A question the Old Testament struggled with in this sense. If God is all-powerful then everything even evil must come from God: as punishment, or trial, etc.
The New Testament again asks us to balance two truths. One the one hand we believe in an all powerful God. On the other we believe that because his greatest desire is for us to freely accept his love and love him in return he gives us free will. Sin is the result of a choice we make to misuse some good gift of God's.
In the first reading today, as we prepare for lent, James reminds us that it is good things, and not things like tempation that come from God. We are tempted by our own desires." Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above."
In a world where we immediately look for someone to blame for everything, can we have the courage, in this season of Lent, to turn the scorching light of truth on ourselves, and examine how we use each of the many good gifts that have been given to us by God, from our individual bodies to our global resources and environment?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
World Day of the Sick
Today throughout the world the Church celebrates, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the 18th annual World Day of the Sick. Rather than try to outdo the Pope I would invite you to read Pope Benedict XVI's message for today.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
HAPPY FEAST DAY TO FEMALE BENEDICTINES
Today in particular we celebrate with the female side of the Benedict family as they celebrate the feast day of their foundress, St. Scholastica. She was the sister of St. Benedict and establised a community of nuns. After her brother went to Monte Cassino, where he established his famous monastery, she took up her abode in the neighborhood at Plombariola, where she founded and governed a monastery, about five miles from that of St. Benedict, who, it appears, also directed his sister and her nuns.
For almost 16 centuries women have continued that tradition. Here in the diocese of Richmond we have a community of Benedictine Sisters in Bristow, Virginia and Trappistines (who are an off-shoot of the Benedictines) in Crozet, Virginia.
Today we pray in a special way for these communities, and in a special way for all women who have embraced the consecrated life. Let us pray that more women will open there hearts, and have the courage to embrace this form of total self-giving to God.
For almost 16 centuries women have continued that tradition. Here in the diocese of Richmond we have a community of Benedictine Sisters in Bristow, Virginia and Trappistines (who are an off-shoot of the Benedictines) in Crozet, Virginia.
Today we pray in a special way for these communities, and in a special way for all women who have embraced the consecrated life. Let us pray that more women will open there hearts, and have the courage to embrace this form of total self-giving to God.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Where does God dwell?
In the first reading today, Solomon proclaims, " The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud;
I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever.” Solomon could've had no idea however that God had another plan. God had already built the temple that he intended to be his ultimate dwelling place. he had built this dwelling place on the sixth day of creation, and when he looked at it, he saw that it was "very good."
Would he inhabit this dwelling place immediately? In a way. We believe that in every human being there is a divine spark. But it would not be until the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that the dwelling place which God had built for himself so long ago would be fully inhabited.
Two thousand years later, every human being is still given the opportunity to be the "princely house" that Solomon proclaimed. From the moment that we receive the sacrament of baptism we become that "holy of holies" as the Holy Spirit comes to rest on each of us, and God indeed does abide with us forever.
I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever.” Solomon could've had no idea however that God had another plan. God had already built the temple that he intended to be his ultimate dwelling place. he had built this dwelling place on the sixth day of creation, and when he looked at it, he saw that it was "very good."
Would he inhabit this dwelling place immediately? In a way. We believe that in every human being there is a divine spark. But it would not be until the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that the dwelling place which God had built for himself so long ago would be fully inhabited.
Two thousand years later, every human being is still given the opportunity to be the "princely house" that Solomon proclaimed. From the moment that we receive the sacrament of baptism we become that "holy of holies" as the Holy Spirit comes to rest on each of us, and God indeed does abide with us forever.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
St. Paul Miki
Paulo Miki was born and raised in a rich family in Takatsuki, Japan. He later joined the Jesuits. The Japanese government feared the Jesuit's influences and persecuted them. St. Paul Miki was jailed, along with others. He and his Catholic peers were forced to the 555 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki, the city which had the most conversions to Christianity. There St. Paul Miki was crucified on 5 February 1597.
St. Francis Xavier had been the first of the missionaries to arrive in 1549 to Japan, when the country was in the midst of civil war. At first they had been welcomed and even given land. The Japanese language proved a great impediment, and the work of the missionaries became enmeshed in the struggle between Spain and France for domination in Asia. The people and the government turned on them and today Japan is still only 2% Christian, but one beacon of that presence is Sophia, the Jesuit University in Tokyo.
Christianity has struggled from its beginnings with its relationship to politics and the balance of Mark 12:17 "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" and there is no simple answer. We are called to be involved in the problems of the world, and that requires political action. And yet, the Church cannot be seen as being allied to any particular political party. This requires that as individuals and as groups we continuously allow the truth of the gospel to critique our political positions.
May the intercession of St. Paul Miki aid us as we continue that work.
St. Francis Xavier had been the first of the missionaries to arrive in 1549 to Japan, when the country was in the midst of civil war. At first they had been welcomed and even given land. The Japanese language proved a great impediment, and the work of the missionaries became enmeshed in the struggle between Spain and France for domination in Asia. The people and the government turned on them and today Japan is still only 2% Christian, but one beacon of that presence is Sophia, the Jesuit University in Tokyo.
Christianity has struggled from its beginnings with its relationship to politics and the balance of Mark 12:17 "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" and there is no simple answer. We are called to be involved in the problems of the world, and that requires political action. And yet, the Church cannot be seen as being allied to any particular political party. This requires that as individuals and as groups we continuously allow the truth of the gospel to critique our political positions.
May the intercession of St. Paul Miki aid us as we continue that work.
Friday, February 5, 2010
St. Agatha
As we celebrate Black History Month, we may not have taken note that January was Anti-Human Trafficing month and February 1 national Freedom Day.
Today's saint, Agatha, is the story of a woman who was taken hostage, tortured, abused, and finally killed because of her rejection of the sexual advances of a powerful man.
Today, slavery, more politely called human trafficking, is still alive and well even in the U.S. Worldwide it is projected to include 600-800 thousand people, and here in the U.S. some 14-17 thousand people. Some sources project that there are more slaves in the US today than when Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation, many of whom are held in the sex trade.
On this the feast of St. Agatha, let us remember all those who are being abused and the prayer of St. Agatha
Today's saint, Agatha, is the story of a woman who was taken hostage, tortured, abused, and finally killed because of her rejection of the sexual advances of a powerful man.
Today, slavery, more politely called human trafficking, is still alive and well even in the U.S. Worldwide it is projected to include 600-800 thousand people, and here in the U.S. some 14-17 thousand people. Some sources project that there are more slaves in the US today than when Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation, many of whom are held in the sex trade.
On this the feast of St. Agatha, let us remember all those who are being abused and the prayer of St. Agatha
Saint Agatha, you suffered sexual assault and indignity because of your faith. Help heal all those who are survivors of sexual assault and protect those women who are in danger. Amen
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I am going the way of all flesh
The words of David in the first reading this morning, and we continue to use this expression without stopping to think how Christ radically transformed the meaning of these words.
At the time David uttered them with a sense that he was passing out of existence. When Jesus rose from the dead we do not believe that his mortal body remained in the tomb, and some ghostly figure rose from the dead, as it is often depicted in movie. We believe that all of Jesus rose from the dead.
In the same way the Catechism of Catholic Church state unequivocally that "The 'resurrection of the flesh' (the literal formulation of the Apostles' Creed) means not only that the immortal soul will live on after death, but that even our 'mortal body' will come to life again." (CCC 990)
How should this impact my life today? I should see my body not as something disposable, but as an integral part of who I am and a precious gift from God. Everything choice about what I do to or with my body should keep this truth in the forefront of my mind.
For a Christian, "the way of all flesh" should mean the way to resurrection and eternal life. May we live each moment on that path.
At the time David uttered them with a sense that he was passing out of existence. When Jesus rose from the dead we do not believe that his mortal body remained in the tomb, and some ghostly figure rose from the dead, as it is often depicted in movie. We believe that all of Jesus rose from the dead.
In the same way the Catechism of Catholic Church state unequivocally that "The 'resurrection of the flesh' (the literal formulation of the Apostles' Creed) means not only that the immortal soul will live on after death, but that even our 'mortal body' will come to life again." (CCC 990)
How should this impact my life today? I should see my body not as something disposable, but as an integral part of who I am and a precious gift from God. Everything choice about what I do to or with my body should keep this truth in the forefront of my mind.
For a Christian, "the way of all flesh" should mean the way to resurrection and eternal life. May we live each moment on that path.
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