Thursday, June 4, 2015

Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit, 6:10-11.7:1bcde.9-17.8:4-9a; Mark 12:28-34)

In a classic philosophical debate Plato holds that knowledge of the good results in a desire to do it.  Aristotle disagrees claiming that weakness of the will can short-circuit the desire.  Most people given the choice between, say, chocolate fudge and an apple for dessert would agree with Aristotle.  What would Jesus say?

In the gospel today Jesus makes a telling comment to the scribe who congratulates him on his choice of the greatest commandments.  He says, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”  One may interpret this statement as meaning that the scribe is not in the Kingdom because he does not profess faith in Jesus.  But it is more likely that Jesus too recognizes the difference between knowing something as good and actually doing it.  The scribe is not yet in the Kingdom because he only acknowledges the need to love God and neighbor.  He still must humble himself to care for the other.

Knowledge gets us started on the “good life.”  It pinpoints what we should do, provides viable options, and assesses the risks of each alternative.  But actually doing what is right – true morality – also requires will-power – the virtues of temperance, fortitude, and prudence.  For example, young adults know the need for pre-marital abstinence from sexual intimacy to live chastely.  But sitting alone with their partners on Saturday night, they require the virtues of the will to overcome being swamped by lustful desire.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs

(Tobit 3:1-11a.16-17a; Mark 12:18-27)

The sixteen year-old was in deep trouble.  He had broken a law and feared being punished.  Unfortunately, he had isolated himself from peers.  Although he sometimes talked with teachers, evidently they were not available during his crisis.  Rather than face up to what he did, he threw himself in front of a train.  Today’s long first reading describes Tobit and Sara as being similarly depressed.

Like the tragic youth, Tobit is liable to be pursued by the authorities.  Moreover, he has contracted a condition of blindness and in his misery has alienated his wife.  He will not kill himself but prays to God to end his life.  Sarah’s condition of having seven husbands expire on her marriage bed sounds far-fetched.  But certainly many forlorn lovers have contemplated suicide.  She too remembers the Lord in her distress.  The story unfolds as melodrama with God sending an angel to aid in response to their anguished pleas.

Perhaps when we are tried, we will not find an angel at the door to help us.  But our prayer will not go unheeded.  Like Tobit we will come to a better understanding of how our sinfulness has brought us to where we are.  More importantly, our world will not end.  We can count on God to resolve our predicament in His merciful love.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit 2:9-14; Mark 12:13-17)

Marital love is strong and productive, at least ideally.  The couple desires one another so much that they want to have children.  Then each will delight in seeing the image of the other shaped in their offspring.  Today’s gospel makes a kindred use of image as Jesus confronts his defamers. 

It sounds like the Pharisees and Herodians have taken cues from Eddie Haskell, the sweet-talking trouble-maker in the old television series Leave It to Beaver.  They think that their saccharine compliments are setting Jesus up to undermine in own reputation.  Knowing the human heart, Jesus quickly ascertains what they are trying to do and easily turns back their challenge.  In asking whose image is on the coin, Jesus is making a comparison with the one whose image is found in humans.  Because a coin bears Caesar’s images, he says that it may be properly given to Caesar.  But because men and women bear God’s image (cf., Genesis 1:26), he would have them give themselves over to God.

Christians bear a double resemblance to God.  Like all human beings, we have reason and free will like God.  Even more profoundly, baptized in Christ, we bear his grace.  Being doubly blessed, we have all the more reason to be thankful to God.  We express our gratitude by caring for one another as Jesus commanded.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr

(Tobit 1:3.2:1a-8; Mark 12:1-12)

St. Justin was martyred not so much for what he believed as for failing to pay homage to the Roman gods.  The Romans of the second century were not fanatical.  They did not insist that Christians not worship their God only that they bow to the national deities as well.  It is roughly similar to the situation that many experience today in the United States.  If one wants to go to church, fine.  But the reigning culture insists that the person acknowledges the cultural idol of sexual libertarianism.  Justin believed that there is but one God and even lip-service to others was a lie which he would not stomach.  Today’s first reading begins the story of Tobit, another man whose religious principles put him at odds with the authorities.

Tobit takes to heart the biblical injunction to bury the dead.  Evidently it is a crime to be so diligent in ancient Nineveh as Tobit’s neighbors say that he was hunted down before for doing.  But Tobit, a righteous man, follows his conscience.

Intelligent people have prophesized that the Church will be persecuted for its opposition to gay marriage.  We should prepare ourselves for this eventuality first by understanding the issue, especially the Catholic moral perspective.  Then we should pray that sexual licentiousness does not undermine the moral fiber of Western civilization and that we remain faithful to the truth and forgiving of our persecutors.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 44:1.9-13; Mark 11:11-26)

Poets use objective correlatives as ways of describing with images of nature the mind’s inner-working.  For example, when Robert Frost describes watching the woods fill up with snow, he means to tell the reader about his contemplating the eeriness of death.  The evangelist Mark presents an objective correlative in the passage today about the fig tree that does not bear fruit. 

Jesus disappointment with the fig tree anticipates the disgust he will feel when he enters the Temple.  Because the Temple has not fostered a holy people, it is doomed.  The money changers are only the tip of the iceberg. More reproachable are the priests who control the business and profit handsomely from it.  As Jesus curses the fig tree, he will throw out the money changers.  And as he cleans up the Temple, he will perfect the Temple sacrifices with his own death on the cross.

As Jesus expresses revulsion for those who misuse the Temple, he will not tolerate those who exploit Christianity.  Over-zealous crusaders and inquisitors may come to mind, but we should examine our own lives for this evil.  We may go to church just to put ourselves in someone’s favorable light.  We may find in our piety a cause for pride when the righteousness God seeks is humility and compassion. There is need for all of us to orient ourselves properly so that we never incite the Lord’s wrath.