Monday, XVI Week of Ordinary Time
(Matthew 12)
Remember the best-seller, When Bad Things Happen to Good People? Recently two authors wrote a kind of sequel called, Why Good Things Happen to Good People. The new book, in the words of one of its authors, bioethicist Stephen Post, shows, “When we give of ourselves, especially if we start young, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly improved.”
That God helps those who love Him is a message that is slow to sink in. We tend to moan about the heat rather than shows thanks for the air-conditioning. But if good people are blessed, it is true also that God is not indifferent to, much less spiteful of, those who do not show Him much care. As Jesus says, “(God) makes his sun to rise on the bad and the good” (Matthew 5:45). Still, all of us -- bad and good -- continually seek additional proof, like the scribes and Pharisees in today’s gospel, of God’s love for us.
Despite signs a-plenty showing God’s love brought to us in Jesus Christ, there are additional reasons to accept him. Jesus himself indicates what one of these is when he mentions the Queen of the South. She came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, but as Jesus indicates, his wisdom is greater than Solomon’s. Many have testified to the integrity and clarity of Christian thought which always finds its basis in and its inspiration from the teachings of Jesus. In recent memory Mortimer Adler, a Jew of the highest intellectual caliber, converted to Catholicism after almost a lifetime of admiring Christian thought. Like Mr. Adler we too are wise to stop sitting on the fence and submit mind and heart to Jesus’ authority.
Showing posts with label Matthew 12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew 12. Show all posts
Homilette for Friday, July 20, 2007
Friday, XV Week of Ordinary Time
(Matthew 12)
Nine years ago Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter entitled, “The Lord’s Day.” In it the pope tried to awaken Catholics to the glory of reserving one day a week for prayer, family, and renewal. He also challenged the secularizing idea of “weekend” which stretches a day for giving thanks in beloved company into two days or more of fulfilling personal ambitions. The letter is vintage John Paul: intensely human, reflective, and holy.
In the Gospel reading today Jesus provides us with his own reflection on the Sabbath. Of course, for him it is the very end of the week, not its beginning. As in Orthodox Jewish communities today, the Sabbath in Jesus’ time is rigorously regulated: no cooking, no walking beyond what amounts to a kilometer, no jumping or handclapping. Historians tell us that in Israel before the Babylonian Exile the Sabbath observance was more relaxed and enjoyable. This is Jesus’ take as he responds to the complaints of the Pharisees that his disciples are not Sabbath observant.
Do we feel a twinge of guilt when we stop at Wal-Mart or go to the office for a few hours on Sunday evening? It would not necessarily be unhealthy if we did. It is not that such actions are sinful in themselves. Jesus argues for the necessity of similar deeds by his disciples. But still we should not let Sunday go by without giving primary consideration to Jesus. He is, after all, the “Lord of the Sabbath.”
(Matthew 12)
Nine years ago Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter entitled, “The Lord’s Day.” In it the pope tried to awaken Catholics to the glory of reserving one day a week for prayer, family, and renewal. He also challenged the secularizing idea of “weekend” which stretches a day for giving thanks in beloved company into two days or more of fulfilling personal ambitions. The letter is vintage John Paul: intensely human, reflective, and holy.
In the Gospel reading today Jesus provides us with his own reflection on the Sabbath. Of course, for him it is the very end of the week, not its beginning. As in Orthodox Jewish communities today, the Sabbath in Jesus’ time is rigorously regulated: no cooking, no walking beyond what amounts to a kilometer, no jumping or handclapping. Historians tell us that in Israel before the Babylonian Exile the Sabbath observance was more relaxed and enjoyable. This is Jesus’ take as he responds to the complaints of the Pharisees that his disciples are not Sabbath observant.
Do we feel a twinge of guilt when we stop at Wal-Mart or go to the office for a few hours on Sunday evening? It would not necessarily be unhealthy if we did. It is not that such actions are sinful in themselves. Jesus argues for the necessity of similar deeds by his disciples. But still we should not let Sunday go by without giving primary consideration to Jesus. He is, after all, the “Lord of the Sabbath.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)