Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church

(Isaiah 45:6c-8.18.21c-25; Luke 7:18b-23)

There is a famous story about King Richard, the Lion-heart, and Saladin, the Muslim sultan, who met during the Third Crusade.  In the peaceful encounter Richard attempted to show the capability of his sword by cutting through a steel bar. Richard brought the sword down on the bar which broke in two. But the sultan was not overly impressed.  He told Richard that his strength, not the sword’s sharpness, caused the bar to split.  Then Saladin took out his scimitar, threw a silk scarf in the air and let it fall on the sword’s blade.  As it did, the scarf tore in two.  The scimitar proved to be the keener sword.  The story illustrates the point Jesus makes in today’s gospel.

John the Baptist appears disillusioned by Jesus.  He thought that Jesus would be the long-awaited Messiah but has misgivings when Jesus does not preach fire much less punish wrong-doers.  Rather he eats with sinners while calling them to conversion.  Jesus offers evidence of his being Messiah that he consistently assists the needy.  Doing so, Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy in today’s first reading that the Lord will create well-being.

We are often so fascinated by power that we tend to think of it as God’s chief characteristic.  It is not. Love characterizes God in both testaments of Scripture.  God’s love translates into care for His people which is seen especially in the ministry of Jesus.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr

(Zephaniah 3:1-2.9-13; Matthew 21:28-32)

In prison two men are serving multi-year sentences.  They have been there awhile and will not leave soon.  Yet they do not seem anxious.  When asked about how they are doing, they respond that since they have accepted their situations, they are at peace.  Today’s readings have people like these men in mind.

The reading from Zephaniah critiques city dwellers who sit back in comfort.  These are the people who enjoy a degree of prosperity and participate in religious services.  But their hearts are not converted. They do not ask themselves how they might have done wrong and therefore do not repent.  Surely their lives will end in disaster.  In the gospel Jesus speaks of two brothers.  One does wrong, recognizes his fault, and corrects it.  The other brother is blind to having done wrong when he makes a promise that he does not keep.  His life too will end in misery.

The second brother may be contrasted to St. Lucy whose feast day is today.  He was blind to what is really import but could see.  She kept her sight on Christ even though she is said to have been blinded in the course of her martyrdom.  

Monday, December 12, 2016

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

(Zechariah 1:14-17; Luke 1:39-47)

All life is a journey.  Even if we never leave home, we journey through time.  If we do not stray, we come closer to the goal which is God.  Jesus accompanies us on our way.  He is like the sun around which the earth revolves as it moves through space.  He is near to help us.

Today’s gospel pictures Mary on a journey.  She goes to assist her cousin Elizabeth as the latter is heavy with child in her old age.  Mary, of course, is with child herself.  She carries within her Jesus who sent her forth.  As with most mothers, her child has become the critical focus of Mary’s life.  Bearing him in both body and soul, she freely gives of herself to others for the sake of the child. 

Today we celebrate a singularly important manifestation of Mary.  Our Lady of Guadalupe, the rose of Tepeyac, shows Mary pregnant with Jesus.  She is completing her journey to the new world – America.  She comes as a missionary to bring Jesus to the native people there.  But she dresses as a native princess and speaks in a native tongue.  She tells of her son symbolized by the church that she requests to be built in the native territory.  She indicates to the native whom she encounters that her son is to be as a bridge connecting European and Native American cultures.  He will bring about a new race born of the creativity of the former and endurance of the latter. 

The new race has recently arrived in this land with great numbers.  Its women and men bring Jesus as they replenish the Church here.  Their devotion to God, their care for others, their desire to submit to the Word – all make them welcome.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Memorial of Saint Juan Diego Cuanhtlatoatzin, holy man

(Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19)

There is an old story about something wonderful having happened in Bethlehem.  The marvelous event was the price of steel increasing two cents a pound.  The Bethlehem referred to in this story is not the place where Jesus was born, but Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, an old steel town.  The story demonstrates Jesus’ lesson in today’s gospel.

Like the citizens of Bethlehem, the “generation” which Jesus speaks of is oblivious to the presence of salvation among them.  People of the generation have no more appreciation of the holiness to which the prophets call them than bratty children taunting one another.  They refuse to be moved either by ascetics like John or by more personable preachers like Jesus.

Today the Church remembers St. Juan Diego, the Mexican native who served the Virgen of Guadalupe.  He was anything but oblivious to Jesus.  A fervent convert to Christianity, he only wanted to the Lord’s will as he encountered the Blessed Mother.  He learned from her that God has plans for His people that sometimes differ from those we judge correct.  We must discern in prayer and consultation what God is asking of us and then pursue it with all our hearts.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Genesis 3:9-15.20; Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12; Luke 1:26-38)

Today’s reading from the Letter to the Ephesians tells of God’s plan to make us His people.  It says that we were chosen before the world was founded. But the drama of salvation begins in the first reading. Our ancestors are seen alienating themselves from God and one another.  The same alienation due to sin keeps us from being a united people under God today.

God’s plan has an unexpected agent.  In the gospel passage Mary is a young virgin whose nature has been uncorrupted by sin.  She is actually asked whether she wants to participate in the drama of salvation.  Will she allow herself to be the mother of God’s Son?  It may arouse suspicion of her virtue and even disgust from the self-exalted.  But as right-minded as she is, how can she refuse God’s request?  Her acceptance of the responsibility – “’May it be done to me according to your word’” -- leads to the coming of Jesus and our eventual adoption into God’s family.

Today is given to contemplating this mystery.  We should see Mary as not so different from us.  She is not hindered by selfishness, but we can limit that disgrace by regularly denying ourselves in favor of others.  More importantly, she is propelled by the love of God.  We too have a share in that love through our Baptism.  This is to say that we, similar to Mary, might be agents of a united humanity under God’s care.