Monday, June 8, 2020

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12)

Protesters are yelling in the street.  The mayor has imposed a curfew to maintain order.  Everyone feels disgusted with the police brutality of two weeks ago.  But most people do not want to have the injustice compounded by riots, burning, and looting.  How would Jesus have responded to such a situation?  Today’s gospel offers some clues.

The passage relates the beatitudes which describe the saintly life.  They promote patience and forbearance in face of persecution. However, they do not criticize the defense of human rights.  Rather they indicate the need for Christians to suffer for what they believe to be just.  They abhor violence and exhort peaceful ways to resolve problems of persecution.

We cannot expect that everyone will follow Jesus’ program for saintliness. Nevertheless, we have to follow him as are model and surest guide.  He will not fail us but make us sources of blessing in our communities.  We will also find our society improving, perhaps incrementally but surely.  There may be steps backward at times, but generally we will feel the improvement.

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Friday, June 5, 2020

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr

(II Timothy 3:10-17; Mark 12:35-37)

Today’s first reading sounds like a description of the missionary activity of St. Boniface.  Much like St. Paul, Boniface experienced hardship and persecution in preaching the gospel in Germany.  Yet faithful to his mandate to convert the German peoples, Boniface became enormously successful.  He was born in England, became a monk, and followed the call to preach the gospel in foreign lands.  He died a martyr after resigning from his position as archbishop of Mainz and patriarch of Germany.

Paul assures Timothy that faithfulness to Christ brings suffering.  There is irony here because Christ is the epitome of divine virtue.  Shouldn’t such virtue be admired and not punished?  And it is; most of all, virtue pleases God who rewards those who possess it with eternal life.  But there are people for whom another’s virtue is an obstacle to their purposes.  Some will mock concern for poor, young women whom they want to exploit for profit in the sex trade.  They will also attack anyone who threatens their business.

We must not be naïve in following Christ.  There is much to commend it – good people as friends and an eternal destiny.  But there are also challenges like those who resent the practice of virtue.  Let’s keep our eyes on the saints like Boniface today.  They had a clear vision of what they hoped to achieve in life.  They also were wise not to rely on their own resources but on God’s grace.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Timothy 2:8-15; Mark 12:28-34)

The Corona virus has challenged the religious practices of many.  Forcing churches to close, it has kept people home where many are not accustomed to reading Scripture or even praying.  Some, out of fear of crowds or just out of habit, may never return to worship in church.  They will be like the ones that St. Paul mentions in today’s first reading.

Paul is exhorting his disciple Timothy to practice diligence in his pastoral oversight. He knows that some may deny Christ to avoid persecution and others just to make a little profit.  He realizes that it is even more likely that some may just quit practicing their faith out of laziness.  He does not find excuses for these men and women.  Rather he says forthrightly that Christ will deny those who deny him and be faithful to those who take up their cross after him.

We can maintain our faith if we make a habit of counting our blessings and giving thanks.  God is good to us.  Even those with very hard lives, like those battling cancer, can find blessings surrounding them. We must take time to name the graces that we have received.  We can do so both individually or collectively, whether with our family or at church.  In this way we can count on Christ affirming us when judgment comes.

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs

(II Timothy 1: 1-3.6-12; Mark 12:18-27)

Bob Santamaria was an Australian Catholic famous for organizing labor and defending Church teaching.  In the 1940s and 50s  Santamaria educated workers on the factory floor of the dangers of Communist ideology.  In this way he helped save the nation from Communist government.  In the effort he was inspired by the Catholic social teaching of Popes Leo XIII and Pius XI.  Later he defended as well the controversial teachings on the family of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II.  Bob Santamaria did what St. Paul encourages Timothy to do in today’s first reading.

Sensing some discouragement in Timothy, Paul tells his disciple to “stir into flame the gift of God.”   This gift is nothing less than the Holy Spirit.  It comes with the laying on of hands both in Confirmation and in Ordination.  The Spirit strengthens the person for service in Church and world.  Not being timid, the Spirit prompts Christians to defend life whether from abortion and the hangman.

At times, we tire of working for the Lord.  Friends may think the work strange or worthless.  We yearn to live like, we imagine, everyone else - pursuing their own desires.  At these moments we should heed Paul’s admonition.  We should call upon the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with peace from serving the King.

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.