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Scripture:

1 Timothy 3:1-13
Luke 7:11-17

Reflection:

Beloved, this saying is trustworthy. 1 Timothy 3:1

Last week, as I was preparing for this homily, I read the first reading for the Saturday Mass, a reading from St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, St. Paul states: “This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.” (I Tim. 1:15) Then I reread the first reading for today’s Mass and Paul says, “This saying is trustworthy” to Bishop Timothy, a young man whom Paul mentored as he went about his missionary journeys.

What does trustworthy mean and why is it important? As I reflected on those questions, I went back to the New Testament and discovered that this word is used 21 times in the Gospels and the other books of the New Testament. We first find it used by Jesus who tells us that someone who is trustworthy in small matters will also be trustworthy in great ones (Luke 16:10). For the early church, being trustworthy was very important and the only to know if a person is trustworthy is by looking at what person says and does. As St. Luke explains in the Gospel passage cited, a person who lies, is dishonest and disrespects others is not trustworthy. We really do not need an expert to tell us this. Even a child knows when we are being trustworthy and when we are deceitful.

Recently, I began reading a biography of the Lutheran martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who became a theologian and a pastor when Hitler began his rise as leader in Germany. He came from a wealthy, well know family in Germany. Shortly after Hitler’s election, Bonhoeffer broadcasted a sermon over the radio in which he said that Hitler was not trustworthy and why. The radio station stopped transmitting mid-sermon, but no one would be able to stop him from preaching the Gospel. As we know, the German authorities later arrested him, threw him into a concentration camp and executed him. Of course, he was not the only one who condemned Hitler for his policy of extermination of the Jewish race and other crimes against humanity, but certainly he continues to be an outstanding example of someone who knows the difference between someone who is trustworthy and one who is not.

So, when Paul writes to Timothy, he is telling him to pay attention to what is trustworthy. Who is Timothy supposed to trust? Who are we supposed to trust? God and God’s Word. God acts of Love, which includes Jesus’ death on the Cross. The word and testimony of the many men and women over the centuries who have taught us the Gospel of Jesus, its values, its way of life, its sayings, and its saving message of grace. That is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance!

St. Paul is asking us to be trustworthy ourselves. And Paul is also asking us not to be deceived by people who are not trustworthy. The rest of the first reading describes people who are trustworthy and people who are not. What a wonderful message we have to today’s times!

In whom do we put our trust?

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is the local superior of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California. 

Scripture:

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22
Matthew 22:34-40

Reflection:

No Law So Demanding

Passionist Scripture scholar Fr. Barnabas Ahern once wrote that there is no law so demanding as the law of love. Today’s readings not only offer a classic example of this wisdom, they become a marvelous source or font for our meditation, because we are pulled into a delightful paradox as we ponder God’s love and care for us.

While Jesus begins with love of God, and from there proceeds to love of neighbor, Ruth’s dedication is, first of all, to Naomi, her mother-in-law, and only then to Naomi’s God. Widowed herself, Ruth refuses to leave widowed Naomi alone, to fend for herself.

This interplay might serve as a kind of guidepost for us today, in the chaos of politics and government, and, yes, organized religion. We come to God, to love, to loyalty and faithfulness, responsibility and commitment, first of all through love and admiration of another person. But we also notice how Jesus transcends the messy context of jealousy, polemics and “one-upmanship,” argumentation and intrigue… he simply invites us to relationship. To surrender and self-emptying. There is no law so demanding as the law of love.

Fr. Jack Conley, CP, is engaged in preaching parish missions and retreats and serves as local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

Joshua 24:14-29
Matthew 19: 13-15

Reflection:

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away. Matthew 19: 13 – 15

There are certain Scripture passages that are so iconic and visual that they have inspired artists from every century and culture. The Gospel passage we have for today’s Mass is certainly one of those inspirational and moving scenes. In fact, this is one of the few Gospel images that appeals to children. I remember having, as a child, two favorite holy cards: my guardian angel helping me over a bridge and Jesus blessing children. I didn’t need any lengthy theological explanations to understand the underlying messages that these two images represented. I needed a Guardian Angel to help me cross dangerous, broken down bridges in life and I needed Jesus to welcome me into his arms and bless me. Being protected, blest and loved as a child is so very important!

To this day, children spontaneously run to persons who represent God and God’s way of life, without having to understand that person’s theology. I don’t know how many times little children have come running out of Mass to hug me, the celebrant. They do this naturally. Anyone who has been close to a school yard and seen a religious sister, brother or a priest walk across the grounds will quickly see children running toward them and surrounding them with hugs and joy.

There is this little line in today’s Gospel that I believe makes it very challenging for us. It says, referring to the children that were being brought to Jesus for a blessing: “The disciples rebuked them.” At first glance, we can become very upset with those disciples. How dare they prevent those children from approaching Jesus!

I think if we were to look deeper into our own attitudes and concerns for children, we would see a lot of the disciples’ behavior in our own.

It is always amazing to me to see so many loving and caring families come to Church with their children. Some do this so very well. They come in ahead of time, bless themselves and encourage their children to do the same, holding their hands nicely and leading them to an appropriate place within Church. Some parents will give them prayer and song books. Regardless of the child’s attention span, there is nothing but patient attention given to their children.

On the other hand, I’ve seen families come in as if their children are a burden, correcting them, shoving them, and discipling them. At some point or another, all children tend to act out. But it is how we respond to them that will either encourage them to be at home within church or to see church just as a social obligation.

The way that people and parents speak to children about today’s priests, brothers and sisters, as well as today’s Church, will have a lot to do with the beliefs and assumptions that these children will have as adults. I remember talking to a young woman years ago, telling me that her dad told her never to trust priests because all they wanted was money. In today’s culture, it may be about priest abuse of children. Regardless the message, children will learn from our witness, our conversations, and our attitudes. This is how we prevent today’s children from approaching Jesus.

Jesus says to us today: “Let the children come to me.” How are we to respond?

Fr. Clemente Barrón, CP, is a member of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California. 

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Matthew 16:24-28

Reflection:

What does Jesus mean when he says to his disciples – including us – “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”?

Does it mean that we are to accept with patience our trials, aches and pains that are part of life, to “offer it up to God,” as the good Sisters taught us to say?  Yes.  But it means so much more than dealing with life’s choppy waters.

It means that Christ demands, not suggests, a commitment of faith that is ready to embrace God’s will, wherever it may lead, even unto death. Such a commitment of faith means that we are ready to affirm life despite what life brings, and even in the face of doubts and fears.

Another question: does Jesus mean we must be ready to suffer a physical death of martyrdom?  Again, the answer is perhaps yes.  But it means something even more difficult than martyrdom.  When we embrace the will of God, we must let of own will, our ego, self-centeredness – even unto death.  We must die to ourselves.  This can be quite painful and difficult to accomplish without God’s grace.

Undoubtedly, this is what the Apostle Paul meant when he proclaimed “I am crucified with Christ!  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20).  To follow Christ in this way means losing our false self, false life, in order to truly find ourselves, to be who we truly are, to be wholly ourselves.

Christ’s demand is unequivocal.  If we wish to follow him, we must take up our cross – with the kind of faith in which Jesus can say to us: “Your faith has made you whole.”

Deacon Manuel Valencia retired from active retreat ministry at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California, after 23 years. He continues to provide spiritual counseling there and delivers a monthly homily at the retreat chapel.