Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 5:1-8; Luke 6:6-11)
Although the Church is popularly thought to have put many people to death with the Inquisition, in fact it did not do so. The Inquisition was a Church office that sought out heretics for most of the second millennium. The Church typically assigned spiritual and physical penances for guilty parties, but it was the state that generally meted out capital punishment. A prototype of what occurred is found in today’s first reading.
St. Paul is scandalized by the report that a member of the Christian community in Corinth has been living with his father’s wife. The crime, forbidden both in Jewish and pagan cultures, even seems over the top to contemporary ears. When Paul suggests that the man delivered to “Satan for the destruction of the flesh,” he likely means that he be turned into the secular authority for some kind of corporal punishment. Whether the punishment was execution or something less, it would likely elicit an act of repentance.
Although we find the practice endorsed in the Bible, we should not think of corporal punishment as a remedy for infractions of sexual boundaries. Tolerance is more in order for today’s cases of promiscuity. But this does not mean that sexual crimes should be either celebrated or ignored as often done in contemporary life. Young and old should realize that such sins are shameful. Also, we should pray for the sinner and for ourselves as well that we do not fall into temptation.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)
France waits in suspense every year for the third Tuesday in November. On that day, called “Beaujolais Day,” the latest vintage of Beaujolais wine goes on market. Not only does the wine have a tasty fruity quality, it also indicates the caliber of that year’s vintage when the wines mature. In grape-producing regions like France and Palestine wine serves as a symbol of joy. For this reason Jesus compares his mission with a new wine in today’s gospel.
Interestingly, Jesus shows no contempt for the old wine, Judaism, when he proclaims his message of God’s kingdom as the new. He says that some people prefer old wine as, indeed, it has a mellowness to be savored. But there is no mixing of new wine and old. Accepting Jesus’ messages means stepping away from Judaic law into the more challenging and more promising realm of gospel love.
Church history is soiled by anti-Semitic outbursts. Most likely the cause for of the prejudice has been envy given how successful Jews have been in commerce and the professions. Certainly the anger is misplaced. Jews, as Luke’s gospel consistently shows, are Jesus’ forbearers always worthy of our respect and dialogue.
(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)
France waits in suspense every year for the third Tuesday in November. On that day, called “Beaujolais Day,” the latest vintage of Beaujolais wine goes on market. Not only does the wine have a tasty fruity quality, it also indicates the caliber of that year’s vintage when the wines mature. In grape-producing regions like France and Palestine wine serves as a symbol of joy. For this reason Jesus compares his mission with a new wine in today’s gospel.
Interestingly, Jesus shows no contempt for the old wine, Judaism, when he proclaims his message of God’s kingdom as the new. He says that some people prefer old wine as, indeed, it has a mellowness to be savored. But there is no mixing of new wine and old. Accepting Jesus’ messages means stepping away from Judaic law into the more challenging and more promising realm of gospel love.
Church history is soiled by anti-Semitic outbursts. Most likely the cause for of the prejudice has been envy given how successful Jews have been in commerce and the professions. Certainly the anger is misplaced. Jews, as Luke’s gospel consistently shows, are Jesus’ forbearers always worthy of our respect and dialogue.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 3:18-23; Luke 5:1-11)
The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson captured the vigor of Greek adventurers when he wrote in the poem “Ulysses”: "Tis not too late to seek a newer world." Already an old man returned from the Trojan War, the hero is not content to sit back and die. Rather he ventures onward to accomplish new feats or to die in the attempt. Jesus instills in the fisherman of today’s gospel a similar willingness to do again what they have done before but this time against all odds.
Peter and company have ended a night's work without any fish to show for their efforts. But after hearing Jesus preach, they are not about to refute his command to try again. They go out into the deep, lower their nets, and watch in astonishment the marvelous catch of fish. Jesus then uses the incident as a parable to indicate the successful missionary efforts the fishermen will have as his disciples.
As we see once crowded churches with many empty pews today, some may become discouraged. They say that we must resign ourselves to small communities of faith. However, this is not the line we hear from Pope Benedict. He will shortly open a synod of bishops to discuss the “New Evangelization.” He knows that as much as ever the world needs to hear Jesus' goods news. Further, he believes that every committed Catholic is capable of proclaiming it to others.
(I Corinthians 3:18-23; Luke 5:1-11)
The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson captured the vigor of Greek adventurers when he wrote in the poem “Ulysses”: "Tis not too late to seek a newer world." Already an old man returned from the Trojan War, the hero is not content to sit back and die. Rather he ventures onward to accomplish new feats or to die in the attempt. Jesus instills in the fisherman of today’s gospel a similar willingness to do again what they have done before but this time against all odds.
Peter and company have ended a night's work without any fish to show for their efforts. But after hearing Jesus preach, they are not about to refute his command to try again. They go out into the deep, lower their nets, and watch in astonishment the marvelous catch of fish. Jesus then uses the incident as a parable to indicate the successful missionary efforts the fishermen will have as his disciples.
As we see once crowded churches with many empty pews today, some may become discouraged. They say that we must resign ourselves to small communities of faith. However, this is not the line we hear from Pope Benedict. He will shortly open a synod of bishops to discuss the “New Evangelization.” He knows that as much as ever the world needs to hear Jesus' goods news. Further, he believes that every committed Catholic is capable of proclaiming it to others.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44)
When Jesus retreats to a deserted place, we generally conclude that he is going to pray. However, he may have other experiences than communing with his Father. As the devil tempts Jesus in a desert place in an earlier passage, in today’s gospel the people come to tempt him again.
Jesus has successfully met the people’s needs. His speaking with authority left them astonished. His casting out maddening demons and curing debilitating illnesses healed them mentally and physically. Why wouldn’t they want such a prophet to stay among them? The gospel does not mention how the people try to prevent Jesus from leaving them, but we might imagine their making offers difficult to refuse. They may tempt him with a life-tenure as rabbi of their synagogue. Or perhaps propose the hand of the beautiful daughter of the town’s richest merchant in marriage!
But Jesus knows that he is no local guru. He has come to tell the world about the Kingdom of God, indeed to inaugurate it with words, deeds, and ultimately with his life. He is not to be deterred by temptations of beauty or security. In this gospel passage Jesus offers us an example and an assurance. Like him we must know what we are about as Christians and not allow ourselves to be lured away from holiness. Equally important, Jesus assures us that he will not be distracted from his mission of saving us.
(I Corinthians 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44)
When Jesus retreats to a deserted place, we generally conclude that he is going to pray. However, he may have other experiences than communing with his Father. As the devil tempts Jesus in a desert place in an earlier passage, in today’s gospel the people come to tempt him again.
Jesus has successfully met the people’s needs. His speaking with authority left them astonished. His casting out maddening demons and curing debilitating illnesses healed them mentally and physically. Why wouldn’t they want such a prophet to stay among them? The gospel does not mention how the people try to prevent Jesus from leaving them, but we might imagine their making offers difficult to refuse. They may tempt him with a life-tenure as rabbi of their synagogue. Or perhaps propose the hand of the beautiful daughter of the town’s richest merchant in marriage!
But Jesus knows that he is no local guru. He has come to tell the world about the Kingdom of God, indeed to inaugurate it with words, deeds, and ultimately with his life. He is not to be deterred by temptations of beauty or security. In this gospel passage Jesus offers us an example and an assurance. Like him we must know what we are about as Christians and not allow ourselves to be lured away from holiness. Equally important, Jesus assures us that he will not be distracted from his mission of saving us.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 2:10b-16; Luke 4:31-37)
Sr. St. John died a prophet. Entering the convent in 1942, she spent most of her years teaching. At first she concentrated on simple messages from catechism and English grammar. As time passed, her lessons touched on more controversial subjects like the needs of the poor and of prisoners. Perhaps Sr. St. John showed her prophetic zeal most when she volunteered to serve with sisters from her congregation in Rwanda just after the massacres there. She returned to the United States to remind Americans that divine love does not come easy but extracts the whole of one’s being: body, soul, and mind. In the first reading today, St. Paul names this kind of sacrifice as having the Spirit of God.
Paul has proclaimed Jesus Christ to the Corinthians by telling how Christ died on the cross as the supreme example of God’s love for the world. Now the Corinthians are being urged to assume that love for their own with exemplary lives in support of one another. They are to stop boasting and bickering, and most of all they must put aside all immoral behavior. They are to live in the Spirit of God that has been revealed to them.
We also are tested every day whether we live in the same Spirit. It is not just our outrage with abortion but, really more critically, our care for our neighbors that shows whether God’s Spirit has become our own.
(I Corinthians 2:10b-16; Luke 4:31-37)
Sr. St. John died a prophet. Entering the convent in 1942, she spent most of her years teaching. At first she concentrated on simple messages from catechism and English grammar. As time passed, her lessons touched on more controversial subjects like the needs of the poor and of prisoners. Perhaps Sr. St. John showed her prophetic zeal most when she volunteered to serve with sisters from her congregation in Rwanda just after the massacres there. She returned to the United States to remind Americans that divine love does not come easy but extracts the whole of one’s being: body, soul, and mind. In the first reading today, St. Paul names this kind of sacrifice as having the Spirit of God.
Paul has proclaimed Jesus Christ to the Corinthians by telling how Christ died on the cross as the supreme example of God’s love for the world. Now the Corinthians are being urged to assume that love for their own with exemplary lives in support of one another. They are to stop boasting and bickering, and most of all they must put aside all immoral behavior. They are to live in the Spirit of God that has been revealed to them.
We also are tested every day whether we live in the same Spirit. It is not just our outrage with abortion but, really more critically, our care for our neighbors that shows whether God’s Spirit has become our own.
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