Thursday, July 18, 2013

Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 3:13-20; Matthew 11:28-30)

In Spencer Tracy’s classic portrayal of Fr. Flanagan in the movie “Boys Town,” a boy presents himself to the priest with a smaller boy on his back.  Perhaps not to alarm the priest, the boy says, “He’s not heavy, Father, he’s my brother.”  The lad’s statement echoes Jesus’ message in today’s gospel.

The “yoke” to which Jesus refers in the passage was a common metaphor used by the rabbis for the Law.  One is yoked to God who guides the person to salvation.  That Jesus’ yoke is “easy” will sound incongruous because he makes demands that go beyond the trying mandates of the Law: love your enemy; don’t lust after women, etc.  But it is not really hard because Jesus who loves us will help us all along the way.

We should not fear but rather revel when challenges face us on every side.  It is time to redouble our prayer to the Lord.  He will graciously see us through the crisis.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 3:1-6.9-12; Matthew 11:25-27)

“If you want something done,” an old adage says, “ask a busy man.”  If you are a busy person with tasks piling up, what are you to do?  If you ask God for help, you will not be disappointed.  As God promises to assist Moses in the reading today, He is always ready to aid all who bring their needs to Him.

Moses’ challenge is humongous.  Rescuing the people of Israel will not only mean confronting the Egyptians with what will be the end of their way of life but also convincing the Israelites to make a long exodus through the desert.  Only a fool or the firmest believer would not say, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Whenever we find ourselves faced with a mountain of challenges, we need to stop and ask God for assistance.  Perhaps we have triple exams on a day at school or a full week of appointments, commitments, and deadlines.  It is not time to panic but to petition the Lord to see us through to the other side.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

(Exodus 2:1-15a; Matthew 11:20-24)

Today’s optional memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrates one of the most revered manifestations of the Blessed Virgin.  She is said to have given St. Simon Stock, the prior general of the Carmelite Order in the middle of the thirteenth century, the order’s brown scapular that served as part of its habit.  At the same time Our Lady is said to have promised salvation to those who persevere in wearing it.

The scapular has been radically reduced so that it is not always a garb at all but a neck pendant that can be easily worn under regular clothing.  No doubt millions of lay people around the word do just that trusting Our Lady’s promise.  The story sounds quaint and ingenuous, but it only underscores the narrative unfolding in the first reading these days where God comes to the aid of His people when they are perishing.  Today’s segment shows how the Israelite’s human liberator Moses is spared death by a generous act of Providence.

Wearing a scapular is not necessary to be saved, but it may remind us of our Lord whose death on the cross extends to us the possibility of eternal life.  He also has shared with us his Blessed Mother whose pleading on our behalf contributes to our never losing faith.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Memorial of Saint, Bonaventure, priest and doctor of the Church

(Exodus 18-14.22; Matthew 8:34-11:1)

When St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan friar, was studying in Paris for the celebrated master’s degree, the diocesan clergy opposed his candidacy.  The mendicant orders were ascendant throughout Europe, and friars took over many professorial positions at the University of Paris threatening the dominance of the diocesans.  Through an order by the pope Bonaventure was granted the degree and became one of the Church’s greatest theologians.  The gospel today hints at a similar instance of unfortunate rivalry.

Jesus almost sounds as a troublemaker as he warns his disciples to expect hostility when they follow him.  It is not that he advocates the use of force or any immoderate behavior.  But the righteousness to which he is calling his disciples live will set them against their own families.  They are not to worry as he will more than compensate them for any loss they sustain for his sake.

Parents give permission for adolescent daughters to take contraceptives.  Families inculcate racial prejudice.  Elders tell children to lie on their behalf.  There are many familial matters for faithful followers of Jesus to resist.  One consolation we have in doing so is that we join the company of saints like Bonaventure.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 46:1-7.28-30; Matthew 10:16-23)

If one wants to end a conversation quickly, she might bring up the subject of death.  No one really likes to talk about it.  In fact, as the title of a great book published forty years ago suggests, many practice The Denial of Death.  Thus, people try to hide their mortality by refusing to make a will or plan their funeral.  In today’s first reading, God puts the inevitability of Israel’s death squarely before him.

The Lord tells Israel not to worry but to go to Egypt where he will die.  However, death will not be his absolute destiny.  His name will live on in his people which will become great under God’s protection.  Reassured, Israel complies with God’s command.

We believe that God has given us a greater destiny in Jesus, his only begotten Son.  United to Jesus by his cross and resurrection, which we assume in Baptism, we share Jesus’ eternal glory.  For us death is not the end but a new beginning.  In it we will feel the love of God more deeply than ever possible on our earthly sojourn.