Sunday, October 1, 2023

 TWENTY-SIXTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

(Ezekiel 18:25-28; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32)

The parable in the gospel today begins as a familiar story: “A man had two sons…” Sounds like the beginning of the parable of the “Prodigal Son” in the Gospel of Luke, no? However, Matthew's parable is different. Although both are about repentance, where Luke gives us a long and beautiful story, Matthew is brief and plain. Furthermore, he writes with a purpose quite different from that of Luke.

We can determine Matthew's purpose by examining the context of the parable. Jesus has entered Jerusalem to fulfill his mission of salvation. Soon he will be handed over, judged and crucified. Now the Jewish leaders are looking for material to accuse him. In the previous passage, the leaders asked Jesus who had given him authority to teach in the Temple. Jesus responded that he will answer their question when they answer his. Then he asked them: “Where did John the Baptist come from: from God or from men?” The question put them in a dilemma. If they said “from God,” then Jesus would have asked them why they didn't follow him. But if they answered “from men,” they would have incurred rejection from the people. To be safe, they responded that they didn't know. Therefore, Jesus did not answer his question.

Jesus does not want to pass his advantage by. He is going to demonstrate that sinners have acted superior to his Jewish accusers. He tells the parable of the man with two sons to show how sinners have responded to John's call to repent while the Jewish leaders ignored him. The sinners who heeded John's call are like the son who first says “no” to his father's command, but then reconsiders and carries it out. Meanwhile, the Jewish leaders act like the son who feigns obedience by saying yes to his father’s request that he go to work, and then does nothing.

By the time Matthew wrote his gospel, the parable had another reference. Rather than uncovering the hypocrisy of some leaders, the parable taught the rejection of the gospel by the Jews and its acceptance by the Greeks. Therefore, the Greeks are compared to the son who rejects the father at first but returns to do his will. And the Jews are like the son who says “yes” at first, but then he does not fulfill his father's will.

In addition to these two stages of meaning, the parable touches us today. It shows how we prefer to appear good over being good. We don't care if we do anything good as long as it appears to others that we do it that way. We always want to make a good impression. This is vanity, and as the book Ecclesiastes indicates, vanity infects everyone.

Should we try to overcome vanity? If we should, how to do it? First, vanity distorts the truth.  We are probably not as handsome as our photos on Facebook. More than this, vanity emphasizes the self where we want to proclaim Jesus Christ, the truth and the way. But it is not easy to overcome vanity. Because all of us have defects of one type or another, we want the admiration of others to feel valued. Psychologists propose as a way to remedy this need that we accept ourselves for who we truly are. They say self-acceptance is the key to peace in life.

We believers have a lever to achieve self-acceptance. It is our faith in the God who loves us. God loves us as we are, not as we imagine ourselves to be. We must not confuse this truth with an excuse for not correcting our faults. God also sees in us the potential to repent of our sins and sends us the grace to do so. If He loves us so much, how can we not love ourselves?

In the second reading Paul urges us to be like Christ. He did not draw attention to himself but rather he came to serve. By becoming like Christ, we will become honest and peaceful: in short, true sons and daughters of God.

Friday, September 29, 2023

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

(Revelation 12:7-12ab; John 1:47-51)

Not everyone prays to St. Michael.  Some people may think it is like believing in ghosts.  But those who do feel under siege and in need of supernatural help.

The “Prayer to St. Michael” was composed by Pope Leo XIII toward the end of the nineteenth century.  It was to be said after all “low masses,” that is masses without singing. Leo, like his predecessor and three successors, felt hemmed in by the Italian government. The papacy had lost jurisdiction over a vast part of central Italy and thought their ability to govern the universal Church weakened.  The original culprits against whom Michael’s interference was requested were the Italian nationalists.  When the issue was resolved with the creation of the Vatican state, Pope Pius XI mandated the prayer be continued with a new intention, the conversion of Russia.  The obligation of saying the prayer after low masses was removed during Vatican II.  Still it might be alone or with others, after mass or in private.  People with an addiction to pornography might use it to seek St. Michael’s assistance in their struggle.

Angels are God’s emissaries.  They are a means that God uses to accomplish His design.  If it helps us to pray to these intermediaries, we should do so.  St. Michael seems to have a record of success.  But if we pray more intensely to God directly, He is the origin of any assistance we might receive.

 

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 1:1-8; Luke 9:7-9)

From all that Herod has heard of Jesus, he wants to see him.  When he finally does, during Jesus’ hearing before Pilate, Herod’s purpose is revealed.  He wants to see Jesus perform some sign.  Unfortunately, such a desire is not counted as a sufficient reason to inherit salvation.

Many today, like Herod, want to see some sign or miracle that warrants their following Jesus.  They are not satisfied with hearing of Jesus’ resurrection from first-hand witnesses.  They want to see the sick healed with the Sacrament of anointing or cranky people turned friendly with the reception of Holy Communion.  This, however, is not how faith works.  People first must believe in Christ.  That will open their eyes to plenty of instances of his saving help.

We should recognize Christ’s daily help.  He has put good people around us.  He constantly blesses us, for many with health for others with medical care or friends’ support.  We have every reason to expect that at the end when we are called Jesus will direct us to his Father’s house.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest

(Ezra 9:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)

In today’s gospel Jesus sends his apostles out to do as he has done.  They are to preach the good news and heal the sick.  St. Vincent de Paul followed this program as well.  A gifted orator, he preached especially to and for the poor.  He also founded hospitals.

Vincent’s life seemed to be going in another direction in the years following his ordination.  As a young priest, he sought ministry among the aristocracy who could provide him relative comfort.  He then came under the tutelage of the spiritual masters Pierre de Bérulle and St. Francis de Sales.  They influenced him to pursue God, not pleasure or prestige. 

If nothing else, the gospel calls us to leave behind worldly desires to pursue the Lord.  It teaches us, as Vincent de Paul’s spiritual directors showed him, that eternal life is not the accumulation of goods and experiences but of staying close to Jesus.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezra 6:7-8.12b.14-20; Luke 819-21)

The long first reading from the Book of Ezra today invites commentary.  It relates part of the story of the building of the so-called “Second Temple.”  The first temple “of Solomon” was destroyed by the Babylonians.  The current temple will not match it, but near the time of Christ King Herod will give a significant upgrading.  The issue here is not who builds a more magnificent temple.  Rather, it is construction of a monument worthy of the Lord that will call people together in praise.

Once a minister asked a parishioner why he did not attend religious services the previous Sunday.  The man replied that he went fishing.  He said that he felt closer to God in nature than in church. The preacher replied that it is good he feels close to God in nature, but churches are God’s preferred place of prayer.  There men and women come together as a people in peace and love to give God, their common Father, fitting thanks and praise.

Covid took a toll on Mass attendance.  Many people have lost the custom of coming to church on Sunday.  Some say they watch mass via the Internet, but that is not attending it.  One shortcoming is that they cannot receive Holy Communion, which puts us literally in touch with the Lord.  Our sharing the Eucharist in a humble church without organ accompaniment is hardly the experience of solemn Mass in a grand cathedral.  But it does give adequate praise to the Lord.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezra 1:1-6; Luke 8:16-18)

The Book of Ezra, from which the first reading is taken, narrates a new beginning for Israel.  The people of Jerusalem have been living in their Babylonian exile for fifty years.  Now Cyrus, Babylonia’s Persian conqueror, decrees their release.  The people will return to their homeland helped by their Babylonian neighbors.  Once there, Ezra will call the people to faithfulness to the Lord through keeping the Law which he copied.

The story echoes Israel’s release from slavery in Egypt.  Pharoh, under duress, issued a similar proclamation sending the people home.  As the Babylonians give the Israelites gold to rebuild the temple, the Egyptians gave their ancestors gold which was used for the Ark of the Covenant.  On their Moses will exhort the people to obey the Law God gives them.

Christ’s resurrection from the dead will become the definitive new beginning of Israel.  He will send us, the new Israel, to our true home of heaven.  He will also bestow on us a gift better than gold, the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit will build up the Church on the outside, also fill our hearts with Christ’s New Law of love. 

Sunday, September 24, 2023

TWENTY-FIFTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

(Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16)

The readings today are fairly well-known. The first is part of the fascinating chapter of the prophet Isaiah in which God describes his word as rain bringing life to the earth. It is said that the gospel parable has had the popularity of that of the Prodigal Son at certain times in history. And the second reading of the Letter to the Philippians gives one of the most intimate confessions of the apostle Paul. Let's leave it for another time to reflect on the gospel through the optic of the prophet.

In one sense it is nothing new that the Lord's ways are different from ours. After all, God is of a different order than us. In fact, it is absurd to try to compare ourselves with God. He is not a being among other beings like any other man or woman. He is the basis of all being. Therefore, when we talk about God, we always speak in an analogical way, which is to say, “something similar,” realizing that He is a mystery beyond our understanding. It is like how we talk about our dog “loving us” when it lies at our feet. Its display of affection in no way comes close to the love between a man and a woman who have given themselves to one another in a faithful marriage. Although we cannot come close to matching God’s goodness, Jesus still calls us to be like Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, he tells his disciples: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

With both the distinction between God and us and the command to imitate God in mind, we can examine the gospel. The story Jesus tells here meets the classic definition of a parable as a tale taken from ordinary living whose conclusion surprises in a way that causes the listener to reconsider his life. Certainly upon hearing the parable of the “Good Samaritan,” the Jews had to reconsider their attitude toward the Samaritans. The parable of “The Laborers in the Vineyard” works in the same way. As much as the workers employed in the early hours of the morning, we are surprised when they receive the same pay as those who worked only one hour. But that's how God is - more generous than can be imagined. He is not unfair to anyone. He pays those hired in the morning the promised wage. But he has no qualms about treating others with great generosity.

This parable has been used to understand how the Greeks could inherit the Kingdom of God as much as the Jews who practiced the demands of the Law for centuries. It can also be used to explain how some born in solid families whose parents raised them with faith as well as love can have the same fate as some who, due to deficiencies in their upbringing, struggled to live just lives. However, the parable is open to another interpretation. It asks us to treat everyone with God's generosity whether they deserve it or not.

In our house sometimes someone leaves their dirty dishes in the sink. When I see them, I feel outraged because the person who left them should realize that everyone has the responsibility to clean their own dishes. This attitude is not necessarily unjust, but neither does it imitate God's ways. Certainly the saints would clean other people's dishes. Saint Martin de Porres, in fact, helped everyone, rich and poor, giving whatever he had without measure. All of us are called to do likewise by our acceptance into God’s family.

Being generous like God will demand a lot from us. But it's not impossible. With Jesus Christ as our model and companion we can fulfill the mandate. Present to us in the community of faith, Jesus supports us in the struggle. And in the Eucharist, he strengthens us to do hard things.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Timothy 6:2c-12; Luke 8:1-3)

In a famous sermon St. Augustine once warned pastors about using their office for private gain.  He told them that they were playing with their salvation.  One passage from the sermon reflected on Augustine’s own service as a bishop.  He said, “In addition to the fact that I am a Christian and must give God an account of my life, I as a leader must give him an account of my stewardship as well.”  The reading from Paul’s First Letter to Timothy contains similar thoughts.

Beyond urging its reader to teach only Christian truth, the letter tells him to beware of ideological positions which create controversy.  Most emphatically, it warns him about using his office for monetary gain.  The true wealth of a pastor, it indicates, is the hope of eternal life.

Both Augustine’s sermon and the First Letter to Timothy have application in every adult’s life.  Parents especially have to account in part for the lives of their children as well as their own lives.  We all belong to communities in which we have some responsibility for others.  We should not attend to those responsibilities out of selfish motives but always as a means of service to the Lord. 

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Feast of Saint Matthew, apostle and evangelist

(Ephesians 4:1-7.11-13; Matthew 9:9-13)

A man was making a fortune in the world of finance.  Raised in a family dedicated to Christ, he started to reconsider his life.  He left his career to study theology.  The he became a Catholic and found a position helping street people.  In time he became the director of a diocesan Catholic Charities program.  His story reflects that of St. Matthew in today’s gospel.

Customs workers in gospel times, and still today in many places, are assumed to be corrupt.  Their position offers so many opportunities for taking bribes that few people pass them by.  Evidently, Jesus feels the need of a bookkeeper in his company or at least for one of Matthew’s other abilities.  He calls Matthew from his workplace to follow.  But there is a more basic reason for the call.  Matthew, a sinner, needs salvation!

We should know that we are likewise sinners in need of God’s grace. Jesus bestows this grace upon us as we hear the gospel proclaimed.  Like Matthew we should not hesitate to respond favorably.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, priest, and Paul Chong Ha-sang, and compansions, martyrs

(I Timothy 3:14-16; Luke 7:31-35)

The saints we celebrate today are not known widely outside Korea.  However, they are celebrated there as heroes, among Catholics at least.  When the next World Youth Day takes place in Korea, many more people will learn of the glory of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, St. Paul Chong Hasang, and their companion martyrs.

Andrew Kim was the first Korean native to be ordained a priest.  He was executed at 25 after he was caught arranging the entry of other priests into his homeland.  Paul Chong was a married lay apostle.  Pope St. John Paul II canonized the two and ninety-eight other Korean martyrs in his apostolic mission to the country.  Since their martyrdoms, the Church in Korea has grown to eleven percent of the entire population.

In today’s gospel Jesus experiences rejection for being himself -- a teacher who enjoys food and drink.  As in Korea, his eventual martyrdom will bring many people to believe in him.

 

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in ordinary Time

(I Timothy 3:1-13; Luke 7:11-17)

Of all the qualities for a bishop named in the first reading today, the most striking for Catholics today is that he be a man who is “married only once.”  Before one jumps to the conclusion that Scripture prescribes a married clergy, it must be remembered that the letter was written at a time when the offices of bishop, priest, and deacon were still coalescing.  There were married clergy in the first Christian centuries, but they were expected, at least in the writings of the time, not to have sexual relations with their wives. 

Allowing married men to become priests and bishops in masse might resolve the shortage of clergy in many places today.  However, it would no doubt open the door to other problems like the scandal of clergy divorces.  A stronger reason to keep the current discipline of celibacy is the witness that it gives in a world supersaturated with sex.  People need models of happy lives that don’t seek pleasure in viewing pornography or find sexual satisfaction an essential for personal fulfillment.

Sexuality is a large and mysterious dimension of human life.  Many tread there naively causing serious injury to themselves and society.  We should strive to have a Christian point of view regarding sex and then to pray for the grace to live it.

Monday, September 18, 2023

Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 7:1-10)

Today’s gospel tells of a Roman centurion who recognizes Jesus as a healer.  Jesus fulfills the man’s request that he heal his servant.  The narrative does not say whether the Roman ever became a disciple of Jesus.

The story is reminiscent of that of Simone Weil, a French Jewish philosopher.  Her heart was converted to Jesus after meditating on the gospel and other deeply religious experiences.  Weil died a young woman during World War II.  History does not record her baptism, but she can hardly be counted as other than a follower of Christ.

Jesus calls all people to himself in truth and love.  We are fortunate to have known him through the sacraments and religious education.  Knowing of his divine love manifested on the cross, we should be willing to break social taboos and talk about him to others.

Sunday, September 17, 2023

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Sirach 27:33-28:9; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35)

Let us turn one more time to Paul's magnificent letter to the Romans. We have been reading it since June. But today is the last Sunday of this liturgical year that it is used.

The reading is taken from the last part of the letter, which provides the appropriate response to salvation in Christ. Paul has said that Christians are to conduct themselves in holy ways. They must not conform to the present world. Rather they have to be transformed so that they think and act according to the will of God. As a guide, Paul provides them with the law of love: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Now Paul wants to cover a problem that has evidently arisen in the community. Some eat everything laid before them without wondering if the food was offered to idols. They don't care about the issue.  Meanwhile others feel that if it were offered to idols, it would be tainted and unacceptable to eat. Although Paul himself has no difficulty in eating such food, he recommends that each person be respectful of others.

We see the sensibility that Paul wants to foster when a host today gives his guests a meatless option on Friday. He knows and respects that some Catholics maintain the tradition of abstaining on this day throughout the year as in Lent.

Along with the requirement of love Paul is emphasizing another great Christian value -- unity in Christ. Baptism has united us to Christ as our first reference of existence. (This can be difficult for some.  Please pay attention.) More than we are black, white, or of another race; more than we are Mexican, American, or Chinese; more than we are Rodríguez, Olson, or Biden; we belong to Jesus Christ. We should never allow ourselves to be separated from him or from one another in him. Therefore, Paul says: “None of us lives for himself, nor dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord”.

As always, the living of the word of God can be seen in the saints. Pierre Claverie was bishop of Oran, a region of Algeria plagued by Islamic terrorism in the 1990s. Bishop Claverie knew of the danger of staying in the country, which was his native land, but he rejected the possibility of fleeing. He expressed his perspective to the nuns of a cloister in France: “We are here for this crucified Messiah. For nothing else and no one else! … We are here like someone who is at the side of a friend's bed… sick, silently squeezing his hand and wiping the sweat from his forehead”. Evidently, he could see Christ in the surrounding Muslims who were also being victimized by the terrorism. As he lived for Christ, Monsignor Claverie died for Christ. He was martyred in August 1996.  At his funeral the Muslims who filled the cathedral said: "He was our bishop too."

But it is not only for the reason of being in solidarity with the suffering that we adhere to Christ. Paul says that Christ is Lord of the living and the dead. The dead are not exterminated but live in Christ. Furthermore, since he rose from the dead, those who adhere to him will rise again. We do not care that many do not recognize this hope. Two realities bear witness to it: the testimony of the Bible and our experience of God's goodness. Come what may, we will live for Christ until the promise of his eternal life is fulfilled.

Friday, September 15, 2023

 Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

 (I Corinthians 11:17-26.33; John 19:25-27)

Reading the passion of Jesus in John, we don’t find any tears.  It is hard not to imagine a mother weeping for a dying son, but that is not how this gospel depicts the scene.  In truth the account does not mention what Mary and the others are doing.  It focuses on Jesus as the one who even in death directs all the action. 

Jesus presents his beloved disciple to his mother and his mother to him.  This is the Church’s beginning.  Indeed, the scene can be truthfully called “another Pentecost.”   In just a moment the gospel will specify that Jesus hands over his Spirit.  There is none there to receive it but these two and the two other women who love Jesus dearly.

We have joined this communion of love.  Whether or not there were tears at the cross, there are moments of sorrow in our lives.  Because we know that our sins have hurt others, we “weep with those who weep.”  More than that, we rejoice with those rejoicing Jesus’ victory over evil because he is delivering us from our sins.  He is making us like himself so that when we die, we will know his glory.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

(Numbers 21:4b-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:16-17)

Like a stop sign, a cross is to call people’s attention.  Before it a person is to pause and reflect.  Jesus died on a cross.  Although he was innocent, he was killed on a cross out of human sin.  The cross begs the person in front of it to consider standing with Jesus or passing him by. 

Those who stand with Jesus believe in him.  Like the man in Mark’s gospel who asks what must he do to inherit eternal life, those who stand with Jesus must be prepared to sacrifice all for his sake.  In any case, they must put aside selfish instincts so that they may love others from the heart.  Those who pass Jesus by will love mostly themselves and anyone else who satisfies their needs.

If the cross is like a red light, it is also like a green light.  Accepting its challenge to love all as Christ did, it signals us forward to the glory of his eternal life.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 6:20-26)

As forthright as today’s first reading, St. John Chrysostom chastised wasteful luxury and promoted evangelical poverty.  An eloquent preacher, John was named the Patriarch of Constantinople, the most prestigious position of the eastern Church.  From the pulpit of his cathedral, he criticized the empress for extravagance and lack of charity. With his jurisdiction he curtailed the authority of the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine army.  John paid the high price of exile for instituting reform.  He died in a forced march from one place of banishment to another farther away.

John Chrysostom’s reform measure finds easy reference in the New Testament.  Today’s reading from Colossians tells Christians to put behind them “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.”  In the gospel Jesus laments the rich and the self-satisfied.  By implication, he means that if they do not share their resources, they will suffer downfall.

As much as he reminds us of the pitfalls of material excess, John Chrysostom links us to eastern Christianity.  His story tells us that Christianity is world-wide and that we are not alone when we defend our faith in an increasingly secular world.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 6:12-19)

The twelve men Jesus chooses as his apostles probably feel honored.  Evidently, Jesus sees in them a special quality that makes them fit for preaching the kingdom.  They will stand out among his other disciples and have a closer relationship with their master.

Perhaps, however, as Jesus provides more details about the costs of close discipleship, they will wonder what they have gotten themselves into.  He will explain that preaching the Kingdom in his wake will make them hated and subject to murderous plots.  They may come to feel like many American draftees in the 1960s being sent to fight in the jungles of Vietnam.

All the apostles except for John are thought to have suffered martyrdom.  For this reason alone their names merit honor.  They have become our heroes who gave their lives for more than even their country.  They gave them for Christ, the incarnation of the Kingdom of God.

Monday, September 11, 2023

Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Colossians 1:24-2:3; Luke 6:6-11)

To no one’s surprise God is the great mystery facing humankind.  (For lack of a better word, we will say) He cannot be known with any definition by the human mind.  He is infinite, that is beyond limits or, in other words, undefinable.  However, the Church holds that God has revealed part of the mystery in Jesus Christ.  Christ shows that God loves humans immensely to the point of giving His own Son for their salvation.

Today’s first reading reveals another aspect of the mystery of God.  Paul, or perhaps one of the apostle’s disciples, writes that members of Christ’s Body, the Church, may share in the manifestation of God’s love.  The writer believes that he does when he wears himself out preaching and ministering.

We can do the same, and Christian spirituality is based on this insight.  Our prayers, sacrifices, and acts of mercy have salvific implications.  God uses us to show His love for the world.  When we offer a prayer to God rather than complain of an inconvenience, we contribute to the salvation of humankind.

Sunday, September 10, 2023

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20)

We have observed that there are five great discourses in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. They begin with the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus commences his ministry. They will end with the discourse over the “last things” as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to lay down his life. In the gospel today we hear part of the fourth speech that deals with the church.

It may be thought that Jesus would begin his discourse on the church with a description of the various offices. However, with the exception of naming the twelve as pillars and Simon Peter as his second, Jesus is not interested in church structure. The entire fourth discourse has to do with the behavior of the members towards each other. They have to become like children dependent on God the Father for support. They should never give scandal to the weak in their midst. The section today deals with handling the delicate situation when a brother or sister falls into sin.

Before we can proceed, it is necessary to clarify the question of judging. Some think that it is not Christian to say another person has sinned. They propose as proof the phrase of Jesus: "Do not judge, so that you will not be judged" (Matthew 7,1). But we are always judging. If we say, "the grass is green", we have made a judgment. According to experts, what the phrase "Do not judge..." means is that we do not condemn anyone. Only God has the authority to send a person to hell.

In the reading Jesus commands us to approach the person whom we judge to be in serious sin and ask him or her to repent. We should do this in the spirit of accompaniment of which that Pope Francis often speaks. Accompaniment never rejects or looks down on the other person for having done wrong. Rather, it moves us to befriend the sinner in order to help him or her return to righteousness. Many young people are cohabiting. It certainly is a serious sin that their families and friends should not overlook. In addition to conveying concern for their spiritual and emotional well-being, accompaniment reassures the person of our love and tries to create a dialogue in which the person can talk about the relationship. Particularly the parents of the cohabiting couple should accompany their children without promoting the sin.

The presence of a second or third person will reinforce the seriousness of the situation while maintaining privacy. The important thing is to preserve the relationship of the sinner with the community of faith. The person in serious sin should not receive Holy Communion, but he should feel invited to participate in the mass. In fact, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass applies to him or her regardless of the sin.

Jesus gives his Church the right to exclude notorious sinners. Such action has at least two motives. It is hoped that the sinner, made aware of the seriousness of his condition, will soon reform. In any case, others will realize that they have to avoid the sin.

One other thing about the discourse draws our attention. Jesus includes prayer in his teaching on how to deal with sinners. We should pray that our judgment of sin is sound. We also want to ask the Lord for the appropriate attitude and words to win the trust of the sinner. Above all, we ask that the sinner be reformed. Confronting another person about sin is always delicate. It may backfire on us.  So we also want to ask the Lord to free us from sin.

Friday, September 8. 2023

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Micah 5:1-4a or Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 1:1-16.18-23 or Matthew 1:18-23)

The Byzantine Orthodox Church has a beautiful prayer to the Christ child on Christmas.  The prayer expresses the age-old desire to present Jesus with a special gift.  It proposes as a truly worthy offering on the part of humanity a Virgin Mother.  She is Mary, the fairest of women, who will prepare Jesus for his mission of revealing God’s love to the world.

Today the Church celebrates Mary in a special way.  Hers is the only birthday recognized in the liturgical calendar besides those of Jesus and John the Baptist.  By calling attention to her birth, the Church recognizes a life solely dedicated to God. 

Mary is also singled out as a model for young and old today.  We should find in her chastity the way to happiness no matter our state of life.  We can see in her obedience to God’s will how costly sacrifice leads to wonderful outcomes.  Most of all, of course, we recognize in Mary the fullness of love.  She cares for Jesus at his birth in Matthew and Luke and at his death in John’s gospel.  She speaks up in Cana for the whole world.  “’They have no wine,’” is a plaintive call for the happiness of the kingdom.  Each of us should strive to live as faithfully as this woman.

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Colossians 1:9-14; Luke 5:1-11)

A successful businessman almost went bankrupt because of gambling debts.  He was a family man, respected in the community where he had his business, and active in his church.  But in Las Vegas he could not stop placing bets until he almost lost everything.  St. Paul has such madness in mind when he writes of the “power of darkness” in today’s first reading.

Darkness or evil takes different shapes.  One can become addicted to drugs, lie maliciously, or look for illicit sexual fulfilment.  Darkness engulfs the soul so that it dies before the light of the next day.  Paul recognizes how Christ through his teaching and by his death has dissipated its power.  By staying close to him, one can enjoy a peaceful and hopeful life.

Coming to such a state is not all our doing.  God provides the grace so that everyone come to know and rely on Christ.  Like Paul we need to pray continually that we accept the grace that dispels darkness.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Colossians 1:1-8; Luke 4:38-44)

Today’s first reading is taken from the beginning of the Letter to the Colossians.  The writer is supposedly St. Paul; however, many modern exegetes believe that it was written by one of the apostle’s disciples. The Colossians were the people of Colossae, a city of Asia Minor (now Turkey) east of Ephesus.  The letter addresses problems of the Christian community in Colossae.  There is confusion over the role of angels and also over ascetical practices such as fasting.

This passage is striking for its coordination of the Holy Trinity with the theological virtues.  Paul acknowledges hope of heaven where God, the Father, reigns.  The hope is being realized by the people’s faith in Jesus Christ.  Meanwhile, it is foretasted in the love people share in the Holy Spirit. 

We are to love others not out of a natural attraction but from our hope of eternal life.  Jesus not only told us of God the Father’s unconditional love but also demonstrated that love in his passion and death.  Our belief in him moves us to imitate his selfless love.  Thankfully, we have the Spirit to help us.

 

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

 Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Thessalonians 5:1-6.9-11; Luke 4:31-37)

Yesterday the Gospel of Luke was introduced into the daily mass readings.  It will be used in weekday masses until Advent.  Two characteristics of the Lukan Jesus are that he is always moving and that he speaks with authority.  Yesterday the report of his activities was from Nazareth.  Today it comes from Capernaum.  Tomorrow it will see him leaving for other towns.

The second characteristic is found in the other gospels as well.  Jesus does not cite other rabbis but makes definitive comments on the Scripture himself.  In today’s reading his words manifest authority in that demons obey them.  His charge that the demons come out of the possessed man sends them immediately away. 

Such a display of authority should provoke repentance and faith in Jesus.  The people, however, are only filled with amazement.  Let us not be so slow to respond favorably.  Jesus is here to save us from sin and death.  We should not be shy about acknowledging him as Lord and praying to him for our every need.

Monday, September 4, 2023

 Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Luke 4:16-30)

Labor Day may be seen as a fulfillment of today’s gospel passage.  Jesus announces that he has come to free the oppressed and to proclaim a time of favor.  This announcement applies to those whose work, whether manual or intellectual, becomes unhealthy and dehumanizing.

Christianity has derived a theology of work that recognizes its purpose and worth.  All honest contributes to the glory of God and to human development.  Workers have rights that protect their safety and dignity.  They should be fairly paid to support themselves and their families.  Their workplace should be safeguarded from foreseeable dangers.  They should be allowed to organize in order to guarantee their welfare and the quality of their workmanship.

Labor Day is more than the end of a long weekend.  Our Eucharist today has a more definite focus than on other weekdays.  Rather these two events together are to remind us of Christ coming to work out our salvation. He lived among us first as a carpenter and then as a preacher.  More than that, he suffered, died, and rose so that laborers and everyone else might be free of the ultimate oppressions of sin and death.

Sunday, September 3, 2023

 TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Jeremiah 20:7-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27)

According to the common way of thinking, a prophet is someone who foretells the future. But we also hear how figures like Martin Luther King, who are not known for having predicted the future but for denouncing sin, are also prophets. In the gospel today we see Jesus doing both.

The Church provides the first reading as a focus for understanding Jesus as a prophet. Jeremiah is arguably the best known prophet in the Old Testament. His book is by far the most personal of all the prophets. In the reading, Jeremiah laments to God the deplorable condition in which he finds himself. He is exhausted after denouncing the sins of Israel without seeing repentance. In fact, he is ridiculed by people for his efforts to correct their faults.

Jesus is found in the gospel today in a similar situation. People have refused to put faith in him. His countrymen in Nazareth were scandalized at his visit. And the Pharisees challenge him every chance they get. Yes, it is true that Simon Peter has declared him "the Messiah, the Son of God." But now Peter himself shows little understanding of what this title means. When Jesus, acting as a prophet, informs him that he is going to suffer for being the Messiah, Peter openly opposes him.

Jesus then proves himself a prophet in the second sense of the word by reproaching Peter. He calls him “Satan,” the tempter who tries to divert people from doing what is right. In addition to having predicted what will happen to him, Jesus denounces the presumption that glory can be reached without experiencing the cross.

Here is a lesson on the spiritual life. It is always more than peace and harmony. Rather it includes moments of struggle. In the first place, we must control the passions that would suffocate us with pleasures. We must also discipline ourselves to overcome the will to pursue other transcendental goals like fame and power. Finally, we must rise above our critics, both friends and foes, who would lead us away from the often painful path to true life.

In the gospel Jesus, ever the insightful prophet, poses the invaluable question: "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" By saying “life” here Jesus does not have in mind life on earth that will end with death. Rather he is referring to life with God that will never end. This life implies deeper longings such as reunion with our dead loved ones and the glory we had in the prime of life. Jesus tells us that there is only one way to this life -- that of joining him as his disciple.

The lesson here was demonstrated for newly elected popes with a dramatic ritual.  For more than five centuries, every time a new pope was carried from the sacristy of St. Peter's Basilica to the coronation site, the procession was interrupted three times. A monk carrying a brazier with burning flax shouted in Latin: “Sancte Pater, sic transit gloria mundi” which means “Holy Father, so passes the glory of the world”. It was a lesson for everyone. The power and fame even of the papacy is worth nothing more than a burning cloth if the person loses his soul, his life. May we not allow anything to interfere with our following of Jesus. Only he can bring us to lasting life.