February 14, 2025

Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop

(Gen 3:1-8; Mark 7:31-37)

Today’s gospel takes place in the Decapolis.  This region is populated by Gentiles so that the “deaf man who had a speech impediment” may be presumed to be one.  Furthermore, just being deaf and having a speech impediment, the man represents all Gentiles who do not hear the word of God, much less to proclaim it to others.

Since the Decapolis is not on the direct route to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus evidently has intended to go there to expand his ministry to Gentiles.  Taking the man away from the crowd, Jesus, it may be said, is preparing him for Baptism.  Then with two gestures that have become part of the Baptismal rituals (although optional today), Jesus cures him of his maladies.  This Gentile will now praise the God of Israel and His Messiah. Jesus will be seen by Jews as well as the Messiah sine his healings fulfill its prophecy in Isaiah.

We need to see Jesus as our Messiah as well.  When we find ourselves in need – perhaps someone has wronged us or we have done something foolish – instead of cursing, we can turn to the Messiah for help.  Yes, this means following his ways as well but they only lead us to salvation.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

 Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

 Genesis 2:18-25; Mark 7:24-30)        

 The Christmas 2004 tsunami took 200,000 lives. One wants to ask, How could God permit such a thing to happen?”  Such a question is not irreverent but only logical.  If God is in control and if God is good, then, it seems, He shouldn’t let such disasters take place.  One theologian takes the logic a step farther.  Knowing that God is the ultimate cause of everything, he asks, “Why does He do such things?”  In other words, this theologian is indicating that God caused the deaths of so many in a single event.”  It’s a shocking but honest conclusion. 

 Some of us might be equally shocked by Jesus’ remark to the Syrophoenician woman in the God.  It seems so unlike Jesus – so un-Christian – for him to refer to non-Jews as dogs.  Why would he say such a thing?  Perhaps he’s just very tired?  Or perhaps in the first century Jesus’ remark was not the insult it appears to be in our race-conscious society? 

It’s hard to say what Jesus has in mind, but perhaps it is better that we don’t try to defend the remark.  Rather let us focus our attention on the woman’s faith-filled response and Jesus’ benevolent will.  She is not stymied by the insult, if it was that.  Rather, in faith, she fires back.  “Lord,” she says recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”  So she humbly persists to request the favor.  Jesus, for his part, graciously consents.  He knows that as God’s emissary, he cannot deny help to those who believe in him.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 2:4b-9.15-17; Mark 7:14-23)

What if humans did not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?  Would we be better off?  Would we even have been born since human generation seems to be an outcome of eating the forbidden fruit?  Eden sounds harmonious, even blissful, but can humans be happy there?  Today’s first reading begs this line of questioning.

The human encounter with evil was inevitable.  The forbidden fruit was in plain sight, and there was an enticer waiting to encourage humans to take and eat it.  Still humans could have resisted and lived in oblivious obedience forever.  Instead, humans have become not necessarily more thoughtful, but calculating, always weighing pros against cons when deciding to do something.

Yet how much should we regret the first humans’ decision to eat the fruit?  It led not only to the development of our intellect but also to the Son’s Easter triumph in which we proclaim, “O Happy Fault!” 

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

(Optional) Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes

(Genesis 1:20-2:4a; Mark 7:1-13.  Alternate readings for Our Lady of Lourdes: Isaiah 66:10-14c; John 2:1-11)

The gospels are clear: Jesus cured people of illnesses.  However, he probably did not heal all the sick people who searched for him as some accounts indicate.  Nor did he spend all his time healing but preached and taught as well.  It seems important to say this lest people think that curing physical disease is what the Kingdom of God is all about.

Although most pilgrims go to Lourdes looking for physical healing, only a small are granted this desire.   Yet nearly everyone, it seems, returns home satisfied.  They experience in the confluence of people from around the world in this village of southern France a unity of faith and goodwill that uplifts the soul.  One mother explained after taking her son with cancer there, that he was healed in the sense that he could now accept death with peace.

 There is nothing wrong with praying for healing.  Such prayer demonstrates a faith in God’s domination of the power of evil.  At the same time, we should realize that God heals in different ways.  To some He will grant the grace of reconciliation with foes so that they may live in greater, life-giving love.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Monday, February 9, 2025

 

Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin

(Genesis 1:1-19; Mark 6:53-56)

As everyone knows, the word “Genesis” is taken from the Greek word meaning “beginnings.”  Genesis tells of the beginnings of everything: the universe, the earth, life, and most especially human beings. 

Today’s passage from Genesis tells of God making something of the heavens and the earth that He has already created.  As His instrument, God uses only His word.  It is as if all things hear and summarily obey the vibrations of air from His voice. God’s word accomplishes His will so that everything is ultimately subject to Him.

Jesus taught us that God’s almighty word is ready to shape our lives if we permit it.  It is spoken in the Scriptures and especially by Jesus himself.  Being images of God, we have the capacity to accept or reject God’s word.  Rejecting it, like the people of Jesus’ hometown in today’s gospel, we deny ourselves the fulness of life. Living that word brings us the eternal joy and peace of Jesus risen from the dead.