Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(Ezra6:7-8.12b.14-20; Luke 8:19-21)
Catholic author George Weigel contrasts the culture that built Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with the one that erected the Grande Arche in the same city. The first structure -- intricate and subtle – is a testimony of the faith of the late Middle Ages when people collaborated for the common good under divine tutelage. In contrast, the Arche’s imposing simpleness testifies to modernity’s attempt to establish justice without God based on the freedom of each person to do as he or she wills. The superiority of the former structure enlightens the first reading today.
Darius, like Cyrus in yesterday’s reading, is said to recognize Israel’s God. Both emperors provide secular testimony to the Lord’s greatness. According to the Book of Ezra, Darius even ordains that the taxes of a portion of his empire fund the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The project will not only provide Jews a place of worship but will also give their culture a center. It will foster the wisdom with which God endows His people.
Although religion is not to be imposed on anyone, we must not relegate it to the home. We need beautiful churches to both glorify God and promote human achievement.
Showing posts with label George Weigel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Weigel. Show all posts
Homilette for Thursday, May 17, 2007
Thursday, VI Week
(Acts 18)
It is said that Paul’s being a tentmaker both helps him and restricts him. Of course, it gives him an income so that he isn’t dependent on anyone for his bread. More importantly, working in a tentmaker’s shop – like he does with Aquila in the reading – provides him a place to meet people. We can readily imagine that Paul would move any conversation with customers to his favorite topic, the Lord Jesus. The downside of being a tentmaker is that it identifies Paul as a laborer whom the upper class tends to look down on. He needs a rich patron to provide an ample house for the meeting of all interested in worshipping Christ. Fortunately, Paul always seems to make the right connection.
We who have fine churches in which to pray may snub our noses at the Evangelical Christians who pray in store fronts or in individual homes today. It is instructive to remember that Christianity has such simple people and humble dwellings at its origins. Furthermore, we should accept evangelical Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is probably true that they often criticize Catholicism for our devotions and customs. But there is certainly plenty of room for dialogue with these people – above all, on our common love for Jesus.
The Catholic commentator George Weigel wrote in his syndicated column last week that Protestant Evangelicals in Latin America are not the real enemies of the Church. More threatening are the secularists who even in Latin America are claiming the right to abort a baby and the right for homosexuals to marry. These ideas stand in radical opposition to the Church’s Gospel of life.
(Acts 18)
It is said that Paul’s being a tentmaker both helps him and restricts him. Of course, it gives him an income so that he isn’t dependent on anyone for his bread. More importantly, working in a tentmaker’s shop – like he does with Aquila in the reading – provides him a place to meet people. We can readily imagine that Paul would move any conversation with customers to his favorite topic, the Lord Jesus. The downside of being a tentmaker is that it identifies Paul as a laborer whom the upper class tends to look down on. He needs a rich patron to provide an ample house for the meeting of all interested in worshipping Christ. Fortunately, Paul always seems to make the right connection.
We who have fine churches in which to pray may snub our noses at the Evangelical Christians who pray in store fronts or in individual homes today. It is instructive to remember that Christianity has such simple people and humble dwellings at its origins. Furthermore, we should accept evangelical Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is probably true that they often criticize Catholicism for our devotions and customs. But there is certainly plenty of room for dialogue with these people – above all, on our common love for Jesus.
The Catholic commentator George Weigel wrote in his syndicated column last week that Protestant Evangelicals in Latin America are not the real enemies of the Church. More threatening are the secularists who even in Latin America are claiming the right to abort a baby and the right for homosexuals to marry. These ideas stand in radical opposition to the Church’s Gospel of life.
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