Thursday, July 14, 2016

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

(Isaiah 26:7-9.12.16-19; Matthew 11:28-30)

St. Kateri Tekakwitha was the first Native American born in the present United States to be canonized a saint.  When her Mohawk people were persecuted in what is now upstate New York, she became a refugee to Canada.  There she devoted herself to God by caring for others.  She followed the way to sanctity which today’s readings outline.

In the first reading Isaiah recognizes that left on their own humans achieve on the whole little of value.  He says that writhing in pain, they only give birth to the wind.  It may be explained that they either pursue material goods which render illusory happiness or, in striving for spiritual goals, they may end with a self-satisfaction that undermines their achievements.  Humans will achieve salvation only when they submit to the Lord’s ways of humility and love.  Jesus highlights this message as he invites all to take on his “yoke,” that is, his rule of life.

In an age when athletes regularly cheat to win medals, it is difficult to practice the humility that Jesus embodies.  We may feel that we pursue it almost alone.  We need to recognize not only saints like Kateri Tekakwitha who have gone before us but also many good people sitting beside us in church who consistently put others first.  In conforming themselves to Christ, they give witness to his saving the world.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 10:5-7.13b-16; Matthew 11:25-27)

Theodore Parker, a nineteenth century Unitarian minister, penned a hopeful phrase that Martin Luther King used in the struggle for civil rights. “The arc of the moral universe is long,” Reverend Parker wrote, “but it bends toward justice.”  These words reflect the Judeo-Christian tradition that God is the Lord of history making all things good.  The prophet Isaiah clings to this premise in today’s first reading. 

Assyria is the mighty nation from the northeast that has destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel and now threatens the Southern.  It sees itself as the greatest power on earth and subject to no one.   It certainly pays no heed to the God of Israel.  But Isaiah sees Assyria differently.  For him the mighty nation is only a pawn in the hand of the Almighty.  He predicts that Assyria will shrivel like a log in a campfire.  His prophecy is realized in not too many years when Assyria is vanquished by Babylonia.

Today’s gospel indicates that the Lord of history has put His Son at its center.  Jesus is the hope for justice and peace to which all peoples aspire.  He is also the source of bliss with his message of love and the power of his resurrection.  In deepening our relation with him through the Eucharist, we should expect to witness the victory of goodness.

Tueday, July 12, 2016

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 7:1-9; Matthew 11:20-24)

Is faith possible today?  There will always be exceptions, but having faith is increasingly hard.  Faith is, first and foremost, a relationship of trust with God.  For a Christian it is the gift of self to Christ.  Throughout the world the movement is in the other direction.  People find the building up of self as the purpose of life.  As much as any contemporary phenomenon, the ubiquity of the selfie demonstrates this reality.  In today’s first reading Isaiah tells the King of Judah not only that faith has meaning but that it is the only way he and his nation can survive.

King Ahaz is in a desperate situation.  Two rival kingdoms have conspired against him.  He wants to seek help by allying Judah with more powerful nations.  But he is told by Isaiah not to.  Isaiah warns him that only by clinging to the Lord in faith will he survive.  Thus Ahaz learns the meaning of faith – standing fast in the Lord.  As a matter of fact, the situation turns out well.  Ahaz’s enemies are throttled; Judah survives with faith.

We may find difficulty going against the grain.  Like everyone else (or so it seems) we would like to pursue wealth and pleasure.  Perhaps more than that, we would like to brag about ourselves.  But we have faith in Christ’s word.  He saves us if we band with him – giving of ourselves to bring his love to the world.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

St. Benedict lived in the sixth century.  Although he obviously had a charismatic personality, few historical records exist attesting to his life.  His legacy is largely his “Rule” which was written as a blueprint not for an order of monks but for a way of life that any group can follow.  A famous tenet of Benedict’s rule recommends welcoming the stranger.  It reads, “All who arrive as guests are to be welcomed like Christ.”  In today’s gospel, Jesus assures his apostles that those who treat them with such deference will be duly compensated.

Jesus recognizes that his preaching will not be easily accepted.  Forbidding divorce, for example, will create many resisters.  He foresees his followers having similar trouble.  They will have to convince their hearers of the majesty of one who was executed by the state!  Yet he knows that people seeking truth will find his words and deeds of divine origin.  He tells his disciples that these people will provide for their needs.

Much of Benedict’s “Rule” can be applied to the lives of all Christians.  We should balance prayer and work.  We should comfort strangers of good will.  We should be humble in our demeanor as Christ was.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Oddly, in a way, religious freedom has been threatened as secularism becomes more dominant.  One would think that fewer people would care how religious people worship.  But worship is more than praying in church.  A believer’s whole life should manifest different ways of giving God His due.  Today religious people are being persecuted for refusing to cooperate with evil that has been sanctioned by the state.  Pro-life pharmacists are being harassed by government for not selling abortion inducing pills.  Catholic women religious are being pressured into providing contraceptives for their employees.  In today’s gospel Jesus warns his disciples to expect such mistreatment.

Jesus tells his disciples to be as “as shrewd as serpents.”  He wants them to avoid confrontation with their persecutors as much as possible.  But they are also to be “as simple as doves”; that is, he does not want them to obfuscate the truth with rationalizations.  Jesus recognizes that this strategy will led to persecution but will assure his followers of rewards for their valor.

All of us may not be persecuted directly for practicing Catholicism.  Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to support those who are.  We should consider voting for policy-makers who truly respect religious freedom.  We may also contribute to the payment of costly legal fees of those who are being harassed.  Of course, we are to pray that our society seek and preserve true justice.