Wednesday, June 29, 2016

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

(Acts 12:1-11; II Timothy 4:6-8.17-18; Matthew 16:13-19)

Many people prefer to think of the Church as a community of believers and a sign of God’s presence in the world rather than as an institution.  But because it has laws, customs, and properties, the Church has been able to thrive through the centuries.  The institution, of course, is headquartered in Rome where Saints Peter and Paul came to organize the evangelization of the world.

Rome, especially in the first century, is unlike any other city.  Romans are practical people and ancient Romans were consummate lawyers and engineers as well.  Their aptitude for organization, which they lent to the Church, and their excellent roads have enabled Christianity to spread across the globe.  Part of the genius of both Peter and Paul was to take advantage of all the benefits that the “Eternal City” offered. 

Today, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the people of Rome have a holiday while Catholics everywhere have opportunity to contemplate the authority of the pope, the bishop of Rome.  Like Peter he is the symbol of unity of the Church.  Like Paul he has the commission to assure the spread of the gospel, especially to pagan nations.  Over the past century men of great holiness and wisdom like Francis have served as popes.  They give us good reason to celebrate at least a little with Romans.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr

(Amos 3:1-8.4:11-12; Matthew 8:23-27)

Irenaeus lived in challenging times for the Church.  In the latter part of the second century Christians were subject to persecution.  Also, heresies were creeping into Christian thought and much of the Church’s doctrine needed clarification. Irenaeus responded magnificently.  He wrote theological treatises that show remarkable sensitivity for Scripture.  As bishop, he settled a dispute among Christians about the day Easter was to be celebrated. The Church was being tossed about then like Jesus’ boat in today’s gospel passage.

Jesus appears to his disciples as a superman as he sleeps in the boat with a storm raging.  He has demonstrated his great wisdom and even has worked some cures.  Now he shows his authority over nature.  The disciples cannot help but wonder what kind of human being he is.  In tomorrow’s gospel there question will be answered as Peter names him “’the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

 We must trust that Jesus is with us today to save us.  There are plenty of difficulties.  Solid morality, like the insistence not to take human life, is publicly compromised.  Money, not the common good, seems to be the principal motivator for most people.  The world is threatened by mass terrorism, a new form of militarism. We have, as it were, to wake up Jesus with our prayer.  He will calm present storms as sure as he has done throughout the ages.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 2:6-10.13-16; Matthew 8:18-22)

Last year a couple of women completed the Army Ranger training.  It was a significant achievement.  The Rangers are the Army’s elite, and their training is grueling.  It includes days in the wilderness with mostly one’s wits for survival.  In today’s gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples to a similar ordeal.

People want to join Jesus’ travelling group of disciples perhaps unaware of its costs.  Jesus disabuses them of notions of instant glory.  He tells one that he will not provide a home to rest in and another not to expect home leave.  The life of discipleship is not easy.

We should not expect it to be so today.  We may not have to leave family or even a house to be disciples, but following Jesus still requires sacrifice.  We are called to give up some comforts to provide for the needs of others.  More costly still, we are instructed to let of the egotistic will so that God’s glory may radiate to all.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

(Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66.80)

The liturgical year does not celebrate many birthdays.  Only three people are honored in such a way.  Jesus’ birth, of course, is remembered in December and Mary’s in September.  Today John the Baptist’s birthday completes the special kind of celebration.

John’s beginnings are shrouded in wonder.  His parents are beyond regular child-bearing age when he is conceived.  When he is born, he is not given the customary name of his father or indeed anyone in his family.  Rather he is named “John” out of obedience to God’s command.  More strangely, his father begins to speak again after nine months of silence only when he affirms that name.  The evangelist relates John’s story in this way to indicate his uniqueness.  John will be the harbinger of the Messiah.  His preaching of repentance will announce to the world that its salvation is at hand.

Enjoying the celebration of birthdays, we should take great pleasure today.  John will have stern words, but his message is ultimately one of joy.  He announces that Jesus is here to save us from folly.  We heed John so that we may not miss the infinite goodness offered us by Jesus.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 24:8-17; Matthew 7:21-29)

Jesus in today’s gospel could well have been commenting on our first reading.  That passage from the Second Book of Kings takes note of the final days of the Kingdom of Judah.  After the spring of renewal with Josiah, Judah’s kings returned to idolatrous ways.  Now the entire kingdom experiences downfall.  The king of Babylon carries off the nation’s wealth and a sizeable number of its population.

In the gospel Jesus warns about basing one’s life on wickedness.  He compares it to building a house on sand which will give way in a storm.  It is necessary, Jesus says, to construct a house on rock which provides a firm foundation.  Rock, which is often an image of God himself, symbolizes here Jesus’ moral teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.

History may be described as the sequence of great nations falling because of the deterioration of virtue.  Many peoples have built empires which eroded as the people lost their bearings of righteousness.  Rome is the greatest example.  We Americans must assure that our country’s laws are firmly grounded on morality if the nation’s future is to resemble its past.