Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 17:1-5; Matthew 5:1-12)
A recent photograph of Pope Benedict captures some of the drama in today’s gospel. The picture shows the pope looking out from a window of the Vatican over a crowd of 120,000 people. All eyes are on him just as the gathering before Jesus on the mountain give him its complete attention. He sits down not to relax but to indicate his authority as a judge today always sits in her courtroom. The words he utters are intended for his disciples standing before him, but the crowd is by no means excluded from hearing his message. Indeed, just as his words will begin to form his disciples, who have only recently been called, so they will arouse the interest of the vast assembly.
We are familiar with the content of Jesus’ address. We call the segment given today “the beatitudes,” a word meaning “blessings.” Jesus is telling the people what it is like to be his disciples. To us it does not sound like fun to be “poor in spirit,” in mourning, or “persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” But Jesus not only insists that such conditions are blessed when experienced in his company; he actually names the blessings. His followers are in possession of the kingdom and comforted by the king. In his book Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict offers an example of a disciple testifying to the glory received under the duress of following Jesus. St. Paul writes the Corinthians of his hardships: “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body” (II Cor 4:8-10).
Friday, June 4, 2010
Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(II Timothy 3:10-17; Mark 12:35-37)
A Protestant layman once told a Catholic priest how he envied him. The layman said that he would love to have meditation on Scripture as his life’s work. Lay people can, of course, study the Scriptures, but for most, their efforts comprise an avocation. Priests and Protestant ministers, on the other hand, have the responsibility of reflecting regularly on Scripture to derive its meaning, and convey that understanding to others in an appealing way.
St. Paul in the first reading today also shows the highest regard for Scripture. He knows that it provides a solid ground to base one’s life upon. Timothy, as the leader of a community, must especially root his life in Scripture. From it he will find success as God’s minister and support as a vulnerable human being. In fact reflecting on Scripture daily, like a diet enhanced by omega-3 fatty acids, will enrich anyone’s life.
(II Timothy 3:10-17; Mark 12:35-37)
A Protestant layman once told a Catholic priest how he envied him. The layman said that he would love to have meditation on Scripture as his life’s work. Lay people can, of course, study the Scriptures, but for most, their efforts comprise an avocation. Priests and Protestant ministers, on the other hand, have the responsibility of reflecting regularly on Scripture to derive its meaning, and convey that understanding to others in an appealing way.
St. Paul in the first reading today also shows the highest regard for Scripture. He knows that it provides a solid ground to base one’s life upon. Timothy, as the leader of a community, must especially root his life in Scripture. From it he will find success as God’s minister and support as a vulnerable human being. In fact reflecting on Scripture daily, like a diet enhanced by omega-3 fatty acids, will enrich anyone’s life.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(II Timothy 1:1-3.6-12; Mark 12:18-27)
An inter-Catholic affair made national news a few weeks ago. The bishop of Phoenix dismissed a religious sister from the city Catholic hospital’s ethics board after she advised a pregnant woman suffering from pulmonary hypertension to abort her baby rather than face possible death to herself and her child. Journalists wonder how anyone might be required to give up her life for a person who is not even half-formed yet.
The Catholic answer, which will seem unrealistic to many, is that God has empowered us for heroism with the grace of the Holy Spirit. This is what St. Paul is referring to when he prescribes that Timothy “stir into flame the gift of God that you have.” Being daughters and sons of God, Christians are always to do good and never evil. Of course, depriving a completely human being of life is a serious evil morally equivalent to murder. The fact that our society accepts it as a practice to avoid difficulty casts a huge dark shadow on us as a people.
When Jesus taught us to pray “lead us not into temptation,” he probably had situations like the pregnant woman’s in mind. We do not want to be tried more than we have the capacity to withstand. However, we also conclude the prayer with “deliver us from evil” knowing that God will come to our side no matter the challenge confronting us.
(II Timothy 1:1-3.6-12; Mark 12:18-27)
An inter-Catholic affair made national news a few weeks ago. The bishop of Phoenix dismissed a religious sister from the city Catholic hospital’s ethics board after she advised a pregnant woman suffering from pulmonary hypertension to abort her baby rather than face possible death to herself and her child. Journalists wonder how anyone might be required to give up her life for a person who is not even half-formed yet.
The Catholic answer, which will seem unrealistic to many, is that God has empowered us for heroism with the grace of the Holy Spirit. This is what St. Paul is referring to when he prescribes that Timothy “stir into flame the gift of God that you have.” Being daughters and sons of God, Christians are always to do good and never evil. Of course, depriving a completely human being of life is a serious evil morally equivalent to murder. The fact that our society accepts it as a practice to avoid difficulty casts a huge dark shadow on us as a people.
When Jesus taught us to pray “lead us not into temptation,” he probably had situations like the pregnant woman’s in mind. We do not want to be tried more than we have the capacity to withstand. However, we also conclude the prayer with “deliver us from evil” knowing that God will come to our side no matter the challenge confronting us.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Memorial of St. Justin Martyr
(II Peter 3:12-15a.17-18; Mark 12:13-17)
If Jesus were to enter the city of Phoenix, Arizona, a zealous Christian would probably approach him with a question similar to the Pharisee’s in today’s gospel. Of course, the questioner would not inquire about taxes; rather, he would touch on the divisive issue of immigration. He would want to know Jesus’ thoughts on the recently passed immigration law that puts illegal immigrants ever on alert.
Many, including the bishops of the Catholic Church, think that most undocumented immigrants come to the U.S. in dire need of work. They defend the newcomers as decent people who contribute significantly to American society. Not all church-goers are in agreement, however, Opposing illegal immigration, some find the wholesale disregard for American law intolerable and point out that many people would like to emigrate to the United States but patiently wait their turn in their native places. Now what would Jesus say?
From his answer to the Pharisee in today’s gospel, we might postulate that Jesus would sidestep the brunt of the question. He is not so interested in resolving disputes among peoples as he is in drawing different sides to God his Father. We might imagine him asking for an apple and then inquiring who produced the fruit. “The grower,” some would answer; “with the assistance of immigrant farm labor,” other would chime in. But Jesus would remind everyone that God is the source of all good things, and we must give God His due. So where does this put us in regard to illegal immigration? We have to figure that out now after realizing that the issue is not just about the right to work or the need to obey laws. It is first and foremost about how to view the undocumented with God’s love in our hearts.
(II Peter 3:12-15a.17-18; Mark 12:13-17)
If Jesus were to enter the city of Phoenix, Arizona, a zealous Christian would probably approach him with a question similar to the Pharisee’s in today’s gospel. Of course, the questioner would not inquire about taxes; rather, he would touch on the divisive issue of immigration. He would want to know Jesus’ thoughts on the recently passed immigration law that puts illegal immigrants ever on alert.
Many, including the bishops of the Catholic Church, think that most undocumented immigrants come to the U.S. in dire need of work. They defend the newcomers as decent people who contribute significantly to American society. Not all church-goers are in agreement, however, Opposing illegal immigration, some find the wholesale disregard for American law intolerable and point out that many people would like to emigrate to the United States but patiently wait their turn in their native places. Now what would Jesus say?
From his answer to the Pharisee in today’s gospel, we might postulate that Jesus would sidestep the brunt of the question. He is not so interested in resolving disputes among peoples as he is in drawing different sides to God his Father. We might imagine him asking for an apple and then inquiring who produced the fruit. “The grower,” some would answer; “with the assistance of immigrant farm labor,” other would chime in. But Jesus would remind everyone that God is the source of all good things, and we must give God His due. So where does this put us in regard to illegal immigration? We have to figure that out now after realizing that the issue is not just about the right to work or the need to obey laws. It is first and foremost about how to view the undocumented with God’s love in our hearts.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs
(II Timothy 2:8-15; Mark 2:28-34)
The night before he was assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life - longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will.” Dr. King knew that his cause was in line with the gospel. He could rest assured, like St. Paul in the reading today, that even if his persecutors silenced him, they were not going to stop the movement for human dignity and racial equality.
Nobody wants to die a useless death. Because we believe our lives are valuable, we hope our deaths may magnify the purpose for which we live. Of course, we who believe in God especially want our lives to reflect God’s will as King proclaimed. A chosen few of us, however, feel the urgency to have our lives reflect a particular aspect of that all-encompassing good. We readily think of social reformers like Charlie and Pauline Sullivan who have given their lives to assisting some of “the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters.” Since 1972 the couple has campaigned for better treatment of prisoners in the criminal justice system. They inform right-minded people of the systematic mistreatment of the incarcerated often for venal reasons. They also urge everyone to recognize that a society can by correctly judged by how it treats its imprisoned offenders.
(II Timothy 2:8-15; Mark 2:28-34)
The night before he was assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life - longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will.” Dr. King knew that his cause was in line with the gospel. He could rest assured, like St. Paul in the reading today, that even if his persecutors silenced him, they were not going to stop the movement for human dignity and racial equality.
Nobody wants to die a useless death. Because we believe our lives are valuable, we hope our deaths may magnify the purpose for which we live. Of course, we who believe in God especially want our lives to reflect God’s will as King proclaimed. A chosen few of us, however, feel the urgency to have our lives reflect a particular aspect of that all-encompassing good. We readily think of social reformers like Charlie and Pauline Sullivan who have given their lives to assisting some of “the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters.” Since 1972 the couple has campaigned for better treatment of prisoners in the criminal justice system. They inform right-minded people of the systematic mistreatment of the incarcerated often for venal reasons. They also urge everyone to recognize that a society can by correctly judged by how it treats its imprisoned offenders.
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