Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time 

(James 1:12-18; Mark 8:14-21) 

The Letter of James is often said to counterbalance the Letters of St. Paul where the latter emphasizes faith as the sole necessity for salvation.  James says in contrast that unless one does good works, her or his faith is  in vain.  In today’s passage James corrects another frequently misunderstood dictum in Scripture. 

In the “Our Father” Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, “’Lead us not into temptation…’” Is he implying that God might tempt people to sin as a lustful young man might tempt his date into his apartment?  Pope Francis recently commented that this would be impossible since God is like a loving father.  James also dismisses the idea lest people use God as an excuse for sinning. 

Nevertheless, Jesus’ prayer has real meaning.  God allows humans be tried until their faith is about to break.  Parents who have suffered the loss of a child know what a trial of faith is like as do the lonely who feel drawn to ruinous pleasures.  When we find ourselves in such a crisis, we should cling to James’ advice.  He says that God created us in love and will provide the means to overcome all threats to our salvation. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

(Numbers 21:4b-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17)

Very shortly mass in most English-speaking countries will be celebrated with a new translation from the Latin. Catholics will notice the difference from the very beginning of the service as they answer the priest’s greeting with the words, “And with your spirit.” During the consecration of the bread and wine, they will hear a more jarring change. Rather than say that Jesus’ blood was shed “for all” as he has done for forty years ago, the priest will say that it was shed “for many.” The Holy See has assured that the Church believes that Jesus died for all and not just a chosen many. The issue is being faithful to the words that are found in the gospel text which uses “many” although in an open-ended sense which includes everyone.

Today’s gospel leaves no doubt that Jesus did, in fact, die for all. The two verses that conclude the reading are said to be the loveliest in all Scripture. They end with the words, “For God did not send his Son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

The matter at hand has practical implications. If Jesus did not die for all, then people might try to name those who are excluded. Some will say the Chinese are without salvation and begin to discount them as an honorable people. Others would make a similar assessment of Africans or Muslims. This kind of thinking, of course, is racist. Jesus died for all because God loves all as His creation. We too strive to love all because we love God first and foremost.