Wednesday, May 21, 2025

 

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8)

Dorothy Day was the leading Catholic activists of her time.  She probably did not think of herself in that way.  Activists are generally considered political personalities more interested in attracting people to their cause than serving the Lord.  Dorothy Day was principally interested in the latter.  She stayed close to Christ.  As he promises in today’s gospel, she bore much fruit.

In calling himself the vine, Jesus indicates that he brings the sap of grace to his adherents.  With this resource they can give glory to God while helping others.  Separating themselves from him, people tend to seek their own glory.  Their service often becomes compromised by giving bad example in their personal lives. 

Let us remain close to Christ be praying always and receiving the sacraments often.  Speaking to the Lord when we are not talking to others, we will find our motives purified and our resolve to do what is right strengthened.  His grace will enhance us like a mother’s milk enables her baby to grow strong and healthy.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 6:19-23; Luke 12:49-53)

Dorothy Day lived a radical life.  In her twenties she supported socialism as a remedy to poverty while having various love affairs.  After having a child with a live-in lover, she felt a need for God.  She became a strict, observant Catholic with a heartful love of the poor.  She saw Christ in them and treated them accordingly.  Day’s live illustrates the teaching of St. Paul in today’s first reading.

Paul addresses himself to the former pagans of the church community in Rome.  He reminds them of the licentious living they left behind to follow Christ.  He assures them that the reversal in their lifestyle will be more than release from shame.  “The wages of sin is death,” he famously writes, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

In many places people have returned to heathenism.  Children at tender ages are following Internet porn.  It is plague more widespread and in ways crueler than poverty.  As Dorothy Day did, we should speak up for disciplined lives given to the Lord, not carnal desire.  We must convey to all the joy of knowing Christ and the hope of eternal life as our destiny.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 8:1b-7.11-13; Luke 6: 27-38)

Both St. Paul in the epistle and Jesus in the gospel today speak of love.  Neither makes the claim that it is easy, much less delightful.  Paul would have his readers sacrifice what they have a right to for the sake of a skittish soul.  He suggests that they fast from meat if one in their numbers is an animal lover.  Jesus typically goes a mile farther.  His followers are to allow others to take from them without making compensation!

Something should be said about the precise meaning of these passages.  The Church has people who are scandalized over small things like buying milk on Sunday.  Following Jesus literally, one might conclude that she should leave her house unlocked.  But there can be no doubt that love tries the soul.  As Dorothy Day both pointed out and lived: “…(L)ove in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams.”  

It would be a worthy exercise for us to list the people whom we know.  Then next to each name we should write what sacrifices we made for that person.  If the sacrifices are costly, we can say that we are fulfilling today’s gospel mandate.