August 19: St. John Eudes, Priest

20th Sunday: Light a fire on the earth!

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081725.cfm

I have come to set the earth on fire!

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O God, who have prepared for those who love you

good things which no eye can see,

fill our hearts withthe warth of your love,

so that, loving you in all thihngs and above all things,

we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire.

For those of us who grew up in the 1960’s, we well remember the turbulence of the time.  Then, the most controversial issue was the War in Vietnam and race relations, desegregation, in this country.  It was the time of President John Kennedy, of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy.  It was a time of protest and demonstrations of outspoken civil leaders. Yet, in the background were musical artists like Peter, Paul and Mary and later Simon and Garfunkel, and others who would sing of peace and brotherhood and peaceful protest.  We spoke of Hippies and flower-power and held up our two fingers in the peace sign.

The culture of today is in its way not much different.  The deep emotions of people, particularly on politics and social issues such as immigration, the sanctity of human life and the understanding of marriage and family has reached more disturbing heights. Sadly, it seems these days’ people don’t respectfully discuss disagreements with one another – they simply shout and scream at each other never considering that one’s opinion may not be as truthful as they profess.

 The Church itself has certainly gone through its own reinterpretation and divisions not just since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960’s but also over the last near 500 years since the Catholic Monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 objections on the door of a German Cathedral in 1517. Certainly, long before that event we saw the great Schism of the Christian world between east and west in the 11th century.

Yet, we still see signs of unity, of peace and good will and generosity all around us.  Many are doing good especially for the poor and the forgotten. We have a Pope who has made such a powerful impact on the World by his example and words and his call to mercy and Christian generosity to those on the margins of society. However, he has been criticized for his stand on immigrants both in the Catholic world and out. We can still say God is producing much light in the midst of what may appear darkness. But also, like a fire that causes a profound change in the forest, so too can the message of the Gospel be life transforming. We see fires blazing as well as fresh growth.  So goes the nature of a broken world; a world broken by sin and redeemed by a Savior.

Our Scriptures this weekend, particularly the Gospel from Luke 12, have Jesus speaking of that same fire: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Woah!

What happened to forgiveness, mercy, and the compassion for the poor and suffering?  That doesn’t sound like a blazing fire on the earth but rather a call to peace and dignity. Or, what happened to Jesus the "Prince of Peace" we proclaim at Christmas?

Jesus further emphasizes: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division . . .” Again we may wonder what our Lord is getting at.  What is this “fire” and “division” he speaks of? So, we might be tempted to simply turn the page and find another less threatening passage like Jesus speaking on the “lilies in the field” or about the dignity of a child. Is the message and culture of the turbulent 60’s and the powerful emotion of today a reflection of Jesus’ own words? But, images of fire are used throughout the Bible and even in our liturgy.

Still, if we look throughout the Scriptures both Old and New Testaments, we may be surprised how often the image of fire is used.  In the Book of Genesis, we read that God’s creation began with a burst of energy: “Let there be light.” You can almost hear the “big bang” that scientists have spoken about.

From a burning bush Moses heard the call of God to go and lead his people out of slavery.  There was a pillar of fire which stood as a kind of guard between the Hebrews and the oncoming army of Pharaoh before the famed crossing of the Red Sea. The prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven in a burning chariot.

In Luke’s Gospel we hear of John the Baptist prediction that the Messiah will come to “baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit. “Later, after the resurrection God sends the Holy Spirit in wind and tongues of fire.  And there are certainly other examples when the image of fire was used to express the display of divine power and the effect of prophetic preaching.

In our beautiful Easter Vigil liturgy each year, we begin with the lighting of the new fire, the tall new Easter candle is lit and the fire from that candle spreads through the whole Church to smaller candles held by the congregation as the resurrection is proclaimed.

While the scriptural images are strong even more obvious is the power of Christ’s word both for unity and for division.  Jesus well knew that his message would create controversy; that people would ultimately have to make a choice whether to follow him or not and whether to stay in the Church or not. And we still today need to make that same choice.

One scholar mentions that Luke’s Gospel reflected the experience of early Christians who found themselves in the midst of a hostile environment.  Sometimes, those who chose to follow Christ caused division even within their own family members; those who gave their lives rather than compromise their Christian faith are designated martyrs of the Church and held in great honor.

While there are many examples of how life giving and inspirational our faith may be there are also examples that for those who truly believe and follow the faith, they may well become a sign of contradiction and in some cases ridicule or even worse, may pay with their own lives as history is still showing us today. I believe the fire of indifference and in some cases hostility against the truth preached by the Church burns brightly.

It seems the word of God today reminds us that the “fire” Jesus came to light on the earth is still burning brightly but that we are still called to make a choice – for Christ and his Church or not.  Renowned speaker Bishop Robert Baron of Los Angeles has coined the term “beige” Catholicism.  He states that the post Vatican II Church culture became what it was not intended to be and many today simply practice a more watered down and very comfortable version of our faith particularly through ignorance of its teachings.

I don’t think that Jesus’ promotes beige Christianity when he says that his mission will bring division on those who follow him seriously. To choose Christ and his Way or not is our everyday opportunity for transformation.

Our first reading from Jeremiah tells the story of Jeremiah’s own rejection and near death when he is left to die in a cistern because his message was to “demoralizing” to others. Jeremiah had spoken truth from God, the hearers found it too disturbing to their way of life, and they tried to eliminate him – but we still read Jeremiah’s word today.

When applied to everyday life and real situations Jesus’ proposal of conversion through God’s  forgiveness, mercy, love and reconciliation and the truth about the human person and God’s care for all humanity is often rejected in favor of a more self-centered, rather than Gospel centered, culture.  The “me first” and “throw away” culture of today that we hear about sorely needs an alternative.  The Eucharist each time calls us to not be beige Catholics and Christians but to see in Jesus’ own sacrifice a model for our lives; of how we are to live in this world.

The French theologian from the 1950’s Tielhard de Chardin once wrote: “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love.  And then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

 

19th Sunday: Faith: Gamble or Gift?

(Daniele Colucci - @Daniele71043)

"Faith is the realization of what is hoped for . . ."

Luke 12: 32-48

The Word:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081025.cfm

Blaise Pascal, a 17^th century French philosopher and theologian, developed an argument that goes like this: “Believing in God is the safer bet even if you’re unsure whether he exists.” It’s called Pascals wager.

The reasoning goes like this:

-If you believe in God and God exists, you gain eternal happiness.

- If you believe in God and God does not exist, you lose very little.

- If you don’t believe in God and God does exist, you face eternal loss

- If you don’t believe in God and God doesn’t exist, you gain very little.

Therefore, from a purely rational perspective, belief in God is the “safer bet.”

One would gain more to believe in God than to not do so. While this argument does not prove whether God exists or not, it is a beginning point to faith.

Taking risks in life, many benefits of those risks would have never happened.  But from a Christian perspective, faith is not something we gamble like a game, but it is a gift we should pray for.  Again, should I pray to a God I may not believe in or at least have some doubt.  The answer would be, why not try to act as if you did believe in him? You really have nothing to loose if you try and possibly everything to gain. Speak and act as if you do believe. As Pascal said: “live as if God is real and see what happens.”

Our second reading this Sunday from Hebrews offers us the classic biblical definition of faith: “Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see.” Every one of the above examples demanded a level of trust in the unknown and when God is involved it may call for a particular heroic faith. This we find in the example of Abraham.

To form one’s life around that faith is both risky and rewarding. Yet, we know that believing in something greater than ourselves will not only bring us motivation but may also assure us about a conviction that will provide lifelong direction. Here we see great confidence not especially in my ability to carry out a tough task but a confidence born that if I step aside and let God take the lead, great things will be accomplished. Abraham is the spiritual model for believers and for anyone who suffers from an uncertain faith. Belief in the supernatural and that great leap to God himself is quite impressive.

If, as Hebrews tells us, “Faith is confident assurance . . . what we hope for” then we must recognize it as a gift. It is grace from God. Faith is a seed planted in our hearts and nurtured through our life experience, strengthened by the support of others, the inspiration of others, personal prayer and participation in a faith centred community such as a parish, participation in a sacramental life, and a serious approach to the question of God in my life. Abraham learned, through his obedience, as Mary did through hers, that though God’s will is often not clear, to follow it anyway brings great rewards and benefits.

The Gospel this Sunday provides assurance. We are not only asked to prepare wisely for the “master’s return” but to do so with the promise that our preparation will not go unnoticed or be without success. The Lord (master) will come and find us not wanting. In other words, we live by a faith that is active and to be about what God has called us to do knowing that in the end, like Abraham, we are following his will not for personal fame or gain but to serve him.  In that perspective is great joy and confidence that all will be well.

We might think of the following example:

There is a true story told about Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India.  A priest came to the “house of the dying” to ask Mother Teresa about his future.  One morning Mother Teresa met this priest after Mass at dawn.

She asked, “What can I do for you?”  The priest asked her to pray for him.  “What do you want me to pray for?” Mother Teresa asked him.  He said, “Pray that I have clarity.”

Mother Teresa curtly answered, “No.”

Confused the priest asked why she said “no” she told him that clarity was the last thing he should cling to and had to let go of.  The priest then commented that she herself had always seemed to have the clarity he longed for.  She laughed, “I have never had clarity; what I’ve always had is trust.  So, I will pray that you trust.”

It was said that she lived for most of her life in a spiritual darkness, unaware whether God was guiding her or not.

Jesus’ gift of self in the Eucharist has come to us through suffering but offers us the conviction found in trust that with God all will be well.

Let us pray:

Almighty ever-livinng God, whom, taught by the Holy Spirit

we dare to call our Father, bring to perfection in our hearts

the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters, 

that we may merit to enter into the 

inheritance which you have promised.

(Collect of Sunday)

 

 

 

 

18th Sunday - the burden of wealth

(Unsplash.com)

"Take care against greed"

Luke  12: 13-21

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080325.cfm

Draw near to your servants, O Lord,

and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness,

that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide,

you may restore what you have created

and keep safe what you have  restored.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

Amen

(Collect for Sunday)

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As we sometimes hear the wonderful and thought-provoking parables of Jesus, we will get the point easily.  This Sunday’s story of the wealthy landowner is one obvious example.  The lesson we see is, as we often say, you can’t take it with you. How true that is.  But if you can’t take it with you, you can pass it on.  The blessings received can move forward to another generation. After all, I’ve never seen a hearse with a U-Hall.

So, that lesson may be obvious.  But often the deeper lesson of the parable is what Jesus does NOT say.  For example, the landowner was very proud of the fruits of his labor. He refers to “my harvest” and “my grain.” While that may be true to a certain extent, the story begins as Jesus states: “. . . a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.”  God created the land that is planted with the power of generation in the soil to produce life.  Therefore, the real harvest is what God has given and what God has done.  The farmer had nothing to do with producing the land but rather benefitted from what God gave to him. Rather than greed, the proper perspective of the rich man should have been gratitude for what God has done.  The true owner of the land is God not the rich man as such.  Jesus does not condemn the man for being rich but for having the wrong perspective. For losing sight of where true wealth can be found.

And that leads us to the fundamental lesson of our readings this weekend. That life is essentially not about the value of what possessions, fame, wealth or power can bring us but rather about perspective in how we use the things of this life for the common good. St. Paul in our second reading from Colossians speaks of the “greed that is idolatry.” In other words, we lust for something so much that it becomes a kind of god to us. We worship what we have by acquiring increasingly more.

The man worked hard to produce an abundant harvest but his whole perspective was misguided.  Like the story about a conversation between a young and ambitious man and an older man who understood life:

 The young man said: “I will learn my trade.”

 “And then? “Said the older man.”

 “I will set up in business - And then?”

 “I will make my fortune - And then?”

 “I suppose that I shall grow old and retire and live on my money - And then?”

 “Well, I suppose that someday I will die - And then?” 

                                             Silence . . .

 This wealthy man’s misperception about the purpose of wealth as for the common good and not for one’s own greed or selfishness is legendary.  This is humorously emphasized by Jesus relating that the man carried on this inner dialogue. “He said to himself – “Self . . .”

Standing there talking to himself, contemplating where to hide and store everything for his own security conveys, I think a very lonely person.  By his life of greed, has cut himself off from God and others. As strong as it does sound, he was a fool who was blinded by his own fortune.

Our first reading from the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes speaks to this reality.  Essentially saying that one may work hard with wisdom and care for what he has but in the end, he leaves the result of all that hard work to someone who didn’t do anything to earn it.  All things are “vanity” we read from this passage.  In other words, the stuff of this life passes away, so it begs the question, is that all there is?

So, rather than seeing this as “my crops” he forgot that it was given not for him but for the benefit of the community around him.  While there is no fault in reaping an abundant harvest and enjoying the success of one’s labor, we must realize that an abundance is not given for one alone but to be shared for the common good. While we may all hope to win a multi-million-dollar lottery and live a luxurious life style, just imagine all the good for others that such a large harvest of funds could also accomplish.

This is like the parable about Lazarus the beggar and the rich man who stood begging at his door or the wonderful character of Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens Christmas story whose own greed forced them into isolation. Jesus was astute at reading the real motives of the human heart and the temptations we all face.

The greatest surprise then is God coming unexpectedly for the soul of the rich man. With all this piled up wealth, the man was so blinded by his dream of an easy life and complete security that he forgot that all things would pass away.  Since he had missed the point of everything dealing with all as gift and what really makes life meaningful and purposeful he was completely closed to God’s grace. By centering his life on greed he had broken all the relationships he had with others and with God.

Our gathering for the Holy Eucharist is a sign of God's overwhelming abundance: the gift of Christ poured out for us and a reminder that he has given this to us and not the other way around. We could never in a lifetime of piled up wealth, equal what God has done for us.  Without Christ as food for our journey, we might well become the most selfish of all people. Our Christian faith should naturally lead us to recognize the advantages we may have and the opportunities given to us to share that no one will be without want. Jesus said, “the poor you will have always with you.” In a sense, that is good because they remind us of our duty to give away a portion of what we have for the common good and to eliminate the suffering of poverty.

The point of all this may be to ask, “Does life consist of what I have or what I give away?” The only true life lived as a Christian is a life of service towards others after Jesus own example.

Making the same point beautifully, I heard the other day of a wise and inspired perspective made by the late Cardinal Francis George of Chicago in 2015 shortly before he died.  I think if we remember anything about our readings this Sunday in our walk with the Lord as true disciples it would be the inspired wisdom of Cardinal George when he observed: “The only things you take with you in the life to come are those you’ve given away on earth.”

Since you can’t take it with you, one can at least pass it on.