Sunday, November 9, 2025

 

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22)

Perhaps you are wondering, as I am, why we celebrate the dedication of a church. Also, how can the feast of the dedication of a church replace Sunday, the Lord's Day? It may seem strange, but the Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, the leader of the universal Church. For this reason, we are celebrating today not only the Lateran Basilica but also all the churches of the world.

The term "church" has different aspects that we should explore. For most of us, however, church means the building where God is worshipped. Thus, it has a special significance. It is a place sanctified not only by the Eucharist and the relics of the saints but also by the prayers of the faithful. Their voices have resonated in many churches for centuries, making the place holy. This is certainly the case with the Lateran Basilica. Furthermore, the church is a privileged place of encounter between God and human beings. When we enter a church, we make the sign of the cross with holy water to cleanse ourselves of contamination of the world as we meet the Lord. 

We also speak of the church as the community that gathers to pray. The church is seen as a community of disciples of Christ in today's second reading. Saint Paul calls the Christian community in Corinth "the temple of God." He means that the men and women who comprise that community are learning how to act as the Body of Christ in the world. Pope Leo had this idea in mind when he addressed the Catholics gathered in his honor in Chicago in June. The pope exhorted them to “build a community” of light and hope.

A community of light and hope will serve others so that the world may know Christ. In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, water flows from the Temple to irrigate the fruit trees. The fruit of these trees will feed the people, and their leaves will produce medicine to heal the sick. Likewise, the Church serves the world through countless charities and hospitals, providing for people’s physical needs.

Above all, the community of Christ, the Church, is a sacrament. That is, the Church is a sign established by Christ to transmit God’s grace. How can this be? From its earliest days, the Church has identified itself with the Body of Christ. Jesus himself, in today’s Gospel reading from John, identifies his Body with the Temple where sacrifices are offered. Indeed, His Body became the perfect sacrifice on the cross, bestowing the grace that forgives sins and justifies sinners. This same sacrifice is celebrated wherever the community of Christ gathers. Proceeding from the Mass to the world, the community radiates the holiness of Jesus Christ to all.

The Church as servant of the world, community of disciples, and sacrament does not encompass all its aspects. Many know the Church by its hierarchy, its rules, and its organizations. That is, they know the Church as an institution. Because it has been an effective institution, it has been able to endure for almost two thousand years. Another dimension of the Church is its role as herald, announcing Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. We would not be faithful to Christ if we did not proclaim this Good News. Finally, the Church is a mystery imbued with the presence of God. Human participation has created faults in the Church’s performance, but it has been able to overcome the challenges of history because of this permanent presence of God. And God will be present to us as long as we remain faithful to Christ.

Friday, November 7, 2025

 

Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 15:14-21; Luke 16:1-8)

Some line up at the box office the night before tickets go on sale to see a baseball game.  Others fly to faraway places to attend a Taylor Swift concert.  In today’s gospel parable Jesus recommends that we serve the poor to attain a place in heaven.

People have difficulty with this parable.  They hear Jesus suggesting that the seeker of eternal life do something crooked.  This is not the case. It is true that Jesus commends the steward who squanders his master’s property.  However, he does so not because of the steward’s injustice, but because he acted to secure his future.  Jesus wants his disciples to act so that they may have eternal life.  The action that he urges throughout the Luke’s Gospel is to give relief to the needy.

Also, the question of our doing anything to merit salvation begs clarification.  Strictly speaking, nothing we do on our own can bring about eternal life.  However, under the Spirit’s influence, which is necessary if we are to even acknowledge the possibility of heaven, our acts are meritorious.  Indeed, Jesus tells us quite directly in the Gospel of St. Matthew (25:31-46) that only by assisting the needy can we be accepted into the eternal Kingdom of God.

Thursday, November 6, 2025

 

Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 14:7-12; Luke 15:1-10)

Today’s gospel responds quite well to the first reading.  It also prepares for the great follow-up parable in Luke 15. 

St. Paul questions the habit of Christians to characterize others as bad or good.  “Why then,” he asks, “do you judge your brother or sister?”  In the gospel Jesus likewise challenges his critics for judging others as hopeless.  He tells the scribes and Pharisees the parable of the lost sheep to demonstrate that public sinners are not as lost as they may think.

In Luke’s gospel the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin precede the epitome of parables, the Prodigal Son. At the end of that parable the elder son gripes about his younger brother’s conversion.  He is like the Pharisees and scribes criticizing Jesus for his attention to tax collectors and sinners.  The father then indicates to his elder son that he, like his brother, needs conversion.  Jesus similarly indicates to his critics that they need a change of heart.

Too often we, like the Pharisees and scribes, judge certain kinds of people as hopelessly lost.  We would do much better to see ourselves as lost in our pride and needing the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

 

Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 13:8-10; Luke 14:25-33)

Fr. Ignatius Smith was a brilliant, wise, and much-loved professor at Catholic University of America in the middle of the last century.  He used to say -- half in jest and half seriously -- quoting St. Paul, “’There are three virtues that remain: faith, hope, and love’ and the greatest of these is prudence.” Today’s first reading indicates why Fr. Smith’s statement is helpful.

Paul begins by citing five negative commandments, four of which are from the Decalogue.  He is confirming a traditional starting place in ethics: “First, do no evil.”  One cannot love everyone in the same way, but one can and should refrain from doing evil to anyone.  Then Paul states the commandment that covers and goes beyond negative commandments: “…love your neighbor as yourself.”  Although this statement is true, it requires distinctions because one is not obliged to love everyone in the same way.  One needs prudence to know how to love parents, fellow-workers, etcetera. 

In the reading Paul is nearing the end of his great Letter to the Romans.  He is giving practical advice for all the theology he has laid out in the letter.  The phrase “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” sums up this application.  It is the same command that we hear Jesus making in the gospel (Mark 12:31).  We are to love our neighbors, not necessarily equally, but in any case sincerely.

 

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

 Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop

 (Romans 12:5-16ab; Luke 14:15-24)

 There is an old story about an African-American who meets God outside of a church.  He apologizes to the Lord saying that he wants to enter the church but the people inside won’t let him in.  God responds that He too has been trying to get inside that church but the same people won’t let Him in either.

 The story represents a valid way to read today’s gospel parable.  At one time, not that long ago, American churches were segregated.  African Americans were either prohibited from entering a white congregation or forced to sit apart.  This might not have but the pastor’s wish, but it was in many places a de facto practice.  Jesus, of course, would never accept such a policy.  We can rightly hear him comparing the segregationists to those invited to the great Eucharistic banquet at the end of time. As in today’s gospel, these invited ones refuse to attend.  Blacks and the poor will then take their places in heaven.

 Today, however, we see the parable in a very different light.  As everyone knows, church attendance has dwindled in the United States.  People give various excuses that may sound similar to the ones in the parable – they are too busy; they are working; they are expecting company.  Others then will receive the call to fill the churches.  These people will also occupy the places at the Eucharistic banquet in heaven.  In American Catholic churches the newcomers are largely immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and Africa.