Tuesday, June 2, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Peter 3:12-15a.17-18; Mark 12:13-17)

The recent motion pictures “Man of God” relates the saintly life of the Greek Orthodox priest, Nektarios of Aegina.  Nektarios demonstrated holiness when he gave a beggar the shoes on his feet, when he retired to prayer and work in a monastery, and – most of all -- when he refused to use his popularity as a platform to attain high ecclesial office.  In a poignant scene, Nektarios is urged to seek the patriarchy of Alexandria for the sake of the people.  He told his promoter that he was tempting him with power.  In today’s gospel Jesus similarly resists the flattery of the Herodians and Pharisees.

In Jerusalem to give himself as God’s servant, Jesus is approached by his enemies.  Before they ask a question meant to ensnare him in controversy, they try to flatter him with accolades about his integrity.  Jesus, however, knows their hearts, refuses to respond to the flattery, and then deftly responds to the question.  The scene ends with even his opponents amazed at Jesus’ astuteness.

Flattery plays on our pride, the basest vice because it inflates our ego.  Thinking of ourselves as important, we think less of God.  We are wise to be wary of excessive attention to us and to acknowledge the Lord behind any virtue we possess.  

Monday, June 1, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

(II Peter 1:2-7; Mark 12:1-12)

Today’s first reading resonates with the life of its patron, St. Justin Martyr.  The reading speaks of the need to fortify one’s hope with virtue.  Desiring eternal life alone will not accomplish it.  Rather, we must strive to live in accord with the classical virtues.  Christ will then crown our achievement with the courage to live and die for him.

St. Justin was such a sterling example of a virtuous life crowned with Christ that “Martyr” has become his last name.  Born of pagan parents, he studied philosophy before he became a Christian.  When he converted, he used his developed reasoning and oratory skills to defend the Church.  His legacy includes not only arguments for Christianity but also descriptions of early Christian liturgy.

The word “martyr” today is often used to chide someone who strives to live virtuously.  Some would say to such a person, “Why do want to be a martyr?” as if the person wanted harm to be done to her. However, the root meaning of “martyr” is witness -- not necessarily dying witness but living witness as well.  We all can and should strive to be martyrs.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY 

(Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9; II Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18)

Today’s readings focus on one of the deepest mysteries of our Christian faith. From almost the very beginning, the Church has proclaimed the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as God. In time, the triune God came to be called “the Most Holy Trinity.” For eight centuries there were controversies about how the three persons relate to one another. Even today there is misunderstanding of the doctrine. So we may ask: why does the Church bring the Trinity into the liturgy at all? The answer is not difficult: because the doctrine of the Trinity shapes the way we live our daily lives.

The Judeo‑Christian understanding of God differs from others. The defining characteristic of the God of the Bible is not power but love. Almost all ancient peoples believed that the world was created through battles among the gods. The culture of Babylon, where the Jewish leaders were exiled for half a century, offers a typical example. The Babylonians believed that the great goddess Tiamat represented all the forces of terror: storms, floods, famine, and invasion by foreign tribes. To defend themselves from disaster, the lesser gods asked the great god Marduk to protect them from Tiamat. Marduk agreed to save them on the condition that they become his servants. Then Marduk cut Tiamat’s body in two to form the sea and the land. Once the world was established, the gods created human beings to bear the yoke of divine service. They were in no way equal to the gods—neither their partners, nor their image-bearers, nor stewards of their lands.

The Babylonian creation story is completely different from the biblical account. In the Bible, the one God created the world with the intention of allowing human beings, made in his image, to care for it. In time, God shared with them his name so they could call upon him in their need. In the reading from Exodus, God reveals himself as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, rich in mercy and faithfulness.” In other words, God is loving.

The understanding of God as loving expanded with the coming of Christ. Today’s Gospel speaks of God’s “only Son.” There is great love between the Father and the Son. Yet the Father handed over his Son to save us from sin. If it is true that one who loves much, does much, then this gift of the Son reveals the Father’s love for us as well. As Saint Paul: “I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature will ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38‑39).

The love between the Father and the Son is identified as the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not merely a common trait of the Father and the Son like strength. Rather, the Spirit is the dynamic love that unites them forever. Their mutual love overflows and reaches us so that we may become holy like they are.

The Most Holy Trinity is utterly unique. It cannot be described easily. What distinguishes the three persons? It is not what they think for all three think alike. Nor is what they want for all three want the same. Nor is it where they are for wherever one is, the other two are present. Nor is it what they do; what one does, the others do as well. The only way they differ is in their relationships with one another. One is Father, another is Son, and another is the Spirit of love.

The doctrine of the Trinity serves to remind us of the priority of love in our behavior. Just as the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father, so we are called to love one another.

 

Friday, May 29, 2026

 

Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Peter 4:7-13; Mark 11:11-26)

If you are offended by today’s gospel, you are not alone.  Some sympathize with the money changers and the dove merchants in the Temple.  Soft hearts say, “They are only doing what others have done for centuries to earn a living for their families.”  Or you may be scandalized by Jesus’ condemnation of the fig tree.  “Is Jesus ecologically indifferent?” tree-huggers ask.

The problem lies, however, not in Jesus’ actions but in people’s inability to appreciate what is taking place. It may not be “the time for figs,” but it is the time for salvation.  The world must stop and take notice if it is to survive.  More than humankind is at stake.  With the Death, Resurrection, Ascension of Jesus and the Descent of the Holy Spirit all creation will be renewed.  This is not a business-as-usual moment, but one that cries for repentance and belief.

St. Paul will tell us in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, “Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  We must always live in this “now” by practicing every word that Jesus has taught us.  Jesus may offend at times, but his offense is given to heal us.  He calls our attention to his redemption that is taking place.

Thursday, May 28, 2026

 

Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Peter 2:2-5.9-12; Mark 10:46-52)

The other day the newspaper reported on a family with combined income of $500,000 a year.  The feature of the story was that the family considered themselves “middle class” struggling to make ends meet.  Imagine that: earning a half million dollars a year and thinking you are just like anyone else!  Some people of privilege cannot think of themselves as special.  This seems to be the state of mind of the those whom the Letter of Peter addresses in today’s first reading. 

The author of the letter reminds the people of how fortunate they are.  He tells them that they are privileged to be called by Christ and accepted into his Church.  Now their lives, cleansed from sin by Baptism, give praise to God.  They should see themselves as the building stones of a magnificent cathedral revealing the glory of Christ and the saints. 

We enjoy the same special status as the early Christians.  We too have been called to stand out as people renewed by Christ’s teachings and the Holy Spirit.  It is important to remember why we are privileged.  The Lord has gifted us not so much for our sake but for his mission.  We are chosen in order to model for others God’s justice.  The half million dollar calling must not be squandered but put to good use.