Friday, November 24, 2023

Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, martyrs

 (I Maccabees 4:36-37.52-59; Luke 19:45-48)

Today Vietnamese Catholics celebrate their heroes.  St. Andrew Dung-Lac and companion martyrs gave up their lives rather than their Catholic faith.  These “ultimate sacrifices” have made it possible for their descendants to look forward to eternal life.  The celebration is like that described in the mass’s first reading.

The passage tells of how the Jews burnt offerings and sang hymns of praise for eight days.  They were celebrating the rededication of the Temple that had been desecrated by their pagan rulers.  Many valiant Jews died in the hostilities that liberated the land from foreign hands.  In his day Jesus too celebrated the feast, which is commonly known as Hanukkah.

More important is Jesus’ great sensibility for the Temple.  As the meeting place of God and humanity, he chases the money changers from its confines.  Later his followers will note how Jesus replaces the Temple with his own body.  His flesh becomes the principal place of encounter between God and human beings.  Nevertheless, because we Christians still need places to pray, we construct churches.  But our churches do not replace Jesus; they glorify him.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving Day

(Sirach 50:22-24; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19)

It is not hard to give thanks when you enjoy your work and your family is healthy.  With these blessings we joyfully say, “Thank you, Lord” today.  But it is remarkable that many people who bear considerable burdens likewise are thankful.  They may be confined to a bed with multiple sclerosis or perhaps responsible for the continuous care of a dying parent.  Yet they too happily give thanks today.

Where does such a thankful spirit come from?  The easy answer is “God.” Yes, gratitude is a gift from above.  But God most always works through secondary causes.  Living with thankful people, most likely one’s parents, passes the spirit forward as if it were a healthy gene.  Living with Christ should produce this effect as well.  The night before he was crucified, he gave thanks to the Father as he handed the bread and wine to his disciples proclaiming them his Body and Blood. 

Almost everyone will eat turkey today.  It is a great feast day in which this whole magnificent country takes part. Let us take nourishment with the gifts that Christ offers us as well.  Even if our Communion is spiritual, let us recognize that it is he who enters into us bringing a gracious, thankful spirit.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr

(II Maccabees 7:1.20-31; Luke 19:11-28)

St. Cecilia enjoys great notoriety, but little understanding. Being the patron of music, liturgists sing her praises.  However, it is not certain when she died or even lived.  Because she is known as a virgin-martyr, we can find traces of her in today’s first reading.

Like the son in the account from II Maccabees, she gave up her life rather than her faith.  Like the mother, she exemplified what the Scripture call innocently “manly courage.” In other words, she did not waver in her trust in the Lord. 

Virginity is more ridiculed than admired in today’s secularized culture.  Where intentional virgins were once esteemed for dedicating themselves to the Lord, now they are suspected of abnormality.  Virginity, however, when sustained for love of the Lord is a kind of martyrdom.  The virgin disciple gives testimony that the Lord is the foremost good in life.  Having an all-embracing, spiritual relationship with him is valued more than pleasure, intimate physical support, and one’s own children. 

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)

Today’s first reading tells of a man who suffers brash cruelty.  Eleazar is threatened with death and then executed for not eating pork.  He leaves a legacy of humility, courage, and integrity.  He puts God first, not his physical well-being.  And he overcomes the fear of violent death as he offers himself as a testimony to the faith of his ancestors.  Not only Jews and the young should take notice. The elderly especially have much to learn from Eleazar’s example.

Old people must brace themselves for suffering.  They experience pain and limitation in their declining years.  Their forgetfulness causes frustration and embarrassment.  They feel loneliness from the death of friends and a growing alienation from the world.  Like Eleazar, they can respond to these trials with faith that God will ultimately save them.

Many of us, already old, should prepare ourselves for suffering.  We need to pray that our suffering will be tolerable and that we remain faithful to his call us to take up our cross after him.  The rest of us along with prayer should offer our support and consolation to the elderly as their tribulations set in.

Monday, November 19, 2023

Monday of the Thirty-third Week of Ordinary Time

(I Maccabees 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-63; Luke 18:35-43)

Many contemporary Christians suffer a blindness akin to the beggar’s in today’s gospel.  They long to know for sure that Jesus has risen from the dead and will come to judge them at the end of time.  In other words, they want to see the Lord.

In the passage Jesus hears the blind man’s plea and seeks his caller out.  Then he asks what he might do for him.  The beggar requests that he might see and is immediately satisfied.  Of course, he loses no time in following the Lord.

If we want to see, we should follow the blind man’s example.  The Lord is waiting to hear our request.  We should ask, humbly but firmly, for insights into the realities of faith.  When we receive them, we should leave doubts behind to follow the Lord.