October 25, 1998Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
As "Respect Life Month" ends, I would like to include a few more thoughts from Pope John Paul II's THE GOSPEL OF LIFE. We must not grow complacent or less vigilant in our convictions to promote our Christian heritage of the value of each and every life, no matter what state it is at. Pope John Paul II notes that "We need to begin with the renewal of a culture of life within Christian communities themselves. Too often it happens that believers, even those who take an active part in the life of the Church, end up by separating their Christian faith from its ethical requirements concerning life, and thus fall into moral subjectivism and certain objectionable ways of acting. With great openness and courage, we need to question how widespread is the culture of life today among individual Christians, families, groups and communities in our dioceses. With equal clarity and determination we must identify the steps we are called to take in order to serve life in its truth. At the same time, we need to promote a serious and indepth exchange about basic issues of human life with everyone, including non-believers, in intellectual circles, in the various professionals spheres and at the level of people's everyday life (n.95)."
Next weekend we will celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. It is a wonderful time to celebrate the Communion of Saints, and the power of the Saint's intercessory prayers. The next day is All Soul's Day when we reflect on our journey to eternity. Take time to reflect on the Gift of Faith passed on to us from all those who have gove before us.
Read again the first sentence of today's gospel: "Jesus spoke this parable addressed to those who believed in their own self-righeousness while holding everyone in contempt." The latter portion is also translated, " to some who trusted in themselves [rather than God] that they were righteous and despised others." "Contempt" for others; "despised" others: harsh words, vicious judgment. Once again Luke is pointing Jesus' finger at the proud and haughty in his own community, those who view themselves as "the saved." But are they? Or are they guilty of presumption, every old-fashioned sort of sinful pride that supposes the mercy of God is their private preserve to the exclusion of "sinners." Theirs is a clubhouse kind of faith. The Pharisee of the gospel does thank God, and for good reason he avoids sin of every sort - except one. But in shunning sin, he also shuns sinners - the very ones to whom Jesus came to proclaim the good news of salvation. By coldly excluding sinners, by holding them in contempt, the self-righteous also exclude God's mercy, the very goodness and kindness of God that the tax collector pleads for in his sense of unworthiness. Salvation is to the Pharisee a matter of merit. To the tax collector it is a matter of mercy. Guess who's right? Better, guess who Jesus says is justified?
THEME: ATTITUDE "Attitude" is where it's at. For attitude is more than opinion, perspective or viewpoint. It's also bearing, demeanor, manner, even posture. And yet, it's one of those crucial qualities that is beyond externals. Clothers, for example, can speak an attitude, but attitude goes beyond clothes. You can get by with the wrong clothes, but not with the wrong attitude. Things like clothes don't make the person. Attitude does. For attitude is something on the inside that cannot stay inside, something that always comes outside to affect relations and relationships. Attitude is how a person is before others and with others. Today's readings speak to the attitude required of the person of faith.
1) Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18
2) 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
3) Luke 18: 9-14
He who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens.(1) We all have different abilities, different resources, different talents. It is not so much the quantity of our giving, it is the quality. The Pharisee who prays in the gospel fasted, prayed, and gave his tithe, but he did so with an arrogant heart. The tax collector knew before whom he stood God the Most High.(3) It is important for us to realize that our stewardship must come from the motivation of love of God and neighbor. There is not enough money in the world to buy salvation, but a little love goes a long way along the path to heaven. We must use our gifts not just in obligation but in love.
Next Sunday the readings will be: 1) Wisdom 11:22, 12:1; 2) 2 Thessalonians 1:1 2, 2; 3) Luke 19:1-10.
Perhaps you have noticed the WWJD bracelets that teenagers are wearing these days. I have noticed that some youth even have their parents and grandparents wearing the WWJD symbol.
WWJD...What Would Jesus Do? This is not a new question that Christian youth suddenly thought up in 1998. It's a very old question that has been asked through Christianity for many generations. What's new is the growing popularity among Christian youth, not only to give a personal witness to their faith by wearing the bracelets, but also to allow that question to impact and to guide everyday situations and tough decisions that young people these days cannot avoid.
Recently I overheard one teenager talking to another about this very subject. Said the one, "What do you think? Would Jesus hang out in bars and taverns today?" "Sure he would," the other replied. "Jesus went wherever people went. He wanted everyone to know about his Father's love and forgiveness." "Yeah, right! But what if someone offered Jesus a martini? Would he drink it?" "Probably not, but I bet he'd eat the olive!"
WWJD...WWJD...What Would Jesus Do? If Jesus were walking the earth today, would he have an unlisted phone number, wear a pager, or have a web page on the Internet? Would Jesus go to X-rated movies? Would he own a gun? WWJD?
That question cuts through a lot of arguments and gets right to the heart of it all. Actually, it's not hard to identify what Jesus would not approve of, but what he would approve? What kind of positive behavior would Jesus celebrate and encourage His followers to practice each day?
WWJA? I think we know the answer to that question in every situation we face. Our problem is not how to tell right from wrong; rather, it is to have courage to do what we know is right! We lack the holy boldness to do what Jesus would approve and to do what Jesus would do.
Halloween is the night of Oct. 31. The word means "Hallow's Eve." "Hallows" is another word for saints. On November 1st we celebrate All Saints' Day and on November 2nd, All souls' Day. These are not three Separate days but one celebration, which was traditionally called "Hallowmas." Throughout these three days Halloween decorations should be left up and our jack o'lanterns lit. Many see Halloween as the end of October, yet in our faith tradition, it is really the beginning of November and our month long remembrance of those who have gone before us. As you prepare for Halloween, do not just plan your costume. Collect pictures, letters or other reminders of relatives or friends who have died. Plan to pray for them and with them beginning on Halloween and throughout the month of November.
On your prayer table, or in another place in your home, create a space to remember your loved ones. If you have a small step stool or ladder, you can place a photo or letter on each step and make a "Jacob's Ladder" Of the people who have gone before you in faith. Add some autumn leaves, gourds, Indian corn or a list of the names and death dates of your loved ones and place it on your prayer table. In the Bulletin this weekend is a prayer that can be used during the month in the home.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
The Church rightly honors Mary with special devotion. In giving her consent to become the Mother of the Savior and by her complete submission to the will of God she is our model of faith and charity. Through the ages many titles of honor have been accorded her: Holy Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church, Queen of Heaven and others. This devotion differs essentially from the adoration and worship that belongs only to God as Father, Son and Spirit. Marian prayers are always directing us toward Jesus and the salvation of humankind. In this month dedicated to the Rosary let us remember to thank her for praying for us.
October in Catholic tradition is known for its Respect Life focus and Rosary devotions. Both of these facets of Catholic life deserve our attention and practice all year round, but in October, coinciding with the feast of the Holy Rosary on October 7 and the Pro-Life Convention on October 25, we are encouraged to renew and deepen our commitment to these areas of Catholic life. Catholics usually learn to pray the Rosary in the early years of Catechetical programs, then drift away from the practice in later years. But in recent times there is evidence of returning to this devotion. There are many books and articles written to help us understand how best to pray the Rosary. Recently I came across the following short piece entitled "Try This" in the September New Covenant that I found helpful. TRY THIS-"Before you pray a mystery of the Rosary, pause and imagine yourself in the scene that is the subject if your meditation. You are selling the pigeons, the offering to the poor, at the time of Jesus' presentation. You are a shepherd at Bethlehem. You are a passerby at Calvary. Jesus intended those events not only for those who happened to be there 2000 years ago, but specifically for you. When you meditate upon the scenes, you are there, by a powerful grace from God." In addition to imagining yourself in the scene of a mystery, I recommend the practice of being led by the Holy Spirit to make a connection with an experience in ones own life that mirrors the mystery of the Rosary being prayed. For example recently I read an article entitled "Patient Waiting-Finding God on the Operating Room" wherein the author spoke of his experience with the onset of a life threatening illness. The article begins-"The story of Gethsemane is one that I've always found enormously appealing, and it has been the source of much prayer throughout my life. But while I think that I've always understood the frustration and confusion of not knowing what to do, the frustration that comes with seeing one's plans scuttled-I never fully understood his fear. Never, that is until one day on the phone my doctor mentioned that a small 'spot' had made an unscheduled appearance on my last CAT scan. 'It may be a tumor,' he said 'But then again, maybe not.'" I strongly recommend being as concrete as possible. We pray better when we bring into our prayer concrete images, letting the Holy Spirit guide us in connecting faith practices with everyday life.
The Church's vision, for the new millennium, can be summarized by use of three verbs: evangelize- reconcile-celebrate. The liturgical year provides a natural rhythm in which to celebrate the holy year.
1998 has been a year rededicated to the Holy Spirit. Pope John PAUL II invites the Church to prepare for the new millennium by reflecting ON and remaining IN the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Spirit in the liturgy is a power-filled presence. It is the Spirit that gathers the Church for prayer. It is the work of the Spirit that brings people from diverse activities to a life of prayer together. It is by the power of the Spirit that the Church is able to pray. The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought. (Romans 8:26). It is in the power and unity of the Spirit that the Church can go out and live what it has prayed. As we soon come to the conclusion of 1998, let us continue to hope in the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding us and praying in us.
Last week's "Corner" about receiving the Eucharist has inspired a few more thoughts. In the early 300s, St. Cyril of Jerusalem reminded his congregation to hold their hands as a throne for the King of Heaven, and to be as careful with Body of the Lord as they would be holding grains of pure gold. Our time after consuming the Eucharist is part private prayer and mostly prayer through our unity in the communion song. Mass used to be experienced as nearly 100% private. To recover the public/private rhythm of our community's worship is to recover the true nature of liturgy. This makes a big assumption, though. It presumes that the Eucharist does not bear the load of our entire spiritual lives, but that we are praying at other times as well. The shape our spiritual lives are in is a whole other topic, ripe for exploration by each of us.
"When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt" --Lev 19:33-34.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" --Heb 13:2.
"Today, as before, the United States is called to be a hospitable society, a welcoming culture. If America were to turn in on itself, would this not be the beginning of the end of what constitutes the very essence of the American experience?" --Pope John Paul II, October 5, 1995.
"The refugees were a leaven in our parish life. As we opened our homes to them, they opened our eyes and our hearts to God. They were a witness to the larger community that our faith community is larger than our local parish. Those working with them will never be the same; in giving, we received" --Rev. Msgr. Russell Bleich, St. Edward parish, Waterloo, Iowa.
Celebrate 2000!...Reflections on Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and the Father, by Pope John Paul II.
The Charisms of the Holy Spirit...The Holy Spirit, while bestowing diverse ministries in Church Communion, enriches it still further with particular gifts or promptings of grace, called charisms. These can take a great variety of forms both as a manifestation of the absolute freedom of the Spirit who abundantly supplies them and as a response to the varied needs of the Church in history. The description and the classification given to these gifts in the New Testament are an indication of their rich variety.
To each [writes the Apostle Paul] is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues (1 Cor 12:7-10; see also 12:4-6, 28-31; Romans 12:6-8; Peter 4:10-11).
Whether they be exceptional and great or simple and ordinary, the charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit that have, directly or indirectly, a usefulness for the ecclesial community, ordered as they are to the building up of the Church, to the well-being of humanity, and to the needs of the world.
Even in our own times there is no lack of a fruitful manifestation of various charisms among the faithful, women and men. These charisms are given to individual persons and can be shared by others in such ways as to continue in time a precious and effective heritage, serving as a source of a particular spiritual affinity among persons...
The gifts of the Spirit demand that those who have received them exercise them for the growth of the whole church. The charisms are received in gratitude both on the part of the one who receives them and also on the part of the entire Church. They are in fact a singularly rich source of grace for the vitality of the apostolate and for the holiness of the whole Body of Christ, provided that they be gifts that come truly from the Spirit and are exercised in full conformity with the authentic promptings of the Spirit. In this sense the discernment of charisms is always necessary...No charism dispenses a person from reference and submission to the pastors of the Church. [CL n. 24]
NATIONAL PORNOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK: All too often through the media we are made aware of the prevalence in our society of the evil of pornography in its many diverse forms. While all pornographic materials are to be deplored, those are especially reprehensible which exploit innocent young children and adolescents. For 11 years the national interfaith organization Morality in Media has conducted an initiative known as White Ribbon against Pornography or WRAP. It is scheduled annually to coincide with National Pornography Awareness Week which will be observed from October 25 through November 1 this year. It is hoped that our people will support this campaign and all such similar initiatives seeking the elimination of pornography.
