Sunday, October 31, 2021

Oct 31 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ On this last Sunday before this year’s Election Day balloting the readings quite coincidentally have to do with the priority and perspective that must be part of an American Catholic’s thought-processing as she/he approaches the place of casting-ballots. We, as members of the Catholic Church, do not belong simply to a “society” or a “fraternity” of like-minded fellows, such as you would find on an Ivy League University Campus. We belong rather to a very real mystical, supernatural, Bodya living organism – comprising the very reality of Christ Jesus, our Crucified and Risen founder, redeemer and Lord! This ought to make an enormous difference in how we approach life both within the Church, and in the secular world in which we must also simultaneously live.

 

The “society” or “fraternity” vision is a completely natural and pragmatic one; and, it is dog-eat-dog – it is success at any cost – it is enthusiasm without direction and boundaries. The Church on the other hand is entirely supernaturally based, and operates on principles that take into consideration the natural, but supersede them and give them true meaning, value and credibility. Our Catholic view is so much more comprehensive.

 

The senses can only take us so far, but faith, the priceless and ingenious gift of God to those who would have it, allows for a depth of experience, vision and motivation that on the natural level is just not possible.

 

The earthbound say that POWER is everything; the heaven-bound say: LOVE is everything: LOVE (GOD) CREATED EVERYTHING, and it “indwells it,” keeps it all in existence, motivates it, guides it, directs it and keeps it safe on a track that will lead to a Beatific Experience of Itself that no natural science could ever imagine.

 

It is that love that is spoken of in the readings today: Moses tells the people in the first reading: FEAR THE LORD, YOUR GOD! KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS – and his commandments are easy – they are all about LOVE: LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOU’VE GOT!

 

In the gospel passage, Jesus – God’s love-made-flesh – with a mouth to speak – tells us: yes, LOVE GOD FIRST, AND ABOVE ALL – WITH ALL YOUR HEART, UNDERSTANDING AND STRENGTH – and then go one step further: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. This is perfection.

This is infinitely pleasing to God: and if you do these things: the perfect ordering of society will not be far behind. You will know how to make just laws that are derived from the supernatural original law of love, you will treat all others with dignity and respect, you will not wish to contradict the revelation of God about any institution that he has already set into place, and you will always choose what is right and good because your conscience will be rightly formed – with God’s own Spirit flowing into it!

 

Yes, at this balloting time of the year – a “Catholic Vote” is not just a cliché or a political agenda – it is the mind of Christ operating in the baptized who must certainly yes give to Caesar what is Caesar’s; but to God, always, what is God’s: and that begins with the willingness to be used by him to help fashion a society of truly free, happy and peaceful men, women and children – living now, the very beginnings of the family life that we will live with him forever in heaven – a family of his own design and making!

Amen!

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Oct 28 - Sts Simon and Jude

+ We celebrate the feast of two apostles today: Simon and Jude. Simon was called the Cananean, and the Zealot because of his zeal for the Jewish law, but was neither from Cana nor a member of the Zealot Party. Like all the apostles he was a convert, being trained by St. Peter, the Apostle. He evangelized at least in Egypt and Mesopotamia, if not other places. He was a martyr for the faith but there are differences of opinion as to where that actually took place.

 

Jude was son of Cleophas, a cousin of Mary who stood with her at the foot of the Cross of Christ, and who anointed Christ’s body after his death. He is the brother of St. James the Lesser. Being a cousin of Jesus, Jude was reported to have looked a lot like him. He may have been a fisherman before he was called to be an apostle. Jude wrote the canonical Epistle named for him. He preached in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia with St Simon. He was a healer and an exorcist. He could exorcise pagan idols, which caused the demons to flee and the statues to crumble. His patronage of lost or impossible causes traditionally derives from confusion by many early Christians between Jude and the traitor Judas Iscariot; not understanding the difference between the names, they never prayed for Jude’s help, and devotion to him became something of a “lost cause.”

 

It is important for us to remember that the very existence of our faith and our religion today stands firmly on the faith and faithfulness of the twelve chosen by Jesus and their unfailing commitment to remain close friends of his, doing what he asked them to do, evangelically, especially in the face of certain death.

 

We too are called to live our lives and give our lives as intimate friends of Christ – for the spiritual and even physical welfare of others. Strengthened by this Eucharistic meal – as were Simon and Jude – may we be willing to bring the gospel message to everyone we meet today, one way or another!

 

We praise you, O God,

we acknowledge you to be the Lord.

The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord.

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Oct 10 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

 

Our gospel passage today needs clarification on two points. The first is that whether or not the “eye of the needle” was one of the gates of the city of Jerusalem through which, after hours, a camel could pass and gain entry into the city only after having its baggage removed and was made to get down on its knees in order to crawl through – or whether this is just a kind of hyper-analogy that Jesus used to make a point – the fact is that “getting into the city of God” – getting into the heavenly Jerusalem – is going to be a difficult thing for everyone who wants to go there no matter who – and the best way to get through the gate is baggage free and on your knees in prayer and supplication!

 

The other point is that all who are called to discipleship – and that is a fair number of people – are called as well not to do it the easy way: just following the commands that are learned from childhood, but sacrifice of self is also required: a giving up and away of the possessions of mind, body and even spirit that we value so highly, the things, the baggage that ties us down, so that we can be free to follow Jesus as he requests: enormous riches will be ours if we but make the initial plunge and detach ourselves completely from what is ours, even everything about our life!

 

Abandonment to God, full trust in him, and the wedding garment of faith and love are all that are really necessary in life: all the rest, anything that is really necessary for our lives will be given to us by a loving and doting Father-God – who loves each and every one of us beyond all telling!

 

The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that what is in our hearts will be exposed one day: God is able now to read our hearts, and then all will know: why not then purify what goes on there now to the best of our ability by inviting the fire of the Holy Spirit to come into us to cleanse us of what is dross, and to refine what is pure, and to refashion us into a fitting instrument for God’s glory!

 

This would be the prudent way talked about in the first reading from the Book of Wisdom. Wisdom to know as God knows, to love as God loves, to understand as God understands is worth more than anything, or any one, or any place! The countless riches that come from those who seek wisdom alone are beyond compare! Let us be among the wise-ones who not only seek her, but find her!

 

It is the poor in spirit who understand the words just spoken, it is the pure of heart who love God simply, and others freely; and it is the seeker of wisdom who will gain all the benefits of a search well rewarded: may we find ourselves in this company one fine day – it’s not as impossible as it might seem, for with God, with faith, all things are possible!

 

 

Monday, October 4, 2021

Oct 4 - St Francis of Assisi

 + Widespread heresy, scandals among the clergy, and a decline in attendance threatened the Church of St. Francis’ day. The son of a rich cloth merchant, Francis converted to a life of prayer in his early twenties.

 

In a dream, God told him, “Go and repair my church, which, as you can see, is in ruins.” Francis began rebuilding the crumbling structure of San Damiano. But his great work of renewal was the new form of life he embraced in 1208.

 

His radical poverty and passionate preaching drew five thousand men to the Friars Minor in the next twelve years. Francis died in 1226 in Assisi, and was canonized just two years later.

 

But wait, there is more to tell – the hidden story – the pre-story to Francis’ rebuilding project was the fact that God first rebuilt and transformed Francis into a poor and humble servant – from inside out – through afflictions of mind, body and spirit; in fact, he rebuilt Francis into the image of him that he always had in mind that was beyond the wildest imaginings of the rich young knight from Assisi.

 

After being rebuilt, Francis was ready to take his marching orders from Christ his True King and Lord – and the overflowing river of peace onto the Mystical Body of Christ flows into our very day!

 

And now we – we who have been transformed and remade according to God’s own image and design for not only us but also for our monastic pets -  are called to be instruments of peace, and joy and hope – to a world just awaiting its promised renewal, regeneration and rebirth.

 

Yes, Lord, we are here, we are ready, we are willing – use us as you will as poor, humble slaves! – and co-creators with you of a hope-filled, peaceful, joyful world.

 

Guide us, Lord, along the everlasting way!

Happy New Year 202

  A Happy New Year to you all! I hope and pray I am able to keep this blog up to date now that we are entering into the New Year! I would li...