Friday, July 8, 2022

 Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 11:1-4a.8e-9; Matthew 10:16-23)

A number of years ago director Martin Scorsese made a movie of Shusaku Endo’s disturbing novel  Silence.  The book and movie tell the story of a Jesuit missionary in seventeenth century Japan.  In order to dissuade native Catholics from suffering horrific torture, the missionary himself denies Christ.  The situation is taken from Jesuit annals, but not the plot.  In the annals the missionary did not apostatize.  Rather he too underwent the torture! 

The Silence was making the case for doing evil to produce a greater good.  This kind of morality has always been condemned by the Church.  As today’s gospel indicates, Christ knows that those who believe in him will experience persecution.  He tells them to be both shrewd and simple. They do not have to invite hostility by, for example, declaring openly their beliefs.  But they should never deny those beliefs when pressed.  Still, he states categorically that those who endure in the faith will be saved.

Justifying the doing of evil to achieve good is a particularly modern endeavor.  We have all heard how some try to justify telling a lie to avoid being bothered by unwanted callers.  As seen in the passage, Jesus condones shrewdness in such situations.  We can tell inquirers that it is not their business to know if the head of the house is at home.  But we should never lie about it.

Thursday, July 7, 2022

 Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 11:1-4.8e-9; Matthew 10:7-15)

Of all the prophets Hosea touches most the hearts of readers.  He tells the story of how God directs him to marry a prostitute as a sign of Israel’s fidelity.  In today’s reading Hosea tenderly describes God’s love for His people.  He pictures God as a father teaching his children to walk and as a mother rubbing cheeks with her child.  At the end of the passage the prophet retains pity for His people, not wrath as they deserve.

God’s pity is not fruitless.  He sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to finally turn their hearts to Him.  In the gospel Jesus sends his apostles to do what he has been doing.  They are to proclaim the kingdom of God with words and deeds.  They are to speak of God’s love and to show that love with acts of power.

We inherit the tasks of the apostles as well as their glory.  We should not be afraid to tell others that God’s kingdom has come in Jesus.  Equally important, we must demonstrate God’s love with works of mercy.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 10:1-3.7-8.12; Matthew 10:1-7)

The readings from the prophet Hosea these past two days tell of sowing and reaping.  Yesterday the prophet warned that if Israel sows the wind, it will reap the whirlwind.  The wind is the panoply of false gods – money, pleasure, power, and prestige.  Hosea means that any people who strives for these vanities is bound to wreak havoc upon itself.  This result was evidenced after World War I, the so-called “Great War.”  After the Allied powers imposed heavy penalties upon Germany, a second, more disastrous war followed.

In today’s reading Hosea pleads with Israel to “sow for yourselves” justice so that it may “reap the fruit of piety.”  If a nation endeavors to put into practice the Lord’s justice, it will be duly rewarded.  After World War II, the United States established the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe.  As a result, in not too many years the whole continent flourished economically.  The United States had markets for its products as well as the goodwill of the world.

We sometimes see slogans like “follow your dreams” or “do what your feelings tell you.”  Such advice might lead to “sow(ing) the wind.”  We are wise to think through our dreams and feelings to see where they are leading.  If they move us to love God and neighbor, then yes; let’s consider them seriously.  If not, let’s find fruitful alternatives.

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 8:4-7.11-13; Matthew 9:32-38)

Hosea prophesizes in the northern kingdom of Israel.  Neither the northern nor the southern kingdom is dedicated completely to the Lord.  But the northern kingdom is especially unfaithful.  As Hosea testified, the people there make idols.  Adding to the offense, the people offer sacrifices to their idols on altars originally dedicated to the Lord.

Humanity has never abandoned worshipping idols.  There are always sports heroes and Hollywood starlets receiving adulation.  it was reported that one person has attended over one hundred and fifty performances of a famous rockstar.  What could that performer sing that is worth so much attention? 

There is nothing objectively wrong in following a favorite celebrity.  It may be even edifying to rewatch the movies of a Tom Hanks or Judi Dench.  However, only God deserves unconditional loyalty. He alone can bring fulfillment of all that life promises.

Monday, July 4, 2022

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 2:16.17c-18.21-22; Matthew 9:18-26)

Today’s gospel speaks of freedom.  It shows Jesus freeing a woman from a malady she bore for twelve years.  More profoundly, it intimates how people who believe in him will be freed from the tyranny of death.

Like the ruler’s daughter, we all will die.  But death will not necessarily have the last word.  If we place our faith in Jesus, we will conquer death.  In the reading the girl’s father asks Jesus’ help on her behalf.  Jesus then raises her from the sleep of death.  Likewise, we will rise from death for having been true to Jesus.

Today the United States celebrates its freedom from the tyrannical rule of the British king.  After independence, the founding fathers proceeded to declare freedom of religion.  All Americans have the option to place their faith in Jesus.  He magnifies the liberties by giving freedom from the dominance of sin and the tyranny of death.