Thursday, March 7, 2013

Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs

(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)

Today the Church celebrates two illustrious martyrs.  They are African women, Perpetua and Felicity.  Perpetua was a noblewoman who became a Christian.  Felicity was her slave.  During one of the periodic persecutions Perpetua’s father pleaded with her to be, as it were, politically correct and express fidelity to the gods of Rome.  She wouldn’t have had to renounce Christianity only to include the Roman gods in her prayers.  But she would have none of it.  Knowing that expressing dual loyalties in matters of faith is like living in a house divided, she persisted in her Christian belief and was summarily executed.

In today’s gospel Jesus presents what may be called the original “house divided speech.”  He tells his detractors that he cannot cast out demons and still be in Satan’s league.  Rather, his allegiance is to God the King who has empowered him to act in his name.

As Satan cannot rule if people are not aligned with him, we have to make sure that we stand with Jesus.  His humility and compassion move us away from the passing world of sin towards eternal life with God. 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent

(Deuteronomy 4: 1.5-9; Matthew 5:17-19)

The elderly Jewish couple expressed dismay over the number of younger Jews who no longer practice their faith.  They themselves believed in the prophet Isaiah’s vision of the Jews being “light to the world” by living impeccable lives and pursuing justice.  They were expressing a hope similar to that which Jesus articulates for his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.

The gospel today goes right to the heart of that sermon.  Jesus has presented his vision of true happiness in the beatitudes and has pointed to his disciples as incorporating two universal human needs– light to find richness in life and salt to experience its goodness.  Now he states his intention before outlining his program.  He has come to do no less than fulfill the Word of God.  The Ten Commandments stand unimpeachable, but he will provide the grace to live them perfectly so that their adherents may enjoy the eternal life of God’s daughters and sons.

We sometimes talk of a New Law as if the Old Law were cancelled, but this is not Jesus’ intention.  The New Law, most accurately expressed, is not a substitute for the old but the grace of the Holy Spirit working within us to put it into practice.  The New Law in sum enables us to love one another as God loves us.  

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

(Daniel 3:25.34-43; Matthew 18:21-35)

A little girl comes home crying.  She says that she fell down and ruined her dress.  The mother takes her into her arms to console her.  She says, “I don’t care if you ruined a hundred dresses, just as long as you aren’t hurt.”  Such graciousness is what Jesus demands of his disciples in today’s gospel reading.

Peter comes to Jesus asking for a rule of thumb to determine how much patience is required with an offensive church member, a “brother.”  A situation can be readily imagined. A member of the community consistently comes late for services.  She says that she is sorry and promises to try harder to be on time.  But her tardiness is disruptive and the pastor wants to draw a line that might help her to fulfill her promise.  What would Jesus say?

Jesus tells us to forgive the truly repentant, no matter the number of times.  He exhorts long-suffering as a way of expressing love.  But he would also advise discerning the sincerity of the offender.  If she treats others with a similar magnanimity, pardon can be joyfully extended.  If she harshly judges the motives of others, the earnestness of her intention to reform is dubious. 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Monday of the Third Week of Lent

(II Kings 5:1-15ab; Luke 4:24-30)

In “Death of the Hired Hand” poet Robert Frost tells the story of a shiftless, old farmhand.  The character is an almost complete failure, but he has one remarkable quality – he knows how to pitch hay.  The poet explains how some people defeat their purpose by standing on the hay they mean to pitch.  The old farmhand, however, knows better.

Two characters in the first reading stand on, as it were, the hay they mean to pitch.  Both the king of Israel and Naaman, the Syrian general, make themselves obstacles to what they wish to accomplish.  They worry about not being able to do something when all that is necessary is that they trust in God.  One wants to shout at the first: “No, king of Israel, you are not a god with power over life and death.  Your God, however, has exactly that power.  Ask him to heal the leper.” And to the general: “No, Naaman, you cannot be cleansed in the waters of your own land.  Do what the prophet of God tells you, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

Rather than put our trust in God we often fret over challenges confronting us.  We too need to be reminded that we are not gods, that our resources cannot resolve every problem.  We too must trust the God of Israel, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He can and will save us when we turn first to Him for help.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

(Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)

Parents of drug addicts sometimes tell the sad story of how they had to lock their doors on their addicted children.  After repeated instances of having their household treasures stolen to support a drug habit, they said, “Enough is enough,” and refused their troubled children entry into their homes.  In today’s reading from Genesis we hear the story of Joseph’s brothers treating him with even greater disregard than some drug addicts manifest toward their parents.

Not all his brothers conspire to kill Joseph.  Rueben, the eldest of the lot, shows some compassion by suggesting that they hold him prisoner while he figures out how to send him home safely.  Another brother, Judah, seems to have a similar sentiment, but his suggestion that they sell Joseph to Ishmaelite traders may be read as an attempt to realize a profit while ridding themselves of their nemesis.  In sum, the motive of all the brothers, save Rueben, is treachery.  They exemplify the dark side of humanity in crying need of renewal.

We are coming to the middle of Lent.  Hopefully, we have noticed by now that our motives are often not just mixed but wickedly perverse.  Perhaps we dislike seeing friends and family members receiving credit.  Perhaps we show cruelty to people when we know that we can get away with it.  Now is the time to repent of this wrongfulness and to beg God’s grace.