Tuesday, September 8, 2020

 Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 (Micah 5:1-4a or Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 1:1-16.18-23 or Matthew 1:18-23)

The Byzantine Orthodox Church has a beautiful prayer to the Christ child on Christmas.  The prayer expresses the age-old desire to present Jesus with a special gift.  It proposes as a truly worthy offering on the part of humanity a Virgin Mother.  She is Mary, the fairest of women – one who will prepare Jesus for his mission of revealing God’s love.

Today the Church celebrates Mary in a special way.  Hers is the only birthday recognized in the liturgical calendar besides those of Jesus and John the Baptist.  By calling attention to her birth, the Church recognizes a life completely dedicated to God. 

Mary is also singled out as a model for young and old today.  We should find in her chastity to be happy in our state of life.  She also personifies obedience to God’s will as she accepts the offer to be the Mother of the Savior.  Most of all, of course, Mary exemplifies love.  She cares for Jesus at his birth in Matthew and Luke and at his death in John’s gospel.  She speaks up in Cana for the whole world.  “’They have no wine,’” is a plaintive call for the happiness of the kingdom.  Each of us should strive to live as faithfully as this woman.

Monday, September 7, 2020

 Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 5:1-8; Luke 6:6-11)

It is quite appropriate that on Labor Day there is a gospel involving a labor dispute.  Jesus is being accused of violating the law forbidding work on the Sabbath.

Of course, Jesus sees the situation differently. He does not mean to undermine the Sabbath.  Like any good Jew, Jesus recognizes the value of the Sabbath in preparing the people for the kingdom.  The relaxation, the joy of being with friends, the opportunity to visit whether someone’s house or a lovely natural place all anticipate the wonder of heaven.  But one of God’s beloved children stands in dire need.  How can Jesus not but help the paralytic?

God loves each of us as much.  He gives us work both to utilize our intelligence and to provide our needs.  And he also gives us this day of rest to contemplate His goodness and to share with one another.

Friday, September 4, 2020

 Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)

In today’s first reading St. Paul calls himself and other apostles “stewards of the mysteries of God.”  The sacraments, especially in Paul’s time Baptism and Eucharist, are considered “mysteries.” The word “mystery” refers to both God’s incomprehensibility and the way God incorporates his people into Himself.  The apostles can be considered stewards in as much as they preach about God and administer the sacraments.

Recently a case of an unfaithful administering of the sacraments was reported.  After watching a video made of his baptism, a young man who had supposedly been ordained to the priesthood concluded that he was never validly baptized.  The deacon, who performed the rite, said, “We baptize you in the name of the Father…”, instead of, “I baptize you …”  The difference of words does matter, not just because the latter goes back to ancient times but because it indicates that Jesus, through the minister, is the one baptizing.  The man had to be baptized, confirmed and given Holy Communion, all for the first time.  Then, after a week’s retreat, he was validly ordained.

Paul talks about the need for a steward of the mystery to be trustworthy.  The steward must faithfully carry out his responsibilities.  We might say something similar for all Catholic Christians.  We should learn the teachings of the Church and faithfully hand them on.  It is not for us to tell others of our opinions of birth control or the Virgin birth, at least as much as our opinions conflict with Church teaching.  God has sent us bishops, the apostles’ successors, to guide us to Himself. They form Church teachings from the tradition that has been handed down to them.  Sometimes, regrettably, they fail to fulfill all their responsibilities.  Nevertheless, they are signs of God’s love for us as are their teachings. 

Thursday, September 3, 2020

 Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

(I Corinthians 3:18-23; Luke 5:1-11)

St. Gregory the Great ranks high on any list of great popes.  After saving Rome from devastation by the Lombards, he was considered the city’s civil as well as spiritual leader.  He took keen interest in providing for the poor with the revenue received from the lands the Church owned.  He also had a hand in modifying the liturgy and in forming “Gregorian chant.”  He preached extremely well and wrote important books on morality and pastoral care.  Most remarkably, with all these accomplishments Gregory maintained a humble demeanor.  His manner is reminiscent of his predecessor in today’s gospel.

Witnessing the great catch of fish catalyzed by Jesus’ holiness, Simon falls before him.  He must admit to Jesus his unworthiness.  “’… I am a sinful man,’” he says openly, hoping that his confession would mitigate the Lord’s judgment.  But Jesus has no intention of punishing Simon.  In fact, he means to convert the sinner’s strengths into resources for evangelization. 

St. Gregory confessed openly that he did not always fulfill his responsibilities with due diligence.  But he still led the Church faithfully.  He saw himself how each of us should see herself or himself, “The servant of the servants of the Lord.”

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

 

Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

 (I Corinthians 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44)

 At a parish in El Paso, Texas, there was an increasingly acrimonious rivalry between the Guadalupanas (the Sodality of Our Lady of Guadalupe) and the Carmelitas (the Sodality of Our Lady of Mount Carmel).  Each contended that they were the best women group in the parish.  The members of either group began to shun members of the other group.  The pastor noting the un-Christ like behavior had the two groups come to an agreement.  On July 16, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Guadalupanas would serve breakfast to the Carmelitas after the mass their patronal feast.  Of course, the courtesy was reciprocated on December 12.  The resolution improved the situation considerably.  In today’s first reading St. Paul similarly tries to stem the rivalries brewing in Corinth.

 After spending over a year with the Corinthians, Paul knows that they have been instructed well.  He has preached, modeled, and taught unity in Christ. He naturally becomes upset when they break down into factions like all their pagan neighbors.  He reminds them that they are different from other people because they have been formed by Christ into his body. In him there is no place for rivalry.  As he writes to the Galatians, in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female.

 Life in Christ makes us a new creation.  We are to leave behind thinking of ourselves as better than others.  We should no more form rival groups than consider our arms as more valuable than our feet.  Christ has made us one in love to reflect the love between him and his Father.