Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 7:1-5)
It is recommended that catechists set up an altar in the place where they are to teach. The altar may be covered with a white cloth signifying Jesus’ burial garb left behind once he rose from the dead. On the cloth could be placed a crucifix, perhaps another image of Christ, the Virgin or one of the saints, and a lighted candle, which also symbolizes Christ. The purpose of the altar is to show the instructed that they are being taught first and foremost by Christ himself.
The first reading from Genesis mentions Abram twice constructing altars. No doubt the passage takes for granted the sacrifices that are offered signifying Abram’s desire to please the Lord. Yet the altars themselves are a symbol of God because Abram constructs at least the first one on the place where God appears. The altars remind Abram and Sarai that God accompanies them in their journey.
We may construct an altar in our homes. It would remind us of the Lord’s presence and serve as a focal point for our offering of prayer. Like the couple we are on a journey to a Promised Land where we will be part of a great people. Our homes are but resting places, like Abram’s “stages,” as we find our room in God’s house.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 11:18.21-30; Matthew 6:19-23)
The first reading is reminiscent of a story told of a preacher who was promised a hefty reward by a man if he said something good about the man’s brother who had just died. The preacher felt pressed because the deceased was a particularly bad person as was his brother. So the preacher just said that the dead man had many faults but that he was better than his brother any day.
St. Paul is having difficulty keeping the Corinthians Christians on the true Christian path. Evidently, although it is not explicitly stated, the Corinthians have been misguided by errant apostles. Perhaps the apostles spoke of the necessity to abide by the precepts of the Jewish Law as did the evangelizers who taught among the Galatians after Paul. More probably, since Paul speaks of the sacrifices he has made to preach the gospel, they have demanded fee for services in a venal way. By his own admission Paul embarks on an imprudent course in refuting them. Rather than attack the error directly, he tries to show that he should be heeded not the others because he is a more authentic apostle.
Money like sex can be the downfall of good people. We pray to God that we can be like Jesus and Paul serving without looking for any unjust reward.
(II Corinthians 11:18.21-30; Matthew 6:19-23)
The first reading is reminiscent of a story told of a preacher who was promised a hefty reward by a man if he said something good about the man’s brother who had just died. The preacher felt pressed because the deceased was a particularly bad person as was his brother. So the preacher just said that the dead man had many faults but that he was better than his brother any day.
St. Paul is having difficulty keeping the Corinthians Christians on the true Christian path. Evidently, although it is not explicitly stated, the Corinthians have been misguided by errant apostles. Perhaps the apostles spoke of the necessity to abide by the precepts of the Jewish Law as did the evangelizers who taught among the Galatians after Paul. More probably, since Paul speaks of the sacrifices he has made to preach the gospel, they have demanded fee for services in a venal way. By his own admission Paul embarks on an imprudent course in refuting them. Rather than attack the error directly, he tries to show that he should be heeded not the others because he is a more authentic apostle.
Money like sex can be the downfall of good people. We pray to God that we can be like Jesus and Paul serving without looking for any unjust reward.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-15)
A proud Texan was telling someone he met at the airport what a great state he comes from. He said that it is such a fine place to live that at the end of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings when everyone says the Lord’s Prayer together, he changes the words to say, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Texas.” Not everyone has such a high opinion of the Lone Star state, but there are customs and courtesies there, as everywhere, worth emulating.
Let’s go back to Jesus’ petition that the earth be more like heaven. How would it have to change to become so? Everyone could submit a list of suggestions. Here are mine. We would study the word of God more and justify our own opinions less. We would be ready to listen to others’ ideas, slow to endorse them, and reluctant to reject them completely. We would develop a helping hand, a caring heart, and a clean mind.
(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-15)
A proud Texan was telling someone he met at the airport what a great state he comes from. He said that it is such a fine place to live that at the end of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings when everyone says the Lord’s Prayer together, he changes the words to say, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Texas.” Not everyone has such a high opinion of the Lone Star state, but there are customs and courtesies there, as everywhere, worth emulating.
Let’s go back to Jesus’ petition that the earth be more like heaven. How would it have to change to become so? Everyone could submit a list of suggestions. Here are mine. We would study the word of God more and justify our own opinions less. We would be ready to listen to others’ ideas, slow to endorse them, and reluctant to reject them completely. We would develop a helping hand, a caring heart, and a clean mind.
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)
“Giving has never made anyone poor,” a fund-raising adage touts. The saying is not meant figuratively as if one only grows in God’s favor by being generous to the needy. Quite literally, it means that people who give to the poor find themselves the beneficiaries of material blessings. Of course, this is not an investment strategy, but it may be more than intuition. Like the proven realities that people who go to church earn more, have children who are more likely to do well in school, and live longer, it may be possible to show that on the average those who support charity find themselves soon recompensed.
St. Paul has spiritual benefits most in mind when he writes to the Corinthians, “…whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully.” However, his thought for today concludes by saying to the faithful, “You are being enriched in every way…”
As much as God inspires awe in the view of a mountain peak or an ocean sunrise, He works wonders in everyday experience. We need not be surprised when it happens and can almost expect it. Still it seems precarious to predict how God will astound us next.
(II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)
“Giving has never made anyone poor,” a fund-raising adage touts. The saying is not meant figuratively as if one only grows in God’s favor by being generous to the needy. Quite literally, it means that people who give to the poor find themselves the beneficiaries of material blessings. Of course, this is not an investment strategy, but it may be more than intuition. Like the proven realities that people who go to church earn more, have children who are more likely to do well in school, and live longer, it may be possible to show that on the average those who support charity find themselves soon recompensed.
St. Paul has spiritual benefits most in mind when he writes to the Corinthians, “…whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully.” However, his thought for today concludes by saying to the faithful, “You are being enriched in every way…”
As much as God inspires awe in the view of a mountain peak or an ocean sunrise, He works wonders in everyday experience. We need not be surprised when it happens and can almost expect it. Still it seems precarious to predict how God will astound us next.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary time
(II Corinthians 8:1-9; Matthew 5:38-41)
Having been invited to a pro-life center’s annual banquet, the man heard several testimonies about the positive effect the organization was having. Then he was told of its needs and invited to take out, along with everyone else, his checkbook. At first he felt confused. “Was this not a social?” he thought, “Then why is there a push for contributions?” Upon further consideration, however, he found himself assenting to the call for a donation. In the first reading we hear Paul making a similar appeal to the Christian community in Corinth for assistance on behalf of the Christians in Jerusalem.
We can safely assume that Christians living in Corinth enjoy more prosperity than their counterparts in Jerusalem. For one thing they live in a busy commercial center. For another, the Christians in Jerusalem have been persecuted. Other motives for Paul’s request are Jesus’ continual concern for the poor and the need to establish bonds between the Geek and Jewish Christians. There has been some speculation that Paul may have personal reasons for taking up the collection. Because he has uttered what might be taken as criticisms of church leaders of Jerusalem, he may be making amends by showing his concern for Christians there.
Giving money for the poor is sometimes hard, not because we lack resources but because we are not sure that our donation will be well-used. It is only prudent to seek assurance that the contribution we plan to make will truly benefit the people for whom it is intended. Once that is attested, we can give freely knowing that, as Paul says, we are imitating the Lord Jesus.
(II Corinthians 8:1-9; Matthew 5:38-41)
Having been invited to a pro-life center’s annual banquet, the man heard several testimonies about the positive effect the organization was having. Then he was told of its needs and invited to take out, along with everyone else, his checkbook. At first he felt confused. “Was this not a social?” he thought, “Then why is there a push for contributions?” Upon further consideration, however, he found himself assenting to the call for a donation. In the first reading we hear Paul making a similar appeal to the Christian community in Corinth for assistance on behalf of the Christians in Jerusalem.
We can safely assume that Christians living in Corinth enjoy more prosperity than their counterparts in Jerusalem. For one thing they live in a busy commercial center. For another, the Christians in Jerusalem have been persecuted. Other motives for Paul’s request are Jesus’ continual concern for the poor and the need to establish bonds between the Geek and Jewish Christians. There has been some speculation that Paul may have personal reasons for taking up the collection. Because he has uttered what might be taken as criticisms of church leaders of Jerusalem, he may be making amends by showing his concern for Christians there.
Giving money for the poor is sometimes hard, not because we lack resources but because we are not sure that our donation will be well-used. It is only prudent to seek assurance that the contribution we plan to make will truly benefit the people for whom it is intended. Once that is attested, we can give freely knowing that, as Paul says, we are imitating the Lord Jesus.
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