Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25)
Some commentators on the Letter to the Hebrews say that its clarion call to renewal stems from systematic persecution grinding down Christians toward the end of the first century. Others, however, see it more as a warning against apostasy in a time of disillusionment over Jesus’ promised return. Christians in most of the world today contend with the latter challenge. As we wait for Jesus to return, some in our congregations become especially anxious. Wonder if he will ever come, they stop attending mass and perhaps search for a religion with less doctrinal baggage.
Hebrews encourages the dubious both in the first century and today not to let go of Christ. It describes him both as accomplished as Einstein and as ordinary as any one of us. It assures us that he, and not Church preaching or music or even fellowship, makes our allegiance worthwhile. We come to “the assembly” or mass precisely because he is there in fullness. Further, we make every effort to love and do good works because the more we act like him, the more we will experience him.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Memorial of St. Timothy and St. Titus, bishops
(II Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 3:22-30)
The Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus follows on the heel of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul because the two men assisted Paul in his missionary efforts. Timothy accompanied Paul on part of his so-called second missionary journey and stayed with him in Corinth. Later Paul places Timothy’s name with his own as the authors of the Second Letter to the Corinthians. This same letter speaks of Titus as Paul’s emissary who brought a lost letter to the Corinthians after they evidently reacted to Paul’s scolding in First Corinthians. In Second Corinthians Paul calls Titus, “my partner and co-worker with you.”
A few facts about Timothy and Titus can be gleaned from the New Testament. Timothy was the son of a Greek father and Jewish mother. Paul permitted him to be circumcised because of his Jewish heritage. On the other hand, Paul insisted that Titus not be circumcised because he was of completely Gentile origins. More significant than their personal stories is what the references to the two men in the New Testament reveal about Paul. They indicate that he was hardly a one-person show. Indeed, it seems that in part his ability to collaborate made his evangelizing efforts successful. He also felt great affection for his associates and was magnanimous enough to mention them as contributors to his writing.
It may seem self-evident that ultimately there are no Christians without a church community, but some do speak and act as if they have both personal and private relationships with the Lord. Yet there is always need for other people to pray with, to support our faith, and to assist our apostolic efforts. This was true of the archetypal missionary, Paul of Tarsus, and it remains so today.
(II Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 3:22-30)
The Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus follows on the heel of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul because the two men assisted Paul in his missionary efforts. Timothy accompanied Paul on part of his so-called second missionary journey and stayed with him in Corinth. Later Paul places Timothy’s name with his own as the authors of the Second Letter to the Corinthians. This same letter speaks of Titus as Paul’s emissary who brought a lost letter to the Corinthians after they evidently reacted to Paul’s scolding in First Corinthians. In Second Corinthians Paul calls Titus, “my partner and co-worker with you.”
A few facts about Timothy and Titus can be gleaned from the New Testament. Timothy was the son of a Greek father and Jewish mother. Paul permitted him to be circumcised because of his Jewish heritage. On the other hand, Paul insisted that Titus not be circumcised because he was of completely Gentile origins. More significant than their personal stories is what the references to the two men in the New Testament reveal about Paul. They indicate that he was hardly a one-person show. Indeed, it seems that in part his ability to collaborate made his evangelizing efforts successful. He also felt great affection for his associates and was magnanimous enough to mention them as contributors to his writing.
It may seem self-evident that ultimately there are no Christians without a church community, but some do speak and act as if they have both personal and private relationships with the Lord. Yet there is always need for other people to pray with, to support our faith, and to assist our apostolic efforts. This was true of the archetypal missionary, Paul of Tarsus, and it remains so today.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, apostle
(Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18)
Did Paul actually undergo a conversion? The question may sound silly today when we are celebrating just that, but students of the Bible have asked it seriously. They note that there is no change in Paul’s personal behavior. He does not, for example, give up drinking or come to scorn his Jewish roots. Rather he remains avid about religion although he will admit that being Jewish cannot compare with knowing Jesus Christ.
Paul’s zeal makes him capable of accomplishing so much. He will not only fulfill Jesus’ mandate to proclaim the gospel to everyone but also encourage those whom he has evangelized with sound pastoral letters. He becomes the consummate activist with a life completely given to Christ and thus rightly terminating in martyrdom.
Such a model may scare us. “Do I want to give myself over so completely?” we may ask. But let us keep two considerations in mind. First, although Christ wants us to tell others about him, he does not call the vast majority of us to put our heads on the chopping block. Second, Christ calls each of us by name as sure as he calls, “Saul, Saul,” in the first reading today. In other words, he loves us and will care for us as we make little sacrifices for him.
(Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18)
Did Paul actually undergo a conversion? The question may sound silly today when we are celebrating just that, but students of the Bible have asked it seriously. They note that there is no change in Paul’s personal behavior. He does not, for example, give up drinking or come to scorn his Jewish roots. Rather he remains avid about religion although he will admit that being Jewish cannot compare with knowing Jesus Christ.
Paul’s zeal makes him capable of accomplishing so much. He will not only fulfill Jesus’ mandate to proclaim the gospel to everyone but also encourage those whom he has evangelized with sound pastoral letters. He becomes the consummate activist with a life completely given to Christ and thus rightly terminating in martyrdom.
Such a model may scare us. “Do I want to give myself over so completely?” we may ask. But let us keep two considerations in mind. First, although Christ wants us to tell others about him, he does not call the vast majority of us to put our heads on the chopping block. Second, Christ calls each of us by name as sure as he calls, “Saul, Saul,” in the first reading today. In other words, he loves us and will care for us as we make little sacrifices for him.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop
(Hebrews 9:15.24-28; Mark 3:22-30)
In 1858 Abraham Lincoln used Jesus’ statement in today’s gospel to explain why the status quo regarding slavery in America was doomed. The country was being continually thrown into crisis because the South could not tolerate the loss of political power when territories wanted to join the Union as “free” states. Lincoln reasoned that the United States would have to become completely slave or completely free just as “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Lincoln’s application of Jesus’ statement reminds us not to compromise with evil. A group of associates incessantly making sexual innuendos, a habit of “borrowing” from the company to pay personal debts, a practice of lying about one’s whereabouts – any of these situations can lead us fully down the path to corruption. It is true, as St. Francis De Sales once wrote, that we need to be patient with ourselves. But patience is not allowing evil to take root in our hearts but to make constant effort, as a gardener weeding his flower patch, that vice has difficulty finding a place to germinate.
(Hebrews 9:15.24-28; Mark 3:22-30)
In 1858 Abraham Lincoln used Jesus’ statement in today’s gospel to explain why the status quo regarding slavery in America was doomed. The country was being continually thrown into crisis because the South could not tolerate the loss of political power when territories wanted to join the Union as “free” states. Lincoln reasoned that the United States would have to become completely slave or completely free just as “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Lincoln’s application of Jesus’ statement reminds us not to compromise with evil. A group of associates incessantly making sexual innuendos, a habit of “borrowing” from the company to pay personal debts, a practice of lying about one’s whereabouts – any of these situations can lead us fully down the path to corruption. It is true, as St. Francis De Sales once wrote, that we need to be patient with ourselves. But patience is not allowing evil to take root in our hearts but to make constant effort, as a gardener weeding his flower patch, that vice has difficulty finding a place to germinate.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr
(Hebrews 8:6-13; Mark 3:13-19)
It is not that typewriters are old that makes us want to ditch them, it is because they are obsolete. In almost every way computers outperform typewriters so that most of us don’t even have room for the latter in storage. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews finds God’s covenant with Israel similarly obsolete.
The Old Testament passage which today’s reading cites comes from the prophet Jeremiah. Living six hundred years before Christ, Jeremiah saw that the people were not prepared to keep the Covenantal Law. He foretold not only a new law but a new kind of law written on the heart so that those so inscribed could comply with it just as much as, for example, they love their children. We understand this New Law as coming to us with the Holy Spirit who prompts us to do what is right.
But how obsolete is the Old Covenant? To be sure, as liberal critics point out, we cannot hold to each of its ceremonial and judicial precepts. Yet the Ten Commandments still guide our relationships with God and neighbors. It would be tragic to dismiss these moral precepts as out of date. Rather we need to apply their wisdom to life today as a matter of the Spirit’s
(Hebrews 8:6-13; Mark 3:13-19)
It is not that typewriters are old that makes us want to ditch them, it is because they are obsolete. In almost every way computers outperform typewriters so that most of us don’t even have room for the latter in storage. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews finds God’s covenant with Israel similarly obsolete.
The Old Testament passage which today’s reading cites comes from the prophet Jeremiah. Living six hundred years before Christ, Jeremiah saw that the people were not prepared to keep the Covenantal Law. He foretold not only a new law but a new kind of law written on the heart so that those so inscribed could comply with it just as much as, for example, they love their children. We understand this New Law as coming to us with the Holy Spirit who prompts us to do what is right.
But how obsolete is the Old Covenant? To be sure, as liberal critics point out, we cannot hold to each of its ceremonial and judicial precepts. Yet the Ten Commandments still guide our relationships with God and neighbors. It would be tragic to dismiss these moral precepts as out of date. Rather we need to apply their wisdom to life today as a matter of the Spirit’s
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