Friday, July 18, 2025

 

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 11:10-12:14; Matthew 12:1-8)

A simple but majestic painting by the Spanish master Zurbarán shows a lamb being prepared for slaughter.  The lamb’s feet are bound, and its facial expression is of passivity.  The painting is entitled “Lamb of God” who, of course, is Jesus Christ.  The idea for the painting finds its origin in today’s first reading.

The reading from Exodus tells of God’s ordering Hebrew families to prepare a lamb for sacrifice.  The lamb represents the people’s prayer for protection as they are being liberated from Pharoah’s slavery.  In the gospels Jesus is referred to as the “Lamb of God” whose death on the cross frees the world of its sins.

Christians exult in the Blood of the Lamb of God.  By our faith and Baptism we are justified.  Living lovingly in accord with Christ’s teachings we will inherit eternal life.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

 

Thursday, July 17, 2025

(Exodus 3:13-20; Matthew 11:28-30)

Both readings today are well known because they reveal much about God.  In the passage from Exodus God reveals his name to Moses. “I am who am” is the way the tetragram is translated in Catholic versions of the Bible.  St. Thomas Aquinas saw in this term a profound insight into God.  Thomas said that it shows how God is not just a being, but the source of all being.  More basic than molecules or atoms, nothing could exist without God.

Today’s gospel follows on the heels of yesterday’s where Jesus indicated that he is the Son of God.  Here He shows himself to be a compassionate God always ready to assist humans in their needs.  He asks that those who want his help to take on his “yoke,” that is, his way of living. Those who do, he assures, will not be disappointed.

Our challenge is to transcend the wish that God reveal Himself more quickly and clearly so that we might more readily place our trust in Him.  We have the testimony of the saints throughout the ages as well as the Scriptures to support our confidence in Him.  We also know that we will also become better people following Jesus’ ways.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 3:1-6.9-12; Matthew 11:25-27)

God has been described as both terrifying and fascinating.  This is why the burning bush in today’s first reading makes such an excellent symbol.   Moses is attracted to the raging fire that doesn’t consume its fuel.  Yet he must heed the voice from within the bush.  No one should doubt that Moses takes off his sandals at the Lord’s command.

But Moses hesitates to accept God’s command to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.  He likely figures that If he fails, he will have to pay heavily.  Moses does not know God yet.  He was raised in Pharaoh's house.  Moreover, even the Hebrew people have largely forgotten the Lord of their ancestors.  They do not realize yet that God’s essential quality is merciful love which shows both patience and counsel so that people can learn His ways.

But we should not equate merciful love with blind indulgence.  God knows our hearts.  He will forgive our failings when we sincerely repent.  But he will not be fooled into forgiving when we take Him for granted or when we refuse to forgive others.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

 

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Exodus 2:1-15a; Matthew 11:20-24)

St. Bonaventure was one of the great saints of the Middle Ages.  His writings are still read and valued.  He also was an excellent administrator.  In the middle of his career at the University of Paris, he was elected General Minister of the Franciscan Order.  Bonaventure structured the large group with effective legislation and a coherent spirituality based on St. Francis’ legacy.

Today’s first reading presents another man who will become an effective leader and theologian.  It portrays Moses as a diamond in the rough.  Moses feels a righteous anger when the Egyptian strikes the Hebrew worker.   But his quick resort to violence is imprudent.  God will instruct him over years in exile so that he may lead God’s chosen people to freedom.

Neither Moses nor St. Bonaventure could have performed as well as they did without
God’s assistance.  We also need to rely on the Lord by praying often and carefully discerning His will.

Monday, July 14, 2025

 

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

(Exodus 1:8-14.22; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

Today North Americans are celebrating Kateri Tekakwitha, its first Native American saint.  Her story exemplifies Jesus’ saying in today’s gospel that he has come to make “one's enemies (will be) those of his household”. 

Kateri was an orphan staying with her uncle when she met Jesuit missionaries.  She began practicing their teachings, but her uncle and others in her tribe opposed her being baptized.  Nevertheless, she persisted in following Catholic customs which caused conflicts in her tribe’s longhouse.  Kateri was baptized at nineteen years old in 1676.  She lived five more years as a dedicated Christian virgin.

No one should regard Jesus as a hostile revolutionary for saying that he came “to bring not peace but the sword.” His teachings cause unrest because they conflict with our selfish desires.  His mission has always been to bring the peace of God’s Kingdom to a world too much consumed by desire and hatred.