Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, apostle

(Acts 11:21b-26.13:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12)

St. Barnabas is mentioned a number of times in Acts and the letters of St. Paul.  From all that is said, he is an exemplary Christian disciple.  He donates the proceeds from the sale of his land to the community of disciples (Acts 4:36-37).  He is sent to Antioch as a representative of the Church to investigate the new Christian community there.  One may find in him the gifts of patience and mercy in an incident that occurred while preaching with Paul.  Barnabas’ desire to allow John Mark to rejoin the preaching team after previously abandoning the effort contrasts with Paul’s demand that he stay behind (Acts 15:39).

Today’s reading from Acts even testifies to his virtue calling him “a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24).  The same Spirit asks that he and Paul be set aside for missionary work (Acts 13:2). It further indicates his ability by naming Barnabas the first of the prophets and teachers at Antioch.

We might strive to imitate Barnabas.  We certainly can be generous with what we own.  We can also be of faith and ready to forgive others.  We should also be willing to speak up in favor of Jesus and the Church.  Jesus’ teachings of self-sacrificial love may be ridiculed by some.  The Church has no shortage of detractors for its stand in favor of the integrity of marriage between a man and a woman and also the dignity of life.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

(Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34)

Today’s gospel is usually understood as an indication of Jesus’ love for his mother.  He does not leave her helpless but entrusts her care to his beloved disciple.  Insightful commentators, however, find an even more significant meaning in the passage.  They compare it to Jesus’ inclusion of his mother in his company of disciples in Luke’s gospel.  When Mary comes to see him, Jesus remarks that his mother and his brothers are “’…those who hear the word of God and do it’” (Luke 8:21).

Mary stands with the beloved disciple at Jesus’ cross.  The two comprise Jesus’ most faithful support group.  They bear with the ignominy of association with a condemned man.  They also endure the pain of seeing their loved one suffer and die.  When Jesus expires, the text reads, “…he handed over his spirit.”  This handing over may be validly interpreted as sending the Holy Spirit to this new community of love that he has just formed.  In other words, by this action Jesus is establishing his church.

We should not underestimate the role of Mary in the Church.  By virtue of her closeness to Jesus she is its greatest intercessor.  By virtue of her presence at significant events in his life, she is one of its leading witnesses.  And by virtue of her reflection and action on the word of God, she is its model disciple.

Friday, June 7, 2019

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

Many evangelical Protestants openly profess their love of Jesus.  But surely love of the Lord is as much a characteristic of true Catholics.  Mother St. Teresa of Kolkata used to describe herself by saying, “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.”

In today’s gospel Jesus uses love for him as the sole criterion for the substitute leader of his flock.  Some will scoff that it is silly to say that we love someone who died two thousand years ago.  They will question what kind of love it is if the beloved, like a homerun king or a rock star, has millions of professed lovers.  But these objections really do not faze believers because they know that Jesus is alive and dwells among them spiritually. 

We too can have a personal relationship with Jesus.  By meditating on the gospel and by caring for the poor, we sense that he is close to us.  Because he is God, he can assist all who hold him as their beloved. 

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

“Suit the action to the word, the word to the action,” Prince Hamlet instructs a troupe of actors in Shakespeare’s famous drama.  The mandate fittingly describes what is taking place in today’s gospel.

The passage concludes Jesus’ “priestly prayer” at the end of his long Last Supper discourse.  He has prayed to the Father for his disciples to whom he has revealed the Father’s love.  Now he will proceed to give the perfect demonstration of that love with his sacrificial death.  It is the Father’s love because, as he says, he and the Father are one.  The prayer includes the petition that his disciples may be one with him and the Father.

We are to consider ourselves among the beneficiaries of Jesus’ prayer.  The word handed down to us has made us one with him.  In giving testimony to him by works of charity, we have his support as well as his instruction.  We need not fear if our intentions are misconstrued or if others hate us for doing good.  He will come to us as he does to Paul in the first reading saying, “Take courage….”

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr

(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11b-19)

In today’s first reading St. Paul is on his way to Jerusalem where he senses trouble awaiting.  He has called the presbyters of Ephesus together for a final exhortation.  He warns them about false prophets who will try to lead astray their congregants.  The life of today’s patron exemplifies Paul’s care about true teaching.  Also like Paul, St. Boniface died giving testimony to the faith.

Boniface was a British monk eager to preach in Germany, a missionary land.  Once there within a span of just twenty years he converted different pagan peoples and established the Church.  Rather than retire in one of the monasteries he founded, Boniface returned to the missions.  He was killed while reconverting a tribe of Germans that had lapsed into pagan practices. 

Our times have seen many unorthodox ideas gain followings.  Recently a former priest, discontent with the teaching of the Church on sexual ethics, wrote an article in a leading magazine calling for the abolition of the priesthood.  It is doubtful that the idea will take root, but it does erode people’s faith.  As much as at any time in history, we need men and women like Boniface who will testify to the truth.