Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 4:11-19; Mark 9:38-40)

Wisdom seeks what is truly good in life.  Like a counterfeit detector, it sets off an alarm with the superficially pleasing but ultimately disillusioning.  Like a wine taste’s nose, it can sniff supreme quality in a new vintage.  In patriarchal societies wisdom is compared to a woman with whom a person must share full and lasting intimacy to realize its promise.

In today’s reading from the Book of Sirach wisdom is described as a demanding companion who will discipline its pursuant.  But for whatever investment of time or energy it exacts, it brings the inestimable rewards of peace and happiness.  This is to say as much as the Scriptural dictate, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Making the effort to abide by God’s eternal laws brings His infinite favor.

We live in a world with a myriad of information at our fingertips but wisdom miles away.  By taking care not to become absorbed in the ease of attaining the former but ever pondering its meaning we can achieve the latter.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 2:1-11; Mark 9:30-37)

Mother Teresa of Calcutta was fond of saying we may not be able to do great things but can do little things with great love.  She meant that in the eyes of God the second is as good as the first and maybe even better.  Jesus comes to a similar point in today’s gospel.

It is more than ironic -- really tragic -- that Jesus’ disciples argue like children about who is the greatest among them and miss his prediction about his impending death.  Nevertheless, he does not give up on them but uses the moment to teach them a worthy lesson.  Taking a child – in his day considered a person of little worth – into his arms, he instructs his disciples that if they wish to be great, then they must care for such an insignificant one. This kind of humble service is what matters most, not the number of stars on one’s coat.

With all the fanfare given to success, it is hard not to think about ourselves in competition with others.  Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has descended upon each of us with a similar message to what Jesus heard at his baptism: “You are my beloved son…” Accepting this belief as truth, we will want to please our Father by humble service to His people.  

Monday, May 20, 2013

Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 1:1-10; Mark 9:14-29)

The story is told of President Abraham Lincoln taking a walk in the woods one night weighing a difficult decision.  A group of Union soldiers were to be executed for falling asleep on duty unless he gave them a pardon.  Along the path Lincoln met an adolescent on the ground crying.  The lad had run away from home after his father in a rage killed his dog.  The father had just learnt that his older son was to be executed for cowardice and couldn’t control his rage. Lincoln counseled the boy to go home and forgive his father; meanwhile, he said, he would do some forgiving himself.  The President also gave the boy his card with a note saying that he might visit him at the White House anytime.  The boy went home and made up with his father.   When he found out that his brother’s crime was falling asleep on duty, he went straight to the White House and took a seat outside President Lincoln’s office.  At the end of the day, the boy gave the President’s secretary the card he had received and told him he had an important matter to discuss with Mr. Lincoln.  The boy was shown in, told Lincoln what happened to his brother, and heard the President promise to add his brother’s name to the list of those soldiers who would be receiving Presidential pardons.

Just like the boy sitting in the shadow of the President, the man in the gospel whose son has an epileptic spirit does not recognize Jesus for whom he is.  He sees Jesus as a human healer, not the son of God whose prayer to his heavenly Father is invariably answered.  When Jesus questions the man’s faith, he responds with the cry that has echoed in every Christian’s heart, “’I do believe, help my unbelief.’”  Jesus demands no more than that painful request and, indeed, does help the man to believe in him by driving the demon from his son.  We likewise should bring to Jesus all our needs.  He will help us if we can honestly say with the epileptic’s father, “I do believe, help…” 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 25:13b-21; John 21:15-19)

The initial words of Pope Francis after being elected were telling.  He referred to himself as “the bishop of Rome” and not as “pope,” the spiritual father of the western Church.  Much less did he care to be recognized as the “Vicar of Christ” as if anyone could really take Jesus’ place.  No, from the beginning he wished to be identified with Peter as he appears in today’s gospel.

The Lord asks Peter if he loves him three times corresponding to Peter’s three denials of him the night before he died.  It is not that Jesus is slow to forgive, but rather he needs to test Peter before naming him caretaker of his flock.  Jesus wants to stress that Peter must always act out of love and never from a will to power or for material gain.  Pope Francis took note of this fundamental principle in that same election address as he described the Church of Rome as “presid(ing) in charity over all the Churches.”

As we complete the Easter season, we might note that love is also the purpose of the Paschal mystery.  Jesus died, rose, ascended to heaven, and had the Holy Spirit sent to us so that we might share divine love.  Because of his ordeal, we have been remade into full children of God capable of loving selflessly forever.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17:22-26)

Often when feeling criticized, we go on the offensive.  We search for impressive words that show off our wit and put down the critics.  Surely this is a foolish strategy.  We would do better to listen carefully to what others are saying, pray to the Holy Spirit for prudence, and speak forthrightly what comes to mind.  Jesus tells us to do as much when he says, “'When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’”

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles Paul follows Jesus’ advice.  He evaluates the situation and speaks to it.  His reference to being a proponent of the resurrection of the dead divides his persecutors.  What starts as a conspiracy to condemn Paul turns into a debate with half the assembly supporting him.  The Holy Spirit is the driving force behind this and all apostolic activity in Acts of the Apostles.  He brings Christianity from its humble origins in Jerusalem to center stage in Rome where it will fan out throughout the whole world.

The Holy Spirit is God’s immeasurable gift of Himself to us.  The Spirit enlightens our minds and orders our wills so that we too might manifest God’s love to the world.