Tuesday, August 26, 2025

 

Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(I Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 23:23-26)

The “Gospel of God” in today’s first reading may sound strange, but St. Paul frequently uses the term.  Most think of the gospels as “Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.”  But Paul very likely never saw any of these writings.  For Paul, the “Gospel of God” is the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Salvation is not a reward for the brave or a status that might be bought.  It is one’s acceptance of forgiveness for his or her sins by means of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.  The acceptance, however, cannot be lip-service, but a commitment on the person’s part to die to sin and to live a new life of holiness and grace.

In the reading Paul seems to promote himself by telling how he suffered in preaching the gospel.  As he makes clear, however, he never sought to win human favor.  He wants the Thessalonians (and us as well) to realize that by submitting oneself in faith he or she will grow closer to God and to God’s people.

Friday, October 29, 2021

 Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 9:1-5; Luke 14:1-6)

St. Paul implies in today’s first reading that unbaptized Jews are not saved from sin and death.  Why else would he wish that he could be “accursed and cut off from Christ”?  His anxiety over the fate of Jews, however, seems to have been in vain if the teaching of Vatican II is to be believed.  The Council stated, “Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.”

But Paul might still grieve over the reality that the Jews do not know Christ.  Salvation may be the pinnacle of the benefits, but knowledge of Christ helps in other ways.  Knowing Christ enables one to take comfort in the mercy he provides.  Today’s gospel gives a good example.  Jesus did not deny the man with dropsy or swelling.  Knowing Christ also brings moral guidance.  People have to stretch themselves, and therefore be strengthened, as they strive to love their enemies.  Knowing Christ should also bring one into the Church with its fellowship of love and truth.

It would be a betrayal of Christ if we, who profess faith in him, snub our neighbors who lack that faith.  Knowing him compels us to call others to him.  Whether we do so by a literal invitation or by a demonstration of his goodness, we want to share our knowledge and love of Christ. 

Homilette for Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Luke 13: 22-30)

Pupils in Catholic schools used to ask many questions of religion teachers to both satisfy curiosity and to waste time. A typical question was, “Sister, if you were killed walking to church for confession, would you go to hell?” The sisters, who knew how to play the game as well, often answered, “What do you think?” In the gospel today we meet Jesus responding as nimbly as the sisters to a tough question.

“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” someone in the crowd asks Jesus. Perhaps the Pharisees trained the questioner to think that most people are lazy, no-good hell-bounds. People today, aware of God’s mercy, are more inclined to ask a question to the opposite effect, “Doesn’t God save everyone?” Although we may try to practice the faith, all of us have loved ones who ignore the commandments. “God surely cannot just condemn them to hell, can He?” we wonder.

Jesus adroitly sidesteps the issue. Whom the Father will save or damn is up to Him to decide. Yet Jesus seizes the opportunity to create a proverb. “Strive to enter through the narrow gate,” he advises. He means that we must discipline ourselves to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong. There is scant place among his followers for slouches who say, “A peek at pornography or a little lie won’t hurt anyone.” Nor are we truly Christian if we ignore those in need.

Some of us may think that perfect attendance at Sunday mass might win us salvation. Not so, Jesus makes clear when he says, “And you will say, `We ate and drank in your company...’ Then he will say to you, `...Depart from me, all your evil doers!’” No, Jesus expects mass to serve as a kind of launching pad where we receive fuel and direction for a life of virtue.