Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit 3:1-11a.16-17a; Mark 12:18-27)

Today’s first reading gives glimpses of two people who feel despised.  The pious, old Tobit has insulted his wife who turns around and calls him a fraud.  The young beauty Sarah senses that people ridicule her because multiple husbands have dropped dead on their marriage bed.  Both petition God to let them die.

Many today contemplate suicide out of similar feelings of depression.  Those who feel ashamed about their sexual inclinations often fall into this category.  They need to be assured that they are good and loved. 

In the Scripture story God responds to both petitioners’ pleas -- not with an angel of death but one of life.  He sends Rafael to match Tobit’s son Tobias with Sarah and to guard their marriage bed.  In the process Rafael will find a solution to Tobit’s problem.  We should try to act in such helpful ways when we meet people in need.  Kind words will lift their hearts.  A touch on the hand or arm may reassure their self-worth.  We can see ourselves also as God’s agents assisting in His response to the distressed. 

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit 2:9-14; Mark 12:13-17)

Joe Louis was one of the greatest boxing champions because of his readiness to take on all challengers.  He defended his heavyweight champion title a record twenty-five times.  If you don’t mind the comparison, Jesus in the gospel these days is confronted by different opponents who resent his popularity among the people.  He has no more trouble putting down their arguments than the “Brown Bomber” in conquering all foes.

In today’s passage an unlikely alliance of Pharisees and Herodians questions Jesus on the controversial issue of the census tax.  The people thought the tax unjust, but few wanted to invite reprisal by speaking against it openly.  So the band asks Jesus openly of his opinion of the tax.  Jesus sniffs out the conspiracy and responds quite deftly by avoiding the issue.  In the process he wins even more fame among the people.

In this case Jesus appears both clever and wise.  But more instructive is his profound trust in God.  He stands composed because he knows – not through intuition but by constant prayer -- that his Father is with him.  We should follow his example.  It is better not to strategize to outwit those who take opposite positions from us.  Rather, we should pray for God’s enlightenment with due effort to comprehend the issue at hand.

Monday, June 5, 2017

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr

(Tobit 1:3.2:1a-8; Mark 12:1-12)

St. Boniface was born in England and raised there in a Benedictine monastery.  He was a successful teacher but desired to be a missionary among the pagans in what is now Germany.  When he arrived, he achieved notoriety by chopping down an old oak tree worshipped by the people without incurring harm.  He labored successfully throughout the land.  After a distinguished career in which he was named “Primate of Germany,” Boniface retired to where he began his mission.  There he and a group of followers were martyred by a band of pagans.

Missionaries leave their native place for many reasons.  But they need to have love of both Christ and the people to whom they preach if they are to succeed.  Their purpose is not to change the culture which they find in the land of their destination but to deepen it.  They will demonstrate how the best part of any culture resonates with the teachings of Christ.  Sometimes people will resent the connections that are being made.  This is what happened to St. Boniface and cost him his life.  The gospel today relates how Christ was a missionary whose life was taken out of resentment for what he said.

Christian missionaries serve humanity as well as the Church.  At their best, they bring the message of God’s love for the world and His mandate that we love one another.  They also crossbreed cultures leaving behind the best of their culture and often taking the new culture home before they die.  Today we sing their praises. 

Friday, June 2, 2017

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 25:13b-21; John 21:15-19)

Fishermen seem to love their pastime more than others. When they arrive at the water, they take off their watches with little urge to know the time.  For fishermen a successful day fishing is not one in which they catch a quantity of fish but just one in which they are on the water.  Because of the unique absorption of fishermen with their occupation, Jesus gauges Peter’s capacity for leadership with a question regarding his preference for him over fishing.

Peter is not only a fisherman by trade but has been portrayed by the evangelist as a fisher of men and women.  Now Jesus wants him to undertake a new profession.  He is to be the shepherd of his flock; that is, he will oversee the care of the community of believers.  Before he confers on him the ministry, he tests Peter with a trifold question concerning Peter’s love.  First of all, he asks Peter if he loves him “more than these.”  Some people think that “these” refers to the other disciples in the sense that Peter loves Jesus more than the other disciples do.  But it is more likely that “these” refers to the accoutrements of fishing.  When Peter assures Jesus of his predilection of him to nets, boats, lines and hooks, Jesus puts him in charge of the Christian community.

Pope Francis seems to be a worthy successor of Peter.  His love for the Lord and his flock is palpable.  Although this generation has been blessed with other gracious popes, Francis has shown a unique capacity to care for all people.  As much as the Church is mother of all peoples populating the planet, Francis has exhibited the desire to touch them with God’s mercy.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr

(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17: 20-26)

Paul’s trial before the Roman commandeer is reminiscent of a famous episode in the life of St. Justin Martyr whom the Church remembers today.  Justin was a second-century philosopher who embraced Christianity.  He was taken into custody for not worshipping the Roman gods.  At his trial before the Roman prefect, he explained why it would be absurd for a Christian to offer sacrifices to idols.  He said, “No one who is right thinking stoops from true worship to false worship.”  The refusal to comply with this Roman law won for him a martyr’s glory.

Paul, of course, fares better, at least for the time being.  When he is accused of preaching Jesus, He cleverly instigates a dispute among the two parties of Jews leveling the charge.  One party declares Paul innocent when he puts himself on its side of the dispute.  Paul, however, will not escape martyrdom.  Indeed, Jesus tells Paul in this same passage that he will have to bear witness to him in Rome.  There he will be beheaded.

We should be aware that Christians today are facing the same kind of martyrdom as befell St. Justin and St. Paul.  Ideas matter, and some people cannot tolerate the beneficent ideas of Christianity.  That should not deter us from proclaiming them.  To say that Jesus is the Son of God is to declare God’s love for the world.  Even if that idea offends some people, it is worth dying for.