Friday, June 3, 2106

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Ezekiel 34:11-16; Romans 5:5b-11; Luke 15:3-7)

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy today’s feast takes on special prominence.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus has universally symbolized God’s mercy.  It is found on the famous portrait of Divine Mercy that was envisioned by Saint Faustina.  In another popular artistic representation the Sacred Heart is burning with love for whoever comes to the Lord.

In the second reading St. Paul expresses the principal sense of God’s mercy.  He says that God shows his love by dying on behalf of sinners.  This action has justified humans so that they no longer need to hang their heads in guilt.  But Paul does not limit his vision of mercy to justification.  He sees the grace of Christ working within the saved to produce merciful acts that merit salvation.  It is as if men and women were once like unruly teens that went through basic Marine Corps training and rendered not only capable of defending their country but also of modeling proper respect for all.

We thank God for the many ways that He has shown us His mercy.  He has given us powerful images that remind us of His love.  He has given us the Scriptures in which we encounter Christ, our Savior.  Most of all, He has imparted to us His Holy Spirit so that we might love others with similar self-sacrifice.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

                                                                                          

(II Timothy 2:8-15; Mark 12:28-34)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church judges agnosticism with benign toleration.  It admits that agnostics sometimes search sincerely for God although they may refrain from acknowledging God’s existence.  The scribe who approaches Jesus in today’s gospel in a way is similar to these agnostics.

Unlike others who have approached Jesus since he has entered Jerusalem, the scribe does not appear to have a hidden agenda.  He really wants to know what Jesus, the famous rabbi from Galilee, believes to be the greatest commandment.  Jesus not only tells him that to love God is most important but adds that to love one’s neighbor has almost equal urgency.  When the scribe accepts what Jesus offers, Jesus tells him that he is not far from God’s kingdom.  He is not there yet because being in the kingdom is a matter of living love not just talking about it.

We will find God when we search for Him in loving our neighbors.  Perhaps it is more accurate to say that God finds us as we deny ourselves for the sake of others.  He eases our consciences and gives rest to our hearts so that we feel His mercy.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr

(I Timothy 1:1-3.6-12; Mark 12:18-27)

Justin, whose surname is apparently unknown, studied philosophy as a young man.  Then he read the Scriptures which changed the course of his life.  He came to Rome where he was brought before the prefect for being a Christian.  There he began a discourse to convince the Roman of the validity of his faith but was ignored.  He and six others were summarily beheaded for not offering sacrifices to idols.  Justin certainly typifies the kind of spirit that the first reading today exhorts.

The passage is taken from the First Letter to Timothy.  It sees the addressee, a young pastor, as so burdened by responsibilities that he cannot offer clear testimony of faith.  It advises Timothy to be strong. “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control,” it says.  These are words for all Christians.

We too should proclaim our faith openly.  We can express our thanks to God for who we are.  We can offer to pray for those whose needs are beyond our means.  We can say how we have been enriched by the gospel. No one, at least in our society, will behead us for such statements.  But some may become interested in knowing the Lord Jesus as well.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)

The sportswriters seemed frustrated.  They wanted the game’s most valuable player to talk about his performance, but he continually deferred to others.  His teammates’ blocking allowed him to stand out.  His family’s support was instrumental in making him who he was.  This interview resembled, in a way, Mary’s speech in the gospel today.

In visiting her kinswoman, Mary is given a supreme compliment.  Elizabeth calls her the “most blessed …among woman” for bearing Jesus inside her womb.  At this point one would expect Mary to return the compliment or to explain what she did to merit such an honor.  But her eyes are fixed on God.  Rather than speak of her own virtue or anyone else’s, she gives all the credit to the Lord.  He “has looked with favor on his lowly servant” and “has done great things” for her.  More than that, He always “has mercy on those who fear him.”

Most of us enjoy talking about our achievements.  At times we even become vane doing so.  Mary, the model disciple, reminds us that God is the source of every good deed we do.  To sing His praises, not our own, is our role in the new evangelization. 

Monday, May 30, 2016

Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Peter 1:2-7; Mark 12:1-12)

Images of flowers adorn the catacombs as a symbol of the paradisiacal state of the saints.  Today many American Christians will bring flowers to the graves of their loved ones unconsciously honoring the ancient custom.  The first reading from the Second Letter of Peter suggests that God is the source of this practice.

The letter states that God’s “power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion…”  God wants us to remember our dead not with mournful regret but with hopeful longing.  Through Jesus’ resurrection we have the promise of overcoming the separation that death causes.  With good reason we hope that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Paradise.

The reading also provides us a course of action.  We are not only to believe in Christ but also to live like him.  Most of all we are to let our lives be controlled by love.  That is, we are to bear with one another’s faults with joyful affection.