Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28)

Orthodox Jews celebrate every Sabbath as if it were Christmas Day for Christians.  No one does any work.  People go to the synagogue to hear the word of God with comments by a well-educated rabbi. Families come together to talk, eat, perhaps sing, and play together. It is a day to imagine what heaven will be like.

Jesus, a good Jew, also celebrated the Sabbath.  By no means did he want to forbid its rituals, joys, and demands.  But he does see the need at times to dispense with some of the rules.  In today’s gospel he tells the Pharisees that because his disciples need to eat, he gives them permission to pick grain on the Sabbath.

Christians have transferred the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week.  But we are urged not to let go of the religious, celebrative, or communal nature of the day.  For us Sunday is the day of the new creation.  We have been remade, free from sin and destined for eternal life.  Contemplating what this means is an activity worthy of the Sabbath.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

 Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28)

Jesus himself testifies to David’s importance.  In today’s gospel he justifies his disciples’ eating on the sabbath by reference to him.  As David ate bread dedicated to the Lord, so Jesus’ disciples should be able to pick grain for nourishment on the sabbath.

It is not necessary that David have a robust appearance (although he has).  To be king, David must have a heart inclined to do the Lord’s will. God, who knows the hearts of people, sees this.  He relates this information to Samuel who anoints David as king.  Although David loves God, he will commit egregious sins.  But he repents of his crimes.  He knows that God’s justice is always tempered by His mercy.

Rather than worry about our appearance, we should cultivate a loving heart for God.  We do this most of all by trusting in God’s love for us.  We also will learn to love God by observing the Third Commandment.  Justifying work on the sabbath by saying that it was “for man” betrays Jesus’ intention.   Letting go of our ambitions on Sunday to praise God and to look forward to full union with Him helps us in different ways.  We stop thinking of ourselves and think of others more.  We become aware of the beauty of prayer, of people, and of nature.  Most of all, we develop of a spirit of gratitude for all we have.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot

(Hebrews 6:10-20; Mark 2:23-28)

When Fr. Dan gave retreats for priests, he insisted that they take seriously the “Sabbath.”  He explained that God designated one day of the week for complete rest.  Jewish Law designates the seventh day – Saturday – as the Sabbath.  In this way it conforms the practice of the people to the Book of Genesis where God rests after six days of creation.  Christians have transferred the Sabbath to the eighth day -- Sunday – on which Christ’s resurrection recreated the universe.  Fr. Dan recognized that priests work on Sunday in performing their ministry.  So he told them to find and stick to another day for rest.  He was applying the same kind of flexibility that Jesus shows in today’s gospel passage.

The Pharisees perform an invaluable service when they promote fulfillment of the Sabbath Law.  Too often people abuse their own good and do not give God His due by foregoing Sabbath ritual.  But the Pharisees were too strict in their interpretation.  They were unable to see exceptions even in the case of extreme need.  Jesus is more flexible.  He admits that in the case of hunger one might pick grain to eat: “’The Sabbath,” he says, “’was made for man.’”  He makes another crucial point when he says, “’…the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.’”  This indicates his divinity.  Since God instituted the Sabbath law, only He might alter it.

The Sabbath principle, as observing one day of worship and rest each week is sometimes called, causes difficulty today.  We want to take weekends off with no concern about attending mass.  We also have work obligations every day, including Sundays. We should follow Jesus’ pointers in today’s gospel.  Some slack may be given for work because the Sabbath is made for human good.  But we should make a reasonable attempt to attend mass as a way to give due praise to “’the lord of the Sabbath.’” 

Tuesday, January 19, 2015

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28)

To appreciate today’s gospel requires a proper understanding of the Jewish notion of Sabbath.  It was certainly more than a long weekend as it has become in contemporary times.  Rather it was a gift from God to escape the drudgery of work.  Indeed, observing the Sabbath by desisting from all work imitated God’s own action after completing the work of creation.  In Jesus’ time Sabbath observance was indicative of one’s faithfulness to the Covenant which God contracted with the people of Israel.

The Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples for two reasons.  They see them working on the Sabbath by picking grain to eat.  Their complaint includes as well that the disciples are walking farther than was allowed as a restriction of one’s physical effort.

Jesus responds to the Pharisees by referring to the story of David sharing consecrated bread with his hungry companions.  His disciples may have been similarly hungry, but that is not the main issue here.  What is more important is that Jesus assumes the authority of David, God’s anointed.  As the Messiah, Jesus is claiming the right to dispense Sabbath obligations.

We want to follow Jesus by first worshipping him on Sunday, the new Sabbath.  We also follow Jesus by using Sunday as a time to recuperate our energy spent in work during the week.  Finally, we follow Jesus by being slow to criticize others who don’t seem to comply with ever law and social custom.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 1:20-2:4a; Mark 7:1-13)

Sometimes on Saturday mornings around large cities small groups of people walk on the sidewalks of streets where walkers usually are alone and at that very few. “What’s going on?” one wonders. Then it is noticed that the men among the walkers wear hats and have beards. The conclusion is quickly reached: these are Orthodox Jews duly observing the Sabbath which for them means no strenuous activity, not even to the extent of driving a car. The custom is taken from today’s reading from Genesis.

Orthodox Jews take seriously the phrase that God made the seventh day holy by blessing it and resting from work. They see it as a time apart signifying their freedom. That is, aware that humans may be enslaved as much by inner impulses as by exterior forces, they demonstrate their mastery over the obsession “to get things done” by desisting from all kinds of work. Furthermore, they recognize the Sabbath as foreshadowing the eternal life which God is preparing for His faithful when no one will have to work anymore.

Christians, of course, have transferred the Sabbath to Sunday, the eighth day signifying their new creation in Jesus’ resurrection. But we retain much of the meaning of the Jewish tradition. We don’t have qualms about driving at least short distances on Sunday, but we too know that the day is best spent in the Lord’s company at church and then in joyful repast with family and friends.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 38:1-6.21-22.7-8; Matthew 12:1-8)

In 1998 Pope John Paul II published an apostolic letter entitled, “The Lord’s Day.” In it he tried to awaken Catholics to the glory of reserving one day a week for prayer, family, and renewal. With this message he challenged the secularizing tendency of stretching Sunday into a weekend given to fulfilling individualistic ambitions. The letter is vintage JP II: fully human, deeply reflective, and imminently devout.

In the Gospel reading today Jesus provides his own reflection on the Sabbath. Of course, for him it is the last day of the week, not its first. As in Orthodox Jewish communities today, the Sabbath in Jesus’ time is rigorously prescribed: no cooking, no walking beyond what amounts to a kilometer, no jumping or handclapping. Jesus does not doubt the validity of these disciplines, but he does allow for exceptions. What is truly remarkable here, however, is his reserving for himself the authority to dispense with Sabbath restrictions by declaring that he is “’Lord of the Sabbath.’” As the Sabbath rest and its promise of eternal life are among God’s greatest gifts to humankind, by declaring himself its Lord Jesus once again implies that he is God!

Do we feel a twinge of remorse when we head to the mall or go to the office on Sunday? It would not be unhealthy if we did. It is not that such actions are sinful in themselves. Jesus argues for the necessity of similar deeds in critical situations. But still we should not let exceptions prevent us from giving him definite consideration every Sunday. After all, he is “Lord of the Sabbath.”

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 38:1-6.21-22.7-8; Matthew 12:1-8)

In 1998 Pope John Paul II published an apostolic letter entitled, “The Lord’s Day.” In it he 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 individualistic ambitions. The letter is vintage JP II: fully human, deeply reflective, and imminently devout.

In the Gospel reading today Jesus provides 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 prescribed: no cooking, no walking beyond what amounts to a kilometer, no jumping or handclapping. Jesus does not doubt the validity of these disciplines, but he does allow for exceptions. What is truly remarkable here, however, is his reserving to himself authority to dispense with Sabbath restrictions by declaring that he is “’Lord of the Sabbath.’” As the Sabbath rest and its promise of eternal life are among God’s greatest gifts to humankind, Jesus here implies that he is God!

Do we feel a twinge of remorse when we head to the mall or go to the office on Sunday? It would not be unhealthy if we did. It is not that such actions are sinful in themselves. Jesus argues for the necessity of similar deeds in critical situations. But still we should not let exceptions prevent us from giving him definite consideration every Sunday. After all, he is “Lord of the Sabbath.”

Wednesday, December 8, 2009

Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

(Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30)

In the 1960s an Episcopalian priest wrote a popular prayer book entitled Are You Running with Me, Jesus? Evidently the author felt more pressured by the demands Jesus seems to make than relieved by the rest Jesus offers in the gospel today. Therefore, he had to ask Jesus’ assistance in fulfilling his ministry.

Of course, we can count on Jesus to help us and should go to him in need. However, it is possible that we make too much of our own efforts and fail to find the comfort that Jesus offers us in his love. Often we can allow others to do the work that we arrogantly see only ourselves capable of performing. Also, it is possible to give more effective witness to Christ by retreating in prayer for a regular period everyday than by constant motion in meeting needs. Some of the most accomplished religious leaders of our times – including Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Pope John Paul II – have seen their success in ministry flowing out of daily meditative prayer.

In his book on Jesus, Pope Benedict underscores this truth by claiming that in inviting others to find rest in himself, Jesus is proclaiming himself to be the Sabbath. But his Sabbath goes far beyond the relief we may experience on Sunday. He provides not just temporary relief from work but permanent release from anxiety. Jesus also puts a yoke on us: we are to love others with the same care and joy that he has for us. In this way, we place ourselves in an environment of goodness which, as Jesus claims, is easy and light to bear.

Homilette for Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 6:10-20; Mark 2:23-28)

Many years ago, when the school year went considerably longer than the institutional requirement, an old pastor, Monsignor Joseph, declared the feast of his patron saint a holiday in his parochial school. No doubt he acted out of love for his spiritual children. Although he was denying them a small opportunity to learn, he was showing how Christ gives us great cause to celebrate. Not anyone could proclaim such a holiday, but the pastor then had the authority.

In the same way Jesus demonstrates his authority over the law governing the Sabbath in today’s gospel. He permits the disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath not because they are hungry but simply as a benefit of accompanying him. As the anointed son of God, Jesus possesses the authority to dispense the Law as he sees fit.

However, individuals have no such authority. We must take care not to alter God’s law according to our preferences. But the more important lesson here is that we look to Jesus as his disciples surely do after he grants them the indulgence of picking grain. We too should find in him the joy of our lives.

Homilette for Friday, July 18, 2008

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Matthew 12:1-8)

Ten years ago Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter entitled, “The Lord’s Day.” In it he 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 individual ambitions. The letter is vintage John Paul: human, reflective, and devout.

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 pre-exilic Israel (i.e., before 586 B.C.) the Sabbath observance was more relaxed and enjoyable. This is Jesus’ own conception as he responds to the Pharisees who claim that his disciples are not Sabbath observant.

Do we feel a twinge of guilt when we head to the mall or go to the office on Sunday? 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.”

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.”