Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 10:11-18; Mark 4:1-20)

Anyone familiar with the New Yorker magazine remembers a favorite cartoon that was used on its cover.  The drawing shows a man dressed in a fashionable coat with a tall top hat.  He is examining a butterfly with his monocle as if he were seeing one for the first time.  The man seems totally unfamiliar with nature.  He would probably not understand Jesus’ parable in today’s gospel.  It would sound to him like a discussion in a foreign language. 

In the passage Jesus explains that the parables are not intended for everyone.  He implies rather that they are meant for the poor in spirit who can appreciate the chore of growing food.  These people would naturally pick up on his comparison of the word of God with seeds being planted.  They would realize that some hearers of the word are never touched by it because of sinful inclinations in their makeup.  This is like the seed that is sown in places where it cannot grow to produce fruit.  They would also be aware that a harvest of a hundredfold is tremendous.  It is like the person who has become a saint. 

We should not be bothered if we have difficulty understanding Jesus’ parable.  Even his disciples needed an explanation.  But we should try to profit from his explanation.  We need to be careful not to be led astray by new ideas that distort the gospel message.  Similarly, we should not allow ourselves to be caught up in pleasures and vain pursuits of life.  Also, we want to allow the word of God to take root and grow by prayer and study.  In these ways we too will hopefully become saints.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 10:1-10; Mark 3:31-35)

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews tries to convince his readers to stay with the Church.  Some were likely reverting to Judaism.  In today’s reading the author argues that Christ’s sacrifice was much more effective than those offered in the Temple.  After all, it says, Christ did what the Scriptures claim that God wants.  He fulfilled the will of God.

Today many Catholics are likewise leaving the Church.  Arguments using Scripture will probably not hold them close.  Perhaps the beauty of Church art or music keeps some from going.  Others might stay because of saints like Mother Teresa.  But most of all, people remain Catholic because of the fellowship they enjoy in the parish.  They appreciate their relationships with other members as well as with priests and other ministers.  In a world adrift, they find themselves solidly anchored near an island of caring.

Those reading these homilettes have a critical role in keeping these people moored.  They have freely to share not Bible stories but their lived experiences.  They should listen to others’ needs and describe how theirs have been met through faith.  In doing so, they will exhibit love and inspire hope.  Humans find it difficult to walk away from these intangibles which they most deeply desire.

Monday, January 28, 2019

Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church

(Hebrews 9:15.24-28; Mark 3:22-30)

In Thomas Aquinas’ “Prayer before Study” the saint asks the Lord for light.  He sees himself engulfed by a twofold darkness – ignorance and sin.  The first obscurity regards all the reality which his mind has not grasped.  Aquinas is said to have known everything that was known at the time.  But perhaps, like Socrates, he knew that there were oceans of knowledge still to be learned.  The second darkness is even thicker.  Sin often infects the mind so that one thinks he has answers to all questions or, at least, all the questions that are important.  We may liken these two obscurities to the strongman which Jesus speaks of in today’s gospel.

Jesus’ parable astounds the person who considers it.  He compares himself to a thief!  Moreover, he says, the world is like a household and the devil like a strong man controlling it. Jesus binds the strong man by expelling demons.  His aim is to set the people of the household free.  He condemns anyone who would criticize his work but not because he takes personal offense.  No, Jesus is concerned that his critics are preventing people from being liberated.

The struggle for liberation carries on today.  Sometimes we act like we do not want to be set free.  This is true of petty sins like being “know it alls” as well as more scandalous ones.  Jesus has come to liberate us from all vices.  Let’s not prevent him from doing so.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

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

Today ends the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  “What’s that?” many people ask, even people who come to church regularly.  The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was established over a hundred years ago.  It addresses the contradiction of Jesus’ church being divided up as if it were an indigenous territory that was parceled in a land rush.  In the Gospel of John Jesus prays: “’…that all of them may be one as You, Father, are in me, and I am in you’” (John 17:21).  As it now stands, Christians are no more one than the colors of the rainbow.

The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul closes the week of prayer.  It is worthwhile to ponder why.  Of course, Paul is universally admired.  Protestants see his insight of “salvation by faith in Christ” as particularly critical to Christian self-understanding, which it is.  Catholic priests and sisters have made Paul their model in the profession of celibacy.  But a deeper reason explains the choice of Paul as the patron of unity.  As the name of the feast indicates, Paul underwent conversion.  He changed his mind and heart.  He was the persecutor of Christ who became his greater promoter.  Something like Paul’s conversion must take place in Christians if there is ever to be unity.

The conversion called for here is akin to the change of heart preached every Lent.  We must humble ourselves before God and one another.  We must not think of ourselves as better than others because we are traditional Catholics or “everyone’s welcome” Protestants.  Rather we must listen to Christ speaking through one another.  And we must bend to accept one another as a brother or sister.  We cannot compromise fundamental principles for a superficial unity.  But we can establish partnerships that transcend differences.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

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

(Hebrews 7:25-8:6; Mark 3:7-12)

St. Francis de Sales lived at a particularly difficult time in Church history.  Protestantism had rent Western Christianity in pieces.  At his death the Thirty Years War was eviscerating the faith of evangelical love.  In the particularly contentious Swiss nation Francis preached reconciliation.  His early understanding of a universal call to holiness would serve this end.  In the Introduction to the Devout Life he wrote that all Christians are called to sanctity.  All Christians without exception have to pray as well as avoid wrongdoing and love their enemies.

A parallel message is given in today’s first reading.  The Letter to the Hebrews describes Jesus as “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,…”  In fact, all Christians are called to holiness because Jesus is holy.  Likewise, all Christians are priests because they share in Jesus’ high priesthood.  Their prayers for others have weight when they are spiritually conformed to Christ.

In striving for perfection like Christ’s, we should be concerned with interior disposition.  We should seek and promote the good in every person.  We should as well take note and strive to eliminate selfishness.  Pursuing these virtues with a prayerful spirit, we will attain holiness.