Thursday, July 4, 2024

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 7:10-17; Matthew 9:1-8)

In the past on the Fourth of July Americans proudly expressed their patriotism.  Many participated in parades and some in special prayer services to show their gratitude for their strong, prosperous, and free society.  This year, however, patriotism invokes more critical self-examination than celebration.  Americans should take time to consider what is going wrong in their country. Public opinion is radically divided on vital issues like immigration and family.  More worrisome, the specter of anarchy looms with the upcoming elections.

The country’s predicament is akin to that of Israel at the time of Amos.  Today’s first reading shows how the prophet is condemned for speaking out against the injustices of the nation.  He chastised the people for ignoring the poor and following other gods.  Is this not like what is happening in the United States when nuclear families are not strengthened?  Are not the gods of pleasure and of self eclipsing the true God of Israel?

In the gospel Jesus forgives the sins of the paralytic before he cures his lameness.  The United States should seek forgiveness for its wandering from the path of justice.  Remedying the causes of injustice, it will walk proudly again.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

 Feast of Saint Thomas, apostle

 (Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29)

The New Testament leaves no doubt that its preeminent miracle is the resurrection of Jesus.  It does not presume that all accepted that event from the beginning.  Rather, as today’s gospel shows, it shows that even members of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples questioned its authenticity.

St. Thomas demanded physical proof that Jesus had risen.  Whether he ever put his finger in Jesus’ nail marks is an open question.  He may have settled, like his confreres, for seeing the resurrected Christ.  In any case, he likely died a martyr, the ultimate testimony of the resurrection.

The first reading, from the Letter to the Ephesians, underscores the solidarity of Christian faith in the resurrection.  Written toward the end of the fist century A.D., it exalts the apostles who, preaching resurrection, gave the Church its foundation.  It also includes people, believers like you and I.  We not only praise Christ but also extend to the world by the integrity of our lives hope of resurrection.

Monday, July 8, 2024

 Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Reminiscing about the Great Depression, a wealthy woman mentioned how life was better then.  She said that her family had to share its possessions with unemployed families. The sharing resulted in greater unity and virtue.  Today’s reading from the prophet Hosea promises a similarly beneficial development for Israel.

Hosea sees Israel as God’s unfaithful wife. Although paganism does not exhaust the nation’s sins, it occupies most of the prophet’s attention in this passage.  Hosea has commented in other places that the prosperity which the nation enjoys has been turned into silver and gold idols. The only remedy for such evil is for God to strip the nation of its riches, indeed of its very land.  In exile she will come to recognize her sins and return to the Lord.

Economic depression and exile are hard ways to learn even important lessons.  They often create desperation and moral dissolution. We are wise to ask God to reform us in gentler ways.  May He open our eyes daily to His goodness and our hearts to share with those in need.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 3:1-8.4:11-12; Matthew 8:23-27)

Church Fathers from the third to the seventh century read today’s gospel as a parable.  They saw the boat representing the Church manned by disciples.  When trouble afflicts the Church and there are no immediate solutions, it seems like Jesus is sleeping.  But, of course, he is aware of the difficulties and acts to save them from shipwreck.

Matthew might have had persecution in mind when he wrote of the storm.  It also could have been new, unorthodox doctrine that caused the disciples’ worry.  These problems still plague the Church.  We can also understand the storms as personal setbacks.  Perhaps we or a loved has been diagnosed as having a life-threatening disease.  Or perhaps we have lost our job and feel helpless.  Under conditions such as these, we can count on Christ’s help when we pray to him. 

The passage ends with the enigmatic questions, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and sea obey?” The disciples will realize at Jesus’ appearance after the resurrection that he is a God-man.  Putting our faith in him will not leave us disappointed.