Friday, VIII Ordinary (St. Justin Martyr)
(Mark 11)
An “objective correlative” is a literary device to describe the workings of the mind. An example of an objective correlative is the woods on a snowy evening in Robert Frost’s famous poem. The woods filling up with snow are the cold and bleek events of life which the sleigh rider means to contemplate.
In the gospel Mark presents us an objective correlative in the fig tree that does not bear fruit. Jesus curses its sterility as a sign of his disgust with the Temple which he enters next. It is not only the money changers who bother Jesus. It is also that the Temple is not allowing adequate worship of God. As he curses the fig tree, he throws out the money changers. As he throws out the money changers, the Temple will be symbolically destroyed with his death on the cross.
We should see Jesus’ action as a sign of what will happen to us if we do not produce good fruit. God has been most generous to us with his endowment of the Holy Spirit. It cannot be for nothing. Rather, we must serve Him by caring for the weak and encouraging the righteous.
Homikly for Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday, May 31, The Feast of the Visitation
(Luke 1)
Titian and Tintoretto were the best Venetian Renaissance painters. Titian is said to have painted pictures of the Virgin Mary as if she were a princess. Tintoretto was much more democratic. His Virgins pictured an ordinary girl with extraordinary grace. Although people still like to put Mary on a high pedestal like Titian, Tintoretto’s image seems to be more in character.
When Mary visits Elizabeth, she not only offers service to a woman in need. More importantly, she acts on the word of God. Thus, she models discipleship. We too should be quick to offer our services and always contemplating the word of God that we hear at Mass.
But Mary’s simple greatness goes further. She proclaims the gospel as she tells how God has favored her, “a lowly servant,” and has blessed the poor in different ways. She sounds remarkably like Jesus when he tells the people of Nazareth that the Spirit has anointed him to bring good news to the poor.
(Luke 1)
Titian and Tintoretto were the best Venetian Renaissance painters. Titian is said to have painted pictures of the Virgin Mary as if she were a princess. Tintoretto was much more democratic. His Virgins pictured an ordinary girl with extraordinary grace. Although people still like to put Mary on a high pedestal like Titian, Tintoretto’s image seems to be more in character.
When Mary visits Elizabeth, she not only offers service to a woman in need. More importantly, she acts on the word of God. Thus, she models discipleship. We too should be quick to offer our services and always contemplating the word of God that we hear at Mass.
But Mary’s simple greatness goes further. She proclaims the gospel as she tells how God has favored her, “a lowly servant,” and has blessed the poor in different ways. She sounds remarkably like Jesus when he tells the people of Nazareth that the Spirit has anointed him to bring good news to the poor.
Homilette for May 30, 2007
Wednesday, VIII Week of Ordinary Time
(Mark 10)
The gospel describes the disciples as “amazed,” probably at Jesus for his resoluteness in going to Jerusalem where nothing but ill awaits him. We might be amazed at the obtuseness of the disciples. As Jesus is obviously contemplating a crisis in his life, they have their minds set on an age-old agenda. They wonder who will get the most glory. “Am I missing something?” we can ask ourselves.
We likewise are amazed at much of what we see going on in the Church. Teens undergo a rigorous process to be confirmed, and then often simply leave church behind. Catholic mothers have live-in lovers. Veteran Catholics will miss a Sunday mass to have a day out with the family. Again, we ask, “Am I missing something?”
Jesus would answer, “No.” There is no justification for such practices. Just as he calls his disciples to serve one another like slaves, he intends that we sacrifice autonomy to achieve authenticity. Rather than autonomously doing what satisfies us, he wants us to authentically follow his teaching.
(Mark 10)
The gospel describes the disciples as “amazed,” probably at Jesus for his resoluteness in going to Jerusalem where nothing but ill awaits him. We might be amazed at the obtuseness of the disciples. As Jesus is obviously contemplating a crisis in his life, they have their minds set on an age-old agenda. They wonder who will get the most glory. “Am I missing something?” we can ask ourselves.
We likewise are amazed at much of what we see going on in the Church. Teens undergo a rigorous process to be confirmed, and then often simply leave church behind. Catholic mothers have live-in lovers. Veteran Catholics will miss a Sunday mass to have a day out with the family. Again, we ask, “Am I missing something?”
Jesus would answer, “No.” There is no justification for such practices. Just as he calls his disciples to serve one another like slaves, he intends that we sacrifice autonomy to achieve authenticity. Rather than autonomously doing what satisfies us, he wants us to authentically follow his teaching.
Homilette for Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tuesday, VIII Week of Ordinary Time
(Sirach 35)
A Dominican theologian was explaining St. Thomas Aquinas’ moral theology to a group of young European families. He went to a blackboard and drew a small box in its corner. He said, “In that square are the commandments.” Then he asked if that is what morality is about. Everyone responded, “Of course.” But the Dominican disagreed. “No,” he said, “God is not much interested in commandments. Then he drew a box covering the rest of the blackboard. “That is freedom,” he said, “that is what interests God. Your task is to teach your children to be free.”
St. Thomas does emphasize the need for law. He teaches that all law -- natural, human, and revealed – has divine origin and is necessary to keep us on track. But law hardly comes to terms with all of morality. So the wise man says in the first reading, “In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD, be not sparing of freewill gifts.” Truly virtuous people go far beyond what the law prescribes in assisting neighbor, in building community, and in praising God.
(Sirach 35)
A Dominican theologian was explaining St. Thomas Aquinas’ moral theology to a group of young European families. He went to a blackboard and drew a small box in its corner. He said, “In that square are the commandments.” Then he asked if that is what morality is about. Everyone responded, “Of course.” But the Dominican disagreed. “No,” he said, “God is not much interested in commandments. Then he drew a box covering the rest of the blackboard. “That is freedom,” he said, “that is what interests God. Your task is to teach your children to be free.”
St. Thomas does emphasize the need for law. He teaches that all law -- natural, human, and revealed – has divine origin and is necessary to keep us on track. But law hardly comes to terms with all of morality. So the wise man says in the first reading, “In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD, be not sparing of freewill gifts.” Truly virtuous people go far beyond what the law prescribes in assisting neighbor, in building community, and in praising God.
Homilette for Monday, May 28, 2007
Monday, VIII Week
Memorial Day Mass
In Shakespeare’s play Henry V, the king under disguise speaks with his troops before battle. One soldier claims that the king would be guilty of all the sins of those who die in battle if his cause is not just. Henry disagrees. “The King is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers...,” he says, “for they purpose not their death when they purpose their services.”
Certainly, Henry makes the better argument and for this reason we come here to pray for dead soldiers and sailors, not for dead Presidents. We can easily imagine the temptations of those going into battle. They may become over-zealous in their killing or they may victimize not only enemy combatants but their non-combatant family members as well. But whether they have committed grave sins or venial ones, they deserve our prayers. After all, they gave their lives that we might enjoy freedom and human dignity.
Catholics show themselves as worthy Americans today as we pray for our country’s war dead. Few practices are more uniquely Catholic than praying for the dead. And certainly there can be no better way to celebrate Memorial Day than asking God’s mercy on those who have died in service of our country.
Memorial Day Mass
In Shakespeare’s play Henry V, the king under disguise speaks with his troops before battle. One soldier claims that the king would be guilty of all the sins of those who die in battle if his cause is not just. Henry disagrees. “The King is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers...,” he says, “for they purpose not their death when they purpose their services.”
Certainly, Henry makes the better argument and for this reason we come here to pray for dead soldiers and sailors, not for dead Presidents. We can easily imagine the temptations of those going into battle. They may become over-zealous in their killing or they may victimize not only enemy combatants but their non-combatant family members as well. But whether they have committed grave sins or venial ones, they deserve our prayers. After all, they gave their lives that we might enjoy freedom and human dignity.
Catholics show themselves as worthy Americans today as we pray for our country’s war dead. Few practices are more uniquely Catholic than praying for the dead. And certainly there can be no better way to celebrate Memorial Day than asking God’s mercy on those who have died in service of our country.
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