Wednesday, June 9, 2021

 Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary time

(II Corinthians 3:4-11; Matthew 5:17-19)

Management and labor sometimes see each other as inflexible adversaries.  Management grumble when workers will not do anything not specifically stated in their contract.  Workers complain when managers knit pick about their performance.  In today’s first reading and also in the gospel these concerns are treated as “law.”  They are contrasted with the “Spirit” which engenders free and generous contribution to the common good.

St. Paul writes of a new covenant not written in stone but on the heart.  Participants in this new covenant will not experience its demands as impositions on freedom.  Rather, they heartily carry out what needs to be done.  The Spirit working within them makes collaboration natural or, better, second nature.  In the gospel Jesus can say that he comes to fulfill the law because he will dispense the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit moves its possessor beyond the “give and take” of contracts to sacrifice of self for the good of all.

Scripture uses poetic metaphor to explain the new relationship with God that was forged by Christ.  It describes the new law as being a covenant written on our hearts so that we cannot forget it.  it indicates that we have received the Holy Spirit.  Aware of the Spirit’s presence we do not hesitate to serve.  Doing so, we find ourselves in the company of the saints.

Wednesday, June 15, 2021

 Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)

Henri Nouwen was one of the most noted spiritual writers of the second half of the last century.  He wrote columns and books on how to live the gospel every day.  At some point he turned his attention to fundraising.  He explained to those working in Church development how to serve God more faithfully.

Nouwen wrote that fundraising is not begging.  Rather it is projecting a vision for the Church and asking people to share in it with their money.  In short, it is a way to involve people in the Church’s ministry.  He also saw fundraising as a call to conversion.  Both fundraisers and potential benefactors are called to change their perspective.  They have to come to terms with the fact that God’s new project has a role for them.

We have been hearing about St. Paul’s fundraising project in the first reading these last few days.  He is calling the community in Corinth to help support the Christians in Jerusalem.  He is asking them to look beyond their own needs to people in distress.  No doubt, he sees their assistance as a way to solidify the communion of Jews and non-Jews that the Church is meant to be.

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

 Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Cor 1:18-22; Matthew 5:13-16)

There is a joke about St. Peter reporting to Jesus’ other disciples on the first Easter Day.  It says that Peter told them that he has some good news and some bad news.  The good news was that Jesus was risen from the dead.  The bad news was that he wanted to talk with them about what happened that Thursday night in the garden (when they all abandoned him). Today’s first reading belies this story.

St. Paul forcibly tells the Corinthians that there is no bad news, no “no” about Jesus.  He means that with Jesus the news is always good, always “yes.”  In fact, Jesus returned to his disciples after the resurrection with a blessing, and no chastising. Paul says that it is the same with him.  He loves the Corinthian community even though some there have done despicable things.

Paul sets a high bar for us to pass over.  We have a hard time listening to others talk about their problems. We also have a penchant for boasting about our accomplishments.  May our love for others not be betrayed with either indifference or self-promotion.  But may we always look after their good despite any offense done to us or trouble our efforts will cost us.

Monday, June 7, 2021

 Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 1:1-7; Matthew 5:1-12)

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus regularly speaks as a teacher.  Scholars find the body of the gospel composed of five thematic discourses, each followed by hands-on ministry.  By contrast, Luke portrays Jesus primarily as a charismatic prophet capable of moving his listeners with dramatic language.  The beatitudes, found in today’s passage, are also relayed in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Luke.  The differences between the evangelists’ perspectives are seen by comparing the two passages.

In Matthew Jesus directs himself to his disciples.  He talks about the poor, the mournful, the hungry and thirsty dispassionately as everyone living a devout life.  He does not mean that they are literally poor or hungry.  Rather by spiritualizing some of the deprivations (“’the poor in spirit’” and “’they who hunger and thirst for righteousness’”), he includes all religiously virtuous people.  Jesus in Luke, on the other hand, speaks to his disciples as those who suffer physical want.  He tells them, “’Blessed are you who are poor’” and “’Blessed are you who are now hungry.’” After all, they follow Jesus who, again in Luke’s gospel, has “nowhere to lay his head.”  But they are also “blessed” because the Kingdom of God has arrived to meet their needs.

Most scholars recognize that Luke’s portrayal of the sermon is closer to how Jesus actually sounded.  But Matthew’s spiritual formulation is helpful to many of us.  It assures us that we are included in the kingdom even if we have an income and food in the refrigerator.  But inclusion in the kingdom does not exclude us from challenge.  Like virtuous poor people, we are to thank God for what we have and to share our largesse with the needy.

Sunday, June 5, 2021

 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

(Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:22-26)

Spouses should know what a covenant is. They have entered into a covenant with one another in their marriage. A covenant goes beyond a contract that is limited to specifically stated terms. The covenant is a solemn promise by which one party promises to bless or serve another in a more or less general way. In marriage the spouses promise to love and respect each other for life. The first reading gives us another example of a covenant.

Out of mercy God wanted to enter into a covenant with humans. He has fulfilled this intention in stages. The reading of Exodus shows a primary stage -- the Mosaic covenant. It specifies that the people of Israel will be his people if they fulfill all the commandments of the Law. In return, God will protect them from their enemies and give them the fertile land of their ancestors. The Israelites don't shrink from making the commitment. They say with one voice, “All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do." Then Moses sprinkles the people with the blood of the burnt animal offerings to seal the covenant.

In the gospel Jesus makes a final covenant between God and humans. It is open not only to a small nation but to the whole world. It also includes a holocaust or sacrifice, not of animals but of Jesus himself. Those who share in this covenant instead of being sprinkled take his body and blood in the consecrated bread and wine. The Eucharist then is the means by which they participate in the new covenant. However, it is not simply consuming His Body and Blood that makes it someone a party of the covenant. He or she also has to promise to obey God's will as Jesus has taught.

The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews helps us understand the effect of the covenant that Jesus made.  It says that Jesus’ shedding his own blood had greater efficacy than the animal sacrifices of the Mosaic covenant. Sprinkling with the blood of animals only cleanses sinners outwardly so that they might participate in worship. But Jesus sacrifice of himself achieved forgiveness of sins and cleansing of conscience. In this way Christians can offer sacrifices of prayer and works that deserve eternal life.

Before we take the body and blood of Christ, we must pledge our allegiance to Christ. It is a matter of accepting both his doctrine and his way of living. Like the Israelites we have to say, "Whatever the Lord says, we will heed and do." For this reason some bishops oppose giving Communion to Catholic politicians who facilitate abortion, which God condemns. Recently the debate has intensified because the president of the United States, Joe Biden, a Catholic, has amplified access to abortion. I will not say that a bishop should or should not deny a politician the sacred host in his diocese. But I think that the reason for such a significant step must be the concern for the politician's soul. If the motive is just to force changes in the law, it seems to me to be the Church's undue meddling in politics.

There used to be a general custom of processing with the Blessed Sacrament on the Feast of Corpus Christi.  The procession took place not only on the parish grounds but throughout city neighborhoods or the fields of the countryside. The motive was to bestow a free blessing to everyone whom the procession encountered. It showed how Christ wants to offer everyone the covenant with God. They could join with him in the pursuit of eternal life while he would help them clear their consciences. The Body and Blood of Christ is an invaluable treasure which we should never overlook. It is an invaluable treasure.