Thursday, June 15, 2017

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 3:15-4:1.3-6; Matthew 5:20-26)

A scholar once wrote a book criticizing the idea that Shakespeare transcends the times in which he wrote.  He demonstrated that although Shakespeare’s thoughts have a universal scope, to understand them well one has to know about his world.  Paul is saying something similar in today’s first reading. 

Paul writes that Jews read Moses’ Law (the first five books of the Bible) with their faces veiled (I.e., superficially) unless they read him through lens of Christ.  An example might be taken from today’s gospel.  It is not sufficient to follow literally the Law’s command not to kill.  Jesus insists that people care for one another.  Paul adds that when people read Moses through Christ, they actually become like Christ.

We often give up the quest to be like Christ because we may fail early and often to love.  We should not become discouraged but look for little ways to care for others.  A smile, kind words, perhaps an offer to share an apple at lunch – all make us more like Christ.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary time

(II Corinthians 3:4-11; Matthew 5:17-19)

Schools today often encourage teachers and students to make contract agreements.  The agreements serve as a law so that all have a clear sense of their rights and responsibilities.  It is this literal sense of law that both the first reading and the gospel transcend.

St. Paul writes of a new covenant not written in stone but on the heart.  Christian recipients of this new covenant or law don’t sense it as an imposition of their freedom.  Rather they readily carry it out because it is natural to them.  In the gospel Jesus says that he comes to fulfill the law because he will dispense the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit will move its possessor beyond the give and take of contracts to sacrifice of self for the other.

The new law has been written on our hearts.  We have received the Holy Spirit.  Aware of this grace we should not hesitate to perform acts of love.  Doing so, we will share the company of the saints.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest

(II Corinthians 2:18-22; Matthew 5:13-16)

St. Anthony of Padua achieved fame in his day as a preacher.  Evidently for this reason early images of him were depicted with a Scripture in hand.  Curiously over time that Scripture has been replaced with an image of the child Jesus.  Like St. Paul in today’s first reading Anthony’s familiarity with the word of God has been rightly associated with a close relationship with the Lord himself.

Paul wants to assure the Corinthians of Christ’s love.  He is afraid of a misunderstanding because he has changed his plan to visit them.  So that they do not think that Christ is a fickle Lord because of his messenger’s change of plan, he asserts here that he did it with good reason.  He did not visit them so that God’s design could be fulfilled. 

Sometimes we too have to break a promise.  It may cause disappointment, but if done with good reason and sincere apology it is neither sinful nor ultimately hurtful. Those to whom the promise is made should be able to see that we still care for them. 

Monday, June 12, 2017

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 1:1-7; Matthew 5:1-12)

“We’re number one! We’re number one!” college students love to brag when their team wins a game that thrusts it to the top of a sportswriters’ poll.  Losers are never so cheerful.  They take consolation in that they played well, abided by all the rules, and emerge as better people in the sojourn of life.  Once a student praised his losing team for having won a “moral victory.”  In today’s first reading Paul describes such a consolation for the church at Corinth.

Because Christians in Corinth are a minority, they no doubt suffer the disdain of the powerful.  They also face interior division over beliefs and loyalties.  The letter does not spell out exactly the nature of these problems.  It could be that Jewish-Christian preachers from Palestine were preaching adherence to the Law.  Another possibility is that Greek charismatic preachers were giving divisive interpretations to the gifts of the Spirit.  In any case, Paul reminds his readers that in Christ’s sufferings they like him can find comfort.  After all, Christ’ humiliating death on the cross led to the glory of his resurrection.

No one likes to suffer.  But we can bear with almost any suffering if it has positive meaning.  We will find that meaning when we unite ourselves to Christ.  With him the pain of disease or accident serves for the building up of the Church.  In him even the suffering brought about by our own faults endured patiently redounds for our eternal benefit.  

Friday, June 9, 2017

Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit 11:5-17; Mark 12:35-37)

The Rite of Marriage used to mention the difficulties of married life.  It advised the couple standing before the priest that love alone could make the marriage work and perfect love could make the marriage a joy.  Those difficulties surely include being thrown into a living situation with a person from another household with its own customs.  Then, of course, there is the instant sharing of a bed, a room, and just about everything else.  Love supplies the balm that allows the couple to value each other’s differences.  Parents of the couple have a part to play in the adjustment process.  The first reading today provides a model for parents of the bridal couple.

Tobit goes out of his way to welcome his new daughter-in-law Sarah.  He not only blesses her but also relates how she is a blessing to his son.  He shows no reservation in calling her “daughter” so that she may feel completely at home.

We, friends of the bridal couple, also have a role in the process.  We should pray that the couple’s relationship be loving and faithful.  We should not let old relationships with either the bride or groom remain old relationships but should become friends to both.  Finally, we want to encourage both to live up to their marriage vows especially when the road turns uphill and becomes rocky.