Thursday, October 13, 2022

 Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Ephesians 1:1-10; Luke 11:47-54)

 In a book of prayers, the twentieth century theologian Karl Rahner asks if God is the God of all the laws which the Church has on record.  There certainly are many rules, rubrics, and regulations on file although not as many as when Rahner wrote the book before Vatican II.  Rahner answers his question with characteristic paradox.  No, God is not the God of laws, but He is the God of the one law of love.  When a person obeys the laws of the Church out of love for God, he writes, then she is assured of finding God in her obeisance. 

Rahner recognizes the possibility that some Church rules may be too burdensome for people to bear.  He finds in the gospel itself testimony that those who legislate unwarranted precepts will be held accountable.  In the gospel yesterday and today Jesus charges the Pharisees and Scribes with doing just that.  They need to repent as much as thieves and adulterers.

Jesus champions our cause by revealing God’s will.  He shows us that people who appear to be holy may not in fact be living according to God’s will.  He wants us to be holy but takes pains to point out of what true holiness consists.  It has less to do with following countless regulations than with freeing people from slavery to power or pleasure.  In this way they too may love as God loves

Thursday, October15, 2020

 

Memorial of St. There of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

(Ephesians 1:1-10; Luke 11:47-54)

Prophets by profession encounter opposition.  They speak on behalf of God judgments that many do not want to hear.  In St. Teresa’s world a prophetic issue concerned religious lifestyle.  Women would enter convents with their servants in tow.  They often lived more comfortably than ascetically and thus betrayed their evangelical vocation.  Not liking it, Teresa founded monasteries of a strict rule.  Carmelite superiors opposed her, but she was working with the Holy Spirit.  Her reform won acceptance and has been the source of blessing for the order and the Church.

In today’s gospel Jesus prophetically chastises religious leaders.  He finds them betraying the very people they pretend to emulate.  He claims that the Pharisees do not heed the prophets to whose memories they pay tribute. Likewise, Jesus castigates the scribes for both not learning the meaning of the Law and not enabling others to know it.  Like the martyred prophets, Jesus can expect a violent death because of these charges.

Few want to suffer the fate of the prophets.  Yet sometimes we must speak up against flagrant injustices in church and society.  Perhaps there is racial slander among the people with whom we work.  That needs to be addressed.  Perhaps donations for charity are being squandered.  That too must be challenged.  We should not expect praise for speaking out in these matters.  But we might expect the promise of the beatitudes: “’Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.’”

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

(Romans 3:21-30; Luke 11:47-54)

St. Ignatius of Antioch plays a pivotal role in Church history.  He was born in apostolic times and may have been a disciple of John.  There is also a legend that he was consecrated a bishop by Saints Peter and Paul.  As bishop, he was captured during the reign of the emperor Trajan and sent to Rome for execution.  On the journey he dictated seven letters which feature a developed theology of Church.  He also expresses an ardent desire to give his life as a martyr.  Upon arrival in Rome he was not disappointed.  He was sent directly to the hungry lions in the amphitheater.

Today’s gospel anticipates martyrdom of men like Antioch.  Jesus is castigating the Pharisees and scholars of the law for hypocrisy.  He links the persecution of the prophets of the Old Testament with the martyrdom of apostles in the New.  As a bishop, Ignatius was a successor to the apostles and certainly shared their fate.

The testimony which martyrs have given should support our faith.  They do not deny Christ as Lord even to save their lives.  We can arrest our doubts which arise in this secular age.  It is true that Jesus arose from the dead.  Attaching ourselves to him by faith, as Paul urges in today’s reading, we share in his eternal life.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 1:1-10; Luke 11:47-54)

In Elizabethan England Catholic priests were often hunted down and executed.  They were prepared to meet the sacramental needs of the Catholic remnant in France.  Crossing the channel to begin their work, they no doubt took comfort in gospel passages like today’s.

Jesus finishes his criticism of the Pharisees.  He says that they are not the pious people that they pretend to be.  Indeed, they will persecute the disciples when they go forth to preach the gospel.  But the preaching is necessary so that God’s salvation in Christ may be revealed to all.  The Pharisees are not to be feared because God will compensate for any suffering the disciples undergo.  The disciples should rather consider that God has charged them to make known His will.  The consequences of forsaking this command may be considered as truly awful.

We too find it hard to defend our faith.  People will want us to join them in actions that are contrary to God’s will.   At such times it is difficult to say “no” and even harder to tell them that their proposals are evil.  We too should take comfort in God’s love that will never abandon us.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 1:1-10; Luke 11:47-54)

In a book of prayers, the great twentieth century theologian Karl Rahner asks if God is the God of all the laws which the Church has on record.  There certainly are many rules, rubrics, and regulations in Church files although not as many as when Rahner wrote the book before Vatican II.  Rahner answers his question with characteristic paradox.  No, God is not the God of laws, but He is the God of the one law of love.  When a person obeys the laws of the Church, which may seem trivial, out of love for God and not just to appear devout, then she is assured of finding God in her acquiescence.

Rahner recognizes the possibility that some Church rules may be too burdensome for people to bear.  He finds in the gospel itself testimony that those who legislate unwarranted precepts will be held accountable.  In the gospel yesterday and today Jesus charges the Pharisees and Scribes with doing just that.  They need to repent every bit as much as thieves and adulterers.

Jesus champions our cause by revealing God’s will.  He shows us that people who appear to be holy may not in fact be living according to God’s will.  He wants us to be holy but takes pains to point out that holiness has less to do with following countless regulations than with freeing people of slavery to power or pleasure so that they too may love as God loves.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 3:21-30; Luke 11:47-54)

In a book of prayers, the great twentieth century theologian Karl Rahner asks if God is the God of all the laws which the Church has on record. There certainly are many rules, rubrics, and regulations in Church files. Rahner answers his question with characteristic paradox. No, God is not the God of laws, but he is the God of the one law of love. When a person obeys the laws, which may seem trivial, out of love for God and not to appease the powerful, then he or she is assured of finding God in acquiescence.

Rahner recognizes the possibility that some Church rules may be too burdensome for people to bear. He finds in the gospel itself testimony that those who legislate such unwarranted will be held accountable. In the gospel yesterday and today Jesus charges the Pharisees and Scribes with doing just that. They need to repent every bit as much as thieves and adulterers.

Jesus again champions our cause by revealing God’s will. He shows us that people who appear to be holy may not be living according to God’s way. He wants us to be holy but takes pains to point out that holiness has less to do with binding regulations than with freeing people of slavery to power or pleasure so that they may love as God loves.

Homilette for Thursday, October 15, 2009

Memorial of St. Theresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

(Romans 3:21-30; Luke 11:47-54)

The University of St. Thomas in Rome ("the Angelicum") is situated in a formidable construction not far from the famous Coliseum. The building was erected in the sixteenth century to house a community of nuns. It is said that the nuns were wealthy matrons who arrived at the convent with their servants. Each nun evidently took an amply-sized, comfortable room on the first floors while the servants were given much less spacious quarters on the second floor. The life-style was likely equivalent to that in Carmels which St. Theresa of Avila set out to reform in the same sixteenth century.

In the gospel passages which we read at Mass this week Jesus assumes the role of a reformer of sorts. He criticizes the piety of the scribes and Pharisees, which was gaining popularity in his days, for being more concerned about superficiality than about significant moral matter. They insist on ritual washing but give little to the poor. They pay tithes on small things but care little about the judgment of God in substantial matters like due honor to parents. They build monuments to the slain prophets of old but are ready to murder the apostles whom Jesus will send out to preach God’s Kingdom.

It is sometimes said that the Church is in a constant state of reform. This means that the Church must always recall its roots and strive to remain faithful to them. In a world where comforts soon turn into needs, where charity becomes tax shelter, and church-going melts into socializing, it is necessary for all of us to redouble efforts to live the gospel.