Thursday, June 20, 2013

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-15)

A proud Texan was telling someone he met at the airport what a great state he comes from.   He said that it is such a fine place to live that at the end of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings when everyone says the Lord’s Prayer together, he changes the words to say, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Texas.” Not everyone has such a high opinion of the Lone Star state, but there are customs and courtesies there, as everywhere, worth emulating. 

Let’s go back to Jesus’ petition that the earth be more like heaven.  How would it have to change to become so?  Everyone could submit a list of suggestions.  Here are some.  We would study the word of God more and justify our own opinions less.  We would be ready to listen to others’ ideas, slow to endorse them, and reluctant to reject them completely. We would develop a helping hand, a caring heart, and a clean mind.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)

When appointing a new church, pastors know how to secure donations.  They inform the people that if they purchase a window or a pew for the church, their names will be placed on a plaque attached to the object purchased.  One might legitimately ask if this custom undermines Jesus’ directive that alms must be given in private to receive God’s favor.

Similar questions may be made of fasting and praying.  This is the same gospel that is read on Ash Wednesday when people demonstrate that they intend to fast by wearing ashes on the forehead.  And, of course, people don’t always pray in their rooms but regularly go to church to pray with others.  Jesus cannot be condemning these practices.  He is warning, however, that if one’s primary motive in doing pious deeds is to win human favor, he or she will be deprived of God’s blessing. 

As Samuel the prophet is told, God judges the human heart.  He knows our true motives.  We may even fool ourselves in thinking that we are doing a truly good deed, when we mostly want to look good to others.  “Then can we ever be sure that we stand in the grace of God?” some will ask.  It would be presumptuous to say that, but we still can live in joyful gratitude thanking God for the sacraments which, received properly, bring us God’s grace.  At the same time we want to ask God for enlightenment about our true selves.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 8:1-9; Matthew 5:43-48)

A recent magazine article tells the story of how the very rich give away much less of their income than poorer people and then, not to charities but to non-profits like universities and hospitals. St. Paul addresses the issue in today’s second reading.

Paul appeals to the Corinthians to be generous in the collection for the poor in Jerusalem.  He says that the churches of Macedon – principally, the Philippians and the Thessalonians – although relatively poor in comparison to the church in Corinth, have proven to be remarkably self-sacrificing in their contributions to the collection.  He then asks the Corinthians to consider Christ who sacrificed the richness of divinity to become a lowly human so that humans could share in divine glory. 

We receive so many requests from churches and charities that it seems the regular mail service is no more than a conduit for such appeals and for advertisement.  We should not become frustrated nor feel guilty about not giving to everyone who asks.  Rather, we should give what we can – even until it hurts -- to those who seem most in need of our help.  Doing so, we imitate Christ and can hope to share in his glory.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 6:1-10; Matthew 5:38-42)

Acteva is a company that ostensibly helps non-profit organizations with Internet services.  Recently, however, a number of the organizations that Acteva supposedly helps have found themselves swindled of their monies.  Left discouraged, such organizations could hardly be blamed for feeling a bit skeptical when they hear Jesus’ message in today’s gospel.

Jesus exhorts his listeners to open their wallets to those needing assistance.  Does he mean that one should risk losing the necessities of life?  Such a radical interpretation probably misrepresents Jesus who shows concern about people’s general welfare.  Nevertheless, he knows that people tend to so preoccupy themselves with money that they lose sight of the value of a human being.  Jesus only insists that his followers be generous with those in real need.

It is hard to lend when we intuit that the borrower will not pay us back.  Perhaps we should not lend what we cannot afford to lose or, better, from the beginning consider loans as gifts and ask borrowers to “pay it forward” (give it to another in need).  In any case Jesus wants us to help the poor with our money as well as with our prayers.  

Friday, June 14, 2013

Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 4:7-15; Matthew 5:27-32)

Summertime brings people to the beach.  Men typically go to look at women and women go to be looked at – both groups with lust in their hearts.  Jesus addresses the situation in today’s gospel.

After he posts the great rewards for his followers in the beatitudes and gives a few images of encouragement, Jesus presents himself as Lord refining the law given to the Israelites at Sinai.  He tells the New Israel that they sin not just by committing adultery but by desiring it in their hearts.  Only by transcending such desires, which amount to idolatry, will they be able to see the true God.

Girl-watching (and boy-watching as well) seems like a pastime innocuous enough that we may not want to comment upon it.  Yet it counters Jesus’ teaching and instrumentalizes human beings. We need to model modesty as well as give each person his or her due respect.  We should also exhort youth when there is a chance of being heard to practice self-control over what they look at and what they think.