Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Feast of Saint Matthew, apostle and evangelist

(Ephesians 4:1-7.11-13; Matthew 9:9-13)

Nothing can be said about St. Matthew with certainty besides that he composed a gospel.  Today’s gospel passage speaks of a tax-collector named Matthew being called by Jesus.  Evidently this tax-collector is considered the evangelist because one tradition speaks of a certain Matthew as a compiler of sayings about Jesus.  Whoever he (or perhaps she) was, the person is owed a great deal of credit for the written legacy left.

Matthew’s gospel has prominence as the first work in the New Testament.  It has also been given great attention by both Catholics and Protestants.  Catholics see in it a testimony of the primacy of St. Peter and his successors.  They quote Jesus telling Peter, “’…you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.’” Protestants paradoxically find in Matthew reason to eschew hierarchy. They cite Jesus saying to his disciples, “’Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.’” 

We note in the first gospel the deepest reflection on the Church.  What stands out here is Jesus’ desire that his community serve one another as brothers and sisters.  Members should be ready to forgive those who stray from righteousness and even to seek them out.  There should not be any grabbing for honors among them.  Quite the contrary, they should be known for humility.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Saint Paul Chong Ha-sang, and companions, martyrs

(Proverbs 21:1-6; 10-13; Luke 8:19-21)

Mark Twain, twisting conventional wisdom, once observed, "You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time." It is true that men and women are often duped by fine dress and quick talk. The author of the Book of Proverbs, however, assures us in the first reading that God is not so gullible.

The sage states upfront that God directs hearts however He wills. He means that God, knowing the soul of every person, will bring the honest to good fortune and the wicked to ruin. The wise man then provides a series of assurances for those who still wonder about justice in the world.  He says the rash will end in poverty, the wicked will draw no compassion, and frauds will find themselves trapped in their lies.

The Book of Proverbs may seem naive in a world that keeps chasing fame, fun, and fortune. Some people, after all, seem to care exclusively about themselves. But only God knows if they live as nicely as they make others believe.  And only He can say how long their comforts times will last.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Proverbs 3:27-34; Luke 8:16-18)

In a movie some years ago an Italian-American father shares his wisdom with his son.  He says that nothing is worse than a person wasting God-given talent.  The father cites Joe DiMaggio as an example.  The famous athlete made full use of his abilities to become one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport.  In fact his accomplishment of hitting safely in fifty-six consecutive games is still a major league record.  Jesus has some similar advice for his disciples in today’s gospel.

The lesson takes place after Jesus explains to his disciples alone the parable of the seed falling on different terrains.  Now he implies that they are all fertile soil capable of producing much fruit.  But, he says, they must put their individual talents to good use.  They cannot squirrel them away exclusively for their own welfare, much less ignore them completely.  No, they have to employ them to benefit the Kingdom of God or, Jesus says, they will be taken away.

God is not treating us harshly by expecting us to use our talents for the good of others.  Rather He is urging us to grow in virtue by caring for the needy.  Further He is moving us closer to Himself as the reward of eternal life.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Memorial of Saints Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Cyprian, Bishop and martyr

(I Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 8:1-3)

A middle-aged man recently was speaking about the future.  He said that people do not know whether there is an after-life.  Therefore, he concluded, it is best that we make the most of this life.  The man did not mean to be irreverent.  In fact, he probably thought he was being open-minded just to recognize the possibility of a new life after death.  But St. Paul would probably jump on the statement.  In today’s first reading Paul declares unreservedly that the dead will rise again to new life.

Paul turns the question of a human resurrection like Christ’s on end.  Evidently some members of the Christian community in Corinth claimed to believe in Christ’s resurrection but doubted human resurrection.  For Paul that position is absurd because Christians have become part of Christ’s resurrected body.  If they do not rise from the dead, then how could it be said that Christ rose? he would ask. It would be like saying that only the general and not the soldiers of a victorious army won the battle.  Paul spells out the consequences of such a position in full rhetorical form: Christians would not only remain in their sins but would be fools for believing in Christ’s resurrection in the first place.

Martyrs have spilled blood continually as testimony to Christ’s resurrection.  Today we celebrate two of the most illustrious.  Saints Cornelius and Cyprian suffered death in the middle of the third century.  They went to their deaths sure that they would rise with Christ.  Also important for the two is the truth that Christians who deny Christ’s resurrection out of fear of punishment could be forgiven.  Some Christians believed at the time that denying Christ or apostasy was the unpardonable sin.  No, God’s forgiveness is without end.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

(I Corinthians 15:1-11; John 12:25-27)

In both Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels Jesus calls those who mourn “blessed.”  Who these people are is not clear in either account.  Are they those who mourn their sins?  Or perhaps they share the sorrows of the people around them suffering loss of one kind or another?  Today we celebrate Mary, the woman of sorrows.  There can be little doubt why she grieves.  Her son Jesus has died on the cross.  No mother takes the loss of a child that she has birthed and raised easily.  Losing such a perfect son as Jesus is that much more difficult to bear.

We too have lost someone special at the cross.  We did not know him then but from all that we have learned about him since, our loss is also deep.  He was like an older brother who, if he were here in person, would guide our way and support our weakness.  Then how could Jesus tell us that our time to rejoice?  Can we sustain such contrary failings for long?

We are to rejoice because Jesus is actually among us.  As St. Paul proclaims in the first reading, he has risen from the dead.  He is present in the care we give to the poor.  He is present when we hear the gospels and all the thoughts which echo them.  Most of all, he is present in the Eucharist which gathers us in love to provide us his physical body and blood. 

The Christian perspective has a dual focus.  It misses seeing Jesus as he walked upon the earth and waits anxiously for his promised return.  At the same time it rejoices to find him present in many ways beneath the surface of everyday life.