speak through each of them in a

different way why would it be only one

and of course as Roman Catholics we

trust in the truth of our church its

tradition and its structure and its

interpretation and its guidance by the

Holy Spirit

yes but to be open to hear God speak in

all sorts of other venues all sorts of

other ways the message to be informed by

the Holy Spirit working in other persons

other cultures across the

board Vatican 2 uh spoke about in the

document on the leoty the universal call

to Holiness that everyone is called to

be open to the Holy Spirit and to

announce the gospel by Our Lives not

only clerics not only a certain slice of

of the community but everybody because

the message is the message beyond the

medium and it seems to be God's design

that a diverse array of medium are

useful in announcing the

gospel and we have to trust that so God

doesn't put limits necessarily God pours

the holy spirit on those who he chooses

when he chooses in the way he chooses to

announce the message he desires to get

to the

world that's broad that's as broad as

can be Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts

of your faithful Kindle in us the fire

of Your Love send forth your spirit oh

Lord Unleash Your holy spirit and renew

the whole face of the

Earth if there is something that we want

to limit the readings get at that too

they get it what uh what we can cut out

and it's not people and it's not

necessarily

voices St James in the fifth chapter of

his letter uh talks about uh getting rid

of want and luxury getting rid of excess

getting rid of Injustice getting rid of

uh the gap between the rich and the poor

getting ra rid of a lack of compassion

so that we're moved when someone's in

genuine need to help them to respond to

them in the way that Jesus would in the

way that Jesus did that was the Gospel

message especially read Luke's gospel

all the healing all the compassionate

response of

Jesus he himself says it later in this

weekend's gospel passage you want to get

rid of something if your hand is your

difficulty cut it off if your foot is

your undoing cut it off if your eye is

your undoing cut it out

sounds crazy doesn't it in a way but

it's it's it's reminding us that the

message is so constant that nothing can

get in the way of where God is going to

of how God is going to announce

it what gets in the way for you for me

what distraction what attraction

what attachments what

affection get in the way

of our hearing the message of the Holy

Spirit then then what gets in the way of

our announcing

it it's on St overt college campus the

other day walking along and talking with

one of our fathers who's working over

there and there are a couple of

Representatives missionaries from a

different religious denomination and uh

he said Father Tim can we stop and talk

with them and so we we had a a 20 minute

conversation it was friendly it was

respectful uh brother wanted to to make

it pointed in a good way uh ask some

questions specifics what you believe or

can I tell you what we believe or they

asked some questions and was beautiful

it was an encounter where the the

message was the

topic brothers and sisters every day we

have the opportunity to be God's chosen

medium not the message the message is

Jesus Christ the message messages that

God sent him into the world not to

condemn us but to save

us the messages that every sin can be

forgiven the message is that we can

become as forgiving as God has been to

us the messages that we don't have to

live in fear the message is that we

don't have to live Paralyzed by sinful

patterns we can cut them out of our

Lives we can overcome them with God's

grace God Grace sufficient for

us and the message is that death is not

the trump card that life

is life love stronger than death in

Jesus

Christ however you tell it make sure

that the the medium doesn't obscure the

message because the message is too

Central and too good to be true as we

hear it from whoever God wants to hear

to communicate it to us this

week as we announce it in our daily

lives at home at work wherever we may be

God bless your folks praise God for the

message the word made flesh Jesus Christ

crucified and risen from the dead