Monday, November 7, 2022

Monday of the Thirty-send Week in Ordinary Time

(Titus 1:1-9; Luke 17:1-6)

“I’ve told you a million times…” our mothers used to begin a scolding.  Of course, they didn’t mean literally a million times, just repeatedly.  We have to understand Jesus’ command in today’s gospel in this vein.  He doesn’t literally mean that a person should be forgiven literally seven times in the same day for offending another. But he wants his disciples to be ready to forgive when the offender makes a sincere apology.

A corollary issue of this gospel is whether the offender must ask forgiveness.  In practice the Church has insisted upon confession of serious sins before absolution is granted.  Yet many today claim the necessity to forgive even if the offender doesn’t care about having done wrong.  It seems that out of love of enemy, the offended should pray that the offender seeks pardon.  However, forgiveness should be rendered when it is sought.  For sure, the offended party should avoid revenge or enmity toward the offender.

Even to pray for an offender requires great faith.  For this reason, the disciples ask for its increase.  But forgiving our enemies is no marginal issue.  As it is at the center of the Our Father, it is central to our allegiance to Christ because it concerns love of enemies.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Memorial of Saint Josephat, bishop and martyr

(Titus 1:1-9; Luke 17:1-6)

The fruit of the mulberry tree is hard to enjoy.  It has a taste both sweet and tart, but more objectionably a mulberry lacks substance.  Eat one or a hundred and you still feel hungry.  What is worse, it stains the hand that picks it and blotches the sidewalk if found on a city street.  The mulberry tree gives little shade but sits like a mole on one’s face defying the beauty around it.  It is no wonder that Jesus suggests that it be rooted out and sent to the sea.

We might compare eating mulberries to forgiving others of their quirks and bad habits.  Both set our teeth on edge.  It seems that people should have more control of their actions, yet they can repeatedly make the same offensive remark or commit the same foolish mistake.  We want to scream at the perpetrators, but Jesus tells us to be ready to forgive them.

The disciples ask Jesus for an increase of faith to follow his directive.  They reason the more they trust God, the more conviction they will have to love others.  Jesus assures them, however, that they have enough faith. They have only to get over the self’s feeling abused by others’ mindless actions.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

(Wisdom 1:1-7; Luke 17:1-6)

St. Frances Xavier “Mother” Cabrini died shortly before Christmas exactly one hundred years ago.  She left behind a legacy of charitable work that stretches throughout the United States.  With great zeal she established hospitals, orphanages, and schools from New York to Settle.  More basic still, faith working through love moved her to accomplish so much.  Like Mother Teresa of Kolkata in the latter part of the twentieth century, Mother Cabrini was known as a living saint in the first part.  She may be considered an example of today’s gospel lesson.

Jesus’ disciples stand daunted by his command that they forgive a brother seven times a day.  They ask him for an increase of faith to meet the challenge.  Jesus responds saying that they have more than the requisite amount.  He says that the tiniest bit of faith could uproot trees and move them into the sea.  They only have to employ it.  Mother Cabrini had to overcome great obstacles in her life from a weak physical constitution to difficulties with prelates.  But unwavering faith enabled her to coordinate resources on both sides of the Atlantic to improve the lot of millions of poor people.

We are wise not to underestimate our own possibilities.  When we put our minds to a task and ask God’s help, we too can achieve significant results.  Jesus will be with us to enlighten our way and fortify our  will.  With him as the object of our faith we can assist many.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Memorial of Saint Josephat, bishop and martyr

(Titus 1:1-9; Luke 17:1-6)

St. Josephat would have been pleased with the Second Vatican Council. He was a bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Church which had to defend itself from the hegemony of Latin Catholics as well as of Orthodox. At Vatican II the Universal Catholic Church recognized eastern churches as more than “rites” within the Catholic Church celebrating the sacraments in unique ways. They became to be seen as true churches with independent leaderships working in coordination with the pope.

Working relations between the Orthodox and Catholics have improved only slowly. Even today there is suspicion in Moscow of the Catholic Church. Blessed John Paul II was so loved throughout the world that no doubt orthodox leaders worried that he would attract their flock to the Catholic fold given the opportunity to visit Russia.

So many wrongs have been perpetrated by Catholics and Orthodox over the centuries that Jesus’ command in today’s gospel to forgive seven times could serve only as a starter. Strong faith that solutions can be found without compromising the integrity of either branch of Christianity is on order. Such an accomplishment would be tantamount to having a mulberry tree march on demand into the sea.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Wisdom 1:1-7; Luke 17:1-6)

The revelation that Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta experienced darkness, dryness, and depression on her way to sanctity shocked the world. Yet despite her trials every morning before the sun came up, she prayed an hour before the Blessed Sacrament. Her prayer probably echoed that of the Apostles in today’s gospel, “Increase our faith.”

The Apostles ask for more faith after Jesus challenges them to a new kind of holiness. Not only are they never to give scandal causing others to sin, but they are to be always ready to forgive the sins of others. They feel incapable of following these commands.

In truth, unaided they are! None of us can live the righteousness of Jesus solely by means of natural virtue. It is the grace of the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts that provides the decisive margin. The Spirit moves us to both inordinate zeal for personal perfection and compassionate understanding of others’ foibles.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Titus 1:1-9; Luke 17:1-6)

The fruit of the mulberry tree is hard to enjoy. It has a taste both sweet and tart, but more characteristically mulberries it lack substance. What is worse, it stains the hand that picks it and blotches the sidewalk if found on a city street. The mulberry tree gives little shade but sits like a mole on one’s face defying the beauty around it. It is no wonder that Jesus would suggest that it be rooted out and sent to the sea.

We might compare the mulberry tree to depression that casts a pall over most people at times and affects some gravely. Little good can be said of it also. It makes one cynical and anxious as it colors his world grey. It provokes sadness, cynicism and apathy which give rise to thoughts of self-destruction.

A worthwhile question is to what extent a depressed person is responsible for his behavior. Certainly depression will mitigate culpability, but it may be wise not to excuse oneself completely of wrong-doing when depressed. Rather, as Jesus advocates in this gospel reading, we should be as ready to repent of the malice we cause as we are to forgive those who offend us.

Homilette for Monday, November 10, 2008

Memorial of St. Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

(Titus 1:1-9; Psalm 24; Luke 17:1-6)

Jesus is not only addressing his apostles in the gospel passage today. His words are meant for all people charged with the care of others. Parents, teachers, supervisors, government servants, military officers should take notice.

Jesus warns those in leadership that they must never give scandal since the penalty for this offense might drown even a Navy frogman. The apostles, who will become heads of local churches, anticipate the grave responsibility of their selection and ask Jesus for an increase of faith. They sound like teachers seeking a raise because they are entrusted with the care of children. Teachers may deserve an increase that exceeds the rise in the cost of living, but Jesus assures the Twelve that they have enough faith. Even if it appears small, he tells them, their faith can produce an orchard of fruit!

We share some of the apostles’ anxiety. We feel that our faith is insufficient to meet our responsibilities when God does not immediately answer our prayers. The saga of St. Leo the Great whose memorial we celebrate today should give us hope. St. Leo was pope when Attila the Hun, who had plundered northern Italy, headed for Rome. When the two met face-to-face, Pope Leo was able to convince the barbarian not to attack Rome but to settle for tribute. St. Leo the Great demonstrates how to meet challenges with equanimity, praying to God for prudence to make the right decision and for His continuing assistance that all may turn out well.

Homilette for Monday, November 12, 2007

Monday, XXXII Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr

(Luke 17:1-6)

Jesus is not only addressing his apostles in the gospel passage today. His words touch all people with responsibilities for others. Parents, teachers, supervisors, government servants, military officers should take notice.

Those in leadership must never give scandal since the penalty they will pay would drown a Navy frogman. The apostles, who will become heads of local churches, already feel the weight of their selection and ask Jesus for more faith. They sound like teachers seeking a raise because we entrust them with our children. Teachers may deserve an annual increase, but Jesus assures the Twelve that they have enough faith. Even if it appears small, their faith can produce an orchard of fruit!

We share the apostles’ burden. We feel that our faith is insufficient to carry out our responsibilities when God does not immediately meet our needs. The recent revelations about Mother Teresa might give us courage. The world has come to know that Mother Teresa experienced the darkness, dryness, and depression of grave doubt. Yet every morning before the sun came up she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. During the day she went into the streets of Calcutta to tend to the humblest of people. Fortunately, few of us know the bleakness that plagued Mother Teresa. Nevertheless, we would do well to imitate her habit of prayer and care for the needy.