Many, even Catholics, can make the mistake of thinking that some other Christian groups are more biblical in their approach. In fact, we have maintained the structure which we see reflected in the Acts of the Apostles to this day.
Today's first reading tells us how the Apostles travelled from city to city preaching, in each city the appointed elders(πρεσβυτέρους) in each church ( ἐκκλησίαν), a presbyter in each ecclesia. It would be this presbyter who would pastor the local community while the apostles continued on with their mission.
While we more often refer to this role in English as priest, in fact May 13, 1989 I was ordained a presbyter. Spanish still uses the term presbítero and calls the Church iglesia, a bit closer to the Greek.
It is worth noting in the Acts of the Apostles, that no presbyter calls or appoints himself nor is it a popularity contest where the members of the local church pick their leader. The presbyter is appointed "for them." And yes, while I know this will raise the hackles of some, only men were chosen. And anyone who tells you why this is so, is simply making it up. We do not know why. Perhaps when I get to heaven I will ask Paul or Barnabas.
For now the Bishop, successor the apostles, appoints the presbyter to pastor/shepherd the local church. We trust that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the process.
For anyone who thinks we would be better off if we abandoned the scriptures, and let the people in the church freely elect whoever they want, I would simply say, look how well Washington works. I think I will stick with the inspired word of God.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Women of power
Some today think that the Church of the past always relegated women to second class roles. Today we celebrate the feast of a woman who proves that to be a lie.
While Catherine of Sienna is known for her holiness, she was also a woman who new well how to navigate the Church during one of its darkest periods, the time known as the Avignon Papacy. Without reviewing the entire history, due to conflict with the French Crown, beginning with the election of a Frenchman, Clement V, in 1305 the papacy was transferred from Rome to France. It was not until 1376, influenced by Catherine of Sienna, Pope Gregory XI, returned to Rome. It would not be until the Council of Constance in 1414 that the matter would finally be put to rest.
No one, however, can doubt the pivotal role that St. Catherine played in putting the Church back on track, and the physical and emotional pain her efforts cost her. In Matthew's gospel Jesus tells us, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. "
We speak of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, but we can if we wish always focus on the sinful individuals who might attempt to damage the holiness of the Church. Providentially, God has always responded by sending holy men and women, like St. Catherine of Sienna, to keep the Church true to her mission.
While Catherine of Sienna is known for her holiness, she was also a woman who new well how to navigate the Church during one of its darkest periods, the time known as the Avignon Papacy. Without reviewing the entire history, due to conflict with the French Crown, beginning with the election of a Frenchman, Clement V, in 1305 the papacy was transferred from Rome to France. It was not until 1376, influenced by Catherine of Sienna, Pope Gregory XI, returned to Rome. It would not be until the Council of Constance in 1414 that the matter would finally be put to rest.
No one, however, can doubt the pivotal role that St. Catherine played in putting the Church back on track, and the physical and emotional pain her efforts cost her. In Matthew's gospel Jesus tells us, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. "
We speak of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, but we can if we wish always focus on the sinful individuals who might attempt to damage the holiness of the Church. Providentially, God has always responded by sending holy men and women, like St. Catherine of Sienna, to keep the Church true to her mission.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Greater than Jesus
What Jesus tells Philip in today's gospel even two millennia later is hard for us to grasp:
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these
And yet that is the promise. What Jesus did in the brief time from the Annunciation to the Ascension was only intended to be the beginning, a taste of the possible.
We, the believers, were supposed to do even greater things, spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. Instead we allowed ourselves to be consumed by internal squabbles and caught up in the political wars.
The good news is that more that ever we have the ability to do what Jesus commanded. Modern technology allows us to literally communicate with the world. We need to embrace the changing means of communication to help us communicate the unchanging truth about God.
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these
And yet that is the promise. What Jesus did in the brief time from the Annunciation to the Ascension was only intended to be the beginning, a taste of the possible.
We, the believers, were supposed to do even greater things, spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. Instead we allowed ourselves to be consumed by internal squabbles and caught up in the political wars.
The good news is that more that ever we have the ability to do what Jesus commanded. Modern technology allows us to literally communicate with the world. We need to embrace the changing means of communication to help us communicate the unchanging truth about God.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The power of touch
The first reading today includes one of the most powerful gestures in our tradition the laying on of hands. I we look at our sacraments we see that in each case there is some form of touch, the anointing at baptism and the anointing of the sick, the laying on of hands in confirmation and orders, the joining of hands in marriage, the distribution of communion (never serve yourself). Even when you hear someone's confession who is behind a screen, the rite calls for the priest to extend a hand toward them in the absolution prayer.
As we become more obsessed with germs, boundaries and personal space, our culture seems to be moving away from personal contact. At the same time medical science demonstrates that from the time we are born we need contact to develop properly.
In his Book On Heaven and Earth Pope Francis wrote that in caring for the poor our commitment must be "cuerpo a cuerpo" (body to body). When someone says they gave to the beggar on the street his question is did you look at them, did you touch them? As he points out too often we can throw money, without really having contact with the person. This is not the Christian way.
As we become more obsessed with germs, boundaries and personal space, our culture seems to be moving away from personal contact. At the same time medical science demonstrates that from the time we are born we need contact to develop properly.
In his Book On Heaven and Earth Pope Francis wrote that in caring for the poor our commitment must be "cuerpo a cuerpo" (body to body). When someone says they gave to the beggar on the street his question is did you look at them, did you touch them? As he points out too often we can throw money, without really having contact with the person. This is not the Christian way.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
What now?
Now that the suspect in the Boston bombing is captured what do we do now?
In the Easter Season we read primarily from John and in 1 John 4:18 we read, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear."
So often in these situations we allow our fears to be the driving force in our lives. How many times have we seen something happen, we get frightened, and we over-react. We revert to our most primitive, tribal instincts. Already those voices are being heard, the ones who want to generalize and talk about all Moslems, or all immigrants.
Our Christian faith teaches us that our decisions must be grounded in the three theological virtues (faith, hope, and love) and the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude). As we listen to all the chatter listen for those virtues and we will find our way.
In the Easter Season we read primarily from John and in 1 John 4:18 we read, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear."
So often in these situations we allow our fears to be the driving force in our lives. How many times have we seen something happen, we get frightened, and we over-react. We revert to our most primitive, tribal instincts. Already those voices are being heard, the ones who want to generalize and talk about all Moslems, or all immigrants.
Our Christian faith teaches us that our decisions must be grounded in the three theological virtues (faith, hope, and love) and the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude). As we listen to all the chatter listen for those virtues and we will find our way.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Do we actually forgive
In today's first reading we hear, "Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment."
And as we all know this same Saul went on to be St. Paul who ministry and writings shaped the future of Christianity. Could that happen today?
In the 21st century where all news is internationally accessible via the Internet, and once posted remains in cyberspace forever, how do we as Christians respond? How should we respond?
We look around and we bemoan the lack of great leaders, like the one's of the past. Yet how many of them could have survived the microscopic examination of our modern era. Men like Jefferson and Lincoln could never have been elected today, and yet where would we be without them.
We often today decry the loss of the sense of sin, and it is true that we have in someways lost a sense that anything except murder is a sin. But it is also true that we seem to have lost the concepts of conversion, forgiveness and free will.
From childhood we begin to label individuals and once labeled it becomes the modern scarlet letter from which there is no escape. Pope John Paul II warned us about the non-Christian aspects of the determinists school of thought that leave no room for either free will or God's grace.
In the church, as in the world at large, some of our greatest saints were also great sinners. If we are true to our faith we must call sin, sin. But we must always leave room for free will, grace, forgiveness, repentance, and conversion.
And as we all know this same Saul went on to be St. Paul who ministry and writings shaped the future of Christianity. Could that happen today?
In the 21st century where all news is internationally accessible via the Internet, and once posted remains in cyberspace forever, how do we as Christians respond? How should we respond?
We look around and we bemoan the lack of great leaders, like the one's of the past. Yet how many of them could have survived the microscopic examination of our modern era. Men like Jefferson and Lincoln could never have been elected today, and yet where would we be without them.
We often today decry the loss of the sense of sin, and it is true that we have in someways lost a sense that anything except murder is a sin. But it is also true that we seem to have lost the concepts of conversion, forgiveness and free will.
From childhood we begin to label individuals and once labeled it becomes the modern scarlet letter from which there is no escape. Pope John Paul II warned us about the non-Christian aspects of the determinists school of thought that leave no room for either free will or God's grace.
In the church, as in the world at large, some of our greatest saints were also great sinners. If we are true to our faith we must call sin, sin. But we must always leave room for free will, grace, forgiveness, repentance, and conversion.
Monday, April 15, 2013
It would be so easy
Today gospel ends with a single sentence from Jesus, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." If this were all Jesus ever said,life would be so simple. All I would have to do is believe in Jesus. Indeed, throughout the history of Christianity, there have been those who preached and even today preach that faith in Jesus is all you need. Read the entire New Testatment and you find it isn't that simple.
Luke 12:48 "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."
And of special import for us Americans today, Romans 13:7:
Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
In our self-centered culture, today we are reminded that Chriistianity is not just me and Jesus. We have a moral responsibility to the common good.
The Catechism says simply:
2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country....
Before you think it's easy for a priest to talk, keep in mind that diocesan priests in the US are single, no dependents, and have to pay self-employment tax. Do I like it? No, but I understand that I am morally obliged to the societies in which I live (city, state, nation).
Rather than grumbling today, I think I will just be thankful for all that I have.
Luke 12:48 "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."
And of special import for us Americans today, Romans 13:7:
Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
In our self-centered culture, today we are reminded that Chriistianity is not just me and Jesus. We have a moral responsibility to the common good.
The Catechism says simply:
2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country....
Before you think it's easy for a priest to talk, keep in mind that diocesan priests in the US are single, no dependents, and have to pay self-employment tax. Do I like it? No, but I understand that I am morally obliged to the societies in which I live (city, state, nation).
Rather than grumbling today, I think I will just be thankful for all that I have.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Out of Strife, new life
In the first reading today we reach the story that event that gave birth to the ministry we call deacons. The original seven were not chosen because the apostles simply decided that they needed to create a new ministry. The responded to a crisis.
The Acts of the Apostles tell us that as the community grew ethnic Greeks were complaining that their widows were getting less care than the Hebrew widows. The verb used can either be translated grumbling or murmuring. Some things never change. Whether it is young vs. old, Hispanic vs. Anglo, or even African-American vs. new African immigrant, we humans seem to have an almost endless ability to be devise. Here it is important to distinguish difference from division.
Difference is good. God created difference. We should be able to celebrate each of our distinct cultures. Our goal should never be to homogenize the Church or the world. As Pope Francis wrote while still Archbishop of Buenos Aires, a globalization that tries to do that is essentially imperialist. That what we should seek is an "an encounter of cultures and not a fusion." He uses a geometric metaphor, a polyhedron, where as he writes, "it is totally integrated but each maintains its particularity, while at the same time, enriching the other"— Difference without division, Unity without uniformity.
The apostles settled their conflict by having the Greeks choose seven of their own who would be dedicated, not to preaching or leading the newly forming communities, but to service (Gk. diakonia), caring for the needy. Being Greek themselves, these men would understand the language, culture, and customs in a way that the Apostles, being culturally Jewish could not.
As the Church grew and spread more cultures would be added, more facets to the polyhedron, and there would continue to be tensions. We are constantly asking which parts of a culture should we embrace and which should we challenge? Which reflect the values of the gospel and which do not?
The Acts of the Apostles tell us that as the community grew ethnic Greeks were complaining that their widows were getting less care than the Hebrew widows. The verb used can either be translated grumbling or murmuring. Some things never change. Whether it is young vs. old, Hispanic vs. Anglo, or even African-American vs. new African immigrant, we humans seem to have an almost endless ability to be devise. Here it is important to distinguish difference from division.
Difference is good. God created difference. We should be able to celebrate each of our distinct cultures. Our goal should never be to homogenize the Church or the world. As Pope Francis wrote while still Archbishop of Buenos Aires, a globalization that tries to do that is essentially imperialist. That what we should seek is an "an encounter of cultures and not a fusion." He uses a geometric metaphor, a polyhedron, where as he writes, "it is totally integrated but each maintains its particularity, while at the same time, enriching the other"— Difference without division, Unity without uniformity.
The apostles settled their conflict by having the Greeks choose seven of their own who would be dedicated, not to preaching or leading the newly forming communities, but to service (Gk. diakonia), caring for the needy. Being Greek themselves, these men would understand the language, culture, and customs in a way that the Apostles, being culturally Jewish could not.
As the Church grew and spread more cultures would be added, more facets to the polyhedron, and there would continue to be tensions. We are constantly asking which parts of a culture should we embrace and which should we challenge? Which reflect the values of the gospel and which do not?
Friday, April 12, 2013
Having what we need
In today's gospel the disciples look at the crowd and cannot for a moment imagine where they could possibly get enough food to feed such a multitude. Jesus see something different he see five loaves and two fish, 7, the perfect number. Enough for everybody the crowd there present and the whole world symbolized in the 12 (number of tribes of Israel) baskets of left-overs.
How many of us like the disciples look at what we have and compared to the multitude we judge it to be little or insufficient? If we take another look at our lives how many of us have everything we truly need, and then some? The emptiness we often feel is not because we do not have what we need but because we do not avail ourselves of what we have. God, his Church, other people surround us. If you have an Internet connection and are reading this blog, chances are slim that you do not have access to something you truly need. You may, of course, have to ask for help. But that's ok.
In John's gospel a miracle story is never just miracle story, there are always layers and layers of meaning, even there God provides more than meets the eye.
How many of us like the disciples look at what we have and compared to the multitude we judge it to be little or insufficient? If we take another look at our lives how many of us have everything we truly need, and then some? The emptiness we often feel is not because we do not have what we need but because we do not avail ourselves of what we have. God, his Church, other people surround us. If you have an Internet connection and are reading this blog, chances are slim that you do not have access to something you truly need. You may, of course, have to ask for help. But that's ok.
In John's gospel a miracle story is never just miracle story, there are always layers and layers of meaning, even there God provides more than meets the eye.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Look carefully
In the last verse of today's reading you can easily overlook an important detail. At first glance it can look as though it divides the world into believers and unbelievers. It would be a simple, logical, parallel construction; believer get eternal life, non-believers—wrath. But that isn't the text. I even checked the Greek. It says:
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
John does separate the world but not into believers and non-believers. He divides it into those who believe and those who disobey. John defines clearly the destiny of only two groups: those who believe and those who willfully choose to act contrary to the will of God.
The "wrath" described here is for those who know the truth and reject it. Once again we arrive at the traditional "three requirements for moral sin: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent(freedom)." The North Korean who has spent his life drowning in misinformation, but "sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience" is not condemned but can share in the salvation won by Christ.
Ultimately, it is like the story of the two sons, one who says yes but doesn't do what he says, and the one who says no, but goes ahead and does what his father asks. It is our actions on which we will ultimately be judged. Many a so-called Christian may by their actions loose the gift, and many a non-Christian may by God's grace receive it.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
John does separate the world but not into believers and non-believers. He divides it into those who believe and those who disobey. John defines clearly the destiny of only two groups: those who believe and those who willfully choose to act contrary to the will of God.
The "wrath" described here is for those who know the truth and reject it. Once again we arrive at the traditional "three requirements for moral sin: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent(freedom)." The North Korean who has spent his life drowning in misinformation, but "sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience" is not condemned but can share in the salvation won by Christ.
Ultimately, it is like the story of the two sons, one who says yes but doesn't do what he says, and the one who says no, but goes ahead and does what his father asks. It is our actions on which we will ultimately be judged. Many a so-called Christian may by their actions loose the gift, and many a non-Christian may by God's grace receive it.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Would that it were so
The first reading today from Acts Chapter 4 opens:
The community of believers was of one heart and mind...
Why is that so impossible for us today? Perhaps I have already been too influenced by Pope Francis, but I can't wonder if the central issue is not a lack of humility.
We tend to refer to the central figure from Sunday's gospel as doubting Thomas but he was not condemned for doubt. What was condemned was unbelief. Those are two very different things.
The doubter is unsure. The doubter has questions. The doubter may be difficult to deal with but the door is open. Often doubt can lead us to a deeper understanding of our faith.
Unbelief, "I don't believe you," has decided. Unbelief is no longer searching, no longer questioning. The door is closed. Unbelief is certain that the opposite opinion is wrong.
If we are truly humble we may have doubts about some part of the teachings of the Church, but we never reach unbelief. True humility keeps the doors of our heart and mind always open and willing to truly listen. True humility is always willing, when needed, to say, "I am wrong" or more often "I'm not sure" or "I don't know."
The next time someone you disagree with speaks, try humility. You might be surprised what you hear.
The community of believers was of one heart and mind...
Why is that so impossible for us today? Perhaps I have already been too influenced by Pope Francis, but I can't wonder if the central issue is not a lack of humility.
We tend to refer to the central figure from Sunday's gospel as doubting Thomas but he was not condemned for doubt. What was condemned was unbelief. Those are two very different things.
The doubter is unsure. The doubter has questions. The doubter may be difficult to deal with but the door is open. Often doubt can lead us to a deeper understanding of our faith.
Unbelief, "I don't believe you," has decided. Unbelief is no longer searching, no longer questioning. The door is closed. Unbelief is certain that the opposite opinion is wrong.
If we are truly humble we may have doubts about some part of the teachings of the Church, but we never reach unbelief. True humility keeps the doors of our heart and mind always open and willing to truly listen. True humility is always willing, when needed, to say, "I am wrong" or more often "I'm not sure" or "I don't know."
The next time someone you disagree with speaks, try humility. You might be surprised what you hear.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Shared Submission
Just as the history of the Jewish People begins with a life- changing call, the call of Abraham, so Christian History brings with the call of a young lady named Mary, a moment we call the Annunciation.
Usually we celebrate the Annunciation on March 25, nine months before, Christmas. This year however, March 25 the Monday of Holy Week and the eight days after Easter are the Octave. So today is the first available day and so for 2013, April 7 is the Annunciation of The Lord.
Abraham, Genesis tells us, "went." Mary's response is captured in the Latin word "Fiat", let it be done. Both model total trust of and submission to the will of God.
In Arabic we know the word for submission to God, Islam. What we may not know is that this word shares the same root (s-l-m) as the words for peace and wholeness. All three monotheistic religions share one basic truth: If we want wholeness or a true sense of peace the only path is answer of Mary, Let it be done unto me according to thy word.
Usually we celebrate the Annunciation on March 25, nine months before, Christmas. This year however, March 25 the Monday of Holy Week and the eight days after Easter are the Octave. So today is the first available day and so for 2013, April 7 is the Annunciation of The Lord.
Abraham, Genesis tells us, "went." Mary's response is captured in the Latin word "Fiat", let it be done. Both model total trust of and submission to the will of God.
In Arabic we know the word for submission to God, Islam. What we may not know is that this word shares the same root (s-l-m) as the words for peace and wholeness. All three monotheistic religions share one basic truth: If we want wholeness or a true sense of peace the only path is answer of Mary, Let it be done unto me according to thy word.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Extra ecclesiam
In today's first reading we hear a sentence that many inside and outside the church would just as soon ignore.
There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.
This has been famously restated as "outside the Church there is no salvation."
Some have misrepresented this as a Catholic belief that only Catholics can get into heaven. That is not what the Church teaches.
The challenge comes in the fact that our faith as Christians is not primarily a philosophy or a moral code; it is not primarily grounded in a book. Our faith is centered in a person, Jesus. He is the fullness of God's revelation, the Only-begotten Son of God, the Word made flesh.
For any Christian the single historical act that made salvation possible was his death on the cross. This is how we understand Peter's statement.
The Sonship of Jesus is a fact, either true or not. As Christians we believe it to be true. Only when we die will we know, but for now I believe. As C.S.,Lewis puts it "Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse." Given the claims of Jesus there is no soft middle position.
The thornier question is how do we participate in salvation.
The one sure way is baptism.
But that is not, we believe, the only way. Perhaps the most far-reaching statement is that found in our Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium #16, "Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience."
The Church as St. Paul tells us is the Body of Christ. If you are in any way attached to Christ, you must logically have some connection to the Church even if tenuous. As an adopted child I have no idea who my birth mother was, but because I am alive I am sure I had one and we are linked. Jesus's death is the event that opened heaven to human humans and therefore any human who makes it to heaven is linked to Jesus and his body, the Church.
That is what we mean by the controversial statement. It is simple logic.
There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.
This has been famously restated as "outside the Church there is no salvation."
Some have misrepresented this as a Catholic belief that only Catholics can get into heaven. That is not what the Church teaches.
The challenge comes in the fact that our faith as Christians is not primarily a philosophy or a moral code; it is not primarily grounded in a book. Our faith is centered in a person, Jesus. He is the fullness of God's revelation, the Only-begotten Son of God, the Word made flesh.
For any Christian the single historical act that made salvation possible was his death on the cross. This is how we understand Peter's statement.
The Sonship of Jesus is a fact, either true or not. As Christians we believe it to be true. Only when we die will we know, but for now I believe. As C.S.,Lewis puts it "Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse." Given the claims of Jesus there is no soft middle position.
The thornier question is how do we participate in salvation.
The one sure way is baptism.
But that is not, we believe, the only way. Perhaps the most far-reaching statement is that found in our Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium #16, "Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience."
The Church as St. Paul tells us is the Body of Christ. If you are in any way attached to Christ, you must logically have some connection to the Church even if tenuous. As an adopted child I have no idea who my birth mother was, but because I am alive I am sure I had one and we are linked. Jesus's death is the event that opened heaven to human humans and therefore any human who makes it to heaven is linked to Jesus and his body, the Church.
That is what we mean by the controversial statement. It is simple logic.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
4th day of the Octave
As another reminder that God's time is not our time. Christmas and Easter are celebrated as octaves, eight day treated as one. The eight day for Christians is a symbol that Christ God has done something radically new. The old creation was 7 days, Jesus established the eighth.
In today's gospel we have the famous encounter with the Apostles in which Peter lifts up the the man who has been "crippled since his mother's womb." What is interesting is Luke specifies that he took him by the right hand and and raised him up. The verb here can also mean to awaken some, as from sleep.
The great challenge often is to know which is the right hand. We see the man begging on the street corner and we aren't sure what to do. The easiest thing is to simply excuse ourselves by saying things like, "he'll just spend it on booze." With the severely disabled the hard truth is we are often simply uncomfortable and don't know how to approach, whether or not to offer assistance. How often in our uncertainly do we simply do nothing.
In order for Peter to take him by the right hand and raise him up, he had to first, get close to the man, extend his hand toward him, and touch him. That is often the hardest part. Our sense of "personal space", ours as well as the other persons, make us reluctant to approach and nervous when approached.
Perhaps the first step is seeing the shared humanity of the other, truly coming to understand them not as the stranger but as brother or sister.
In today's gospel we have the famous encounter with the Apostles in which Peter lifts up the the man who has been "crippled since his mother's womb." What is interesting is Luke specifies that he took him by the right hand and and raised him up. The verb here can also mean to awaken some, as from sleep.
The great challenge often is to know which is the right hand. We see the man begging on the street corner and we aren't sure what to do. The easiest thing is to simply excuse ourselves by saying things like, "he'll just spend it on booze." With the severely disabled the hard truth is we are often simply uncomfortable and don't know how to approach, whether or not to offer assistance. How often in our uncertainly do we simply do nothing.
In order for Peter to take him by the right hand and raise him up, he had to first, get close to the man, extend his hand toward him, and touch him. That is often the hardest part. Our sense of "personal space", ours as well as the other persons, make us reluctant to approach and nervous when approached.
Perhaps the first step is seeing the shared humanity of the other, truly coming to understand them not as the stranger but as brother or sister.
Monday, April 1, 2013
49 more days
Yesterday our churches were filled to capacity and then some, a common phenomenon among all Christian groups. It was great. Easter for us, however, is not a day it is a season, 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost.
We who go every week could sit around and bemoan the lose of the good old days. The ones that weren't quite so good as we like to think. We could sit around and complain about the younger generation and the "cafeteria Catholics." But how do that spread the gospel?
It seems to me that step one begins with us. The season of Easter lasts 50 days, but how long does our enthusiasm last? All too many of us are like the lilies, we're lucky if we last until next Sunday.
For the entire 50 days of Easter, we put away the Old Testament. In place of the Old Testament we read the Acts of the Apostles. Is it a somewhat idealized history of the early Church by St. Luke? Probably. But that is not a bad things. Ideals are good. Part of our problem is that we have become too cynical. We need to go back to the ideals. We need to go back that read the Acts of the Apostles and remember what it was that made the Christian faith so attractive to the people of the first century.
We spent 40 days of Lent doing penance, praying for conversion. We cannot simply go back to being our old self. Decide today what concrete actions you can take to make the 50 days of Easter different. How can you be a better example of Christian living?
We who go every week could sit around and bemoan the lose of the good old days. The ones that weren't quite so good as we like to think. We could sit around and complain about the younger generation and the "cafeteria Catholics." But how do that spread the gospel?
It seems to me that step one begins with us. The season of Easter lasts 50 days, but how long does our enthusiasm last? All too many of us are like the lilies, we're lucky if we last until next Sunday.
For the entire 50 days of Easter, we put away the Old Testament. In place of the Old Testament we read the Acts of the Apostles. Is it a somewhat idealized history of the early Church by St. Luke? Probably. But that is not a bad things. Ideals are good. Part of our problem is that we have become too cynical. We need to go back to the ideals. We need to go back that read the Acts of the Apostles and remember what it was that made the Christian faith so attractive to the people of the first century.
We spent 40 days of Lent doing penance, praying for conversion. We cannot simply go back to being our old self. Decide today what concrete actions you can take to make the 50 days of Easter different. How can you be a better example of Christian living?
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