Friday, November 10, 2017

Memorial of St. Leo the Great, pope

(Romans 15:14-21; Luke 16:1-8)

A leading social activist was fond of saying: “Money is like fertilizer; it needs to be spread around before it does much good.”  In the gospel today Jesus expresses assent to this way of thinking.  He uses a parable to demonstrate to his disciples that they should disperse their resources.  If they wish to gain a place in eternal life, they must help the poor.

Nonetheless, this parable has furrowed Christian eyebrows through the ages.  Many wonder whether Jesus is approving of fraud when he praises the steward who uses his master’s money to assure his own welfare.  However, Jesus’ approval is similar to that of a theft victim standing in awe of the thief who picked his pocket without him feeling a thing.  One should be impressed by the capacity of the steward to provide for his future with the few resources remaining to him.  Jesus does not call his action righteous only phronimOteroi, a Greek word that is better translated as disposed (to the times) than as prudent.

The key to the passage is to understand what it means to be “children of the light.”  Christ has opened our eyes so that we see the poor as our brothers and sisters providing us opportunity to demonstrate our love for him.  Surely our discipleship of Christ involves more than prayer and fellowship.  It requires service which we render by working for a just society.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

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)

Today’s feast, the Dedication of St. John Lateran, is somewhat of an anomaly.  That is, it is somewhat unusual.  We seldom celebrate the anniversaries of churches.  But the Lateran Basilica, as St. John’s is often called, is also known as the “mother church of Christendom” or “the pope’s church.”  In celebrating it we celebrate all Christian churches.

Today’s gospel shows Jesus driving money-changers from the Temple area.  Speaking of anomalies, we see Jesus in this scene, which is repeated in each of the four gospels, using force.  He did not regularly resort to arms or tolerate their employment.  Jesus remains the Prince of Peace who warned us that the one who “lives by the sword dies by the sword” and commanded us to “love your enemies.”  Yet he takes us the whip evidently as an extreme act to show necessary regard for God’s house.

We should have a similar reverence for our churches.  God can encounter humans anywhere He chooses.  But we build churches that glorify Him so that He might choose to meet us there regularly.  As we enter church, we customarily dip our fingers in the holy water font and make the sign of the cross.  This signifies our cleansing ourselves of the contaminants of the world – the inordinate desire for fame, fortune, and fun – so that we might listen to God talk to our hearts.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 13:8-10; Luke 14:25-33)

The mystic Henri Nouwen wrote a book about praying with open hands.  He said that prayer is difficult because it demands that we open our inmost being – our sins, our desires, our insecurities – to God.  The image he used to express the reluctance to do this is a closed hand.  A closed hand often clings to something that it cannot release.  One cannot pray with a closed hand but must open it.  In today’s gospel Jesus says something very similar.

At the end of this astounding passage Jesus tells the crowd that they must give up all their “possessions” if they wish to follow him.  In first century Israel this sacrifice often entailed loss of house and family as one is ostracized for being a Christian.  Today “possessions” should be considered as more inclusive.  It means not just material things but the old prejudices, dislikes, and corrupt hearts to which people are wont to cling.

Giving up all that we have frightens us. “Perhaps we are being deceived,” we say to ourselves.  “What if I change my mind?” we ask.  Jesus would answer that he is with us to provide the support we need to find our way to eternal life.  There we shall be rewarded well beyond any sacrifice we are asked to make now.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 12:5-16ab; Luke 14:15-24)

Linus, the character of the Peanuts cartoon series, is fond of saying: “I love mankind; it's people I can’t stand.”  He is wise for recognizing a very common frailty.  Most people consider themselves as tolerant and respectful of others.  But in individual cases they often show themselves to be less understanding than they think.  In today’s first reading St. Paul exhorts the community at Rome to live up to their expectations.

After laying out his theology, Paul has begun his moral exhortation in this twelfth chapter of the Letter to the Romans.  He wants the community to avoid competitiveness and disdain.  They are to recognize one another’s gifts, to be sincere in their displays of affection, and to be compassionate to those who are suffering.

We must see individuals as our opportunities to practice charity.  By charity we do not mean contributions to organizations.  Rather, it is the virtue by which we love God and neighbor. It is not easy as other people differ from us, sometimes so much that what they do does not make sense.  Yet they are – to one extent or another – children of God and, therefore, worthy of our care.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 11:29-36; Luke 14:12-14)

Anti-Semitism has marred western civilization since the time of Christ.  The polemic against the Pharisees and, to an extent, all Jews in the gospels is understandable.  Jews had ejected Christians from synagogues where they prayed together.  Although some Church Fathers wanted to protect Jews, others quite vehemently condemned them.  The influential Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 mandated that Jews wear marks of identification which could not help but increase hateful discrimination.  The Jewish list of grievances extends for volumes.

St. Paul certainly had a different perspective. He never forsook his Jewish heritage although, of course, he swore complete allegiance to Christ.  In today’s passage from the Letter to the Romans Paul affirms that God’s election of Israel as His “Chosen People” cannot be undone.  As unlikely as it may seem, he foresees the time when they too will become part of Christ’s fold. 

With society becoming increasingly fractionated, we must be ready to stand up for all minorities.  We should not allow prejudicial remarks against Blacks, Jews, and other traditionally slandered peoples go uncontested.  Jesus was a Jew, but more importantly he suffered and died on behalf of all.  If we really love him, we will defend the dignity of all human beings.