Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Daniel 5:1-6.13-14.16-17.23-28; Luke 21:12-19)

 “Can’t you read the ‘writing on the wall’?”  People ask this question when the meaning of a situation appears clear to them but not so to the other.  The term originated in the passage from the Book of the Prophet Daniel read today.

The words “Mene,” “Tekel,” and “Peres” may sound esoteric, but they are not incomprehensible.  Scholars say that mene means to count.  Tekel is the root word for the ancient weight and then coin, “shekel.”  It means to weigh.  And peres is related to the root for “Pharisee” – the people separated out from commoners for their strict observance.  The “writing on the wall” then is a message to the people who are committing sacrilege by using the vessels from Jerusalem’s temple.  Their deeds are being counted and weighed. They will be separated out for punishment.

The same is true for all of us.  Our deeds, observed and judged, will merit us salvation or damnation.  As today’s gospel relates, we want to give testimony to Christ.  It’s easy to say what we are to do but at times difficult to carry out the tasks.  We are to love one another as Jesus loves us – earnestly, patiently, self-sacrificingly.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Daniel 2:31-45; Luke 21:5-11)

In “Ozymandias” Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley tells a tale like Jesus’ in today’s gospel.  “Ozymandias” is the Greek name for the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II.  The discovery of a statue of the king in the desert occasions the poem.  Shelley writes that the inscription on the statue’s base commands the resignation of viewers.  “’Look on my works…’” it reads, ‘”and despair!'”  The sad truth is, however, that the statue itself lies shattered in the sand.

Jesus gives the people marveling at the grandeur of the temple a similar lesson. He foresees the temple’s destruction which indeed took place forty years hence.  He is saying that even this grand tribute to God lacks ultimate importance.  In fact, he would say, everything material will be come to ruin.  Only discipleship of himself remains with lasting value.  But even at that, he continues, people have to take care that they do not follow false messiahs.

Lay person or consecrated religious, we must not become distracted by material objects.  Cars, houses, and large expense accounts must not turn us away from following Jesus.  Neither should ideologies lead us from the truth that Jesus teaches.    If we want eternal life, we must follow his way of self-giving love.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Daniel 1:1-6.8-20, Luke 21:1-4)

Your doctor would not be surprised at all with the outcome of Daniel’s vegetarian diet.  She will tell you to consume less red meat, more vegetables, no alcohol and lots of water.  But the author’s intention in the Book of Daniel can hardly be dietary advice.  Quite certainly he means to give moral counsel.  He is telling his fellow Jews not to disregard the Law.  Rather they are to follow its every precept.  As in the case here, their adhesion to the Law will bring about the good.

The Book of Daniel was written in the second century before Christ.  As the first reading for the last week has testified, Jews were then being terribly persecuted.  Foreign kings wanted to impose their beliefs and customs on the people.  The Jews resisted and ultimately prevailed to establish home rule. Unfortunately that too proved to be seriously defective.

Religious persecution is threatening citizens in western societies today.  People are not being forced to eat forbidden foods but to violate their consciences in other ways.  Should a Catholic doctor refer a patient to a surgeon who will perform a desired abortion?  Should a priest “marry” a homosexual couple?  Should a Catholic school treat as a girl a “transgendered” male child?  These kinds of questions may soon cause faith-filled people to be prosecuted.  They will hopefully take courage from these mass readings.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, martyr

(I Maccabees 4:36-37.52-59; Luke 19:45-48)

Today’s first reading relates the story of the Jewish feast of Hanukkah.   The passage tells how Jews 165 year before Christ celebrated the re-consecration of the Temple altar.  They burnt offerings and sang hymns of praise for eight days.  According to one tradition, there was a glitch in the preparations for the celebration.  After the plans were announced, only enough consecrated oil for one day of burning was found.  Undeterred, the people went ahead with their plans.  To their amazement the oil lasted the full eight days.  For this reason Hanukkah is sometimes called the “Feast of Lights.”  As testimony to the miracle, Jews traditionally eat fried foods throughout the celebration.

Jesus celebrated the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple as Hanukkah is sometimes called.  He also revered the Temple as God’ meeting place with humans.  For this reason he chases the money changers from its confines as today’s gospel relates.  Jesus himself has become the prime place of encounter with God.  In this sense he has replaced the Temple. 

This year Hanukkah corresponds with Christmas.  The eight days begins on December 22 and concludes on December 30.  It should be a time of peace and joy for everyone in these two great religions.  We should be praying for our Jewish friends and might ask them to pray for us as well.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(I Maccabees 2:15-29; Luke 19:41-44)

Every city has its landmark.  In New York it is the Statue of Liberty.  In Rome St. Peter’s Basilica stands out.  In Jerusalem of antiquity the Temple loomed in importance.  The Temple monumentalized the Jewish faith.  There the people worshiped and offered sacrifice.  Because money was exchanged in making sacrifices, the Temple had economic significance.  Today’s gospel and feast have the Temple as a common reference.

In the gospel Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem. His saying that “they will not leave one stone upon another” applies particularly to the Temple.  In 70 A.D. the Romans dismantled its magnificent structure.  Jesus’ weeps for good reason.  Many of his countrymen will be killed.  Terrible as well, this symbol and facilitator of Israel’s faith will be lost.

Ancient and often exaggerated stories of Jesus are told in the so-called apocryphal gospels.  Although they cannot be considered the inspired word of God, they often support Christian faith.  At least two of these “gospels” give background information by telling of the infancy of Mary.  They testify that Mary’s parents brought her to the Temple when she was three.  They left her there as their offering to the Lord.  Mary, according to the story, was neither unaware nor afraid of what was going on.  Rather she ran up the Temple stairs without looking back.  Here Mary serves as a model for all of us.  May we be as eager to serve the Lord as this child!