Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Monday, July 1, 2025
Monday of the
Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 18:16-23;
Matthew 8:18-22)
A very successful
pastor was awarded a ranking position in the diocesan chancery. When he saw his mother he shared the good
news. His mother, however, looked
worried. When he asked her why the long
face, she said, “If you don’t visit the sick and bury the dead visit the sick
and bury the dead, how will you get to heaven?”
Often our mothers
teach us more about Christian ethics than classes in the finest
universities. They are usually the ones
who instill upon us the Lord’s love and mercy.
This is the message conveyed so dramatically in today’s first
reading. Abraham may believe that he is
giving God a lesson in mercy when he banters with God about saving the infamous
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. But God is
eternally kind and infinitely merciful.
We must never forget
this message, even when we see bad things happening to good people. We should remember that no one is entirely
just. We all sin against the Lord who
created us. Yet God sent His Son to die
in a way more terrible than any evil people experience so that our sins may be
forgiven.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
(Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)
You may have wondered: why are the two preeminent saints of
the early Church celebrated together? It seems that both Saints Peter and Paul
deserve a separate day to honor them. After all, Peter was Christ's first
vicar, and Paul was his greatest promoter. Indeed, different aspects of Peter
and Paul are celebrated separately. The See of Saint Peter is commemorated on
February 22. Likewise, January 25 is dedicated to the conversion of Saint Paul.
However, there are reasons to commemorate Peter and Paul
together. There is a tradition that they were martyred at the same time. More
importantly, they are both associated with the Church of Rome as its patron
saints. This church has the distinction of being first among all others in
constancy of faith. Furthermore, both have become larger-than-life figures,
symbols for Christians throughout the centuries.
Saint Peter symbolizes authority within the Church. Although
the Acts of the Apostles attests to his great preaching ability, he is
associated with the institutional Church. Today's Gospel shows him receiving
from Jesus "the keys of the Kingdom," which in themselves are symbols
of authority. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus promises Peter his support. He says:
"...I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail, and that you may
strengthen your brothers."
Saint Paul, although the preeminent evangelizer, can be even
more closely associated with the theology of the Church. In his letters to the
various local churches, he originated such key Christian concepts as
justification by faith in Christ and the universality and exclusivity of
salvation through Christ. It is little wonder that Paul has been called the
"second founder of Christianity." There is another characteristic of
the two patron saints of Rome that is perhaps more significant for us. They
both shared an inestimable love for Jesus Christ. Paul was so identified with
Christ that he wrote to the Galatians: “…it is no longer I who live, but Christ
who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). At Jesus' prompting, Peter declared three times,
each time more solemnly: “…I love you.” This is the same kind of love that
moved Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta to declare: “I was Albanian by birth. Now
I am a citizen of India. I am also a Catholic nun. In my work, I belong to the
whole world. But in my heart, I belong to Christ.”
We should foster this love within ourselves. It is not
difficult when we consider with faith that Christ not only gave his life to
justify us from sin; that he is not only the Son of God and our brother by
virtue of the Incarnation; but that he is also our daily companion, enabling us
to live in peace until we may attain the happiness of eternal life.
Friday, November 27, 2025
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Ezekiel 34:11-16; Romans 5:5b-11; Luke 15:3-7)
In his last encyclical letter Dilexit Nos Pope
Francis wrote of how contemporary humans, bombarded by technology, live at a
hectic pace. We have become used to fulfilling
our wants instantly. Quoting St. John
Paul II, Pope Francis said that people are in danger of losing their very
center, which is their heart. Wise
people are wary of Artificial Intelligence because it promises to take decisions
and actions even farther away from our hearts.
Pope Francis recommended a return to the heart, not the
individual heart but one united to the heart of Jesus. Jesus will form it in compassion, a way of opening
the heart to others. In synch with the
heart of Jesus, the person forgets selfish desires as he or she lives for others.
Today we celebrate the compassionate, loving heart of Jesus. The gospel pictures him telling his critics of
a shepherd who hustles to find a lost sheep.
He wants them to know that God loves each human person like the shepherd
loves each of his sheep. Assured of God’s
love, his critics might recover their own hearts in loving others.
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 16:1-12.15-16; Matthew 7:21-29)
Today’s first reading warns us of the havoc that can take
place when humans defy the will of God.
Abram and Sarai are married, never mind that they lived before the
Jewish law was established and before sacramental marriage between Christians. Natural law dictates that man and woman give exclusively
themselves to each other in marriage. The
arrangement allows no exceptions for progeny purposes. The abuse that followed upon Sarai’s giving
of her maidservant to Abram should have been expected.
Today childless couples are turning to technology to satisfy
their desire for a baby. Invitro
fertilization provides conception from their ovum and sperm in a laboratory. The resultant embryo is as much a commodity
as it is a human being. The man and
woman are as much physical instruments as they are parents. The process does not condemn the offspring. He or she must be treated as any other child. But it does put humanity farther along on the
course of dehumanization.
There are alternatives to invitro fertilization for
childless couples. Fertility clinics
based on Catholic moral principles often find ways to help them conceive
naturally. Facilitating their use, we help
childless couples have children in a natural, often less expensive way. We also assist in the spread of the Gospel.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 15:1-12.17-18; Matthew 7:15-20)
Today’s first reading makes us wonder why our married friends
who desperately want a child are not so blessed as Abram. They too keep asking the Lord as they worry
about not having an heir like them in appearance and virtue. Knowing their goodness, we question God’s
hearing their pleas.
God responds favorably to Abram by ratcheting up his promise. His descendants will be not only as numerous
as the sand on the earth but as glorious as the stars in the sky. He has not made a like promise to
everyone. But he has promised His Holy
Spirit with eternal life to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. The Spirit will bring them joy and peace as
they make Jesus’ prayer, “Thy will be done,” their own.
Just because God does not provide everything we ask for should not discourage us from praying. We know that He loves us. We have also seen how God opens doors and windows to a better life that we have never noticed. Let us stand fast in our faith of the Lord Jesus.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Solemnity of the
Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
(Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts
13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66.80)
When Josef Ratzinger,
who became Pope Benedict XVI, was just ordained, the Bavarian village where he
grew up celebrated their new priest. It
was a grand affair with just about everyone participating. Ratzinger remembered years later that he had
to tell himself, “This is not about you, Josef, this is not about you.” He knew that the people were excited about
having one of their own becoming “another Christ.” They loved the Lord so much that they exalted
in knowing that one among them would take his place in providing the
sacraments. John the Baptist said
something like what Josef Ratzinger said to himself as crowds gathered to hear
him preach.
John was evidently a
powerful preacher. St. Matthew recalls
in his gospel how people from all Judea came to hear his speak. Many became so convinced by his words that
they proclaimed him the Messiah. But
John knew that he was only the herald of the one who was to redeem Israel. As Paul testifies in today’s reading from
Acts, he told the people, “I am not he.”
John gives us an
important lesson here. He was not the
Messiah, nor are we although sometimes we think of ourselves in that way. We will be rudely abused of that attitude someday. That will be a blessing. If we don’t give up the attitude, it will
deprive us of knowing salvation from Jesus, the true Messiah.
Monday, June 23, 2025
Monday
of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis
12:1-9; Matthew 7:1-5)
Many young
men today hear a call like the one Abram receives in today’s first reading. They are moved to leave behind homeland and
family to live in a new land. They are
not necessarily pious as Abram probably was not. But they feel an invisible power beckoning
them to a life more bountiful than the one they leave behind. Thinking about Abram today, one might recall
the millions of immigrants around the world.
They are searching for a better life than the poverty and often violence
of their own countries.
This is the
beginning of the story of God’s chosen people.
All descendants of Abram and his wife Sarai will be part of that
nation. Sarai is childless to this
point. Later Genesis comments that she is very beautiful. God has called this adventuresome man with an
eye for a beautiful woman to father a special people. Their righteousness in time will lead the
world to praise Him.
Like Jews
we understand Abram to be our father in faith.
His sometimes earthly character should remind us that God does not only
call the saintly but us as well. Like
Abram also we must respond to God’s call.
This is not a once-and-for-all proposition. Rather, it means faithfulness day-in and
day-out even when it seems like an absurd venture.
Sunday, , June 22, 2025
THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
(Genesis 14:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11-17)
The Second Vatican Council called the Eucharist the “source
and summit” of our faith. We have the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ to
contemplate why this is so. We will do our contemplation here by focusing on
the first reading with continued reference to the Letter to the Hebrews and
other biblical passages as resources.
The reading introduces Melchizedek, a figure who appears
both obscure and illuminating in the Bible. In the Old Testament, his name is
seen only in this passage and in Psalm 110. However, in the New Testament
Letter to the Hebrews, he is amply described as a model for understanding Jesus
Christ.
The reading calls Melchizedek “king of Salem.” Salem
or shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. As Melchizedek is “king of
peace,” Christ will be known as “prince of peace.” He will prove himself worthy
of the title when he reconciles Jews and pagans through his death on the cross.
As the Letter to the Ephesians says, he reconciled both peoples to God in one
Body through the cross, destroying the enmity in his person (cf. Ephesians
2:16).
The reading also says that Melchizedek is a priest. As such,
he offers God bread and wine on behalf of Abram. The Letter to the Hebrews also
emphasizes Christ's priestly role. Like Melchizedek, at the Last Supper Jesus will
present to God bread and wine on behalf of the whole world.
Jesus will convert the offerings into his Body and Blood. On
the next day, these same elements will be sacrificed to win the world
forgiveness of its sins. Insofar as he relieves those who believe in him from
sin, Jesus' offering will be a blessing of inestimable value.
The Letter to the Hebrews goes on to contrast the priests
and sacrifices of the Old Testament with Christ and his sacrifice on the cross.
In short, it says that the priests could not offer sacrifices as efficacious as
Christ's because they had sinned, while Christ never sinned. Their sacrifices
also pale in comparison to Christ's because they were only the blood of
animals, while Christ, the Son of God, offered his own blood. Furthermore, the
Old Testament sacrifices had to be repeated as long as people continued to sin.
But Christ's sacrifice was once and for all because it freed humanity from the
condition of sin.
We should now remember that we witness Jesus' supreme
sacrifice every time we attend Mass. Because Jesus is divine, his death on the
cross constituted an eternal act. That is, it took place once and for all in
time, but it continues occurring outside of time. Our participation in the Mass
brings us to the threshold of eternity. It is like a small window through which
we see the risen Christ glorifying God the Father with his death on the cross.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 11:18.21-30; Matthew 6:19-23)
As almost everyone knows, a parable is a comparison from
everyday life that aids understanding of difficult concepts. Jesus used parables effectively in speaking to
the poor about the Kingdom of God. Today’s gospel pictures him preaching about the
need to value justice over wealth. The parable
he uses, however easy it was for his hearers to understand, is difficult for
people today.
He says, “The lamp of the body is the eye.” That is how the
ancient world considered the eye – like a lamp that projects one’s light or
understanding into an object so that it may be known. (Think of yourselves as looking for a can of
Coca-Cola which you know will have the shape of a cylinder and the color
red. Then you scan the pantry for red cylinders.) If one’s eye is defective (if it is
color-blind, for example), it will have a hard time finding what it is looking
for.
What do we want in life?
What are our eyes looking for? If
it is wealth and comfort, Jesus predicts that we will end in ruin because
wealth and comfort are not ultimately important. However, if we are looking for justice and
kindness, if our eyes see rightly, we will die content. We will be destined to eternal life with
Jesus.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-15)
As a manager places his best hitter in the middle of the
batting order, so Matthew has put the Our Father at the middle of the Sermon on
the Mount. The evangelist wants the
reader to realize that the incredible demands that Jesus makes of his disciples
cannot be fulfilled by their efforts alone.
They absolutely need the help of God, or they will fail to comply.
One need not live too long or study too much to realize how
much sin has entered the world. Look around
for what motivates people, and you will not likely find that it is love of God. Rather, people usually act out of desire for fun,
fame, or fortune. When one is asked to make
a great effort without an immediate payoff, she or he will likely not act at
all.
But Jesus promises an eternal reward for those who follow
his commands. Again, it is not easy to always
do his will, but he will send his Spirit to help us. We just have to ask the Father in the name of
the Son.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Wednesday of the
Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians
9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)
Henri Nouwen was one
of the most noted spiritual writers of the second half of the last
century. He wrote columns and books on
how to live the gospel every day. At one
point he turned his attention to fundraising.
He explained to those working in Church development how to serve God more
faithfully.
Nouwen wrote that
fundraising is not begging. Rather it is
projecting a vision for the Church and asking people to share in it with their
money. In short, it is a way to involve
people in the Church’s ministry. He also
saw fundraising as a call to conversion.
Both fundraisers and potential benefactors are called to change their
perspective. They should come to terms with
the fact that God’s new project has a role for them.
We have been hearing
about St. Paul’s fundraising project in the first reading these last few days. He is calling the community in Corinth to
help support the Christians in Jerusalem.
He is asking them to look beyond their own needs to people in distress. No doubt, he sees their assistance as a way
to solidify the communion of Jews and non-Jews that the Church is meant to be.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 8:1-9; Matthew 5: 43-48)
A saying about donating to charity has no reference but is
worth repeating: “Giving has never made anyone poor.” Most people hedge their donations to assure
that they have something for themselves.
Nevertheless, in a mysterious way when people give to others, they often
receive more in return,
In today’s first reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians
about his experience in Macedonia. The people there accepted both faith in Christ
and the ties of community. Paul lauds
their generosity as he begs the Corinthians for a similar display of
charity.
We are also reminded to help the poor in need. With Internet opportunities to give are almost
endless. We can donate to local soup
kitchens and human rights organizations on the other side of the world. What is important is that we give generously
for others as Christ gave for us.
Monday, June 16, 2025
Monday
of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II
Corinthians 66:1010; Matthew 5:38-42)
Quite often
preachers will distort the impact of today’s gospel. They say that Jesus suggested turning the
other cheek and walking the extra mile as a strategy to morally defeat one’s
opponent. For example, they say that
turning the other cheek will force the striker to use the front of his hand and
not the back which is supposedly embarrassing. But there is little agreement on
this among biblical commentators today and probably less basis for it in first
century Palestine annals.
Jesus
proposes turning the cheek and walking the second mile as ways of humble
service. Because he wants his disciples
to be beyond reproach, he asks compliance in all that is not evil. Of course, he would allow them to rescue a
child or even to save themselves serious injury. But their behavior must be “greater than the
of the Pharisees” as he has said earlier in the discourse.
We need not
worry about how we will react if we are stricken on one cheek or constrained to
walk a mile for someone. Rather let us
ask ourselves how we might be of better service to others. Then, of course, let us do it knowing that
this is what the Lord expects of us.
Sunday, June 15, 2025
SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
(Proverbs 8:22-31; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15)
The Holy Trinity is a mystery. It cannot be fully
understood. Yet each year we make “a raid into the inarticulate” when we
celebrate its feast on the Sunday after Pentecost. Whether a joy or a burden,
it seems that only on this day do we reflect on how God can be both three and
one.
Since ancient times, there have been two approaches to
understanding the Trinity. One is called “economic” and the other “immanent.”
To speak of “the economic Trinity” implies the study of God interacting with
creation. Of course, God acts with creation every moment. If He did not,
creation would cease to exist. However, the interactions traditionally
considered of the “economic Trinity” are creation, redemption, and the history
of salvation. We scrutinize the Bible to determine the role of the three
persons of the Divine Trinity in these and other matters.
The “immanent Trinity” refers to the relationships among the
three persons. The Bible does not help us much here. We must turn to philosophy
for clues for our investigation. 1,700 years ago, the Church accepted the idea
of Saint Athanasius and
other Church Fathers that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have the
same divine nature. This nature, which each possesses in its fullness, makes
possible the paradox that the three are the same in all respects except that
they differ in their relationship with one another. Instead of following this
philosophical line of investigation, we will focus on the economic approach
since today's Mass readings indicate the roles of the one God in our salvation.
The first reading from the Book of Proverbs personifies
wisdom as God's companion in creation. In fact, wisdom speaks as if she were a
person, saying that she has existed "at the first " and has been God’s
"craftsman." These qualifications make us think of the Son and also
the Spirit. Saint Paul even writes that Jesus Christ is "the wisdom of
God" (1 Cor 1:24). And we know that wisdom is the first gift of the Spirit
mentioned in the Book of the prophet Isaiah (Is 11:2-3). We may conclude that
absolute wisdom is an intellectual virtue possessed by God: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit.
The second reading also emphasizes the roles of the Son and
the Holy Spirit. It recounts that Jesus Christ (the Son) reconciled us with the
Father through his death on the cross. It also relates that the Holy Spirit has
renewed us in love so that even the suffering caused by our sins may merit
eternal life. We know that the Holy Spirit is associated with reconciliation,
as indicated when the priest says in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, “(The
Father) … sent the Holy Spirit for the remission of sins…” Likewise, the Son
effects love in our hearts, as Paul further attests in this same Letter to the
Romans: “…neither death nor life … nor any other creature will ever be able to
separate us from the love of God, manifested in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Gospel indicates how the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit cooperate with each other. It shows that all three have the same
knowledge by stating that the Spirit reveals the truth of the Son received from
the Father.
In the end, it can be dizzying for many to reflect on the
Holy Trinity. It is a mystery that admits no resolution because God is always
beyond understanding. However, we can contemplate it, appreciate it, and give
thanks for it. Considering the Trinity increases
our faith and nourishes our love.
Friday, June 13, 2025
Memory of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and Doctor of
the Church
(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 5:27-32)
It is said that early images of St. Anthony were made with
him holding a book of Scripture. In
time, however, the Christ-child replaced the book as most images of Anthony
depict him today. The change is quite
sensible since Jesus is the word of God.
In any case, Anthony knew, like St. Paul in today’s first reading, that
Christ was the treasure within him.
Paul could not but preach Jesus Christ. The Lord’s glory worked within Paul so that
nothing stopped him. As he will say
later in this letter, he preached despite the fact that “(F)ive times at the
hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. Three
times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked,
I passed a night and a day on the deep; on frequent
journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own
race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness,
dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and
hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through
frequent fastings, through cold and exposure.”
Christ did not live exclusively in Anthony or Paul. He lives within most of us. As with them,
Christ wants us to show him to others.
By our words and actions we are to give glory to Jesus Christ.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 3:15-4.1.3-6; Matthew 5:20-26)
Today’s first reading challenges understanding. It is not an integral piece from Paul’s
letter. It also uses a difficult metaphor. In the
passage Paul tries to explain to the Corinthians why Jews have rejected the Gospel
while he urges them to embrace it.
The tricky image that Paul uses is a veil. He takes it from the Book of Exodus where
Moses used a veil to cover his face after seeing the glory of the Lord on Mount
Sinai. Paul claims that the Jews are
still prevented from seeing the reflection of the Lord’s glory, which has
become the Gospel. Paul has revealed
this to them by his preaching.
What keeps people today from embracing the Gospel? What is the contemporary veil? Different people probably are blinded by
different veils, but scientism is prevalent among many. People won’t accept anything as certain that
is not subject to empirical proof. However,
just as we are sure that parents love their children, we know that our Creator
loves us.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Memorial of St. Barnabas, apostle
(Acts 11:21b-26.13:1-3; Matthew 5:17-19)
St. Barnabas may not be on any short list of patron saints for religion teachers, but he consummately fills the role. We might call him the prototypical catechist given that, besides Jesus, he seems to be the first teacher mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.
In Acts Barnabas teaches by both word and example. His giving the total proceeds of the sale of his property to the community in Jerusalem has taught Christians generosity and commitment throughout the centuries. Today’s reading from Acts testifies how the Holy Spirit calls Barnabas from teaching to preaching as an apostle.
All of us can imitate Barnabas. We need to be generous with our belongings, caring of others in order to teach, and bold enough to proclaim Jesus in public. It is a tall order, but having been endowed with the Holy Spirit, we can do it.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 1:18-22; Matthew 5:13-16)
Jesus’ exhortation in today’s gospel recalls St. John of the
Cross’ warning about memory. The author
of the Dark Night of the Soul recognized how memory of one’s
accomplishments can interfere with God’s taking possession of one’s mind. Although the memories may have an overall
positive effect, the person will not experience the awesome wonder of a divine
encounter.
Jesus likewise warns his disciples of the danger of losing their
virtue. Watching television for hours
can dull a person’s desire to exert her or himself on behalf of others. Lying to make another feel good can
deteriorate one’s regard for the truth.
Jesus is calling his disciple to service of the Kingdom. They will be of no more use than salt which
has become insipid or a lamp whose bulb has burnt out.
Disciples are not backsliders. They keep
growing in virtue so that others may be blessed and God may be praised. We should pray to be better women and men and
then should discipline ourselves so that we might move with the Holy Spirit.
Monday, June 9, 2025
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of
the Church
(Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34)
In the perspective of Luke Mary, the mother of the Lord, was among the
original recipients of the Holy Spirit.
When the Spirit came on Pentecost, Mary was there with the other
disciples to receive him. The scene has a parallel in John’s gospel which adds
credence to its historical basis.
At the foot of Jesus’ cross in John’s gospel, Mary stands with the Beloved
Disciple. They will form the nucleus of
his Church. After giving them to one
another, Jesus sips wine from a sponge and hands over his spirit. The spirit is not different from the one who
rests on all his disciples at Pentecost.
It creates unity and love in those whom it touches.
We too have been given the Holy Spirit.
It comes in Baptism and will remain unless we cause it to go through
sin. We should nourish the Spirit
through frequent reception of Communion.
We should also follow its prompting to love all whom we meet.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Pentecost Sunday
(Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 14:15-16,
23-26)
Pope Leo XIV has chosen a coat of arms with the motto (in
Latin): “In illo, uno unum.” The words are from Saint Augustine of Hippo, the
patron of the religious order to which the pope belongs. They mean: “In Him
(Christ), who is one, we are one.” Today we celebrate the Holy Spirit who keeps
us one in faith and in love.
The entity in which we are held together as one through the
Spirit is not a building made of concrete. Rather, it is something organic that
grows and develops. It is, of course, the Body of Christ that we commonly call
“the Church.” The Holy Spirit forms human persons in the cells of the different
organs of the Body. Some of us constitute His arms that reach out to those in
need. Others compose His voice, proclaiming both our belief in God and our
praise of God. As the second reading says today, just as the human body has
various types of organs, the Body of Christ has various types of ministries.
The cells of the Body of Christ are nourished by the bread
made into the Flesh of Christ and the wine made into the Blood of Christ. This
mystery of the Eucharist is likewise the work of the Holy Spirit. He transforms
everyday food -- that is bread and wine -- into the Body of Christ that lives
forever. Even when we fully digest the Body of Christ, it remains. As St.
Augustine himself put it, when we eat the Body of Christ, he does not become
part of us (like regular bread), but we become part of Him.”
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles highlights
the unity of faith throughout entire Church. Ignited by the Spirit, the
disciples begin to preach. Not only do all the visitors to Jerusalem hear them
speaking in their own languages by
reason of the Holy Spirit. They also all receive the same message as proclaimed
by Peter in what follows in the Book of Acts. Peter will say that Jesus
performed many miracles and signs among the people; nevertheless, the Jews put
him to death on the cross, but God raised him from the dead. This basic
message, which has been called "Kerygma" (in Greek or
"proclamation" in English), has developed through the ages through
the Spirit. With reflection on the Scriptures, the Kerygma has produced the
dogmas of the Incarnation, the Resurrection from the dead, Redemption from sin,
and the Holy Trinity. As Jesus says in the Gospel, the Spirit will teach the
Church "everything."
The Holy Spirit also keeps us in love. Through the Spirit,
the Father and the Son dwell in our hearts, as the Gospel also says. With God
filling our interiors, we cannot help but love. This love extends beyond our
family and friends to all inhabitants of the world, living and dead.
As much as we would like to love, we are sometimes
challenged by loving those we don't like. It may be a boss who doesn't want to
talk to us. It may even be our husband or wife who doesn't accept our affection.
The Gospel calls the Holy Spirit "the Advocate." This word translates
the Greek word paraclete, which literally means "called to
one's side." When we lack the desire to love, the Advocating Spirit
advises us on how to offer it.
Considering all that the Holy Spirit does, one might think
that he doesn't receive enough attention in the Church's liturgy. However, the
persons of the Holy Trinity do not compete with one another. Because they are
one, when we worship the Father, we worship the Spirit. And when we honor the
Spirit, we honor the Son. And when we thank the Son, we thank the Father.
Friday, June 6, 2025
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts 13b-21; John 21:15-19)
Today’s first reading relates the Roman governor’s desire
that the Jewish king Agrippa hold a hearing of St. Paul. Oddly, it does not give the result of the
hearing. After hearing Paul, the king does
not think him guilty of any crime. In
Luke’s gospel, Jesus similarly goes before the Jewish king (in his case Herod Antipas)
and is also judged innocent.
A parallel to this result is seen in today’s gospel. Jesus indicates to St. Peter that he will die
a martyr’s death. Quite directly he
tells Peter, “Follow me.” Eventually
Peter like Jesus will die by crucifixion.
The lesson for us is obvious. Like the two great apostles, we should follow
Jesus. Probably our pursuit will not end
in martyrdom. But it will likely cause
us suffering. Early Christians were
happy to suffer like the Lord. We might
find it stressful but should recognize its value. The more we suffer for Jesus, the closer we
come to him both now and forever.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr
(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17:20-26)
Today’s patron, St. Boniface, was English born and educated. He became a monk but also a missionary. He preached today’s gospel – the unity of Father,
Son, and Spirit -- mainly in what is now Germany. His message included the unity of humans in Christ. Boniface exemplified this unity when he gave
his life for the people he served.
Giving themselves to Christ in Baptism, Christians take on
his mind and heart. They share the same
faith and come to love selflessly as Christ did. It is not only a matter of imitating Christ’s
love. More importantly, they imbibe his
Precious Blood which moves them to perfect love.
We cannot have the same mind and will as the Father, Son,
and Spirit. Their unity in everything
except the relationships among them makes them God. However, we approach their unity by believing
what the Son taught and, especially, loving one another as he loved all.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Wednesday
of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts
20:28-38; John 17:11b-19)
In today’s
first reading St. Paul expresses concern over the truth of Christ. He tells Church leaders that he taught the
whole truth of Jesus Christ. Now he is
worried that false evangelists will come along distorting it.
Paul taught
that God created the world good and gave it to humans to care for. He said that God made only one demand – that humans
not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Perhaps to avoid
misunderstanding, God reserved to Himself the determination of right and wrong.) Paul further taught that humans, deceived by
the Father of lies, wanted to claim equality with their benefactor. So they ate from the tree of knowledge, and alienated
themselves from God. Their situation was
hopeless because they could never cease trying to compete with God. God Himself had to come to their
rescue. The Father sent His Son as a
human, whom we know as Jesus Christ. The
Son submitted himself completely to the Father’s will. As Paul says, Christ gave his blood which won
for him, the God-man, eternal life. Now
those who partake of that blood offered in the Church, his Body, may acquire
not only forgiveness but also eternal life.
False
evangelists are still among us. They may
not be bad-intentioned, but nevertheless they get the story of salvation
wrong. They may claim that they have a
better idea of good and bad than Jesus taught.
They may say that God loves everybody so that a person need not join
himself or herself to Christ’s body to reach salvation. Whatever their mistakes, we do well to avoid
false teachers by adhering to St. Paul’s teaching.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Memorial of Charles Lwanga and Companions
The old priest was found dead on the floor without life signs. Some would say that he had the best death possible – without suffering or invasive hospital procedures. But this point is debatable. Today's readings show other ways to die.
No one can enjoy suffering. But we should not always run from it. Through suffering we can draw closer to Jesus on the cross. It even allows us to share in his work of redemption. Suffering in the dying process may also afford us opportunity to confirm our love for those who mean the most to us. Like both Paul and Jesus, we may want to embrace it for the sake of others.
Monday, June 2, 2025
Monday
of the Seventh Week of Easter
(Acts
19:1-8; John 16:19-23)
With Pentecost
less than a week away, the Church supplies Mass readings that focus on the Holy
Spirit. In today’s reading from Acts,
the Spirit’s effect on believers is visually described.
The
disciples of John the Baptist heard of the coming Messiah but were baptized
according to John’s rite of repentance. Only
being able to recognize their sins, they experienced difficulty reforming their
lives. Paul arrives to help them. He likely gives them instructions regarding
the Spirit before he baptizes in the name of Jesus. Immediately they show the Spirit’s effects by
living in a new way. They speak in
tongues, praise the Lord, and hold forth prophetically about the good they must
do.
The Holy
Spirit is inviting us to pray these days that we may more energetically live
what we believe. He will come to show us
how to bring about peace through selfless love.