Tuesday, January 5, 2021

 Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

The story of Jesus’ feeding of the is told in all four gospels.  It is also proclaimed at mass throughout the year.  The narrative is central to the Catholic understanding of the identity and mission of Jesus.  It shows Jesus as the bread of life who has come to bestow eternal life to believers in him.

In today’s first reading the author says that God shows His love for humans by sending us His Son.  It was not just a “once and for all” event.  Rather God sends His Son to us all the time in the Eucharist.  The Son Jesus Christ does not only become part of us.  Paradoxically, by eating His body and drinking his blood, we become more part of him.  We become more loving and truthful as we secure a place for ourselves in his body, the Church.

Today, especially the Church in the United States remembers St. John Neumann.  He immigrated to the United States from Bohemia.  Once here, he presided over the Eucharist thousands of times as a priest and then as a bishop.  Naturalized a citizen, he became the first saint of the United States.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

(I John 3:11-22; John 1:43-51)

Wisdom teaches that there are many ways of doing good and relatively few ways of doing evil.  Therefore, we have to choose among the ways to do good but avoid all the ways to do evil.  Saints like John Neumann stand out as examples in this twofold task.

John came to the United States in 1836 as a theological student wanting to be ordained.  The bishop of New York granted his desire and assigned him to a rural territory.  John travelled his huge parish on horseback to visit the sick, teach catechism and train catechists.  After joining the Redemptorist Order, John continued to serve as a parish priest.  In 1852 he was named bishop of Philadelphia where he stood out as a defender and promoter of various immigrant communities – Germans, Irish, and Italian among others.  He also oversaw the founding of two hundred parochial schools.

In today’s gospel Jesus tells Nathaniel that they will see “angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”  He means that they will witness Jesus perform many mighty deeds.  The marvel has never subsided.  In the name of the same Jesus saints have continued to tirelessly and thoughtfully work wonders.  Our deeds will not likely be as prodigious as those of John Neumann.  Nevertheless, we should always ask what we may do on behalf of others and then do what seems reasonable.  

Homilette for Monday, January 5, 2009

Memorial of St. John Neumann, bishop

(I John 3:22-4:6; Matthew 4:12-17; 23-25)

The gospel passage says that Jesus “withdrew to Galilee.” We should not think, however, that Jesus is beating a retreat. Actually, he is charging to the battlefront. Herod Antipas has just arrested John the Baptist for criticizing his unlawful marriage. Jesus leaves the solitude of the Jordan desert to take up John’s banner in Galilee. His message is even the same as John’s, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” Herod Antipas, the Baptist’s nemesis, can hardly ignore it.

Like Jesus we are sometimes called to show courage. A shouting match turns into a fist fight where someone is going to get hurt. We should intervene or, at least, call for help. More often we exhibit courage by facing difficult tasks with calmness and determination. “When the going gets tough,” an adage declares, “the tough get going.” Courage is the operative virtue here.

St. John Neumann obviously demonstrated courage many times in his life. As a young man, he came to the United States from his native Bohemia. Newly ordained, his territorial parish included all of western New York State! Ordained a bishop, he started the first system of parochial schools and inaugurated eighty parishes in the Diocese of Philadelphia. Courage allows soldiers to conquer fear in battle. It also enables saints to overcome desire for comfort and weariness in daily life.