Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent

(Daniel 3:25.34-43; Matthew 18:21-35)

There is a problem implied in Jesus’ parable.  If the servant whose debt is forgiven mistreats a fellow servant, can he expect forgiveness upon request for his second offense?  If yes, then where is justice?  If no, then why does Jesus insist that one must forgive seventy-seven times?

Obviously, Jesus does not imply this dilemma in his “seventy-seven times” rule.  He sees forgiveness as turning on the genuineness of the guilty party’s contrition.  In the parable the servant shows that his original petition of forgiveness is insincere by refusing to show mercy when the tables are turned.  The commandment to forgive “seventy-seven times” applies only when the offender intends to change her ways.  If a request for forgiveness merely simulates contrition, one would be foolish to honor it.

We may worry about the sincerity of our own contrition when we find ourselves confessing the same sins over and over again.  Let us never underestimate God’s mercy.  It is more abundant that the water of the oceans.  But God is also discerning.  He reads human hearts to know whether we really intend to change our ways.  To be sure, God understands that bad habits are hard to break and will allow us plenty of opportunities to mend our ways.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Monday of the Third Week of Lent

(II Kings 5:1-15ab; Luke 4:24-30)

As the man grew older, his skin began to itch.  So he asked his doctor what he might do.  He thought the doctor would surely prescribe a medicated powder.  But the doctor only asked if he took hot showers.  The man replied that he did and might have added that he enjoyed the sensation of hot water on the skin.  The doctor then recommended that he use lukewarm instead.  Such a simple solution is not likely to work, the man thought to himself.  But he believed enough in his doctor to try the remedy.  Very soon the man’s skin no longer itched.  In the readings today wise men give similarly simple advice to people and face even greater skepticism.

In a kind of long-distance consultation, the prophet Elisha tells General Naaman of Syria that seven dips in the River Jordan will cure him of his leprosy.  The general is insulted.  Not only does Elisha refuse to see him face-to-face, but his prescription defies common sense.  How could the mere bathing in a river cure the pernicious leprosy?  In the gospel Jesus meets with similar incredulity.  He tells the people of Nazareth not to be amazed that one of their own has been chosen by God as His prophet.  The townsmen and women react violently to the idea.

God is always ready to heal us of our sins.  He has sent Jesus with his prescription.  We are to believe in what Jesus teaches – primarily, to love God above all and to serve him by caring for the needy.  It is hardly more difficult than showering with lukewarm water or bathing in the river.  But it does involve denying some selfish desires.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Friday of Second Week in Lent

(Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)

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 who hand him over to foreigners and thereby cause him grave injury despite his being completely innocent.  Also, both the story of Joseph and that of Jesus turn out glorious.  Joseph thrives in captivity, and Jesus is raised from the dead. 

The narratives remind us that our destiny is not ultimately in the hands of people who would harm us.  God will decide if we merit heaven or deserve hell. Whether we make corporate decisions from a spacious office looking over the city or sweep floors in the basement, we want our lives to testify to God’s love.  Then we may hope that He will forgive our failings and redeem us from any predicament in which we find ourselves, even death itself.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 16:19-31)

Thomas Oden, an American theologian, recently published his autobiography.  A reviewer says that Oden has known just about everybody who was anybody in theology for the last sixty years.  Yet, the commentator goes on, Oden never mentions these historic figures like Karol Wojtjyla, our St. John Paul II, to promote himself.  Rather the memoir is a testimony to Oden’s humility.  As a young man following the theological currents of his time, Oden was told that he needed to relearn his theological roots.  He did that with the result that he no longer trusted so much in often quoted contemporary thinkers.  Rather he trusted more the gospel as it was interpreted by the Fathers of the Church.  The advice that Thomas Oden received is close to that which we hear in today’s reading from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah prophesied in a time of crisis for the kingdom of Judah.  The nation was made subject to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.  When King Zedekiah of Judah tried to forge alliances to free itself from hegemony, Jeremiah warned that there was no hope in men.  He was ridiculed and almost murdered for speaking the truth revealed to him by God.  The insurrection failed, and Nebuchadnezzar came to destroy Jerusalem.  Jeremiah was vindicated at least for his message to place hope in God, not in human beings.

We too are well advised to trust in God.  Although some men and women merit a measure of hope, they should never cause us to divert our foremost attention from God.  Today’s gospel warns us not to put our stock in pleasure either.  No, first and foremost we show our hope in God by taking care of the poor as He constantly exhorts us.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28)

In Greek mythology Cassandra is the daughter of King Priam of Troy who was endowed with the gift of prophecy but also cursed with the fortune of never being believed.  She predicted the fall of Troy and even the folly of bringing the artificial horse inside the city.  Her countrymen and women thought she was crazy and suffered the terrible consequences of ignoring her.  In the first reading today Jeremiah is pictured Cassandra-like.

Jeremiah knows that Judah’s unfaithfulness to God will bring about its ruin.  He urges the people to desist in their flirtations with foreign gods, but he is more than ignored.  The people plot to have him killed.  Not long afterwards Jerusalem will be destroyed and many of its inhabitants carried into exile.  In the gospel passage Jesus makes similar warnings of doom, yet his disciples have difficulty listening.  They show themselves more concerned about politics than about reforming their lives.

Hopefully we will do better.  There are plenty of signs indicating a deterioration of fundamental human values in our midst.  Abortion and “homosexual marriage” come handily to mind.  There are also indicators of positive social development such as the decrease of violent crimes.  Now, however, we are called to take to heart what Jesus teaches: that we rededicate ourselves to the service of all.