Tuesday, July 5, 2106

Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 8:4-7.11-13; Matthew 9:32-38)

A religious sister who worked with poor women in Ciudad Juarez used to teach that injustice is the result of broken relationships. The biblical stories of creation and of the fall reveal the truth of her statement.  After breathing life into the man, he and his partner walk with God in Paradise.  But their mistrust of the Creator’s goodness ruptures the friendship.  God’s subsequent interrogation reveals that the sin has also fractured their relationship with each other.  Finally, the due punishment breaches human rapport with nature.  

In time some of the closeness with God that the first humans enjoyed is restored.  Most notably, God leads the Hebrews through the desert for forty years forging a new covenant between God and humanity.  But the people always return to evil ways.  Hosea and the other prophets point out their fickleness.  They describe how the nation dallies with metal idols and scandalously satiate their passions.

In today’s gospel passage Jesus enables a deaf mute to speak as he has previously restored the sight of the blind and raised the dead.  These healings show God approaching the people in a personal and definitive way.  In short order Jesus will establish the unbreakable bond between God and humanity with his death and resurrection.  Now he points out the need to pray that the coming redemption will be announced throughout the world.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 2:16.17c-18.21-22; Matthew 9:18-26)

Today Americans celebrate the defining moment of their existence as a people.  Two hundred and forty years ago representatives from all thirteen colonies accepted the constitution drafted by Thomas Jefferson.  The document declared independence of the colonies from England and the establishment of a new nation.  In today’s first reading Hosea prophesizes of a similarly defining moment for Christians.

Hosea is a prophet of the northern kingdom.  Like Amos he denounces the nation for ignoring God’s commands.  Here he foretells the day when Israel will accept forever the Lord as its one and only God.  It will come only after trial expressed with the metaphor of a “desert.”  From that point on the people will no longer flirt with other gods.  Rather they will stick close to the one God who will have saved them.

We see the prophecy being realized in Jesus.  We recognize in his death the “desert.” That cataclysmic experience led to his resurrection which solidifies our relationship with God forever.  It offers us hope of eternal life as it moves us to care for others.  Now we pray that our country will follow Jesus’ witness of charity for all.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 8:4-6.9-12; Matthew 9:9-13)

Of all the symbols of freedom in the United States none seems to capture the imagination like the Statute of Liberty.  Standing on a patch of land in New York harbor, the image of a strong and lovely woman holding a torch high has lifted the hopes of millions of immigrants.  The statute beckons the newcomers to take advantage of the opportunities which the country provides.

Today’s gospel shows Jesus in a similar vein.  He is not calling the righteous to follow him but sinners.  He provides them opportunity to begin life anew through repentance and commitment.  They have to forfeit their larcenies, but they are given a greater treasure in the friendship he offers.

It is necessary that we see ourselves as sinners, but we should not take pride in the fact.  Sin hardens us from becoming the loving persons God calls us to be.  We need to constantly purify our thoughts, actions, and desires so that our lives might reflect God’s goodness.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 7:10-17; Matthew 9:1-8)

The other day the journalist George Will made the news himself.  He announced that he was leaving the Republican Party.  He said that he could not tolerate the nation’s leading Republican’s endorsement of Donald Trump for the presidency.  Will explained that he still sees himself as a conservative but judges the Republican Party as leaving conservatism behind.  He may feel like Amos in today’s first reading.

Amos has long preached reform in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  He has tried to persuade the king as well as the people to give up flirting with foreigners.  He believes that salvation comes from the God of Israel alone.  Now he is being told to return to the Southern Kingdom where he was born.  He knows that Israel is rejecting the principles which made them a chosen people.

We rightly talk about God as having unconditional love for us.  But this truth should not delude us into thinking that we are free to do whatever we wish.  God has given us His Spirit so that we may become loving like He is.  The Spirit often requires sacrifice of personal desires to accommodate God’s ever-gracious will for us.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

(Acts 12:1-11; II Timothy 4:6-8.17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

Many people prefer to think of the Church as a community of believers and a sign of God’s presence in the world rather than as an institution.  But because it has laws, customs, and properties, the Church has been able to thrive through the centuries.  The institution, of course, is headquartered in Rome where Saints Peter and Paul came to organize the evangelization of the world.

Rome, especially in the first century, is unlike any other city.  Romans are practical people and ancient Romans were consummate lawyers and engineers as well.  Their aptitude for organization, which they lent to the Church, and their excellent roads have enabled Christianity to spread across the globe.  Part of the genius of both Peter and Paul was to take advantage of all the benefits that the “Eternal City” offered. 

Today, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the people of Rome have a holiday while Catholics everywhere have opportunity to contemplate the authority of the pope, the bishop of Rome.  Like Peter he is the symbol of unity of the Church.  Like Paul he has the commission to assure the spread of the gospel, especially to pagan nations.  Over the past century men of great holiness and wisdom like Francis have served as popes.  They give us good reason to celebrate at least a little with Romans.