Monday, February 29, 2016

Monday of the Third Week of Lent

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

The man told the superior of a religious community that he would give him $100 to have a private mass said for his family on Christmas Day.  It was a time when $100 would be like $500 today. The priest wondered if he was being bribed to give a special privilege.  He rejected the offer.  The man should take his family to the community mass on the holyday with the rest of the people.  A similar offer is implied in today’s first reading.

Naaman takes a fortune with him when he visits Elisha.  Evidently he thinks that he can buy a favor from the prophet.  He does not realize what kind of God Elisha serves.  He does not know that God wants justice not gifts.  Naaman cannot fathom that God’s prophets as well are not to be impressed by wealth.  However, he comes to know by his cure that the God of Israel is greater than all others gods.  He learns that God only desires submission to his gracious will.

We too must take care not to place exaggerated importance on money.  We certainly need it to live in modern society.  Also, we can use it to serve others.  But in the end, we too will realize that money fails to bring the happiness it promises.  Always more beneficial is a heart determined to love God above all and others as His children. 

Friday, February 26, 2016

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

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

Parents of drug addicts sometimes tell the sad story of how they had to lock their doors on their addicted children.  After repeated instances of having their household treasures stolen to support a drug habit, they said, “Enough is enough,” and refused their troubled children entry into their homes.  In today’s reading from Genesis we hear the story of Joseph’s brothers treating him with even greater disdain than some drug addicts manifest toward their parents.

Not all his brothers conspire to kill Joseph.  Rueben, the eldest of the lot, suggests that they hold him prisoner while he figures out how to send him home safely.  Another brother, Judah, seems to have a similar sentiment, but his suggestion to sell Joseph to Ishmaelite traders may just be a way to turn a profit.  In sum, the motive of all the brothers, save Rueben, is treachery.  They exemplify the dark side of humanity in crying need of renewal.

We are coming to the middle of Lent.  Hopefully, we have noticed by now that our motives are sometimes not just mixed but can be perverse.  Perhaps we dislike seeing friends and family members receiving credit.  Perhaps we show cruelty to people when we know that we can get away with it.  Now is the time to repent of this wrongfulness and to beg God’s grace.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

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

As in yesterday’s readings, those of today feature contrast.  The first reading, again from Jeremiah, contrasts the person who puts final trust in human beings and the one who trusts above all in God.  The former will find his life withering as friends naturally or maliciously forget old acquaintances.  But God does not forget those who remember Him as the passage testifies.

The gospel relates the famous parable of Lazarus and the rich man.  The rich man ignores the beggar at his door.  He concerns himself with fine clothes and sumptuous meals.  But his pursuits have no permanent consequence.  He will be forgotten in eternity which is indicated by his name not mentioned in the entire story.  Meanwhile Lazarus, the beggars, enjoys eternal life in the bosom of Abraham.  Was he merciful to others on earth?  Evidently, yes, he was as God is merciful to those who show mercy.

 Of all times during the year Lent is the season for us to show mercy.  No doubt there are suffering people in all of our lives that we have been meaning to assist but have never found the time to do so.  As the Scripture reads, “Now is the favorable time; now is the day of salvation.”

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

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

“The Repentant Magdalene” is a painting by the French master Georges de La Tour.  It shows a young woman in flirtatious clothing.  She sits at a table with a mirror, a lighted candle, and a skull.  She is obviously pondering which way she will proceed in life.  Will she continue drawing attention to herself so that might enjoy worldly pleasures?  Or will she follow the light of the world who calls her to self-denial?  This contrast resounds in the readings today.

Jeremiah is constantly plagued with rejection.  Not only is his call to reform spurned, but his life is threatened.  Yet he maintains an intimate relation with God whose message he speaks.  In the gospel the contrast is starker.  Jesus shares with his disciples the destiny that awaits him in Jerusalem.  He will be handed over, condemned, mocked, scourged, and crucified before rising from the dead.  Immediately afterwards the mother of James and John approaches Jesus with the request that her sons be given places of honor in his kingdom.  She evidently has not heard what Jesus has said about suffering.

During Lent we cannot miss Jesus’ call to take up our crosses behind him.  Yet the pleasures of the world continue to attract our attention.  They are not bad in themselves but often can be misleading.  We must choose which way we are to follow.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent

(Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Matthew 23:1-12)

Abraham Lincoln was once accused of being two-faced.  He confronted the detraction by telling his audience: “If I had another face, do you think I would be seen wearing with this one?”  Calling another two-faced is a way of criticizing her as duplicitous.  Jesus is implying this criticism of the Pharisees in today’s gospel.  His evaluation has stuck.  Today being pharisaical means being duplicitous.

But the Pharisees were not necessarily bad people.  In fact, Paul says with pride that he was once a Pharisee.  They were men intent on living the precepts of the Law.  However, some Pharisees in Jesus’ day were more intent on being seen as living the Law than actually doing it.  Some of these accused Jesus of not obeying the Law while he was the one who lived it most implicitly.  He made no show of being merciful and pious but dedicated himself to the ways of God to the point of death.

In today’s passage Jesus exhorts us, his disciples, to follow his ways and not those of corrupted Pharisees.  He wants us to be coherent in what we do.  If we profess to love others, then we should be willing to help them.  If we mean to teach our children what is right, then we must act righteously.