Claire Smith

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 23:23-26

Reflection:

My brother, Dan, would have been 49 years old today.  He was just shy of turning 23 when he was killed.

His suddenly being taken from family and friends threw open what Jesus today calls the “whitewashed tombs” and the “adorned memorials.”  I look back at that horrific time and see now how his death gave me a new chance at life.  Like many of us, I suspect, I like to have things look good.  I don’t like messiness.  I like things in their place.  But Dan’s death was messy.  It was not the way it was supposed to be.

What I mean by having a new chance at life is that all the messiness, the brokenness, the hurts that I stuffed into tombs deep within myself and then whitewashed to pretty them all up, they could not endure Dan’s death.  A wise priest once asked me, “What would Jesus have to do if you let him into your life?”  If everything is nice and neat, all things in their place, what do you need Jesus for?  My brother’s death forced me to open those tombs to allow the mercy and love of God to enter my life.

We all learned as kids that Jesus died for our sins.  He died that we might live.  He experienced the messiness of human suffering and death so that we might know that the suffering and messiness of our lives can be redeemed and healed.  I truly believe that God would have helped me uncover the whitewashed tombs of my life at some point.  But I do know God brought life to me from Dan’s death.  And this I know on his birthday, he continues to live.  His spirit urges me to invite Jesus into those dark and broken places in my life so I can live life authentically, honestly and passionately, messiness and all.

 

Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and is the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Revelation 21:9b-14
John 1:45-51

 

Reflection:

Transparency

Jesus really loves Nathaniel.   He is not a deceitful man.  “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” John 1:46   The word that is used to describe deceit in the original Greek text of John’s Gospel is “dolos”.   A good way to understand this word is its etymology which means “a bait for fish”.  We offer a worm to the fish not to feed him but to eat him.

When Jesus looks at Nathaniel He sees a man who is transparent A duplicitous or deceitful person presents himself as respectful and caring for another, but deep down is only using others for his own ends.

Many of us have an all too long a history of using people in a nice way.   Often there is lacking a genuine care for the welfare of the other, but with a very real care for our own self.  In today’s Gospel we find a man, Nathaniel, who is transparent. He can be unpleasantly honest. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” But what you see is what you get!

Transparency is used a lot today in politics.  However, the claim of transparency is often the ultimate duplicity!    It is a deception by pretending to entertain one set of intentions while acting under the influence of another.  People are a great gift of God to us.  The name of Nathaniel literally means “gift from God”.  The gifts of God must be used but not just appropriated for our personal use.    They should bring us to serve Him, His people and not just ourselves.

Let us pray that we may not be duplicitous in our relationships with God, others and ourselves.   Blaise Pascal in a moment of negativity said: “We are only falsehood, duplicity, contradiction; we both conceal and disguise ourselves from ourselves.” May God grant to us that most comforting and humble attitude of genuineness!

 

Father Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

Scripture:

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
Ephesians 5:21-32
John 6:60-69

Reflection:

Some time ago, when I was Carbondale, IL, the Newman Center at Southern Illinois University presented a program called “Fools for Christ.” It was a traveling production, and the performers were all young people. They had on clown make-up and sang songs and acted out skits about Jesus and living out one’s faith. The implication was that if one were to live out his or her faith, she or he would most likely be looked upon as a fool, according to the wisdom of the world. And the challenge was whether one would be willing to be seen as a fool by being Christian.

I thought about this as I was reflecting on today’s Gospel reading. Our reading is at the end of the “Bread of Life” discourse in John’s Gospel. As was noted last week, there were people who were disturbed by Jesus’ words about giving His flesh to eat for the life of the world. And so, in today’s reading, the people who found Jesus’ words too difficult decided to return “to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.”

I think what happens sometimes with us Christians is that we can find ourselves going in and out of accompanying Jesus, depending on whether we accept or not accept the words that He says. In the Gospel reading, the saying that is “hard” is “and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” For us, the saying that may be too hard is “Forgive seventy-seven times;” or “Love your enemies;” or “Turn the other cheek;” or “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me;” or “When you have done all that you have been commanded, say ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Do we choose not to accompany Jesus at those times when His sayings are too hard to accept, or when we’re afraid to look like fools? But if we accept Jesus as the “Bread of Life” for us, we find, along with St. Peter and the Twelve, that Jesus’ words, as difficult or foolish as they seem, are actually “the words of eternal life.” Practicing giving and forgiving, love and sacrifice, rather than selfishness and fear and hatred is what leads to life! May we be fools for Christ! May we be fools for life!

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is on staff at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan. 

Feast of the Queenship of Mary

Scripture:

Isaiah 9: 1 – 6
Luke 1: 26 – 38

Reflection:

On October 11, 1954, Pope Pius XII promulgated an encyclical, Ad Coeli Reginam, in which he established the feast of the Queenship of Mary.  He indicated: “The purpose of the Feast is that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of her who bore God in her womb.”  The Feast of Mary as Queen of heaven and earth was originally celebrated on May 31, the last day of the Marian month but was later changed to August 22, the octave of the Assumption of Mary to emphasize the connection between the two feasts.

As Americans, we do not easily cuddle up to the concept of “Queen”.  When I think of queens, I think of historical descriptions of Queen Elizabeth I and pictures of Queen Victoria.  In both cases, I would not want to meet either of them in a dark alley, at least from my historical idea of them.  A great many men and women lost either their lives or their careers after having walked into these great ladies’ shadows.

When Pope Pius XII asked us to think of the Blessed Mother as our Queen, I need to shake my mind free from preconceived notions of this particular royalty.  The best way to do so is to turn to the Scriptures for today.  Here, we find our way to the Holy Father’s understanding of this wonderful title for Mary.

In Isaiah, we find the great messianic prophecy “…a child is born to us, a son is given…”  His royal mission flowing from the throne of David, his ancestor will be to bring light to dispel the darkness, joy and happiness to dispel gloom and sadness, freedom and renewed spirit to overcome oppression and down heartedness once and for always.  His reign will never end.  Isaiah enlivens the hope that the Davidic dynasty will be restored with all of its power, guidance, compassion and justice.  It helps for us to know that in the Davidic royal tradition, the mother of the King holds a special place of honor and was known as the Queen Mother of Israel.  Because her son was King, she held a place of honor and influence at the throne of her son.  In 1 Kings 2 : 20, we see Solomon speaking to his mother Bathsheba who is sitting on the right side of his throne and saying to his mother, make your request, I cannot refuse you anything.

Now we are coming closer to seeing how it is that Mary is our Queen.  Our gospel strengthens and expands our understanding beautifully.  This humble, devoted young woman discovers through the angel Gabriel that her son will be given the throne of David his Father and he will rule over all forever.  If she consents, she will bear this King in her womb.  She will give birth to the “Son of God” who will be King forever.

She, as the Queen Mother will share in His kingship and, following the example of her Son’s  royal oversight over all with salvation, love, guidance, justice, compassion and protection, she will share in that role as Queen over all of heaven and earth, as Queen over our hearts.

If I desired to have a more recent image to help me think about the idea of Mary, my Queen, perhaps I would spend a moment thinking back to the beloved late Queen “Mum”, mother of Queen Elizabeth II.  She always appeared to me to be a kindly, caring, happy mother whose only concern in her very senior years was the welfare of all the nation and the happiness of her children.  That did not appear to be an easy task amidst all of the rules, traditions and etiquettes of the British royal family.  Mary, our Mother and our Queen, has an easier time of it for us.  She watches over us, has a powerful influence with her Son as she intercedes for us, and wishes for us only happiness and peace in union with her Son and with her, on earth and in heaven.

 

Fr. Richard Burke, CP, is a member of St. Paul of the Cross Province. He lives at St. Ann’s Monastery in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Scripture:

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

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the memory of Pope St. Pius X.  He has left a mixed legacy for the church.  He was a reformer both in freeing up some relatively stringent practices in the church, as well as in tightening up some theological teaching touching on the foundations of the faith, and which went by the name Modernism.  The practices he modified centered largely on the sacrament of the Eucharist, especially those restricting the approach of young children to this sacrament, and others influencing the frequency of adults receiving this sacrament.

For this reason he may serve as a paradigm for our present Pope Francis, as he pursues his pontificate in a reformist mode, and as he addresses the issue of sacramental marriage in the coming Synod of Bishops, convening in Rome this October.   Specifically, the issue of continuing practice of disallowing Catholics from approaching the Eucharist, if they have divorced and then remarried without a dispensation from the church, will be explored.

This is a delicate matter, given the relatively large number of Catholics who have gone through this turbulent experience, and who, for one reason or another, have not obtained that dispensation, while, for all intents and purposes (in the eyes of the beholder), seem to be loyal and conscientious Catholics, ardently desiring to approach the Eucharist, which is denied them.

There is a tortuous clash of values operative in such a situation: the love presumably present in the second marriage, and, to some extent, illustrative both of the words of the Lord in today’s Gospel about the greatest law binding us in our relation to God (our love of God), and also the second instance of that love, in the neighbor (presumably the spouse to whom one is now married).  Jesus obviously saw these two loves as going together rather than as pulling against one another.

The speculation prior to coming Synod of bishops is that a formula (somewhat different from the present discipline in the church) cannot be readily found to reconcile this conflict.  But, short of that, we do have the intriguing story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, presented us in the day’s bible readings.  Obviously, there is a great deal of dissimilarity between the marital situation presented in the Book of Ruth, and the marital situation to be presented to the Synodal Bishops at their October meeting.

But perhaps there is inspirational in the complex marital situation bonding Ruth and Naomi together as daughter-in-law and mother-in-law.  In our experience this bonding has seldom been found to be a conflict-free relationship, even when the variables between these two individuals are relatively few.  For even though they may both be Catholic, may both have the same ethnic background, they may both enjoy similar educational or professional backgrounds, or may both come from the same socio-economic social class (whether that be wealthy, middle, or poor) and, most importantly, both love the same man, they frequently don’t get along, and their relationship is frigid.  It is unlikely that all this is due to an age difference.

But let us look at Ruth and Naomi.  They came from different ethnic backgrounds (Moabite, Israelite) and languages, possibly different socio-economic or educational experiences, worshipped different gods and engaged in different religious practices, and there was an age difference between them, yet they both loved the same man.  There was a lot militating against the likelihood of them spending their lives together peaceably, and yet that is how their relationship developed, even though in the beginning Naomi urged her daughter-in-law to go back to her own people.   But Ruth was the epitome of stalwart fidelity to her mother-in-law, going wherever she was going, leaving her people and nation behind, worshipping a new God, adopting new customs and language.

There was a lot going against the likelihood that this new bonding would last for any period of time.  But it not only lasted, it grew into a love story between Ruth and Boaz, her new employer, in the land to which she and her mother-in-law went.  And they married, living happily ever after.

So the love of which Jesus speaks in today’s gospel can thrive amid differences and hardships.  Pope St. Pius X facilitated access to the Eucharist for children and many adults of his era.  Perhaps the coming synod of bishops can somehow reconcile the integrity of this sacrament with an irregularity in a marriage, given the example provided today about the hazards in the relationship between Ruth and Naomi.

 

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist formation community at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.

 

 

Scripture:

Judges 9:6-15
Matthew 20:1-16

Reflection:

“Are you envious because I am generous?” Matthew 20:16

“Life is not fair!” How many times have we heard this madding phrase? I use to hear it more often when I would start whining about how unfair life was being to me. As I grew up, I realized that no one really cared hearing about how unjust life had been to me. Yet, it took a long time before I realized that human fairness and Divine Mercy are very different, very different indeed!

The Mass readings for this week help us reflect upon how easy it is for us to feel sorry for ourselves, even when we are at fault. The Old Testament readings takes us through the trials and tribulations of the Israelites as recorded in the Book of Judges. God sends good leaders, but the people soon forget God’s ways and they choose bad leaders. But God does not abandon them. While the people of God are unfaithful, God is faithful.

The Gospel Readings deal with Jesus’ invitation to see things with the heart and eyes of God: mercy, compassion and generosity. On Monday, we read: “If you wish to be perfect, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come and follow me.” On Tuesday, Jesus answers the question posed by the apostles as to whom can be saved: “For people this is impossible, but for God, all things are possible.” Then today, we read about the generosity of the landowner who wants to make sure everyone has a living wage, no matter if they came late into the vineyard. Jesus ends up by saying the same thing he said in yesterday’s Gospel, “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” This just doesn’t seem fair to our human way of thinking!

The Scriptures, and especially the Gospels, are not about making us more human. They are about making us more Divine. Some of us carry hearts of stone, and God wants to replace them with hearts of flesh. Some of us want people to suffer what we have suffered, but the Suffering Jesus wants us to have loving, forgiving hearts. Some of us are more concerned about how we work so hard, and have so little, while others seem to be so well off, because they are unjust and dishonest. Yet, we forget that God sees into our very hearts and knows “when we sit and when we stand,” to quote Psalm 139.

We should never forget that no one can fool God. We only fool ourselves.

Nor should we forget that God will never abandon us. God is there when we are unfaithful and unjust. God is there when we are merciful and generous. God will always be with us until the end of time.

God’s generosity will always trump the easy and facile answers we have to our selfish questions. For Our God is Good. Our God is Kind and Merciful!

 

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Chicago, Illinois. 

 

Scripture:

Judges 6:11-24a
Matthew 19:23-30

Reflection:

Fables and ancient legends often tell of heroines and heroes being seduced away from their great task or journey by some momentary lapse, when they suddenly turn from their task, loose focus and reach out for a seeming good that appears attractive but often contains within itself the seeds for disaster. Often this momentary lapse gives rise to great difficulties in pursuing one’s original dream, or leads to a fall or even to disaster.

It may be only a momentary lapse but it often has long term implications.

Perhaps it is in this sense that Jesus speaks about riches in today’s gospel.

Jesus stresses it is not easy to enter the Kingdom and riches can impede one’s entry into living within God’s reign (just as many other concerns can and do). As for that dramatic image of camels passing through the eye of a needle – well perhaps this image is meant to shock and puzzle the disciple, and leave him or her ‘wondering’. For it is often in this state, where one’s mind is open, searching for answers and cleared of predispositions – that the Spirit can prompt a deeper awareness and whisper an answer to us.

I am sure preachers within every Christian tradition agonise over this text, trying to reconcile wealth and riches with discipleship. I don’t intend to go into that debate here. I think it is sufficient to say that Jesus saw the need to reach out beyond one’s needs and desires in order to adopt the right disposition if one wished to strive for the Kingdom of God and thus enter into it.

But Peter also names another dynamic that often puzzles people too. He speaks of the ‘recognition’ or ‘reward’ that a good disciple might desire or expect. Although the disciple may set out with an open heart, generous and willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom, he or she is only human. Thus the need for recognition, even reward can surface and at times hold one’s attention powerfully.

The danger at that moment, much like that of the great heroes in various myths, much like the pursuit of riches, is that the desire for recognition can lead one away from the mission. One begins to seek reward rather than the growth of the Kingdom.

Jesus speaks to this very feeling and longing. He affirms that it is true that if one is to live one’s marriage, relationships, single life or life as a religious or minster – for the sake of the kingdom – then this may mean the loss of many things in order to generously give one energy, love and service to others.

But Jesus does suggest too that so often in life generosity and self-sacrifice are returned to the one who gives. We have all experienced this I am sure – love begets love, generosity begets generosity and we find that what we give is so often returned in excess to us. Perhaps in different ways, perhaps not even in a manner that is obvious at the time, but we do receive. It may be in the form of thanks, it may be that we see someone else freed, it may be that we rejoice in the accomplishment and good ness of another enabled to be like this because of our efforts – whatever we can take great satisfaction in these moments.  So often too we discover reward in another powerful way – when one steps out towards the other be it partner, child, friend, or stranger seeking to help them only to discover that we are the one being helped, inspired or carried by them or their example.

So a lesson for us today may well be that if we set out to make our lives a ‘continual service’ to those we love and to those who need us, then although it is not our goal or aim, we will receive back in return.  Jesus saw this and experienced it himself, and he passes on his experience to us, that people respond to the good, that people are guided by and attracted to the light of kindness and compassion, and that when we love others unselfishly they will be inspired, enabled or moved to return such love. Love given freely may rebound to us, or it may radiate out and make the lives of still others better, but we will receive back gifts

 

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is a member of Holy Spirit Province, Australia.  He currently serves on the General Council and is stationed in Rome.

 

Scripture:

Proverbs 9:1-6
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

Reflection:

There is a popular Bruce Springsteen song that contains the lyric, “Everybody has a hungry heart…Everybody wants to have a home.” The song has a through-line of yearning, and although its focus is romantic love, I think the essence relates very much to the Scripture readings today.

All three readings contain reference to nourishment, not the kind in our bellies, which we humans know about all too well, but the deeper, more lasting nourishment that feeds the hunger in our souls.

The “bread and wine” of our human lives, that which keeps us living and contented as physical beings—the food we eat, the people we love, the work we do, the material objects that provide a modicum of comfort—ground us in reality and give a measure of sustenance that we need and appreciate.

But Jesus challenges the crowds, and us, to confront the fleeting needs and satisfactions of our human flesh and instead find eternal Life through the Flesh and Blood of the Son of Man.  It is our communion with Christ that gives life everlasting.

Living as we do in a world waging war with itself over how to keep or get goods to survive, I can relate to how crazy Jesus’ words must have sounded to the crowds who were being asked to put their faith in the nourishing power of a different kind of “food.” Could there truly be something even more filling than the loaves and fishes that had taken away their bodies’ pangs of discontent?

Yes, Jesus assures us. If we go to Christ, if we become one with Him, we will be seated at the banquet of God’s love. It is at this table that the hunger in our hearts is finally satisfied and where we find the place that we can truly call home.

 

Nancy Nickel is the director of marketing and communications at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois.