Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Peter 3:12-15a.17-18; Mark 12:13-17)

Although the Church has usually advocated obedience to public authority, it has not always done so.  It certainly prohibited worship of Roman deities when the authorities demanded it.  Although the bishops probably capitulated to Henry VIII in England, Thomas More and John Fisher are canonized saints for not signing the Act of Supremacy.  In today’s gospel Jesus gives his instruction on the issue.

The Pharisees and Herodians, strange bedfellows but united in contempt, approach Jesus.  They ask his opinion of a paramount issue when no crisis is on the horizon.  What kind of loyalty do Jews owe to Rome, represented by Caesar?  Should they pay taxes to support the empire?  The Pharisee-Herodian conspiracy think they have Jesus trapped.  If he says “yes,” then he would lose the growing support he has for being the Messiah.  If he says “no” and the Roman authorities hear of his position, they might seize him.  He doesn’t punt on the issue.  He advises that people owe government some support for building roads, keeping the peace, etc.  But, he would insist, they should always put God first. 

Issues regarding civil authority still arise from time to time.  A wise bishop once made this insight.  Civil laws that are not evil in themselves must be obeyed.  Only when they demand something that is patently wrong should they be resisted.  For the bishop, doctors should not prescribe drugs expressly prohibited by the indicated government authority.  On the other hand, they would have the duty not to participate either directly or indirectly in euthanasia or abortion.  If a government were to mandate such participation, they would be obliged to give up their practice. 

Monday, June 1, 2020

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

(Genesis 3:9-15.20; John 19:25-34)

Pentecost has been called the “birthday of the Church.”  Perhaps it would be better to say that the Church was founded on that day with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  In any case, Pope Francis has established today, the Monday after the great feast of the Spirit, as the Memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church.  She stands for the Church as its original member.

Of course, Mary is present at the Pentecost event in the Acts of the Apostles.  But today’s gospel also shows the formation of the Church with Mary there.  Jesus begins his family of disciples by presenting Mary to the beloved disciple.  Then as he dies, he hands over his spirit, especially it may be said, to them.  It is an climatic moment.  By giving himself to death, Jesus has conquered the satanic serpent.  This is the evil power who instigated the downfall of humanity by deceiving Eve in the garden.  Now the human race begins again with the Church imbued with grace so that it will not fail.

The corona virus pandemic has taken a great toll on the Church.  Collections, of course, are down and in some cases this has meant that people are being laid off work.  Probably some regular church-goers will not return, either because of fear of crowds or just because they have lost the routine.  And the future is very uncertain.  There is more reason now than ever to seek our Blessed Mother’s intercession.  We ask her to assist us with prayers for the Church and indeed the world during this pandemic crisis.

Friday, May 29, 2020

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Paul VI, pope

(Acts 25:13b-21; John 21:15-19)

Today the Church remembers St. Paul VI.  He was pope during most of the Second Vatican Council and its immediate aftermath. Paul allowed many priests and sisters to be dispensed from their vows with all the soul-searching in the council’s aftermath.  Yet he was not a modernizer.  On the defining issue of the age, artificial contraception, Paul maintained the Church’s censure.  He was a man with a mission much like his namesake St. Paul of Tarsus whom is encountered once again in today’s first reading.

Paul feels a calling to Rome.  He has written the church there to seek assistance.  He intends to launch from Rome a missionary journey to Spain.  The reading from Acts tells of Paul’s request to be tried by the emperor.  Could this have been a ploy to put in motion his grand scheme of a western mission?  In any case, Paul has suffered for Christ much.  He has already been imprisoned for two years.  Shortly he will embark for Rome on a journey that will see him shipwrecked.  In Rome he will undergo martyrdom, the ultimate persecution.  He will be beheaded because of his belief in Christ. 

Neither Paul VI nor Paul of Tarsus would deny that it is hard to follow Christ.  His way of love means not only self-denial but also the resentment and rebuke of others.  Yet their lives had at their base a profound joy.  Evidently Christ stops along the way to let his followers catch up.  They then experience the wonder of his company.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17:20-26)

Today’s first reading illustrates the difficulty of a divided organization to achieve its purpose. Paul is brought to the Sanhedrin for trial about false teaching.  Fulfilling the gospel mandate to be “as shrewd as a serpent but as innocent as a dove,” he exploits a division among the Jews.  Part of the Jewish Sanhedrin believes in the resurrection as Paul certainly does.  Part doesn’t.  Paul creates a wedge between the two parts so that they fail to convict him.

In today’s gospel Jesus prays for unity among his disciples. He emphasizes those who live beyond the place and the time where he is.  He asks the Father to make them one in mind and heart.  He sees such common belief and desire necessary if the world is to know the truth.  That is, if the world is to know that God the Father sent His Son Jesus out of love for it, Jesus’ followers must give united testimony.

 Unity challenges us today.  Educated people want to think for themselves, and many derive ideas at odds with official teaching.  For this reason there are thousands of churches with the name “Christian.”  Nevertheless, the Catholic Church has bishops who along with the pope declare what is necessary to believe.  They are generally good men worthy of our trust and obeisance.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11b-19)

Bicycle mechanics speak of “truing” wheels.  This means that they adjust the tension on the spokes equally so that the wheel’s rotation does not pull it from side to side.  If the wheel is not “true,” it will wobble to cause an uncomfortable ride.   The “truth” that Jesus expresses in today’s gospel may be understood in this way.

Jesus himself is the word that is truth.  He grounds his disciples in what is good and pleasing to God so that they might attain eternal life.  Without him the way would become so arduous that the disciples would begin to wobble.   They would not be able to not complete their journey.  In this “priestly prayer” on behalf of the people Jesus petitions the Father.  He asks the Father to consecrate his disciples “in truth.” He wants them close to him for guidance and support. 

We are used to think of truth classically.  Truth is what corresponds closely to reality.  John’s gospel stretches our notion of truth to include what is most practical.  Truth – that is, Jesus of Nazareth – will enable us to attain eternal bliss, our heart’s deepest desire.