Friday, September 19, 2014

Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 8:1-3)

A famous painting by the French master Georges de La Tour hangs in the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.  It shows a loosely-clad woman sitting in front of a looking glass in meditative stupor.  She is fingering a skull, which sits in front of, and almost blocks from view, a burning candle.  “What’s it all about?” she seems to ask herself as she contemplates life and death, herself and Christ, the light.

The painting is called “The Repentant Magdalene,” but this may be a misnomer.  That title reflects a popular but unfounded belief that Mary Magdalene was a reformed prostitute.  Preachers through the ages have concluded that Mary Magdalene, mentioned for the first time in Luke’s gospel today, is “the sinful woman” who bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears of yesterday’s gospel passage.  But today’s gospel only identifies her as the woman “from whom seven demons had gone out.”  Demon possession in the New Testament is associated with sickness and hysteria, not moral depravity.  Mary Magdalene’s relation to the woman of the previous chapter is likely one of inclusion; that is, the evangelist Luke includes the story of the women accompanying Jesus following that of “the sinful woman” to indicate how Jesus attracted different kinds of women as well as men to himself.

But certainly the questions that La Tour’s Magdalene seems to ask are likewise inclusive of all humanity as well.  What’s the point of it all?  Is our destiny just dry bones that will whither completely in time?  Or is Jesus the fire who enlightens our minds today and will empower our resurrection from the dead tomorrow?  We Christians know the answers to these questions.  Our tasks are to live the implications of these answers and to share them with the world.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 8:1-3)

A famous painting by the French master Georges de La Tour hangs in the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. It shows a loosely-clad woman sitting in front of a looking glass in meditative stupor. She is fingering a skull, which sits in front of, and almost blocks from view, a burning candle. “What’s it all about?” she seems to ask herself as she contemplates life and death, herself and Christ, the light.

The painting is called “The Repentant Magdalene,” but this may be a misnomer. That title reflects a popular but unfounded belief that Mary Magdalene was a reformed prostitute. Preachers through the ages have concluded that Mary Magdalene, mentioned for the first time in Luke’s gospel today, is “the sinful woman” who bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears of yesterday’s gospel passage. But today’s gospel only identifies her as the woman “from whom seven demons had gone out.” Demon possession in the New Testament is associated with sickness and hysteria, not moral depravity. Mary Magdalene’s relation to the woman of the previous chapter is likely one of inclusion, that is the evangelist Luke includes the story of the women accompanying Jesus following that of “the sinful woman” to indicate how Jesus attracted different kinds of women as well as men to himself.

But certainly the questions that La Tour’s Magdalene seems to ask are likewise inclusive of all humanity as well. What’s the point of it all? Is our destiny just dry bones that will whither completely in time? Or is Jesus the fire who enlightens our minds today and will empower our resurrection from the dead tomorrow? We Christians know the answers to these questions. Our task is to live their implications in our everyday lives.

Homilette for Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(II Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16; Romans 4:13.16-18.22; Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a)

An exquisite picture of St. Joseph hangs in the Louvre Museum of Paris. Painted by the French master, Georges de La Tour, the painting shows an old but powerful Joseph next to Jesus as a boy of six or seven years. Jesus is holding a candle but at the same time seems to radiate his own light. Joseph is bowed over his carpentry, but he also may be indicating his submission to Jesus, his son and Lord. The painting portrays all the grace intimated in today’s gospel.

The gospel of Matthew describes Joseph as “righteous.” This means that he observes the Jewish law. But Joseph’s righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees as Jesus will later demand of his disciples. When he learns that Mary is pregnant, he does not make a public case against her so that he might retain her dowry but plans to “divorce her quietly.”

Interfering with his plan, the angel tells Joseph to give Mary and her son a home. In doing so, he bestows on Jesus both a name and a royal lineage – very significant theological concerns. For most of us, however, Joseph stands out more for his example of virtue. He humbly surrenders to God’s will. He works diligently at his trade. He provides for his family. And, most amazing in our age that so glorifies sex, he does not seek physical intimacy with his wife.