Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Jeremiah 30:1-2;12-15;18-22)
Society yearns for a savior. Not only religious people but, on a gut level, the common person know that humans cannot achieve happiness alone. For this reason “Hellboy II” has smashed box offices around the country this summer. The protagonist, who is deliberately portrayed as a Christ figure, saves humanity from Prince Nuada, the personification of evil. But Hellboy is an erratic savior. Although he performs heroic deeds, he also sets a poor example by cohabitating with his girlfriend. Even if Hellboy were historic, he would hardly be one to imitate.
Of course, humanity already has a savior – a historic person who has not only conquered sin and death but has left a legacy of wisdom. The world needs to turn to him and not be charmed by fantastic imitations conforming to contemporary social whims.
In the reading from Jeremiah today we hear again of the need for salvation. The prophet speaks on God’s behalf of the people’s egregious sins. They are completely incapable of repairing their fate. God, however, shows Himself as ever merciful. He will restore their peace and make them, once again, his people. We believe that God has fulfilled this prophecy in Jesus Christ. For this reason we devote ourselves to following Christ’s wisdom.
Homilette for Monday, August 4, 2008
Memorial of Saint John Mary Vianney, priest
(Matthew 14:22-36)
George Bernanos’ novel Diary of a Country Priest portrays the life of St. John Vianney. Toward its conclusion, when the priest knows that his death is imminent, he says, “What does it matter, grace is everywhere.” His sanctity assures him that death is no obstacle for the grace of Christ. Rather, that grace will lift him through death like an airplane soaring through a dark cloud into the light of the stratosphere.
Jesus’ disciples in the boat being tossed about by the tempest have not fully learned about grace. Without Jesus physically present they fear that they will perish in the sea. Jesus is never far away, however, and his saving grace surrounds them. They must only trust in him like the sick coming to him for a cure. He is ready to save them.
Matthew, the evangelist, seems to have a symbolic intent in relating this episode. The disciples in a boat without Jesus present may be the Church after the resurrection, now as well as 1950 years ago. The darkness of night has always been associated with evil, and along with the turbulent waters it appears as death-dealing. Church-members must grasp the lesson of grace. We have only to trust in Christ, and his grace will see us through any turmoil.
(Matthew 14:22-36)
George Bernanos’ novel Diary of a Country Priest portrays the life of St. John Vianney. Toward its conclusion, when the priest knows that his death is imminent, he says, “What does it matter, grace is everywhere.” His sanctity assures him that death is no obstacle for the grace of Christ. Rather, that grace will lift him through death like an airplane soaring through a dark cloud into the light of the stratosphere.
Jesus’ disciples in the boat being tossed about by the tempest have not fully learned about grace. Without Jesus physically present they fear that they will perish in the sea. Jesus is never far away, however, and his saving grace surrounds them. They must only trust in him like the sick coming to him for a cure. He is ready to save them.
Matthew, the evangelist, seems to have a symbolic intent in relating this episode. The disciples in a boat without Jesus present may be the Church after the resurrection, now as well as 1950 years ago. The darkness of night has always been associated with evil, and along with the turbulent waters it appears as death-dealing. Church-members must grasp the lesson of grace. We have only to trust in Christ, and his grace will see us through any turmoil.
Homilette for Friday, August 1, 2008
Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church
(Matthew 13:54-58)
In one of his novels Larry McMurtry tells the story of an antique collector who buys a precious item from the owners of a second-hand store. The owners ask a price many times below the actual value of the object because they do not know what it is really worth. In the gospel today the townspeople where Jesus grew up similarly do not recognize Jesus for who he really is. Rather, because they know his family, they think that they know him. They do not realize that he is actually the long awaited Messiah who comes to save Israel. Even his miraculous cures and his wonderful teaching do not convince them.
Some of us likewise may be scandalized by the ways that Jesus makes himself present to us. He does not come in a grand banquet which we have to pay thousands of dollars to participate in. No, he becomes present in the simple hosts and the inexpensive wine that we bring to the altar. His teachings, which promise everlasting life, are likewise not complicated theorems that only people as intelligent as astrophysicists can understand. No, they contain the straightforward message that we are to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We must be careful not to reject Jesus as his townspeople do in the gospel. Quite the contrary, we must be ever grateful that he makes himself available to us and to all.
(Matthew 13:54-58)
In one of his novels Larry McMurtry tells the story of an antique collector who buys a precious item from the owners of a second-hand store. The owners ask a price many times below the actual value of the object because they do not know what it is really worth. In the gospel today the townspeople where Jesus grew up similarly do not recognize Jesus for who he really is. Rather, because they know his family, they think that they know him. They do not realize that he is actually the long awaited Messiah who comes to save Israel. Even his miraculous cures and his wonderful teaching do not convince them.
Some of us likewise may be scandalized by the ways that Jesus makes himself present to us. He does not come in a grand banquet which we have to pay thousands of dollars to participate in. No, he becomes present in the simple hosts and the inexpensive wine that we bring to the altar. His teachings, which promise everlasting life, are likewise not complicated theorems that only people as intelligent as astrophysicists can understand. No, they contain the straightforward message that we are to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We must be careful not to reject Jesus as his townspeople do in the gospel. Quite the contrary, we must be ever grateful that he makes himself available to us and to all.
Homilette for Thursday, July 31, 2008
Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest
(Matthew 13:47-53)
A second century theologian named Marcion taught that Christianity has no need of the Old Testament. Rather, he proposed that St. Paul’s letters along with his own version of the gospel were enough to relate the message of salvation. Although he attracted a considerable following, Marcion was eventually excommunicated. But his ideas have endured. Today some Christians have little use for the story of Israel or mistakenly claim that the God revealed in the Old Testament (whom they mistakenly consider driven by justice) is fundamentally different the God of the New Testament (whom they rightfully associate with love).
In today’s gospel Jesus relates a parable that refutes Marcion and subsequent subscribers to the idea that the Old Testament is excisable. He compares a worthy scribe or, we might say, theologian to a homeowner with a large storeroom. Just as the homeowner brings out both old and new items from his storeroom to accommodate the household so the theologian uses both the New and the Old Testament to describe the Kingdom of heaven. We should note the order the homeowner employs – the new comes first and then the old. Jesus means to say that his teaching, what we find in the New Testament, has a priority over the still indispensable revelation in the Old Testament.
Today we celebrate St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. He too resembles a homeowner using both new and old. He lived in the sixteenth century, a time of challenge for the Church. Protestantism was taking root then throughout northern Europe and the recent discovery of new lands made evangelization a primary concern. Ignatius drew upon new ideas to form his Jesuits without foregoing tradition. He maintained that Jesuits were to incarnate the ideal of “contemplation in action” – active in engaging the new challenges and contemplative in appreciating the Christian legacy.
(Matthew 13:47-53)
A second century theologian named Marcion taught that Christianity has no need of the Old Testament. Rather, he proposed that St. Paul’s letters along with his own version of the gospel were enough to relate the message of salvation. Although he attracted a considerable following, Marcion was eventually excommunicated. But his ideas have endured. Today some Christians have little use for the story of Israel or mistakenly claim that the God revealed in the Old Testament (whom they mistakenly consider driven by justice) is fundamentally different the God of the New Testament (whom they rightfully associate with love).
In today’s gospel Jesus relates a parable that refutes Marcion and subsequent subscribers to the idea that the Old Testament is excisable. He compares a worthy scribe or, we might say, theologian to a homeowner with a large storeroom. Just as the homeowner brings out both old and new items from his storeroom to accommodate the household so the theologian uses both the New and the Old Testament to describe the Kingdom of heaven. We should note the order the homeowner employs – the new comes first and then the old. Jesus means to say that his teaching, what we find in the New Testament, has a priority over the still indispensable revelation in the Old Testament.
Today we celebrate St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. He too resembles a homeowner using both new and old. He lived in the sixteenth century, a time of challenge for the Church. Protestantism was taking root then throughout northern Europe and the recent discovery of new lands made evangelization a primary concern. Ignatius drew upon new ideas to form his Jesuits without foregoing tradition. He maintained that Jesuits were to incarnate the ideal of “contemplation in action” – active in engaging the new challenges and contemplative in appreciating the Christian legacy.
Homilette for Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Jeremiah 15:10;16-21)
St. Teresa of Avila, the mystic-reformer of the sixteenth century, once complained to God of the mistreatment she was experiencing. God responded, “This is how I treat my friends, Teresa.” The saint replied, “Well, then, no wonder you have so few!” Teresa echoes Jeremiah’s sentiments in the first reading today.
Jeremiah has faithfully and selflessly served the Lord. He has performed bizarre activities like burying his rotting loincloth so that God’s message might get through to hard-hearted Judah. Yet the only recognition he receives is condemnation. So Jeremiah protests that God compensates him for all his efforts with what sounds like semi-torturous water-boarding. He says, “You have become for me a treacherous brook whose waters do not abide!”
At times people will misconstrue our best efforts like Judah misjudges Jeremiah’s. When we do something out of love for others, we will hear people questioning our motives, “What’s in it for her?” It is critical that at such times we do not become bitter or, if we have turned antagonistic, that we quickly check ourselves. We would be wise to remember the Lord’s promise to Jeremiah, “...I am with you, to deliver and rescue you.”
(Jeremiah 15:10;16-21)
St. Teresa of Avila, the mystic-reformer of the sixteenth century, once complained to God of the mistreatment she was experiencing. God responded, “This is how I treat my friends, Teresa.” The saint replied, “Well, then, no wonder you have so few!” Teresa echoes Jeremiah’s sentiments in the first reading today.
Jeremiah has faithfully and selflessly served the Lord. He has performed bizarre activities like burying his rotting loincloth so that God’s message might get through to hard-hearted Judah. Yet the only recognition he receives is condemnation. So Jeremiah protests that God compensates him for all his efforts with what sounds like semi-torturous water-boarding. He says, “You have become for me a treacherous brook whose waters do not abide!”
At times people will misconstrue our best efforts like Judah misjudges Jeremiah’s. When we do something out of love for others, we will hear people questioning our motives, “What’s in it for her?” It is critical that at such times we do not become bitter or, if we have turned antagonistic, that we quickly check ourselves. We would be wise to remember the Lord’s promise to Jeremiah, “...I am with you, to deliver and rescue you.”
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