Friday, August 25, 2023

Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ruth 1:1.3-6.14b-16.22; Matthew 22:34-30)

RCIA groups usually have a few participants engaged to a Catholic.  These men and women desire to enter the Church, but they might never make the effort if it were not for their fiancé.  For a similar motive Ruth in today’s first reading wants to remain a Jew.

Ruth has a reciprocal relationship of care with her mother-in-law Naomi.  Naomi wants Ruth to return to her native people where she is more likely to find a husband.  Ruth, however, does not want to abandon her Jewish mother-in-law without anyone to help her.  For this reason, she commits herself to both Naomi’s care and her God.  It is not a decision made without costs.  Jewish laws are filled with dietary restrictions which inhibit many candidates to Judaism from full conversion.

Ruth’s love for the Lord may not supersede her love for Naomi at the moment.  However, if she cultivates that love by recognizing God’s hand in everything that is good, she will come to love Him as Jesus dictates in today’s gospel.  She, and we as well by the same means, will love Him with full heart, soul, and mind. 

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a)

Church historians speak of three “missionary journeys” of the apostle Paul.  The first is completed in today’s first reading.  The second will take Paul into Europe (modern Greece).  The third will take years to complete and end in his being taken captive in Jerusalem.

Throughout his missionary activity St. Paul experiences hardship.  Three times he is scourged and three times, shipwrecked.  Today’s reading mentions the stoning after which he was left for dead.  But the passage breathes satisfaction as well with the apostles’ having accomplished their objective.  Seeing the people both accept and keep the faith confirms Paul and Barnabas’ trust in the Holy Spirit.  

By contrast, a chief Church concern today is people passing through RCIA and then abandoning the faith.  We must ask why this happens.  One cause may be the lack of witness.  Catholics are often nonchalant about putting into practice what the Church teaches.  When converts see this, they may question their own commitment. 

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

(Number 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21)

A Jewish hospice nurse once told a priest that she was interested in becoming Catholic.  The priest told her to get in touch with the RCIA director.  Then he told the director to expect her call.  The director, who had many years of experience, responded doubtfully.   The director said that he had spoken with many people who expressed interest in Catholicism.  But, he added, relatively few come for instructions.   A similar “interested but” group appears in today’s gospel.

The passage tells of the shepherds sharing what they have heard and seen of Jesus with others.  The people to whom they speak are said to be “amazed.” But that is all.  Evidently they do not investigate themselves much less give praise to God.  Like the seed that fell on rocky ground in Jesus’ parable, they fall away when effort is demanded of them.  If the word of God is to bear fruit, it must be reflected upon in the heart.  This is exactly what Mary does in the gospel. 

Today we celebrate the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.  The title really says more about Jesus than it does bout Mary.  It is meant to express our belief that Jesus, the human son of Mary, has a divine nature as well.  Because the divine nature is present along with the human, Mary is said to be the “Mother of God.”

Although we want to honor Mary as Jesus’ mother, we should honor her more for reflecting on all that happens to her son.  She shows herself to be his disciple.  Of course, she will have to follow Jesus carrying her own cross which apparently she does.  Let us do the same: meditate upon the gospel in our hearts and take up our cross after him.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Monday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8)

The RCIA director was reflecting on her experience of the Easter Vigil. It was amazing, she said; men and women were changed as if they had completely new lives. It may be presumed that it was not just the participation in the services of Holy Saturday that transformed the people. Rather they became new creations by the process of continual meeting, reflection and prayer. This kind of change seems to be what Jesus is getting at in his conversation with Nicodemus in today’s gospel.

The passage begins with Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night. Perhaps the intention here is only to explain how a Jewish leader could consult Jesus for theological truth. However just as likely, “night” is used here to give a nefarious tone to the scene. Like most people, Nicodemus comes to Jesus as a sinner. So conditioned, he has difficulty grasping what Jesus is saying. In fact, to Nicodemus Jesus’ message sounds ludicrous. “How can a man once grown old,” he asks, “be born again?” Sinners do not appreciate, and much less anticipate, the work of the Spirit that revitalizes people by giving both new reasons and new directions for living.

Graciously Nicodemus does not remain in darkness forever. Once Jesus hands over his spirit in death, Nicodemus will take it up to give Jesus in daylight the royal burial that he is due. The same Spirit is working in us as we show respect to everyone, even those who wrong us.