Monday of the Second Week in Advent
(Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26)
Not too many years ago Lake Erie was declared “dead.” It was not that there was no life within it but that its living specimens had become odious and toxic to the people on its shores. Human-produced contaminants caused the dismal condition. It turned into a national emergency when the pollutants carried by the Cuyahoga River emptying into Lake Erie broke into flames. Since that time with cooperation from Canada the pollutants have been reduced, and Lake Erie has recovered some of its vitality. The reading from Isaiah today describes a similar regeneration taking place in nature.
Isaiah imagines the Messianic age with streams bursting through the desert sands and wastelands becoming veritable recreation parks. His vision makes a fitting metaphor for Jesus whom the gospel shows healing a man both spiritually and physically. It may seem peculiar to compare Jesus with an eco-system, but such an image conveys the life-giving relationships that his presence engenders.
Jesus bestows such relationships on us in the sacraments. In Baptism we become members of his Church which instructs us in his ways. In the Eucharist we are joined even closer to one another and to the Lord himself. Reinforced in these ways, we can turn and assist others in their need for fullness of life.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Memorial of Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church
(Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31)
Saint Ambrose was not raised a Catholic. Rather his father belonged to the governing class of Roman citizenry which afforded Ambrose a classical education. Ambrose joined the catechumenate in Milan where he was provincial governor. He chose to look from the perspective of faith which brought his intellectual formation to completion. The gospel today portrays Jesus as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of enabling sight in the root sense of the word.
Isaiah prophesizes that in the fullness of time blind persons like Helen Keller would be able to see flowers and butterflies. Jesus is able to provide that kind of blessing. But his cure does not stop there as if seeing beautiful things were all that humans desire. More importantly, Jesus confirms the faith of the blind men in him as Lord. This gift sees them past all the challenges on life on the road to salvation.
We believe in order to see. That is, we accept the truths of faith so that we can have a rightful understanding of the world. We need not fear that faith conflicts with science. They cover different realms and are compatible. Belief even aids research as it insures that investigation will serve humanity.
(Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31)
Saint Ambrose was not raised a Catholic. Rather his father belonged to the governing class of Roman citizenry which afforded Ambrose a classical education. Ambrose joined the catechumenate in Milan where he was provincial governor. He chose to look from the perspective of faith which brought his intellectual formation to completion. The gospel today portrays Jesus as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of enabling sight in the root sense of the word.
Isaiah prophesizes that in the fullness of time blind persons like Helen Keller would be able to see flowers and butterflies. Jesus is able to provide that kind of blessing. But his cure does not stop there as if seeing beautiful things were all that humans desire. More importantly, Jesus confirms the faith of the blind men in him as Lord. This gift sees them past all the challenges on life on the road to salvation.
We believe in order to see. That is, we accept the truths of faith so that we can have a rightful understanding of the world. We need not fear that faith conflicts with science. They cover different realms and are compatible. Belief even aids research as it insures that investigation will serve humanity.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21.24-27)
Bicyclists are wary of sand. If they a patch of some on the road ahead they are likely to point at it with a warning to their companions. They know that sand can cause tires to slip and riders to fall. They need the bare, rock-hard road for a peaceful ride. In both readings today we see references to rock and in the gospel a lesson about sand.
Isaiah writes, “…the Lord is an eternal rock.” He means that one can trust him like a cyclist a rock hard road. Jesus calls acting on the word of God like building a house on rock. The person who does so will never slide into the pitfalls of guilt. On the other hand, the person who always does what is easy, like a builder who lays a foundation on sand, will soon be in trouble.
During Advent we are to prepare for judgment. If we find ourselves firmly established on the word of God, we can rejoice. If, on the other hand, we see our foundation crumbling because we always did what came easy, we better start building quickly on firmer ground.
(Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21.24-27)
Bicyclists are wary of sand. If they a patch of some on the road ahead they are likely to point at it with a warning to their companions. They know that sand can cause tires to slip and riders to fall. They need the bare, rock-hard road for a peaceful ride. In both readings today we see references to rock and in the gospel a lesson about sand.
Isaiah writes, “…the Lord is an eternal rock.” He means that one can trust him like a cyclist a rock hard road. Jesus calls acting on the word of God like building a house on rock. The person who does so will never slide into the pitfalls of guilt. On the other hand, the person who always does what is easy, like a builder who lays a foundation on sand, will soon be in trouble.
During Advent we are to prepare for judgment. If we find ourselves firmly established on the word of God, we can rejoice. If, on the other hand, we see our foundation crumbling because we always did what came easy, we better start building quickly on firmer ground.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37)
A generation ago it was said that the average American gained ten pounds over the year-end holidays. The added weight could hardly be less now. Perhaps, then, some will have difficulty appreciating Jesus’ concern about the people’s hunger in today’s gospel.
But just as the multiplying of loaves signifies the Eucharistic bread, so the hunger of the crowds is not so much physical as it is spiritual. Like people today, they crave meaning in their lives, acceptance of their efforts, and esteem for themselves as persons. Jesus fulfills all these needs. He loves each person who comes to him as an individual and invites all to join him in his Father’s kingdom.
The invitation does not come without expectation, however. If we are to join Jesus as his brothers and sisters, we must accept his help to live righteous lives. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit that we might care for others with the same purity of heart that he loves us.
(Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37)
A generation ago it was said that the average American gained ten pounds over the year-end holidays. The added weight could hardly be less now. Perhaps, then, some will have difficulty appreciating Jesus’ concern about the people’s hunger in today’s gospel.
But just as the multiplying of loaves signifies the Eucharistic bread, so the hunger of the crowds is not so much physical as it is spiritual. Like people today, they crave meaning in their lives, acceptance of their efforts, and esteem for themselves as persons. Jesus fulfills all these needs. He loves each person who comes to him as an individual and invites all to join him in his Father’s kingdom.
The invitation does not come without expectation, however. If we are to join Jesus as his brothers and sisters, we must accept his help to live righteous lives. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit that we might care for others with the same purity of heart that he loves us.
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 11: 1-10, Luke 10:21-24)
The prison minister related the kind of story she hears over and over again. A small black man, who apparently just arrived in the city, was wrongly accused of purse-snatching. That the fellow was hardly aware of what was happening was so obvious that the arraigning judge released him on reconnaissance. But the poor man had nowhere to go. He was homeless and almost penniless.
Even if we believe that the legal system is fair and functional, we should realize that such misfortunes as what befell the black man in the story happen with some regularity. Especially those without money to pay lawyer fees are vulnerable to miscarriages of justice. There are also abuses at the other end of the spectrum. The rich sometimes “get away with murder” because their attorneys know how to manipulate the system.
In the first reading today the prophet Isaiah announces that these injustices are coming to an end. A Messiah, he says, will be born to establish righteousness throughout the land. He will hear the cases of the poor along with the rich. He will prosecute villains and allow the innocent to walk with heads high. As a result, we will become a truly peaceful society with the equivalent of Asians and Africans, capitalists and communists, surgeons and street sweepers all taking care of one another. The good news of Advent is that this vision has been realized in Jesus of Nazareth and that it will be universalized shortly upon his return in glory.
(Isaiah 11: 1-10, Luke 10:21-24)
The prison minister related the kind of story she hears over and over again. A small black man, who apparently just arrived in the city, was wrongly accused of purse-snatching. That the fellow was hardly aware of what was happening was so obvious that the arraigning judge released him on reconnaissance. But the poor man had nowhere to go. He was homeless and almost penniless.
Even if we believe that the legal system is fair and functional, we should realize that such misfortunes as what befell the black man in the story happen with some regularity. Especially those without money to pay lawyer fees are vulnerable to miscarriages of justice. There are also abuses at the other end of the spectrum. The rich sometimes “get away with murder” because their attorneys know how to manipulate the system.
In the first reading today the prophet Isaiah announces that these injustices are coming to an end. A Messiah, he says, will be born to establish righteousness throughout the land. He will hear the cases of the poor along with the rich. He will prosecute villains and allow the innocent to walk with heads high. As a result, we will become a truly peaceful society with the equivalent of Asians and Africans, capitalists and communists, surgeons and street sweepers all taking care of one another. The good news of Advent is that this vision has been realized in Jesus of Nazareth and that it will be universalized shortly upon his return in glory.
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