Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 13:2.5-18; Matthew 7:6.12-14)

In a debate before the year 2000 presidential election George W. Bush famously said that he was “not into nation-building.” He meant that he would not involve the United States in foreign countries so much that it would be responsible for their development.  Eventually, when the U.S. invaded Iraq, he had to eat those words.  In any case God is “into nation-building” as both readings today testify.

Abram shows qualities that are characteristic of a wise leader.  When troubles erupt between his kinsmen and those of Lot, he keeps his clan together.  He is also willing to make a strategic sacrifice of better land for assured peace.  Noting Abram’s capacity, God promises that he will be father of countless descendants.  Jesus is laying the blueprint for the Church when he tells his disciples to "enter through the narrow gate.’”  Great nations are not developed through self-indulgence.  Rather if they are to reach an exalted status, their leaders must be honest and their peoples hardworking.

Perhaps we don’t want to think of ourselves as nation-builders.  We would rather devote ourselves to providing for our families or to saving our souls.  However, if our children and grandchildren are going to be virtuous, living in a society that respects human dignity and rejects dishonesty provides a significant head start on the road to excellence.

Monday, June 22, 2015

(Optional) Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, martyrs

(Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 7:1-5)

The English sixteenth century martyrs, John Fisher and Thomas More, were noted public figures and brilliant scholars.  The first was the theologian-bishop of Rochester, England, and the second, King Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor.  Both achieved some measure of greatness in these roles, but they are remembered today for reaching beyond their natural abilities.  They became saints when they sacrificed their lives along with the worldly rewards of their natural ability for the love of Christ their savior.  Looking carefully, we may find similar divine activity in the story of Abraham which begins in today’s first reading.

The Lord tells Abraham that he will be the source of a great nation.  God does not mean simply that Abraham’s descendants will be numerous.  Rather He intends that they will be praised and emulated by all who seek true wisdom.  The development will not come about naturally.  No, God will instruct Abraham and his descendants with difficult lessons of self-control, care for one’s family, justice toward neighbors, and love for God.  The end of the instruction will be the nation which gives birth to Jesus Christ, God’s own son.

We should aspire to a similar greatness.  This does not mean that we want to be the envy of the world.  Rather we want to develop the virtues exhibited in the gospels by Jesus.  The task will move us beyond our natural abilities but certainly not beyond God’s.  Taking instruction from Him, we will become truly caring people, His daughters and sons.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 11:18.21-30; Matthew 6:19-23)

A scene in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is reminiscent of St. Paul’s rhetoric in the first reading today.  Gatsby has enticed into his mansion Daisy Buchanan, a woman on whom he had a crush years earlier.  In the former time he considered himself beneath Daisy’s social class, but now he has accumulated a fortune.  The scene pictures Daisy beginning to cry as Gatsby displays his bountiful wardrobe of shirts.  Gatsby has successfully impressed Daisy as having arrived on high.

In his letter, which is considered to be a composite of at least two writings, Paul has reason to similarly impress the Corinthians.  The context is unknown, but apparently Jewish critics have bad-mouthed Paul to the Christian community.  Paul here tries to defend himself by giving a list of his sacrifices for Christ's sake that rivals the trials of Job.  Paul describes such a defense as foolish boasting but proceeds with it anyway.  He hopes to disabuse the Corinthians of any doubts about his authenticity.

Although at times he may have acted imprudently, Paul remains the model apostle.  More than any other known evangelizer, Paul sacrificed himself for the sake of preaching Jesus Christ.  We are enriched almost as much by his commitment as by his message.  The next time we feel embarrassed to bless ourselves when passing a church or to say grace before a meal in a restaurant, let us remember the example of St. Paul.

Thursday June18, 2015

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-15)

Several years ago a number of liturgists from different Christian traditions approved an alternative translation of the Lord’s Prayer.  There are no “thy’s” in the new version nor does it say of the Father “who art in heaven.”  The experiment calls for “sins,” not “trespasses,” to be forgiven and prays to be saved from “the time of trial” rather than not to be led “into temptation.”

The purpose of the experiment, no doubt, is to enable Christians to be more conscious of what they are saying when praying this quintessential Christian prayer.  As Jesus in today’s gospel criticizes pagans for babbling in prayer, some Christians mindlessly repeat the words of the “Our Father.”

The alternative version was to be approved by the various traditions.  This could not have been easy as the traditional form is so embedded in people’s consciousness that asking people to change would bring about a reaction.  Whether or not the wording of the “Our Father” is ever altered for general use, we should take care not to rattle off the prayer as if it were a password to access divine attention.  Rather we should say its words with deliberation always contemplating what they mean. 

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Corinthians 9:6-11; Matthew 6:16.16-18)

The term politically correct means to be seen as just in other people’s eyes.  What a politically correct person really thinks or does is secondary according to this mindset.  Although it is mostly associated with the left side of the political spectrum, political correctness should not be limited to either a liberal or conservative viewpoint.  Politically correct conservatives will mouth their opposition to abortion, for example, even though they hardly care about unborn babies.  In the gospel today Jesus in effect condemns political correctness.

At issue in the gospel are the chief components of a pious life.  In many religious traditions pious people give alms, pray, and fast.  Jesus does not wish to denigrate these age-old customs.  But he does call for sincerity in their practice.  If fasting, praying, and almsgiving are done for God, then the doers of these actions should not be trying to impress other people.  According to Jesus, acting piously to court favor undermines goodness and merits no eternal reward.

We may hear criticisms of almsgiving as helping the undeserved poor, of praying as fruitless because God already knows our needs, and of fasting as of no value beyond losing weight.  Such talk, however, does not take into account the profound dimensions of these actions.  Yes, we should take care that our alms meet people’s basic needs, that we don’t just mouth platitudes in our prayers but set our hearts on what we ask God, and that we fast for love of God and not for vanity.  We should also endeavor not to capture the attention of others by these acts so that they may be done out of true love of God, not love of self.