Friday, January 25, 2019

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

(Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18)

Today ends the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  “What’s that?” many people ask, even people who come to church regularly.  The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was established over a hundred years ago.  It addresses the contradiction of Jesus’ church being divided up as if it were an indigenous territory that was parceled in a land rush.  In the Gospel of John Jesus prays: “’…that all of them may be one as You, Father, are in me, and I am in you’” (John 17:21).  As it now stands, Christians are no more one than the colors of the rainbow.

The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul closes the week of prayer.  It is worthwhile to ponder why.  Of course, Paul is universally admired.  Protestants see his insight of “salvation by faith in Christ” as particularly critical to Christian self-understanding, which it is.  Catholic priests and sisters have made Paul their model in the profession of celibacy.  But a deeper reason explains the choice of Paul as the patron of unity.  As the name of the feast indicates, Paul underwent conversion.  He changed his mind and heart.  He was the persecutor of Christ who became his greater promoter.  Something like Paul’s conversion must take place in Christians if there is ever to be unity.

The conversion called for here is akin to the change of heart preached every Lent.  We must humble ourselves before God and one another.  We must not think of ourselves as better than others because we are traditional Catholics or “everyone’s welcome” Protestants.  Rather we must listen to Christ speaking through one another.  And we must bend to accept one another as a brother or sister.  We cannot compromise fundamental principles for a superficial unity.  But we can establish partnerships that transcend differences.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church

(Hebrews 7:25-8:6; Mark 3:7-12)

St. Francis de Sales lived at a particularly difficult time in Church history.  Protestantism had rent Western Christianity in pieces.  At his death the Thirty Years War was eviscerating the faith of evangelical love.  In the particularly contentious Swiss nation Francis preached reconciliation.  His early understanding of a universal call to holiness would serve this end.  In the Introduction to the Devout Life he wrote that all Christians are called to sanctity.  All Christians without exception have to pray as well as avoid wrongdoing and love their enemies.

A parallel message is given in today’s first reading.  The Letter to the Hebrews describes Jesus as “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,…”  In fact, all Christians are called to holiness because Jesus is holy.  Likewise, all Christians are priests because they share in Jesus’ high priesthood.  Their prayers for others have weight when they are spiritually conformed to Christ.

In striving for perfection like Christ’s, we should be concerned with interior disposition.  We should seek and promote the good in every person.  We should as well take note and strive to eliminate selfishness.  Pursuing these virtues with a prayerful spirit, we will attain holiness.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 7:25-8:6; Mark 3:7-12)

Once a seminary professor was complaining to his class about the way they were praying.  “Why do you always say ‘just’?” he asked.  “Why do you say, ‘We just want to thank you, Lord,” and “We just want to ask you, Lord.”  A student drummed up the courage to take on the professor.  “Just is a word we used to express awe,” he told him.  “We don’t feel that we are on equal terms with God.  I suppose that when you are a seminary professor with a Ph.D., you can walk up to God and treat him like a pal.”

Perhaps some of us often lack a sense of awe in praying to God as well. God is so much greater than we that we might as well be fruit flies communicating with a whale.  What is remarkable – no, more than that, stupendous – is how much God wants to hear us.  He sent His Son to open communication lines with us.  It is as if for something of the utmost international importance, a president would not the Secretary of State but his own father, whom he trusts implicitly.

This is what the Letter to the Hebrews tells us today and over and over again.  Jesus Christ is not the ordinary high priest but a unique one.  He is akin to Melchizedek who makes a fleeting appearance in the Book of Genesis.  Jesus is the only one worth praying to because he has complete access to God.  He came from Him and has returned to Him.  Furthermore, Jesus knows our condition intimately.  He has walked in our shoes.  He has traveled our ways.  We must never stop entrusting our lives to him.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

(Hebrews 6:10-10; Mark 2:23-28)

The “law of the jungle” merely acknowledges  that people with power get their way.  As a society develops, it makes laws to protect weaker members.  There is a law against robbery which protects people from being held up by ruffians.  Likewise, a law protects a debtor from being forced into prison or, worse, slavery.  For the same reason a mature society has laws to protect the unborn.  These innocent human beings require protection just to survive.  In striking down virtually all laws prohibiting abortion the Supreme Court betrayed this nation’s heritage of protecting the weak from brute force.

Today’s gospel speaks of the Sabbath law, which we know as the Third Commandment.  God established it to protect people from overwork.  In fact, all just laws are for the good of the people.  For this reason the Supreme Court decision’s forty-six years ago has been so distressing.  It ignores the good of the people.  In fact, it disregards the need of society’s weakest members for survival.

From its beginnings the Church has condemned abortion.  It will not stop doing so today.  It asks its members to pray for legal protection of the unborn.  It also encourages them to do more than pray.  We might join a march protesting the Supreme Court decision.  We might donate to organizations that are working to establish laws protecting different categories of the unborn.  We should tell our children about the evil of abortion.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Memorial of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr

(Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 2:18-22)

Fasting, a form of self-denial, has many purposes.  During Lent people fast to show remorse for sins.  Holy women and men fast to show their love for God.  Fasting prepares athletes for training and competition.  Doctors demand that patients fast before medical procedures. 

In Scripture Jesus fasts before he goes out to proclaim the Reign of God.  This fast is likely intended as a discipline preparing him for the rigors of mission.  In the exercise he comes to realize that more than on anything else he depends on God.  In today’s gospel, however, he tells the Pharisees that his disciples do not have to fast for the moment.  He explains that now is their time for spirited fellowship.  Fasting, he indicates, is more appropriate for mourning.

Unfortunately many people have abandoned the custom of fasting.  Even the simple penance of meatless Fridays during Lent seems too much a burden for some.  We should fast regularly by not eating for an extended period or by abstaining from food we particularly enjoy.  In so doing we show not only our willingness to submit to God but also our love for Him.