Monday of Holy Week
(Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11)
When Judas grumbles that the nard used to anoint Jesus might have been sold with the proceeds going to the poor, he commits an error common today and perhaps throughout history. Judas, like many of us, fails to recognize Jesus as a poor person. Marked for immenent death, Jesus suffers a particularly virulent form of poverty for even the rich need time to enjoy the consumption of their wealth.
Jesus tells Judas that the poor will always remain on the earth. In another gospel passage Jesus says that he too will be with his people “always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We do well to connect these statements with another saying of Jesus perhaps even more familiar, “...whatever you did for one of these least brothers (and sisters) of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). These quotations remind us that Jesus remains among the poor so that if we would treat him well, we must take care of the needy.
The “preacher to the papal household,” Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., considers service to the poor part of true Eucharistic devotion. He writes that in adoration of the Eucharist, Catholics worship Jesus as true God, and in assisting the poor, we worship him as true human. To exemplify Jesus’ close identification with the poor, Fr. Cantelamessa cites a final episode in the life of the famous French Catholic philosopher, Blaise Pascal. As he lay dying unable to keep down even a tiny part of a host as Viaticum, Pascal proposed a workable substitute. He asked that some poor persons be brought into his presence. Since he could not communicate with the Head, he said, then he would “communicate at least with the body.”
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(Jeremiah 2010-13; John 10:31-42)
Very recently the Catholic Church in Germany has been rocked by a clerical abuse scandal. Over one hundred victims have come forth claiming that they were sexually molested by priests. As the president of the German episcopal conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, admitted, sexual abuse is a heinous crime. It is especially outrageous within the ranks of the Catholic Church because she preaches restraint of passions and because priests take a public vow of celibacy.
In today’s gospel Jesus provides the basis for our redoubled effort to avoid scandal. He tells his persecutors that they are to believe because of the works that he performs. Because all Christians are part of Christ’s body, Jesus implies here that we also are to draw non-Christians to belief by our actions.
The Church bows its head in shame for all the sexual abuse of children that has come to the surface in recent years. Accordingly, Archbishop Zollitsch apologized to all the victims. However, the Church hopes that objective reviewers will not lose confidence in her divine commission. Over the years and still today the Church has given a tremendous testimony to charity. She has raised no doubt tens of millions of children in orphanages, educated probably hundreds of millions in her schools, provided spiritual guidance to billions of people through her preaching, and administered divine assistance to similar numbers in the sacraments. Normal human frailty can account for the abuse, which nevertheless must not be tolerated. Can anything but God’s own authorization be attributed to this record of accomplishment?
(Jeremiah 2010-13; John 10:31-42)
Very recently the Catholic Church in Germany has been rocked by a clerical abuse scandal. Over one hundred victims have come forth claiming that they were sexually molested by priests. As the president of the German episcopal conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, admitted, sexual abuse is a heinous crime. It is especially outrageous within the ranks of the Catholic Church because she preaches restraint of passions and because priests take a public vow of celibacy.
In today’s gospel Jesus provides the basis for our redoubled effort to avoid scandal. He tells his persecutors that they are to believe because of the works that he performs. Because all Christians are part of Christ’s body, Jesus implies here that we also are to draw non-Christians to belief by our actions.
The Church bows its head in shame for all the sexual abuse of children that has come to the surface in recent years. Accordingly, Archbishop Zollitsch apologized to all the victims. However, the Church hopes that objective reviewers will not lose confidence in her divine commission. Over the years and still today the Church has given a tremendous testimony to charity. She has raised no doubt tens of millions of children in orphanages, educated probably hundreds of millions in her schools, provided spiritual guidance to billions of people through her preaching, and administered divine assistance to similar numbers in the sacraments. Normal human frailty can account for the abuse, which nevertheless must not be tolerated. Can anything but God’s own authorization be attributed to this record of accomplishment?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-11; Luke 1:26-38)
The Bible asserts the dignity of all persons by noting that the first humans are created in the image of God. But assuredly human dignity is raised a few notches by the mystery on which we meditate today. Jesus, our Creator whose being we reflect, becomes one of us whose life we are to emulate. We call today’s feast “The Annunciation,” but, as is done in some parts of the world, we can say that it is the Feast of the Incarnation. Today we celebrate the eternal Son of God taking flesh within the womb of the Virgin Mary.
There are myths of gods taking human form in other religions. But what makes Jesus Christ so different is, ironically, his ordinariness. Yes, being virgin-born is certainly unique, and we have marvelous accounts of his power over nature. But there are no fantastic stories of his repelling arrows and slaying armies. Even Jesus’ cures and certainly his standard operation are like those of other Jewish prophets and rabbis. Indeed, in many ways he is just like us.
It is the chain of events at the very end of his life that manifestly separates Jesus from everyone else. He surrenders himself to be humiliated, tortured, and executed even though he is innocent of any crime. Then he is raised from the dead as a validation that his self-sacrifice is neither fatalistic nor quixotic but ordained on High. It demonstrates God’s plan to elevate humans even higher than their exalted status over the rest of creation. Now we can glimpse the reason for our emulating Jesus. Doing so will lead to our sharing in his resurrection from the dead and in his eternal life.
(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-11; Luke 1:26-38)
The Bible asserts the dignity of all persons by noting that the first humans are created in the image of God. But assuredly human dignity is raised a few notches by the mystery on which we meditate today. Jesus, our Creator whose being we reflect, becomes one of us whose life we are to emulate. We call today’s feast “The Annunciation,” but, as is done in some parts of the world, we can say that it is the Feast of the Incarnation. Today we celebrate the eternal Son of God taking flesh within the womb of the Virgin Mary.
There are myths of gods taking human form in other religions. But what makes Jesus Christ so different is, ironically, his ordinariness. Yes, being virgin-born is certainly unique, and we have marvelous accounts of his power over nature. But there are no fantastic stories of his repelling arrows and slaying armies. Even Jesus’ cures and certainly his standard operation are like those of other Jewish prophets and rabbis. Indeed, in many ways he is just like us.
It is the chain of events at the very end of his life that manifestly separates Jesus from everyone else. He surrenders himself to be humiliated, tortured, and executed even though he is innocent of any crime. Then he is raised from the dead as a validation that his self-sacrifice is neither fatalistic nor quixotic but ordained on High. It demonstrates God’s plan to elevate humans even higher than their exalted status over the rest of creation. Now we can glimpse the reason for our emulating Jesus. Doing so will lead to our sharing in his resurrection from the dead and in his eternal life.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Lent
(Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42)
In a movie about the revolution in Nicaragua some years ago, a peasant boy tells an American helicopter pilot that he wants to fly. The airman takes the boy for a ride in his helicopter, but the flight does not satisfy the boy’s desire. He explains that he wants to fly like a bird flies, not to be just transported in a flying machine.
Although the vignette is meant as a metaphor for Nicaragua’s yearning to be free of foreign dominance, it also illustrates the lesson that Jesus gives in the gospel today. The Jews think they are free because they are not enslaved by anyone. But this is limited freedom. Jesus would provide them full freedom where they could not only walk wherever they wish but act as righteously as they deeply desire. It is the freedom of Van Cliburn at the piano or Kim Yuna on ice skates.
As Jesus says, freedom comes from accepting him as God’s Son. He brings the rule of heart that disengages us from attachments to fortune, fame, and force and sets our sites on eternal life. Most importantly – for redirecting our lives is a monumental task – he imparts his Holy Spirit to us. The releasing of His Spirit is what we await during the coming Easter season.
(Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42)
In a movie about the revolution in Nicaragua some years ago, a peasant boy tells an American helicopter pilot that he wants to fly. The airman takes the boy for a ride in his helicopter, but the flight does not satisfy the boy’s desire. He explains that he wants to fly like a bird flies, not to be just transported in a flying machine.
Although the vignette is meant as a metaphor for Nicaragua’s yearning to be free of foreign dominance, it also illustrates the lesson that Jesus gives in the gospel today. The Jews think they are free because they are not enslaved by anyone. But this is limited freedom. Jesus would provide them full freedom where they could not only walk wherever they wish but act as righteously as they deeply desire. It is the freedom of Van Cliburn at the piano or Kim Yuna on ice skates.
As Jesus says, freedom comes from accepting him as God’s Son. He brings the rule of heart that disengages us from attachments to fortune, fame, and force and sets our sites on eternal life. Most importantly – for redirecting our lives is a monumental task – he imparts his Holy Spirit to us. The releasing of His Spirit is what we await during the coming Easter season.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Lent
(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)
Jesus tells the Pharisees that when they lift him up, they will realize who he is and that he has done what the Father wills. Jumping to that scene, however, we have difficulty finding any such awareness among the Jews. What is going on?
John the evangelist only subtly shows Jesus’ divine sonship on the cross. He notes that Pilate has a sign printed in three languages proclaiming Jesus “the king of the Jews.” This tells us that, like-it-or-not, the Jews have to face the fact that an objective authority acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed king of Israel. Also, Jesus’ last words, “It is finished,” indicate his identity. “The “It” here refers not only to his life but also to his mission from the Father of redeeming the world. Although the Pharisees “realize” this evidence in as much as they objectively see it, most will not be swayed. Indeed, only one of their numbers comes forward professing belief in Jesus. Nicodemus, whom we remember from an earlier encounter with Jesus, steps on the scene at this time with enough burial spices for a king.
We should not be any more dismayed by the Pharisees rejecting Jesus than by our own contemporaries. After all, Jesus conquered no empires like Alexander the Great. Nor did he write works of wisdom like Aristotle. Even his mighty deeds were not testified by any other than his followers. Why then do we accept Him as God? Certainly there is something to the fact that those followers died in making their testimony. But we believe also because he has acted in our lives. His words, which his disciples recorded, have given us a solid foundation. More than that, when we have called upon him, he has met our needs – not just once but repeatedly. We cannot help but hand over ourselves to him.
(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)
Jesus tells the Pharisees that when they lift him up, they will realize who he is and that he has done what the Father wills. Jumping to that scene, however, we have difficulty finding any such awareness among the Jews. What is going on?
John the evangelist only subtly shows Jesus’ divine sonship on the cross. He notes that Pilate has a sign printed in three languages proclaiming Jesus “the king of the Jews.” This tells us that, like-it-or-not, the Jews have to face the fact that an objective authority acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed king of Israel. Also, Jesus’ last words, “It is finished,” indicate his identity. “The “It” here refers not only to his life but also to his mission from the Father of redeeming the world. Although the Pharisees “realize” this evidence in as much as they objectively see it, most will not be swayed. Indeed, only one of their numbers comes forward professing belief in Jesus. Nicodemus, whom we remember from an earlier encounter with Jesus, steps on the scene at this time with enough burial spices for a king.
We should not be any more dismayed by the Pharisees rejecting Jesus than by our own contemporaries. After all, Jesus conquered no empires like Alexander the Great. Nor did he write works of wisdom like Aristotle. Even his mighty deeds were not testified by any other than his followers. Why then do we accept Him as God? Certainly there is something to the fact that those followers died in making their testimony. But we believe also because he has acted in our lives. His words, which his disciples recorded, have given us a solid foundation. More than that, when we have called upon him, he has met our needs – not just once but repeatedly. We cannot help but hand over ourselves to him.
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