Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Jonah 1:1-2:2.11; Luke 10:25-37)
A few years ago a leading Catholic university removed the crucifixes from its classrooms. Having a multi-ethnic student body, the university administration reasoned that the crucifixes might offend students of other religious traditions. One Muslim student, however, was bothered by the removal. After all, he asked, what kind of guest would he be if he could not respect the symbols and artifacts of his hosts’ religion? Eventually, the crucifixes were returned to the classrooms, and their removal, no doubt, was attributed to political correctness.
The Book of the Prophet Jonah similarly testifies to people from other religions showing greater sensibility to true religion than they of the dominant tradition. Jonah, the Jew, is disgusted with the Lord for his parallel love of other peoples. He flees when God commands him to preach in the city of Nineveh, Israel’s captors. In his flight the sailors on the ship that transports Jonah show more regard for the Lord than he. They pray to God for help and shudder to think that their act of appeasement may not please God.
We find Jesus making a similar point in the gospel. He describes the Samaritan who comes to the aid of the dying stranger as giving God greater praise than the priest and Levite who, most likely for liturgical reason, would not touch him. Everyone is wise to recognize the Holy Spirit working among different peoples and religions just as surely as it lavishes graces upon her or him.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Memorial of Saint Jerome, priest
(Baruch 1:15-22; Luke 10:13-16)
In 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed a bill declaring a “day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer.” America was experiencing the blight of civil war and rightly held itself responsible. “We have forgotten God,” the bill declared, and also “we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace.” Such a public call to repentance would never be made today. But it is exactly what Jesus expects in today’s gospel.
Chorazain, Bethsaida, and Capernaum – these are not notoriously bad cities. There sin is likely a malaise that prevents them from noticing that the Messiah stands in their midst. Rather than repent, they carry on business as usual. Jesus declares that they have missed their opportunity, that their train left the station, that they will be left in oblivion.
Just because our nation may never repent does not mean that individuals or groups should not. We do offend God and should ask pardon and do penance. While we are at it, let us go beyond the superficial. We get angry ourselves and make others angry, but these are hardly the worse of our sins. More grievously, we lie, lust, and ridicule. We ignore the needs of others while we forever grasp at what our hearts desire.
(Baruch 1:15-22; Luke 10:13-16)
In 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed a bill declaring a “day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer.” America was experiencing the blight of civil war and rightly held itself responsible. “We have forgotten God,” the bill declared, and also “we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace.” Such a public call to repentance would never be made today. But it is exactly what Jesus expects in today’s gospel.
Chorazain, Bethsaida, and Capernaum – these are not notoriously bad cities. There sin is likely a malaise that prevents them from noticing that the Messiah stands in their midst. Rather than repent, they carry on business as usual. Jesus declares that they have missed their opportunity, that their train left the station, that they will be left in oblivion.
Just because our nation may never repent does not mean that individuals or groups should not. We do offend God and should ask pardon and do penance. While we are at it, let us go beyond the superficial. We get angry ourselves and make others angry, but these are hardly the worse of our sins. More grievously, we lie, lust, and ridicule. We ignore the needs of others while we forever grasp at what our hearts desire.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Feast of Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael, archangels
(Daniel 7:9-10.13-14 or Revelation 12:7-12ab; John 1:47-51)
Hester Prynne, the adulteress in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece The Scarlet Letter, had an “A” sewn on her clothes. However, she went about town doing so much good for so long a time that the people began to think that the letter stood for “angel.” Today’s feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael underscores this very humane quality of angels.
One might think of angels as creepy characters. They are pure spirits created by God to perform His work. But in truth we generally think of angels as quite amenable company, like those in the popular television series Touched by an Angel. Of course, it is because God is so good that His messengers can hardly be anything but caring.
Today’s feast celebrates three angels renowned in the Bible. St. Michael is known for his protection against evil. St. Gabriel is seen as the bearer of good news. And St. Raphael is remembered for his coming to the aid of the downtrodden. Together they represent the work of all the heavenly hosts.
(Daniel 7:9-10.13-14 or Revelation 12:7-12ab; John 1:47-51)
Hester Prynne, the adulteress in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece The Scarlet Letter, had an “A” sewn on her clothes. However, she went about town doing so much good for so long a time that the people began to think that the letter stood for “angel.” Today’s feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael underscores this very humane quality of angels.
One might think of angels as creepy characters. They are pure spirits created by God to perform His work. But in truth we generally think of angels as quite amenable company, like those in the popular television series Touched by an Angel. Of course, it is because God is so good that His messengers can hardly be anything but caring.
Today’s feast celebrates three angels renowned in the Bible. St. Michael is known for his protection against evil. St. Gabriel is seen as the bearer of good news. And St. Raphael is remembered for his coming to the aid of the downtrodden. Together they represent the work of all the heavenly hosts.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Luke 9:57-62)
Giovanni Bernadone’s father opposed his vocation to a holy life. Giovanni only wanted to live simply and dedicate himself to the Lord by works of charity and reparation of churches. To do so, however, he had to forsake his family and did so by making a spectacle of the separation in the town square. Before long, Giovanni Bernadone was recognized as the holiest person of his time and is still revered as such today. Only, we know him as St. Francis of Assisi.
St. Francis’ priority of Christ before father and mother illustrates the gospel message today. But it pulls in the opposite direction of the first reading. Nehemiah’s desire to return to Jerusalem where the bones of his ancestors are buried bespeaks strong allegiance to the family.
Ideally, the claims of one’s family correspond with the demands of God’s kingdom. But where the two conflict, Jesus insists that we follow the kingdom’s lead.
(Nehemiah 2:1-8; Luke 9:57-62)
Giovanni Bernadone’s father opposed his vocation to a holy life. Giovanni only wanted to live simply and dedicate himself to the Lord by works of charity and reparation of churches. To do so, however, he had to forsake his family and did so by making a spectacle of the separation in the town square. Before long, Giovanni Bernadone was recognized as the holiest person of his time and is still revered as such today. Only, we know him as St. Francis of Assisi.
St. Francis’ priority of Christ before father and mother illustrates the gospel message today. But it pulls in the opposite direction of the first reading. Nehemiah’s desire to return to Jerusalem where the bones of his ancestors are buried bespeaks strong allegiance to the family.
Ideally, the claims of one’s family correspond with the demands of God’s kingdom. But where the two conflict, Jesus insists that we follow the kingdom’s lead.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest
(Zechariah 8:20-23; Luke 9:51-56)
Let’s picture ourselves living in the year 1600 when St. Vincent de Paul was ordained. Arguably the most magnificent century in all history has just ended. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel. The Spanish colonized America. Martin Luther called the Church to reform. Vincent’s life story testifies to the wonder of the age. Born into a peasant’s family, he received a university education. But with all the great feats of the past century Europe and, for the most part, the world lacks true holiness. Vincent would supply this need with his attention to the poor.
In the gospel Jesus likewise surprises his disciples with a fresh idea of holiness. Going up to Jerusalem, Jesus admonishes James and John for thinking that because he is Messiah, he will use his power to destroy his offenders. No, as God’s anointed one, he will demonstrate forbearance and peacefulness to all. In the end he delivers himself to his enemies that results in the Father's establishing universal reconciliation through his death and resurrection.
Working with the poor is often frustrating and disappointing. Sometimes they do not respond as we would have it. But we must care about them because, as Vincent de Paul taught, they are God’s special friends. We can rest assured that through such work we will become His friends as well.
(Zechariah 8:20-23; Luke 9:51-56)
Let’s picture ourselves living in the year 1600 when St. Vincent de Paul was ordained. Arguably the most magnificent century in all history has just ended. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel. The Spanish colonized America. Martin Luther called the Church to reform. Vincent’s life story testifies to the wonder of the age. Born into a peasant’s family, he received a university education. But with all the great feats of the past century Europe and, for the most part, the world lacks true holiness. Vincent would supply this need with his attention to the poor.
In the gospel Jesus likewise surprises his disciples with a fresh idea of holiness. Going up to Jerusalem, Jesus admonishes James and John for thinking that because he is Messiah, he will use his power to destroy his offenders. No, as God’s anointed one, he will demonstrate forbearance and peacefulness to all. In the end he delivers himself to his enemies that results in the Father's establishing universal reconciliation through his death and resurrection.
Working with the poor is often frustrating and disappointing. Sometimes they do not respond as we would have it. But we must care about them because, as Vincent de Paul taught, they are God’s special friends. We can rest assured that through such work we will become His friends as well.
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