Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 5:33-39)
Once, a teacher of pastoral ministry compared the students in his class to different animals of the forest. A solitary timid person was named a coyote, and a very plodding student was said to be a horse. But how was the teacher to view the fellow who seemed to have everything together? The student in mind could laugh with the merry and had no trouble commiserating with the sad. The instructor saw him a pond – the entity in which, through which, and around which all the other animals dwell. The author of the letter to the Colossians makes such a comparison in describing Jesus.
According to the passage, Jesus is the one in whom all things were created. Like an environment, then, Jesus provides space so that nature can take place and progress onward. He is the first to experience the ultimate human destiny of the resurrection from the dead. Finally, he heads the Church giving it direction and correcting its faults.
The passage is actually a hymn of praise to Jesus probably adapted by the author of the letter to introduce the important themes just mentioned. We regularly recite it in the Divine Office to give Jesus our highest admiration.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(Colossians 1:9-14; Luke 5:1-11)
Frank Leahy, the legendary football coach at Notre Dame, once told how he recruited the Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung. Hornung was a high school star in Louisville when Leahy talked with him. “God has blessed you with a magnificent body,” the coach said and then asked, “Wouldn’t you like to use it for the glory of His mother?” This may seem incredible but those who knew Leahy say that he had a sincere, almost naive charm.
Perhaps Jesus in the gospel today speaking to Peter sounds as simple as Leahy. “Put out into the deep,” he says but more in the imperative than interrogative mode, “and lower your nets for a catch.” Jesus comes from the family of a carpenter, but Peter has just witnessed his casting out Peter’s mother’s demon. He cannot not comply with Jesus’ wish. The resulting catch of fish becomes a parable of how Peter will convert masses of people to the Lord with his preaching once Jesus rises from the dead and sends his Spirit upon his disciples.
We may hear the Lord make a similar, seemingly naive call to us. Perhaps it will be to give up our career to become a priest or religious. Or maybe he will want us to dedicate a portion of time to serve the needy. We need to discern carefully to make sure that the urge is not our own desire to appear as saints or even martyrs. But like Paul Hornung it may very well be that the Lord is really asking us to give ourselves more thoroughly for his glory.
(Colossians 1:9-14; Luke 5:1-11)
Frank Leahy, the legendary football coach at Notre Dame, once told how he recruited the Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung. Hornung was a high school star in Louisville when Leahy talked with him. “God has blessed you with a magnificent body,” the coach said and then asked, “Wouldn’t you like to use it for the glory of His mother?” This may seem incredible but those who knew Leahy say that he had a sincere, almost naive charm.
Perhaps Jesus in the gospel today speaking to Peter sounds as simple as Leahy. “Put out into the deep,” he says but more in the imperative than interrogative mode, “and lower your nets for a catch.” Jesus comes from the family of a carpenter, but Peter has just witnessed his casting out Peter’s mother’s demon. He cannot not comply with Jesus’ wish. The resulting catch of fish becomes a parable of how Peter will convert masses of people to the Lord with his preaching once Jesus rises from the dead and sends his Spirit upon his disciples.
We may hear the Lord make a similar, seemingly naive call to us. Perhaps it will be to give up our career to become a priest or religious. Or maybe he will want us to dedicate a portion of time to serve the needy. We need to discern carefully to make sure that the urge is not our own desire to appear as saints or even martyrs. But like Paul Hornung it may very well be that the Lord is really asking us to give ourselves more thoroughly for his glory.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(Colossians 1:1-8; Luke 4:38-44)
When a President is leaving office, political commentators reflect on his legacy. They speculate on how the President will be remembered in history. They said, for example, that Bill Clinton wanted to be remembered for bringing peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which he almost achieved. They might have said that George W. Bush wanted to be known as the education President for the “No Child Left Behind” initiative, but that endeavor was eclipsed by the enormity and the cost of the war against terror. Individuals today also are often taken up with legacy. Some want to be remembered for their philanthropy; others, for their stylish fashions; and others for their independent nature.
By contrast to the contemporary preoccupation with legacy, the first reading today notes how the Christians of Colossae are concerned about destiny. The writer, who is probably a disciple of Paul, remarks that the love this community has for Christians from other places springs from their hope of heaven. Typical of Pauline epistles, the reading actually focuses on the three so-called theological virtues. It indicates that faith in Jesus as Lord moves Christians to imitate his love for others and to hope for the eternal glory that he experienced.
Faith, hope, and love then lead us to God, which is why they are called theological. They form a solid basis which, like R. Buckminster Fuller’s amazing geodesic dome made from triangles, becomes stronger the more times these basic elements are multiplied.
(Colossians 1:1-8; Luke 4:38-44)
When a President is leaving office, political commentators reflect on his legacy. They speculate on how the President will be remembered in history. They said, for example, that Bill Clinton wanted to be remembered for bringing peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which he almost achieved. They might have said that George W. Bush wanted to be known as the education President for the “No Child Left Behind” initiative, but that endeavor was eclipsed by the enormity and the cost of the war against terror. Individuals today also are often taken up with legacy. Some want to be remembered for their philanthropy; others, for their stylish fashions; and others for their independent nature.
By contrast to the contemporary preoccupation with legacy, the first reading today notes how the Christians of Colossae are concerned about destiny. The writer, who is probably a disciple of Paul, remarks that the love this community has for Christians from other places springs from their hope of heaven. Typical of Pauline epistles, the reading actually focuses on the three so-called theological virtues. It indicates that faith in Jesus as Lord moves Christians to imitate his love for others and to hope for the eternal glory that he experienced.
Faith, hope, and love then lead us to God, which is why they are called theological. They form a solid basis which, like R. Buckminster Fuller’s amazing geodesic dome made from triangles, becomes stronger the more times these basic elements are multiplied.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Thessalonians 5:1-6.9-11; Luke 4:31-37)
Every once in a while the work of Nostradamus, a sixteenth century French writer, is dusted off to make a prediction of the end of the world. The supposed seer wrote a thousand verses of poetry that are interpreted, most always after the fact, to have prophesized the future. But little from his work can be taken with prior precision to say when or even what events will occur. In the first reading of today’s mass St. Paul tells his readers to dismiss such foretelling of the imminent end of the world.
Paul echoes Jesus in saying that the end will come like a “thief at night.” His readers are thus to stand ready at all times to greet the Lord when he arrives to claim his own. Paul evidently believes that the end will come sooner rather than later, but his point is that the Thessalonians should not make special preparation for that end. Rather, he advises that they stand semper fidelis by living as “children of the light.” That is, he wants the Thessalonians to be a showcase of charity and peace.
We do not know when the world will end. Scientists predict that in hundreds of millions of years the sun will run out of fuel, expand, and engulf the earth in flames before it burns out. But that is only one scientific scenario. It is also possible that the end will come about by a colossal meteor colliding with the earth. What is more likely is that humans will end life on earth through nuclear weapons. We are wise to stay prepared as Paul tells us. There is no need to live in perpetual fear, but there is real reason to practice charity and peace.
(I Thessalonians 5:1-6.9-11; Luke 4:31-37)
Every once in a while the work of Nostradamus, a sixteenth century French writer, is dusted off to make a prediction of the end of the world. The supposed seer wrote a thousand verses of poetry that are interpreted, most always after the fact, to have prophesized the future. But little from his work can be taken with prior precision to say when or even what events will occur. In the first reading of today’s mass St. Paul tells his readers to dismiss such foretelling of the imminent end of the world.
Paul echoes Jesus in saying that the end will come like a “thief at night.” His readers are thus to stand ready at all times to greet the Lord when he arrives to claim his own. Paul evidently believes that the end will come sooner rather than later, but his point is that the Thessalonians should not make special preparation for that end. Rather, he advises that they stand semper fidelis by living as “children of the light.” That is, he wants the Thessalonians to be a showcase of charity and peace.
We do not know when the world will end. Scientists predict that in hundreds of millions of years the sun will run out of fuel, expand, and engulf the earth in flames before it burns out. But that is only one scientific scenario. It is also possible that the end will come about by a colossal meteor colliding with the earth. What is more likely is that humans will end life on earth through nuclear weapons. We are wise to stay prepared as Paul tells us. There is no need to live in perpetual fear, but there is real reason to practice charity and peace.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Mark 6:17-29)
Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of schoolboys shipwrecked on a deserted island who are forced to struggle for survival. At first they work together and establish a rescue plan. Not long afterwards, however, two factions develop with the members of one hunting down those of the other. The drama conveys the idea that people are quite capable of treating others cruelly, at least when no one is looking. Many reject this base opinion of human nature, but often enough human atrocities occur - like the attempted genocide of Jews by the Nazis - that defy its complete dismissal. Although an isolated incident, the story of John the Baptist's beheading also gives an air of plausibility to the gloomy opinion of humanity.
Herod recognizes John as "righteous and holy." The gospel today sounds almost as if he wants to keep John close-by to provide spiritual guidance. But as attuned as Herod might be to John's goodness, he cannot rise above his own pride. Because he promises Herodias' daughter anything that she asks, he executes the eminently honorable man in order to appear true to his word. A decent person would have apologized for his foolhardy promise and disciplined his step-daughter for her outrageous request.
We are wise not to deny our capacity to sin grievously and to thank God every day that we have avoided offending Him. It is His grace, given through Christ, which turns us from brutal nature into people who love and desire the good.
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Mark 6:17-29)
Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of schoolboys shipwrecked on a deserted island who are forced to struggle for survival. At first they work together and establish a rescue plan. Not long afterwards, however, two factions develop with the members of one hunting down those of the other. The drama conveys the idea that people are quite capable of treating others cruelly, at least when no one is looking. Many reject this base opinion of human nature, but often enough human atrocities occur - like the attempted genocide of Jews by the Nazis - that defy its complete dismissal. Although an isolated incident, the story of John the Baptist's beheading also gives an air of plausibility to the gloomy opinion of humanity.
Herod recognizes John as "righteous and holy." The gospel today sounds almost as if he wants to keep John close-by to provide spiritual guidance. But as attuned as Herod might be to John's goodness, he cannot rise above his own pride. Because he promises Herodias' daughter anything that she asks, he executes the eminently honorable man in order to appear true to his word. A decent person would have apologized for his foolhardy promise and disciplined his step-daughter for her outrageous request.
We are wise not to deny our capacity to sin grievously and to thank God every day that we have avoided offending Him. It is His grace, given through Christ, which turns us from brutal nature into people who love and desire the good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)