Friday, September 6, 2019

Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 5:33-39)

The novel All the Light We Cannot See won a Pulitzer Prize a few years ago.  It tells the story of perhaps the world’s greatest diamonds.  The jewel gets concealed in an intricate box for safekeeping during World War II.  The first reading today follows a similar story line.

The passage reveals how Jesus is God’s image on earth.  He created the universe, holds it together, and is bringing about its destiny.  He accomplishes the last objective by founding the Church.  This institution, which becomes like his avatar, gather people together from every race, nation, and language.  Yet Jesus Christ is almost hidden in history.  He is in a back-water part of a historically almost irrelevant nation.  He commands no armies and wins no military victories to manifest his power.

Christ is our secret and, at the same time, our glory.  Imitating his legacy in the gospels, we reflect his merciful power.  Growing ever closer to him by means of the sacraments, we prepare ourselves for eternal life.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:1b-8; John 6:35-40)

In a story taking place during World War II a Paris museum entrusts its locksmith with the richest diamond in the world.  The locksmith demonstrates great skill in his work.  He also takes impeccable care of his blind daughter.  More than anyone else he can keep the diamond away from the Nazi invaders.  In today’s gospel Jesus tells how the Father has entrusted him to take similar care of God’s people.

The Gospel of John tells of God’s love for the people of the world.  He sent his Son to bring the people out of darkness.  He intends to give them the fullness of life.  However, not everyone wants to follow the Son to eternal life.  But those who do will not be lured away by evil nor will they perish as they approach their goal.  Jesus gives himself as bread for the journey.  He will also raise to life any who die before the end is reached.

The first reading shows how Jesus’ followers embraced his promise.  Persecuted in Jerusalem, they go forth to preach salvation in Jesus to others.  We can have confidence then in both what Jesus says and in what his followers do.  Remaining a Christian may become more challenging as people around us give up practicing the faith.  But with such witnesses as these strengthen us rather than cause us to worry.