Monday, September 17, 2018

Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

( I Corinthians 11:17-26.33; Luke 7:1-10)

A hundred years ago the Church often separated a minority group from the dominant one. Rather than one integrated parish, there were two - a rich parish in the nice part of town and a poor parish of African-Americans, Mexicans or other immigrant group on the poor side of the railroad tracks. Unfortunately, a similar practice is sometimes allowed today.  Communities with means resist having a Eucharist in Spanish, Polish, or other language. St. Paul addresses this abuse in the first reading.

Evidently people have reported to Paul that the well-off in the Corinthian community are separating themselves from the poor.  They have what amounts to a private party while the poor wait for the formal Eucharist to begin. Paul reminds the community that the host of the gathering is Jesus himself present in spirit. In him, he says later in the letter, all are united – slave and free, Jew and Greek, Mexican and Irish, men and women - into one body. Seeking divisions betrays that unity.  It may even nullify his presence

No doubt reaching out to people from other cultures takes us out of our comfort zones. But there is really no alternative for Christians. If we are what we say we are - the Body of Christ -- then we have to act inclusively.  By integrating our communities we profess Jesus Christ as the one Lord of the whole world.

Friday, September 14, 2018

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

(Numbers 21:4b-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17)

One of the earliest poems in the English language is a reflection on the Holy Cross.  In “The Dream of the Rood” the rood is a pole or a cross. The poem describes the trajectory of its existence.  It was once a tree before being cut down and formed into an instrument of death.  Brought to Calvary, the rood realized that it was being embraced by Jesus and so would suffer with him.  In the end the rood was adorned with precious stones where the Savior’s body had been attached.  The story is a kind of personal remembrance of today’s second reading.

The passage from the Letter to the Philippians is believed to have originated as a hymn sung by early Christians.  It was adopted by Paul for his lesson on humility and obedience. The Son, Christ Jesus, was always God, but at the Father’s command humbled himself to be born as human.  On earth he continued in obedience in order to fulfill his Father’s will to redeem humanity from sin.  He was crucified, but death was not the last word about his mission.  God raised him up so that he might be adored and worshiped.

Both “The Dream of the Rood” and the Letter to the Philippians encourage us to suffer with Christ.  Catholics today are facing ridicule for continuing as members of a Church whose leaders have sometimes sinned.  We can accept the humiliation as a way of participating in the Savior’s crucifixion.  Our comfort is to know that following Christ, we will come to his glory.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church

(I Corinthians 8:1b-7.11-13; Luke 6:27-38)

Reading a biographical sketch of St. John Chrysostom, one is reminded of Pope Francis.  Like Francis, John was an excellent preacher.  In fact, the appellation “Chrysostom” means golden-mouth.  He was also a bishop of an imperial see who lived in simplicity and befriended the poor.  John made enemies among the elite for his outspoken opposition to aristocratic extravagances.  He particularly criticized churchmen for unseemly wealth and abuse of power.  The lives of both John and Francis indicate an assimilation of today’s readings.

St. Paul tells the Corinthians that love demands sacrifices.  He says that even if some desired action is not evil but would cause scandal, one should not do it out of love.  Paul’s words reflect a profound acceptance of Jesus’ teaching. The Lord commands his disciples to love even their enemies.  Their love must do more than wish the other person well.  It must be willing to make sacrifices for the person.

It is fair to ask if Jesus should be taken literally when he tells us to “’give to everyone who asks of you.’”  I do not believe that it is necessary that we give everything others may request.  But we do have to try to meet people’s basic needs.  We are to clothe the naked and feed the hungry.  We are also to honor the God-like dignity of every man and woman.

Wednesday, September 13, 2018

Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26)

A perennial question in the Church concerns priestly celibacy.  Should married men be ordained to the priesthood?  There are former Episcopalian priests with wives who are ordained Roman Catholic priests, but here we want to consider the rule and not the exception.  Some believe that celibacy is the right option for those who believe they would be happier without a wife.  St. Paul offers an interesting alternative to this position.

Paul admits that he is speaking on his own here; nevertheless, his words are authoritative.  Believing that Jesus is to return soon, he recommends that all people not marry.  Paul says that although married couples should not separate, the unmarried should not seek marriage.  Rather, he believes that they are wise to keep the Lord constantly in mind.  Paul is well aware of the human tendency to preoccupy itself with sex if that is at hand.

Most priest celibates experience some difficulty.  Like most men they long for intimacy with a woman and to raise a family.  However, married couples do not have life easy either.  Marriage is necessary to continue the human enterprise, and celibacy testifies to the Lord’s eventual return.  It is not likely that enough men would choose celibacy without a rule for this witness to be widespread.  Therefore, it may be said that although it requires deeply felt sacrifice, priestly celibacy is valuable for preaching the full gospel.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 6:1-11; Luke 6:12-19)

A recent article on the editorial page of The New York Times criticized the Church for its sexual morality.  The author reacted to the suspicion of homosexual activity among priests and bishops raised by the former Apostolic Delegate to the United States.  More to the point, the author said that the Church has failed “to come to grips with sex.”  Especially problematic for him was St. Paul’s condemnation of homosexual activity, an instance of which is found in today’s first reading.

Paul does not make distinctions when he declares that “sodomites,” like other kinds of blatant sinners, will not inherit the kingdom of God.  By using that term he might well have in mind promiscuous men who seek to victimize others.  Perhaps he would not as hastily doomed men in a committed relationships.  However, the issue here is the purpose of sexual activity.  The Church has always maintained that genital sex is ordered to have children.  In more recent times the Church has emphasized another purpose which is to assist a married couple grow in mutual love.  Procreative, love-nurturing sexual activity is not an ideal for the holiest couples.  It is a reality in millions of marriages throughout history and today.

Advocates of the Sexual Revolution have proclaimed that sexual activity outside marriage can be good.  With the wreckage of poverty, emotional distress, to say nothing of abortions, that has resulted from “free love,” one should think that it is they, not the Church, who have to come to grips with reality.  The Church must continue teaching, whether or not its message is accepted, what it has received from Jesus:  when a man and a woman marry, they become “one flesh” which is not to be divided.  St. Paul never denies this truth but means to affirm it with his condemnation of sodomy.