by Father William L. Arnold, Pastor
08/29/2010
Humility is a difficult virtue to describe, yet most
people easily recognize a humble person when they see one. Humility enables
people to know their own true worth and value in relation to others and to
God. Everyone easily recognizes a humble person and most feel very
comfortable around a humble person. They tend not to push others around;
they yield to each person a place at the table; they allow everyone to have
a voice and value. They simply don’t have to be "featured" and "first."
Their speech is seldom about themselves.
It is not, however, in human nature to be humble. Just as
children seek (require) attention, many adults need (demand) attention.
Being first comes naturally, waiting at the end is boring and time
consuming. The great concern today is "a positive self-image,"
"self-esteem," not a healthy understanding of one’s self (although the two
need not be contradictory). It is easy for a proud individual to slip into
being a bully, someone who pushes the humble, meek, and weak around and
directs them to their proper place.
The instruction of the Gospel today
is simple: seek the lowest place; go to the end of the line; identify with
the lowly and weak. Humility is not a
tactic
to get invited to the place of honor. When one sits
with the lowly and walks in their shoes, one learns a lot and the lesson is
invaluable. The humble person gives as God gives. When we give a dinner and
invite guests, we are to invite those who have nothing to give in return.
The humble person never gives of time, talent, or resources in hopes for
something in return.
08/22/2010
Inclusion is spoken of today with increasing frequency, especially since our
country and our Church continue to include peoples and groups not seen in
past times. The Hebrew Tribes (the Jews of Jesus’ day) had particular
difficulties with this idea. The children of Abraham and those worthy of
God’s promises were restricted to those of Jewish descent. It excluded the
Gentiles, a word which means “all the others.” Most religions, and even
non-religious groups, tend to restrict the benefits of membership and
participation to “members only.”
The message and ministry of Jesus was directed, however, at
broader and higher horizons. It was this particular aspect of Jesus’
preaching that many of His listeners experienced great difficulty with.
Salvation was universal in Jesus’ teaching. It is surely an offer (and
destiny) offered to everyone, but open to rejection by individuals. It is
also a great gift, unearned and unmerited, which many can take for granted.
It is an offer many approach with complacency, assuming that their lives and
belief have surely measured up to this great offer from God.
Understand clearly the meaning of today’s Gospel.
Discipleship is difficult (“enter through the narrow gate...for many will
attempt to enter but not be strong enough). Those who assume inclusion (“we
ate and drank in your company”) will hear, “I do not know where you are
from.” The offer of salvation from God is truly open, universal, and above
the bounds of race and nation. But God always produces the unexpected
reversal – the last shall be first and the first last. Discipleship means
imitation of Jesus Christ. Do we truly know and recognize the behaviors and
attitudes which imitate those of Christ?
08/15/10
Mary is the Model of the Church. Her simple and
difficult life was experienced as a faithful disciple, accepting the burdens
of life, yet always remaining faithful to God’s call and purpose for her.
Every human person is free to say "no" to God, and many do. Mary, however,
accepted the pattern of her life as God needed for her, necessarily setting
aside personal ambition. Mary is our model because we hope to be like her.
When was the last time we asked God what He would have us do?
In her Assumption, Mary was the first to experience the
bodily Resurrection that is promised to all who believe. The feast was
originally called the Dormition – or falling asleep – of Mary. Because of
her calling to be the Mother of God, it is the faith of the Church that
although she experienced death as must all human beings, she did not suffer
the effects of death, *the corruption of her body. As the disciple free from
sin from the moment of her conception, she was privileged to rise and enjoy
the eternal life promised to those "who hear the Word of God and observe
it."
We can be like Mary. Most of our lives are far more
affluent than her impoverished existence. Together with Mary, however, we
can be those servants who single-mindedly serve God and place God above all
else in our lives. We are called to be one with the lowly and hungry of this
world to which God wants to fill with good things. First, however, we must
acknowledge that we need God first and only, as did Mary.
08/08/10
The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament
explains the kind of knowledge gleaned from hard won experience – not book
knowledge. The first reading from the book of Wisdom recalls the great event
of Passover. The Hebrew slaves, under Pharaoh’s bondage, knew that their
rescue would come because they waited and prepared for liberation from
slavery by placing their faith in what was hoped for: freedom. They were
powerless slaves, but they patiently prepared for that great day of
deliverance.
Readiness is no accident, but is accomplished by doing
what needs to be done. Patient readiness is not attained by fear and dread,
but by courage and encouragement. Preparation is accomplished by piling up
"inexhaustible treasure in heaven" (from today’s Gospel), not by placing
faith in belongings and earthly goods. Two statements by Jesus reinforce His
encouraging love to His listeners. Jesus says, "Where your treasure lies,
there lies your heart." So don’t worry about moths and thieves. These can
destroy accumulated treasure. Realize, rather, that the Father is pleased to
give His children the Kingdom. All else pales in comparison and is bound to
fail us.
Jesus also tells His listeners,
"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much." Consider these
present times. Our blessings are many. They are often unrecognized and often
wasted. Sometimes they go unappreciated. But those (like ourselves) who have
been entrusted with God’s promises and blessings bear great responsibility.
Much will be expected of us. We have the knowledge of the kingdom: how
mercy, justice, and forgiveness can transform the world of God’s making.
When He comes, will He find us prepared
and vigilant? What kind of servants will we be seen
8/01/10
In the first reading today, Qoheleth (meaning "preacher") laments the
transitory and unpredictable nature of all things. Possessions, wealth, and
material valuables have attraction and sparkle. Many hold them in such high
importance, even though they can be lost, stolen, destroyed, or taken away
in an instant. The current recession and lingering hard times teach many of
us how quickly all these things may be out of our reach. For many, things
once treasured have disappeared and must now be done without.
What always needs to be emphasized
is that material things are not evil in themselves. The action of the rich
man in the Gospel who built bigger barns to contain his prosperity can be
viewed as prudent – saving for leaner times. His mistake lay in placing his
trust and security in those material possessions. He trumpeted his
plan of comfort when he said, "You have so many good things stored up for
many years – rest, eat, drink and be merry!" In his many possessions, he
found his security. The simple truth remains that it can all be taken away
so quickly. In the Gospel, the man died. He was rich, certainly, but not in
what matters to God.
Life consists of far more than possessions and the
illusory security they promise. Still, most people would prefer to
experience at least a taste of a life when scrambling for the basics and
essentials is not always such an endless and backbreaking labor. Jesus
instructs His disciples to grow in possessions of what matters to God. All
of us can accomplish this, but greed and the false promise of security from
things derails so many people. A final thought: When an aide of the late
John D. Rockefeller was asked exactly how much his late boss had left
behind, he replied, "All of it."
7/25/2010
The message of today’s readings is that we should expect God to hear and
answer prayer, but we must also persevere. Abraham’s remarkable exchange
with God brings to mind the extraordinary bargaining skills some individuals
possess. Notice, however, what Abraham is asking of God: forgiveness for a
sinful city. Because of God’s patience and mercy, God follows His servant
and friend, Abraham, "down the ladder" if you will. If he (Abraham) can find
only ten virtuous men in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He (God) would
spare the entire city for the sake of so few. In prayer and petition,
Abraham is persistent. God, in turn, is generous, patient, and merciful.
The Gospel reading, of course, equates the generosity and
goodness of God with that of a father. A father wants to give his children
good things and a good father finds ways to do so. A good friend is also
always willing to help a fellow friend, if not out of friendship, then in
response to the patience and persistence of the friend in need. We should
not equate repetitive, patient prayer with bargaining, as if we control God.
We do not. The words of the "Our Father" do remind us, however, that we
should unceasingly "seek" and "find" those things which conform to God’s
will – honoring God’s name, the coming of the kingdom, forgiveness and being
spared the final test – temptation and evil. These are the gifts and goods
that God seeks to give to us – His children. Because of this close
relationship, we may dare to call him "Father."
7/18/10
Hospitality is an important part of every culture. More than a sign of a
warm welcome, it also describes the relationship of the host to the guest.
The individuals welcomed in this manner have the host as a servant, who
quickly and humbly sees to the needs of the invited guests or the
passers-by. In ancient Israel, it was custom to be hospitable to strangers
in the belief they might by angels. In today’s reading, Abraham clearly
believes he is in the presence of the divine when serving his guests. (We
can understand how great an insult it was to Jesus when the repentant sinner
and not the inhospitable Pharisee welcomed Jesus to the banquet table.)
The Gospel today echoes this theme, but in
a slightly different fashion. At first glance, one might conclude that
Martha, the hostess, was performing the important task of hospitality, while
Mary was not doing her share. But Luke makes a very clear point in his
Gospel. True hospitality assumes the attitude of a disciple and eagerly
listens to the words of the Lord. Mary’s business with her household chores
is not condemned. Jesus, rather, is seeking disciples who will listen,
understand, and then follow.
All of which raises a final point. In
our day and time, who speaks for the Lord? From whom can we or should we
experience in our time authentically what Jesus Christ instructed? There are
lots of wolves with "sheep voices" and "sheep clothing." Sometimes what
seems appealing and authentic is in reality a deception. Many of us have
been deceived by churchmen (and women) of all stripes and religious
denominations. What are we to do? Apply some simple criteria. A true servant
seeks for no personal gain. A true disciple lives amazingly like Jesus,
willing to accept the cross (and yours!). A true servant has no ego, wishing
only to allow God’s message and words to come through. A true servant has
first sat at the feet of God – like Abraham and Mary – and listened.
7/11/2010
In the first
reading of today’s Mass, it is emphasized that knowledge of the law of God
is important for us. It does not and cannot stop there for us, however. The
true, deep meaning of God’s law is written in our hearts. An understanding
of God’s will and purpose for us is not “too mysterious and remote.” The
true meaning of the law is not to be found in the sky or across the sea.
Rather, the author of Deuteronomy wrote: “it is something very near to
you... you only have to carry it out.”
So, when a scholar of the law approached
Jesus, He tells this man the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is a
marvelous little story. Those most knowledgeable of God’s law – a priest and
a Levite – pass by the man, the victim of robbers, who had beaten him,
robbed him, and left him half-dead. It was ultimately the man from Samaria –
with whom the Jews had little to do with – who acted with compassion. This
man acted on his knowledge of the law. This Samaritan lived out the lessons
all those inspired by God know. Our love of God reveals itself in compassion
for our neighbor.
Who, then, exactly, is our neighbor? This
parable is challenging in that “neighbor” is described as anyone in need,
anyone whom we meet along the path of our lives, who is beat up, neglected
and forgotten. And isn’t it interesting that Jesus casts the Samaritan as a
hero, after His own recent rejection in Samaria (last Sunday’s Gospel).
Another lesson becomes clear for us: even those we don’t like are capable of
good. God has planted His law in the hearts of so many. Act on it.
7/4/2010
Embracing the work of the kingdom may seem like a very overwhelming task.
The Gospels of the last several Sundays have described the dedication
required to carry the cross daily. The commitment needed to forsake all else
as somehow less important than building the kingdom of God might seem too
much for the lukewarm or even average disciple. After all, Jesus has
predicted what will happen to Him when He arrives in Jerusalem. Who would
really want to share His fate? Yet, the destiny of Jesus has been embraced
by countless individuals through all time and history.
In proclaiming and living the kingdom, Jesus warns the
disciples that certainly it will require innumerable sacrifices. And, they
will encounter setbacks and rejection. Jesus tells His disciples that their
great joy and satisfaction comes not in triumphing over evil, but in knowing
that their "names are written in heaven." Jesus reminds His followers that
working tirelessly for the kingdom certainly brings about the downfall of
Satan and triumph over evil. As in the first reading, disciples are reminded
that peace (prosperity) and abundant mercy is conferred on those who seek
the kingdom first.
6/27/10
The opening of this Sunday’s Gospel presents an ominous, if not terse,
introduction: "He (Jesus) is resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem."
It is now the accepted decision to proceed to the city, being fully aware of
what awaits Him there. Read the coming Sunday Gospels in exactly this same
light. Every event along this road marks another step toward the inevitable,
because Jesus chooses to make it so. His destiny – suffering, rejection,
death, and resurrection – await Him in Jerusalem.
Discipleship is a costly commitment.
Last Sunday’s Gospel, if you recall, spoke of the need of the disciple to
take up the cross daily and follow Him. So, as Jesus
sets out on the final ascent to the city, he quite
naturally wonders who will follow. His attempted passage through the
Samaritan town is rejected, and one can assume that the opposition to Jesus
– opposition which now seeks to destroy Him – is well organized and set in
its plan.
Notice, if you will, the short, uninviting answers Jesus
gives to prospective followers. They are told that if you would follow
Jesus, don’t count on comfortable lodging. If you would follow Jesus,
discipleship is more important than family obligation. If you would follow
Jesus, it is even more important than saying farewell to family and a former
way of life.
Finally, the call to discipleship
means "no looking
back." If the operator
of a plow in a field were to look backward, the furrows he would make would
be crooked. Take this image from farming and apply it to the spiritual life.
Whether we long for the "good old days" when things were simple, better, or
more serene or whether we carry past regret or nagging guilt, Jesus tells
us: let it go. Detaching from what lies behind us enables us to look forward
to what is important: following Jesus. Let’s always remember: our God lies
before us, not in our past.
06/20/2010
In one sense, Jesus is looking to His disciples for feedback from His public
ministry. After the crowds hear His preaching and witness His ministry,
Jesus asks: Who do the crowds say that I am? In other words, what identity
do they give Jesus? After all He (Jesus) has said and done, what do they
hold Him for? Who do they think Jesus is? Jesus then rebukes the disciples,
when their answers and other identities given to Jesus fall short of the
mark. Surely, calling Jesus “the Christ” as Peter did – meaning “the
Anointed One” – does mean that some (maybe only Peter) see Jesus as having a
special God-given ministry for a divine purpose. But in the first century
Palestine, “the Christ of God” suggested the long awaited Messiah – a
warrior, soldier-king – who would conquer the hated Roman occupier of
Israel. This was certainly not the identity Jesus sought.
Jesus claims identity from what He will do and what will
happen to Him. He must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and be raised. This
is certainly a shocking self-identity, and not one the disciples are ready
to embrace. But for the disciples, it only gets worse. If they would like to
be like Jesus, they must follow Him, take up their crosses daily, and follow
Him. Following Jesus has its cost. Do we truly realize this? The denial of
the importance of self and placing all else ahead of one’s own personal gain
is Christlike behavior. It is the purest identification of the Christian
person. It most accurately describes the life lived well for God and for
others. Taking up crosses – especially when we didn’t make them and they
don’t belong to us – runs counter to our own gain and comfort. This is,
however, what Jesus Christ did. It is His identity.
Happy Father’s Day to all Dads!
06/13/2010
From this point in the Church year – the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time –
until the feast of Christ the King, we will hear the Gospel of Luke
proclaimed. What is interesting to note is that Jesus is making a journey
toward Jerusalem and the events recorded for us in this Gospel all happen
along the way. Jesus, of course, knows that in Jerusalem lies His destiny,
fate, and future – suffering, death, and resurrection. The Gospel narrative
invites us, in a sense, to accompany Jesus, to listen carefully to His
instructions, and of course, to die and rise with Him.
Focus your attention on Simon, the
Pharisee. This
Simon truly believes that
he knows the heart of the woman who wipes the feet of Jesus with her tears.
Simon is, in fact,
somewhat surprised that Jesus does not see
this womanfor who (he, Simon, thinks)
she really is. Simon, also does
not offer Jesus the sign of hospitality
(feet-washing) as did the sinful woman. She loved Jesus greatly because muchwas
forgiven her, and maybe Simon does not need to be forgiven such great sins,
as did the woman. But she showed Jesus great love, because Jesus knew her
and her sins without a public confession. She is grateful for forgiveness.
So, also, should Simon be. So, also, should all of us be so grateful to God.
06/06/2010
Today, the Sunday liturgy of the Church honors the very center of our faith
– the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The readings and prayers of this
weekend’s Mass focus our attention on this Sacrament, a true, living, and
visible sign of the presence of Jesus Christ within our Catholic faith
community. We hear again (in the Second Reading) that every time we share in
the Body and Blood of Christ, we proclaim the death of the Lord until He
comes. Imagine: every time we share in the Eucharist, we remember the total
self-sacrifice, the great act of love that Jesus Christ took freely upon
Himself as He took up His cross.
We all have hungers in life. For millions of people
worldwide, it is merely for the very food they need for daily existence.
Others seek to satisfy their hunger for a fulfilled life, for companionship,
or just for a good job. Still others seek to satisfy their hungers with
temporary fixes: either wealth or success, through fixation on beauty or
appearance, sometimes through alcohol and medication.
In the Gospel today, the opening sentence sets the tone.
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the coming of the kingdom of God and He
healed those who needed to be cured. Notice also that when Jesus feeds the
crowd, they "ate and were satisfied." If we truly understand the miracle of
the multiplication of the loaves, we understand that it is God who creates
abundance and genuine satisfaction. The two apostles provided only five
loaves and two fish – comparatively, a meager amount. When we have hunger,
it is God who must give what we lack. Our sharing in the Body and Blood of
Christ is more necessary today than ever before.
5/30/2010
Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. I remember well, from Catholic
School Days, that when anyone asked how our belief in one God in three
Persons was to be understood, the response typically received was, "It’s a
mystery." Now in everyday language and understanding, the word "mystery" was
defined as a puzzle, a riddle, or truth (facts) that required "figuring
out." And, if understanding and reason failed, the truth of the mystery was
simply to be accepted, without the necessary explanation.
There is, I believe, a shorthand explanation of the Holy
Trinity that is within our grasp and understanding. Our belief in the
Trinity is based upon how God – in time and history – has explained and
revealed the Divine Being to us. We know God as the Father – who created and
called everything into life, the God whose presence reveals itself in the
life, breath and beauty of all creation. We know God as the incarnate Son,
Jesus Christ, who by His life, death, and resurrection taught us how God
would have us live – in self-sacrifice for others. We know God as the
Spirit, whose presence guides, inspires, and enlightens our very lives in
order to actually do God’s will so long as we live.
When we try to understand God – and how God works in our
world – we should never forget one very important thing: God is love. In
God, there is no darkness. When people believe that God is punishing them or
they hope that God brings evil down on other people, nothing could be
further from the truth. God is everything we are not. God is forgiving. God
is always generous with His blessings. God is, in short, perfect love. We
should always imitate the divine image: Father, Son, and Spirit.
Have a Happy Memorial Day Weekend
5/23/2010
Today is the Feast of Pentecost, the day when the promise of Jesus to His
disciples is fulfilled. The Spirit descends upon the Church and forges out
of all the individuals present one united body of witness to the
Resurrection of the Lord. No longer afraid and no longer able to stay behind
closed doors, they make their way out in public and begin to preach Christ
crucified and Christ Risen. Actually, this is quite a bold step for the
small community of believers, who still mourned the absence of the risen
Lord.
The Pentecost event transformed the first disciples. They no
longer are hesitant to preach to anyone who will listen how their lives have
been changed by their own experience of Jesus Christ. The first disciples
experience the presence and power of the Spirit, driving, inspiring and
protecting them as they speak to strangers and travel to distant lands. It
will not be easy. They are, however, confident in the presence and power of
the Spirit in their work.
So it must be with us today. The world and people in it are
skeptical, unbelieving, and preoccupied with many other things. But it is
our witness, emboldened and driven by the Spirit, which can make new
believers today. It is, of course, difficult. Let’s never forget the prayer
of the Church through all centuries, speaking of the power of the Spirit:
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts
of the faithful,
Kindle in them the fire of Your divine love,
Send forth Your Spirit, and we shall be recreated,
And You shall renew the face of the earth!”
Come to the Picnic!
5/16/2010
Why do so many bad things happen in the world? Why, after two
thousand years of teaching the Gospel, after the lives of so many good (and
saintly) people, does the world still not reflect the goodness of the God
who created it? Well, as a matter of fact, lots of good things are done all
the time by people who believe in God and through their lives, they attempt
to make a difference in our world!
Today is the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. The
Gospel reminds us that we are now commissioned by our Lord Himself to preach
the Gospel – and repentance for the forgiveness of sins – throughout the
whole world. Quite simply stated, the change and transformation of the world
is in our hands! The work of tending and healing is now entrusted to us and
as those who believe in the risen life Jesus Christ won for us. It is now
our task to preach the Good News throughout the whole world.
We must surely preach to our community, our country, and
the world. We need to support the missions and those who work for the Gospel
in lands far away. But it begins with each one of us in our own parish. Does
each one of our lives reflect the faith in Jesus Christ that He left us
with? Let’s preach by our own example – a good starting point. Others will
never believe if we don’t show that our lives are changed and transformed!
5/9/2010
Imagine, if you will, the original scene and setting of the words Jesus
spoke to His disciples in today’s Gospel. They are young in their faith,
uncertain of their trust in Jesus and wary of the reaction of their society
to the message of Jesus. He gives them, however, the assurance of His gift
of the Spirit – the Spirit who inspires, guides and directs, strengthens and
reassures. He gives them the gift of His Peace – and tells them, that He
gives a different kind of Peace – not the kind the world gives.
Jesus’ words are ones of divine, sober reassurance. This
is the kind of peace we today so desperately need. When we watch the news,
read the papers, or even exchange gossip, we too can become troubled and
afraid. The threat of terrorist attacks, oil gushing out of the seabed and
on our shores, economic woes as few generations have known them, wars
involving our fine young men and women – all of these are cause enough for
worry and fright. We need to rely on His words of divine, sober reassurances
– God is in charge, not evil. Fear is useless. What is needed is trust and
confidence.
5/2/2010
The newly formed "Social Concerns Committee" has proposed a project to
the whole parish, which I think you will find worthy of your support. This
project is especially important for us as a Catholic Parish, because we wish
to be identified as a "pro-life" parish. We want to identify with the worth
and dignity of the human person from the moment of conception to the moment
of natural death. That covers a lot of controversial issues, I know, but we
always want to find ourselves on the side of "life."
From Mother’s Day (May 9) to Father’s Day (June 20), we
will have a "Birthright" playpen or bassinet prominently featured and
displayed in our church (up front, in the Sanctuary). We seek items which
can be used by a newborn child up to age one. Items needed include –
disposable diapers, "onesies," welcoming blankets, sleeper sets, baby
shampoo, wipes, or lotion – anything a mom who has brought a new life into
the world could use.
The items will then be delivered to
Birthright offices in
town, so that moms
(and dads) who need a helping hand will have a little help from us. This
project helps us to realize that many young women and men choose life for
their newborn child, but are simply unable to afford many of the
necessities. Our appeal is placed between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
because what better way is there to honor your parents – living and deceased
– but by giving back. Please join in and contribute these next six weeks!
4/25/2010
The image of the Good Shepherd is continued in this Sunday’s Gospel.
Sheep are by nature, very timid animals. They do not readily recognize the
new or strange voice of a stranger. They do, however, develop a bond with
their caretaker – in this case – the shepherd. Most animals possess this
voice recognition ability. The master’s voice is important to many farm
animals, and that includes our pets.
Many voices call to us in this modern culture. They are more
powerful today, given our exposure to all kinds of media. The voices sound
attractive, because they promise us good things – popularity, acceptance,
prosperity, the good life, or happiness, just to name a few. But all of us
have to some extent or at one time been misled by the promises of these
voices. How often have we been misled by false or misleading advertising or
promises and guarantees that have not been fulfilled? How many times have we
taken really bad advice – or worse yet – let someone convince us to do
something we knew was wrong?
The voice of the Good Shepherd calls us to God. The path may
not always sound to be the most attractive or be the easiest to follow
along. Evil has ways of disguising itself and making itself look very
attractive. Cheating, or covering the truth, or being popular all may bring
us temporary satisfaction. But many times the consequences of actions can be
disastrous and harmful for us and others.
We, in faith, follow the voice of the Shepherd. The Good
Shepherd can direct us to a wholesome and fulfilled life, the kind of life
which gives us genuine peace, satisfaction, and happiness. The Gospel tells
us today, in fact, that once we belong to Christ, no one can take us away
from Him. The voice of the Shepherd reaches us today through the Scripture
and the community of the Church. We need to listen and discover the rewards
– eternal life.
04/18/2010
Peter not only did not stand by Jesus on that night before Good Friday, but
when asked, he denied three times that he even knew who Jesus was! Jesus
experienced not only abandonment, but also betrayal by those closest to Him.
I suppose all of us have been in the same situation, as the betrayer and the
betrayed.
In today’s Gospel, the Risen Christ gives Peter the chance
to "rehabilitate" himself, so to speak. Three times, Jesus asks Peter, "Do
you love me?" After the third time, Peter seems offended and hurt that Jesus
really wanted a third response to the question. Perhaps he had forgotten
that he had emphatically denied any knowledge of Jesus, – and maybe, just
maybe – Jesus was pressing His own point to him.
In spite of all of this, it is Peter who is chosen to lead
the apostles, to set the example, and to provide strength to his brothers in
their moment of need. Jesus chose an essentially flawed and unreliable
person to be the source of strength and encouragement for others. So it is
with us – we are as flawed and unreliable and imperfect as was Peter. Yet it
is through our words and actions, that others are supposed to know who God
is and how God is present in our world. Jesus chose Peter to be a fisher of
men (and women!). What a wonderful lesson – a disciple who turned his back
on Jesus is chosen to be His chief spokesperson. This is how God works–can
we do the same? Jesus said to Peter and to all of us: Follow me!
4/11/2010
The first disciples were frightened and terrified by the arrest and
crucifixion of Jesus. They were equally concerned about reports that the
tomb was empty and that perhaps, the body of Jesus had been stolen. They had
to be confused and concerned about reports from their own group that they
had been to the tomb and been told by messengers (angels!) that He had been
raised from the dead. Today’s Gospel tells us that as Jesus appeared behind
the locked doors of their hiding place, He greets them with the words: Peace
be with you!
The event of the Resurrection and their eyewitness to the
Risen Christ (they had seen Him!) was a life-altering event for the
disciples. In their confusion and fear, Jesus spoke a greeting of peace,
words which not only calmed their worst fears, but also prepared them to go
out into the world to proclaim the great news of resurrection and new life.
It was only after the Resurrection of Jesus that they began to clearly
understand the power of God and the person of Jesus Christ.
Through Him, God demonstrated power, not only over the evil
actions of men, but also even over death itself. Let’s not be too harsh on
this disciple Thomas, whose disbelief and doubt in the person of Jesus
Christ and the power of God over death is featured in today’s Gospel. How
many times in our own lives have we doubted the ability of God to turn the
sorrow, pain, and disappointment of life into moments of grace, healing, and
new life? The disciple Thomas is certainly not an isolated Christian
disciple who failed to grasp the real miracle of the resurrection of Christ.
The power of God to overcome evil and sin is unlimited. It holds power over
our worst fears in this life.
4/4/2010
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most
significant event in all of human
history. Simply stated, it means this: there is no evil or sin, no human
mistake or well-contrived plan which can frustrate the plan of God for all
human history. Jesus Christ, who was dead, has now been raised and lives.
Christ willingly allowed Himself to be the victim of injustice,
misunderstanding, and rejection in order to demonstrate the power of God
over everything – including death!
The first
disciples were at first unbelieving. An empty
tomb, on the face of it, does not prove that anyone
has risen from the dead. In fact, the early enemies of Jesus and the early
Church spread the belief widely that the disciples had stolen the body of
Jesus. Because no one had ever risen from the dead, this rumor was hard to
combat. Mary said that they would never believe that Jesus had risen unless
they themselves could see and touch Jesus themselves.
The first witnesses of the
risen Christ, however, provide
us not
only with their eyewitness of the Risen Christ, but also with lives so
changed by that encounter that they courageously preached and lived the
Gospel. Many of them would pay for that personal testimony with their lives,
but they now also believed that the power of God was stronger than the power
of evil. Their faith was a Resurrection faith.
We are called to be people of
the Resurrection. We are called to live Easter faith. We must live lives of
hope, trust,
and confidence in
the power of God to overcome all evil.
Transformed by the experience of Lent and our belief in Resurrection, let us
courageously give witness to the hope and power of the Gospel.
Happy Easter!
3/29/2010
Today is Palm Sunday, the day which commemorates the Lord’s triumphant
entrance in Jerusalem. The Gospel for this Sunday is somewhat lengthy – it
is the reading of the Passion according to St. Luke. The Gospel recalls that
Jesus willingly goes to Jerusalem to face His death. He could have stayed in
Galilee, ministering to the needs of His people. But He knew that the
fulfillment of the will of His Father required that He show Himself as the
suffering Servant, willing to give everything He had for the people He
loved. The perfect love of God is made visible in this act of perfect love.
They say that during wartime, there are
no atheists in foxholes. In other words, when folks are in great danger or
difficulty, they always turn to God. I do not know if this assertion is true
or false, but I do know of tentative, lukewarm folks who become very
religious when a relative needs a miracle cure, when they need a job, or
when one’s own self has run into a huge problem. At that critical moment or
time, we tend to bombard heaven with prayers. It is human nature – when we
have nowhere else to turn, we turn to God.
Today, remember the words of the “good
thief” hanging on the cross. We often mock people who are guilty and are
trying to make amends or say they are sorry. The good thief acknowledged his
own guilt and recognized the innocence of Jesus. Notice the humility of a
sinful man hanging on the cross, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into
your kingdom,” he said. A foxhole conversion or a sorrowful man?
3/21/2010
It is easy to point a finger at someone caught red-handed doing something
wrong. Today, it
is the preoccupation of the media
and the viewing public to become "fixated"
on the openly public and
private faults of another. In fact, the line that used to divide the two has
disappeared. All sins and scandals, personal and public, are
fodder for the public’s
"right to know." The woman caught
in
adultery in today’s Gospel is no different – except this dirty little
scandal occurred in Jesus’ day.
The scribes and Pharisees are intent on drawing Jesus
into the fray. They succeed, of course, and they point out to Jesus that the
law is clear. According to the Mosaic law, the woman must be stoned to
death. (Ever wonder what, if anything, happened to the guy involved?) They
press Jesus to place His judgment against or above the law of Moses. In
today’s Gospel, Jesus obliges them. Jesus is not against laws – He just
doesn’t believe that any law is the full expression of our relationship with
God.
Jesus expressed clearly in His
public ministry that the forgiveness of God supercedeas the written law and
is the first law
of our relationship with God. People in Jesus’ day, as in our day, find
forgiveness difficult to give, receive, and
even understand. Yet, forgiveness
is real. It exists despite
the difficulty of so many people to say the word or put
it into practice. As part of the infinite love of God, forgiveness is the
soothing balm
and grace God places in our lives and hands.
Remember that when people say they "can’t"
forgive, the real word they should use is "won’t."
3/14/2010
Our
society is built upon the principal of a “meritocracy.” That means that hard
work, good effort, and genuine need merit recognition. Good grades, a raise
from the employer, and an award (or reward) need to be earned. No one really
objects to a totally helpless individual receiving a helping hand or a lift
up, although there are many people who simply ignore even obvious needy
cases. Many people are too proud to accept help, and refer to it as a “hand
out.” All of the above is well and good.
The Gospel, however, sets a different
standard. It is important to remember one thing: not one of us has earned or
merited God’s grace and forgiveness. What God gives is given freely and
without condition, to the deserving and the undeserving alike. The parable
of the Prodigal Son, the Gospel for this Fourth Sunday of Lent, demonstrates
forgiveness beyond measure, whether it is deserved or not.
The word “prodigal” means generous to the
point of excess or even wastefulness. An argument could be made that the
parable could be renamed the parable of the “prodigal father” because the
father is generous beyond measure to the son who had deserted him and
squandered his wealth. The other son – the good son – is angry over the
generous forgiveness of the father toward the bad son. But so it is with
God. Each of us needs so much forgiveness that we should never deny another
forgiveness. Let’s face it – it is a good thing that we cannot stop the
mercy and forgiveness of God. We should never withhold our own from another.
3/7/2010
A name or a title defines a person. It gives identity or description to a
person. In one sense, it limits a person, distinguishing or separating one
individual from another. Names to us are – understandably – very important.
It is quite another thing however when it comes to the person we call “God.”
We want to know everything about God. We want to know
who He is, what He is like and, most importantly, why God does what He does.
In the first reading, Moses needs a “name” he can call or identify God by,
after he (Moses) witnesses the burning bush. But previously “knowing” or
“defining” God was forbidden to the ancient Israelites, and to the Jews even
today. God may give a name, “I am Who am,” but the ancient Hebrews were not
even allowed to speak the name of God. “Naming God” meant knowing, defining,
and limiting God. For ancient man, God was the unknowable – and the One who
could not be limited or defined.
One question we may never know the answer to is why bad
things happen to good people. The Gospel today, however, makes it perfectly
clear that Jesus rejects the notion that bad things happen to people because
they sin. We have always had the false notion that God seeks ways to punish
us for the sin we may have committed. Lent is about acknowledging our faults
and changing ourselves. Lent teaches us to live a life acceptable to God at
all times, rather than blaming God for our failure to respond to His grace.
God wills the sinner to be converted and live. The tree which bears no fruit
will be given fertilizer and time to grow and bear fruit. Now is the
acceptable time – now is the day of salvation!
2/28/2010
We hear in the Eucharistic Prayer (the Canon) of the Mass: “Before He
gave Himself up to death, a death He freely accepted.” We are reminded that
Jesus could have avoided His confrontation with the civil and religious
authorities of His day, but chose not to. The Gospel today has Jesus
changing His appearance – and in this scene “two men were conversing with
Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His exodus that He
was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.”
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus consciously chooses to head
to Jerusalem. Jesus knows He could stay in Galilee and minister to the
people, but He chooses to go to Jerusalem. The opposition to Jesus is
increasing, and is only likely to intensify if He goes to the very heart of
Jewish and Roman power. He knows the road to Jerusalem and Calvary will be
difficult, but He also comes to know that His crucifixion in Jerusalem is
not the end of Him or His ministry. He does not choose the easy way out (the
Tempter offered Him that last Sunday in the Gospel).
Too many Christians believe that religion – faith –
discipleship – is an easy road. The example of Jesus, who predicts His own
death and freely chooses to go to Jerusalem anyway, is given for us. Our
lives and the faith we choose to support our lives can be difficult.
Ordinary life is not a “glory road,” but rather filled with difficulties,
trials, and challenges. That is why we must freely and consciously choose to
accompany Jesus, where His example can be reflected in our lives of faith.
The challenges and setbacks of life are not the end of us. If we die with
Christ, we will rise with Him. That is what we “rehearse” during the forty
days of Lent.
2/21/2010
The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent always tells the story of Jesus
in the wilderness or the desert, for forty days of prayer and fasting. The
desert is foreboding – a place devoid of life, empty and isolated. We are
told that Jesus went to the wilderness to pray for forty days. The
environment of the wilderness is lonely and threatening, a place where the
individual can feel very much abandoned and alone. But it is there that
Jesus goes to prepare for His public ministry. While there, He is tempted by
evil – to seek short cuts to His kingdom and His hunger.
Doubt certainly had to overwhelm Jesus at this point.
Remember that Jesus at the Jordan River had been proclaimed by the voice
from the cloud as the beloved Son of God. Now, in the wilderness, He is
confronted by His hunger, by the desolation, and by the overwhelming task
that lies before Him: proclaiming the kingdom of God. The Tempter knows that
Jesus is vulnerable and weak, and – just maybe – can be tempted to give up
on His faith and trust in God. But this isolated wilderness experience and
the Devil do not prevail. Jesus rejects the Devil, who portrays God as the
“great fixer,” who provides bread, power, a way out or a way around the
difficulties and challenges Jesus will face.
The temptation of Jesus in the desert describes our own
lives. When alone and isolated, hurting and doubtful, we too are tempted to
throw faith away and seek the easy way out. Many people do. In the Gospel,
Jesus calls for reliance on the Word of God as a source of direction and
strength. Like we must often do, Jesus rejects the Devil who quotes
scripture for his own purposes. He tells the Devil that God does not send
difficulties and misfortune to test us, nor does God respond to the little
“tests” we set up for God, to see if God really loves us and will answer our
prayers. Use this Lenten season as a time to examine our own lives.
2/14/2010
In ancient religious tradition, extreme and dire poverty was seen as an
evil, never as a blessing. The Gospel of Luke is full of references to the
desperately poor and needy, including poor man Lazarus outside the rich
man’s gate and the poor widow who placed two coins in the temple treasury.
Why does Jesus call "blessed" those who are desperately poor?
Certainly, Jesus did not want His disciples to join
the ranks of these desperately poor. But His disciples are the individuals
who more often than not have the means to attend to the needs of the poor.
In order to share the "blessedness of being poor," the followers of Jesus
must embrace an attitude of generosity and sacrifice. That is the only way
we can come close to God, who is all the poor really have. The poor have
only God to rely on. It begs the question: What do we who are not poor rely
on in this world?
Lent starts this Wednesday. Become poor in spirit, at
least for a time of penance and prayer, which is Lent. Fast and abstinence
are ways of denying ourselves all our appetites can handle as a means of
sharing the surplus funds with those in need. Do extra things during Lent:
come to the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday evening, attend Mass on a
weekday morning, make it your plan to attend the services of Holy Week,
especially the Mass on Holy Thursday Evening. Experience Lent – become poor
in spirit – live simply so that others might simply live!
2/7/2010
Notice the reaction of the three individuals, called
by God to be His spokespersons, in the three readings today. Isaiah, the
prophet, exclaims, "Woe is me, I am doomed! I am a man of unclean lips,
living among a people of unclean lips." Paul writes, "I am not fit to be
called an apostle." Simon Peter, after the great catch of fish, says to
Jesus, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
The call of God to proclaim His
word and to be His messenger is an overwhelming call. Each individual called
by God to serve initially balks and has a good reason why they are unfit for
service. Usually, as did Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, they focus on their
own shortcomings, preferring that God find another individual more worthy of
the call. Oftentimes, we all focus on our own unfitness or unworthiness to
hold specific office, to execute a certain task, or to perform a specific
ministry.
Here is the key: the grace of
God, working through us, is always sufficient help and support. We often
underestimate the power of God’s grace, working in us and through us. We ask
and pray for (divine) help and support in so many aspects of our lives.
Then, we tend to downgrade our own ability to carry out God’s tasks. This
poor self-evaluation then converts itself into an "unwillingness" to follow
God’s call. Paul comes to his senses and then writes that "God’s grace to me
has not been ineffective." The power of grace is powerful. It can change and
transform us. We need to be open to God’s grace in our lives.
1/31/2010
Jesus’ neighbors and hometown folk, if they had had their way, would have
stopped Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry. His teaching begins
with praise and admiration, but the positive reaction turns into venom. They
discredit His family background and then the townfolk demand that He perform
the miracles in Nazareth they heard He had performed elsewhere.
Was their reaction born out of jealousy? Did they wonder
how anyone who came from a common, ordinary background could possess wisdom
and insight into scripture? The reasons for their reaction are not entirely
clear but Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth (remember: they wanted to throw Him
over a cliff!) foreshadow His public ministry: initial acceptance and then
rejection and crucifixion.
I think we need to examine the Gospels from this
perspective. If Jesus of Nazareth went about “doing good,” then why did they
call for His death? What Jesus offered – self-examination, individual
repentance, the call for a change of heart – is – ultimately – not very
popular at all. It does offer an explanation to us, however, why peacemakers
are ridiculed, the generous are oftentimes taken advantage of, and the poor,
humble, and meek are often “run down” on the highway of life. If “they” did
it to Jesus Christ, it can be done to true, genuine Christians who attempt
to live His words.
1/24/10
The Gospel for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time comes from the very
beginning of the Gospel of Luke. He addresses his Gospel account to
Theophilus – the same individual to whom his second work, the Acts of the
Apostles, is addressed. Luke pledges his audience accuracy and reliability
of his narrative. The opening jumps from chapter one to chapter four – much
of the intervening or missing narrative is the Lucan account of the birth of
the Christ – texts which were proclaimed during the Christmas season.
Notice the initial enthusiasm of the reception Jesus
received in Nazareth, where He had grown up. Luke records that He taught in
the synagogues and was praised by all. The praise will soon turn to venom,
as the people begin to desert His teaching and realize their own personal
disapproval. In fact, the verses immediately following today’s text record
the crowd’s outrage at Jesus’ final words read today: "Today, this scripture
passage is fulfilled in your hearing." The next lines tell us how the
residents of Nazareth discredit Jesus’ authority and teaching by remarking
"He is only a carpenter’s son – his family is of no importance."
What could strengthen Jesus, given the initial
outbreak of hostility against Him? Jesus announces that His ministry is
directed by the Spirit. He knows that He has an important mission to bring
glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind and to
proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Jesus knows who is guiding Him and
who has come to help. He has said it all.
1/17/10
The first letter of John (an epistle, similar to Paul’s writings) contains
an important spiritual statement of faith: “We know and believe in God’s
love for us.” Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical letter was titled “Deus
Caritas Est,”
translated “God is love.”
I write this week, not on the Gospel or the readings of
the day, but on the meaning of the above statements. I ask you also to
reflect on the events in Haiti this week: an apocalyptic earthquake in a
small, impoverished country rife with political unrest. It seems like the
social and political upheavals in Haiti have gone on most of my lifetime.
Now, this. If it were not for bad luck, the poor citizens of Haiti would
have no luck at all.
Our God is a God of love, not a God of
hatred, vengeance, or retribution. This past week, the Reverend Pat
Robertson publicly expressed his belief that the earthquake in Haiti was a
deserved, merited act of God. The people of Haiti, according to Mr.
Robertson, had two centuries ago made a “deal with the devil,” in return for
a political alliance to win independence from the French. Which is it, my
fellow Catholics: Is God love, or is our God a God of vengeance, especially
against the poor and suffering of the world?
1/10/2010
Title today’s column, if you will, the "Celebrations" of Christmas.
Actually, the Church celebrates during the Christmas season three major
revelations of the hidden plan of God in time and history. Each feast
carries a distinct character and purpose, and should
influence our own celebration of Christmas – especially
in duration. Unfortunately, our religious observance during the Christmas
season has long ago been overwhelmed by secular forces (commercialism, being
the primary one). The Church today celebrates the last day of the Christmas
season. Consider the following:
• Christmas Day marks the
beginning of our salvation. We celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, "God
With Us," the beginning of a new relationship between God and
all
humanity – God as one of us.
• Epiphany (or the visit of
the Magi) is a special revealing
of God in a human body to exotic visitors from a
foreign land. The appearance of the God become Man is for all
humanity – Gentile and Jew alike.
• The Baptism of Jesus at the
Jordan is the revelation –
by Water, Spirit, and eventually by Fire, of the "beloved Son" of the
Father. It is again a first appearance of the God – Man, confirmed by
the Voice of the Father, and through the ritual repentance that is
Baptism.
Notice in the reading from the
Gospel of Luke that "after all the people had been baptized," Jesus was also
baptized. The voice from heaven signals the appearance of the beloved Son,
with whom the Father was well pleased. Divine favor is conferred upon Jesus
with His Baptism. Along with this
divine favor of Baptism, also comes mission – the
ministry and the work of Jesus which is to come. The mission and
ministry of Jesus Christ – and all
the baptized – is the Christian Mission:
to seek the victory of God’s justice in the world.
01/03/2010
January 1 – Mary, the Mother of God –
Today’s feast on this New Year’s Eve and Day honors
Mary in this Christmas Season. We celebrate the presence of God in our
world, in our time and history, in our flesh. We are reminded that this was
only possible because of the courage of faith that allowed Mary to say "yes"
to God and to essentially place her life and fortune completely in God’s
hands.
What a life Mary had – and such poor fortune. She is
forced by circumstances to give birth in the filth of a stall. She is forced
to flee for her life when the despot Herod attempts to destroy the child.
Her wanderings on foot far from home with a newborn must have been
excruciatingly difficult. Her embarrassment and fear must have been
unbearable for fear she had lost the child in Jerusalem during Passover. She
had to watch as her Son was executed as a criminal.
It was not an easy life. The Gospels do not record
Mary’s complaints or protestations against God. In spite of all, she endured
and remained faithful. No one has promised anyone of us an easy life.
Difficulties, tragedy, and sorrow touch every one of us. But many of us end
up blaming God, rather than considering that life does not spare any of us
trials or travail. In the New Year, we pray for the grace to remain
faithful.
The Gift of the Magi –
Few people know that the Gospel of Matthew was not
written in Greek. It was written in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke. Which
all means that Matthew wrote his Gospel for a Jewish-Christian audience, and
as such for a Jewish audience as well. In Matthew, the news of the birth of
the child is not announced to the believing Jewish community, but rather to
Gentiles and non-believers – to individuals who did not even know who the
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was. They were stargazers, who interpreted
the movement of the stars and planets. Yet, they were the first to come and
worship the child.
The visit of the Magi is a remarkable story. Imagine,
if you can, the reaction of a Jewish audience to this piece of remarkable
storytelling. It was the Jews who were poised and anxious to follow a
Messiah should he be born. Yet it is the Gentiles who are the first to
recognize His presence. They become the first followers of light in the
darkness of the world. It is Herod, the Jewish king, who out of jealousy
attempts to destroy the life of the Child. How do we as believers live and
act? Do we recognize the presence of God among us? Are we followers of
light?
12/25/09
It would almost seem "overkill" to attempt to write anything about
Christmas. After all, in so many ways – perhaps too many ways – the season
has already been defined. That’s not all that bad and I would never want to
appear to be Scrooge. After all, I gladly participate in the season. In
fact, I put up three trees, I went to a real mall for the first time in
years, and holiday gatherings are a lot of fun. When we are still waging two
wars overseas and mired in a deep recession at home, the spirit of Christmas
and the season is most welcome. That same spirit of the season always finds
ways to exclude many folks, more so than usual in these difficult economic
times.
But let us never forget important facts about the
appearance of God in our world. God was born into circumstances of utmost
and dire poverty. God was not born into circumstances of comfort and ease.
The news of God taking on human form is not announced to the important and
prestigious leaders, but to unassuming and unimportant shepherds. Contrary
to common belief expressed in song and prayer, it was not a time of peace or
widespread prosperity, but a time of great fear and repression. And at that
time, such a great event went virtually unnoticed and unbelieved. In fact,
the civil and religious authorities attempted to destroy the child. The
cruelty, and not the importance of the event, probably was more local than
headline news.
It is for most of us a wonderful time of year. But let
us never forget the sense of true honesty which faith requires of us, that
our observance and celebration of Christmas stand in stark contrast to the
original event. From the entire staff of Holy Spirit Church and School, our
best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and all good things in the New Year
of 2010. May God guide us and protect us!
12/20/09
All of us are familiar with the scene offered in today’s Gospel. Mary rushes
from her hometown of Nazareth to visit her elderly cousin, Elizabeth. Both
have just discovered that they are with child. Mary – betrothed, yet still
unmarried – is told by the angel that she has conceived a child. In spite of
the public shame and disgrace this brings upon her family and her future
husband, she says “yes” to the plan of God. Elizabeth, an “old woman,” who
for years has endured unkind comments about her inability to bear children,
is also dealing with a pregnancy. Her husband, Zachariah, is so disbelieving
about the news of her (Elizabeth’s) pregnancy that he is struck dumb and
mute by God.
The story line here is not the nine-month sanction God
imposed on a man who could not believe in how God works. The focus instead
is on Elizabeth and Mary. We usually conclude that Mary (the younger woman)
has gone to help her elderly cousin, Elizabeth. A second glance at this
Gospel text gives a deeper and better insight. Mary is somewhat desperate.
The angel told her to fear not, to have courage in the face of disturbing
news. It is Elizabeth, who for years has borne the gossip and shame about
her inability to bear children– a curse from God in the minds of Jewish
believers. Yet Elizabeth trusts in God. Age, experience, and faithfulness
have taught her much about the difficulties and pain of life.
Just as Elizabeth, the older woman, has much she can
teach Mary, the Christmas story can teach us. Our faith needs to grow up.
The Christmas story is far more than a happy, simplistic story about stars,
angels, and shepherds. The birth of the Messiah teaches us how human fear
can be overcome. The Christmas story shows us how hardship and shame become
endurable with trust in God. The coming of God into human form cannot be
frustrated or thwarted by fear, ignorance, and sin. We need to learn in our
pain and difficulties how to trust God.
12/13/09
The Third Sunday of Advent is known as “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning rejoice.
The theme of the liturgy this weekend reminds us in so many ways that our
salvation is nearer now than when we first began to hope and wait. In fact,
the prophet Zephaniah in the first reading proclaims that “the Lord, your
God, is in your midst, a mighty savior.” He proclaims not only the presence,
but the strength of God with His people.
The groups who had come to John the Baptist at the
Jordan were all filled with expectation, as Luke tells us. They had
experienced his ritual of repentance, and they asked John, “What should we
do?” John then describes actions specific for each group, actions which
demonstrate the power and presence of God in their lives. Those who have two
coats should give one away. Those with food should share in the same way.
Tax collectors should take only what is owed, not extra. Even the Roman
soldiers are advised not to practice extortion, nor to accuse anyone
falsely, and be content with their wages. This is courageous wisdom on the
part of the Baptist!
If we have experienced Baptism and forgiveness, what
then should we do in our time? What would John’s advice to us sound like?
Our actions must also demonstrate the presence and grace of God in our
lives. We should share with the poor and unemployed. We should give coats to
the needy. We should be grateful we have jobs, and just maybe, we, too,
should be satisfied with our wages and what we have, instead of always
wanting more. Just maybe, we could stop being sources of gossip or outright
lies about others. Perhaps we could change our views about others, whether
our prejudices or rash judgments.
The dawn of salvation is almost upon us. As we prepare
and decorate to celebrate in grand style, maybe we, too, should express the
presence of God in actions, not just in materialism and fine cuisine.
Keeping Christ in Christmas does not mean just setting up a crèche set – it
means actions speak louder than words.
12/6/09
One might think that today’s Gospel reading from
Luke is a history lesson. In part, it seems that way, but remember the old
maxim that history and memory can be great teachers.
The appearance of John the Baptist (and the ministry
of Jesus) both took place against the background of imperial Rome. The list
of Tiberius Caesar (the Emperor), Pontius Pilate (the Governor), and Herod,
Philip and Lysanias (the local imposed rulers) are all reminders of the
despotic and cruel oppression of Rome. The mention of Annas and Caiaphas
calls to mind that the Jewish religious leaders were cooperators in
collision with Roman power.
The brief history lesson serves as a reminder of
hopeless and desperate times. It is against this background that John the
Baptist preaches repentance and a collective turning to divine mercy. The
experience of personal sin and forgiveness invites the listeners themselves
to realize that it is in forgiveness that
they would find new hope,
healing, and personal salvation.
They are
invited to embrace the power of God in time and history by understanding the
power of forgiveness.
The teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus Himself
have had as their focal point – forgiveness – of our personal sin and of
others’ as well. Repentance does not mean self-loathing and guilt complexes.
It means the acceptance of God’s forgiveness. It means we can heal ourselves
and impart forgiveness, and in so doing heal others. It means seeing and
experiencing what John the Baptist comes to announce: the salvation of our
God.
11/29/09
The new Church year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. This year, we
will hear the Gospel according to Luke proclaimed throughout the Church
calendar year. The Gospel of Luke is distinctly different from the other
three Gospel writings in its theme and tone. The Gospel of Luke focuses
attention on the first place of the poor, the outcast, the “little people at
the bottom of the pile,” whom God favors in His plan of salvation.
But oddly enough, the new Church year begins with a
reading from Luke and not from the beginning of his Gospel, but from the
end. The theme resembles the Gospel of the thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary
Time. The scene, once again, is the unraveling of the world, the collapse of
all creation, the end of time. It is again the Apocalypse at the end of
time, which the despairing always see as the welcome end to the suffering
and disorder of the world.
But gloom and despair end in hope and glory. Amid the
darkness of the world, we await the coming of the dawn, the breaking of new
light into the world, the coming of our God. The birth of Jesus Christ is
hope and light for a world waiting in darkness. The Gospel warns us to be
vigilant, to stay alert, awake, and sober. We must be ready to recognize God
when He comes. The question for us is: Do we recognize His presence in the
world and in the lives of the downcast, the hopeless, and those who count
for nothing in our society?
7/19/2009
There does not seem to be anybody in Holy Spirit Parish
who does not know what has taken place in your parish: after
twelve years, your Pastor, Father Larussa, has moved on to
another assignment, and that now I stand here – Fr. Bill Arnold
– a complete unknown to many of you. It is indeed difficult to
exchange the tried and true for the unfamiliar and untested.
Change is uncomfortable for all of us and yet so very necessary
in our lives. Unless we learn to deal with change, we become
like
the dinosaur – extinct!
I am very happy to be here at Holy Spirit Parish. I have spent
the last thirteen years of my life and my priesthood in a great
little
town in Tuscarawas County – Dover, Ohio – and I felt – needless
to say – very comfortable and welcome at St. Joseph Parish
there.
After thirteen years, it became my home. But change is good for
me, too. My assignment to Holy Spirit Parish represents a huge
change for me. I embrace this change as a tremendous opportunity
in my life to give service to the Catholic Church and in so
doing,
to serve you — the Church.
I know that we will have occasions to get to know each other.
I look forward to that. I ask for your patience in that all
names
and faces don’t stick in my head like they used to. But I know
that, given time, we will come to know each other well. I ask
for
your prayerful support as Pastor of Holy Spirit. Together, we
must
proclaim the Gospel and be light to our world – no simple task.
But I am sure that God’s grace is there for us in this
difficult, yet
holy task. You can count on me to give this parish my best
efforts,
affection, and dedication.
Sincerely,
Fr. William Arnold
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