Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary time
(2 Peter 1:2-7; Mark 12:1-12)
The Greek language has different words for love. Love is eros when it is acquisitive of one’s own benefit. Lovers are known for this kind of love. Love is charis when it seeks mutual spiritual benefit. Charis is characteristic of love between friends who count on one another in thick and thin. The purest kind of love is agape. Agape seeks nothing for oneself but only the other’s betterment because the other already possesses some good. God loves humans out of agape. The reading from Peter today offers Christians a strategy for developing perfect love.
But it must be said that agape is not strictly a human enterprise. God’s grace must precede it as the author indicates in the initial verse. Still it requires effort, not to complement God’s work but to live it. In a series of calls to mounting sacrifice – virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, devotion, and mutual affection -- Peter shows his readers how their faith can end in perfect love or agape.
Some may balk at Peter’s call. The goal, after all, is not the accumulation of either fortune or fun. Many will begin the quest and flag along the way because of the increasing difficulty of the challenge. We hope to persevere – to become saints like Jesus himself. But if we too falter in the trial, we still can turn to Jesus for mercy.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Memorial of St. Justin, martyr
(I Peter 4:7-13; Mark 11:11-26)
The title “Good Samaritan” will always belong to the protagonist of Jesus’ parable about the man who helped a foreign stranger in need. But St. Justin is also worthy of the distinction. Born in Samaria with a hunger for truth, he converted to Christianity which he found capable of satisfying his need. He died a martyr when he was given the choice of worshipping idols or giving up his life. Justin’s life conforms well to the admonitions in today’s first reading.
Peter’s letter warns its readers to be “serious and sober-minded.” Nothing is to interfere with their attention to God and their love of neighbor. It mentions a “trial by fire” for peace-loving Christians indicating that their exemplary behavior will escape neither the world’s envy nor its contempt.
In an election year we must remain vigilant. There are many issues on which we are to evaluate candidates. We will be scorned for not giving central importance to bread and butter questions like how the economy may best serve our personal interests. Like Justin, however, we turn to Christ who will satisfy our need for what is true.
(I Peter 4:7-13; Mark 11:11-26)
The title “Good Samaritan” will always belong to the protagonist of Jesus’ parable about the man who helped a foreign stranger in need. But St. Justin is also worthy of the distinction. Born in Samaria with a hunger for truth, he converted to Christianity which he found capable of satisfying his need. He died a martyr when he was given the choice of worshipping idols or giving up his life. Justin’s life conforms well to the admonitions in today’s first reading.
Peter’s letter warns its readers to be “serious and sober-minded.” Nothing is to interfere with their attention to God and their love of neighbor. It mentions a “trial by fire” for peace-loving Christians indicating that their exemplary behavior will escape neither the world’s envy nor its contempt.
In an election year we must remain vigilant. There are many issues on which we are to evaluate candidates. We will be scorned for not giving central importance to bread and butter questions like how the economy may best serve our personal interests. Like Justin, however, we turn to Christ who will satisfy our need for what is true.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)
The sportswriters were frustrated. They wanted the star athlete to talk about himself, but he continually deferred to others. His teammates’ play allowed him to stand out. His family’s support was instrumental in making him who he was. The dialogue resembled, in a way, Mary’s speech in the gospel today.
In visiting her kinswoman, Mary is given a supreme compliment. Elizabeth calls her the “most blessed …among woman” for bearing Jesus inside her womb. At this point one would expect Mary to return the compliment or to explain what she did to merit such an honor. But her eyes are fixed on God. Rather than speak of her own virtue or anyone else’s, she gives all the credit to the Lord. He “has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” He “has done great things” for her. He always “has mercy on those who fear him.”
Most of us enjoy talking about our achievements so much that often enough we slip into vanity. Mary, the model disciple, reminds us that God is the source of every good deed we do. To sing His praises, not our own, is our role as agents in the new evangelization.
(Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)
The sportswriters were frustrated. They wanted the star athlete to talk about himself, but he continually deferred to others. His teammates’ play allowed him to stand out. His family’s support was instrumental in making him who he was. The dialogue resembled, in a way, Mary’s speech in the gospel today.
In visiting her kinswoman, Mary is given a supreme compliment. Elizabeth calls her the “most blessed …among woman” for bearing Jesus inside her womb. At this point one would expect Mary to return the compliment or to explain what she did to merit such an honor. But her eyes are fixed on God. Rather than speak of her own virtue or anyone else’s, she gives all the credit to the Lord. He “has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” He “has done great things” for her. He always “has mercy on those who fear him.”
Most of us enjoy talking about our achievements so much that often enough we slip into vanity. Mary, the model disciple, reminds us that God is the source of every good deed we do. To sing His praises, not our own, is our role as agents in the new evangelization.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Peter 1:18-25; Mark 10:32-45)
It is unsurprising that the current question of religious freedom has a sexual issue at its root. In no way does Church’s teaching diverge more from contemporary social mores than on sexual norms. In this case the Church maintains that since artificial contraception violates God’s natural law, it cannot support the mandate to fund it in its health insurance plans. The first reading today indicates that sex has from the beginning been a pitfall of which Christians must be wary.
Like the sixth beatitude the passage admonishes its readers to love “from a pure heart.” That is, they are to overcome the desire to exploit the beautiful out of animal pleasure. Rather, they are to care magnanimously for all according to the Savior’s example. The verse about all flesh being ephemeral like grass, from the prophet Isaiah, adds ancient testimony to Jesus’ lesson.
We do not hold that sex is “dirty” or bad in itself. But we do believe that it must be reserved for marriage where it binds two people together who would otherwise be both lonely and less wise. Outside of marriage it gives rise to egotism and manipulation.
(I Peter 1:18-25; Mark 10:32-45)
It is unsurprising that the current question of religious freedom has a sexual issue at its root. In no way does Church’s teaching diverge more from contemporary social mores than on sexual norms. In this case the Church maintains that since artificial contraception violates God’s natural law, it cannot support the mandate to fund it in its health insurance plans. The first reading today indicates that sex has from the beginning been a pitfall of which Christians must be wary.
Like the sixth beatitude the passage admonishes its readers to love “from a pure heart.” That is, they are to overcome the desire to exploit the beautiful out of animal pleasure. Rather, they are to care magnanimously for all according to the Savior’s example. The verse about all flesh being ephemeral like grass, from the prophet Isaiah, adds ancient testimony to Jesus’ lesson.
We do not hold that sex is “dirty” or bad in itself. But we do believe that it must be reserved for marriage where it binds two people together who would otherwise be both lonely and less wise. Outside of marriage it gives rise to egotism and manipulation.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Peter 1:10-16; Mark 10:28-31)
In his novel The Shack, William Young describes the Holy Spirit as a young Asian woman who like an electron in an atom seems to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Young’s Spirit differs remarkably from his portraits of the Father, a joyful hulk of a woman, and the Son, the classical Jewish carpenter. No doubt, the Spirit as a wispy maiden, as well as the Young’s conceptualization of the Father will offend sensibilities. But there is no way to adequately describe the central mystery of faith.
Today’s reading from the First Letter of Peter twice mentions the Holy Spirit. The Spirit inspires Old Testament prophets with indications of Christ’s paschal event. The Spirit also moves the apostles to preach the gospel to the people with insight into their needs. The reading might have added, but didn’t, that the Spirit enables Christian holiness by illuminating the world’s allurements.
We are wise to develop a habit of daily prayer to the Holy Spirit. The Father may seem distant at times, and the Son perhaps too righteous to approach with our persistent faults. But the Spirit, as sure to come as the morning sun, will see us through any trial.
(I Peter 1:10-16; Mark 10:28-31)
In his novel The Shack, William Young describes the Holy Spirit as a young Asian woman who like an electron in an atom seems to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Young’s Spirit differs remarkably from his portraits of the Father, a joyful hulk of a woman, and the Son, the classical Jewish carpenter. No doubt, the Spirit as a wispy maiden, as well as the Young’s conceptualization of the Father will offend sensibilities. But there is no way to adequately describe the central mystery of faith.
Today’s reading from the First Letter of Peter twice mentions the Holy Spirit. The Spirit inspires Old Testament prophets with indications of Christ’s paschal event. The Spirit also moves the apostles to preach the gospel to the people with insight into their needs. The reading might have added, but didn’t, that the Spirit enables Christian holiness by illuminating the world’s allurements.
We are wise to develop a habit of daily prayer to the Holy Spirit. The Father may seem distant at times, and the Son perhaps too righteous to approach with our persistent faults. But the Spirit, as sure to come as the morning sun, will see us through any trial.
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