Friday of Second Week in Lent
(Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)
A prototype serves as a functional model. It leads to the final product but lacks the latter's fullness. Shortly before the advent of the personal computer, IBM marketed a typewriter with memory. That short-lived invention was a proto-type. The readings today contain another.
Pairing the Old Testament reading with the gospel today reveals Joseph as a prototype of Jesus. Like Joseph, Jesus is betrayed by his own people, handed over to foreigners, and suffers hardship despite his being completely innocent. Also, both the story of Joseph and that of Jesus turn out glorious. However, the outcome in Jesus’ case, soars beyond Joseph’s. Where Joseph merely thrives in captivity, Jesus rises from the dead.
Both narratives also remind us that our destiny is not in the hands of the people who do us injustice. God will make the ultimate decision regarding our lives. Whether we look out over the city from a spacious office or sweep floors in the basement, we want to live in a way that gives God glory. We then may hope that He will forgive any faults that we have, recognize our good efforts, and redeem us from even death itself.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
(Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 16:9-31)
Sociologist Charles Murray has recently published another bombshell. His Coming Apart marshals massive evidence to demonstrate that the United States is becoming increasingly stratified economically and socially. Although the liberal rich are often seen as the source of irreligion and wanton living, Murray shows that they are much more likely to go to church and have intact families than the poor. So are the rich in the U.S. acting like the rich man in the gospel parable today, or are they perhaps following Christ?
The rich man's sin is apparently that he doesn't notice Lazarus lying at his door. He lives in luxury with no awareness of his closest neighbor. He probably was well-known in the community, but interestingly in the hereafter he goes unnamed. Lazarus, on the other hand, goes unnoticed at the rich man's door, but even the patriarch calls him by name in eternal life.
Some rich no doubt faithfully follow the Lord. However, there is a striking parallel between the rich in America and the rich man who ignores Lazarus. Those blessed with wealth have an obligation to find and assist those in need. Of course, with gated communities beggars are not seen at the rich person's door. But that cannot be an excuse in days of mass media to say that they are not around.
(Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 16:9-31)
Sociologist Charles Murray has recently published another bombshell. His Coming Apart marshals massive evidence to demonstrate that the United States is becoming increasingly stratified economically and socially. Although the liberal rich are often seen as the source of irreligion and wanton living, Murray shows that they are much more likely to go to church and have intact families than the poor. So are the rich in the U.S. acting like the rich man in the gospel parable today, or are they perhaps following Christ?
The rich man's sin is apparently that he doesn't notice Lazarus lying at his door. He lives in luxury with no awareness of his closest neighbor. He probably was well-known in the community, but interestingly in the hereafter he goes unnamed. Lazarus, on the other hand, goes unnoticed at the rich man's door, but even the patriarch calls him by name in eternal life.
Some rich no doubt faithfully follow the Lord. However, there is a striking parallel between the rich in America and the rich man who ignores Lazarus. Those blessed with wealth have an obligation to find and assist those in need. Of course, with gated communities beggars are not seen at the rich person's door. But that cannot be an excuse in days of mass media to say that they are not around.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28)
In a book and movie former Vice-President Al Gore seeks to demonstrate how overconsumption of fossil fuels is leading to increased heat in the atmosphere with serious environmental consequences. Gore titles his project An Inconvenient Truth because he realizes that addressing the problem will mean sacrifice for Americans. In the first reading Jeremiah is threatened for likewise broadcasting an inconvenient truth.
Jeremiah has chastised the people in the name of God. He has been particularly critical of their using the Sabbath for commerce and not giving it to the Lord. His effectiveness in preaching is testified by the fact that the citizens of Jerusalem plot to do him in. It is a familiar story of killing the messenger so that one does not have to heed the message.
We must grow in consciousness of overconsumption. It is leading to environmental catastrophe that even Pope Benedict has pointed out. It also distracts us from giving God His due. Lent, moves us in the opposite direction. We should be finding our sacrifices making us stronger, not weaker, in both body and spirit.
(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28)
In a book and movie former Vice-President Al Gore seeks to demonstrate how overconsumption of fossil fuels is leading to increased heat in the atmosphere with serious environmental consequences. Gore titles his project An Inconvenient Truth because he realizes that addressing the problem will mean sacrifice for Americans. In the first reading Jeremiah is threatened for likewise broadcasting an inconvenient truth.
Jeremiah has chastised the people in the name of God. He has been particularly critical of their using the Sabbath for commerce and not giving it to the Lord. His effectiveness in preaching is testified by the fact that the citizens of Jerusalem plot to do him in. It is a familiar story of killing the messenger so that one does not have to heed the message.
We must grow in consciousness of overconsumption. It is leading to environmental catastrophe that even Pope Benedict has pointed out. It also distracts us from giving God His due. Lent, moves us in the opposite direction. We should be finding our sacrifices making us stronger, not weaker, in both body and spirit.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
(Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Matthew 23:1-12)
Yesterday’s gospel emphasized mercy. Today’s stresses humility. And tomorrow’s will highlight service. It seems that during this second week of Lent the Church means to prepare its people for ministry.
Moralist Fr. Richard Gula says that humility is hard to understand, much less to cultivate. Why be humble? Are not those who promote themselves rewarded? Gula believes that the humble will foster cooperation among a group to successfully complete a common task. In baseball, for example, recruiters no longer pay exclusive attention neither to homerun hitters nor to those with the highest batting averages. What they increasingly want are players who will get on base be it with a hit, a walk, being hit by a pitched ball, or even by striking out on a wild pitch.
We don’t have to be introverted or sad to be humble. We just have to recognize that the world, the community, or the team does not revolve around us. Everyone is important and deserves recognition. In the end humility will move us to recognize our faults before God and to ask for His mercy.
(Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Matthew 23:1-12)
Yesterday’s gospel emphasized mercy. Today’s stresses humility. And tomorrow’s will highlight service. It seems that during this second week of Lent the Church means to prepare its people for ministry.
Moralist Fr. Richard Gula says that humility is hard to understand, much less to cultivate. Why be humble? Are not those who promote themselves rewarded? Gula believes that the humble will foster cooperation among a group to successfully complete a common task. In baseball, for example, recruiters no longer pay exclusive attention neither to homerun hitters nor to those with the highest batting averages. What they increasingly want are players who will get on base be it with a hit, a walk, being hit by a pitched ball, or even by striking out on a wild pitch.
We don’t have to be introverted or sad to be humble. We just have to recognize that the world, the community, or the team does not revolve around us. Everyone is important and deserves recognition. In the end humility will move us to recognize our faults before God and to ask for His mercy.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday of the Second Week in Lent
(Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38)
Saint Theresa of Avila, the sixteenth century mystic, reformer of the Carmelite Order and author of several books, was an overachiever if there ever was one. Yet far from relying on her accomplishments as a calling card in heaven, she said that when she arrived at judgment she would throw herself at the feet of the Most High and beg for mercy. As both Scripture readings attest today, God is indulgent. Mercy is His most prominent pose toward His people.
Daniel recognizes that his compatriots have sinned and stand in need of God’s mercy. Jesus exhorts his followers that they must show mercy because it epitomizes the love of God, the Father. This means that they are to be understanding of others’ faults and generous in forgiving them. Shakespeare sums up Jesus’ instruction on mercy well, “…earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy tempers justice.”
We have difficulty showing mercy to others because we feel unsure of God’s love. For whatever reason, we sense that as we are no one can really love us. To compensate for this inadequacy we prefer to be cruel, dismissive or sarcastic to others rather than compassionate. But God’s love is the core principle of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and mercy toward others is a primary way to respond to this gracious initiative.
(Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38)
Saint Theresa of Avila, the sixteenth century mystic, reformer of the Carmelite Order and author of several books, was an overachiever if there ever was one. Yet far from relying on her accomplishments as a calling card in heaven, she said that when she arrived at judgment she would throw herself at the feet of the Most High and beg for mercy. As both Scripture readings attest today, God is indulgent. Mercy is His most prominent pose toward His people.
Daniel recognizes that his compatriots have sinned and stand in need of God’s mercy. Jesus exhorts his followers that they must show mercy because it epitomizes the love of God, the Father. This means that they are to be understanding of others’ faults and generous in forgiving them. Shakespeare sums up Jesus’ instruction on mercy well, “…earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy tempers justice.”
We have difficulty showing mercy to others because we feel unsure of God’s love. For whatever reason, we sense that as we are no one can really love us. To compensate for this inadequacy we prefer to be cruel, dismissive or sarcastic to others rather than compassionate. But God’s love is the core principle of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and mercy toward others is a primary way to respond to this gracious initiative.
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