Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist

(II Thessalonians 3:6-10.16-18; Mark 6:17-29)

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Julius Caesar, the protagonist says: "Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once."  Caesar is referring to the many occasions in which cowards betray their consciences.  Out of fear they fail to do what is right.  King Herod proves himself to be a coward in today’s gospel.

Herod fears that his guests will think of him as weak-kneed for refusing to carry out the promise he made.  He also shows himself a coward for not reprimanding his stepdaughter for her outrageous request.  Quite the opposite, John the Baptist shows real courage by speaking out against Herod for causing a public scandal.  He knows that civic leaders should give good example to the people by living upright lives. 

We are being continuously jarred by the unseemly acts of politicians.  Marital infidelity and cavorting with prostitutes are regular front-page features.  We need to look to Jesus for a remedy.  He will tell us not to cast stones on the guilty.  But he will add that their sins cannot be tolerated.  They should repent, do penance, and find consolation from us.  After all, we too struggle at times to live righteously.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Memorial of Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church

(II Thessalonians 2:1-3a.14-17; Matthew 23:23-26)

It has been said that the three most influential persons in Christianity are Jesus, St. Paul, and today’s patron, St. Augustine.  It is a plausible selection.  Jesus and Paul are natural choices, and much can be said to defend Augustine’s placement in the troika. His prodigious thought lent coherency to biblical teaching.  And his long service allowed him to comment on most aspects of theology and church life.  He wrote books, theological tracts, and sermons.  His best known work, The Confessions, is found on most lists of great books of Western Civilization.  He certainly fulfilled the demand articulated in today’s first reading.

The Second Letter to the Thessalonians like most New Testament epistles emphasizes the urgency of holding to faith traditions.  “…stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught,” it says.  Unlike other religious systems Christianity understands itself as a religion with a fixed theological tradition.  Proper understanding of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit more than anything else makes one a Christian.  Morality, particularly love of God and neighbor, is also essential but in a real sense not so much as firmness of belief.

Today, as in biblical times, there are many odd ideas that pretend to be Christian.  The “prosperity gospel” provides a relevant example.   Of course, Christ never preached the desirability of riches, quite the opposite.  Endeavoring to understand our faith will help us to practice as he taught and lived.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Memorial of Saint Monica

(II Thessalonians 1:1-5.11-12; Matthew 23:13-22)

As many young people do not practice the faith of their childhood, St. Monica is becoming a more popular saint.  Parents turn to her as their patron and model.  Monica prayed for the conversion of her errant son Augustine.  As a young man, the future saint pursued esoteric teachings and lived with a mistress.  In today’s first reading Paul tells the Thessalonians how he prays for them much like Monica prayed for her son.   

Paul asks God “that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in (the Thessalonians), and (they) in him.” This indeed took place.  The Thessalonians endured trials to maintain their faith in Christ and were to be justly rewarded for their efforts.  However, the Thessalonians’ influence on Christianity and western civilization can hardly be compared with that of St. Augustine.  He was one of the Church’s greatest theologians.  Equally important, his introspection set intellectual thought on a psychological course that continues today.

Above all, Monica teaches us the need for persistent, loving prayer.  She prayed for years that Augustine might use his prodigious talents for God and the Church.  Likewise, we must not give up when our prayers are not readily answered or seem to ask too much.  We need to pray until our knees bleed and our hearts are ready to faint.  Then we will see blessings.

Frdiay, August 24, 2018

Feast of St. Bartholomew, apostle

(Revelation 21:9b-14; John 1:45-51)

As with most of the twelve disciples whom we recognize as apostles, we know little about Bartholomew.  Since in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he is paired with Philip, Biblical scholars hold that he is the same as Nathanael whom the Gospel of John associates with Philip.  Nathanael, as today’s gospel relates, proclaims the identity of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.  With this statement the evangelist John presents Nathaniel-Bartholomew like Luke introduces the sage Simeon at the presentation of Jesus in the Temple.  Both are portrayed as prophets announcing the redemption of Israel. 

Even though Bartholomew’s biography remains largely obscure, any one of us would trade places with him.  After all, he saw and even touched salvation in person!  That is, he followed Jesus first-hand, heard his voice, felt the warmth of his hand.  It is taken for granted that the apostles suffered martyrdom.  They could do so willingly, however, because they knew that Jesus to whom they testified would give them eternal life.

We cannot know Jesus as the twelve apostles did, but nevertheless he allows us access to himself.  His words remain in the gospel, his flesh and blood are ingested in the Eucharist, and his Spirit is felt in the love Christians demonstrate.  In faith we know that Jesus is present to us.  Drawing strength from him, we like the apostles may give witness to him by dying to ourselves in service to others.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezekiel 36:23-28; Matthew 22:1-14)

Fr. Stanley Rother, an American missionary to Guatemala, was assasinated in 1981.  Two years ago, Pope Francis declared that Fr. Rother was killed in odium fidei (in hatred of the faith); that is, as a martyr which qualifies for him the title of “Blessed.” His story portrays atypical heroism and also a typical devotion on the part of the native peoples of Guatemala. 

Fr. Rother refused to leave the indigenous people of his village despite persistent death threats.  Eventually soldiers carried out the crime.  When Fr. Rother’s family came to take Fr. Rother’s body for burial in Oklahoma, the people resisted.  They claimed that he had been their priest and their protector.  Finally, the two sides compromised.  All of Fr. Rother’s body except his heart was returned to the United States.  The native people, however, retained his noble and loving heart in their church.

The reading from Ezekiel today promises that everyone’s heart will be purified like Fr. Rother’s.  Ezekiel says that God will replace the stony hearts of the people with tender hearts.  Then they will be able to give fitting homage to God and show loving care to one another.  He adds that this will be done by gathering the people in a new land and sprinkling them with clean water.

Ezekiel’s prophecy has been fulfilled in our time.  Jesus has renewed our hearts in Baptism (the sprinkling) which brings us into his Church (the new land).  Regrettably, however, some fail to follow him choosing instead self-gratification.  We can pray for them while we give thanks for our renewal in love.