Monday, May 28, 2018

Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time (Memorial Day)

(I Peter 1:3-9; Mark 10:17-27)

Today the United States celebrates Memorial Day.  For generations Americans have isolated a day at the end of May to pray for their war dead.  These primarily include young men who died in wars fought to defend their country.  Because they were young, they tended to rashly follow their hearts’ desires.  The prayer is that God will forgive them any sins and reward them for serving their country.  In this way they too will partake of the rich inheritance promised in today’s reading from I Peter.

The Letter of Peter is written for Christians who suffer persecution.  The suffering may stem from friends whose corrupt pleasures the disciples of Christ no longer share.  Or it may come from authorities who cannot tolerate their abandoning the ancient gods.  The letter exhorts those Christians to carry on the struggle.  It holds up as a reward the prize of heaven.  It also suggests as an even more basic reason to resist temptation in their relationship with Jesus.  He will one day be revealed as savior of the whole world.

As well as our war dead we should pray today for those who are being persecuted for their faith.  Whether they are Christians in Pakistan, Muslims in Myanmar, or Baha’is in Iran, we pray that they will realize the promise of Jesus Christ.  Having tried, as they did, to serve others, we pray that God will welcome them into eternal life.

Friday, May 25, 2018

Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(James 5:9-12; Mark 10:1-12)

Before epoxy glues were sold commercially, scientists would demonstrate their strength to students.  They took two pieces of chain with plugs at the end and fastened them together with the epoxy.  Then they asked two husky boys to pull on either side of the chain.  Meanwhile, they put a safety cord connecting both sides in case the chain should give.  Of course, the boys could not pull the cemented chains apart.  The epoxy glue held the two sides together as if they were always one.  In today’s gospel Jesus is saying that marriage has a comparable solidity.

The permanence of marriage evidently has always been at issue.  When Moses saw the problem of troubled marriages, he wrote a provision for divorce into the Law.  However, Jesus will not accept Moses’ allowance as the Creator’s intention.  He forbids divorce as against the design of matrimony.  He uses strong language to defend his position.  Those who divorce to marry another person commit adultery.

Divorce continues to plague society and, therefore, the Church.  Recently some bishops have tried to allow for some exceptions to Jesus’ rule.  However, Pope Francis has concluded that Jesus’ prohibition remains intact.  True, he has facilitated matrimonial annulments.  But in line with the synod called to consider the question, Francis supports the gospel tradition.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(James 5:1-6; Mark 9:41-50)

George Orwell wrote Animal Farm as an allegory to critique Soviet Communism.  He used farm animals to indicate different types of people who revolt against a delinquent farmer.  At the beginning of his story the pigs ardently organize the other animals. They claim that with a change of regime all will be treated equally.  When the revolution succeeds, however, one of the pigs connives for leadership.  He systematically eliminates rivals and acts more tyrannically than the farmer. Today’s rather difficult gospel should be read as providing a similar lesson.

Jesus is teaching his disciples about their future proclamation of the gospel.  He tells them that they can expect some relief - such as a cup of water - in their efforts.  He warns them, however, that they should never exploit others.  He emphasizes that if they lead others from virtue, they will be punished like the worst of criminals.  Jesus is aware of the tendency of initial ideals being corrupted with the acquisition of power.  This is what happened in Orwell’s allegory and sometimes, sadly, even in Church leadership. 

In his parable Jesus uses salt in a novel way.  He sees it like the ideals which inspire people to work fervently in pursuit of their goals.  But the ideals may wane like salt may turn unsavory. Then like salt becomes useless except to melt the snow, ideals become empty words. 

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(James 4:13-17; Mark 9:38-40)

A Catholic novelist recently wrote of her conversion experience.  She said that she grew up Episcopalian but without firm direction.  She went to an Ivy League School where she succumbed to sexual temptations.  Undergoing an intellectual conversion, she refrained from premarital sex for a while.  She then fell back into serious sin and experienced what she calls “a baffling illness.”  She was saved from the dire situation by a charismatic healer named Grace.  The novelist assisted Grace’s mission activities until she became a Catholic.  The story is similar to what today’s gospel conveys.

The passage resembles what probably happened many times in the early Church as it does today.  Preachers who are not connected to apostolic churches minister in the name of Jesus.  The apostolic churches had to ask themselves if the upstarts should be tolerated.  This is the question that his disciples ask Jesus.  His answer is unequivocal: “’Do not prevent them.’”  They may not have all the seven sacraments or entirely correct teaching.  But they are still preforming works of genuine love.

It is sometimes difficult for Catholics to tolerate other Christian communities.  We see them as intellectually and liturgically wanting.  Moreover, sometimes they ridicule the Catholic Church with calumnies and misinformation.  But many of their adherents probably love Jesus as much as we.  The situation calls for forbearance.  Perhaps a dialogue with the other church may eliminate the undue criticism.  Common service projects and even mutual prayer services may change attitudes.  Even if they are against us at first, they may become working allies.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(James 4:1-10; Mark 9:30-37)

Once in a while at the end of mass someone speaks out, “St. Michael, defend in battle…”  The prayer dates back 142 years to the pontificate of Leo XIII.  At that time the papacy found itself at a loss vis-a-vis worldly powers.  St. Michael was called upon to defend the Holy See’s interests.  The tune of the prayer is similar to today’s first reading.

The author of the text understands his readers to be in conflict with themselves.  He sees their grace-enlightened minds struggling against their passions inclined to do evil.  Distrusting spontaneity, he exhorts them to soberly resist all temptations of pleasure.

Such outlooks on the world appeal to us who sometimes feel conflicted by natural desires.  However, the goods of the world should not be spurned completely.  Made for our use and enjoyment, they make us grateful to be alive.  But they are not to dominate our aspirations either.  We are made for something better - love that blossoms into eternal life.  We should interpret James as a warning about over-indulgence in material creation.  Even more we should be joyful and thankful for the gift of life.