Thursday, June 18, 2020

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 48:1-14; Matthew 6:7-15)

Somethings become simpler as we become older.  As children, we thought tying a shoelace was a real accomplishment.  As grow ups, we do not give it a second thought.  Other things, however, become more profound as we age.  The Our Father is one instance of this.  As children, we learned to rattle it off like a nursery rhyme.  As adults thinking about its meaning, the Our Father reaches the depth of our being.

The very first words, “Our Father,” unite us with Christians throughout the world.  We are sisters and brothers to Africans, Asians, and Native Americans to name just a few.  “Thy Kingdom come” is a plea for the end of the world when we will be judged for our deeds.  “Forgive us … as we forgive …” commits us to letting go of all grudges despite the pain others have caused.  Each of the seven petitions made in the Our Father challenges us to change our lives.  This takes effort since we become comfortable even with things that grieve us. 

In teaching the Our Father, Jesus directed our prayer away from childish wants to eternal longings.  There is no petition that our football teams wins or that we ace a test.  No, we ask that God’s name be honored by everyone so that there may be peace.  And we request that our trials be not so burdensome that we fall beneath them into sin.  We learn the Our Father as children so that we never forget how to pray it as adults.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 2:1.6-14; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)

Shortly after St. John Paul II died and Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI, a picture of both appeared on the streets of Rome.  The photograph showed the wizened pope embracing his chief counsellor and soon to be successor.  Both looked intently at each other.  Love and trust emanated from their faces.  It is the kind of confidence that exists between Elijah and Elisha in today’s first reading.

Elisha realizes that Elijah’s remaining time is short.  He asks Elijah to give him a double share of his spirit.  This is not a grab for power but a rather humble acknowledgement on Elisha’s part.  As Elijah’s successor he will have to confront kings and masses of people with God’s word.  He may not have Elijah’s natural powers so requests more of his spirit of wisdom and faith. 

Such a request becomes us as well.  We may find ourselves lacking the spiritual resources of our parents or mentors. Of course, the times are more hostile to faith than for centuries.  We must pray to God to send the Holy Spirit to us so that we may help others know the peace of Christ.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 21:17-29; Matthew 5:43-48)

Living in democratic societies, people cannot appreciate the authority of an ancient king.  He had a standing army to pursue his interests.  His wealth procured anything or he desired.  His fame and influence made him the envy of the whole nation.  Can it be any wonder that kings are given to excess?  They wanted many wives, increasing amounts of territory, and the populace to treat them as if they were gods.   For these reasons prophets came to the fore during the time of monarchy in Israel.  Prophets are rightly seen as messengers sent by God to channel the king’s power to ways of justice.

Today’s first reading tells of the prophet Elijah’s confrontation with Ahab, king of Israel.  On God’s behalf Elijah denounces Ahab for profiting by the murder of an innocent man.  His punishment is severe.  The king and his treacherous wife will suffer the same brutal ending as the poor man she had killed. Interestingly, God with the mercy that Jesus suggests in today’s gospel commutes Ahab’s sentence.  When the king repents of his wrong-doing, God decides that his son and not he will suffer the ignominious end.

We need prophets today to temper the power of national leaders.  All should listen to the voices of men and women who give their lives to prayer and wisdom.  These people will not be the first to speak nor will they have a comment on everything that takes place.  But they will denounce what civil rulers do that is patently wrong and injurious to the nation.

Monday, June 15, 2020

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:38-42)

In Matthew’s gospel the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin try to call false witnesses against Jesus.  Such a treacherous ploy did not originate with them.  Nor did it start with Jezebel in today’s first reading.  In fact, it is no surprise that it is still being done.  In places like Pakistan Christians are sometimes prosecuted for blasphemy on the basis of probably false testimony.  But it happens in European societies as well.  Cardinal George Pell was accused of sexual abuse of children on the basis of a witness that appears to have testified falsely.

In today’s gospel Jesus seems to say that such evil should not be resisted.  Can a moral person accept this teaching?  What is going on here?  One bishop comments that it is “a very difficult teaching” that must be weighed against biblical injunctions to care for the innocent.  He suggests that the just person ask, “What does the evil-doer really need?”

So what are we to do?  Do we follow Jesus’ literal command to endure evil?  Or do we try to suppress it with force if necessary?  Perhaps we must defend others who are threatened by evil, but we should not try to defend ourselves?  We might ask the help of others to assure our rights.  Obviously we need to pray for enlightenment and strength when confronted by evil.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 24:8-17; Matthew 7:21-29)

The philosopher David Hume taught the modern era to distrust anything spiritual.  The scientist Charles Darwin showed how life in the natural world has evolved from one form to another.  The writings of these great thinkers among others have led to a rejection of core spiritual beliefs.  Everything seems physical and changeable to the contemporary human.  For this reason many reject Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” which he completes in today’s gospel.

Jesus exhorts his followers not just to hear the sermon but to base their lives on it.  He tells them that only by doing so will they be able to withstand the storms that threaten every life.  Without hope of the kingdom of God they will likely leave the track of personal justice.  Without the Father’s grace they will never be able to live up to the demands that the Sermon makes. 

Jesus has drawn a line in the sand with this great discourse.  He wants us to commit ourselves to him by living what he has just taught.  To do so, we must buck much of modern intellectual thinking.  It may be a scary venture for some.  But we know from the saints that following Jesus leads to true peace.