Monday, September 16, 2024

Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope, and Saint Cyprian, bishop, martyrs

(I Corinthians 11:17-26.33; Luke 7:1-10)

The Eucharist from its beginning has been a sign and a source of unity.  As Jesus brought together his disciples from various backgrounds to share the Passover meal so today people from different families and, often enough, ethnic heritages assemble for Mass.  Then as Jesus charged the bread and the cup of the Passover meal with his body and blood to unite his disciples in common cause, Mass-goers become more connected to one another in partaking of the Lord.  In today’s first reading St. Paul is indignant that members of the Corinthian community shun unity to indulge their appetites.

It seems that the Lord’s supper in Paul’s time was like a lunch break with a pause to remember the blessing of bread and wine.  Paul chastizes the community for not sharing what each brought.  Then he tries to reorient them by recalling the solemn intention of Jesus.   He gave his undefiled body as an offering of love so that they may in turn support one another.

Saints Cornelius and Cyprian were involved in a dispute over the unity of the Church.  They lived in the middle of the third century when persecutions were not uncommon.  Both held that the Christians who apostatized rather than be executed could be forgiven their tragic sin.  A rival said that apostasies during persecution were unforgiveable and the perpetrators all but damned.  According to the saints, whose cause was vindicated, the guilty should undergo severe penances but their reconciliation was not hopeless.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

 Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 50:5-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35)

The denial of Simon Peter is found in each of the four gospel Passion narratives. Almost all Christians know how Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. But if we count the denial in today's Gospel, there were at least four denials. Nevertheless, despite having such a tarnished history, he was chosen by Jesus as the leader of His Church.

One reason for his selection is Peter's intuition. He recognizes Jesus as the Christ or Messiah, the Anointed One of God, sent to bring justice to the world. However, his concept of the Messiah is distorted. He believes that Jesus is a warrior like King David, also anointed by God. In his view, Jesus will raise an army to drive the Romans out of Israel. He cannot imagine that Jesus' purpose is more subtle universal and profound than a military achievement.

Jesus will redeem the world from sin by fully submitting to the will of the Father. He will obey God to the point of death on the cross. As the God-man, this sacrifice is enough to free all human beings from the devil's grasp. Unfortunately, Simon Peter sees the crucifixion, at least at this moment, as a shame, not a triumph. As if he knew better, he tries to correct Jesus' thinking.

Jesus strongly rejects Peter's erroneous mindset. He calls him "Satan" because Peter has tempted Jesus, just like the devil did after His baptism. Jesus then explains that not only must He suffer, but those who follow Him will suffer as well. All His disciples must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Jesus on the path of self-sacrificing love.

At the beginning of this Gospel passage, Jesus asks: "Who do you say that I am?" Perhaps we would want to respond: "The one who saves us by our faith in Him." While our response would not be incorrect like Peter’s, it could lead us astray. As James emphasizes in the second reading, faith without works “is dead.” If we do not regularly help others, our presence at Mass means nothing. We must lend a hand to those in need. If, due to age or disability, we cannot physically help, we should turn off the television, put down the phone, and pray the rosary for the needy.

There is no shortage of needs we can assist with. School children need tutors. Nursing homes need ministers of Holy Communion. The elderly need visitors. A retired teacher responds to the call of the local "Meals on Wheels" by donating a couple of hours weekly to deliver lunch to seniors. An elderly woman donates part of her time helping hospital visitors find their sick loved ones.

When we identify who Jesus is, we also identify who we are. Jesus is the God-man. As God, He has saved us from our sins through His death. As human, He helped countless sick and suffering people. Being His disciples, we share in His divinity. Therefore, our sacrifices and prayers contribute to the salvation of the world. It is a difficult truth to understand but testified by St. Paul in his Letter to the Colossians. The second identity is easier to comprehend. As disciples of Jesus, we should walk as He did, always doing good.

 

Friday, September 13, 2024

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, bishop and Doctor of the Church

(I Corinthians 9:16-19.22b-27; Luke 6:39-42)

In today’s first reading St. Paul explains why he risks his life to preach the gospel.  He does so out of an obligation imposed upon him.  He is referring, of course, to Christ’s mandate after his revelation to Paul on the road to Damascus.

Even with the revelation and mandate Paul must conform to Christ.  He describes this effort as athletic training.  As an athlete cannot ignore training if she or he is to win a competition, so Paul must put heart and soul into curtailing desires for status and comfort.  For Paul this means becoming “all things to all” people.  Finally, Paul urges everyone to a similar self-discipline so that they too are conformed to Christ.

Today the Church remembers one of the greatest Eastern Fathers.  St. John Chrysostom like Paul suffered for preaching the gospel.  As Patriarch of Constantinople, he told the rich to help the poor.  For criticizing the extravagance of the empress, he was forced into exile. After returning to his see, a cabal of churchmen ousted him again.  He died on September 14, 407 as a result of a forced march to the place of banishment.

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 8:1b-7.11-13; Luke 6: 27-38)

We may want to pass over Jesus’ commands under the rubric, “Love your enemies”, or to dismiss them as exaggerations.  When someone takes my coat, I want the person to return it.  I am not likely to offer him or her my shirt as well.  Also, when someone my borrows money, I expect it back.  I am not inclined to loam him or her more until the first debt is repaid.  Am I violating Jesus’ commands? 

Perhaps not.  The key to the passage is the so-called “Golden Rule.” Followers of Christ are to do to others as they would have them do to themselves.  Nurtured in Christ’s love, we hope to receive and should be ready to bestow kindnesses.  It may be kindness to give my coat to a poor man, but if a bully demands it, kindness would be limited to telling the person, “No,” gently but firmly.  If an alcoholic keeps asking me money for drinks, telling the person gently not to drink would be the kind thing to do. Supporting the habit would be cooperating in vice.

Jesus’ command to love one’s enemies is one of his most distinctive teachings and cannot be dismissed.  However, it does not mean that we are to be abusive, either of ourselves or of others.  Love obliges us to help those in need.  The help we render, however, should be in proportion to others’ needs and to our ability to give.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26)

Some thought at the beginning of the present century that the world would live perpetually in peace.  One intellectual wrote of “the end of history.” By the term he meant an enlightened world that recognizes the folly of war and the need to create prosperity for all.  The events of this day – September 11 – in 2001 disabused everyone world of this dream.  In today’s first reading St. Paul also imagines history coming to an end with the revelation to the world of Christ’s majesty.  Paul proposes ideals for individuals with the end of history in mind.

With the world soon coming to an end, Paul thinks it best that people do not seek marriage.  Rather they should wholly concern themselves with pleasing the Lord.  Intense prayer and devotion would be in order.  Of course, Christ’s coming has not taken place yet.  The world remains a place of contention and pride.  Although there is always need for some to give full attention to the Lord, marriage is in greater need than ever.

Marriage sears people of the illusion that they are individuals who can live happily by themselves.  Children, the fruit of marriage, require growth in responsibility.  Marriage itself should turn the couple to God who provides the moral strength to overcome its various challenges.  As much as youth today eschew marriage, it is as necessary as ever if as a society we are to meet the threats of a still dangerous world.