Friday, November 20, 2020

 Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Revelation 10:8-11; Luke 19:45-48)

In no other gospel does Jesus act more peaceably than in Luke.  It is true that the Lucan Jesus also speaks of bringing a fire to the earth and of separating parents from children.  But more generally he acts with gentleness.  Only in Luke does Jesus heal the servant’s ear in Gethsemane.  Only in Luke does he stop on his way to Calvary to console the women of Jerusalem.  It is typical then of the Lucan Jesus not to use a whip to drive the merchants from the temple.  Indeed, he is typically more concerned about preserving prayer in the temple than about cleansing it of merchandising.

Also, the Lucan Jesus typically gathers large crowds of people around himself.  They will soon turn on him by calling for his crucifixion, as many as three times.  But in the end they make a second about-face.  After seeing him reward the repentant thief and commend himself to the Father, they beat their breasts in repentance.  In today’s gospel the crowds are said to hang on his words in wonder.

Surely in Jesus there is something to admire.  But, of course, we can admire many people. Our admiration becomes adoration of Jesus because he is different from all the rest.  He spoke with wonder and delivered himself up to death on behalf of others.  Most of all, he rose from the dead to furnish the promise of what our souls most desire.  He promises us happiness, not for a moment or even a lifetime, but forever.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Revelation 5:1-10; Luke 19:41-44)

At the beginning of John’s Gospel, John the Baptist calls Jesus, “’the Lamb of God.’”  He is prophesying that Jesus will be slain as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity.  Nobody today sees lambs as fierce fighters.  But the Lamb of God conquered sin and death.  In today’s first reading the Lamb appears as the only one to accomplish another momentous feat.

The scene symbolizes a reenactment of Jesus’ victory over sin and death at the end of time.  The issue is who can open the scroll in the hand of God.  The scroll contains the narrative of how sin and death will be defeated.  The narrative cannot, however, proceed until the scroll is open.  The visionary John sheds tears when no one comes forth to do it because sin and death are wreaking havoc.  Finally, the spotless Lamb of God, takes the scroll.  He will initiate the campaign to finally annihilate evil.

The Book of Revelation was written to give Christians hope that God is still in control.  The author wanted to assure those suffering persecution that their rescue is near.  We too should find hope in the story.  Covid is still killing our loved ones.  By now the measures to stem the virus are becoming tiresome, for some even unsupportable.  But we know that Christ will see us through.  We only must keep faith in him. 

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

 

Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

 (Revelation 4:1-11; Luke 19:11-28)

 Today’s gospel sounds much like last Sunday’s. It comes from the Gospel of Luke, however, and Sunday’s gospel came from the Gospel of Matthew.  The differences between the two help us understand something about the composition of the gospels as well as Jesus’ intention in this parable.

Luke’s shares with Matthew’s Jesus’ parable about the need for his followers to perform good works.  If they just sit on their hands in his absence like the servant who hides his master’s money, they will come to regret their inactivity.  On Jesus’ return at the end of time, they will lose all that was given to them.  In Matthew’s version of the parable the unproductive servant suffers damnation as well. In Luke those who suffer a worse fate than loss of money are they who do not want the noble master as their king.  This development of Luke is a reference to the Jews of Jerusalem who will refuse to recognize Jesus as Lord.  The Romans will destroy the city and kill many Jerusalemites later in the first century.

We see Christ as our king.  He protects us and helps us to realize our destiny as children of God.  He also commands us to build up one another with the talents that he has bestowed on us.  Faith in this vision and adherence to it will carry us to eternal life.  Disregard of it will lead us to the oblivion of death.

Tuesday, November 17, 2021

 Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

(Revelation 1-6.14-22; Luke 19:1-10)

“The Hound of Heaven” is a long Victorian poem telling of God.  It pictures God as a bloodhound pursuing a rabbit.  God’s prey is the human person.  But He wishes no harm, only the person’s true benefit.  Often humans imagine themselves on a quest to find God.  But it is really God who searches out humans.  In today’s gospel Jesus gives us an example.

The passage begins with Zacchaeus trying to see Jesus.  By this point in the gospel Jesus has the fame of a rock star.  Crowds gather to see him as he makes his way toward Jerusalem.  Zacchaeus climbs a tree to get a view of the famous prophet.  Then the story changes dramatically.  Jesus calls Zacchaeus down from the tree.  All the while, he has been looking for Zacchaeus.

It sounds odd that God looks for us.  We know that we cannot hide from God.  But this is not the point.  We run away from him perhaps because what He promises is beyond what we think fair or even believable.  God wants to share His complete and eternal happiness with us.  He sends Jesus to find us.  Jesus will die to draw us to God.  He will rise to give us a glimpse of the happiness God has planned for us.

Monday, November 16, 2020

 Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(Revelation 1:1-4.2:1-5; Luke 18:35-43)

The book of readings for mass is called the “lectionary.”  On most weekdays in Ordinary (non-festive nor penitential time) the lectionary presents a reading from the Old Testament or from a book of the New Testament other than a gospel and a passage from the gospel.  Since there is much in both the Old Testament and the non-gospel New Testament, the lectionary has one set of readings for even number years and one set for odd number years.

Today’s reading comes from the Book of Revelation.  Because Revelation is the last book of the New Testament, it is featured now as the liturgical year comes to an end.  Revelation tells the story of the Church under duress and of Jesus, the Lamb of God, rescuing it.  Today’s reading is preliminary to this cosmic struggle that is about to take place.  After praising the church in Ephesus for persevering in faith, it warns the same church that it must rekindle its love by works of charity.

We too, like the members of the church in Ephesus, may keep the faith but lose our care for others.  Faith justifies us, as St. Paul says.  Once justified, however, we are to do just works.  These are the works of love that we gladly did when we were young.  Young families in one parish make sandwiches for the needy.  Hopefully, its charity will increase, not diminish, over time to assist the needy in different ways.