Monday, August 1, 2022

 Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, bishop and doctor of the Church

(Jeremiah 28:1-17; Matthew 14:13-21)

St. Alphonsus Ligouri is considered the patron of moral theologians.  The Redemptorist Order, which he founded, runs the center of moral theology in Rome.  Called the Alphonsianum after him, it has trained generations of the Church’s best moralists.  Today St. Alphonsus is remembered for having steered a middle course between moral laxists and the rigorists of the eighteenth century.

In the reading from Jeremiah today, the prophet tries to find middle ground in the prediction of what will happen to Jerusalem.  The Babylonians have already invaded the city and carried away much of its ruling class as well as the treasures from Solomon’s temple.  Hananiah, a false prophet, tells the people not to worry.  According to him, Babylon will be upended, and the sacred vessels returned in a matter of a few years.  Jeremiah, a true prophet, correctly predicts that restoration will happen but only after extended suffering.

Often we are tempted to laxism in actions.  We want the things we do to be easy and fun, even when they squarely oppose our moral tradition.  Taking what is truly the middle course between laxism and rigorism, we can edify our neighbor while pleasing God.

Sunday, July 31, 2022

 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Ecclesiastes 1:2.2:21-23; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 12:13-21)

People with a radical interpretation of how to live as Christians can bother us.  They will claim that Christians must share everything as if they were communists.  It is true that members of the primitive Church community of the Acts of the Apostles pooled resources.  They put all their money at the disposal of the apostles for distribution according to individual needs.  However, Acts reports how there were problems almost from the beginning.  St. Paul does not recommend this type of sharing.  Nor does St. James call for it even though he is strong on helping the poor.

Jesus’ disciples were very conscious of the problems money can cause. In the second reading today Paul condemns greed, which is the love of money.  In fact, he calls greed “idolatry” which makes money an idol.  This is to say that people make it the priority of priorities.  Because of greed millionaires want to become billionaires.  ¡Because of greed human traffickers caused the death of fifty-three immigrants in Texas last month! In today’s gospel Jesus gives a lesson on the subject.

A man asks Jesus’ help with his inheritance.  He recognizes in Jesus someone who is both fair and wise.  In fact, Jesus is so wise that he does not want to get involved in family affairs, which are always full of complexities.  However, he takes advantage of the request to warn the crowd about greed, a vice that draws many away from the Lord.

Jesus tells the story of the rich farmer who builds new barns to warehouse his great harvest.  Jesus does not say that the man is evil.  He does not describe him as a murderer, thief, or swindler.  For the most part he paints him as a hard worker planning and directing farm operations.  But the man has a fatal flaw.  Jesus says that he is a “’fool’” in that he never thinks of others.  The man sows and reaps, stores his produce, and plans everything only for himself!  There is not even a whisper about others.  In fact, the man speaks to himself about himself!  For this reason, God abolishes his future.

Then Jesus exhorts his listeners to be “’rich in what matters to God.’” Pope St. John Paul II would describe this virtue as “the quest for truth, beauty, goodness and communion with others for the sake of common growth.”  The saint does not condemn neither consumption nor saving one’s goods as long as the welfare of others, particularly the poor, is not neglected.  He would not deprive people of opportunities for education, travel, and recreation if they are undertaken with moderation.

Today we hear of campus ministry programs that combine service and international travel.  These projects seem a good example of spending money for constructive experiences while shunning greed.  The youth who participate in the programs travel to faraway places like Kenya in Africa or Honduras in Latin America to aid the poor.  Meanwhile they experience a new environment and are introduced to a different culture.  They return to their homes enriched by the experience and conscious of other kinds of people.  There is really no necessity to go to a foreign country for these types of edifying experiences.  But yes, one has to think about “what matters to God.”

Friday, July 29, 2022

 Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

(Jeremiah 26:1-9; John 11:19-27)

If all we knew about St. Martha was that she complained to Jesus that her sister left her with all entertaining chores, we could hardly call her a saint.  Fortunately for her and for us, she had an opportunity to redeem herself in the gospels.  In today’s passage Martha shows that her faith has penetrated the mystery of Christ.

Martha initially exhibits her typical forthrightness.  She goes out to meet Jesus and even complains about his being late!  But when Jesus asks her if she believes in him, she shows that she has been meditating over his words like Mary in the familiar story from Luke’s gospel.  Martha then proclaims Jesus the only Son of God come to save the world.

We too must take care to recognize Jesus for who he is.  He is certainly more than a great prophet.  He eclipses the sun in importance to us.  He is the savior who leads us from sin and death into everlasting life.  More than anyone or anything else, we want to stay close to him.

Thursday, July 28, 2022

 Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 18:1-6; Matthew 13:47-53)

Too many good people leave the Church.  They help others and even pray regularly.  But they become disillusioned by the shortcomings of Church leaders.  Certainly, clerical abuse moved many to abandon Church participation.  Also, the dictatorial ways of some bishops have created fallout.  Jesus’ parable in today’s gospel predicts such evil as it assures that evildoers will not be tolerated.

As shown more fully in a later parable, Jesus’ comparison of the kingdom to a fishnet describes how both good and bad are found in its confines.  Although the kingdom of God extends beyond Church bounds, the Church certainly is at its nucleus.  By noting both good and bad fish, Jesus is indicating that there will be both very good and some malicious people in the Church.  In the end, he is saying, the evil ones will be eliminated. 

We should not become disheartened when we see evil compromising the good of the Church.  Prayer for its perpetrators is in order.  Also, we must examine our own hearts continually so that we don’t contribute to its evil.

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

 Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Jeremiah 15:10.16-21; Matthew 13:44-46)

Webster defines jeremiad as a “lamentation or tale of woe.”  The word is derived from the prophet Jeremiah’s frequent complaints to God. Today’s first reading presents a good example of a jeremiad.

Jeremiah has told the people of Jerusalem that they their infidelity has resulted in God’s sending an army to take them captive.  But the people do not want to hear his message.  They steer away from him as if he were a coyote howling in the hills.  Jeremiah then goes to the Lord with his complaint.  He tells God that he has been faithful but God has not reciprocated.  God quickly passes a judgment.  If Jeremiah repents of his self-pity, God will make him victorious over those who revile him.

 We should feel free like Jeremiah to take our complaints to the Lord but careful not to blame God for our situation.  Seeking His help, we will likely find new possibilities opening to us.  Usually, God responds in ways that we find better than we deserve.

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

 Memorial of Saints Joachim and Ann, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 14:17-22; Matthew 13:36-43)

Many like to think of Saints Joachim and Anne as the grandparents of Jesus.  They likely do so because grandparents today are often principal influences on the religious development of children.  The Church, on the other hand, name Joachim and Anne as only “the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”  Because all that is said of them comes from apocryphal stories, it need not treat them at all.  Yet they provide a lens for considering Christ’s role in the world.

Today’s first reading should remind us of what is happening in Ukraine.  Jeremiah describes the complete destruction of Jerusalem much like what has happened in Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities.  That country is being demolished to the discouragement of the people.  In the reading the prophet can only cry to God in penitence and supplication.

After World War II our grandparents left us a legacy of hope.  They struggled to overcome the tyranny of the Nazis and of the Communists.  Trusting in the Lord, they structured a peaceful world with the United Nations as a principal resource.  It was obviously not a perfect arrangement.  Today we Christians turn again to Christ with an appeal for wisdom, strength, and patience.  We see in him the means of grace to shape a peace based on justice in the Ukraine.

Monday, July 25, 2022

 Feast of Saint James, Apostle

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 20:20-28)

In today’s gospel Jesus predicts the martyrdom of James.  In fact, the Acts of the Apostles relates that James becomes the first of the twelve to give his life in testimony to Christ.  The reading from St. Paul can be considered a commentary on James’ sacrifice.

Paul writes from personal experience.  He was afflicted in every way – beatings, insults, shipwrecks, the ardor of travel, etc.  But he never gave up.  The person of Jesus influenced him as well as James and many, many Christians martyrs over twenty centuries.  Jesus’ teaching moved them to evangelize others.  And the Holy Spirit conveying God’s love inspired them to make the ultimate sacrifice.

We are the beneficiaries of their efforts.  Sometimes we have difficulty appreciating our legacy.  We live in a society of individuals.  Married couples often don’t share the same bank account, much less the same email address.  To say that we belong to the Church of the Apostles may sound like a shallow claim.  Nevertheless, following the teachings of the apostles, we realize that our future is not limited.  Rather, like them, our destiny is the glory of Christ risen from the dead.

Sunday, July 24, 2022

 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, July 24, 2022

(Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13)

If a student were to ask a teacher to give lessons on public speaking, how would she respond?  Perhaps she would be so stunned as to become speechless.  But once she regained composure, she probably would form a lesson plan in her head.  Today’s gospel can be taken as Jesus’ lesson plan in teaching his disciples how to pray.

The plan has three parts.  First, it indicates to whom the prayer is addressed.  Second, it makes a list of things to petition.  And third, it develops an effective way to express one’s needs.  The best of teachers, Jesus does not lack a sound methodology.

Of course, Jesus wants his disciples to pray to God.  He tells them to call God “Father.”  What is fascinating here is not so much that we are to call God “Father.”  Even the Old Testament in various placers describes God as a father.  What is surprising is that Jesus does not insist that we say “Our Father” as he does in Matthew’s gospel.  In Matthew only Jesus calls God simply, “Father.”  But here in in Luke Jesus permits us to call God with the same intimacy as he enjoys.

Jesus wants us to ask first for peace and welfare for the world.  This is what “your kingdom come” means.  Certainly, the coming of the kingdom will mean the end of violence on our city streets as well as the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Ukraine.  But it does not leave out our own desires for a more worthy life.  Perhaps we are worried that there may not be enough money to pay the rent.  Or we may really need a few days’ rest.  Asking for the reign of God includes these types of requests. 

Also, we are to ask for “our daily bread.”  There are two meanings at play here.  First, “daily bread” means sufficient food that we maintain good health.  Also, the phrase suggests the Eucharistic bread that nurtures us for eternal life.  Because we live on the earth so that we may have everlasting life with God, we should not want the one kind of bread without the other.

It may be difficult for us to ask for forgiveness of our sins.  Particularly in our narcissistic society, many prefer not to think about their sinning. But the truth is that we sin, sometimes seriously.  We lie; we want inordinate pleasure; we consider ourselves better than others.  If we are going to be included in God’s family, we must seek forgiveness from these and other sins.

Finally, we are to ask that we may “not be subject to the final test.” Jesus has in mind the great trials that can undermine our confidence in God.  By this request we are imploring God that he doesn’t take the life of one of our children or that we suffer terribly before death.  It is said that Pope Francis has difficulty with this petition because God would never lead us into sin.  He may be right, but still it is not unheard of that good people suffer tremendously.

And how are we to pray?  According to Jesus in this gospel, we must pray with persistence.  In the reading from Genesis today, Abraham shows how to pray in this way.  He does not cease asking the Lord reduction of the requisite number of good people to save Sodom until the quota can be easily met.  True prayer never gives up because the one praying knows that God always wants to bring us closer to Himself.

Jesus, our teacher, is beyond compare, and his plan has been proven through twenty centuries.  Nevertheless, if it is not put into practice, it will be as useless as a snow sled in the summer.

Friday, July 22, 2022

 Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

(II Corinthians 5:14-17; John 20:1-2.11-18)

Padre Santiago Martin is a Spanish priest who every weekend comments on Church affairs in a YouTube video.  Recently he commented that some in the Church want to reinterpret its tradition.  Fr. Martin said that some “tradition breakers” say that Jesus is not God but a great prophet like Martin Luther King or Mohandas Gandhi.  Today’s gospel belies such an interpretation.

Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus’ tomb thinking that Jesus is dead.  She sees him as a great prophet who was crushed by the Jewish-Roman power structure.  Then Jesus confronts her with the reality of his resurrection from the dead.  He also commissions her to be the first person to proclaim his resurrection to others.  Jesus shows her that he is not another prophet but the living Son of God.  St. Paul testifies to the same truth in the first reading.  He tells the Corinthians that even those who knew Jesus in the flesh must now see him as something very different. The resurrection has revealed Jesus definitively as the eternal Son of God.

Mary Magdalene has become a model for all Christians.  We may wonder if Jesus was just a great prophet to be heeded as far as his message applies to our times.  But then the truth of the gospel confronts us.  We too are charged to tell others that Jesus has risen from the dead.  He is God’s eternal Son whose teaching will endure forever.

Thursday, July 21, 2022

 Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 2:1-3.7-8.12-13; Matthew 13:10-17)

We think of parables as little stories that illustrate what Jesus is trying to teach.  They are like the vignettes a high school religion teacher used to tell to make a point.  Most of his students will remember the teacher’s anecdote about the bank robber Willie Loman.  Asked once why he robbed banks, Loman replied, “…because that’s where the money is.”  Then the teacher said to his students that they must decide what is most important in life and, like Willie Loman, go after it.

In today’s gospel passage, however, Jesus says that he uses parables to confuse his listeners: “’This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’”  It is only right to ask, what gives?  The evangelist Matthew, writing perhaps fifty years after Jesus, knows that many people have already rejected the message of the gospel.  But even in Jesus’ time many follow him with scant intention of heeding his call to repentance.  They merely want to see him work a wonder. For the first group Jesus’ death and resurrection will seem like a fantasy.  For the second his stories will sound so.

But, hopefully, it is not this way for us.  We believe that Jesus has the words of eternal life and want to follow him. 

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

 Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 1:1.4-10; Matthew 13:1-9)

Jeremiah in the first reading today has reason to be fearful.  The Lord has told Jeremiah that he will put His righteous words on his lips.  They will console but also chastise.  Not just people who regularly do evil will resent Jeremiah for speaking God’s words.  Pope Francis, echoing conventional wisdom, has said that there is a bit of larceny in all of us.  The regularly virtuous may not always welcome them either.

Nevertheless, the word of God can bring about wonders.  In his parable Jesus tells how the word coming to worthy listeners will have abundant fruit.  Everyday thousands of volunteers around the country give themselves to feed the homeless and poor.  They do so because they have heard the word of God tell of the feeding of the Israelites in the desert and Jesus providing the multitude with bread.

We too may find others resenting the word of God on our lips.  We may have to remind those who engage in ridicule that homosexuals are God’s children worthy of our respect.  Or we may have to tell our children that cohabiting offends God.  Such statements will cause us pain, but we do so out of love both for God and for those whom we address. 

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

 

Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Micah 7: 14-15.18-20; Matthew 12:46-50)

People still try to make a distinction between the “God of the Old Testament” and the “God of the New…”  They see the God of Abraham and Moses as angry and vindictive, and the one of Jesus as loving and compassionate.  Today’s first reading belies such a wrong-minded interpretation of the Scriptures.

The prophet Micah (or possibly another whose works are included with his) utters a prayer.  He extols the Lord for His mercy and looks forward to the revelation of His justice.  According to the prophet, God “pardons sins” and “delights in clemency.” Jesus will manifest these divine attributes in his very being.  For this reason the gospel today pictures him saying that his disciples are only his mother, sisters, and brothers but not his father.  His father is God alone. 

God is merciful and loving as some say, “all the time.”  This affirmation does not mean we are exempt from obeying His will.  But it does mean that we can count on Him when we approach Him with repentant hearts.

Monday, July 18, 2022

 Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Micah 6:1-4.6-8; Matthew 12:38-42)

Jesus has invited us to intimacy with him and with His Father.  Should we consider that invitation as indication that we are equal to God?  Some people through the ages have dared to think so. Both readings today describe ways of humans posturing as God’s peers.

In the reading from Micah Israel tries to appease God as if He were a foreign power.  They consider giving him livestock and produce to win his favor.  The gospel tells of pharisees demanding a sign from Jesus as if he were a traveler needing a credential to enter their city.  Neither can the offering be accepted nor the demand be met because humans are not commensurate with God.  They must not try to determine the terms of their relationship with him.  Rather they are to seek and comply with his will.

This does not mean, however, that we go before the Lord with fear and trembling.  We can look to him for compassion and love.  He is ready to forgive our transgressions and to provide any help we need.

Monday, July 18, 2022

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Micah 6:1-4.6-8; Matthew 12:38-42)

Jesus has invited us to intimacy with him and with His Father.  Should we consider that invitation as indication that we are equal to God?  Some people through the ages have dared to think so. Both readings today describe ways of humans posturing as God’s peers.

In the reading from Micah Israel tries to appease God as if He were a foreign power.  They consider giving him livestock and produce to win his favor.  The gospel tells of pharisees demanding a sign from Jesus as if he were a traveler needing a credential to enter their city.  Neither can the offering be accepted nor the demand be met because humans are not commensurate with God.  They must not try to determine the terms of their relationship with him.  Rather they are to seek and comply with his will.

This does not mean, however, that we go before the Lord with wariness or fear.  We can look to him for compassion and love.  He is ready to forgive any transgressions and to provide whatever help we need. 

Sunday, July 17, 2022

 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME(Genesis 18:1-10; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42)

Academics emphasize inclusivity. They insist that student essays use pronouns that gender neutral. One must write “his or hers” or even “they” rather than just “his”.  The historians among them no longer report only the successes and defeats of European men. Rather they will tell what was happening at the same time to Africans, Asians, and indigenous peoples.

The emphasis on other types of people helps us appreciate that minorities have contributed much to our society. We have a great example of sensitivity to minorities in the New Testament. The Gospel of Saint Luke includes several stories from the point of view of the less considered. We remember how Luke writes of both Elizabeth and Zacharias. In the temple Luke reports the experience of both Anna and Simeon. Later in his work Luke tells of the housewife searching for a lost coin after recounting the story of the shepherd looking for the lost sheep. We can think of the gospel today as another example of inclusiveness.

Let's remember what happened last Sunday. A doctor of the law asks Jesus: "'What must I do to inherit eternal life?'" When Jesus answers with insight, the doctor wants to "justify himself". That is, he wants to appear intelligent and sensible, not naive. We can see in Martha this same desire to "justify herself." She doesn't want to look like a fool doing all the work of entertaining a guest. She appeals to the Lord to admonish her sister Mary to help her. She knows that he is a just judge who will do what is right.

But Martha has not yet realized that friendship with Jesus consists as much in study and prayer as in service to him. We cannot follow Jesus if we are not going to take his teachings seriously. It would be like someone marrying another whom she or he does not know. More than being baptized or financially supporting the church, being a Christian means coming to know Jesus. For this reason, the parish priest feels sorry when he hears parishioners missing mass to sell tacos at the parish fair.

Martha is a saint. It would be wrong to condemn her. But in this case Mary is right to listen attentively to him while she has the opportunity. We need to imitate her. We, too, need to take advantage of opportunities to know the Lord when they occur. It is true that our responsibilities do not end with reflection. Sooner or later, we have to evangelize and carry out our particular ministry. However, it must be remembered as well that the Lord is not an ogre who wants us to work without ceasing. It can be said with confidence that He wants us to develop as persons. He wants us to do his will through meditation, prayer, and service.

Today many criticize the Church for not being inclusive. This criticism does not appear to me as fair. The Church is open to everyone of good will. After twenty centuries meditating on the Word of God, the Church has discerned that she cannot ordain women or give Communion to the divorced and remarried. But all are always welcome to participate in her riches. In fact, they are encouraged to come to meditate like Mary and serve like Martha.

 

Friday, July 15, 2022

 

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Isaiah 38:1-6.21-22.7-8; Matthew 12:1-8)

Jacob Neusner, an American rabbi, wrote a book about a dialogue between himself and Jesus.  The rabbi admired Jesus’ profundity in the Sermon on the Mount.  But he could not commit himself to Jesus because Jesus assumed a position greater than the Law.  The rabbi recognized that Jesus was making himself commensurate with God.  Jesus does so again as the ultimate argument in his defense of his disciples in today’s gospel.

The gospel’s may be seen as a running debate between Jesus and the Pharisees over Sabbath rules.  The issue is significant because the Sabbath represents the goal of the Jewish life – rest in the Lord.  Jesus does not deny the goal, nor does he ignore the Sabbath.  However, he does not claim strict observance as an exceptionless rule.  He sees himself as the arbiter of when not to comply because, as he says in today’s passage, he is “the Lord of the Sabbath.”

Do we take him as our Lord?  Rabbi Neusner could not although he respected Jesus as a great teacher.  We sometimes waver often because our environment is filled with contrary ideas.  It will tell us that the Sunday obligation is out of date so that we might “seize the day!”.  Or it may say that pornography and masturbation are harmless.  If we have accepted Jesus as Lord, we will resist these temptations.  He has spoken openly and lovingly in the gospels and now through the Church.  Let’s follow him!

Thursday, July 14, 2022

 Memorial of Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

(Isaiah 26:7-9.12.16-19; Matthew 11: 28-30)

Kateri (Catherine) Tekakwitha is one of the virgins in the gospel parable waiting for the bridegroom.  Still a recent convert to Christianity, she made a relationship with the Lord her priority ambition.  Native -American custom dictated that she marry a man of her tribe.  But Kateri insisted that she would live for Christ alone.  In this way she demonstrates how to respond to Jesus’ call in today’s gospel.

Jesus addresses himself to poor peasants.  They are being despised by the Pharisees for not keeping the law.  Jesus, however, does not reject them. Although his “yoke” or way of living the law may be stricter than that of Pharisees, it becomes easy.  He promises to be their model, their helper, and their coach.  He calls forth the best from followers because he is so good.

Often people have difficulty following Christian morals. They may look at the moral life more like the Pharisees than like Jesus.  Morality has become for them more a set of rules to be obeyed than a way of accompanying Jesus.  It is not hard if we stay close to him.

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 10:5-7.13b-16; Matthew 11:25-27)

As the war in Ukraine drags on, it may be related to the war of today’s first reading.  However, care must be taken not to equate Ukraine with Israel or Russia with Assyria.

The reading expresses the biblical conviction that God is in charge of world events.  Mighty Assyria is but an instrument for imposing a corrective on Israel.  The faithlessness of Israel after God saved its ancestors from slavery in Egypt, formed it in the desert as an exemplar civilization, and gave it rich land for development is overbearing.  Isaiah means that what is left of Israel (that is, Judah) must return to God’s ways if it is to survive.

We hope that somehow an intact Ukraine can survive the devastating war.  If it does, no doubt it will have learned lessons about how to reform.  We pray that it will all end in a more Godlike world, less inclined to war and more given to righteousness.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

 Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Isaiah 7:1-9; Matthew 11:20-24)

 Is faith possible today?  There will be exceptions, but it may be said that believing is increasingly difficult.  Biblical faith is, first and foremost, a relationship of trust with God.  For a Christian it is the gift of self to Christ.  Throughout the world the movement is in the other direction.  Especially young adults find the building up of self as the purpose of life.  This phenomenon can be easily demonstrated by the glorification of the self in social media.  Yet there is also evidence accumulated through the ages that faith produces favorable outcomes.  This can be seen in today’s first reading.

 King Ahaz of Judah is in a desperate situation.  Two rival kingdoms have conspired against him.  He wants to seek help by allying Judah with powerful nations.  But Isaiah warns him that only by clinging to the Lord will he survive.  Thus, Ahaz learns the meaning of faith – standing steadfast in the Lord.  As a matter of fact, the situation turns out well.  Ahaz’s enemies are throttled; Judah survives because it trusts in God.

 We may find difficulty going against the grain.  Like many others we are drawn to pursue wealth and pleasure.  Perhaps more than that, we would like to brag about ourselves.  We need to remember that Christ is our reward.  Following him, we will be saved from vain pursuits and will come to know deep, endurable happiness. 

Monday, July 11, 2022

 Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Isaiah 1:1—17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

Christians - Protestants as well as Catholics - have found new interest in St. Benedict.  They see hope for the future in his founding communities where the gospel may be lived.  As a young man, Benedict went to Rome for higher education.  There he became disillusioned with the way fellow students pursued knowledge.  Rather than as a way to truth, many were more interested in finding pleasure.  He retreated from the city, became a hermit, and eventually founded monastic communities.  Today faith-filled, young families find in the Benedictine retreat from cities a model.  Rather than trying to raise children amid secularization, they live in rural communities without severe corrupting influences.

Today’s gospel should be read in a way that supports separation from the corruption of the world.  Jesus speaks of bringing a sword to the earth.  In no way is he speaking literally.  He means that following him will separate one from ungodly influences.  His followers will live the truth of the gospel – that they are saved in God’s love through faith in him.

Is it necessary for people to separate themselves from the world?  In some ways, yes.  We should resist worldly temptations of excessive pleasure, power, or prestige.  But this does not mean that we must isolate ourselves from others.  Freedom from corruptive influences, however, does entail reflection, development of virtue, and prayer.  In these ways we can follow Christ who leads us to eternal life.

Sunday, July 10, 2022

 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Colossians  1:15-20; Lucas 10:25-37)

The gospel today begins with two questions.  The scholar of the law asks Jesus about how one is to inherit eternal life.  Jesus responds with his own question: “’What is written in the law?’”  Eventually we are provided answers to both questions.  The law asks that one love God above all and also one’s neighbor.  Allow me to add two more questions that will help us understand better this beautiful parable.  The first is, what does “eternal life” mean?  The second question is the same as the scholar of the law asks, “’…who is my neighbor?’”

“Eternal life” is mentioned many times in the New Testament.  Various theologians and other writers have commentated on the concept.  Some think of eternal life as if it were an island where the immortal soul can gaze on the wonder of God.  They have in mind the “beatific vision” in which, according to St. Paul, we see God “face to face.”  Others consider eternal life as the family table in which our souls are reunited with the souls of our loved ones.  Curiously those who hold this interpretation almost never include God in their expectation. Still others anticipate eternal life as a world renewed.  There we live – body and soul – with people of all races, means, even religions along with the resurrected Lord Jesus.  An idle life is not the plan here but harmonious cooperation to perfect community life.

It seems that this third interpretation of eternal life is best from the viewpoint of the New Testament.  If Jesus rose from the dead bodily, then it should be the destiny of all who follow him.  It is certain that the inhabitants of eternal life will have to wait until the end of time for the reunification of their bodies and with their souls.  But they will make use of the time to purify themselves of defects, including the lack of appreciation of other kinds of people.  If they are already known to be saints, then this intermediate state can serve as an opportunity to know better the qualities of other kinds of people.

Regarding the other question - who is my neighbor? – we can propose another three possible responses.  We are used to thinking of the man or woman who lives next door as our neighbor.  Still, we know that the word “neighbor” reaches beyond our neighborhood.  Our neighbor is anyone who demonstrates goodwill toward us.  If another person says to me, “Good morning,” I consider her a neighbor.  She may live in Denmark or in D.C., it doesn’t matter in this sense of the word.   However, according to Jesus’ parable, neighbor includes someone to whom we don’t matter.  He or she is the person who frowns at us, even the one who makes fun of us.  He or she is our neighbor because what makes one a neighbor is not how she or he sees us but how we see him or her.  The Lord Jesus has redeemed us with his love so that we might look on others with love.  In other words, Jesus has died that we might be neighbors to all people.

The mother of one of the best pastors in a diocese was a person who loved everyone. Her son, the priest, used to say, “She never met a stranger.”  To a sixty or a six year-old, to a black or a white woman, whether dressed in silk or in denim, the woman would extend a greeting and begin a conversation.  It is no surprise then that her son was such a fine priest.  As his mother, he loved everyone.

Possibly we can understand better now eternal life.  It will be the occasion for the whole world to know one another as neighbors.  Perhaps not everyone who has ever existed will be included in this group.  Some have chosen to reject the love which God has extended us in Jesus Christ.  But for those who have chosen to follow Jesus, he will introduce them to others.  Let’s hope that we among this blessed group.

Friday, July 8, 2022

 Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 11:1-4a.8e-9; Matthew 10:16-23)

A number of years ago director Martin Scorsese made a movie of Shusaku Endo’s disturbing novel  Silence.  The book and movie tell the story of a Jesuit missionary in seventeenth century Japan.  In order to dissuade native Catholics from suffering horrific torture, the missionary himself denies Christ.  The situation is taken from Jesuit annals, but not the plot.  In the annals the missionary did not apostatize.  Rather he too underwent the torture! 

The Silence was making the case for doing evil to produce a greater good.  This kind of morality has always been condemned by the Church.  As today’s gospel indicates, Christ knows that those who believe in him will experience persecution.  He tells them to be both shrewd and simple. They do not have to invite hostility by, for example, declaring openly their beliefs.  But they should never deny those beliefs when pressed.  Still, he states categorically that those who endure in the faith will be saved.

Justifying the doing of evil to achieve good is a particularly modern endeavor.  We have all heard how some try to justify telling a lie to avoid being bothered by unwanted callers.  As seen in the passage, Jesus condones shrewdness in such situations.  We can tell inquirers that it is not their business to know if the head of the house is at home.  But we should never lie about it.

Thursday, July 7, 2022

 Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 11:1-4.8e-9; Matthew 10:7-15)

Of all the prophets Hosea touches most the hearts of readers.  He tells the story of how God directs him to marry a prostitute as a sign of Israel’s fidelity.  In today’s reading Hosea tenderly describes God’s love for His people.  He pictures God as a father teaching his children to walk and as a mother rubbing cheeks with her child.  At the end of the passage the prophet retains pity for His people, not wrath as they deserve.

God’s pity is not fruitless.  He sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to finally turn their hearts to Him.  In the gospel Jesus sends his apostles to do what he has been doing.  They are to proclaim the kingdom of God with words and deeds.  They are to speak of God’s love and to show that love with acts of power.

We inherit the tasks of the apostles as well as their glory.  We should not be afraid to tell others that God’s kingdom has come in Jesus.  Equally important, we must demonstrate God’s love with works of mercy.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 10:1-3.7-8.12; Matthew 10:1-7)

The readings from the prophet Hosea these past two days tell of sowing and reaping.  Yesterday the prophet warned that if Israel sows the wind, it will reap the whirlwind.  The wind is the panoply of false gods – money, pleasure, power, and prestige.  Hosea means that any people who strives for these vanities is bound to wreak havoc upon itself.  This result was evidenced after World War I, the so-called “Great War.”  After the Allied powers imposed heavy penalties upon Germany, a second, more disastrous war followed.

In today’s reading Hosea pleads with Israel to “sow for yourselves” justice so that it may “reap the fruit of piety.”  If a nation endeavors to put into practice the Lord’s justice, it will be duly rewarded.  After World War II, the United States established the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe.  As a result, in not too many years the whole continent flourished economically.  The United States had markets for its products as well as the goodwill of the world.

We sometimes see slogans like “follow your dreams” or “do what your feelings tell you.”  Such advice might lead to “sow(ing) the wind.”  We are wise to think through our dreams and feelings to see where they are leading.  If they move us to love God and neighbor, then yes; let’s consider them seriously.  If not, let’s find fruitful alternatives.

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 8:4-7.11-13; Matthew 9:32-38)

Hosea prophesizes in the northern kingdom of Israel.  Neither the northern nor the southern kingdom is dedicated completely to the Lord.  But the northern kingdom is especially unfaithful.  As Hosea testified, the people there make idols.  Adding to the offense, the people offer sacrifices to their idols on altars originally dedicated to the Lord.

Humanity has never abandoned worshipping idols.  There are always sports heroes and Hollywood starlets receiving adulation.  it was reported that one person has attended over one hundred and fifty performances of a famous rockstar.  What could that performer sing that is worth so much attention? 

There is nothing objectively wrong in following a favorite celebrity.  It may be even edifying to rewatch the movies of a Tom Hanks or Judi Dench.  However, only God deserves unconditional loyalty. He alone can bring fulfillment of all that life promises.

Monday, July 4, 2022

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 2:16.17c-18.21-22; Matthew 9:18-26)

Today’s gospel speaks of freedom.  It shows Jesus freeing a woman from a malady she bore for twelve years.  More profoundly, it intimates how people who believe in him will be freed from the tyranny of death.

Like the ruler’s daughter, we all will die.  But death will not necessarily have the last word.  If we place our faith in Jesus, we will conquer death.  In the reading the girl’s father asks Jesus’ help on her behalf.  Jesus then raises her from the sleep of death.  Likewise, we will rise from death for having been true to Jesus.

Today the United States celebrates its freedom from the tyrannical rule of the British king.  After independence, the founding fathers proceeded to declare freedom of religion.  All Americans have the option to place their faith in Jesus.  He magnifies the liberties by giving freedom from the dominance of sin and the tyranny of death.

Sunday, July 3, 2022

 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-19)

A cherished freedom in the United States is freedom of religion. In this country everyone can practice his or her own religion without interference. Americans respect religion because it elevates the person beyond the limits of individualism. It gives its adherents at least two values ​​necessary for the good life. First, it infuses them with a communal spirit so that they cooperate with others. Second, it instills in them a moral code so that they treat one another fairly.

With religious plurality it is tempting to consider our Catholic faith the same as other religions. It is true that like all religions we have doctrines and customs that enable us to live in peace. But the Christian faith has a more transcendent purpose than Judaism or Buddhism. It exists to transform people into daughters and sons of God worthy of eternal life.

In the Gospel today, Jesus prepares the Church to spread the faith to the world. He commissions seventy-two disciples to preach the kingdom of God. The commission can be considered as only a preliminary to the great sending of Pentecost. However, several essential characteristics of the mission are seen in the Lord's instructions to his disciples. It is worth reflecting on the contents of his message to see how they apply today. As popes since St. Paul VI have told us, all Catholic Christians are "missionary disciples." We are called to form ourselves in the faith. Then we are sent out to call others to know Christ’s kingdom. We don't have to leave our communities to respond to the mission. Even our relatives and friends do not know goodness of the kingdom.

First, Jesus wants his missionaries to pray for the success of their efforts. Not only is their number not sufficient to carry out the task but also their capabilities often lack rigor. Without the Holy Spirit directing the mission, it would be as futile as cutting down a forest with a single axe. We pray to be fair in everything we do so that the whole world sees our lives reflecting Christ.

The mission challenges us when our faith conflicts with contemporary values. Young people may roll their eyes when we assert that intimate relationships are reserved for marriage. But it is not only a teaching of the long Judea-Christian tradition but also a precept of natural law. Many people are now protesting the judgment that allows laws prohibiting abortion. However, we must proclaim the fundamental right to life. Jesus tells the seventy-two that he sends them out as lambs among wolves. Although those who oppose us on these issues are not evil, their ideas can tear at the fabric of society.

Jesus does not want his disciples to carry “no money bag, no pack, no sandals” on the mission. In other words, he doesn't want them to rely on their own resources, but to trust God for their welfare. In an environment of plenty, we have to show that it is human relationships, especially friendship with God, that ultimately matter. We live in order to share with others in love, not to accumulate and spend wealth. As an exemplar of the true missionary, Saint Paul says that he has been crucified to the world. Like Jesus he sacrificed every comfort to introduce pagans to Christ.

“All religions are the same. They worship the same God.” Sometimes we hear this saying in defense of a person who no longer practices the Catholic faith. How should we respond? We always want to thank God that the person seeks the Lord with others through religion. We can affirm the person if he lives the gospel in pursuit of God. However, it is only logical to regret that he or she is deprived of the Eucharist. With it, Jesus nourishes us so that we can carry out his mission. He provides us with the resources to not cower before the wolves.