Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Memorial of St. Barnabas, apostle

(Acts 11:21b-26.13:1-3; Matthew 5:17-19)

St. Barnabas may not be on any short list of patron saints for religion teachers, but he consummately fills the role.  We might call him the prototypical catechist given that, besides Jesus, he seems to be the first teacher mentioned in the New Testament. 

In the Acts of the Apostles Barnabas teaches by example as well as by words.  In fact, his giving the total proceeds of the sale of his property to the community of disciples in Jerusalem has eloquently taught Christians generosity and commitment throughout the centuries.  Today’s reading from Acts testifies how the Holy Spirit calls Barnabas from teaching to preaching as an apostle.

All of us can imitate Barnabas.  We need to be generous with our belongings, caring of others in order to teach, and bold enough to proclaim Jesus in public. It is a tall order, but having been endowed with the Holy Spirit, we can do it.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 17:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16)

The recent movie Philomena opens with a devout woman at prayer.  Later it is learned that she asks God constantly to enable her to know the whereabouts of her son who was separated from her many years before as a child.  Eventually the woman decides to pursue an offer that a journalist makes to find her son.  Could it not be said that the Lord answered the woman’s prayer by telling her to trust the journalist?  God seems to be speaking to Elijah in this way in today’s first reading.

The Scripture is quite explicit. “So the Lord said to Elijah:” it says, “’Move on…’”  It may be that Elijah hears a voice ordering him, but it is more likely that Elijah intuits the Lord’s command.  The difference between Elijah and most other people who say that the Lord spoke to them is that Elijah constantly waits on the Lord attending to every word from Scripture.

God speaks to us as well.  Principally He communicates through the Scriptures, especially the gospels in which we hear the words of Jesus.  We must discipline ourselves to intuit what He intends for us personally by constantly carrying out His will and praying for guidance.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12)

Today we return to Ordinary Time after almost a quarter of a year contemplating the Easter mystery.  We say ordinary as if we expect nothing unusual to happen except, of course, perhaps a change of venue for a while during the summer and perhaps the celebration of our birthday.  But that is not what “Ordinary Time” in the liturgical sense is all about.  Now is the time to encounter the Lord Jesus; it is the time to work out our salvation.  Ordinary is meant to signal the order of weeks – one following another – on one day of which we will find our salvation.

Today’s gospel indicates how the experience will affect us.  When we come to know the Lord, we will act like him.  We will live “poor in spirit,” that is completely at God’s disposition not calculating on securing dividends for ourselves.  We will mourn our sins and meekly confess them so to breathe freely again.  But we will show understanding, even mercy for fellow sinners.  The drive for power and pleasure will not sully our hearts.  Quite the contrary, we will pursue justice in all our dealings with others.  Our motive like St. Francis’ will be to reconcile differences so that the world may have peace.  Even if it means suffering persecution, we will not shirk from doing what God wants of us.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

In his classic book Childhood and Society Erik Erikson outlines eight stages of psycho-social development. He begins with basic trust that infants are to develop and proceeds to ego integrity, the goal of a successful life.  In today’s gospel Jesus calls Peter to the penultimate stage of generativity where he is to assist others in the quest for happiness.

In their conversation, Jesus commissions Peter to pastor his church.  He wants his vicar to keep the people united on the road to the fullness of life.   Since it is not an easy task, Jesus requires that Peter give full allegiance.  He calls Peter to be ready to sacrifice his life in carrying out the duties of his office.

Just as we are to be generative in our social development, we are to give life in our development as Christians.  This means that we call others to Christian discipleship and model for them its meaning.  It will demand sacrifice, but the integrity to which it leads us will be crowned with eternal life.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr

(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17:20-26)

St. Boniface, the patron of Germany, was martyred while at work as a missionary.  Born in late seventh century England, Boniface was commissioned by the pope to convert pagan tribes.  Doing so, he endeavored to realize the vision that Jesus proclaims in today’s gospel.

Jesus is praying for unity.  The words he uses – “’so that they may all be one’” – are often quoted in ecumenical circles.  But Jesus has more in mind than the unification of disparate Christian communities.  He wants to draw all people– believers and non-believers alike – into communion.  In the end he is praying for the reconciliation of the whole world!

As always, we need to adopt Jesus’ position as our own.  We not only pray but also endeavor to bring the world together in peace.  Simple efforts are needed: conversing with people of different backgrounds, greeting friends of different religions on their holy days, and taking interest in the traditions of different nations.