Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Feast of Saints Philip and James

(I Corinthians 15:1-8; John 14:6-14)

The readings today were apparently chosen because they recall the names of the apostles whom we celebrate.  The first reading mentions James as one of the early witnesses of the resurrected Christ.  Some commentators think that James is the so-called “brother of the Lord” mentioned throughout the New Testament.  If this is the James that St. Paul has in mind, he was probably not a disciple during Jesus’ ministry and therefore probably not one of the twelve apostles.  The gospels report another apostle named James besides the son of Zebedee.  He was the son of Alphaeus and is often referred to as “James the Less” because he was younger or shorter than the son of Zebedee.

Philip the apostle also may be confused with another by the same name.  In the Acts of the Apostles one of the seven men upon whom the apostles laid their hands was named “Philip.” (The seven are commonly called “deacons” because their original mission was to care for the Greek-speaking widows in the primitive church community.)  Philip the apostle was a disciple of John the Baptist who directed him to Jesus.

All this sorting of names is more than just interesting.  It demonstrates that our faith in the resurrection of Jesus is based on the testimony of real men, not legends, of whom the Scriptures give account.  The fact that most of those who gave testimony to the resurrection suffered martyrdom also inspires confidence in the resurrection.  Many may think it preposterous to believe that any human life has a vital existence beyond death.  For us, however, it is a necessary conclusion.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Acts 11:19-26; John 10:22-30)

In today’s gospel the Jews ask Jesus if he is “the Christ.”  This term implies that he would be considered the son of God in an exalted sense although not in the same sense that St. Athanasius meant.  Almost three centuries later, Athanasius lived at a time when people debated an equal standing for God the Father and God the Son. 

Athanasius contended that Father and Son are identical except for their respective relations.  Today’s passage testifies to this radical equality where Jesus says, “’I and the Father are one.’”  They have not only the same nature but also the same mind and will.  The Holy Spirit shares these qualities as well.  He differs from the Father in that he proceeds from the Father.  He differs from the Son in that the Son is begotten by the Father. 

We may have trouble trying to explain the Trinity to others.  But it is very important that they are one.  Also we must keep in mind that they love us more than we can imagine.  In return for that love, which blesses us each day, we praise and thank them.  Since imitation is a high form of praise, we also want to love one another.

Monday, May 1, 2023

(optional) Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker

(Acts 11:1-18; John 10:11-18)

According to food guru Michael Pollan food habits are among the last to be acculturated.  Long after immigrants arrive in a new country, they and their descendants prefer the native foods of their homelands.  For this reason Simon Peter’s countrymen may be bewildered by his sharing the table of Gentiles in today’s first reading.  But, of course, there is more at stake than that.

Jews at the time of Jesus, as today, are almost identified by their refusal to eat pork.  Yet it is said that its prohibition is only the beginning of the kosher diet.  Probably the certainty that Jesus kept it made some disciples think that all his followers should do so as well.  But since the stoning of Stephen, the same followers were being increasingly alienated from Judaism.  In face of Gentile converts’ desire to eat their customary foods, the disciples are faced with a dilemma.  Would Jesus refuse Baptism to people simply because they eat foods that were forbidden Jesus’ ancestors?

Today we celebrate St. Joseph the Worker.   An honest carpenter, Joseph models many virtues like diligence and justice related to work.  As patron of workers, we can also see him as a model of assimilation and diversity.  Here’s the connection with a diverse diet.  Work since the industrial Revolution has brought people from different backgrounds together.  Joseph, a discerning person, would hardly reject them for the diet they kept.  He may not have eaten all their foods.  But as he invited the Magi from into his home, he probably would have little difficulty seeing their descendants attending Jesus’ church. 

Sunday, April 30, 2023

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

(Acts 2:14.36-41; I Peter 2:20-25; John 10:1-10)

The Good Shepherd is one of the oldest and most popular images of Christ. Paintings of the Good Shepherd, much older than the later crucifixes, have been found in the catacombs of Rome. Generally Protestants shun all forms of images of Christ or the saints. But images of the Good Shepherd have been seen in front of their churches. Every year on this Fourth Sunday of Easter we hear a section from chapter ten of John’s gospel that treats the Good Shepherd. We want to reflect well to learn what makes this image so compelling.

We should start by saying that the part of chapter ten read today does not mention the Good Shepherd. Jesus describes himself as "the gate for the sheep." In the part we will read next year he will call himself "the Good Shepherd." However, "the gate of the sheep" or gatekeeper has a role as helpful as that of the shepherd. He has to watch over the fold to protect the lives of the sheep.

The sheepfold functions as an enclosure for the animals. Within it the sheep can calmly ruminate on the grass they have taken from the pasture. Well-tended by the gatekeeper, the fold does not allow the sheep to wander away. In this way the fold serves the sheep as the Church serves Christians. The Church protects us from harmful movements always on the horizon. It is so with the “woke” movement that has descended on our society like a tornado. According to its proponents, everyone has to accept gay marriage and genders other than male and female. The Church urges respect for all human persons, even those most committed to Wokism. However, she has opposed its ideas as false and destructive to the common good.

Christ serves as "the gate of the sheep" when he admits people into the Church by Baptism. Once baptized, the person has the support of the Church against ideas like those of Wokism. Christ also serves as "the gate of the sheep" in the Eucharist. To understand how, we have picture sheep leaving the sheepfold through the sheepgate to feed. Our gospel today describes how the gatekeeper lets the sheep out so that they may find pasture. With this feeding the sheep are strengthened as we are nourished with the Eucharist to keep the faith and love one another. It is the first fruits of "life in abundance" that Jesus promises at the end of the reading.

In this gospel Jesus is addressing the Pharisees who have just persecuted the man born blind that Jesus healed. We remember this passage read on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. These Pharisees have acted as religious extremists wanting to molest those who follow Jesus. They are like thieves threatening the sheep in the fold. We can understand them as those in the Church who hate homosexuals and those who claim to be of another gender than their biological makeup indicates. However, whatever they say, we have to respect all human beings as images of God. Pope Francis always reminds us that they too need the love of Christ.

There have been people who say preachers should not compare the faithful to sheep. They reason that the sheep is so dumb an animal that the comparison comprises an insult. It is true that the faithful can be even smarter than the preachers. However, don't we all feel in need of help like sheep at times? In our troubles we can always call on Christ who is at the gate of the fold. We can count on his wisdom and his strength to overcome any difficulty.

Friday, April 28, 2023

 Friday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 9:1-20; John 6:52-59)

Many people today are concerned about quality of life.  The elderly worry about having good health in retirement.  For them quality of life is not to have to live with chronic pain and, even more critical, not to lose their minds.  Meanwhile, young people consider quality of life in economic terms.  For them to have a high quality of life means to have the money to buy season tickets to their favorite sports team’s home games and to take a cruise every other year.  In today’s gospel Jesus has an alternative conception of quality of life to consider.

Of course, Jesus does not use the term quality of life at all.  Rather he speaks of having his life within.  His life is much more than biological life, which bread and wine by themselves can sustain.  No, he means eternal life or life in abundance which comes from participating in God’s love.  It is a life of gratitude because one is assured of God loves for her or him.  The Eucharist, Jesus’ gift of his body and blood, depicts this perfectly.  Derived from the Greek language, the word means to be thankful. 

We are a Eucharistic people -- a people who continually give thanks to God.  Yet we strive to become ever more so.  We see the efforts people make for us and thank them.  We recognize how we have benefitted from the work of people in times past and feel a sense of gratitude for them as well.  Even if our quality of life is not that great in the eyes of others, we know differently.  Sick or well, poor or rich, we enjoy a high quality of life because we know of God’s love for us and are thankful for it.