Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

It would be hard to exaggerate the importance of the Jewish Temple in Jesus’ day.  For Jews it served as the one place where due reverence may be given to God.  Economically it provided most Jerusalemites with livelihood.  If it could be compared with any structure today, it would be the great mosque in Mecca which millions of pilgrims visit every year to give homage to God.  It should cause little wonder then why Jesus’ action in today’s gospel creates such consternation.

Jesus disrupts the usual business at the Temple.  He starts a virtual riot as he drives away the merchants along with their livestock and the money changers.  The Jews misconstrue his motives as much as they misunderstand his words.  They think that he is an upstart looking to make a name for himself.  When Jesus tells them that if they try to destroy him, he will rise again, they believe he is referring to the Temple.

In celebrating the Lateran Basilica today, we celebrate all Catholic churches.  The giant structure serves as a sign for all places where Christians come together to offer bread and wine to God and receive in return the body and blood of Jesus.  The feast indicates that we don’t have to go to Rome to give true worship to God.  Our parish church serves quite well in providing space for the common sacrifice of our salvation.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Tuesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Titus 2:1-8.11-14; Luke 17:7-10)

The beloved Latin teacher had a brusque way of addressing his students.  He called them “pinheads.”  He did not intend to be mean or insulting.  He probably only wanted his charges to retain some humility as they grew into adulthood.  In any case, his students did not resent the teacher’s rudeness.  They appreciated his dedication to his profession.  Both readings today call for a similar curtailing of how people think of themselves.

The first reading admonishes young men “to control themselves.”  This counsel applies to different aspects of life including the way people estimate their abilities. Most tend to exaggerate their them to the extent that they fail to see the virtues of everyone else.  In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples to think of themselves as “unprofitable servants” – a sure way to avoid pride in our utilitarian society.

Humility recognizes that all our goodness has God as its source.  It moves us to thank God for His beneficence toward us.  Humility also recognizes that others have abilities that we don’t have.  It then prompts us to acknowledge them as God’s handiwork worthy of esteem.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Titus 1:1-9; Luke 17:1-6)

The fruit of the mulberry tree is hard to enjoy.  It has a taste both sweet and tart, but more objectionably a mulberry lacks substance.  Eat one or a hundred and you still feel hungry.  What is worse, it stains the hand that picks it and blotches the sidewalk if found on a city street.  The mulberry tree gives little shade but sits like a mole on one’s face defying the beauty around it.  It is no wonder that Jesus suggests that it be rooted out and sent to the sea.

We might compare eating mulberries to forgiving others of their quirks and bad habits.  Both set our teeth on edge.  It seems that people should have more control of their actions, yet they can repeatedly make the same offensive remark or commit the same foolish mistake.  We want to scream at the perpetrators, but Jesus tells us to be ready to forgive them.

The disciples ask Jesus for an increase of faith to follow his directive.  They reason the more they trust God, the more conviction they will have to love others.  Jesus assures them, however, that they have enough faith. They have only to get over the self’s feeling abused by others’ mindless actions.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

(Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 16:1-8)

Few churchmen have accomplished as much as Charles Borromeo.  He forsook an aristocratic life to give himself to ecclesiastical reform.  He oversaw the production of the catechism, missal, and breviary which the Council of Trent ordered.  As bishop of Milan, he was frequently challenged by errant clerics and once was wounded in an assassination attempt.  When the plague threatened his city, he was on the front line with relief.  He might be seen as a disciple of St. Paul who pleads for imitators in today’s first reading.

Paul’s labors in preaching the gospel truly elicit admiration.  He not only tirelessly preached and taught the gospel throughout the Asia Minor and Greece; he did so under the severest of conditions.  He suffered shipwreck and beatings multiple times.  But Paul does not ask those to whom he writes to undertake these risks.  But he does insist that they not conform to the times by obsessing over food and sex.

We might see ourselves as reformers like St. Charles and St. Paul.  By gracious care for all we will show the world that God is not just a pious idea but is working in their midst.  The benefits may appear trivial, but they will make a marked difference in a few lives, including our own.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Memorial of Saint Martin de Porres, religious

(Philippians 3:3-8a; Luke 15:1-10)

A story about St. Martin de Porres illustrates the vision of today’s gospel.  According to the testimony of a Dominican friar made during the investigation into Martin’s sanctity, Martin loved animals.  One late night the friar followed Martin in the community dining room.  The saint served a plate of food to his animal friends.  Soon a dog and a cat were eating at his feet.  Then Martin spotted a rat in a hole in the wall looking hungrily at the two larger animals.  Martin invited the rat to join the feast with words to the effect, “Come, little one, don’t be afraid; come and eat.”  The rat joined his natural predators and all ate happily together.

Jesus has come to the world to invite everyone to his Father’s table.  He does not want anyone excluded.  When the Pharisees and scribes grumble that Jesus associates with sinners, Jesus tells three parables about God’s love for them.  Two of these parables form today’s gospel reading.  The lost sheep is the sinner for whom the shepherd goes far out of his way to find.  The party hosted by the woman upon finding a lost coin indicates the banquet which God is preparing for all the different peoples inhabiting the earth.

Along with being charmed by Jesus’ parables and pious stories of the saints, we must take to heart Jesus’ message.  He calls us to reform our lives and then to the table prepared by his Father.  Reform means letting go of self-centeredness to assist others, especially those most in need.