Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Memorial of Saint John XXIII, pope

(Galatians 5:1-6; Luke 11:37-41)

Most of the Pharisees presented in the gospels are myopic.  They scrutinize a person’s behavior for small items in the Law but fail to see the more important matters.  Jesus levels this criticism against them in today’s gospel.  One Pharisee is ready to criticize him for not performing a purification ritual which the Law does not even mandate.  The Pharisee is oblivious, however, to the fact that such criticism goes against the Law’s requirement to love one’s neighbor.

An incident in the life of St. John XXIII indicates how pharisaic behavior can invada the Church.  When he was a young priest, Angelo Roncalli, the future pope, taught Church history in a local seminary.  At the time some Roman officials were so supercilious about maintaining orthodoxy that they suppressed faithful scholarship.  Roncalli was reported to Rome for assigning a book that the pharisaic officials thought questionable.  It turned out that the book became known as an important study of the early Church and Roncalli, of course, was recognized as a saint.

Frequent churchgoers must beware of pharisaic tendencies contaminating their spiritual lives.  We can wonder why everyone does not do all that we do.  We think that because we give up chocolate for Lent, everyone should.  We must withhold judgment on these small items if we are to live up to St. Paul’s standard in the first reading: in Christ Jesus the only thing that counts is “faith working through love.”

Monday, October 10, 2016

Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 4:22-24.26-27.31-5:1; Luke 11:29-32)

The young man was also a parachutist.  He enjoyed telling people about the freedom one feels jumping out of an airplane.  There is no restriction of motion, no containment of euphoria.  One feels refreshed, stimulated, and in control of his destiny.  In today’s first reading St. Paul speaks of a moral freedom that also leaves its possessor in elation.

The moral freedom of Christians is not the absence of law.  They too should fast at times and receive the sacraments.  No, their freedom consists in hosting the Holy Spirit as their guide and strength.  The Spirit enables them to perceive the truth and then to live it.  It releases them from worry and moves them to the happiness for which they were created.  As Paul writes, “For freedom Christ set us free.”

Moral freedom is a gift that we endeavor to keep.  We must not allow the enticements of illicit pleasure and unrestrained egotism to entangle us.  The Spirit will alert us to these pitfalls and will give us the resolve to avoid them.  Nevertheless, we must decide to follow it.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

(Galatians 3:7-14; Luke 11:15-26)

The Dominican Order since St. Thomas Aquinas has been accused of being too heady.  It is true that some Dominicans have striven to imitate the genius of the “Angelic Doctor.”  But others have preached a much more popular devotion.  Since its beginnings, Dominicans have promoted praying the rosary.  Today’s feast celebrates this prayer form.

People pray with the rosary in private, in small groups, and in large gatherings.  Many have made praying the rosary as much a part of their daily routine as reading the newspaper.  Author John Shea wrote a rather sad poem about a couple who prayed the rosary together for years until one spouse died.  Then the other continued to pray, but felt ever more acutely her loss.  As she finished the first part of the “Hail Mary,” only silence responded with the second.  Of course, we recite the rosary in large groups on most occasions that call for prayer – vigils for the dead, demonstrations in front of abortion clinics, and in procession on pilgrimages.

The rosary is a Marian devotion with definite Christological overtones.  It is directed to the mother of God in whom the Creator unites with the created in a unique way.  Those who pray the rosary focus on the great moments of the Redeemer’s life – his joyful coming, his prodigious ministry, his passionate death, and his glorious resurrection.  More than that, however, the rosary provides space for the individual believer to reflect on her life in relation to Christ.  It can be said that the rosary is hardly essential to our faith.  But our faith is much richer with the rosary.

Thursday, September 6, 2016

Memorial of Saint Bruno, priest              

(Galatians 3:1-5; Luke 11:5-13)

The documentary movie “Into the Deep Silence” displays the assiduous life of Carthusians monks.  The Order, founded by St. Bruno, lives a hermit’s life coming together for Eucharist and a short recreation on Sundays.  The movie has no dialogue until the end when the monks, who have been pictured throughout the movie, are questioned.  In one interview an old monk says how sad it is for a world that does not believe in God.  God brings purpose and hope to people who often struggle with loneliness.  In today’s first reading St. Paul similarly testifies to the Spirit of God working in love for those who believe.

Paul severely chastises the Galatians for their readiness to take on the burdens of the Law.  He wants to assure them that eating kosher and practicing male circumcision have nothing to do with their Christian vocation. Rather they must believe in Christ’ death and resurrection on their behalf by practicing love of one another. 

Christians today hardly want to practice the Jewish Law.  But they sometimes allow religious trappings such as indulgences interfere with authentic Christian faith. Although indulgences certainly have a place in Catholic piety, they should not be pursued at all costs.  Caring for the poor and uplifting one another should take priority. 

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 2: 1-2.12-17; Luke 11:1-4)

The word hypocrisy comes from a Greek word meaning to play a part or to pretend.  Hypocrites evidently were originally actors.  In modern parlance hypocrites pretend to be virtuous when they actually are not.  They attempt to deceive.  So when Paul accuses Peter of hypocrisy in today’s reading from Galatians, he is leveling a serious charge.

Poor Peter is caught in the bind between following custom and living faith in Christ.  Being a Jew, Peter grew up eating kosher.  But faith in Jesus means that following his ways of self-sacrificial love – not a particular diet or other formal acts -- brings one salvation.  First, Peter showed reliance on Christ by taking food freely with non-Jews.  Then in the presence of Jewish Christians he pretends that he would never do such a thing.  This behavior sends a mixed message which, Paul knows, will confuse non-Jews. In Paul’s purview a similar mixed message has allowed some Galatian men to want circumcision rather than consecrate on following Jesus.

Different from Peter, we likely show hypocrisy by covering up our religiosity.  For example, Catholics who eat meat on Fridays in Lent when out with friends betray their commitment to the Church.  We want to be known as both lovers of God and of the world.  There is some overlap, but we cannot square a circle.  We must not conform to the world but encourage the world to convert to God.