Monday, January 12, 2015

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 1:1-6; Mark 1:14-20)

Today’s gospel makes an interesting study of comparison and contrast with next Sunday’s.  It gives the account of Jesus’ call of his first disciples in the Gospel of Mark.  Sunday’s gospel will proclaim the story of the call in the Gospel according to John.

In Mark, John the Baptist has been arrested when Jesus goes to Galilee to proclaim the Good News.  Finding Peter and Andrew fishing, he calls them to follow him.  In John, the Baptist himself tells his disciple Andrew that Jesus is the “lamb of God.”  In both Mark and John Jesus takes the initiative by inviting his future disciples to “come.”  Again, in both cases again the men assuming the role of disciples explicitly “follow” Jesus.  Finally, in Mark Jesus tells Peter and Andrew that they will be fishers of men while in John, Andrew goes out fishing for his brother Simon to become Jesus’ follower.

Many begin to doubt the truth claim of the gospels when they hear of inconsistencies like the ones mentioned above.  But when we think about it, don’t the inconsistencies while still delivering the same basic message support their being true?  The evangelists Mark and John wrote at least one and perhaps two generations after Jesus died.  There is no sure evidence that they knew one another or that one knew of the other’s writing. Both received Jesus’ story largely by word of mouth as it was preached first by the Twelve and then by other apostles.  Naturally some deviation occurred.  But the similarities are so strong that we can say with confidence that, yes, Jesus did call his disciples and, yes, they did “follow” or learn from him.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Friday after the Epiphany

(I John5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16)

A man, known for his charity, would always give credit to his wife.  He would say that she was the kindest person in the world.  Deflecting praise to her, the man showed himself all the more worthy of it.  Jesus appears in this mode in the gospel today.

Being confronted by a leper is a bit like having a mentally deranged person come into the room.  He or she is likely to cost one time if not more serious trouble.  Jesus, however, shows no indication of fright.  Quite the contrary he is bold enough to touch the leper, thereby making himself unclean.  Meanwhile, his touch restores the leper to health.  Jesus then tells the man to have his healing verified by a priest as prescribed by Jewish law.  The people, unbothered by the possibility of Jesus’ contamination, throng around him. Curiously, however, he withdraws from them to pray to God.

This gospel gives us insight into God’s coming among us as we conclude Christmas festivities this weekend.  He is here to heal us of our infirmities, even at considerable cost to himself.  He does not overturn established customs but brings them to fruition.  Nor does he exploit his powers for self-aggrandizement; rather, he always stays in touch with their source – his relationship with the Father.  More than insight into Jesus, the gospel provides us a model for our lives.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Thursday after the Epiphany

(I John 4:19-5:4; Luke 4:14-22)

Within two weeks President Obama will deliver the annual State of the Union Address before Congress.  He will mention the challenges facing the country: millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States, wars festering in Iraq and Afghanistan, racial tensions mounting, to name just a few.  Similarly, Jesus addresses the challenges of his times in what may be called his inaugural address in the Gospel of Luke.

Interestingly, Luke has Jesus making his first presentation in his hometown of Nazareth.  It is as if Jesus were a politician returning home to launch a campaign.  He references the prophet Isaiah to announce the issues on which he will concentrate.  He will lift the spirits of the poor, win amnesty for prisoners, relieve the burden to the oppressed, etc.  In short, he will fulfill God’s promise of justice made after Judah experienced the humiliation of military defeat and exile.  Of course, Jesus’ townspeople are edified by his speech.  They know that what he says are not just words but testimony to deeds already accomplished.

Still at the beginning of a new year, we should make some resolutions about what we would like to see happen in our lives this year.  If we are true followers, we will peg our hopes to the Lord Jesus.  We will ask his grace to be more patient on the road and at home.  We will also plead him to make us less insistent on having things our own way.  Like him we will see our role as thanking God and serving Him by helping others.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Christmas Weekday

(I John 4:11-18; Mark 6:45-52)

With most people having stored away their Nativity scenes, the meaning of Christmas fades from memory.  Surely the feast is meant to do more than stimulate the economy!  No, first and foremost, Christmas reminds the world that God has come into its midst.  This truth is amply demonstrated in the gospel reading today.

Jesus is capable of walking on water because he is God come to earth.  The boat being tossed about by the waves symbolizes the Church in a sinful world.  The winds churning up the waters represent human passions threatening goodness and truth.  But Jesus’ presence saves the boat from these implacable forces. 

Pleasure, power, prestige, even deep pockets lose their sway when we keep in mind that Jesus accompanies us.  The celebration of Christmas assures us that God has made His appearance among us.  Now we are to take notice that although the accoutrements of Christmas are gone, His presence remains forever.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Tuesday, Christmas weekday

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

The woman was fond of saying, “Where there is a will there is a way.”  She knew that people often find excuses for not doing things that they could do if they set their heart on it.  She herself gave her three children a Catholic education after her husband died in their eleventh year of marriage.  Jesus has a similar idea in mind in today’s gospel.

The disciples are growing desperate.  They see the crowds staying to listen to Jesus as the day wanes.  They must be thinking, “Who will feed this multitude?”  Perhaps they have provisions that they are reluctant to share.  But Jesus shows no such worry.  “Give them some food yourselves,” he says.  He then blesses the bread and fish at hand which turn out to be more than enough.  What happened?  The gospel itself does not mention a multiplication of loaves.  Nor is anything said about each person sharing from his or her personal provision.  The “how” question evidently does not really matter to the evangelist.  What’s important here is Jesus’ trust in his Father to feed the crowd. 

We too sometimes make excuses for not fulfilling responsibilities.  We do not have to give it “the old college try.”  What’s important is sincerely asking God’s assistance.  There are as many ways for God to accomplish His purpose as there are fish in the ocean.  God will provide when we bring our needs to Him.