Friday, October 28, 2016

The Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, apostles

(Ephesians2:19-22; Luke 6:12-16)

The title “Jude, the Obscure,” belongs to a novel written by Thomas Hardy, but it might describe one of the two apostles whom we celebrate today.  Besides his appearance on the lists of apostles given by Luke, Jude’s (or, more accurately, not the traitorous Judas’) name is mentioned in the Gospel according to John as the apostle who asks Jesus why he will reveal himself to the apostles and not to the world (John 14:22).  It is very unlikely that this apostle wrote the New Testament letter that bears the same name.

Simon’s story is a bit thicker than that of Jude although all that we know of him comes from the distinction the evangelists make between him and Simon Peter.  Luke says that he is known as “a Zealot,” meaning that he is passionate about fulfilling the Jewish law.  Nevertheless, we should not think of him as a member of the revolutionary band that is known as Zealots a generation after Jesus. 

The first three evangelists are clear that Jesus intentionally chooses only twelve men to form his inner group of disciples.  They also show that the men come from different backgrounds -- fishermen and a tax collector, for example.  The fact that Simon is a zealot about the law and Matthew (or Levi) is of a profession that downplays the Law’s authority further indicates that Jesus intends that his followers bridge their differences for the project he is establishing.  What we should find here is that Jesus’ presentation of the Kingdom of God is neither ersatz nor haphazard.  He has a plan which encompasses fulfilling the prophetic hope of the reunification of the twelve tribes of Israel.  The reunification will blossom after Pentecost.  It will become a movement to include people moved by the Holy Spirit to form God’s family.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 6:10-20; Luke 13:31-35)

A recent article in a leading magazine has undermined the prospect of finding simple explanations for human behavior.  Since scientists developed genetic theory, they have held out the promise of discovering genes that govern all human traits.  Some have looked for genes that trigger virtue as there are genes that control hair color.  The article concludes that genes do not work so neatly.  It says that genes almost always “overlap and interleave” with others to produce different effects.  Of course, genetic determinism has always been questioned by behaviorists who attribute human conduct to upbringing.  With all this complexity it might be asked if the Letter to the Ephesians’ assertion that evil spirits cause one’s difficulty to be good is really far-fetched.

The letter stresses that the quest to live morally is not a simple struggle with natural elements.  Rather it proposes that spiritual principalities derail moral progress.  It also encourages readers to use the armaments of the Church to overcome evil powers.  Some of these arms are meditation on Scripture, receiving the sacraments, prayer, and fasting.

We should not underestimate the attraction of evil.  Pleasure, power, and false pride tempt the best of us to put our own wills ahead of God’s.  It is not childish much less foolish to think of these instincts as being manipulated by evil spirits.  But we should also be aware that the Holy Spirit is available to us.  The Spirit will more than enable us to repel evil inclinations.  It will help us live as true children of our loving Father.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 6:1-9; Luke 13:22-30)

Church-goers should resonate with the question posed in today’s gospel about universal salvation.  We make an effort to keep the Lord’s commands and want to know if all our effort is really necessary.  Jesus’ response is both reassuring and provocative.

He says that indeed we must be disciplined if we are going to be saved.  This is what the “narrow gate” signifies—the hard road of reining in passions so that we do not act in selfish or in spiteful ways.  Discipline also means cultivating habits of civility and kindness to everyone, even to the driver who abruptly moves into our lane.

What may come as a shock is that the virtue, which the Holy Spirit inculcates, is not limited to people who look like us.  Central American mothers who send their children north to avoid their getting involved with drug cartels have the same love of family that we have.  Just so Muslims who never fail to take pity on the poor possess the same love of neighbor as we.  These people too will find a place reserved for them in the kingdom of the just.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 5:21-33; Luke 13:18-21)

The Letter to the Ephesians seems to bless slavery.  “Slaves,” it says, “obey your earthly masters….”  Yet most biblical commentators today would not conclude that God thereby ordains the institution.  On the contrary they see the verse as conditioned by the cultural condition of the first century.  People then somewhat blindly accepted slavery; people today must not.  There is less of a consensus about the phrase in today’s passage from Ephesians, “…wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.”  Pope Francis, however, in his recent apostolic exhortation The Joy of Love places the admonition in the realm of culturally-conditioned advice.

Francis cites St. John Paul II in saying that the overarching principle regarding marital subordination in Ephesians is that it be mutual.  This arrangement is found in the first verse of today’s text.  It means that rather than a system where one spouse has the final say, the two arrive at a decision based on their love for one another.  It is an ideal way, to be sure, but it can be approached if not attained completely.

Marriage is the most intimate of human relationships.  We should look forward to it as a way of overcoming the same selfishness that keeps us from knowing God.  Because spouses are always there, we cannot ignore them.  Because we come to know well their goodness, we want to make every effort for their benefit.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 5:4:32-5:8; Luke 13:10-17)

A leading theologian takes to task the traditional condemnation of “works-righteousness.”  He writes that St. Paul only rejected the notion that that one might be seen as “righteous” by only adhering to the Law.  Paul means that people not should think of themselves as saved because they keep a kosher diet and refrain from activity on the Sabbath as the synagogue official insists in today’s gospel.  Rather the theologian cites texts where Paul teaches that people will be judged by their deeds. 

Few people in the gospels draw more pity than the poor woman bent over for eighteen years.  Obviously she is in continual pain and will have difficulty talking to others.  Jesus cures her on sight.  Then he answers the criticism of the leader of the synagogue who judges him a sinner for healing on the Sabbath.  Jesus says in effect that it is always time for acts of mercy. 

We must not let a false interpretation of justification by faith or any lame excuse keep us from performing works of mercy.  When we act mercifully, we imitate God Himself.  We show ourselves to be His children with a destiny that is beyond our imagination to appreciate.