Tueday, October 20, 2015

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 5:12.15b.17-19.20b-21; Luke 12:35-38)

The Protestant theologian surprised himself.  He picked up a copy of Blessed John Henry Newman’s Apologia pro Vita Sua.  He expected that reading the work would draw a definitive line between himself and the great Catholic convert.  He wanted to hate Newman.  But thinking through his ideas, he found himself drawn to Newman’s argumentation.  His adversary showed him the priority of dogma over works and feelings.  Newman explained convincingly what is believed about Jesus is foundational to following him.  The incident illustrates what St. Paul is telling us in today’s first reading: where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.

Paul is trying to make sense of a fallen world.  Humans sin.  In so doing, they have found themselves confronting death and all sorts of other troubles.  But sin has been more than compensated for by Jesus.  Being both God and human, his obedience has made up for human culpability.  Because of Jesus’s returning God’s favor to humanity, humans can love one another truly and so merit eternal life.

We sometimes belittle theology.  We may not think it important that Jesus has two natures which are completely separate although unified in a single person.  Granted, such distinctions are not in the end more important for us as individuals than following his teaching.  Still an appreciation of who he is should give us more reason to heed his words.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Memorial of Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, and companions, martyrs

(Romans 4:20-25; Luke 12:13-21)

Theresa lived ninety years close to God. She raised a large family and served at her parish first as a crossing guard for the school, then as the secretary and in various other capacities. Theresa, of course, regularly attended Mass and was considered by many as a trustworthy friend. Most everyone would like to have some of Theresa’s qualities whether it be her wisdom, her faith, or her care of others. Theresa today helps us understand some of the dynamics of faith.

We sometimes hear faith described as “blind” and entailing a “leap” into the unknown. These phrases have a limited value in describing what faith entails. There may be moments when faith seems like a blind or dubious choice, for example, when a martyr is called to renounce her faith or die. Also, faith does demand a leap or letting go of complete control of one’s life and trusting in God. But usually our faith is firmly based not only on the Gospel message but on the solid examples of saints like Teresa.

In the first reading today Paul assures us that faith will win God’s favor. When we believe that Christ died for our sins and God raised him for our justification, we will share in his glory. To be sure, the faith implied here is more than a nod of assent to various propositions about God. Rather, it involves discipleship of the Lord Jesus.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary time

(Romans 4:1-8; Luke 12:1-7)

ISIS has made known the fact that Christians are being persecuted.  Its bloody videos reveal that martyrdom did not end with the Edict of Milan.  Rather persecution of Christians persists in a way stronger than ever.  John Allen documents it in a book published just two years ago.  It happens around the world to all kinds of Christians.  In today’s gospel Jesus warns his disciples to expect as much.

Jesus tells his disciples not to be surprised by the persecution.  They may think that what they preach will be kept secret.  But the message is so hopeful that it will inevitably be repeated everywhere.  He does not want them to fear the persecution so much as to fear God, “’the one has the power to cast into Gehenna.’”  But then he states that they do not have to be afraid at all if they have really become his messengers.

Jesus wants us to tell others about God’s love.  We may say how a certain gospel passage has affected our life.  Some will roll their eyes, but they are not likely to attack us .  In any case we can count on God’s coming to our rescue.  After all, we are worth much more to Him than the sparrows that He protects.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

(Romans 3:21-30; Luke 11:47-54)

This year marks the 500^th anniversary of St. Teresa of Avila’s birth.  Interestingly, the Spanish Inquisition condemned her paternal grandfather of falsely converting from Judaism to Christianity.  But Teresa’s devotion to the Lord was not in the least insincere.  She lifted the decaying Carmelite tradition to new glory.  Her written have become classics in Christian spirituality.  Her success in the reform of the Carmelite Order buttressed the Church in a period of great trial.  Although she was a person of great accomplishment, she adhered to St. Paul’s fundamental insight that humans are saved through faith.

Paul’s own story reflects something of Teresa’s.  He was an accomplished Jewish scholar and reformer.  Yet he came to realize by reason of a special revelation that his achievements could not bring about his salvation.  That was to be done only through faith in Christ Jesus.  Paul dedicated the rest of his life to preach that message to the world.

We are wise to ask ourselves if we allow pride to eclipse the salvation won by Christ for us.  Often we fail to give due recognition to Christ for the grace to be who we are.  We prefer to dwell on our own accomplishments.  In the end, however, we should come to realize that personal efforts by themselves are in vain.  We need Christ to stay the course and reach our destiny.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 2:1-11; Luke 11:42-46)

The psychoanalyst C.J. Jung observed that people frequently criticize in others what they dislike about themselves.  He calls the shunned characteristic the “shadow.” Just as a shadow stays close to the one creating it, Jung advised that people take hold of their psychological shadows.  If they refuse to do that, he predicted they will wreak havoc on themselves as well as others.  Jung developed the concept of shadow to name the same evil that St. Paul describes in today’s reading from Romans.

Paul is making a diatribe.  He does not actually have his readers in mind when he accuses people of ignoring the defects in themselves that they criticize in others.  The “man” addressed is all men and women who think of themselves as better than others by ignoring their own shortcomings.  Paul adds that purposeful blindness merits punishment.

Taking hold of our shadow means more than recognizing our faults.  We need to accept them in the context of the benefits that God has bestowed.  He has permitted the faults for a reason.  Be they common vanity or something darker, in correcting them with His grace we may grow both more grateful and more virtuous.