Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37)

A generation ago it was said that the average American gained ten pounds over the year-end holidays.  The added weight could hardly be less now.  Perhaps, then, some will have difficulty appreciating Jesus’ concern about the people’s hunger in today’s gospel.

But just as the multiplying of loaves signifies the Eucharistic bread, so the hunger of the crowds is not so much physical as it is spiritual.  Like people today, they crave meaning in their lives, acceptance of their efforts, and esteem for themselves as persons.  Jesus fulfills all these needs.   He loves each person who comes to him as an individual and invites all to join him in his Father’s kingdom.

The invitation does not come without some expectation of us.  If we are to join Jesus as brothers and sisters, we must accept his rule for our lives.  But this is not so much a challenge as it is a blessing.  Being formed by his law of love, we become happier and assured of our eternal destiny.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

(Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24)

Count on the holy seasons of Advent and Lent to get to the heart of Divine Revelation.  For the most part during the rest of the year the Scripture readings at daily mass follow episodic sequences.  The gospels recount the story of Jesus in first in Mark, then in Matthew, and finally in Luke.  John is reserved for Eastertime.  Meanwhile the first reading is taken from an Old Testament or New Testament work, read in daily installments which summarize the work as a whole.  In Lent and Easter, however, the link between the first reading and the gospel is manifest.

Today’s gospel, for example, hints at how Jesus fulfills the heart-felt prophecies of early Isaiah.  The people of the prophet’s time longed for a strong leader who would rule justly.  They wanted to see the poor prosper without be pampered.  They hoped that the natural enmities among classes, nationalities, and races would cease.  Jesus recognizes in himself such potential being realized.  He will bestow manifold blessings upon those who obey his commands. The poor especially are positioned to follow him.

We hear while shopping in Wal-Mart how this is “the most wonderful time of the year.”  It is but not because of mistletoe or tree lights.  It becomes wonderful when we contemplate how the yearnings of the human heart are fulfilled in Jesus.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Feast of St. Andrew, apostle

(Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22)

Very little can be said with certainly about St. Andrew.  Today’s gospel relates that he was the brother of Simon Peter and a fisherman.  John’s gospel includes a couple more nuggets of information.  He was John the Baptist’s disciple until he spent a day with Jesus.  Then, convinced that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, he brought his brother to him.

Andrew exemplifies what recent popes have called all of us to do.  We are to get to know Jesus by spending time with him.  We should recognize him in the poor and speak to him in prayer.  We are also to bring others to him.  First and perhaps foremost, these are our family members.  They also include our friends who may have never had the pleasure of knowing him.  We are not to be shy about telling even strangers about what Jesus means to us.

We have entered Advent – the designated time of preparation for meeting Christ.  Now as people busy themselves for the Christmas holidays we must remind them of who is at the heart of the celebrations.  Like St. Andrew we need to tell them that he is the long-awaited joy that can fill their heart.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Daniel 7:2-14; Luke 21:29-33)

Jesus seems to be talking about the end of time in the gospel today.  The event has now been expected for generations, but has not yet taken place.  Perhaps his words may be reinterpreted to mean the end of each human life.

The image he uses of a fig tree leafing makes good sense then, at least for the just.  The spectacle takes place as summer approaches.  It is a time of flourishing.  Jesus is predicting that death for his disciples will not mean the cold earth reclaiming their beings but a time of warm delight.  They will see Christ in all his glory.

This thought should bring solace to Syrian Christians undergoing persecution today.  All of us really might consider the challenges we face daily in this same light.  Perhaps we were overlooked for a promotion at work.  Perhaps we are suffering from a wound or disease. Perhaps our car has been totaled.  When we bear these troubles patiently, we might not flinch as we sense our life’s number being called.  Rather we should anticipate a time of flourishing. 

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Thanksgiving Day

(Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19)

A number of years ago a worker in a Central American country fulfilled his promise to the Virgin Mary.  He had asked her intercession for the success of his country’s soccer team in the World Cup playoffs.  The team had done well for a small country winning games against two European competitors.  Making a pilgrimage on foot to the national shrine of the Virgin was this man’s way of saying “thanks.”  We are given a holiday today to do the same.

And that is another reason to be thankful.  Employers, spurred by government mandate, are paying us without our having to do any work.  As if it were a Sunday, we have a large swath of time to give thanks.  We pray, rest, and enjoy the company of friends all in the spirit of thankfulness.  Every day holds many reasons to thank God.  The wise person does not retire without doing so.

The gospel indicates that God takes notice of our giving thanks and our not doing it.  It tells us that Jesus asks the one leper who thanked him why the other nine he cured didn’t.  More significantly, the passage emphasizes that Jesus rewards the one who does with salvation.  We can say that our recognition of God as our benefactor is crucial.  It will save us from the punishment due for our sins.