Thursday, June 11, 2020

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, apostle

(Acts 11:21b-26.13:1-3; Matthew 5:20-26)

Much like Mr. Rogers of the children’s television program, the personalist psychologist Carl Rogers had a tremendous sensitivity toward others’ suffering.  He used to give the irrefutable statistic, “One out of every one of us is hurting.”  In response to universal suffering all should be considerate and compassionate.  Such a stance will help the Christian fulfill Jesus’ challenging instruction in today’s gospel.

Everyone knows that murder is wrong, but few question “righteous anger” when it spills over into name calling and insult.  Jesus calls for a stop to such behavior.  He pleads for patience toward those with emotional difficulties.  He does not mean allowing the disturbed person to act violently. But he does insist that his followers show respect so that wrongdoers may recognize their faults and correct them.

We will be reeling in the wake of the George Floyd murder for a long time.  The police involved seemed to have shown pointedly merciless behavior.  We must be careful not to seek revenge on them.  Rather a punishment that fits the crime should be given along with our prayers for their repentance.  We are wise as well to pray that we never hurt anyone as we carry out our responsibilities.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 18:20-39; Matthew 5:17-19)

Pedro identifies himself as a catechist.  He loves to teach others about the Lord and his Church.  He does not seem to have aspirations to become a deacon.  He knows that teaching has its own distinction.  Writing to the Corinthians, St. Paul places the office of teacher third in line of importance after apostles and prophets (I Corinthians 12:28).  Jesus gives the work even greater prominence in today’s gospel.

Jesus says that true teachers “’will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” However, he does not extol all teachers.  He criticizes those who do not teach all of the commandments and who may disregard some of them.  He is not being severe but emphasizing what he has just pointed out.  He has not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them.

We may ask ourselves what commandments we disregard.  Some will argue that Sunday Eucharist is not compulsory (that is, in ordinary times).  Others may say that artificial contraception is all right.  Granted, the latter commandment is not found in Scripture.  Yet we should form our consciences according to the teaching of the Church.  If we know ourselves to be weak in some regard, we must be especially careful not to influence others in the same way.  In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells of the rewards to his faithful servants.  He also does not hesitate to name the punishments for those who ignore his teaching.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 17:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16)

Few passages in American literature move the soul more than the ending of The Grapes of Wrath.  It shows a family struggling to survive.  It left the “dust bowl” of Oklahoma for the promise of California. But there the situation becomes direr.  Their labor is exploited, and winter rains sweep away their home.  The eldest daughter, whose young husband abandoned her, has given birth to a still-born. The family takes shelter in an old barn.  There they meet a young boy and his father who is starving to death after giving his son all his food.  The young woman who lost her baby then agrees to give her breastmilk to the dying man.

Today’s first reading relates a parallel story.  Elijah, the prophet, is fleeing Israel because of a draught.  He goes to Zarephath, a town on the Phoenician coast. There he encounters a pagan widow who is dying of hunger along with her son.  The prophet tells her to bring him some bread.  She replies that she only has a handful of flour left to feed her son.  Elijah tells her not to worry but to bring him the bread.  She believes the prophet, feeds him, and miraculously never runs out of food.

Most of us use the possibility of incurring a shortfall as an excuse not to help others.  We may say that “charity begins at home.”  But charity begins with God who gave His Son as the living bread for the life of the world.  Sharing our resources with those in need will not make us poor.  Indeed, as much as our motive is faith in the ever-generous God, it will enrich us.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12)

Protesters are yelling in the street.  The mayor has imposed a curfew to maintain order.  Everyone feels disgusted with the police brutality of two weeks ago.  But most people do not want to have the injustice compounded by riots, burning, and looting.  How would Jesus have responded to such a situation?  Today’s gospel offers some clues.

The passage relates the beatitudes which describe the saintly life.  They promote patience and forbearance in face of persecution. However, they do not criticize the defense of human rights.  Rather they indicate the need for Christians to suffer for what they believe to be just.  They abhor violence and exhort peaceful ways to resolve problems of persecution.

We cannot expect that everyone will follow Jesus’ program for saintliness. Nevertheless, we have to follow him as are model and surest guide.  He will not fail us but make us sources of blessing in our communities.  We will also find our society improving, perhaps incrementally but surely.  There may be steps backward at times, but generally we will feel the improvement.

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Friday, June 5, 2020

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr

(II Timothy 3:10-17; Mark 12:35-37)

Today’s first reading sounds like a description of the missionary activity of St. Boniface.  Much like St. Paul, Boniface experienced hardship and persecution in preaching the gospel in Germany.  Yet faithful to his mandate to convert the German peoples, Boniface became enormously successful.  He was born in England, became a monk, and followed the call to preach the gospel in foreign lands.  He died a martyr after resigning from his position as archbishop of Mainz and patriarch of Germany.

Paul assures Timothy that faithfulness to Christ brings suffering.  There is irony here because Christ is the epitome of divine virtue.  Shouldn’t such virtue be admired and not punished?  And it is; most of all, virtue pleases God who rewards those who possess it with eternal life.  But there are people for whom another’s virtue is an obstacle to their purposes.  Some will mock concern for poor, young women whom they want to exploit for profit in the sex trade.  They will also attack anyone who threatens their business.

We must not be naïve in following Christ.  There is much to commend it – good people as friends and an eternal destiny.  But there are also challenges like those who resent the practice of virtue.  Let’s keep our eyes on the saints like Boniface today.  They had a clear vision of what they hoped to achieve in life.  They also were wise not to rely on their own resources but on God’s grace.