Monday, October 7, 2019

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

(Jonah 1:1-2:2.11; Luke 10:25-37)

 Unlike religious zealots the Bible tends to be inclusive.  Last week the Old Testament readings at mass chastised Israel for cavorting with foreigners.   Today the reading features God’s effort to save Assyria, one of Israel’s fiercest enemies.   God sends Jonah, the reluctant prophet, to convert the nation which He also loves.

But Jonah has evidently developed a bias against Assyria.  He disobediently boards a ship heading away from the nation to which God has sent him.  Likely depressed by his sin, Jonah sleeps through a violent storm that arises.  Interestingly, the pagan sailors ask Jonah to pray to his God for deliverance.  These same barbarians question the morality of Jonah’s recommendation that they throw him overboard.

There are good people everywhere.  It can even be said that the majority of people everywhere are good.  We should not make blanket statements condemning the people of Afghanistan, Somalia or North Korea.  Then again evil is always lurking over us so that even the best of peoples commit egregious offenses.  Ours is to repent of sin both personal and social.  At the same time we pray that the faults of other individuals and nations be corrected.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi, religious

(Baruch 1:15-22; Luke 10:13-16)

One of the reasons that St. Francis of Assisi has been so popular through the centuries is that he is seen as a romantic.  It is said that Francis separated himself from his money-driven father by taking off his fine clothes in the public square.  Even more charming is the story of his taming a vicious wolf by appealing to the wolf’s reason.  He promised the wolf that if it would stop ravaging the town, the townspeople provide it every day.  The difficulty with stories like this second one is that they are not always accurate.

A recent biography by a hard-nosed historian dismisses a large amount of the legend surrounding Francis.  What he finds is a man like the rest of us groping to God in a troubled world.  But Francis, of course, reached his object without the pains of purgatory.  Perhaps it was a special devotion to Christ that gave him the critical edge.  Francis loved the Lord because Jesus truly impoverished himself many times over.  He became human and then died on the cross.  Then he has fed his disciples with his own body in the Eucharist.

We do well to imitate Francis of Assisi.  We need not go barefoot or eschew swatting flies.  But we should carefully contemplate the mystery that confronts us at Mass.  It is Jesus under the guise of bread and wine who calls us to humble ourselves so that we might strengthen others.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(Nehemiah 8:1-4a.5-6.7b-12; Luke 10:1-12)

A number of years ago a play featuring the gospel won acclaim in New York.  It wasn’t “Jesus Christ, Superstar” or “Godspell” but one person rendition of the Gospel according to Mark.  The performer, no doubt, was able to convey the depth of human love which Mark relates.  Evidently, the scribe Ezra is able to give a similarly effective performance in today’s first reading.

The occasion is an assembly of the people of Jerusalem at the Temple site.  Ezra reads the Law, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, to an astonished crowd.  The people are spell-bound by the story of God’s love for them.  They start to cry when they think how they and their ancestors have betrayed this love.  However, Nehemiah, the governor, intervenes.  He tells them not to be sad.  After all, God still loves them and forgives their sins.

There are many passages in the New Testament that invoke tears.  John 3:16 and Romans 8:38-39 come to mind even before the Gospel of Mark.  There are days when we should weep for betraying Christ’s love.  But today in gorgeous October we might just give thanks to God for Jesus.  He has witnessed the Father’s goodness in a way that transcends our imaginations.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019,

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Matthew 18:1-5.10)

We hear today’s gospel as an assurance that God cares for little children.  It is that. Some will add that God gives the same care to every person.  Yes, God loves everyone.  But we miss half the message if we limit our consideration to Guardian Angels protecting people.  The reading confirms the basic gospel proclamation of raising up the lowly and putting down the mighty.

At this point in Matthew’s Jesus is launching his sermon on Church order.  He will challenge his disciples to not allow anything to cause them to sin, even a roving eye or an itchy hand.  He will also admonish them to always be ready to forgive the sins of others. Because of their humility curtailing pride, God will raise them up.

Egocentrism caused Adam to sin and has kept a hold on his descendants.  Yet Christ has shown us that it is possible to live without over-concern for the self.  More than that, he has won for us the grace to break its grasp.  Staying close to him by contemplating his word and partaking of his body, we can be humble.  Then we will have no need to worry.  God will raise us up as sure as the sun rises in the morning.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Memorial of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, virgin and Doctor of the Church

(Zechariah 8:21-23; Luke 9:51-56)

Mother St. Teresa of Kolkata famously said, “…we can do small things with great love.”  She may have had St. Therese of the Child Jesus in mind.  Therese spent most of her short life in a Carmelite convent.  She wanted to go the missions but knew God intended her to pray for missionaries.  She also bore with great patience the travail of tuberculosis and the often irritating life in a cloister.   Therese resembled Jesus heading toward Jerusalem in today’s gospel.

The passage represents a turning point in the gospel.  Jesus has achieved notoriety as a preacher and healer.  He realizes, however, that his mission involves a sacrifice of self in Jerusalem.  He does not flinch and wastes no time fussing with uncooperative people.  He moves deliberately but graciously to offer himself for the salvation of the world.

St. Therese wrote an autobiography that has attracted a great following.  Although she lived a very different external life, she faced the same inner challenges as most people.  In love with the personification of love, Jesus Christ, she serves as a model for all.