Friday, September 9, 2016

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest

(I Corinthians 9:16-19.22b-27; Luke 6:39-42)

Last Sunday Pope Francis canonized St. Teresa of Kolkata.  There are millions living today who could testify to her saintliness.  The stories of her touching the untouchables remind us of Jesus fearlessly treating lepers.  Today the Church remembers another saint who worked among the world’s most marginalized people.  St. Peter Claver, a Jesuit priest, looked after the physical as well as the spiritual needs of Africans brought to the New World as slaves.  A native of Spain, Peter descended to the stench-ridden holds of slave ships where he treated men and women dying of infectious diseases.  Peter had developed the discipline that St. Paul writes of in today’s first reading. 

Paul has written this first letter to the Corinthians to correct a number of abuses in the Christian community that he founded.  He was distraught by reports of the scandals of which he had heard especially sexual abuses.  Now he exhorts the Corinthians to take their faith as seriously as athletes take a competitive event.  He wants them to develop discipline so that they control carnal desire and be rewarded the prize of eternal life.

We develop discipline by practicing the four moral virtues.  Justice will assure that we give ourselves the attention that is due.  Temperance will keep us from overindulging our appetites and also over-exuberant zeal.  Fortitude will keep us on track when we feel that the goal is not worth the effort.  Last but not least, prudence will direct us every day as to what must be done to reach our goal. 

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(1 Micah 5:1-4a or Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 1:1-16.18-23)

In his homily for the canonization of St. Teresa of Kolkata Pope Francis told his audience that they must ask themselves, “’What is God’s will in my life?’”  Mother Teresa as a religious discerned a calling from God to take care of the poor.  She acted on it in such deep and varied ways that her saintliness became evident to the world.  Just so the Virgin Mary, whose birthday we celebrate today, discerned her calling.

Today’s gospel indicates how God planned for eternity the coming of His Son.  His intentions were implemented at once independently and coordinately in the actions of each person in the long list of Jesus’ ancestors.  Most of all, they were construed and acted upon by Mary and Joseph.  The two must have discovered in their reflections why they were born.  That is, Mary found by giving birth and raising Jesus and Joseph by participating in his upbringing answers to Pope Francis’ question: “What is God’s will in my life?”

Each of us should be asking herself or himself the same question.  The answer probably will not be to become a priest or religious.  But it can be said with certainty that the answer will be not only something moral but also something supportive of God’s people.  God has graciously given everyone one of us life so that we might serve others as part of His eternal family.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26)

In his famous inaugural address John Kennedy spoke of a new generation taking responsibility for the world.  He outlined the challenges facing the leaders, especially controlling the power of nuclear arms and alleviating the burdens on the poor. He also mentioned what virtues were in order – justice and courage.  Both today’s first reading and gospel likewise herald a new epoch.  They declare that the old order of sin is ending and a disposition of peace and justice is in the wings. 

St. Paul writes that the end is so near that there is no need to marry and raise a family.  Rather he suggests that everyone dedicate themselves to preparing for the Lord’s return.  In the gospel Jesus declares that the poor need not weep and the hungry need not worry for the Kingdom of God has arrived and is theirs to enjoy.

We should ask ourselves what happened to these promises.  Has the Kingdom come or not?  Is it still wiser not to marry?  The answer may be more complicated than we would like.  Yes, the Kingdom has come, at least in part.  Those, like St. Teresa of Kolkata, who feel urged to work for its full implementation should not marry and have a family.  But the end is not likely going to be tomorrow or next year or even in this century.  Realization of this likelihood should not disappoint us.  Quite the contrary, we should be redoubling our efforts to make the Kingdom happen.  In doing so, we will find ourselves in its midst as if we were working in a cloud of cool air beneath the hot sun.  

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 6:1-11; Luke 6:12-19)

A recent article contrasts permissive parents who allow their adolescent children to attend parties where alcohol is served with parents who forbid it.  The first group, called “Get-Real Parents,” believes that the best they could do to prevent tragedy is insist that their children don’t drive when they drink.  The latter group, called “Good Parents,” believes that their children should know from the start that it is unhealthy for them to drink at parties. The community of Christians at Corinth, which St. Paul is addressing in the first reading, faces similar challenges of questionable moral behavior. 

Paul refuses to excuse sinfulness.  He counts sexual aberrations like fornication and sodomy along with greed and idolatry as blocks to entry into the Kingdom of God.  Just as many “Get-Real” people might want to overlook these sins today, some in Paul’s time were willing to downplay their seriousness.  Paul, however, knows that Christ came to save the world from its overindulgence.

This does not mean that we can condemn all sinners to hell.  On the contrary, we should promote their repentance through prayer, example, and – if feasible – advice.  Proceeding in this way we become, like Paul himself, additions to the twelve apostles named in today’s gospel.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 5:1-8; Luke 6:6-11)

In 1793 the French revolutionary government tried to change the number of days in a week.  Ostensibly for scientific reasons France adopted a calendar with ten hour days and ten-day weeks.  Predictably the people had a hard time adjusting.  One problem was the difficulty in changing frames of reference – an hour of the old system became less than a half of the new hour.  There was also resentment over having to work three extra days each week to arrive at the day of rest.  First a six-day and now a five-day work week is generally considered as more than enough time on the job for the normal person.  Yet Jesus does not hesitate to make an exception to that rule in today’s gospel.

The Pharisees see their role as guarding the Mosaic Law from any abuse.  They take particular concern over the Sabbath rest.  As much as they prevent managers from overworking their workers and the laborer from neglecting duties to God and community, they perform a valuable service.  But most rules have exceptions.  Jesus rebukes the Pharisees when they do not consider healing an invalid on the Sabbath as such a case. 

Incidentally, healing may not have been as easy as the gospel relates.  Jesus may have had to massage the stricken body part or, in the case of possession, spend hours dispelling the malicious spirit.  In any event he does it not to defy the Law but to show the power of God working through him to save us. We have today, Labor Day, as well as every Sunday to relax and thank God for His goodness.