Friday, January 26, 2018

Memorial of St. Timothy and St. Titus, bishops

(II Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 4:6-34)

St. Timothy and St. Titus accompanied St. Paul in various parts of his missionary journeys.  They served as his assistants with tasks like carrying his letters and evaluating the needs of the communities Paul founded.  Eventually both came to lead Christian communities that were associated with Paul.  Timothy became what might be called “bishop of Ephesus” and Titus, “bishop of Crete.”

Today’s first reading emphasizes the continual reliance of Church leaders on faith.  They may be so preoccupied in giving commands that their relation with the Lord wanes.  On the other hand, they may become discouraged when few people express interest in their teaching or prayer.  If their faith falters, leaders cannot bring others to truly know the Lord.  As Paul writes, leaders are to stir up the faith that is within them by constant meditation and prayer.  Doing so, they will more ably assist their people to eternal life.

Most of us have leadership responsibilities for which our faith serves well.  Parents, of course, have the physical and spiritual welfare of their children as a primary obligation.  On the job we want to convey confidence and concern to co-workers so that common objectives may be met.  Among friends we give tender care so that they may live with integrity.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

(Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18)

In one sense St. Paul’s “conversion” was not much of a change.  He never converted from being bad to being good.   He went from zealously working for God as a Jewish inquisitor to zealously working for God as a Christian missionary.  There certainly was, however, a change of perspective.  He previously perceived Jesus Christ as his enemy.  After his encounter with Christ, Paul recognized him as his Lord.  We should see ourselves being called to a similar conversion.

Catholics have looked down on Christians of other traditions – Protestants, Evangelicals, even Orthodox – as lost souls.  They have thought that it almost impossible that any non-Catholic find eternal life.  Protestants especially have harbored like doubts about Catholics.  They considered Catholics as superstitiously relying on the sacraments rather than making every effort to live righteously.  The “Week of Christian Unity,” which ends today, affords all Christian communities opportunity to view one another more fairly.

When we do so, we will find differing strengths and weaknesses. Many Protestants have a profound knowledge of Scripture with which we come to know Christ.  The Orthodox have retained an exalted sense of God as transcendent with power and majesty over all.  Catholics have the pope, the primary sign of the apostolic faith and succession.  We need all these values to find salvation among those who make rock stars or athletes their gods and satisfying sensual desire as their chief hope.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church

(II Samuel 7:4-17; Mark 4:1-20)

As the Week of Christian Unity draws to a close, it might be asked how one of the great Catholics of Reformation times treated Protestants.  St. Francis de Sales was a priest and bishop in Switzerland, a country that largely converted to Calvinism.  Influenced by religious rivalry, Francis broadly backed social and political pressures to bring Calvinists back to the Church.  But when he faced Protestants directly, he spoke to their hearts. 

Francis believed that intellectual arguments do not change people’s ways as much as calling forth the good in everyone.  He would say that it is not necessary for a farmer to pray like a monk but could offer a simple prayer to place himself on the path of holiness.  Francis was able to attract a number of Calvinists to Catholicism.  Perhaps more important than conversions, his preaching the possibility of universal holiness allows for common ground among Catholics and Protestants today.

Calvinism emphasizes especially personal righteousness. It sees human nature as seriously defected by original sin.  Nevertheless, Calvinism finds some human beings redeemed by Christ.  These fortunate few, it teaches, will lead holy lives with Christ’s grace. Whether they are bankers or farmhands, Calvinism insists that their lives exemplify prayer and decency.  A convergence may be noted here with Francis’ sense of universal holiness.  Both Calvin and De Sales offer the possibility of every baptized person leading holy life.  Calvin may be stricter in his sense of what holiness consists and Francis more flexible.  But both find the need of seriousness in pursuing sanctity.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 6:12b-15.17-19; Mark 3:31-35)

  

Does the world need God?  As probably half of the world’s population, we say that we do. But increasingly, especially in western societies, people act as if they do not need God.  Witness the lagging observance of Sunday as the Lord’s Day and the greater interest in retirement plans than in pursuit of eternal life.  Today’s first reading suggests that indeed a right functioning requires the worship of God.

When King David dances before the Ark of the Covenant, he is showing himself as the epitome of a renewed priesthood and well as of the kingship. He has just offered sacrifice to God.  Now he gives God exultant praise before the Ark which contains the Tablets of the Law.  His actions imply that the people must recognize God as author, sustainer, and legislator of their life.  Without God their strength will shrivel, and they will come to nothing.

If we look at what is happening around us, we should reach the same conclusion.  Not remembering Christ’s command to love one another, we are falling into the division of identity politics which often ignore the common good.  More devastating, not heeding God’s law concerning sex, many rob their children of full family life.  We also need God even more for His daily assistance that comes in more numerable ways than is possible to record.

Monday, January 22, 2018

(see below for a reflection on the readings of the day)

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Last Monday the United States celebrated a significant social achievement.  In honoring Dr. Luther King, Jr., the nation recalled with pride its revocation of unjust laws that rendered African-Americans inferior.  Social equality among the races in this land is not perfect, but denying that great progress has been made toward that goal is the rhetoric of fools or of revolutionaries.

As advancements in racial equality were being made, the United States slipped into another kind of moral pitfall. Forty-five years ago today its Supreme Court struck down virtually all laws prohibiting abortion.  The decision has led to the wanton taking of human life at its most defenseless stage – over sixty million human beings!  It has also accelerated sexual promiscuity as most abortions involve unmarried women.  Why else would men and women conspire to allow such a horrific amount of killing if not to assure sexual libertinism?

Since its beginnings, the Church has opposed abortion.  But only in more recent years has it commented on abortion at length.  St. John Paul II was especially articulate in describing the evil.  Our former pope saw the right to life as basic to all other rights.  He said that when a society allows the taking of life at any stage it denies equal protection before the law.  This, of course, is what the African-American quest for racial equality sought.  That project has not yet been completed, but it has even farther to go now than fifty years ago.  Legalized abortion has statistically jeopardized the lives of African-American babies more than of others.

Today we pray for an end to the tragedy of abortion.  We ask God to open the eyes of all to its evil.  We also might resolve to support the right-to-life cause politically, financially, and morally.  It too has extremists with whom we may not wish to associate.  But it also has, in far greater numbers, sainted men and women to whom we owe our allegiance.

Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 5:1-7.10; Mark 3:22-30)

Last month President Donald Trump announced that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  The declaration caused much criticism since rights over Jerusalem are contested by Israelis and Palestinians.  The beginnings of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city are found in today’s first reading.

Israel was never a well united nation.  Before David the various tribes claimed different parts of the land.  The united kingdom did not outlive the reign of David’s son Solomon.  But for almost seventy years the southern and northern tribes thrived under these monarchs.  The reading indicates David’s capital from Hebron to Jerusalem corresponded to the unification of the nation.  Jerusalem is farther north and thus closer to the lands of the northern tribes.

We should see Jerusalem as a symbol as much among peoples of different religions as among Jews.  Palestinians with its Muslim majority sees the city as its center.  They still have hopes, as did the United Nations at the time of Israel’s founding, of making Jerusalem an international city.  The United States’ recent recognition of Jerusalem may have been just accepting the de facto reality.  But still the goal, which certainly is our prayer today, is that the city – whose very name is associated with shalom or peace – may become a place where Jews, Muslims, and Christians live peacefully together.