Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
(I Thessalonians 3:7-13; Matthew 24:42-51)
The Greek New Testament word diakonia means service. It has been translated into Latin as ministerium from which is derived the English word ministry. Of course, ministry is recognized as a form of service, but for a long time the Catholic Church considered it exclusively the service rendered by the ordained. Only recently, and still not completely, has the term been acknowledged as legitimate for the services lay people render in the Church.
Today’s gospel may be interpreted as supporting this point of view. Although the Greek does not use diakonia for the servant’s work, Jesus indicates that his disciples should await his return by caring for household needs. Since he is referring to the Church, he is saying that every member should contribute to her welfare.
All Catholics will not build up the Church in the same way. Many laypersons, doing their jobs efficiently, honestly, and benevolently, are reordering world affairs according to the norms of justice. This is not strictly secular work. Done with the right motivation, it fulfills in part the Church’s mission and has been termed the “ministry of the laity.” Others will expend their creative effort back in the parish teaching religion or working with the evangelization program. They perform a more recognized but not necessarily more important ministry.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, apostle
(Revelation 21:9b-14; John 1:45-51)
How can it be that on the Feast of St. Bartholomew, apostle, we hear a gospel story about Nathanael? But it is not an oversight. On the lists of apostles in the gospels according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the name Bartholomew always appears paired with Philip. In John’s gospel, which makes no mention of Bartholomew, there is a story about Nathanael who is a friend of Philip. It is likely, therefore, that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. Also, Bartholomew appears to be a surname since bar in Hebrew means son of. This fact makes some conclude that the celebration today is more properly the “Feast of St. Nathanael Bartholomew”!
As interesting as the apostle’s name may be, we commemorate him today for something more. He proclaims Jesus “the Son of God and King of Israel.” At the end of John’s gospel Thomas calls Jesus “my Lord and my God.” But he will have the advantage of seeing him after the resurrection. Nathanael’s insight into Jesus’ identity comes from his being, as Jesus says, “a true child of Israel.” This means that he has faithfully waited for the Lord to send his servant for the redemption of His people.
As St. Nathaniel Bartholomew and all true Israelites waited for the coming of the Messiah, so we and all true Christians wait for him to return. After two millennia we would feel frustrated if there were no evidence that he is close at hand. But such testimony is available. Jesus is present to us in the Eucharist from which we draw spiritual nourishment and moral guidance. Nevertheless, we yearn for him to reappear in human form so that he might tell us secrets about ourselves as he does about Nathanael in the gospel today.
(Revelation 21:9b-14; John 1:45-51)
How can it be that on the Feast of St. Bartholomew, apostle, we hear a gospel story about Nathanael? But it is not an oversight. On the lists of apostles in the gospels according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the name Bartholomew always appears paired with Philip. In John’s gospel, which makes no mention of Bartholomew, there is a story about Nathanael who is a friend of Philip. It is likely, therefore, that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. Also, Bartholomew appears to be a surname since bar in Hebrew means son of. This fact makes some conclude that the celebration today is more properly the “Feast of St. Nathanael Bartholomew”!
As interesting as the apostle’s name may be, we commemorate him today for something more. He proclaims Jesus “the Son of God and King of Israel.” At the end of John’s gospel Thomas calls Jesus “my Lord and my God.” But he will have the advantage of seeing him after the resurrection. Nathanael’s insight into Jesus’ identity comes from his being, as Jesus says, “a true child of Israel.” This means that he has faithfully waited for the Lord to send his servant for the redemption of His people.
As St. Nathaniel Bartholomew and all true Israelites waited for the coming of the Messiah, so we and all true Christians wait for him to return. After two millennia we would feel frustrated if there were no evidence that he is close at hand. But such testimony is available. Jesus is present to us in the Eucharist from which we draw spiritual nourishment and moral guidance. Nevertheless, we yearn for him to reappear in human form so that he might tell us secrets about ourselves as he does about Nathanael in the gospel today.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Memorial of Saint Rose of Lima, virgin
(I Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 23:23-26)
A priest ministering to the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa’s congregation, rightly feels humbled. The sisters sit at his feet seemingly attending to every word that he utters. The priest knows that they, much more than he, exemplify the work of Jesus in their service among the poorest of the poor. In her daily life St. Rose of Lima demonstrated an even greater self-effacement and dedication than the Missionaries of Charity. Her care for the poor was overshadowed only by her acts of piety as she demonstrated for an entire city love for God.
St. Paul in the reading today sees himself as the same kind of servant. “…we were gentle among you,” he writes, “as a nursing mother cares for her infants.” Paul likely means that he was patient in his work among the Thessalonians taking pains to explain the gospel in simple terms that these simple people could understand. Evidently he also labored at his own trade of tent-making while among the people so that he would not burden them with requests for his upkeep.
The piety and service of saints move us from self-concern to devotion to others. Certainly our times provide no ready outlet in the race for vainglory. However, we can see saints among us today as certainly as in the seventeenth century when St. Rose of Lima lived and in the first century when St. Paul worked shining like stars in the sky. They remind us that there is one greater and better than we who commands our constant effort to purify our love for others.
(I Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 23:23-26)
A priest ministering to the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa’s congregation, rightly feels humbled. The sisters sit at his feet seemingly attending to every word that he utters. The priest knows that they, much more than he, exemplify the work of Jesus in their service among the poorest of the poor. In her daily life St. Rose of Lima demonstrated an even greater self-effacement and dedication than the Missionaries of Charity. Her care for the poor was overshadowed only by her acts of piety as she demonstrated for an entire city love for God.
St. Paul in the reading today sees himself as the same kind of servant. “…we were gentle among you,” he writes, “as a nursing mother cares for her infants.” Paul likely means that he was patient in his work among the Thessalonians taking pains to explain the gospel in simple terms that these simple people could understand. Evidently he also labored at his own trade of tent-making while among the people so that he would not burden them with requests for his upkeep.
The piety and service of saints move us from self-concern to devotion to others. Certainly our times provide no ready outlet in the race for vainglory. However, we can see saints among us today as certainly as in the seventeenth century when St. Rose of Lima lived and in the first century when St. Paul worked shining like stars in the sky. They remind us that there is one greater and better than we who commands our constant effort to purify our love for others.
Monday, ugust 22, 2011
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(I Thessalonians 1:1-5.8b-10; Matthew 23:13-22)
Robert Browning writes a lovely verse that reflects the significance of today’s feast:
THE year 's at the spring,
And day 's at the morn;
Morning 's at seven;
The hill-side 's dew-pearl'd;
The lark 's on the wing; 5
The snail 's on the thorn;
God 's in His heaven—
All 's right with the world!
Mary’s crowning as queen of heaven and earth anticipates the same fullness of creation. It is the glory of the end of time that we all await. In the reading from I Thessalonians Paul relates a sense of the same unmitigated joy. The community of Thessalonica has perfectly assimilated the salvation Christ has won for the world. Paul is exuberant and cannot help saying, “We give thanks to God always for all of you…”
(I Thessalonians 1:1-5.8b-10; Matthew 23:13-22)
Robert Browning writes a lovely verse that reflects the significance of today’s feast:
THE year 's at the spring,
And day 's at the morn;
Morning 's at seven;
The hill-side 's dew-pearl'd;
The lark 's on the wing; 5
The snail 's on the thorn;
God 's in His heaven—
All 's right with the world!
Mary’s crowning as queen of heaven and earth anticipates the same fullness of creation. It is the glory of the end of time that we all await. In the reading from I Thessalonians Paul relates a sense of the same unmitigated joy. The community of Thessalonica has perfectly assimilated the salvation Christ has won for the world. Paul is exuberant and cannot help saying, “We give thanks to God always for all of you…”
Friday, August 19, 2011
Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
(Ruth 1:1.3-6.14b-16.22; Matthew 22:34-40)
It is interesting to read how St. Thomas Aquinas makes distinctions between what is primary in importance and what is primary in nature. He would say that love of God may be more important than fear of the Lord, but most people go through a period of fearing God’s justice before recognizing his irresistible goodness. We find Ruth in the first reading today giving priority to love for family but in time, hopefully, she will be moved more by love for the Lord.
In the gospel Jesus is quite clear about the primacy of love for God. He calls love for neighbor “like it” which hints at why we often come to love God after we love our neighbors. In loving our neighbors we see how God created and redeemed them to reflect His goodness. He is the source, end, and sustainer of what makes them loveable. Therefore, he is even more deserving of our love.
(Ruth 1:1.3-6.14b-16.22; Matthew 22:34-40)
It is interesting to read how St. Thomas Aquinas makes distinctions between what is primary in importance and what is primary in nature. He would say that love of God may be more important than fear of the Lord, but most people go through a period of fearing God’s justice before recognizing his irresistible goodness. We find Ruth in the first reading today giving priority to love for family but in time, hopefully, she will be moved more by love for the Lord.
In the gospel Jesus is quite clear about the primacy of love for God. He calls love for neighbor “like it” which hints at why we often come to love God after we love our neighbors. In loving our neighbors we see how God created and redeemed them to reflect His goodness. He is the source, end, and sustainer of what makes them loveable. Therefore, he is even more deserving of our love.
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