Thursday, July 21, 2016

Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 2:1-3.7-8.12-13; Matthew 13:10-17)

Flannery O’Connor has been called the greatest American Catholic novelist.  Yet her novels are seldom about Catholics.  Rather they concern the working of grace in very peculiar Bible-belt Protestants.  Once she was asked why she wrote about such strange characters.  She answered that when people are near deaf, you have to shout. 

Jesus responds similarly to the question, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?”  People need such on-the-money stories to wake them up to God’s goodness.  The parables proclaim that God is so generous he will pay laborers who work but an hour a full day’s wage.  They say that God’s kingdom is such a treasure that it is worth making any sacrifice to attain.  Unfortunately, in a world of diversions from home entertainment systems and iPhones Jesus’ message does not always get through.

Some people see parables as make believe.  They say that since the Kingdom does not bring immediate gratification, it is not worth pondering, much less pursuing.  But the parables have been validated by Jesus’ own experience. His eating with sinners became the search of the shepherd for the lost sheep.   His crucifixion became the seed that dies in order to produce abundant life.  Because of Jesus’ life witness the parables not only entertain us, they also move us to follow him.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 1:1.4-10; Matthew 13:1-9)

It is said that Joseph Kennedy, Sr., raised his son Joseph, Jr., to be president.  When the younger Joseph Kennedy was killed in World War II, the elder turned his attention to his second son, John.  In today’s first reading the Lord God has a similar design for Jeremiah, the prophet.

Jeremiah hears a call from God.  He understands that God wants him to speak on His behalf.   But, he argues, he is too young for such a responsibility.  He is told not to fear.  He has been prepared for the mission since before his birth and will be accompanied by the Lord Himself every step of the way.

God knows each of us in such an intimate way – all seven billion of the earth’s present inhabitants and the countless numbers who preceded us.  He has a mission for us as well.  He wants us to root up the walls of fear that separate us from others.  In their place He wants us to build bridges of mutual love. As daunting as it seems at times, the challenge is not too great since God has promised to be our strength.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Micah 7:14-15.10; Matthew 12:46-50)

Robert Kennedy was President’s John Kennedy’s closest advisor.  He had a Harvard education and considerable experience.  But the president confided in him because they shared the same family and background.  Robert couldn’t betray John without betraying himself.  More importantly, Robert understood John’s way of thinking and could confidently tell him when he believed that he was mistaken.  In today’s gospel Jesus recognizes his disciples as having a similar relationship with him.

When Jesus is informed that his parents wish to speak to him, he surprisingly does not stop his presentation to see them.  Rather he acknowledges that he is establishing a new family precisely with his preaching.  Those who heed his words by doing the will of God, his Father, he considers true family.  To the extent that his own blood relatives love others, they too become his “brother and sister and mother.”

We should see in Jesus’ statement here an offer to know him intimately.  He has come to share with us his intimate thoughts and desires.  We won’t have to correct any of his ideas.  We only can profit by feeling his love for us and following his wisdom.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Micah 6:1-4.6-8; Matthew 12:38-42)

In today’s first reading the person who asks if sacrifices would please the Lord is actually defying Him.  Adding insult to injury, the person suggests that the Lord wants human sacrifice.  The gospel passage carries a similar rebellious tone.  The Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus that he is God’s envoy.  But Jesus has already worked numerous healings.  What good would another mighty deed do?  All need to recognize what God demands of humans: that they repent of their sins and show mercy.  This has been Jesus’ teaching from the beginning.

In one family the children would ask their mother every year what she wanted for Christmas.  The mother invariably replied, “Good kids.”  The children knew what she meant but were not eager to comply.  Like the petitioners in today’s readings, they tried to dodge what they know to be right.

It is not nearly as hard to consistently do the right thing as we fear.  It takes some effort, but often we feel much better for doing it.  We should find satisfaction just in knowing that we please God who is worthy of all our love.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church

(Isaiah 38:1-5.21-22.7-8; Matthew12:1-8)

St. Bonaventure was baptized Giovanni.  It is said that his name was changed by St. Francis of Assisi who cured him of a childhood illness.  The name that stuck means good fortune. The good fortune was both his and Francis’.  Bonaventure not only experienced physical healing but also came to know the greatest of the medieval saints.  Francis found in Bonaventure a truly wise man who became his successor and biographer.  Today’s gospel shows Jesus’ disciples with similar good fortune.  They have him as their defender while he has them -- some of whom will die for him – as followers.

The disciples are being criticized for picking grain on the Sabbath.  It is not a major offense and may be justified in cases as Jesus demonstrates.  Interestingly, Jesus himself is not accused of breaking the Sabbath law here.  Evidently he is more ascetic than the others.  But he neither extols liberality or abstinence on this occasion.  He uses the situation to proclaim the urgency for practicing mercy.  He wants his followers to be less critical and more understanding of people’s needs.

We tend to judge harshly when others do not conform to the standards which we use for ourselves.  We may be practicing what we preach, but we miss the higher bar of mercy that Jesus sets.  He is asking us to discern carefully before criticizing others.