Friday, February 7, 2014

Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 47:2-11; Mark 6:14-29)

The word enigma comes from a Greek word meaning riddle.  An enigma is more than what meets the eye.  Or, we might say, an enigma confounds the eye.  To some Senator Ted Kennedy was an enigma.  He seemed legitimately concerned about the poor and defenseless – immigrants, the uninsured, and children in substandard schools, for example.  But he refused to defend the unborn, certainly among the most vulnerable of all human beings.  In the first half of the narratives of Mark’s gospel, Jesus also appears to observers as enigmatic. 

In the first seven chapters of the gospel Jesus works wonders and confronts hypocrites like the prophet Elijah.  He announces the coming God’s kingdom like John the Baptist.  Demons know his true identity, but it is elusive to other humans.  Haunted by guilt, Herod Antipas supposes that Jesus must be the reincarnation of the Baptist whose head he had chopped off. 

In the second half of the gospel Peter correctly names Jesus as the Messiah, but no one understands what that term means until he dies on the cross.  Then the Roman centurion, observing his innocence and faithfulness lived out to the last breath, proclaims Jesus the “son of God”.  On the third day Jesus rises from the dead clearing away all doubts about his identity, at least among his followers.  Jesus is no longer an enigma but, indeed, sterling truth whose hand leads us to both dignity and joy. 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and companions, martyrs

 (I Kings 2:1-4.10-12; Mark 6:7-13)

 A famous theologian of the second century (Tertullian) wrote, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.”  But perhaps it would be more poetically justified to say that the blood of martyrs waters the seed sown by missionaries who are sent forth as Jesus commissions his apostles in today’s gospel.  The preachers assure their hearers of what their hearts are afraid to believe: that the creator loves them so much that he has worked out a way for them to share his eternal life.  This message is then verified by martyrs like St. Paul Miki and his twenty-five companions in Japan at the end of the sixteenth century.  These saints testified to God’s love by choosing death at the hands of the shogun rather than recant their belief in so gracious a creator.  Japanese Christians could not publicly practice their faith in Japan for the next two hundred and fifty years as the country closed itself to the rest of the world.  But when Japan finally welcomed foreigners in the nineteenth century, Christians there numbered more than two hundred thousand! 

 We would be incorrect to think that the age of martyrdom is ended.  Hundreds if not thousands of Christian martyrdoms are documented every year.  These occur largely in Africa and the Middle East.  As always, the victims do not die in vain.  First, they experience eternal life.  Second, their stories germinate the faith in others to accept that same message of God’s efficacious love.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr

(II Samuel 24:2.9-17; Mark 6:1-6)

By most people’s standards the most challenging moral teaching of the Church in recent times has been its condemnation of artificial contraception.  Married couples find it difficult to see how using one pill to prevent conception violates the natural law while using another to relieve a headache accords with it.  The Church’s response to this apparent paradox looks to the functioning of the body.  In the first case the pill interrupts normal functioning of the body while in the second it enables it.  With such a desirable goal as sexual gratification at stake, the Church’s position does not convince all people.  Perhaps many will have similar trouble recognizing David’s sin in the first reading today.

David wants to take a census of his people.  Primarily, he wants to know the number of men available to fight in his army.  God would be offended because knowing the number of available troops, David will likely become more belligerent.  Also, God recognizes that David no longer looks to Him for strength but to the size of his army.

Trusting in the Lord does not mean abandoning prudence which moves us to act in just ways to accomplish our purpose.  Prudence also inspires prayer for God’s assistance.  Thus, whether we are an army’s general staff preparing for battle or a family planning a family, we should proceed in three ways.  First, we want to pray for help.  Second, we will determine the best way to achieve our goal within the limits of justice.  And finally, we will move to carry out our objective trusting that in the Lord’s favor.   

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 18:9-10.14b.24-25a.30-19:3; Mark 5:21-43)

The old man was pleased with himself.  He had caught the doctor billing him for treatments that he did not render.  The man saved thousands of dollars by just examining his bills.  Today’s gospel tells the story of a woman who was not so fortunate.  Her doctors had taken all the money she had without giving her any satisfaction.  She now turns to Jesus in her desperation.

Faith in Jesus moves the woman with hemorrhages to touch his garment.  She knows that it is wrong for her to do so because she is unclean according to Jewish law and touching Jesus sullies him as well.  So, when Jesus’ divine power is demonstrated first by being the source of her healing and then by realizing that his healing power was utilized, the woman trembles with fear.  Yet she manages to respond to Jesus’ call, “’Who has touched me?’”  Her courage wins for her a second, deeper blessing.  Jesus grants her salvation.  “’Daughter,’” he says, “’your faith has saved you.’”

We should not be afraid to come to Jesus when we, like the woman with hemorrhages, have done wrong.  We pray to him for strength and we encounter him forthrightly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  His words to us will not be different, “Daughter (or son), your faith has saved you.”

Monday, February 3, 2014

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr

(II Samuel 15:13-14.30.16:5-13; Mark 5:1-20)

A priest from Latin America was about to say his first mass in the U.S. on February 2.  He expected to see a crowd in church as the Presentation of the Lord is a popular feast day in his country.  But he was disappointed when only a few people arrived for mass.  In his homily he criticized Americans for being so lax in their faith.  The next day, February 3, he was assigned the mass at the same hour as the day before.  This time, however, the church had a crowd which made the priest feel that his preaching was effective.  Entering the sacristy after mass, he learned that the numbers had nothing to do with his homily.  The sacristan presented him with a set of candles and told him to bless the throats of the people.  The priest, who had never heard of the tradition of blessing throats on St. Blaise day, received a lesson on American Catholic culture. 

In the order of holy things the Presentation of the Lord -- when we meditate on Jesus as the light of the world -- deserves much greater attention than the blessing of throats.  During the Eucharist of the Presentation we encounter the Lord in his resurrected glory so that we might say with Simeon, “Lord, now you can let your servant go in peace.”  We mean, of course, that we are prepared to die because we know that Jesus will give us his eternal care. 

On the other hand, the blessing of throats, which might be done with the same effect on any day of the year, is a sacramental.  It is meant to remind us of Jesus’ action in the world to save us from sin.  It still is beneficial to have our throats blessed, but it is far better to attend mass and receive the body and blood of Christ.