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Readings for Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Wis 6:1-11
The Wisdom author instructs the rulers of the day, secular and religious, telling them that God, who is more powerful than they can imagine requires them to rule justly and to be compassionate in their rule, especially to the poor. He warns that if they are not, judgment against them will be harsh.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 82:3-4, 6-7R. Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.
Echoing the Wisdom instruction to show compassion to the poor, Psalm 82 places the same warning on the leadership. There is a stern warning that God’s judgment will be leveled against those who abuse their power.
Gospel Lk 17:11-19
The story of the Samaritan Leper, found only in St. Luke’s Gospel, reiterates Jesus’ ability to remove sins. Here the Lord cures 10 Lepers, outcasts who are viewed by the community as being under God’s punishment. When only the Samaritan returns to Jesus to thank the Lord for expressing God’s love through healing, Jesus pointedly asks where the Jews who received the same blessing have gone. While the Lord’s response to the praise of the Samaritan; “Your faith has cured you” is heard in other instances (see Luke 7:50; 8:48, 50), the more global message, that Christ came for the world is implicit in the story.
Reflection:
We have recently reflected upon this scripture (See the homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time). While the Wisdom reading and the psalm give it in a slightly different emphasis, the story stands well on its own.
The emphasis is changed with the instruction by Wisdom which is directed at those who have authority over others. In the broader sense that is just about everyone. At some point, most of us have authority over others; parents over children, older siblings over younger, the sales-person over the customer, and even the baby sitter over their charge. At the very bottom of that structure of authority are the poor, the homeless, and the very young. The exhortations of Wisdom are applied to all of us – those with authority must use it with compassion especially, we are told, when it comes to dealing with the poor.
While Wisdom and the Psalms give these instructions in words, Jesus showed us what those words meant with actions. We are given one example today as he encounters the ten lepers. It would have been customary in the Lord’s time to shun those afflicted people who called to him from a distance. They would have been viewed as sinful people of the worst sort, punished by God with a rotting disease that would, in addition to the horrible and disfiguring effects of the illness itself, require them to be outcast. No one could go near them; they must be dependent upon the charity of others for their existence.
The Lord could easily have shunned the lepers as prescribed by the law. But with authority from God comes great responsibility, especially for the powerless. With a word from the Lamb of God, they were made clean. His example to us once more proclaimed in actions.
Today we hear the words of Wisdom and we see the example of Jesus our Lord and mentor. We ask for the wisdom and understanding to see in our environment ways to reach out to those who are powerless and the strength to follow the path the Lord has shown us.
Pax[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The picture used is Jesus Heals the Ten Lepers, Caspar Luken, 1700
Virgin
Tuesday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time
Additional information about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin[1]
Readings for Tuesday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time[2]Reading from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Wis 2:23–3:9
The last verses of the second chapter of Wisdom make reference to original sin, Adam and Eve tricked into sin by Satan, and how through that sin death entered the world. The death referred to is spiritual death through sin.
In the third chapter we see the wonderful description of the resurrection and the life of heaven as the author paints the picture of the souls of the just with God “…the Lord shall be their King forever.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
Psalm 34 is a lament. The psalmist recalls that the Lord gives hope to those who are poor and have no hope. The Lord hears their cry and brings them comfort and peace.
Gospel Lk 17:7-10
Jesus continues to respond to the disciples request to have their faith increased. In this selection he uses the story of the servant who, just because he had finished his other duties, could not claim his master’s gratitude. He was only doing what he was called to do. In the same way the disciples could make no special claim on God because they did what they were obliged to do because of their call.
Reflection:
We are tantalizingly shown the reward of those who are faithful in the first reading from Wisdom and then reminded in the Gospel that the prize for which we yearn cannot be earned by our merit but must be a gift, freely given. It is like a lesson taught to a young child. The parents want the child to learn the right things to do so to encourage them they offer something huge. It would be like them saying, “Clean up your room and I’ll give you a pony.” The value of the reward far exceeds the value of the effort.
But how could we earn eternal life? What measure of effort could be applied to something that is priceless? All we can do is our best to understand what God is calling us to do and to be and respond as well as we can. And when we start thinking that we have done something of real importance, something of which we can be proud, we should think about this short saying of the Lord as he tells us “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.”
Here we must be careful. Our human minds might think “If the Lord is not going to be grateful because I have expended all this effort, why should I try?” It is an attitude we see commonly in the work place. If a worker is not rewarded with what they perceives is an adequate reward, consistent with their level of effort, they will stop making that extra effort. They have no pride of ownership of the task. It is just a job they are forced to do.
This cannot be our attitude when it comes to answering the Lord’s call to holiness. Our attitude must be the one of the craftsman who will not attempt a task unless it is done with artistry and the results worthy of their skill, regardless of the payment. That craftsman will be paid for the value of the work. So it will be with God for he sees in our hearts and knows if what we do we do out of love for Him or glory for ourselves.
Today we pray that all we do will bring glory to God our Father who hears us in our distress and provides an eternal home for us when we have faithfully responded to his call. And when we begin to feel like we have earned our place among the holy ones, let us remember his word to the disciples “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.”
Pax[1] The photograph is St. Frances Cabrini, photographer UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Bishop and Martyr
Monday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time
Additional Information about St. Josaphat[1]
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Josaphat[2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Wis 1:1-7
The Holy Spirit guides the just but those whose hearts turn away cannot hear that voice. This series of encouragements to justice are attributed to the Holy Spirit with the last verse being used in the Liturgy of Pentecost.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
This song/prayer asks for guidance from the Holy Spirit. It recognizes that God’s spirit is in all His creation and its knowledge is omnipresent. This theme is consistent with the final verse in the Wisdom reading above.
Gospel Lk 17:1-6
Jesus begins teaching his disciples about forgiveness in the selection from St. Luke’s Gospel. He tells his friends to hold each other accountable and to forgive them if they ask for forgiveness. Even if it is a great sin (“seven times in one day” using Hebrew numerology, this would be absolute sin followed by absolute apology and forgiveness) forgiveness should be given.
Perhaps in the face of this difficult commandment, the disciples ask for their faith to be increased. The Lord responds with a saying about the power of faith.
Reflection:
The Holy Scripture gives us a circle of cause and effect today. In the first reading from Wisdom and selection from Psalm 139 we are told, first that the Holy Spirit is everywhere in God’s creation. We are also told that if we have faith in that omnipresent hand of God that we will be guided to do what is right and just. Wisdom Literature is so rich in guidance.
These first two selections provide a back-drop for the Gospel as the Lord instructs his disciples to forgive those who sin against them. The presumption in this message goes a little deeper. The Lord is assuming that his disciples know that the “brother” is not just a person to whom they are related but includes all those with whom they have contact.
The depth of this forgiveness is expressed by Jesus in symbolic terms using the perfect number (most complete) “seven”. He tells them even if their brother sins against them seven times in one day (which would amount to a complete action) but begs forgiveness seven times (which would amount to a complete apology) they must forgive. The Lord, in addition to understanding the importance of loving one another, also understands that lack of forgiveness opens the door to the inverse of love, hate and hatred destroys the soul.
We all understand that the instinctive reaction of the human person, when wronged, is to strike back in kind or even to a greater extent than the wrong offered by our attacker. The disciples also saw that what Jesus was commanding them to do would be supremely difficult. Faced with this dilemma, they asked for what they needed in order to be able to respond to the commandment – more faith.
We find ourselves in a circle. If we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, we are able to respond with justice to situations in which we find ourselves. But justice is not retribution we are told by Jesus. Justice is forgiveness and forgiveness is difficult so we need more faith to listen more intensely to the Holy Spirit to respond more perfectly to the Lord. If we are diligent this circle becomes an upward spiral that will ultimately lead us to our Eternal Father. Difficult as it may be, we ask today for the strength to hear the Holy Spirit and forgive those who wrong us. It is what we are commanded to do.
Pax[1] The picture used today is St. Josaphat, Artist and Date UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Readings for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14
This selection from the Second Book of Maccabees provides examples of courage in the face of extreme cruelty based upon belief in the resurrection on the last day. This is one of the important theological ideas expounded upon in the book and provides a framework for our later understanding of the importance of Christ’s sacrifice and promise.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
The lament of David in this passage from Psalm 17 follows nicely from the prayers of the unjustly persecuted brothers in the first reading from Maccabees. Faith in God’s salvation will follow those who keep firm to God’s commands.
Reading II 2 Thes 2:16-3:5
This reading is comprised of the final verses of the second chapter of Second Thessalonians and the first verses of the third and final chapter. In this passage we see St. Paul encouraging the church of Thessalonica to keep firm to the gospel values with which he instructed them and then, beginning in the third chapter, he asks for prayers for his on-going mission to spread the Gospel message.
Gospel Lk 20:27-38
This passage from St. Luke’s Gospel feels very linked to the first reading from Maccabees. It has the same basic subject, the resurrection, and it uses seven brothers as part of the lesson. The real linkage comes as Christ refutes the Sadducees whose role, because of their rejection of the resurrection, would ironically parallel the evil king in the Maccabees reading. Jesus chides them as “children of this age,” a reference to their simplistic understanding of Mosaic Law.
Or Lk 20:27, 34-38
The shorter version of this Gospel story really focuses on the nature of the spirit at the resurrection. Jesus says that while the bonds of love and friendship remain, the resurrected are like angels for “they are children of God”.
Homily:
Let’s imagine a number of situations that either have occurred or could occur for each one of us. First, think about a youngster who comes home from school. He plop down his school books and go in and turn on the TV. He watches for a while (probably until someone yells at him to turn it off). Perhaps he watches a cartoon program where warriors from a distant planet attack a peaceful planet and are rescued by a young hero with incredible powers who destroys them with a magic sword or blasts them with a powerful laser. Scattered throughout this time in front of the TV (a wide screen, high def, plasma, with surround sound) he takes in commercials. Most of these are geared right at his age group. They offer him cloths that make him look really cool or fragrances that will make young women find him irresistible. We wonder what life messages are taken in. This is after all a shot glimpse. Now we imagine it as a routine practiced each school day. (We could also have switched genders here and made he a she – same scenario.)
Next, let’s imagine that we are in a drug store, like CVS or Walgreens. We are walking down the isle and we see an elderly person standing in the isle staring at a selection of remedies. They turn their head to look at us and pleadingly look as if they are about to cry. We ask “What is the problem?”
They answer “I have forgotten my glasses and cannot tell which medicine I need to buy.”
We try to help and notice that the person is still looking confused. We ask what the problem is, thinking that perhaps we are in the wrong section. We are told after a pause that the person cannot remember what medicine it was that they were supposed to purchase.
About this time some are probably starting to wonder where all this is taking us. These two vignettes form a modern allegory to our scripture. In the scripture selection from the Second Book of Maccabees we hear the story of seven brothers and their mother. They have been taken prisoner by an evil king who is trying to force them violate their religious beliefs by eating pork. This practice is forbidden under Mosaic Dietary Laws. One by one they are tortured to death but all remain firm in their convictions because of their hope and faith in the resurrection.
We mover forward in scripture, coming to St. Paul speaking to the Church of Thessalonica. He tells them to remain firm in the Gospel values he has given them and that following the principles that Christ gave him will bring them to a life of peace. He concludes by asking for their prayers as he continues his mission of spreading the Gospel.
At last we come to the Gospel where Jesus engages in a debate about the resurrection with some Sadducees who do not believe in it. These Sadducees are religious leaders in Jesus’ day and they carry some authority. First they try to use simplistic logic to trap Jesus into violating Mosaic Law – the whole seven brothers each marrying the same woman thing.
Of course, the Lord sees that they have incorrectly understood the Law. They have tried to take the literal word of God and apply it to practical situations and have forgotten (or did not know) that God’s intent is that we be happy, not to punish. They did not understand because of their lack of faith that God’s intent is that we be with him forever.
Let’s return now to my obscure analogies. First, the young boy watching the TV, we look at him and ask ourselves, is he being force fed with things that violate his religious teachings? Look at the values being stuffed down his throat and he does not even know it. It’s OK to lie (“No honey, I don’t know who ate the last cookie.” Commercials can be insidious). It’s OK or even encouraged to be sexually active before one is married (the Tag commercials are the most blatant followed by Victoria’s Secret).
We are not railing against TV here. Entertainment media has challenged the moral social status quo for as long as there have been entertainers. We are pointing out that society is trying to force feed us values that violate the very core of our beliefs and the unwary can be easily lead down that path. And it’s not just the young. All age groups are targeted, all age groups can be equally vulnerable.
What about the second analogy. The old person without glasses and memory of the right path can also be us if we do not take the time to look at the path to the resurrection. If we do not know the language the Lord uses, how will we make the right choices? If we do not constantly refresh ourselves with his presence, when we need to choose, will we remember the right path?
The prize we are offered once more today is one that while real and important may seem far off. The choices we make today, however, may have a drastic impact on that future. Like a very bad choice about the stocks in our 401K or retirement account, it could mess up our retirement plans royally. The message from scripture we hear today is first we must be steadfast in our faith, understanding that the secular world is trying to force feed us with values and ideals that will destroy us. In order to avoid those choices we must constantly be building up our understanding of the life God wants for us and exposing ourselves to him and his influence in prayer and the sacraments.
We pray today for the strength of the seven brothers, to reject the poison of sin and rejoice in the promise of the Lord who, for our salvation, opened the gates of heaven in the new resurrection.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The picture used today is The Resurrection by El Greco 1596-1600
Additional Information about Saint Leo the Great[1]
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Leo the Great[2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27
This selection from the last chapter of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans is part of what is known as “Letter of Recommendations to Phoebe”. It was probably sent to the Church in Ephesus as opposed to Rome. In verse 22 the “Tertius, the writer of this letter” mentioned is St. Paul’s scribe.
The selection concludes with a doxology or short hymn to the Lord that concludes the letter (both the selection and the whole letter to the Romans) in praise of Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. This singer, in these strophes, pours out his heart to God whose greatness is unknowable and who, through his creation, has demonstrated majesty beyond any human undertaking.
Gospel Lk 16:9-15
This passage contains the conclusions or morals of the parable of the dishonest steward. The explanation of the first conclusion in this selection is handled well by the footnote from the NAB: “Dishonest wealth: literally, "mammon of iniquity." Mammon is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word that is usually explained as meaning "that in which one trusts." The characterization of this wealth as dishonest expresses a tendency of wealth to lead one to dishonesty. Eternal dwellings: or, "eternal tents," i.e., heaven. his opposed to the teachings.”
The lesson taught to the disciples in the second and third morals of that story are first the need to be faithful to positions of responsibility and finally the inability of a person to serve two masters.
Reflection:
The story in the parable of the dishonest steward, for which today’s Gospel was the conclusion, demonstrates that caution must be exercised when dealing with those in the secular world in maters of material wealth. (The implication is that we should not have to worry about that when dealing within the community of faith.)
The second conclusion is that trust is a matter of character (and should be the hall mark of Christian character). If a person is trustworthy, they may be trusted in large or small matters, temptation will not dissuade them from their honest and faithful trust. If, on the other hand, a person is not trustworthy even small trusts will be violated.
The final conclusion summarizes the lesson today. One may not serve two masters, God and wealth. If our prize is eternal life then our eyes must be fixed firmly on God. Yes, we use the gifts he has given us to make our way in the world. We also make sure that our brothers and sisters are helped along the way. But our efforts are for God’s glory not for the sake of accumulating wealth. Wealth is its own prize and the rewards end with this life.
That final one – we cannot serve two masters is often difficult for those of us who live in the secular world. We need to make a living to support ourselves and our families and frequently the demands of the work place can challenge our attitudes that all we do must be done for God’s greater glory.
There is a more treacherous temptation as a result of the pressure to provide well for the family. Not only can we become so focused on the “almighty dollar” (that puts it in perspective doesn’t it) but we are tempted to either cut corners so we can complete our assigned tasks more quickly or find alternate, less honest ways of bringing financial security.
Sometimes the hardest thing we do as disciples is take the time to do our jobs well, even at the expense of time we know we should be spending on pursuits that would build us up spiritually or be better for our family relationships.
We have a good reminder of a very practical aspect of Christian values today. Let us pray that our efforts reveal God’s glory and our own wealth help those in need. Let us remember that in all things we are children of the light and greed has no place with us.
Pax
Pray for Phoebe.
[1] The icon used today is St. Leo the Great, Artist and Date UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Additional Information about the Lateran Basilica[1]
Readings for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome[2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
On this feast it is my tradition to offer you the reflections of others within the universal Church. Today’s reading commentary comes from Deacon Lazaro J. Ulloa. The reflection comes from the Diocese of Wichita’s Daily Reflections.
Reading 1 Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
In today’s First Reading, the prophet describes a river of fresh water that flows from the Temple. The river flows from the east side of the temple through the Kidron Valley and into the Dead Sea. This flowing river will bring life to the Dead Sea and it will be a place where fish abound and tress will grow. This unrealistic vision is a testament to the life-giving power of God who lives in the Temple. The vision also brings to mind the rivers that watered the Garden of Eden in Gen 2:10-14. The prophet brings hope in the renewed life that God will bring his people.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 (This commentary is my own)
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
Psalm 46 is a song of praise. In these strophes we see the same imagery of the stream used in the first reading from Ezekiel. The life giving water is a gift from God, our strength in the face of opposition. The singer confidently proclaims the greatness of God whose hand created all the earth.
Reading II 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17
In the Second Reading, Paul admonishes the community at Corinth for working against the plan of God. They pin one minister against the other, and Paul believes that this sabotages the work he and the others have done. Jesus Christ must be the one foundation upon which everything else is built, including the Temple which here actually means the collective identity of Christians. God lives in this “temple” (Christian community or Church) which is not built by human hands. In the OT, God is reluctant to allow his people to build a temple because this could lead to the belief that God is more present in one place than in another. For Paul, destroying God’s temple is synonymous with destroying the unity of the community. The more the people forget that God lives among them in their community, the greater their desire to build a temple.
According to Scripture, Solomon on a site selected and purchased by David built the Temple at Jerusalem. This place, a rocky eminence north of Ophel, has been continuously occupied ever since. Today the Mosque of Omar and the so-called Dome of the Rock occupy this site. This first Temple, also known as Solomon’s Temple, took approximately 70 years to build and suffered all the vicissitudes of the nation of Israel itself, eventually being reduced to rubble. The second Temple’s construction began after the Jews returned from their exile in Babylon in 538 BC but proceeded at a snails pace. This Temple was also subject to pilferage. In 20BC, Herod the Great began the complete rebuilding of the Temple. This reconstruction continued until shortly before the Jewish revolt ca. 62AD. Eventually this second Temple was also destroyed when the Roman Army in 70AD under the command of Titus sacked Jerusalem. This was a crushing disaster for Israel. Today what remains of this once great structure is known as the Wailing Wall. (see Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 15.11.1 §380) The physical purification of the Temple found in today’s Gospel Reading might remind us of the type of symbolic deeds performed by the prophets of the OT. Jesus’ actions, although not a miracle, is still a sign that the soon to be destroyed Temple was in need of purification and that its function would be replaced by Jesus himself.
Gospel Jn 2:13-22
In contrast to the Synoptic Gospels, in today's reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus travels to Jerusalem for Passover at the beginning of his ministry. These multiple visits to Jerusalem found in John’s Gospel are probably more correct historically. However, the actual event of the Temple purification probably took place toward the end of Jesus’ life as found in the Synoptics and probably served as the final straw which lead to his condemnation and eventual crucifixion by the Jews. For John, the antagonism by the “Jews” echo’s the later antagonism between Jews and Christians. John also drives home his point by using a literary style that progresses from ambiguity to misunderstanding and finally to comprehension.
Reflection:
Emperor Constantine confiscated the property of the Laterani family and gave it to the Church. On that property was erected the Cathedral of Rome and of the world. Pope Sylvester I dedicated this Cathedral basilica on this date in 324 A.D. The name of the Cathedral is really “Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior.” On the porch of the basilica (Cathedral) is an inscription: “The sacred Lateran basilica which is the mother and head of all the Churches throughout the entire world. The popes lived next door to this basilica for a thousand years (until they moved to Avignon.)
Adjacent to the Cathedral is a very large baptistry building. This baptistry is larger than most Churches. The baptistry was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. All baptisms in ancient Rome took place here. Thus even the Cathedral came to be known as “St. John Lateran,” that is “the Cathedral adjacent to the baptistry of St. John the Baptist which is on the old Laterani property.” Thus the misnomer!
Every important event in European history took place here for a thousand years. From here, missionaries were sent out to convert Britain and the Slavs and the Normans and the Irish and the Germans. But Churches are more than historical monuments. They are the places of contact between God and his people. Through the celebration of the sacraments Jesus Christ lives and moves among us. We meet him most perfectly in buildings called Churches.
Today, then, we honor the presence of Jesus Christ in his Church. The first reading describes water flowing from the temple at Jerusalem. From a trickle, it becomes a torrent. It gives life. This is a symbol of baptism, and calls to mind the place of the basilica as the site of baptism in ancient Rome. The second reading tells us that we, ourselves, are really God’s building. We are living stones built on the foundation of Christ himself. The gospel describes Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. His house must always be a house of prayer. Let us make sure that this is true of our Church buildings — and of ourselves as God’s temple.
(At 8:24 PM last night, Dave Hankin’s body followed his soul into everlasting life. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.)
Pax[1] The photograph used today of St. John Lateran Basilica has been placed in the public domain.
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Readings for Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rom 14:7-12
St. Paul makes it clear that Jesus died and rose that he might be Lord of the dead and the living. All are one in the Lord. Based upon this unity, the Evangelist chastises those who judge others (in the context of this section, this chastisement is directed at those who follow Mosaic Law scrupulously condemning those who do not). He reminds the community that on the last day we will all stand before the same God to be judged.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1bcde, 4, 13-14R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27 is an individual lament. Here the signer expresses faith in God who is the refuge of the faithful, longing to find the ultimate safety and bounty of God’s heavenly kingdom.
Gospel Lk 15:1-10
The two parables (the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin) show clearly the Lord’s love for all people and special joy in those who repent. These two are followed immediately by the parable of the Prodigal Son which emphasizes this point further.
Reflection:
Those who are walking this journey with me may have noticed that for the past several days I have been concluding the posts with “Pray for Dave.” David Hankins is one of my very best friends. He, his wife Phoebe and their children have been close to us since we both became members of the same CFM (Christian Family Movement) group over ten years ago.
Dave, I have discovered over the years, had much in common with St. Augustan (although not to the same extent). His early life had some pretty wild episodes but he found Christ (or Christ found him wandering) and hooked him to Phoebe and started him on a path that led him to a life that I can only call enviable. Dave is, at lease as far as I can tell, an example of lived faith. Because of his humility, Dave’s service to others makes him one to follow (although he would never claim to be a leader). Much like St. Francis, Dave is a doer not a talker. He is one of the hardest working people I know, working days at the University of Michigan Hospital as a Maintenance Mechanic (he can fix just about anything) and evenings will almost always find him working on his home or the home of a friend. Dave has more energy than any fifty year old I have ever met.
Dave has the innocent faith that the Lord cherishes. Always seeking more knowledge his intellectual depths are frequently underestimated. (It’s that humility thing again.) It is because of this faith that what follows is only tragic to those of us who know and love him. Saturday of last week Dave, without any warning, went into cardiac arrest (not a heart attack – this problem was electrical – Dave’s weakest skill). In spite of heroic efforts by his wife Phoebe who immediately started CPR, and then by Paramedics who had to use the paddles to start his heart back up, the damage was apparently done. Yesterday we were told that the damage to Dave’s brain was too severe. Dave will not be coming back to us. His body lives (for a while) but Dave is flying toward our Heavenly Father.
It seems ironic that today St. Paul punctuates our grief reminding us the Lord died and rose so that all who believe, the living and the dead, might be one in him. The story of the lost sheep and coins remind us how intensely the Lord loves those who were lost and are found. David was certainly found.
These words comfort us in our grief and remind us that, to the Lord, death is only a horizon over which we, the living, cannot see and that God’s love binds us to those whom we love for all eternity. Those bonds are not broken by death but unite us across the gulf between those of us who remain behind and those who have gone ahead.
We miss David intensely and shall continue to close our posts with the words “Pray for Dave” until his body follows his soul. We pray today that his passing, and the passing of all those who die in the friendship of Christ may be an easy one and that if we are found worthy, we may join them one day.
Pax
Pray for Dave!
[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The picture used today is Parable of the Lost Drachma by Domenico Feti, 1618-22
or:
R. Alleluia.
This hymn of David exalts the person who follows the Law of God. A number of actions associated with this faithfulness are presented including acts of generosity, mercy charity, and honesty. That person, we are told, will be held up by God.
Gospel Lk 14:25-33
The Lord, perhaps in an action intended to identify those who had the zeal to be true disciples, tells the crowd of the necessity of total dedication to the call to discipleship. He tells them, through two examples – the construction of the tower and the evaluation of the battle, that they must measure the sacrifice needed to be his follower. He punctuates his statement by telling them they must “renounce” all their possessions to follow him.
Reflection:
There is within the call to discipleship a natural growth that takes place. We see clearly that God gives faith in different amounts at different times. Some of us are ready to take the call to holiness completely and let it dominate our lives; others of us grow toward that ideal gradually, growing in faith and understanding.
In St. Luke’s Gospel we hear the Lord explaining that full discipleship requires that singleness of purpose evident in his closest friends, the Twelve. As he walked through Galilee, great crowds followed him. Some were just curious, others malicious, and still others truly wished for the truth. Cognoscente of this, the Lord lets all of them know what it will take to follow him. We can almost see the crowds melting away.
But even in that day some would have tried to follow the Lord, working toward that complete submission necessary for discipleship. It is what we do today. Few of us are free to commit completely to the literal ideal expressed in scripture today. Most of us have worldly obligations that require us to work at a secular job and support ourselves and families.
This secular encumbrance, however, does not excuse us from the basic instruction from the Lord. Dedication to God and His Son must be first in our lives. Our love for the Lord must color everything we do. Paul has it absolutely correct in his first reading today. The filter through which all our actions must pass is the filter of love.
Love is more than an emotion, more than a feeling (excuse me Kansas), it is an attitude, a decision. Love directs us to do what is right for others and to others. It places a balance in our lives. If we love others and ourselves, we can find that balance between how much to give and what we need to keep. If love for one another drives our interaction with others, it must also be the source of our relationship with God. Indeed, the first part of the Lord’s Great Commandment tells us to Love the Lord our God.
This is one of those topics that cannot be done justice in the short space we have here. Let us pledge today that we will really try, with God’s help, to so completely love those we meet that they will instantly know we are disciples of the one who was love personified, Jesus Christ.
Pax
Pray for Dave
Readings for Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]Reading from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rom 12:5-16ab
St. Paul speaks to a community that is one in faith in Christ. He tells the community that in their union the gifts of each must serve the needs of all and these gifts need to be exercised. In the second part of the selection the Evangelist gives a litany of exhortations to live the love of Christ, following his command to love one another sincerely and to forgive those who persecute them.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Linking into St. Paul’s idea of using the gifts God has given; the singer proclaims trust in the Lord and peace, like a child’s contented peace, in that trust.
Gospel Lk 14:15-24
This story from St. Luke’s Gospel is an analogy for those of the Jewish faith who reject Jesus as the Messiah. He tells them that those to whom faith in God first was given have rejected the very prophecy the hold sacred and others will enjoy the fulfillment of those prophecies.
Reflection:
St. Luke’s Gospel was most likely written for a gentile audience and as such stories like the one related in the selection for today would have been received as reinforcement to the call to faith. They see the Lord speaking with the Pharisees, one of the most religious groups within the Jewish community. He is telling them that they have been invited to follow him and it is up to them to accept the invitation. He goes further though, telling these leaders of the Jewish faith that while the invitation has been given to them, Jesus knows they will make excuses not to accept and in the end, the Gentiles will be the ones celebrating the Banquet of God.
The gentiles would have rejoiced at this description, reassured that their faith was not in vein. They would have taken the words of St. Paul to heart and lived as the Lord envisioned and instructed, unified as one body in faith; each member using his or her own gifts for the benefit of all and as a group, caring for the poor and the marginalized.
That same invitation flows down through the millennia to us. We are invited to that banquet and like those Pharisees who dined with Christ; he looks at us and sees our hearts. His attitude, as it must have been with those Jewish leaders, would not be condescending or judgmental. It would be one of love and compassion. He knows we are torn between following our human desires and his difficult path. But he knows that we may not be constant in our acceptance of that invitation he makes it clear that the door is open and his hand is out to us.
That, as always, is our daily quest. How will we respond to that invitation today? Will we dress up in our “play cloths” and go out and get dirty? Or, will we bath in prayer and put on our very best cloths (clothing ourselves in Christ himself) and get ready for that wondrous party. The guest of honor is waiting. The feast of the Lamb is prepared; his body real food; his blood real drink. What is our response today?
Pax
Pray for Dave[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The picture today is Banquet at the House of Simon, Bernardo Strozzi, 1630
Readings for Monday of the Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rom 11:29-36
St. Paul, in this selection, concludes his discourse on sin and forgiveness indicating that what God has given (grace and faith) will not be revoked and cannot be undone. The second part of this reading celebrates the wisdom of God’s plan of salvation.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:30-31, 33-34, 36R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Psalm 69 is an individual lament. The signer cries out in the pain of their affliction offering to praise the Lord when salvation comes. They express confidence that God will continue his saving works and respond to those in distress.
Gospel Lk 14:12-14
Following on the teaching about humility (those seeking places of honor at the banquet) Jesus now goes on to speak of service to the poor and to those who are not expected to repay. The purpose of this discourse reflects Jesus’ concern that his disciples should minister to the poor not just to those who could repay them for their efforts.
Reflection:
Something important happens in scripture today. St. Paul informs us that the gift of grace and faith, once given by God in Baptism, cannot be revoked. Our nature, once fallen, is transformed and we are set on a path to eternal life.
We get excited about that gift. We hear the truth, that God, because we are his adopted children, will support us in our times of affliction. We are confident that the Lord, whose power extends beyond all understanding, will keep us safe in His love.
But then we read the Gospel. If we had been skeptical that these gifts came without any conditions we would have been wrong in one sense but right in another. Clearly, we cannot earn what God gives us through his Son. Clearly, once we have been taken into his family we will not be expelled. Clearly, the gates of heaven, once opened, will not be closed to us. However, there is an obligation placed upon us.
The Lord uses parables in some places to illustrate his point, let’s try one here. If we know that a house has been condemned and is not safe and we go into that house, breaking down the boards that are there to prevent entry and ignoring the signs, who do we blame when we are injured as a result of that trespass? Is it not our poor judgment that placed us in an unsafe position? If we are given God’s grace and the knowledge of his Son’s great commandment to us and then ignore those words, consciously and intentionally, who is to blame when, at the final judgment, we face the difficult period of repentance? Did the Lord somehow revoke what he had given us; or did we fail to keep up our end of the bargain? The same principle applies.
The Gospel tells us that our actions, guided by the Holy Spirit, must constantly be seeking ways to glorify and proclaim our allegiance to him. The wealthy Pharisee is gently chided by the Lord for extending his hospitality only to those who could reciprocate in kind. The Lord reminds these “religious” leaders that their invitation must include those who cannot pay them back. It is one more example that supports God’s law of love.
Today we pray that our actions will model those of the Lord who cares so much for us that he has adopted us as his children. We ask, once more, for the strength to be the visible force of God’s love in a world that so often does not know or care.
Pax[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The picture used today is Jesus at the House of Simon the Pharisee by Pieter Pauwel Rubens, 1618-20
Readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Wis 11:22-12:2
Wisdom tells us that God created all that is and has being and because his creation is loved by him, all things and people are loved. Implicit in that relationship, however, is the need for repentance by those who have sinned. In that repentance is salvation.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
This hymn of thanksgiving praises God for his mercy and reflects the same relationship as that described in the Wisdom reading above. God loves his creation and tries to conform all to his image. He punishes those who sin against him and gives support to the downtrodden.
Reading II 2 Thes 1:11-2:2
St. Paul concludes his introduction to his second letter by telling the Thessalonians that his prayer is that all may be worthy of the faith to which they were called and that their actions would bring Glory to God and Jesus, His Son. He begins the second chapter warning them not to be taken in by a false letter, purportedly from him (St. Paul) that said the Lord had already returned and the end times were upon them.
Gospel Lk 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus is another of the stories unique to the Gospel of St. Luke. The Tax Collector exemplifies the attitude the wealthy should take. Zacchaeus offers to give half of his possessions to the poor and to make amends four times over for any accounts he has wrongly settled. This action, the Lord tells those present, has earned him salvation.
Reflection:
Hearing the story of Zacchaeus we probably think “Boy, that’s really good advice for the wealthy.” That was the point the Lord was making with his comment to the Tax Collector, right? He undoubtedly spotted Zacchaeus in the tree and saw his fine cloths. Jesus may have turned to one of the crowd of people around him and asked “Who’s the rich guy in the tree?” (It probably sounds much more formal in Aramaic.). At any rate, he addressed him by name “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."
We are a little taken aback by his presumption. This was not a question; it was an announcement, as if he could have made that demand of anyone present. But then he recognized that Zacchaeus was Hebrew and as such was under the obligation of hospitality.
The response from Zacchaeus was immediate. Not only did he accept the Lord’s statement eagerly, but he went further, announcing publicly that he was donating half of what he owned to the poor and anyone who he had wrongly charged, he would repay four times over (Tax collectors were not paid a salary, they were expected to take a portion of what they were paid and typically padded the tax bill excessively.).
Now back to that opening line – “Boy, that’s really good advice for the wealthy.” Scripture scholars do indeed say this was the group Jesus was addressing with this story. But we (I am now addressing myself and the audience I presume this reaches most frequently in the US, UK and Australia.), by the standards of the modern world are all wealthy. We do not have to beg in order to buy food; we do not depend upon others for survival as the poor in the Lord’s day did.
We are bound by the Lord’s injunction. We, today, hear the Lord addressing us – “… for today I must stay at your house." Again the Lord makes a statement, not a request. We are his disciples after all and we should, like Zacchaeus, be honored that he has chosen us. And what shall we tell the Lord? “Lord I am honored but I gave at the office.” Or “I’d love to have you over but I have other plans.”
The point the Lord makes in this story is that we, who have an abundance of the necessities, are to share with those who are in need. We cannot, in good conscience, sit back and make excuses. Even at our “tightest” we can still give of or time and effort in service to the poor or needy. And if we are uncomfortable thinking about that outward focus, look around us. Are their loved ones with whom we could share some time? Are there elderly that could use a visit (even parents or grand parents)? Could our children benefit from some quality time (giving up the football game or the movie would not be a terrible thing.)
No, today the call is not just to the wealthy. It is to each one of us. It is the call to love one another once more; to share what we have with those in need, be that material resources or time and effort. The Lord calls us by name today and tells us; today I must stay at your house. What is our response?
Pax[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The picture used today is Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree by James Tissot, 1886-96
Saint Martin de Porres, religious
Biographical Information about St. Martin de Porres[1]
Readings for Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time[2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29
St. Paul asks his Jewish audience if God has rejected them. The answer “Of course not!” identifies the Evangelist as an Israelite and begins his ironic description of how God used the rejection of the Messiah as a reason to invite the Gentiles to participate in his salvation. He goes on, in the passages omitted, to indicate that the Israel remains holy in the eyes of God but the majority that has rejected the Lord paved the way for God’s plan to invite the world into that favored status.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 17-18R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Psalm 94 is an individual lament. The strophes used today reflect the faith and confidence in God who will continue to support (linking to St. Paul above) them in the face of their enemies.
Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-11
This parable, found only in the Gospel of St. Luke, gives us Jesus teaching the need for humility. The Lord’s indirect criticism of those who seek the attention of the rich and ignore the poor sets the stage for the next passage and the parable of the great banquet.
Reflection:
After the feasts of the past two days we are acutely aware of the examples of faith around us and especially in those who have gone before us in faith. Today we remember especially St. Martin de Porres, the first black saint in the Americas. He is also called St. Martin the Broom because of the way he accepted and thrived on labor. St. Martin is placed against a back drop of scripture that provides a lesson on humility. Today’s honored saint exemplified that virtue to the point of being named a patron of social justice.
The scene painted in St. Luke’s Gospel is one where Jesus again is invited to dine with the “leading” Pharisees. As the guests file in, he notices that many of the guests are trying to get close to the host as places of honor are the seats at the head of the table. Haven’t we all seen this at social gatherings? It is typical, guests quietly measuring the status of the attendees, gathering around the more prominent guests.
Into this socio-political setting comes Jesus who sees the attention paid to status as a reflection of the ambivalence these religious people have for the poor and marginalized members of their society. Always the “life of the party”, the Lord takes them to task. He tells them that, if they wish to lead in the kingdom of God they must first serve. If they wish to be exalted, they must humble themselves.
This message comes to us with the exclamation point of St. Martin de Porres and we ask for his intercession today. We pray today that our service to God may never be a source of pride but rather a humble offering to His greater glory, a service that pales in comparison to the gift he left for us in his Son, Jesus, the Savior.
Pax
[1] The icon used today is of St. Martin de Porres by Robert Lentz, OFM contemporary artist
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The principle thrust of this, most popular of the Psalms, is trust in God. The figure of the Good Shepherd is later used extensively by Christ reinforcing his relationship to the Father.
Reading II Rom 6:3-9
St. Paul expresses both the hope and the theology behind our belief in the resurrection of the faithful with Christ. In Baptism we are receive the adoption of God. As His children we join His Only Son and pass, as he did through death to new life.
Gospel Jn 6:37-40
This Gospel passage is part of the “Bread of Life” section from St. John’s Gospel. In this selection, the Lord tells those gathered that no one will be rejected that asks to follow the Son of God. He goes further telling the crowds, that anyone who believes in him “may have eternal life.”
Reflection:
Today is the day we celebrate God’s promise of salvation through the forgiveness of sins and recall all those who have gone before us in faith. We believe that our family members and friends who professed faith in God and his Son have (or one day will) achieve a place in the heavenly kingdom. We pray that their passage from this life to the next will not be too difficult.
The promise is made in the St. John’s Gospel “…everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” That promise is amplified by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans as he defines the opening of that heavenly gate as our Baptism into Christ’s family. In that baptism we not only embrace the life of Christ but his death and in dying with him, we will rise with him.
This is our great hope. But those who have gone before us need our prayers because we know a few things, also from scripture. First we know that God’s time is not our time. We also know that, in order to come before him we must be completely purified. It is stated in the reading from Wisdom:
“For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.”
We see in this verse the process necessary before we come to that heavenly place. This is stated clearly in our understanding of that passage as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1030)
So today we pray for those who have gone before us in faith assured of a place of light and peace, but on a continuing journey to holiness. We pray especially today that their passage may be swift, and when our time comes, we also may take that road to life with Christ.
Pax[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The Picture used today is Graveyard Under Snow by Caspar David Friedrich, 1826
[3] First reading and Gospel are alternate selections from 1011-1016 of Lecotionary Vol. IV
Readings for the Solemnity of All Saints[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14
St. John’s vision of the heavenly kingdom unfolds in this passage with an image of those who have gone from this life to the next and now stand before the throne of God. Hebrew numerology provides the one hundred and forty four thousand number (from each of the tribes of Israel) representing a huge number (1,000 times 12 times 12) and follows that with uncounted Saints from the Gentiles beginning with the martyrs (those who have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb).
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Psalm 24 is a processional song. It recalls that God is the great creator and he calls his people to be faithful. It asks the question who can come into his presence and answers only those who are sinless (completely reconciled to God). The who achieve that beatified state will receive the reward of eternal life from the savior.
Reading II 1 Jn 3:1-3
Once again the notes from the NAB to a very nice job of describing the intent of these verses: “The greatest sign of God's love is the gift of his Son (John 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.”
Gospel Mt 5:1-12a
This section of the Sermon on the Mount begins the first of five great discourses in St. Matthew’s Gospel. He begins using a formula common in the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament with “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This designation identifies those without material resources, completely dependent upon God. (This distinction is for the devout poor). The discourse continues blessing they who mourn, who are meek, who “hunger” for righteousness (to adopt the Lord’s law of love in their hearts), the merciful, the clean of heart (those who are reconciled to God), the peacemakers, the persecuted, and finally those who will be reviled because they profess faith in Christ.
Reflection:
The annual ritual that attempts to overshadow the celebration today has passed. The children and teens are now recovering from their sugar highs and, in some places, near hypothermia. The costumes both gruesome and cute are put away for another year and we can now focus on a truly important celebration of the universal Church- the Solemnity of All Saints. Each year at the Vatican following the Angelus, the Pope makes a short address to mark the occasion. In 2003, Pope John Paul the Great said the following of this day:
“Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. It invites us to turn our gaze to the immense multitude of those who have already reached the blessed Homeland, pointing us to the road which leads to that destination.
The Saints and Blesseds of Paradise remind us, as pilgrims on Earth, that prayer, above all, is our sustenance for each day so that we never lose sight of our eternal destiny.” (John Paul II, Angelus, Solemnity of All Saints, Saturday, 1 November 2003)
Listening to the scripture today we hear first from St. John who writes from his tiny cell on the island of Patmos the Book of Revelations (or Apocalypse). He envisions all of those who have turned faithfully to the Lord and have washed themselves clean in the Blood of the Lamb. An obvious metaphor for Jesus, especially because the robes of those so washed were white, free of blemish.
Those who have gone before us have indeed pointed us on our way. I am reminded of parents who constantly point their children in the direction their experience tells them is best and how often that very good advice is shunned. We cannot afford to ignore the directions we are given, first by Jesus who tells us “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
Today as we recall all of those Saints who have gone before us in faith we ask ourselves, with all of these examples, what is the best way for me to follow? The answer to that question can only be found in the depths of prayer and the illumination of the path through the lives of all those varied and winding journeys taken by the Saints we remember today. From the Holy Innocents who died never having tasted life to the colored path taken by the likes of St. Augustine, the path we follow must be the one were Christ leads us.
The beatitudes make it clear – there are may paths but what is common is our need to listen to the word of God and follow where he leads, never giving up never becoming disheartened. At the end of our journey through this life to the next, what the Lord will look at with his intensely loving stare is what we have done for his greater glory with what he gave us. Let us pray we are not found lacking. Pax[1] After Links to Readings Expire[2] The picture today is Virgin in Glory with Saints by Giovanni Bellini, 1510-15
