Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and companions, martyrs
(Hebrews 12:4-7.11-15; Mark 6:1-6)
There seems to be no bottom to the depths that humans can go in torturing others. Dr. Tom Dooley in the 1950s wrote of finding Vietnamese peasants with chop sticks hammered into their ears. Americans have recently used waterboarding which causes the victim to experience the sensation of drowning. At the end of the sixteenth century the Japanese shogun had St. Paul Miki’s and twenty-five others’ ears cut off. Then they were paraded through streets as a warning to their countrymen of the consequences of becoming a Christian. Finally, they were crucified with their abdomens and hearts pierced.
Although Christianity was forbidden in Japan, the faith did not die. The blood of Paul Miki and companion seemed to take root so that when Japan became open to the West in the nineteenth century, over two hundred thousand Christians were practicing the faith. The selection from the Letter to the Hebrews today reflects such a phenomenon. The author exhorts his readers not to give up the faith that their ancestors shed blood to maintain.
Although contemporary humans like to think of themselves as enlightened, an honest appraisal will note that torture and religious persecution are still prevalent. Unfortunately faith in Jesus’ message of peace and forbearance is waning. More than ever the world needs Christ, not just lip service paid to the gospel, but conversion of heart to his way.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr
(Hebrews 12:1-4; Mark 5:21-43)
It is said that there was a rivalry in ancient times between the Church of Rome and that of Sicily. Each claimed that its martyrs were greater. The universal Church has honored these claims by including their representative saints in the first Eucharistic Prayer. Today the Church honors St. Agatha, a virgin and martyr, hailing from Sicily just as three weeks ago it celebrated St. Agnes, a Roman virgin-martyr.
Sicilians say that Agatha was tortured and died in prison in the middle of the third century. A year after her death, when Mount Etna was about to explode, the people asked Agatha’s intercession with the Lord. The volcano did not erupt, and the people credited their safety to her.
The reading from Hebrews today mentions a “great…cloud of witnesses” who stand as models of a faithful life. The reference is properly to the great personages of the Old Testament, but we can think of it as including saints like Agatha who endured death rather than abandon faith in Christ. As today we live in a society where faith wanes, we should consider the “cloud of witnesses” and strive to emulate their commitment to Christ.
(Hebrews 12:1-4; Mark 5:21-43)
It is said that there was a rivalry in ancient times between the Church of Rome and that of Sicily. Each claimed that its martyrs were greater. The universal Church has honored these claims by including their representative saints in the first Eucharistic Prayer. Today the Church honors St. Agatha, a virgin and martyr, hailing from Sicily just as three weeks ago it celebrated St. Agnes, a Roman virgin-martyr.
Sicilians say that Agatha was tortured and died in prison in the middle of the third century. A year after her death, when Mount Etna was about to explode, the people asked Agatha’s intercession with the Lord. The volcano did not erupt, and the people credited their safety to her.
The reading from Hebrews today mentions a “great…cloud of witnesses” who stand as models of a faithful life. The reference is properly to the great personages of the Old Testament, but we can think of it as including saints like Agatha who endured death rather than abandon faith in Christ. As today we live in a society where faith wanes, we should consider the “cloud of witnesses” and strive to emulate their commitment to Christ.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 11:32-40; Mark 5:1-20)
In the final scene of George Bernard Shaw’s play Saint Joan, the protagonist appears in a dream. She has been convicted of heresy, executed, but then exonerated and even made a saint. She now proposes that she work a miracle and return to her people. But no one in the dream thinks it a good idea. They say that the world is not ready for saints like her. The gospel passage today has a similar conclusion.
Jesus has just resolved one of the Gerasene territory’s biggest problems. The man who was possessed by demons and terrorizing the people now sits as graciously as a butterfly. You would think that the people should thank Jesus and invite him to dinner. But they ask him to leave their area. True, the taming of the strongman did result in the loss of a herd of pigs, but the reason for the people’s desire that Jesus distance himself lies deeper. His evident holiness makes them painfully aware of their own sinfulness. Rather than ask for mercy, they ask that mercy move on.
We may not directly ask Jesus to leave, but our response to Jesus’ presence may be little better. We often refuse to acknowledge him and choose instead to worry about our problems and perhaps curse our rivals. But he is there to cast out the demons in our lives that get us worked up. We only have to open ourselves to him.
(Hebrews 11:32-40; Mark 5:1-20)
In the final scene of George Bernard Shaw’s play Saint Joan, the protagonist appears in a dream. She has been convicted of heresy, executed, but then exonerated and even made a saint. She now proposes that she work a miracle and return to her people. But no one in the dream thinks it a good idea. They say that the world is not ready for saints like her. The gospel passage today has a similar conclusion.
Jesus has just resolved one of the Gerasene territory’s biggest problems. The man who was possessed by demons and terrorizing the people now sits as graciously as a butterfly. You would think that the people should thank Jesus and invite him to dinner. But they ask him to leave their area. True, the taming of the strongman did result in the loss of a herd of pigs, but the reason for the people’s desire that Jesus distance himself lies deeper. His evident holiness makes them painfully aware of their own sinfulness. Rather than ask for mercy, they ask that mercy move on.
We may not directly ask Jesus to leave, but our response to Jesus’ presence may be little better. We often refuse to acknowledge him and choose instead to worry about our problems and perhaps curse our rivals. But he is there to cast out the demons in our lives that get us worked up. We only have to open ourselves to him.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 10:32-39; Mark 4:26-34)
During World War II a Protestant community in rural France saved an estimated 5000 Jews from the Holocaust. The Huguenots of Le Chambon-sur-lignon sheltered and hid Jewish refugees from the Nazis and their French collaborators. The townspeople provided their persecuted guests with papers and transport to freedom in Switzerland. Moved by the collective memory of their ancestors being victims of Catholic persecution centuries before, they responded with compassionate service to the horrific ordeal of the Jews. Their story reflects the first reading today.
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds the people of their heroism during an earlier persecution. He (or she?) mentions how they joined in the suffering of fellow Christians who were imprisoned for their faith. The author is encouraging the people not to give up. Rather they must keep the faith despite trials and the delayed return of Christ.
Religious persecution is perhaps as old as religion itself. There are signs that we are entering into an era of renewed intolerance of Christians. Whether or not we will see segregation and physical abuse, Christian beliefs and moral practices are already being ridiculed. Like the Hebrews we must place our confidence in Christ. He will provide the spiritual resources to endure present difficulties and reward us with eternal life.
(Hebrews 10:32-39; Mark 4:26-34)
During World War II a Protestant community in rural France saved an estimated 5000 Jews from the Holocaust. The Huguenots of Le Chambon-sur-lignon sheltered and hid Jewish refugees from the Nazis and their French collaborators. The townspeople provided their persecuted guests with papers and transport to freedom in Switzerland. Moved by the collective memory of their ancestors being victims of Catholic persecution centuries before, they responded with compassionate service to the horrific ordeal of the Jews. Their story reflects the first reading today.
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds the people of their heroism during an earlier persecution. He (or she?) mentions how they joined in the suffering of fellow Christians who were imprisoned for their faith. The author is encouraging the people not to give up. Rather they must keep the faith despite trials and the delayed return of Christ.
Religious persecution is perhaps as old as religion itself. There are signs that we are entering into an era of renewed intolerance of Christians. Whether or not we will see segregation and physical abuse, Christian beliefs and moral practices are already being ridiculed. Like the Hebrews we must place our confidence in Christ. He will provide the spiritual resources to endure present difficulties and reward us with eternal life.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest
Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25)
The man identified himself as Catholic, but he asked a question that comes from another religious tradition. “Do you believe in karma?” he said. “What is that?” was the reply. The man explained that karma is the teaching that one gets what he or she gives. If she does good, good things will happen to her. If he does evil, then he will be punished in some way. Is this what Jesus is driving at in today’s gospel?
Jesus promises, “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.” It sounds like karma, but it goes beyond a simple tit-for-tat. Jesus means that those who give of themselves in love like him will experience eternal life – the “more” in his assertion.
When we respond to injury with care – maybe in the form of a prayer for our malefactor – we align ourselves with Jesus. He is the light that illumines our lives now and will not dim as we enter the darkness of death.
Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25)
The man identified himself as Catholic, but he asked a question that comes from another religious tradition. “Do you believe in karma?” he said. “What is that?” was the reply. The man explained that karma is the teaching that one gets what he or she gives. If she does good, good things will happen to her. If he does evil, then he will be punished in some way. Is this what Jesus is driving at in today’s gospel?
Jesus promises, “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.” It sounds like karma, but it goes beyond a simple tit-for-tat. Jesus means that those who give of themselves in love like him will experience eternal life – the “more” in his assertion.
When we respond to injury with care – maybe in the form of a prayer for our malefactor – we align ourselves with Jesus. He is the light that illumines our lives now and will not dim as we enter the darkness of death.
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