Friday, August 19, 2022

 Friday of the Twentieth Week in ordinary Time

(Ezekiel 37:1-14; Matthew 22:34-40)

Whatever the “Spirit of the Lord” meant to Ezekiel, Christians see it as God.  More specifically, it is the third person of the Holy Trinity.  As the prophet sees it raising the dead to life, the Spirit is responsible for all creative action in the Church.  It moves the People of God to praise, to bless, and to give thanks.  Although many are unaware of its actions or loathe to admit its efficacy, the Spirit has worked significantly within the past fifty years.

The Second Vatican Council called the Church to a heightened awareness of the poor.  The response was significant.  Intellectually there was renewed attention to human rights.  Pastorally parishes united to speak to political powers.  But the movement fell under its own weight as church men and women lost a sense of personal holiness.  The Spirit of God then shook up the base in the charismatic renewal.  Emphasis was given to prayer but, where it took a foothold, also to raising social concern and ecumenical relations. 

We might have to reconsider our attitude toward the charismatic renewal.  Often some among us have dismissed it as escapism into private devotion when corporate action is called for.  Those who know the renewal intimately, like Pope Francis, would disagree.  The renewal, largely led by laypersons, has brought hope and comfort to millions.  As a work of the Holy Spirit, it needs to be appropriated so that vigorous life within the Church can reemerge.

Thursday, August 18, 2022

 Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezekiel 36:23-28; Matthew 22:1-14)

One of America’s best poets recently published an article on religion and poetry.  In it he observes that most of the Old Testament is written in poetic verse and the New Testament is filled with poetic images.  References to these facts may be found in the readings today.

The prophet Ezekiel not only writes in verse; he also uses lovely images.  He sees God’s restoration of Israel from exile as God giving the people a new heart.  It will not be hard and ungrateful like the one that led them to their ordeal.  Rather, it will be fleshy so that they might love unselfishly.  

We see the new heart in most of the people who come to the wedding feast in the gospel.  Jesus’ parable shows that the second round of invitees are the poor and the outcasts whom the uninterested first invitees would reject.  Their number is multiplied by gentiles who accept Jesus as their teacher and Lord.  The group includes all who strive to live Jesus’ law of love.  The dolt who is thrown out of the feast for not wearing a wedding garment shows that inclusion has a requirement.  Those admitted to the banquet must conform to the spirit of the feast.  They must love unselfishly like God.  After all, the feast is really God’s Kingdom that is shared with others out of love.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

 

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezekiel 34:1-11; Matthew 20:1-16)

A veteran priest told the story of his uncle who thought it was a good idea that he enter the seminary.  The uncle explained that as a priest the youth would receive three square meals a day and only have to work on weekends.  Most priests work much harder than that, but a few are lazy.  To chastise self-serving pastors Ezekiel utters a strong prophecy in today’s first reading.

Ezekiel does not have only priests in mind but political as well as other religious leaders.  He criticizes them for not directing the people to God but using their office to profit themselves.  As a result of pastoral negligence, the people have forsaken the Lord.  They turn to false gods -- whether pagan deities or created pleasures – for solace.  Of course, God cannot tolerate such malpractice.

Each of us should see herself or himself as a shepherd.  Few of us are priests with parishioners, but many are parents with children to guide.  Others may be workers with responsibility for those under their care.  All of us are members of the community of faith with at least some responsibility to show our friends the ways of God.  We must take care of one another so that we all reach our destiny of eternal life.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

 Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezekiel 28:1-10; Matthew 19:23-30)

There is a debate within the Church about the quantity of people who will be saved.  Since Vatican II, many Catholics – ordinary people in the pew as well as theologians – think that most everyone is headed for salvation.  They sometimes say that we have to believe in a hell, but we don’t have to believe that anyone resides there.  More conservative types question this reasoning.  They take the gospel more literally.  In today’s passage Jesus is typically less sanguine about mass salvation.

His disciples are amazed when Jesus says that the rich will have trouble being saved.  They probably are not thinking the rich are better than others or that their wealth is a sign of salvation.   They are likely surprised with Jesus’ pessimism about the rich because the rich have money to pay for sacrifices.  Jesus thinks to the contrary.  He probably finds the rich presumption for thinking that they can buy their way into eternal life.  But he knows a sure way to receive the reward.  Those who make sacrifices for his sake will have eternal life.

As much as we love our family and friends, we should not presume that they will be saved.  Rather we should pray that they come to imitate Jesus’ humility and love.  Only by doing so can one hope to experience eternal life.

Monday, August 15, 2022

 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Revelation11:19a.12:1-6a.10ab; I Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56) 

For some the dogma of the Assumption of Mary seems like a pious statement with little practical effect.  It assures the faithful that the mother of Jesus remains close to her son bodily as well as spiritually in eternal life.  But such a reading sells the doctrine short. 

In the first place, Mary’s body being assumed into heaven asserts the importance of our bodies.  It reassures that our bodies are not just instruments to inform the mind.  They have an eternal destiny and should be duly cared for.  Neglect of “fitness” is as much a fault as neglect of learning. 

The reading from Revelation today points to a second importance of the Assumption.  Evil forces surround us as they threatened the mother of the Savior.  We must take advantage of the means God has provided to resist them.  Regular use of the sacraments, attention to Scripture, friendship with the good people in the Church as well as prayer will enable us also to attain eternal life.