Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
(James 3: 13-18; Mark 9:14-29)
On any issue today bloggers make quick judgments. They fit the elements of the matter at hand to their moral framework and come to predictable conclusions. T.S. Elliot’s lament holds truer in this ambience than when he penned it two generations ago: "Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"
The Letter of James finds wisdom attempting to ascertain the truth, not trying to win an argument. It proceeds in a calm, generous way that listens with credulity to all sides. Then it makes a careful judgment never overstating the conclusion but acknowledging the possibility of error. The result of research with such a process is not only a more likely apprehension of reality but also a more virtuous researcher.
We rightly see Jesus as the personification of wisdom. In the gospel today, for example, he calls our attention to the need for prayer to attain our goals. Prayer deliberately acknowledges both our dependency upon God and our willingness to submit our work to His scrutiny. At one time it is an act of humility and of courage. Along with “fear of the Lord” prayer lies at the beginning of wisdom.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(James 2:14-24.26; Mark 8:34-9:1)
It seems self-evident that the great non-Christian humanists – Socrates, Saladin, Maimonides, and Gandhi -- have a place in eternal life. Yet even a century ago most Christians would have despaired of their salvation because they were never baptized. Of course, who’s in and who’s out of heaven is up to God, but since Vatican II Catholics, at least, are eager to give people such as these the benefit of the doubt. The first reading today may be employed for argumentation.
Of course, James is not making a case for salvation of non-Christians. He is merely saying that a professed faith alone is unworthy of eternal life. One must animate that faith by works of charity in order to find salvation. Even in his day, James was only refuting radical interpretations of St. Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith. To believe and not to love, even Paul would admit, is as sterile reading a book in an unknown language. Today James’ line of thinking is stretched backward. Works of charity imply faith in a God who commands love of neighbor.
We should not presume salvation on the basis of one act of kindness just as we cannot exclude it because one lacks a profession of faith. We are wise to look for coherency and consistency. When we practice charity regularly, we likely believe sincerely.
(James 2:14-24.26; Mark 8:34-9:1)
It seems self-evident that the great non-Christian humanists – Socrates, Saladin, Maimonides, and Gandhi -- have a place in eternal life. Yet even a century ago most Christians would have despaired of their salvation because they were never baptized. Of course, who’s in and who’s out of heaven is up to God, but since Vatican II Catholics, at least, are eager to give people such as these the benefit of the doubt. The first reading today may be employed for argumentation.
Of course, James is not making a case for salvation of non-Christians. He is merely saying that a professed faith alone is unworthy of eternal life. One must animate that faith by works of charity in order to find salvation. Even in his day, James was only refuting radical interpretations of St. Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith. To believe and not to love, even Paul would admit, is as sterile reading a book in an unknown language. Today James’ line of thinking is stretched backward. Works of charity imply faith in a God who commands love of neighbor.
We should not presume salvation on the basis of one act of kindness just as we cannot exclude it because one lacks a profession of faith. We are wise to look for coherency and consistency. When we practice charity regularly, we likely believe sincerely.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(James 2:1-9; Mark 8:27-33)
Mark’s gospel, the shortest of the four, has been recited on Broadway. In a one-person show, an actor has successfully held the audience’s attention for over two hours. Because the work deals with who is this man Jesus, today’s gospel passage must have comprised the climax of the drama. No doubt for this reason the evangelist places it at the center of his work.
Jesus has been careful about not allowing his identity to be known. He chastises the evil spirits whom he expels when they attempt to reveal his divine origin. The disciples have observed him up close but only after seeing him repeatedly feed multitudes, control the elements, and cure diseases can they say that Jesus is the long-expected Messiah. Yet they cannot understand how Jesus will be rejected. For them the Messiah is the conqueror not the vanquished. As to being raised from the dead, this concept is as incomprehensible as saying he will jump to the moon.
We might ask ourselves if our lives were ever dramatized, would Jesus have more than a bit part? Would he be there at the climax when we take a decisive step in determining our destiny? The occasion may be the day we let go of a particular vice or the time we commit ourselves love our families unreservedly. Is he at center stage with us today?
(James 2:1-9; Mark 8:27-33)
Mark’s gospel, the shortest of the four, has been recited on Broadway. In a one-person show, an actor has successfully held the audience’s attention for over two hours. Because the work deals with who is this man Jesus, today’s gospel passage must have comprised the climax of the drama. No doubt for this reason the evangelist places it at the center of his work.
Jesus has been careful about not allowing his identity to be known. He chastises the evil spirits whom he expels when they attempt to reveal his divine origin. The disciples have observed him up close but only after seeing him repeatedly feed multitudes, control the elements, and cure diseases can they say that Jesus is the long-expected Messiah. Yet they cannot understand how Jesus will be rejected. For them the Messiah is the conqueror not the vanquished. As to being raised from the dead, this concept is as incomprehensible as saying he will jump to the moon.
We might ask ourselves if our lives were ever dramatized, would Jesus have more than a bit part? Would he be there at the climax when we take a decisive step in determining our destiny? The occasion may be the day we let go of a particular vice or the time we commit ourselves love our families unreservedly. Is he at center stage with us today?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(James 1:19-27; Mark 8:22-26)
From all the attention given to popular sports, one would think that the United States were a nation of athletes. Of course, the reality is quite different. Americans are notoriously couch potatoes whose use of a swimming pool is largely limited to a site for a party and of a stationary bicycle, to a clothes rack. As Americans should get up to exercise and not just watch sports on television, James admonishes his readers to be doers as well as hearers of the word.
James has a dynamic concept in mind when he compares the hearer who does not act on what he hears to a person who looks into a mirror and then forgets what he sees. As a mirror may point out a milk blotch on one’s upper lip, the word of God indicts one of sin. If the person forgets what she saw in the mirror, the blemish remains. Just so, the hearer who doesn’t act on the word of God will remain lost to salvation.
Life is a process in which we overcome selfish desires to become like God. It takes effort but the Holy Spirit provides us the energy to carry on. Keeping the end in mind – loving, happy people – should give us the incentive needed to complete the course.
(James 1:19-27; Mark 8:22-26)
From all the attention given to popular sports, one would think that the United States were a nation of athletes. Of course, the reality is quite different. Americans are notoriously couch potatoes whose use of a swimming pool is largely limited to a site for a party and of a stationary bicycle, to a clothes rack. As Americans should get up to exercise and not just watch sports on television, James admonishes his readers to be doers as well as hearers of the word.
James has a dynamic concept in mind when he compares the hearer who does not act on what he hears to a person who looks into a mirror and then forgets what he sees. As a mirror may point out a milk blotch on one’s upper lip, the word of God indicts one of sin. If the person forgets what she saw in the mirror, the blemish remains. Just so, the hearer who doesn’t act on the word of God will remain lost to salvation.
Life is a process in which we overcome selfish desires to become like God. It takes effort but the Holy Spirit provides us the energy to carry on. Keeping the end in mind – loving, happy people – should give us the incentive needed to complete the course.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Memorial of Saint Cyril, monk, and Saint Methodius, bishop
(James 1:12-18; Mark 8:14-21)
Many wonder why St. Valentine’s Day has been displaced on the liturgical calendar by the Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They find it puzzling that the Church would replace a universally popular saint with two of much more limited appeal. The reasons deal with historical veracity and perhaps with a more precise understanding of the love with which St. Valentine is associated.
Although it can be established that St. Valentine died a martyr during the second half of the third century, most of what is said about him is legend. Actually there are fourteen saints with that name from the period, none of whose lives are historically detailed. By comparison the lives of Cyril and Methodius are well chronicled. They were Greek missionaries who facilitated the development of the Church in Ukraine and Moravia six centuries after Valentine.
In the gospel today Jesus’ disciples cannot understand that as long as they have him, they need nothing else. He is the Bread of Life which will sustain us not for just a day but for eternity. Something similar may be said about the love which St. Valentine inspires. Most people reduce the meaning of the term to erotic desire. That is like using a Bible for a doorstop. Love is primarily the giving of self for the good of the other. Here again we have Jesus as the primary example. He showed us how to love by dying on the cross so that we might have access to eternal life. In dying for Christ Valentine exhibited that love but his witness has been undermined. Cyril and Methodius, however, in venturing to faraway places to preach God's love in Christ give more reliable testimony.
(James 1:12-18; Mark 8:14-21)
Many wonder why St. Valentine’s Day has been displaced on the liturgical calendar by the Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They find it puzzling that the Church would replace a universally popular saint with two of much more limited appeal. The reasons deal with historical veracity and perhaps with a more precise understanding of the love with which St. Valentine is associated.
Although it can be established that St. Valentine died a martyr during the second half of the third century, most of what is said about him is legend. Actually there are fourteen saints with that name from the period, none of whose lives are historically detailed. By comparison the lives of Cyril and Methodius are well chronicled. They were Greek missionaries who facilitated the development of the Church in Ukraine and Moravia six centuries after Valentine.
In the gospel today Jesus’ disciples cannot understand that as long as they have him, they need nothing else. He is the Bread of Life which will sustain us not for just a day but for eternity. Something similar may be said about the love which St. Valentine inspires. Most people reduce the meaning of the term to erotic desire. That is like using a Bible for a doorstop. Love is primarily the giving of self for the good of the other. Here again we have Jesus as the primary example. He showed us how to love by dying on the cross so that we might have access to eternal life. In dying for Christ Valentine exhibited that love but his witness has been undermined. Cyril and Methodius, however, in venturing to faraway places to preach God's love in Christ give more reliable testimony.
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