Weekly Reflection 082904AD

Sunday, August 29, 2004AD

22^nd Sunday in Greentime

The A-list and the A-list??

Whenever Jesus went for dinner, we know that something was going to happen. Biblical scholars point out that the strategy of Jesus was to “break bread” with whomever He could. It was a subtle, yet powerful, reminder that God wants to be with us. God wants to be with all.

Luke 14 has been called “Luke’s Symposium”.It prompted one Stepinac student to ask if Jesus had a weight problem. “The Man was always eating.”

In Jesus’ world, one only dined with one’s closest family and friends, as a sign of intimacy.That Jesus would eat with anybody who invited Him was a sign that God is for all, not some.

As usual, Jesus invites us to share His alternate worldview that frequently turns convention on its head. In the marginalized world in which Jesus dwelt in which the elite (in the top 2% or so of society) feasted and 90% fended as best they could, Jesus’ table fellowship was quite subversive. He would eat at the rich man’s and the poor man’s tables.

He would eat with 2 single women, Martha and Mary, against convention. He would eat with those who did or did not observe the Law. On several occasions, He apparently told everyone to sit down on the grass and He made sure that all had something to eat and all ate the same, viz., bread and fish.

Jesus spoke of wedding receptions, lunches, dinners and banquets as God-given opportunities to get together. However, as with so much of what Jesus did to rock conventional wisdom, so also was His guestlist. With an eye to the honor-shame system that still pervades the Mediterranean world to this day, people would be honored to be invited to a “jolly-do” of a rich patron because this would increase the honor of the invitee. However, there were strings attached. The invitee had to return the favor accordingly, if not a meal, then a return favor to the host.

The usual crowd of people that one might expect on a guest list would have been one’s friends, one’s brothers, one’s relatives or one’s rich neighbors. Once again, Jesus rocks the boat. With His launching the Kingdom of God, Jesus tells all His hearers that the guest list has to change. No longer is the invitation list meant to be a way for social entrenchment or advancement. Now the guest list is to include the poor, the blind, the deaf and the crippled, the ones “out of the loop”, the ones who cannot return the favor.

Why? It is what God wants. Jesus fits neatly into the biblical traditional of prophetic ethical monotheism. If there is one God, then all are in direct relationship with this God as sons and daughters. The biblical triad included the widow, orphan and the alien. Such people are still with us today. They are frequently stigmatized as single mothers, dependent children, foreigners to our shores from different backgrounds than the mainstream’s. In a so-called God-fearing nation, what invitations are Jesus’ disciples sending these days? 082904AD

Weekly Reflection 082204AD

Sunday, August 22, 2004AD

21^st Sunday in Greentime

Suggested Summer Reading

A few Saturdays ago, NY Times religion writer, Peter Steinfels wrote an article about suggested religious reading for political candidates this year. Respondents suggested, among the possibilities, Dorothy Day, Rev Walter Rauschenbusch, Rev John Courtney Murray and St Augustine.

This week, we celebrate the Feast of St Augustine on Saturday, August 28. His two great works that appear on many Most Important Books listed are the Confessions and the City of God.

The Roman Empire was almost 1000 years old at St Augustine’s time, and things were changing. In addition, the barbarian invasions continued to affect the order of things.

In 395 AD, Christianity had just become the state religion of the Empire. Now to be a good Roman, one had to be a Christian. (After hundreds of years, some wonder if church or state benefited more.)

Some holders-on to the pagan religions said that the reason that Rome had passed its heyday was that the people had abandoned their gods and had embraced Christianity. The fall of Rome was the punishment of jealous pagan gods.

St Augustine responded in the City of God, with the first Christian historiography. He echoed the words of Psalm 117 today, “God’s fidelity endures forever,” He spoke of the human city, viz., the body politic, established by the people to maintain order. The morality of the human city is measured by the aggregate morality of the people who constitute the body politic. (If you have good citizens, the human city will be good; if mediocre, then mediocre; if bad, then bad.)

The human city provides a lattice around which the City of God grows, like a vine. At times, it is necessary to replace a lattice because the wood has rotted, but the vine continues to grow around another. Just as people are not in the world forever, the human city is impermanent. St Augustine said that people’s lives change with regard to age, luck, conditions in general. The same happens with nations. Rome, once idolized as the goddess Roma was getting old. Just as people’s lives change, so also the human city.

In the midst of all this, the Virus of the Gospel permeates the air. People come and go; nations come and go; the Power of God unleashed by Christ’s the death and Resurrection subtly takes over a fallen world.

During the summer, daily liturgies throughout the world have been hearing the Hebrew prophets. All the prophets agreed that God was always faithful to the covenant, as Psalm 117 says. However, when the First Isaiah wrote, around 700 BC, his inspired message was that the City of Jerusalem would not fall to its enemies. Because people heeded Isaiah, it did not fall. 100 years later, the prophet Jeremiah wrote, indeed, that the City of Jerusalem would fall. They had exhausted God’s patience and, in an effort at biblical “tough love”, God had to chastise them to win them back.

Politicians, on every level, and, of every stripe, play the religion card these days. St Augustine would remind all people not to confuse the human city with the City of God. He would echo Psalm 117, when the Psalmist wrote “God’s Fidelity endures forever.” We change, our lives change, but God is always faithful. 082204AD jfq

Weekly Reflection 081504AD

Sunday, August 15, 2004AD

Assumption of Mary

Mary – Disciple & God-bearer -- Our Vocation, Also.

As we enter the double digits of August, we know that Labor Day (aka Psychological New Year) is around the corner. August 15 represents a traditional summer wind-down festival in which we salute the First Disciple and Mother of the Lord, Mary of Nazareth.

The Assumption of Mary begins what is known as the “Season of the Christian Harvest”, the seed of death and Resurrection in Christ that is planted within us at baptism, comes to fruition in our liturgy. We celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the privilege accorded her (for our edification) that she shares already in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. As we enter the autumn, we reap the produce of the seed planted in the earth. As we near the end of the Church year in November, we enter the month of All Holy Dead in Christ, culminating liturgically the harvest begun at Easter.

Mary’s Assumption fits into this liturgical pattern clearly. According to Vatican II, the two great titles accorded to Mary is that she is the “Theotokos” , the “God-bearer” and that she is the “First Disciple of the Lord”.

St Luke stresses the Discipleship of Mary in his Gospel. We hear Elizabeth’s words to Mary, “Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord’s Words to her would be fulfilled.” We hear also from the lady in the crowd who called out to Jesus that His mother was a lucky lady to have a son like Him. He said, “Blessed is she who heard the Word of the Lord and kept it.”

In essence, what Vatican II tells us is that the best way to honor Mary is to hear the Word of the Lord spoken to us personally and communally and keep it. In the process, with God’s Help, we can become mothers of God ourselves, by bringing God into situations in life where God might not be present. Gospel living brings God to places where God is desperately needed.

Mary’s Assumption is an assurance to us that we are all called to share in the Victory of the Resurrection of the Lord as our destiny. This Jewish Christian woman, a small part of the created universe, has been assumed into the Presence of God, a sign to us of what the destiny of all disciples, indeed, of all creation, truly is. This destiny is the union of creation with the Creator through creation’s sharing in the Paschal Mystery of Christ.

Many have commented on the affection which American Catholics have for the Blessed Mother. Liberals and conservatives, young and old, men and women in many ethnic groups and races see her as one of the enduring symbols of Catholicism. Maybe, one of the reasons is the identification that we have with her because we share a common destiny with her, viz., we have all been called to hear the Word of God and keep it in our lives and to give birth to God in places where God needs to be born. Well done, good and faithful servant!! In and through and with Christ Jesus, may all of us be united with Creator as you have, for our edification. 081504AD jfq

Weekly Reflection 080804AD

Sunday August 8, 2004AD

19^th Sunday in Greentime

Mid-Summer Pointers from JC

At mid-summer, Jesus offers us some guidelines for our behavior as His disciples. Catholics realize that our participation in the Jesus Movement is a 24-7-365 commitment. Today, Jesus offers us 4 points for our reflection.

Judaeo-Christianity is predicated on God’s Self-revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 3.14) in which God Self-identified as YHWH. Jesus Christ brings that revelation to completion through His Incarnation, death and Resurrection.

Our existence is based on our participation in the Being that is YHWH. We live in and through and with God every moment of our life. Our faith challenges and enables us to love with trust in our life in God.

First, if we try to live in God, then, it becomes easier for us to hear Jesus’ reminder today. “Do not be afraid.” The command not to fear appears many times in the Bible. It means not to cower before the mysteries of life, the negatives which we experience and cannot control. Suffering is a reminder to us that, ultimately, our destiny is in the Hands of a life-giving, though mysterious, God, Who loves and cares about more than we do ourselves. It is not easy sometimes not to be afraid, but we remember that Jesus does not demand the impossible. With His Help, we try.

Second, the problematic quote to “sell your belongings and give alms… For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” is not an absolute demand to live in poverty. Indeed, the very ones to which St Luke addressed Luke-Acts was a middle class audience, by and large, and we can tell that it was only in Jerusalem that the Jesus Movement lived a common life. Rather, Jesus teaches us that ultimately, a God-centered life enables us to relativize things that for others, sometimes dominate their lives.

Third, Jesus reminds us that we are not here forever. “You also must be prepared for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Every day of our lives is a radical grace. None has the right to the gift of a new day. We should correctly remember to thank the God of Life, the God of the Moment, for each moment in the 1440 minutes of each day. None has a right to them. Each moment is a gift. We should gratefully acknowledge the gift of God early and often in the day. We are not going to be here forever. Such a thanksgiving to God serves as a reminder to us of transitory existence.

Fourth, Jesus reminds us that we are blessed with many gifts. However, they are not given to us (by God) for our self-aggrandizement. “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much”. All of God’s gifts (and everything is a gift or predicated on a gift when you really think about it) makes demands upon us to share the gift with those less fortunate.

There are lots to think about as Jesus shares His Vision with us at midsummer. With His Help, we need to live as He urges. We will be happier people. He promises! 080804AD jfq

Weekly Reflection 080104AD

Sunday August 1, 2004AD

18^th Sunday in Greentime

Don’t Be So Sure!!

Jesus teaches us many things with His parables and his “zingers” continue to challenge us. The parable of the rich fool is not so famous as the parables of the Good Samaritan or of the Prodigal Son. Yet, it continues to pack a powerful wallop.

The rich fool had most things figured out. His favorite word was “my”. My grain, my barns, etc. In fact, he used the word several times. It seemed logical to make plans for future expansion.

However, he made one serious error. He assumed that his good fortune and his plans were self-fulfilling prophecies. Things were only going to get better. That was the way that he had calculated.

However, he died one night, which was an item not on his Palm Pilot “Do-List”. To whom did all the piled-wealth of his go?

We all know of sad and tragic experiences where people in our lives seemed to have it made and then, it all went up in smoke. There is no rhyme nor reason for us to calculate or to discern. Things do not always go as we assume. So many things which assist us in our search for stability are fine and helpful, but they are not absolutes. Our life is to be lived on God’s terms and not on our own. In addition, God is frequently a God of surprises.

To insure stability for oneself and one’s family is a noble thing. All of us are blessed with a variety of things which bring peace and order to our lives. Most of us here do not have to worry about whence the next meal will come and we should thank God for that. Most of us are reasonably secure financially and we should thank God for that. Most have blessings which others in the world can only imagine. Do we thank God?

However, there are three caveats. First, we must never assume that possessions, power, pleasure, prestige, popularity, prosperity are absolute guarantees of security in our lives. They are good things, but they are not absolutes. Only God is our security.

Second, God expects us to live faithfully in Christ Who enables us to behave in a Christian fashion. God’s many gifts to us make demands upon us. The gifts of food, freedom, financial success (morally achieved) are not Good in itself. They point us to the One Who provides them to us lavishly.

Third, everything is a gift or the result of a gift. (For example, family, aptitude, socio-economic status, health, ethnicity are all given to us.) God expects us to show our thanksgiving (Eucharistia, in Greek) by sharing with the less fortunate.

Let us not try to find absolute security in things, rather than God. Jesus teaches us that the God of Life is full of surprises and enigmas. Let us learn to trust in God. Let us not make the mistake of the rich fool. 080104AD jfq