Monday, August 12, 2024

Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary time

(Ezekiel 1:2-5.24-28c; Matthew 17:22-27)

Christians interpret Ezekiel’s vision in today’s first reading as referring to Christ.  He is God with a human appearance.  In fact, the appearance is actual, not virtual.  Jesus is the humanly enfleshed God, Lord of heaven and earth.  The gospel supports this understanding.

Jesus questions Peter regarding taxes to show that he is the Son of God.  Everyone except the family of the Temple’s owner would be subject to the tax.  Since God owns the Temple, His son would be exempt from the tax.  Rather than cause trouble explaining the point, Jesus just pays the tax.  In doing so, however, he shows his divine foreknowledge.

We hope to remember the divinity of Jesus as we face life’s difficulties.  He became human to share our lot.  Now he comes to support us in distress.  In both bad times and good, we look to him for support and thank him for his help.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

(Daniel 7:9-10.13-14; II Peter 1:16-19; Mark 9:2-10)

There are many versions of the story of a non-Christian seeing a figure of Christ crucified for the first time.  In one such story an Asian exits a church in Florence.  He asks a person on the street, “Who is that guy hanging above the altar?” Certainly strangers will have questions for any group whose founder was executed.  It is said that the Transfiguration was included in the three synoptic gospels as a response to this kind of questioning.

A week ago before the Transfiguration Jesus told his disciples that he is going to be handed over to the authorities and killed.  Later he said that they should be prepared for the same treatment.  Now he wants to assure them that such mistreatment will lead to glory not to abuse.  In front of Peter, James, and John, he is transformed to shine like the sun.  Then the disciples hear a voice declaring that Jesus as God’s Son worth of their attention. 

Often Jesus’ cross is called a “scandal.”  It certainly requires explanation.  Jesus’ execution on a cross indicates how people, including government, can marginalize and even kill those with whom they disagree.  For us Christians Jesus’ crucifixion shows the extent of God’s love.  He allowed His Son to die in the vilest of ways so that our sins may be forgiven. 

Monday, Aungust 5, 2024

Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 28,1-17; Matthew 14:13-21)

Prophets were not scarce in ancient Israel.  Evidently, many men and, no doubt, a few women felt a call from God to advise kings and people.  Not all of those called, however, accurately described the present reality or predicted the future.  They were the false prophets, one of whom faces-off with Jeremiah in today’s first reading.

Hananiah, a court prophet, announced sunny days ahead for the Southern Kingdom after Babylon’s thrashing of Judah.  The false prophet said that king, people, and Temple plunder would return soon from Babylon where they had been exiled.  Jeremiah knew that a beneficial outcome would not take place so quickly or easily.  He glimpsed God’s mercy finally winning out but had to announce that Judah would suffer much more before that mercy was felt.

All of us should be aware that our belief in a good and gracious God does not mean our escaping suffering.  Both our sins and the sins of others will cause trouble that we must face.  Jeremiah helps us to remain confident, however, that God in the end will save his faithful people.

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 16:2-4,12-15; Ephesians 4:17,20-24; John 6:24-35)

Bishops are concerned that most Catholics do not believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. This is a grave and real matter. But an even more important question is, who is Jesus? Many, both Christians and non-Christians, think of him as a sage like Sophocles or a prudent leader like Lincoln. Last week we saw Jesus giving signs that he is God. Just as God gave the Israelites manna to feed them physically, Jesus gave those who sought him bread that nourished them both physically and spiritually.

In today's gospel, Jesus reveals that he is the Bread of Eternal Life, but first, he discusses with the Jews their values. He accuses them of seeking him not for the spiritual bread he imparts but for the bread that satisfied them without having to work for it. He says this pursuit is futile because physical bread will eventually run out. Sooner or later, this bread will sour like the manna left on the desert floor. Instead, Jesus offers himself, "the Bread of Life," that lasts forever. He says that if they accept him as the Son of God with faith, he will continue to satisfy them endlessly.

Many in the world today, like these Jews, strive to satisfy themselves with things that eventually lose their value. They think these things will bring them happiness. There are many substitutes for true happiness, but they can be summarized in four words starting with the letter "p": power, property, prestige, and pleasure. These attract many but are ultimately like bread that perishes. Olympic athletes who strive to be the fastest runner or the strongest boxer will soon see another athlete who runs faster or punches harder. The rich will see their millions dissipate when they realize they cannot buy health or love. The famous today do not have to wait many tomorrows to see others receive more attention than them. And pleasure often proves to be a curse due to its harmful effects, as has happened with many smokers.

But the Jews resist Jesus' offer. They ask for proof of his relationship with God. Evidently, they have forgotten the multiplication of loaves. Anyway, they want another sign before they believe in him. They suggest it be something like the manna their ancestors ate in the desert. Jesus responds that this "bread from heaven" was a gift from God, his Father, and now he gives them the true bread from heaven, which is himself. He adds that accepting him as the Son sent by God is equivalent to doing God's work or, better, fulfilling his will.

So far, we have not had to consider the Blessed Sacrament to explain how he is the Bread of Life. His words and actions can be considered spiritual nourishment to be consumed. However, it is necessary to keep a proper sense of Jesus for him to be the substance that satisfies the world’s hunger. It is not simply that he has the most recognized name in history. Rather, he can satisfy the world because he is God. That is, Jesus is the spiritual creator that allows the existence of all being by participation in Him. We can compare him to the sun. Just as the sun's rays create life on earth, the metaphysical action of God gives existence to the physical universe. Jesus Christ has come to reveal God's will through his words and even more through his sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. Him we trust and follow.

 

Friday, August 2, 2024

Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 26:1-9; Matthew 13:54-58)

The Egyptians placed on the throne of David, Jehoiakim, son of Josiah.  But where Josiah was a reformer who tried to call his nation back to their covenant roots, Jehoiakim was a tyrant who drove the people to heathen practices.  He forced them to build magnificent palaces for himself while paying tribute to the Pharoah.  He also permitted the sacrifice of children.  Jeremiah, a true prophet, could hardly allow this to happen without warning everyone of its bitter consequences.

Today’s first reading represents the prophecy Jeremiah makes against the ways of Jehoiakim.  It foretells the destruction of Jerusalem unless the people come back to the Lord’s covenant.  The prophet says that Judah’s people should not think themselves safe because they have the Temple where God is supposed to reside.  Rather, he warns, having the Temple will be of no more benefit than the Northern Kingdom’s shrine at Shiloh protected it from devastation. 

Typical of a prophet, Jeremiah makes Judah’s destruction conditional upon its not returning to God.  He implies that if Juday changes its ways, it might be spared.  People of western civilization today should take heed.  Unless it returns to the ways of righteousness – not necessarily to biblical religion but at least to natural law – western civilization may likewise be destroyed.