Friday, February 14, 2014

Memorial of Saints Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop

 (I Kings 11:29-32.12:19; Mark 7:31-37)

Although today, Valentine’s Day, is commonly associated with erotic love, the feast has saintly origins.  There are several versions of the story of the ancient martyr, St. Valentine, and probably for this reason the Church has dropped the feast from its calendar and has reassigned the day to the less primitive Saints Cyril and Methodius.  In Latin countries the day is frequently called Día de Amistad, or Day of Friendship, celebrating the love between friends as much as the love between sweethearts.  Here we may see a link between the legendary martyr(s) of old and the two official saints of the day.

 Cyril and Methodius were brothers who ventured from their native Greece to the Slavic nations of the Ukraine and Moravia in the ninth century.  They had positions in teaching and government before becoming missionaries.  Why did they leave their careers to preach the gospel in foreign lands?  Could it have been anything other than love of Christ?  Sure missionaries have a sense of adventure, but they make a new home in a new place among new people because they sense Jesus urging them on.  As any good friend, he inspires them, invigorates them, and cares for them.

 Jesus is our friend as well.  He might be whispering in our ear to become foreign missionaries, but more likely he wants us to preach to those who surround us today.  Of course, he does not want us to harangue anyone, quite the contrary.  He asks us to share his joy, his peace, and his love.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 11:4-13; Mark 7:24-30)

Inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere are beginning to think about their summer vacation.  Spending two to three of recreation in another locale has become so much part of the contemporary way of life that months of planning and sizeable resources are given to the project.  In the gospel Jesus seems to be taking a vacation which explains part of his reluctance to assist the Greek woman.

Mark writes that Jesus hopes to escape notice when he enters a house in in the foreign city of Tyre.  He is probably worn out from intensive preaching and the never ending stream of sick persons seeking his cures.  Although he is not inclined to see more people now, he has a better reason for not going to the woman’s bedeviled daughter. He can honestly tell the woman that his mission is to Israel, not for the moment to the world.  But the woman refuses rejection.  She calls Jesus “Lord” and indicates that she would accept any assistance that he might give.  Ever merciful, Jesus acknowledges her faith by granting her daughter deliverance.

Faith proves to be a critical element in experiencing the Kingdom of God.  Faith tells us not to dictate completely what Jesus is to do for us although there is nothing wrong with some specificity regarding our needs.  More importantly, we are to trust implicitly in his love for us.  Almost certainly then we will experience wonders. 

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 10:1010; Mark 7:14-23)

Abraham Lincoln was born two hundred and five years ago today.  Of all the American presidents he is regarded as the wisest.  In his second inaugural address he displays a depth of wisdom that few political leaders anywhere have matched.  Rather than tout the righteousness of his victorious side in the great civil war, Lincoln recognized the whole nation’s complexity in evil and appealed to God for mercy.  Promising “charity toward all and malice toward none,” Lincoln gave direction to the enormous healing needed of all the wounds the war inflicted.  Lincoln capably followed in the path of righteousness that Solomon sets in today’s first reading.

The Bible Solomon the personification of wisdom.  Not only does the Queen of Sheba make the paean to his wisdom as the reading records, but he is associated with almost every wisdom book in the Old Testament.  Solomon’s wisdom begins with the essentials—one must fear the Lord and follow in His ways.  In time love for the Lord will replace fear and the need for law will be diminished, but for the unruly majority of human beings, fear and law remain foundational.

The Bible almost implores us to seek wisdom.  Unfortunately, many would rather be rich or wealthy or young.  Wisdom, however, brings us happiness at every stage of life.  Because it is such a favorable companion, it is well characterized as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 8:22-23.27-30; Mark 7:1-13)

The woman was upset with the Church when her son was told that he could not have his wedding at a garden ceremony.  She reasoned that if the Church allows mass to be celebrated in a home, it could permit weddings wherever the couple wished.  But the Church insists that weddings be done in a sacred space to underscore the sacred covenant of marriage.  In his prayer that comprises the first reading today Solomon asks a question pertinent to the issue.

The king prays: “’Can it indeed be that God dwells among men on earth?  If the heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built!’”  Solomon realizes that God is not confined to the holy place that he has constructed.  Yet he knows that the temple raises minds and hearts to God with its lofty walls and arched ceiling.  He would say that when the temple reminds people of God’s closeness, it fulfills his purpose.

Everything on earth may be a sacrament connecting us with God, but there are also many elements that distract us from considering Him.  Temples and churches generally avoid the ambiguity.  We are wise to follow Solomon’s lead of praying that God watch over our churches so that people will always raise prayers within their walls that He can answer. 

Monday, February 10, 2014

Memorial of Saint Scholastica, virgin

(I Kings 8:1-7.9-13; Mark 6:53-56)

One noted literary critic considered Wallace Stevens the best American poet of his generation.  But Stevens hardly appeared to be a poet to most of the people in his daily life.  He lived in Hartford, Connecticut, where, like many, Stevens worked for an insurance company.  Even after being awarded a Pulitzer Prize and offered a faculty position at Harvard University, Stevens chose to remain in Hartford as an insurance executive.  As much as Stevens wanted to hide the identity that has made him famous, he appears like Jesus in the Gospel of Mark.

In today’s passage people come to Jesus looking to be cured of their illnesses.  The text indicates that none were disappointed.  But, of course, Jesus’ benefit only begins with physical healing.  He comes to save them from the folly of sin.  He not only teaches them by thought and deed, but in confronting and defeating the triumvirate of sin – Jewish pride, Roman cruelty, his follower’s cowardice – Jesus has won for those who believe in him freedom from the effects of sin.

We too often look to Jesus to help us in our need.  We ask him to cure our illnesses and to assist us in the turmoil of life.  Like a true friend, he helps us in these situations.  But even when we cannot feel his hand on our shoulder guiding us, we know that he is there taking us beyond the limitations of our sin into the realm of his eternal love.