Friday, February 2, 2018

The Presentation of the Lord

(Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-32)

Not just in present times have priests given scandal to the people.  Aaron, Moses’ brother and high priest of Israel, fashioned the golden calf as an object of worship.  In this case the people might not have been scandalized, but certainly Moses was.  Moses burned the idols, ground its remains, and forced the people to consume them.  Later, Hophni and Phineas, the priest sons of the high priest Eli, took undue portions of the people’s sacrifices for themselves.  But, of course, not all priests are bad.  In any case they perform the necessary service of offering sacrifice for the sins of the people.  Today’s feast celebrates Jesus Christ as the supreme high priest of God.

In the gospel Jesus is seen entering the Temple of God, his rightful sanctuary as high priest.  In time he will offer the perfect sacrifice – his own body and blood for the salvation of the world.  The Letter to the Hebrews especially alludes to this act in today’s reading.  He is named “the merciful and faithful high priest” who suffered “to expiate the sins of the people.”

Through our incorporation in the body of Christ we participate in Jesus’ priestly sacrifice.  When we pray, deny ourselves for Jesus’ sake, or assist the needy, our sacrifice joins Jesus’ death on the cross.  We then become priests with Jesus.  Our good works help him make up for the sins of all.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 2:1-4.10-12; Mark 6:7-13)

St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers as a response to a missionary necessity.  Many people, especially in southern France, were attracted to Catharism, a sect that taught the dualism of matter and spirit.  What is spiritual, the Catharists believed, is necessarily good and what is material is evil.  Eating and drinking were a problem.  Even sex between married partners was to be avoided.  Truth and goodness were to be embraced.  For all the abuse that people make of material things we can see how Catharist ideas would have some common appeal. 

Monks galloping on horses from well-endowed estates had little success in checking the Catharist distortion.  Their near betrayal of poverty seemed only to confirm what the dualists were teaching.  Dominic had a different tact in mind.  He would form a group of men who would beg for the food they ate.  They would go on foot – two by two -- to preach the gospel.  Actually much of Dominic’s program is based on today’s passage.  Jesus sends his disciples out with the same lack of resources – “no food, no sack, no money in their belts.”  However, they have spiritual power to cast out demons and to cure the sick.  Their effects, as we shall read in Saturday’s mass, are considerable. 

These stories challenge us to re-examine our lives.  They bid us to ask if our possessions might not send a counter-message to what we treasure most.  More than that, they urge us to reconsider our goals.  Do we just want to become wealthy?  Or do we find satisfaction in sharing the gospel?

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest

(II Samuel 24:2.9-17; Mark 6:1-6)

Today’s first reading should make us question the wisdom of using only Scripture to judge moral acts.  It indicates that David committed a terrible sin by taking a census of his people.  The United States and perhaps most governments of the world take such a census every ten years.  Do they thereby commit public sins?

By no means!  It is necessary that a government have up-to-date knowledge of its people so that it might serve them better.  However, David’s action points to a deep shortcoming.  His hidden reason for the census is that he wants to know how many troops he can count on.  In this way he does not have to depend on God.  But God has been at his side in battle since the day he slew Goliath.  Now he wants to go out alone as it were.

Although trust in God in any endeavor includes one’s making preparations, there is a difference between the two.  When we trust in God, we do not violate any of His precepts nor do we presuppose accomplishment of our goal.  Rather we work diligently to assure success, pray that it is God’s will, and conform ourselves to His Providence.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 18:9-10.14b.24-25a.30-19:3; Mark 5:21-43)

The two Scripture readings today may be contrasted in an interesting way.  In the first reading David suffers three personal affronts.  First, his son Absalom has betrayed him (this was more clearly seen yesterday).  Then Absalom’s death devastates the king despite the betrayal.  Finally, the manner in which Absalom dies is humiliating.  The youth, who was so proud of his coiffure, was found hanging from a tree limb in which his hair was entangled.

Quite differently, Jesus experiences success at every turn.  He heals the poor woman of her hemorrhages without saying a word.  Then he raises Jairus’ daughter to new life by telling her to “arise.”  Finally, he silences the crowd who thought him mad for trying to revive a dead child.

Faith is at heart of both readings.  In the first, Absalom’s unbelief in God makes him desirous of his father’s kingdom and brings about his downfall.  In the gospel both the hemorrhaging woman and Jairus put their faith in God’s Son, Jesus, and experience great blessing.  We should not think that believing in God shields us from all heartache.  But it does provide us hope.  God keeps His promise of eternal life to those who trust him.

Monday, January 29, 2018

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 15:13-14.30.16:5-13; Mark 5:1-20)

 “Dead Man Walking” tells of Sr. Helen Prejean’s accompanying a murderer to the death chamber.   At the end of the story the criminal confesses that he did indeed kill an innocent person.  A reviewer of the movie asked whether the man would have repented if he were not condemned to die.  He concluded -- very honestly it seems -- that at least the way the role was played, the convict would not have repented.  Although it does not present a strong argument for its existence, capital punishment does confront criminals with the enormity of their crime.  With accompanying social outrage, they cannot hide from having done something horrendous.  We see a like matter in today’s reading.

Although he has won many battles for Israel, David has also committed grievous sins.  Scripture details his rape of Bathsheba and consequent murder of her husband.  Now he sees the upshot of his crimes.  His son betrays him, and a bystander condemns him on behalf of half the people under David’s reign.  The truth is so overbearing that David cries in desperation while admitting his guilty ways.  Once again, his repentance will bring God’s favor. 

We all sin, but some refuse to acknowledge it.  In not confessing our crimes – sins of pride and laziness as well as the more noticeable varieties – we only deprive ourselves of God’s mercy.  Jesus comes to free us as the gospel today ably attests.  But we must repent and believe in the good news.