Sunday, July 2, 2023

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(II Kings 4:8-11.14-16; Romans 6:3-4.8-11; Matthew 10:37-42)

It has been said of some saints that they comforted the troubled and troubled the comfortable. Could be the way of the saintly. But in the gospel today Jesus has words that both comfort and afflict both those in high places and those live in basement apartments. Let's examine this gospel with its challenges and supports for everyone.

First the challenges. Jesus sounds extreme when he says that his apostles owe him more love than they owe anyone else. We may want to ask, “Who does he think he is that we should love him more than our own children?” Our response to this question justifies his claim on our love.  He is the Christ, the only Son of God. When the martyr St. Thomas More ascended the guillotine for failing to affirm King Henry VIII as the leader of the Church in England, he said: "I am the king's good servant, but God’s first." As Thomas More recognized that his loyalty belongs first to God, we must recognize that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, has first claim on our love.  Doing so, we will be able to love our children more, not less.  We will not be so tempted to give in to their excessive desires.

Then Jesus confronts us with a comprehensive challenge. He tells us to take up our cross and to follow him. Each person has his personal cross. Sometimes we feel that ours is too heavy, that it constitutes an injustice. But let us not compare our cross with those of other people but with that of Jesus. His cross was the heaviest, the most unfair. Despite being completely innocent, he suffered a horrible death out of love for us. 

Now the consolations. Jesus promises eternal life to all who follow him carrying his or her own cross. We see Pope Francis doing it. Although he is already eighty-six years old and suffering from severe ailments, it seems that he is not going to retire until his vision of a truly compassionate Church is realized. He wants the voices of the poor, women, and indigenous people to be heard as much as those of white men.

Instead of naming the rewards for the various officers of the Church, Jesus recognizes those who support the officers. The people who open their doors to his apostles will be receiving him. This is not a consolation prize because to know Jesus is to experience eternal life. Also those who receive a prophet will be well rewarded. The first reading tells of the God-fearing couple who gave the prophet Elisha a home. The wife and husband also receive the gift of life in the form of the child they have long desired.

The righteous are people recognized for having followed the law. Saint Matthew says that Saint Joseph is such a person. His reward corresponds to that of the fourth beatitude, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." He and all righteous men and women are given a seat at the banquet of eternal life where their hunger is satisfied.

"These little ones" are not children but the many simple people who try to do the will of God. They are people like most of us here. People of other religions who help them will also be rewarded. In years past Jews working in various necessary services sometimes took the place of their Christian co-workers at Christmas. Although their service was voluntary, they evidently received God's favor as Jesus promises in this gospel.

We have entered the month of July. Whether it's in the middle of summer or in the middle of winter where we are, July brings its challenges. In this gospel Jesus wants to assure us that he will take care of us when we put him first in our lives. Despite the heat or cold, we don't need to worry when we love him. He is like our best friend who will never leave us lacking what makes life worth living.

Friday, June 30, 2023

 

Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 17:1-9.15-22; Matthew 8:1-4)

Today’s reading from Genesis focused on the covenant between God and Abraham and features the physical sign of circumcision.  Abraham and all men of the covenant are to be circumcised as a sign of their fidelity to the Lord.  The sign reminds one to believe and to follow the ways of God indicated in God’s law.

Since the sign was not apparent to others, in time its meaning was emphasized over its physical nature.  Moses will tell the Israelites to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts.  They are not to be proud and selfish but humble and compassionate.  St. Paul also dismisses the necessity of physical circumcision for salvation in favor of a circumcised heart.

We Catholics often demonstrate our faith with rosaries, making the sign of the cross, and other physical signs.  They remind us as well as others of our promise to follow Christ.  We must keep in mind that should they become hollow of meaning, they doubly condemn us.  Should we cease to follow Christ, they convict us of hypocrisy as well as loss of faith.

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, apostles

(Acts 12:1-11; II Timothy 4:6-8.17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

It may be to contrast St. Peter and St. Paul than to compare them.  Peter is Jesus’ first apostle; Paul in a sense is his last.  Peter worked largely among the Jews; Paul preached mostly to the gentiles.  Peter knew Jesus in the flesh while Paul knew him through the Spirit.

Nevertheless, what the two share outweighs their differences.  Each had an enormous love for the Lord.  Peter professed his love three times in an appearance after the resurrection.  Paul was more eloquent saying that he counted all his possessions as rubbish in comparison with knowing Christ.  Most importantly, both Peter and Paul gave their lives testifying to Jesus’ Lordship.

Today we celebrate both Peter and Paul together as patrons of the Church at Rome.  Both were martyred in the eternal city in the seventh decade of the first century.  Both left the Church great legacies there.  Peter’s leadership brought the Church out of Jerusalem to faraway places in the Roman Empire.  Paul wrote the Church’s founding theological tract in his Letter to the Romans.

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Memorial of St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr

(Genesis 15:1-12.17-18; Matthew 7:15-20)

Gnosticism became popular during the second century when St. Irenaeus lived.  Its basic tenets include the dismissal of the body as unimportant to human destiny.  Gnostics did not necessarily abhor the body as vile.  Some reasoned (falsely) that it is a trivial matter which can be used as desired.  With this mindset fornication and adultery count little because of the body’s supposed insignificance.

Irenaeus took issue with such thinking in his five-volume work Against Heresies.  He was quite aware of the false prophets whom Jesus condemns in today’s gospel.  They might say that there is nothing wrong with sex outside marriage, but it should be obvious that it produces rotten fruit. 

Gnosticism can be found in the current issue of gender identity.  Proponents say that one’s genetic body make-up does not matter.  For them the determining factor is what one considers her or his gender to be.  Unfortunately, this kind of thinking is penetrating the minds of adolescents who are inclined to act impulsively.  They submit themselves to taking pharmaceutics and even undergoing surgeries that they may deeply regret in a few years.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 19:9b-11.14-21.31-35a.36; Matthew 7:6.12-14)

Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, has the intriguing title of “Preacher of the Papal Household.”  His duties include delivering a weekly sermon during Advent and Lent to Vatican officials.  In one Lenten sermon Fr. Cantalamessa advised not to love others like we love ourselves!  He reasoned that many people are so self-indulgent that they would do harm if they gave food and drink to others while neglecting exercise and rest as they are wont to do to themselves.  Although the preacher makes a good point, Jesus’ maxim found in today’s gospel remains valid.

As Jesus indicates, the “Golden Rule” (“Do unto others as you would have them do to you”) is not his alone.  Different versions of it are found in the sacred writings of most religions as well as in the Hebrew Scriptures.  Since everyone wants to be cherished, the rule has been rephrased as “Love others as you love yourself.”  Jesus himself makes this revision in the Gospel of Luke.   The statement takes for granted that we want what is truly good for ourselves -- nothing false, spiteful, or harmful.

Several years ago there was a controversy about another rule of thumb involving Jesus.  People wondered if “What would Jesus do?” (“WWJD?” was the popular acronym) is a sufficient guide for action.  Some thought it impossible to know what Jesus would do.  Really?  Doesn’t he tell us what he would do when he says, “’Do to others what you would have them do to you.’”

Monday, June 26, 2023

Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 7:1-5)

Today’s first reading opens a new chapter for us following the daily mass readings and, more importantly, in the history of salvation.  Finishing the readings from the Second Letter to the Corinthians last week, we turn to the Book of Genesis.  We hear the beginning of the long process of salvation for the whole world which culminates in Christ.

God calls Abram with both a command and a promise.  He tells Abram to leave his father’s home and to venture into a foreign land.  He also promises that the relocation will bring forth huge blessings.  The whole world will revere Abram’s name, and his descendants will possess a new land.

We can see the fulfilment of this call.  The name Abram or, better, Abraham signals reconciliation among three of the world’s great religions who consider him the father of their tradition.  Israel is not really the promised, new land although it symbolizes it.  The Kingdom of God, which Jesus brings about, fulfills God’s promise to Abram.  To possess it, we must leave the consolations of self-love as Abram left the house of his father. Then we must love others as Jesus did.

Sunday, June 25, 2023

TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, June 25, 2023

(Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33)

Today's gospel is taken from the "apostolic sermon" of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. It is one of the five great discourses that make up the body of the gospel. We heard from the beginning of this sermon last Sunday with Jesus sending out his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom. Next Sunday we will hear part of its conclusion. In the segment now Jesus wants to encourage his messengers. We should listen to him because, whether we are priests or laypersons, the Lord asks us to take his message to the world.

First Jesus tells his apostles, "Do not be afraid." It is certain that they will meet with opposition. Bandits roam the roads looking for travelers. In the towns the Pharisees will resist those who undermine their authority. What will make us afraid to proclaim the Kingdom in today’s world? In Nigeria, Muslim militia have created fear among Christians. With impunity they attack the faithful in churches and take children prisoners in schools. In our country the fear is not of being annihilated but devalued. If the person proclaims her faith in public, she may be considered childish. If he expresses Catholic teaching on a political issue, he can be excluded. He may even incur penalties for taking a stand against a new state policy.

However, we do not have to fear because of God’s promise. In the gospel today Jesus recommends trust in God. He says that if the Father takes care of the birds of the sky, he will protect us even more. Trevor Williams, a major league baseball player, was confident in this love when he criticized the Los Angeles Dodgers on Twitter. Realizing that the Dodgers were going to award a group that dresses up as nuns to promote homosexual love, Williams proclaimed: “To invite and honor a group that makes a blatant and deeply offensive mockery of my religion…undermines the values of respect and inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization”. “

It is possible that Mr. Williams had our gospel today in mind when he tweeted about it. Jesus promises his apostles: "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father." Williams concluded his message by saying: "As Catholics, we look to Jesus Christ and the way he was treated, and we realize that any suffering in this world unites us to him in the next."

Maybe we don't have a Twitter account. Nor have we the apparatus or the inclination to set up a loudspeaker at the corner to broadcast our faith in the Lord. Yet we do not lack opportunities to manifest our faith in public. If we are used to praying before eating at home, why not do it in a restaurant? Wearing such a cross necklace can be a show of faith. In fact, in England it is considered a crime for a teacher to wear such a necklace in the classroom. Leaving a movie theater or turning off the TV when obscene scenes are shown is an act of faith that requires courage.  Gratefully accepting a baby with Down syndrome may indicate faith. We should pray that God never puts us in the situation of having a loved one in the persistent vegetable state. But if he happens to us, let us proclaim faith our faith by giving him the care required to live.

In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah is being denounced by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Led by the Holy Spirit, he says that because of its sins God is going to destroy his city. Although his prophecy results in persecution, he does not cease to proclaim God's will. He is sure that his persecutors will be put to shame. He knows that God is on the side of the just.

Friday, June 23, 2023

Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 11:18.21-30; Matthew 6:19-23)

St. Paul sees himself as “insane” because he is boasting which he knows is not Christ’s way.  His motive begins to be clarified in due course.  He goes on to say that he is boasting of his “weakness,” not his strength.  In other words, he is ironically bragging of his failures, not his successes.  He tells of his being humiliated and failing to achieve his purpose, not having preached salvation to hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. 

Paul boasts of his weakness to demonstrate to his readers the power of the cross.  They should even look at themselves, people to whom Paul introduced Jesus Christ, as products of Christ working through him.  At the same time, Paul is demonstrating how Corinthians should act toward one another.  They should not think of themselves as better by nature than others.  Rather, they should recognize that any good they have comes through the grace of Christ.

We like to compare ourselves with others so that we might think of ourselves at least as good as most. Paul would say that we are foolish for doing so.  Rather, he would admonish, we should give thanks to God for making us who we are.  He would add that we should serve others so that they too may become more like Christ.

Thursday, June 22, 2023

 (Optional) Memorial of Saint John Fisher, bishop and martyr, and Saint Thomas More, martyr

(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-12)

In today’s gospel Jesus instructs his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom comes.  St. Thomas More gave his life as a witness to that kingdom.  The story of his martyrdom is well-known because of the powerful movie made in the 1960s.  Yet it is worth retelling because of the need for testifying to faith today.

More was chancellor of England, the highest-ranking minister in the state.  He was well-loved by King Henry VIII until he refused to sign a document legitimating the king’s second marriage in defiance of the Catholic Church.  Imprisoned, More refused to comment on the king’s assuming leadership of the Church in England.  For saying nothing, he was doomed to execution!  On the way to the scaffold he clarified his position saying, “I am the king’s good servant but God’s first.”

Recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers gave an award to a drag queen group that mocks the Church.  Proponents of distorted sex now openly heap disdain on the Catholic Church.  They cannot tolerate the Church’s consistent teaching that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage.  One major league ballplayer criticized the award.  For the sake of a sound society, good people like this ballplayer must give witness to the legitimacy of the Church’s teaching.

 

Wednesday, June 20, 2023

 Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious

 (II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)

St. Aloysius Gonzaga died rich in the eyes of God, however poor in the sight of many in the world.  He gave up a claim to his family’s fortune to become a Jesuit.  As a religious, he dedicated himself to caring for the victims of the plague which was racking Italy in the late sixteenth century.  Eventually he contracted the disease and died from it.  His willingness to give himself completely out of love for Christ amply illustrates today’s first reading.

St. Paul is urging the Corinthians to be generous in his collection for the Christians in Jerusalem.  He tells them that they will reap what they sow.  If they make great sacrifices, they will receive great rewards.  Because God gives eternal life as well as harvests, they will not be disappointed for their efforts.

We may tire of being pestered by charities.  As we hear of donor names being passed from one organization to another, we may not want to contribute to any.  Let us not make such a decision out of frustration, however.  Rather let us pray for the grace to make prudent use of our resources for the good of the needy.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 8:1-9; Matthew 5:43-48)

The philosopher Plato theorized how a human being would act if he or she were invisible.  He said that the person would likely kill, steal, and rape among other things “like a god among humans”.   Plato had in mind the capricious gods of Greek mythology.  His conception of a god differs decidedly from St. Paul’s in today’s first reading.

St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to be generous and benevolent like Christ whom he recognizes as Lord.  He says that although Christ was rich, he became poor not to do any mischief, quite the contrary.  He became poor so that he might make others rich in the Kingdom of God. 

We believe in a good God as He definitively revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.  Not only was he kind and generous, but also faithful, wise, and self-sacrificing.  Following him, we know that our destiny is as bright as the noonday sun in summer.

Monday, June 19, 2023

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 6:1-10; Matthew 5:38-42)

The challenges which Jesus presents his disciples in today’s gospel seem in need of qualification.  Most listeners would ask “what if” questions to understand the scope of his commands.  For example, they would ask, “What if the street person were to ask me for $10?  Should I give it to him?” Or “What if a rapist demands that I surrender to him?  Should I do it?”  Of course, prudence should direct decision-making, but most people, most of the time, could be less resistant to letting go of what they have.  St. Paul in the first reading serves well as a model.

Paul describes the hardships he has endured preaching the gospel.  Most would have long before abandoned the effort, but for Paul suffering is more reason to continue.  He knows that every time he suffers for the sake of Christ, he draws closer to his Lord.  Morally his willingness to suffer for others’ benefit approximates Christ’s.  Existentially, full union with Christ in death becomes more certain.

Saints worry little about themselves because they know the more they unite with Christ, the more he takes care of them.  We should imitate them.  When attacked verbally, let us not hurry to defend ourselves.  Rather, we might correct the smidgen of truth that makes the attack credible.  When approached for an offering, let us try to supply what our petitioner really needs.

Sunday, June 18, 2023

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Exodus 19, 2-6a; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36-10:8)

With the celebration of the mass today we fully re-enter "ordinary time". It is our opportunity to learn about the ministry of Jesus: how he thinks and how he responds to the challenges of life.

We remember that this year we read from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew on most Sundays. Now we hear how Matthew perceives Jesus assessing the religious situation in Israel. He sees the people "as sheep without a shepherd." Their leaders stress the finer points of the Law like tithing for herbs and spices but fail to teach the great themes like humility and mercy. If the people do not receive more responsible leadership, Jesus knows that they will turn out to be like their current leaders. They will exploit religion to see themselves as "good" while concealing their selfish motives.

One can compare the condition of the People of God now with that of the time of Jesus. When we speak of today's “People of God”, we have in mind the Catholic Church. The Israelites became the original People of God when they arrived at Sinai as the first reading tells us today. Followers of Christ assumed the distinction with the reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Unfortunately, in many places the People of God seem disillusioned. Most Catholics do not participate in the mass. Young people don't even want to be identified as “Catholics”. But the problem goes deeper. Many attend Mass mainly out of habit. They do not want to be perfected in Christ. Nor do they want to take responsibility for the good of the community. Rather, they are content with mediocrity.

Bishops seek solutions to the waning fervor of the faithful. They sponsor training classes and renewal programs. They promote movements like “the Road to Emmaus” and “Christ Renews the Church of him”. But they are fighting against a culture that has become hostile to religion. The scandal of sexual abuse has created doubts. Science has also been successful in providing remedies for all kinds of difficulties and answers to most human questions.

Jesus uses a new strategy to face the challenge in Israel. He calls the best of his disciples to preach the Kingdom of God on the roadsides. He provides them with the power to heal, to cast out demons, and, incredibly, to raise the dead. He tells them not to take for their ministry.  It is not their ability that performs miracles but that of the Holy Spirit.

We need volunteers today like the apostles to take responsibility for the well-being of the Church. Young people may sacrifice a year or two to do full-time ministry after completing their basic education. Opportunities already exist to serve as campus ministers and as lay missionaries abroad. Adults can commit to a lay ministry that serves those on the margins of the community. We need people to go in groups to nursing homes to bring the Word of God along with Holy Communion.

Today we celebrate Father's Day. It is time to thank our dads. Why? Simply for passing on their genes to us? No, this took no effort. In addition to providing for our material needs, we honor our fathers for teaching us responsibility. The best fathers instruct their children how to be responsible to God and to their wives. They show responsibility for the family and for the Church, the People of God.

Friday, June 16, 2023

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Deuteronomy 7:6-11; I John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30)

One of the more popular saints these days is St. Monica.  She was the mother of St. Augustine who spent much of his youth resisting Christ.  Monica prayed intently for her son, and in time he converted.  Many parents today find themselves praying like St. Monica.  Their children, raised Catholics, have abandoned their faith.  Not only do they not attend mass, but in many cases have given themselves to the pursuit of alcohol or drugs.

Jesus hears the prayers of these parents.  His heart is “meek and humble” ready to share the burden of anyone who asks him.  He can convert sinners as well as cure the most troubling of illnesses.  He cured the paralytic at the Bethesda pool of the Jerusalem Temple who had no one put him into the water.

Today we come to Jesus with our special needs.  We want him to help those whom we love most on earth.  We ask him to heal them of evil, be it physical like the paralytic or moral like so many people who choose pleasure over righteous living.  We can pray with confidence because we are sure that he loves us.

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time 

(II Corinthians 3:15-4:1.3-6; Matthew 5:20-26)

If one were to name the leading gods of the present age, freedom would be high on the list.  Everyone wants to freedom of one sort or another. Socialists want freedom from physical needs and so value free education, medical assistance, even housing and food for the masses.  Capitalists opt for freedom as the right to say and do as one pleases.  St. Paul in today’s first reading treasures freedom as well. But his conception of freedom varies considerably from current ideas. 

For Paul freedom is the harnessing of personal vice so that one can pursue friendship with God.  As he indicates today in the first reading, freedom is looking at the Lord with an unveiled face so that one can know his expectations. It is seeing with faith the glory of God in Jesus Christ and taking cues from him. 

We should not eschew current conceptions of freedom.  Those with basic needs unfulfilled have greater difficulty accepting religious truth.  And certainly individual conscience has to be respected.  However, to recognize how bad behavior causes personal and social harm suggests that religious freedom is also critical.  We need religious instruction to curtail our desires.  Freed from incessant and destructive wants, we can pursue the soul’s true goals of peace, joy, and friendship.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 3:4-11; Matthew 5:17-19)

In the first reading today St. Paul recognizes that the new law is not a list of dos and don’ts.  Rather it is a guide who prompts people to do good and avoid evil.  The guide is the Holy Spirit who the Father sends through the Son to human hearts so that humans might become holy like they are.

The need for a guide and not a set of rules has become obvious in the twenty-first century.  Sexual promiscuity has become the norm among young adults.  God is more a proposition to be accepted or denied than the creator and savior who holds human destinies in His hands. Unless the Spirit prompts people to choose rightly, chances are they will be lost.

Unfortunately, many of our friends and family either don’t hear or just ignore the Spirit’s promptings.  We must not take after them.  There is plenty of evidence among the saints and the sainted people whom we have known that following the Spirit leads to virtue.  Virtue then ushers true happiness into the human heart.  We might pray for those who deny the Spirit and talk with them about Him but never follow their ways.

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

 Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and Doctor of the Church

(II Corinthians 1:18-22; Matthew 5:13-15)

Like all the saints, Anthony beamed the light of Christ as Jesus exhorts his disciples in today’s gospel.  Anthony joined an Augustinian monastery at a young age.  After mastering Sacred Scripture, he became enthralled with the hope of suffering martyrdom for Christ.  He left the Augustinians to become a Franciscan missionary among the Moors in Morocco. 

Suffering from poor health, Anthony was returning to his native Portugal when his shipped was blown off-course. He landed in Sicily and worked in Italy for most of the rest of his life.  He became famous for his preaching, his teaching, and his commitment to the Franciscan ideal of poverty and service.  Called on for many tasks and responsibilities, Anthony’s tender health dissipated.  He died at the age of thirty-six and was canonized less than a year later. 

Anthony was a bright light whose brilliance we are not likely to share.  Nevertheless we can reflect Christ’s light in the world.  With selfless deeds and edifying words we give testimony to him who died for all. 

Monday, June 12, 2023

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 1:1-7; Matthew 5:1-12)

In the first reading today the word encourage or one of its derivatives occurs ten times.  In other translations consolation or comfort is used to translate the Greek.  Clearly Paul intends to offer support to the Christian community in Corinth for the suffering it is enduring.  The cause of that suffering is presumed and not revealed in the letter.

Paul emphasizes the social unity of Christians.  Enfolded into the Body of Christ, Christians can experience the comfort of his resurrection as they experience the pain of his death.  Paul recognizes this interplay at work in his own relationship with Christ.  In a parallel way he wants the Corinthians to know that they should feel the encouragement he has received from Christ.

We never have to suffer alone.  Both Christ and fellow Christians are ready to share our burden.  Rather than keeping our sorrows to ourselves, we can talk about them in conversation or prayer.  Just doing this mitigates much of the pain.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

 SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

(Deuteronomy 8:2-3.14-16; I Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58)

The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) gives us an opportunity to reflect on a few things. First, let us ask, exactly what are we celebrating today? And, what kind of prayer does the celebration suggest? Also, how does this party relate to life today?

The celebration of Corpus Christi has its origins in the Middle Ages. While theologians debated the real presence of Christ in the sacrament, the people wanted to show their faith in it. It began in France, but in a short time spread throughout the universal Church. Since the fourteenth century there has been a procession in which the Blessed Sacrament is carried.

It can be said that Corpus Christi exhorts all three types of prayer.  It gives itself to meditation in which we ask about the purpose and the process of the Eucharist. In doing so, we discover that Jesus instituted the Eucharist to make himself present throughout the world. He is everywhere to support us in our daily struggle to be holy. When we take the Eucharistic Bread in Holy Communion, it does not so much become part of us like most food.  Rather it forms us into Christ’s body.

Contemplation differs from meditation because it is more given to inner silence than to questioning. This feast provides us with an opportunity to focus on Jesus present on the altar.  He anchors us to the truth in a world that tends to lead us astray. We express our gratitude to Jesus for saving us through vocal prayer. Whether a song like “Gift of Finest Wheat” or a Eucharistic prayer like “O Holy Banquet, in which Christ is our food…” we have to say something.

From almost the beginning the Church has recommended a procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi. In it we present ourselves as the Body of Christ with the Sacred Host as our head. We commit ourselves to living the same self-sacrificing love with which Jesus died to redeem us of sin. For this reason, we are not surprised to find at our side a teacher who dedicated her life to the education of children. Or maybe there is a police officer who more than once risked his life defending others. In other times and other places saints like San Martín de Porres and Santa Francisca Cabrini participated in such a procession.

During this month of June in almost all the cities of the world there will be another type of demonstration in the streets. Homosexuals and proponents of even stranger types of sex want to draw attention to themselves. We don't want to make fun of them. Many have experienced cruel prejudice. But neither should we want to join their ranks.

The “gay pride” movement is a way to promote erotic love in its different forms. We do not believe that it is in any way as worthy as the love of Christ. Erotic love has its proper place in marriage.  It seeks pleasure for the self. In contrast, the self-sacrificing love that Jesus Christ showed us makes sacrifices for the good of others.

It is difficult to talk about these things both in the family and in public today. But we should do it so that others do not go astray. Perhaps our participation in the Corpus Christi procession gives testimony to the self-sacrificing love of Christ. But let us not fail to tell our children and grandchildren that sex has its rightful place only in marriage. There, with all the sacrifices that marriage demands, the couple experiences something of the utmost value.  They witness the transformation of their erotic love into the love of Christ.  This is the purpose of the spiritual life: that we learn to love like Christ.

Friday, June 9, 2023

Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit 11:5-17; Mark 12:35-37)

Remember when people changed their way of describing a really good object?  Instead of saying that it was “good enough to die for,” they started saying that the object was “good enough to kill for.”   Of course, they wouldn’t do either, no matter how good the thing was.  Perhaps this apparent change of motivation may help us understand today’s gospel.

One Scripture scholar calls the passage “a puzzle.” It seems that Jesus wants to distance himself from David here although he responded to Bartimaeus who called him “son of David.”  David was a warrior king with much blood on his hands.  Jesus is anything but that.  Jesus seems to be saying here that he is the Messiah or Christ in a different way.  He comes not to kill for God but to die in obedience to Him.  Significantly, after he dies on the cross, the centurion calls him the “son of God” -- a way of saying “Christ.”

As Jesus’ followers, we want to imitate his ways.  We should never seek to oppress anyone.  Rather we want to give ourselves, like Jesus, in obedience to God and in true service to others. 

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time 

(Tobit 6:10-11.7:1bcde.9-17.8:4-9ª); Mark 12:28-34)

In case anyone is wondering Tobias does survive his wedding night with Sarah.  Presumably they enjoyed a long, happy marriage.  Although the Book of Tobit cannot stand up in importance to Genesis or the prophet Isaiah, it does confirm significant truths.

First, the story of Tobias and Sarah underscores the goodness of sexual love in the context of marriage.  Where spouses have a permanent, exclusive commitment to one another, their physical union brings them spiritually closer.  If a child results, she or he is more likely to be raised in a supportive environment.  Second, the story also demonstrates the capacity of prayer to secure divine support.  God knows human needs without the person praying telling Him.  Nevertheless, prayer opens the human soul to discern God’s loving action.

Many marriages nowadays are almost as frightening as the one between Tobias and Sarah. There is less social support to assure stability.  Yet marriage is still invaluable for both the couple and society.  The couple makes a commitment that will help each mature.  Society is strengthened as the couple set down roots that bring about growth in number and virtue.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

 Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Tobit 3:1-11a.16-17a; Mark 12:18-27)

 Today’s first reading gives glimpses of two people who feel despised.  The pious, old Tobit has insulted his wife who turns around and calls him a fraud.  The young beauty Sarah senses that people ridicule her because multiple husbands have dropped dead on their marriage bed.  Both petition God to let them die.

Many today contemplate suicide out of similar feelings of depression.  Those who feel ashamed about their sexual inclinations often fall into this category.  They need to be assured that they are good and loved. 

In the Scripture story God responds to both petitioners’ pleas -- not with an angel of death but one of life.  He sends Rafael to match Tobit’s son Tobias with Sarah and, then, to guard their marriage bed.  In the process Rafael will find a solution to Tobit’s problem.  We should try to act in such helpful ways when we meet people in need.  Kind words will lift their hearts.  A touch on the hand or arm may reassure their self-worth.  We can see ourselves also as God’s agents assisting in His response to the distressed.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit 2:9-14; Mark 12:13-17)

Today’s gospel demonstrates Jesus’ astuteness and, more importantly, his wisdom.  He sees through his opponents’ pretenses to their desire to trap him.  They ask whether a Jew should pay the Roman tax.  If Jesus says, “Pay the tax,” he would lose the people’s favor.  If he says, “Don’t pay it,” he may have soldiers tracking him down.  Of course, his solution avoids both unfavorable consequences.

Jesus also tells his adversaries to give God His due.  This debt cannot be paid in a lump sum but requires due attention every day.  Humans are to praise and thank God for His blessings.  They are also to appeal to Him for their needs.  in short, they are to develop a close relationship with the Lord.

Often we worry when we should trust.  We should see every challenge that we face as an opportunity to seek God’s favor.  Expressing our dependency, we draw closer to God, who is hopefully our destiny as well as our Creator.

Monday, June 5, 2023

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr

(Tobit 1:3.2.1a-8; Mark 12:1-12)

Tobit, like St. Joseph, obeys the law, come what may.  In today’s reading he not only buries the dead, but also waits for the holy day to end before doing it.  In doing so, he defies orders of temporal rulers and inhibitions of kinsmen.  Jews as well as Christians see such actions as meritorious.  Today’s patron, St. Boniface, provides another example of such righteousness.

Boniface, English by birth, zealously preached the gospel among German pagans.  Once he defied pagan sensibility by cutting down an oak tree thought to be divine.  The act led to a mass conversion.  Named archbishop, Boniface established multiple monasteries and dioceses.  He was eventually martyred.  He is recognized as the patron saint of Germany.

We live in a time of social upheaval.  Sexual activity outside of marriage is not considered wrong; it is even expected.  We need people to defy the new social convention.  Parents and teachers ought to tell of the beauty of intimate relations when reserved for marriage.

Sunday, June 4, 2023

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

(Exodus 34:4-6.8-9; II Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18)

Most preachers dread the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. They don't know how to explain a mystery so profound that many say it doesn't make sense. However, the doctrine of the Trinity is the basis of the Christian faith. Somehow we have to say something that makes reasonable our belief that God is both one and three. In the process we hope that the explanation increases our faith.

Let's start with the second reading. Perhaps this passage was chosen for today's mass because it refers to the Trinity. As the conclusion of his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul blesses his readers in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But another part of the passage is also striking.

Paul says, "Greet one another with a holy kiss." “Kiss” here is a sign of peace between people, but it is even more an expression of love. For this reason people missed this symbolic act during the Covid restrictions. In fact, in many places today people still do not share this gesture of fraternity before Communion continues to be missed. As distance learning is not a substitute for the classroom, and as video calls are not a substitute for the presence of loved ones at Christmas, you cannot equate the waving of a hand with a chaste kiss.

The kiss indicates a relationship of friendship between people. We don't kiss foreigners but dear acquaintances. It also expresses both the joy of seeing the other and the willingness to forgive any offense that has been committed. We remember how the father kissed his son profusely when the prodigal returned home. With a kiss, one breathes over the other, indicating the desire to share one’s life with him or her. Of course, the kiss at mass can be abused or misunderstood. However, since the first centuries of Christianity, it has been used to express love and unity.

“God is love” – says the First Letter of John. It could not be love if God were alone. True love always has an object other than the self. Self-love is really a parody because it divides the person in two. It is really solo pride or, better, selfishness. When Jesus instructs us to love others as ourselves, he only means to attend to the needs of others as we attend to our own.

God's love has existed for all eternity. God the Father and God the Son have always loved one another with the Holy Spirit serving as a type of kiss between them. Because of the enormity of this love, it was desired that it be shared with others. Thus God created the universe to be recipients of his love. He reserved his highest affection for human beings, whom he created in his image. They, that is we, not only receive his love but also must imitate it.

The gospel tells us the extent of God's love for us. He says that it is so much that he gave his only Son so that we might share in his divine life. God gets nothing for himself in his enormous display of love. But like any Father, he wants all his children to share what he has. If we want to please him, let us do the same. That is, let us love not only our family and friends, but everyone.

There is a Hebrew word for the love of God that all Bible students learn. It appears in the list of adjectives presented in the first reading. Hesed is faithful, generous, and undeserved love. On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity we can say that the Father is hesed, that the Son is hesed, and that the Holy Spirit is also hesed.

Friday, June 2, 2023

In this environment conscious time, Jesus’ cursing the fig tree seems unconscionable.  To understand his motive, however, one must see it in relation to the event that follows.  Jesus clears the area of the Temple where moneychangers and animal merchants trade their wares.  As Jesus castigates them for violating the purpose of a house of prayer, he curses the fruit tree for violating its purpose of bearing fruit. 

The curse is meant as a sign and a warning.  It tells gospel readers that they should fulfill their purpose in life.  Humans are created to praise God in the Temple and care for one another outside it.  If they find this hard to do, he later indicates, they can pray to their heavenly Father, for help.

Pope Francis is a leading proponent of environmental concern.  He not only wants future generations to thank God for natural wonder but also that nature itself may continue to praise God.  We best not randomly destroy trees.  Rather we should enjoy their beauty and, when they give it, their fruit.  Also, we should thank God for the wonder of all creation.