Monday, September 19, 2022

 

Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Proverbs 3:27-34; Luke 8:16-18)

If wise people offer proverbs, Jesus shows himself among the wisest in today’s gospel.  He offers four proverbs that go deeper than the proverbs purportedly offered by Solomon in the first reading.

1) Referring to himself, Jesus says that no one lights a lamp and then hides it.  He is the lamp that reveals the will of God.  How can he not preach?  2) As the Letter to the Ephesians says, God has revealed in Christ His plan to bring everyone together.  Therefore, people should be wary of the hopelessness that surrounds the world.  3) They hear tales of woe but should not lose faith.  God will not abandon them or the world.  4) Maintaining faith will produce more faith with accompanying hope and joy.  Those without enough faith to even say a prayer will find themselves overwhelmed by the many worries of the world.

Wise people are not necessarily scholars.  They are thoughtful people who reflect on the nature of things.  Steeped in faith, they will help us live fruitful and meaningful lives.  Even though his life was short, Jesus has shown us how much everyone’s life is worth living.

Sunday, September 18, 2022

 TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Amos 8:4-7; I Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13)

In the Gospels of the last three Sundays, Jesus has presented us with a spirituality of Christian discipleship. He has taught us how to live our faith led by the Holy Spirit. Three weeks ago, he told us not to take the first seats, but to act humbly. Two weeks ago, he demanded that we love him more than our loved ones and even more than ourselves. And last Sunday, with three exquisite parables, he warned us not to be stingy with our love, but to rejoice when a lost soul is found. The teachings on discipleship continue today. Jesus shares the wisdom to avoid a tendency that causes many to fall and to practice discipleship every day.

In 1896, gold was discovered in the Yukon, a part of northern Canada that borders Alaska. Within months a hundred thousand people were arriving there to strike it rich. The vast majority of these people did not find gold, and many died in the effort. Wealth has an unbalancing effect on men and women. In the parable of the unjust steward Jesus advises us not to let money control us. Rather, we should take advantage of money to reach the Kingdom of God by helping the poor with it. A sage once expressed this teaching in this way: "The only thing we take with us when we die is what we have given away."

Jesus also advises today that his disciples be diligent in little things. As Saint Mother Teresa used to say: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” We are probably not going to welcome Pope Francis today, but we can welcome a person who seems lonely and uncomfortable. We're probably not going to visit the White House today, but we can visit a nursing home. We probably won't be taking supplies to the refugees from Ukraine this weekend, but we can lend a hand in the parish food pantry. We probably won't be teaching in college classrooms, but we can review our children’s homework.

Jesus does not say that discipleship is regularly easy or fun. Rather he has warned those interested that to follow him, one has to deny oneself and carry one's cross daily. So perhaps we want to ask why we do it. Each person has her own particular answer. To some it is no more than what their parents did. But we can mention some reasons that move most of Jesus’ faithful followers. First, the teachings of Jesus show us the right path to navigate through the pitfalls of life. So, by following Jesus our consciences will be freed from guilt. Second, following Jesus puts us in the company of good and trustworthy people. It is not that there are no scoundrels in the Church, but the majority of the faithful struggle alongside us to live justly. Finally and most importantly, following Jesus gives us the hope of full and perpetual happiness. Passing through the cross to death, Jesus rose from the dead. Carrying our cross and dying to ourselves, we hope to obtain the same end.

Friday, September 16, 2022

 

Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, and martyrs

(I Corinthians 15:15:12-20; Luke 8:1-3)

Sometimes there is posted on a church door the sign, “Alcoholics Anonymous meets here.  There couldn’t be a more appropriate place for this kind of group to meet.  Alcoholics Anonymous harbors people from whom a kind of demon has gone out.  To be sure, one attending an AA meeting would not claim to be cured of alcoholism, but the person no longer acts out in ways that “before caused so much damage.  In today’s gospel we find another one who was possessed of a demon but now finds relief in church company.

Mary Magdalene is often said to have been a prostitute because she is assumed to be the “sinful woman” who appears in the gospel episode preceding today’s passage.  There is no real basis for the claim.  In fact, Luke, the evangelist, probably lays the stories of the two women side by side to indicate that all kinds of women find peace with Jesus.  Well thought of women as well as former sinners come to him.  He rejects no one although, of course, seeks a new righteousness from everyone.

We too are a motley lot wherever we go to church.  Some of us have sullied histories.  Others have been able to avoid serious sin.  We all can rejoice to be with the Lord.  He not only forgives our sins but assures us of his eternal peace.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

 Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

(I Corinthians 15:1-11; John 19:25-27)

More than any other, this scene of Mary witnessing the death of her son qualifies her as “Our Lady of Sorrows.”  Any mother suffers when she comes face-to-face with the death of a son or daughter.  Knowing the infinite depth of Jesus’ goodness, Mary’s ordeal is limitlessly magnified. 

The Church does not call attention to this woman of sorrows so that people might pity her lot or even admire her courage.  Rather it offers Mary as an exemplar of sorrow to invite the faithful to ask her intercession when they feel depressed.  She knows what it is to lose what is most precious and will call on God to lighten the sadness of others suffering similar distress.

We need not hesitate to call on Mary when we are depressed.  Stories of her successful intercession are numberless.  As she was there for Jesus as he died on the cross, she will assist us in our darker moments.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

 Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross

(Numbers 21:4b-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:3-17)

Paradoxes are realities that defy common sense but are nevertheless true.  It is a paradox that in the Communication Age, when everyone has a personal telephone, it is increasingly harder to reach another by phone.  The cross presents another paradox.

Although we may not think of it in this way, in early Christianity a cross signified death.  In fact, it represented one of the most brutal deaths imaginable.  Christ’s death on the cross, however, changed that.  At least Christians see the cross as salvation.  As Paul says in today’s reading from Philippians, the cross is the ultimate display of humility by Christ and also the cause of his (and our) exultation.

Today we celebrate the cross which saves us from oblivion.  We give thanks to God for sending His Son to make the ultimate sacrifice of forgiveness and for teaching us how to live according to His will.