Friday, January 10, 2020

Friday after the Epiphany

(I John 5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16)

Why believe in Jesus as the Son of God who gives eternal life?  The first reading from the First Letter of John purports to answer this question.  It calls upon three witnesses.  The first witness is “water.”  Jesus was born of a woman who carried him in her body sack of water.  In other words, he became human.  As human, he possessed God’s favor which allowed him to heal people as seen in today’s gospel.

The second witness is Jesus’ blood shed on the cross.  Jesus showed himself to be God’s Son by dying as a spotless sacrifice for sinners.  St. Paul expresses this truth most clearly when he writes to the Romans: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  His sacrifice made up for human sins.  It allowed those who side with him to become members of God’s family worthy of eternal life.

Finally, the Holy Spirit gives testimony to Jesus.  He spoke through the prophets who foretold Jesus’ coming.  The Spirit also acts in our hearts to resist egoistic tendencies and to practice Jesus’ love for God and neighbor.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Christmas Weekday

 

(I John 4:19-5:4; Luke 4:14-22)

 

Fifty-seven years ago John Kennedy inspired the world in his inaugural address.  “The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans,” the young president said, “born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage....”   Similar cadence and purpose may be noted in Jesus’ “inaugural address” in the gospel today.

 

Jesus has returned to his hometown to give his first discourse.  He enters the synagogue, takes the scroll with a passage from Isaiah, and reads. “’The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,'" he says, "'because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor…to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind…”   Then he declares, “’…this prophecy is fulfilled in your hearing.’”  The world can sigh in relief.  Like President Kennedy, Jesus has youth and capability to carry out his project.  More than the thirty-fifth President, his undivided heart will assure its accomplishment.

 

Kennedy was not a great man because he was Catholic.  However, his faith contributed to his concern for the oppressed, his need to confront evil, and to his loyalty to tradition.  History has shown that he was not perfect.  Nevertheless, to the extent that he pursued gospel renewal, we should aspire to be like him.

 

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Christmas Weekday

(I John 4:11-18; Mark 6:45-52)

The Renaissance political thinker Niccolo Machiavelli famously compared fear and love.  He said that for a leader it is good to be both loved and feared.  But, he added, if a leader had to choose one, it is better to be feared than loved.   Fear touches most people more deeply than any other emotion.  It more likely makes a person submit to authority.  Yet both readings today at least hint that God wants to be loved, not feared.

The first reading from I John says that perfect love casts out fear.  It means that when one really loves God, she has nothing to fear.  God will meet all her needs.  In the gospel reading the disciples are terrified when they see what appears to them as a ghost.  Despite knowing Jesus, their love for God is still shallow.  They lack the Holy Spirit.  They cannot yet appreciate that God will meet their every need when they trust Him.

We have received the Holy Spirit through the sacraments.  Yet our love is often meager and our fear substantial.  As a surgeon has to perform an operation dozens of times before he perfects his skill, we need to practice loving God continually.  By prayer, fasting, and study we will come to know God and to love Him.  Then we will fear minimally if at all. 

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Tuesday after the Epiphany

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

Eating until all “were satisfied” describes many households after the Christmas holidays.  But perhaps eating until all were more than satisfied tells a more accurate story.  Many feel relieved that holiday goodies are finally diminished.  Now they can more easily control their diet.  It may seem that today’s gospel’s feeding story is primarily about food.  But the fare that Jesus provides is really greater.

Jesus sees that the people are in need of instruction.  They are lost like “sheep without a shepherd.”  He spends the day teaching them “many things.”  Much more than giving catechism answers, he teaches them how to live righteously.  That is, he instructs them how to love wisely both God and neighbor.  The story of the feeding comes at the end as a symbolic expression of his lessons.  As Jesus feeds the people with bread, he has nourished their souls with wisdom.

We are sensitive to the hungry.  Fortunately, the numbers of hungry people in the world continue to decrease.  It is said that there are more people obese in the world today than hungry.  Yet people still starve to death.  They do so because of war and other forms of pride and hatred.  We Christians should follow our Lord by teaching care for one another.  The lessons begin at home with our families.  They extend wherever we go and beyond to the people we pray for.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Monday after Epiphany

(I John 3:22-4:6; Matthew 4: 12-17.23-25)

A biblical commentary points out that Jesus does not really “withdraw to Galilee.”  Rather he, more or less, charges there to take up the torch John the Baptist left upon being arrested.  He preaches the same message as John, “’The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,...’”.  Because Herod Antipas, who arrested John, is still king, Jesus risks a similar fate.

Galilee may be part of old Israel, but it is hardly all-Jewish.  It has been termed a “shadowland.” Gentiles inhabit the land in probably about equal numbers.  Jesus does not preach to them, however, but concentrates on shoring up the faith of the Jews.  He proclaims the kingdom not just with words but with cures and exorcisms as well.  The Jews of Galilee, cut off from the source of their spiritual life in Jerusalem, experience in Jesus a light of hope.

Western culture has become a kind of Galilee, a “shadowland.” Remnants of Christianity exist but the culture is more secular than Christian.  Public schools, for example, do not promote Christian belief nor does entertainment exhibit Christian practice.  In this environment the Church must strive to shore up Christian faith.  It does so by a coherent and compelling explanation of gospel values and by an open practice of its customs.  The Church will then serve, as Jesus, called it, a “the light of the world.”