July 18, 1999 |
The Gospel this Sunday continues the use of parables by Jesus. Parables, in fact, are used very much by Jesus in St. Matthew's Gospel. THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH says that Through his parables Jesus invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough; deeds are required. In fact, this weekend's Gospel contains three parables: 1) The weeds and the wheat; 2) the mustard seed; and 3) The yeast and the dough. The words of Jesus are also integrated into the teaching of the early Church. All of these parables are descriptions of the Kingdom of God, and our initiatives and God's responses. The first parable is especially graphic. It reminds us that while evil and good certainly exist side by side in this world, and that the work of good is often a struggle, and sometimes a seeming defeat due to the power of evil, ultimately God will be the visitor. In the end, His power, and His goodness will triumph. The barn and the burning are symbols of heaven and hell. And, the parable reminds us to be discerning and patient. If we act too hastily, we may well do more damage then if we wait, and with God's help and grace, then act to root out sin and evil. Dr. William Barclay in his THE DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES notes that this parable teaches us that there is always a hostile power in the world seeking and waiting to destroy the good seed. Our experience is that both kinds of influence act upon our lives, the influence which helps the seed of the word to flourish and to grow, and the influence which seeks to destroy the good seed before it can produce fruit at all. The lesson is that we must be for ever on our guard...The parable teaches that judgement DOES come in the end. Judgement is not hasty, but judgement comes. It may be that, humanly speaking, goodness never seems to enter into its reward, but there is a new world to redress the balance of the old.
By: Bishop G.K. Fitzsimons of Salina
Proper attire is difficult to specify in detail for each and every situation. Common respect and common sense should direct how one dresses for a particular celebration.
AS WE HAVE moved into the summer season, it is important to keep in mind that the proper attire for Church should be considered. How one dresses for an occasion does indicate the importance that one places upon that particular celebration. How you would dress for Mass at the lake might be somewhat different from how you would dress for Mass at your local parish; even at a lake Mass, a modicum of respect is necessary.
LAST SUMMER on a hot summer day, a wedding was celebrated with everyone dressed in coat and tie and elegant dresses. Even the hot weather of that day did not keep those present from very fancy dress for that occasion.
AT MASS is our highest act of worship, it is important that we do indicate this importance by how we dress. One should never stay away from Mass because of simplicity of clothing. Yet, it is important to signify the importance of this worship of Almighty God by dressing in an appropriate manner so that we should be demonstrating how important Mass is for us.
IN MARK 11:17, Our Lord speaks of his Temple as a house of prayer. We do gather in support of one another to worship. Almighty God as a people of faith. One would not want to be a distraction to others by what one might be wearing, or not wearing.
IT IS VERY CLEAR that clothes and what one wears does not signify the depth of faith within the heart, or the holiness of life that one is living. I do ask you to consider the proper attire for Church, that you might signify the importance of this prayer. Let us not be a cause of scandal by our appearance in Church.
During the past two weeks I was privileged to go to places and events where God's healing presence of mercy and love moved so many people. The first place was Lourdes in France where I spent three days as part of a vacation in Europe that included a visit to my ancestors home village in Germany. At Lourdes I joined approximately 20,000 other pilgrims who came to follow the path of St. Bernadette. Lourdes draws especially those who desire to experience the waters of God's healing. Along with thousands of others I drank from the waters of the spring and bathed in these waters. A pamphlet I received at the springs expresses the focus of Lourdes. "You come to the baths at Lourdes to bathe in the water of the Spring that lay under the earth on the left hand side of the Rock as you face the Grotto, the Spring Mary made known to Bernadette. Remember, it was on the 25th of February 1858, during the apparition, that Bernadette heard the Lady say: 'Would you mind going down on your knees? Go drink at the spring and wash yourself there'. Bernadette carried out these actions but with difficulty. Hence it is in this perspective that we are given the deeper meaning of the symbolism of the Lourdes Water: Water as a sign of the Love of Christ who gives his life 'for sinners'. Water as a sign of Baptism that has given us life as the children of God. Water as a sign of the Sacrament of Penance, in which God offers us forgiveness, Purification, Reconciliation. It is because of our need to be reborn, forgiven, purified, reconciled...that we come to this water. We come in memory of what Jesus said: 'If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink.' 'The water that I shall give you will become a spring welling up to eternal life'. In these words Jesus pointed to the Spirit that those who believed Him would receive (Gospel of John, chapters 4 and 7).
The deeper meaning of the water of Lourdes is inscribed above the place where the taps are located: 'Wash your face and ask God to purify your heart.'"
One of the servers asked several weeks ago why I always "rub my nose" on the altar at the beginning and at the end of the Mass. Well, I apologized for my "Polifka" nose which seems to reach the altar first, but I told the young man that I was "kissing" the altar. He was surprised. "Kissing the altar?" he said. "What for?"
The little conversation that followed reminded me that the kiss of the altar is probably not understood by most of the congregation. It also reminded me that in times past, in the liturgy, we used to "kiss" a lot of things. I remember when I was in the novitiate we kissed the floor when we came into the chapel. We kissed the cruet of wine before handing it to the priest. We kissed the bench in front of us at the consecration. Among us novices (this was back in 1964), we used to say, "When in doubt, kiss it."
Our Victorian, Anglo-Saxon culture has long frowned upon public displays of affection. American social behavior, except for shaking hands, traditionally has tended to shun touching in public. Much of that has changed in the recent decades and more demonstrative forms of greetng are now acceptable. It is more common today to see friends -- even men -- kiss in public. The rite of peace is often now expressed in more than a handshake. Many times there is an embrace or, the original custom, the actual kiss.
Even though personal greeting rituals have evolved in our culture, kissing objects (like an altar) is rather rare. This is not the case in Mediterranean and Latin cultures. Since ancient Roman times, among both pagans and Christians, the kissing of a sacred object to show reverece or to derive a blessing was common. Pagan devotees kissed the threshold of the temple as they entered, kissed the image of a god (or at least "threw" a kiss) and frequently kissed the family table to acknowledge that it was a place of religious dedication.
These devotional customs have survived in Christian usage today. In Italian families especailly, there was the custom (still surviving in some families) that whenever an inappropriate comment is made at table or someone misbehaved, the guilty person had to "kiss the table." The table was holy. Today, as a sign of respect for the holy we still have the custom of kissing statues, icons, and other devotional articles.
This tradition is the context for reverencing the altar with a "kiss." Instructions for celebrating Mass have the following statements: "When the priest comes to the altar, he makes the customary reverence with the ministers, kisses the altar and (if incense is used) incenses it. Then, with the ministers, he goes to the chair...[After the dismissal] the priest kisses the altar as at the beginning. Then he makes the customary reverence with the ministers and leaves."
Along with the kissing of the Gospel words after proclaiming the Gospel, this is all that remains of the complicated system of ritual kisses inherited from ancient Roman practice. The altar, the holy table, is the symbol of the Lord and his paschal mystery; it is also the common table of the assembly for its self-offering in union with Christ. Likewise, it is the table of our own participation in the dying and rising of the Lord. To embrace that table, to kiss it, is a sign of our surrender to the Lord. The Presider, in kissing the holy table, does so in the name of each member of the community who has gathered again to be consecrated with and into the Body of Christ. The same can be said of kissing the Gospel of the Lord.
So, from now on, when the priest kisses the altar, be reminded of the holiness of that sacred table. Remember also that your table at home is an extension of that table.
Our Lord was a great teacher. As we continue in the Gospel of Matthew we are invited to listen to more parables. A good teacher leads us from what we know to what we don't and encourages us to make it our own.
In the parables Jesus makes connections. The one which I would like to emphasize is the weeds among the wheat. What is Jesus saying? There are circumstances where even with the best intentions things don't go according to plans. One, then, needs to deal with it. As Jesus offers it to us, it calls for patience.
Let us look at our situations in life and not blame others but see the good, the positive and work, to promote life.
Fr. Ron
We honor St. Anne on July 26. Tradition at St. Anne's is to have the Rite of Anointing of the Sick.
Guidelines for recipients of the Anointing of the Sick are as follows:
The Letter of James states that the sick are to be anointed in order to raise them up and save them. Great care and concern should be taken to see that those of the faithful whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age receive this sacrament.
The sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after being anointed and then again falls ill or if during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious.
A sick person may be anointed before surgery whenever a serious illness is the reason for the surgery.
Elderly people may be anointed if they have become notably weakened even though no serious illness is present.
Sick children may be anointed if they have sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by this sacrament.
The sacrament may and should be given to anyone whose health is seriously impaired; on the other hand, it may not be given indiscriminately or to a person whose health is not seriously impaired.
On Monday, July 26, we will celebrate the Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Nothing is mentioned in the gospels about them, not even their names. Anne and Joachim are the names they were given centuries later by Christians who wanted to honor them.
According to folktales told about them, Anne and Joachim were devout people of good character. Like Mary and Joseph, like Elizabeth and Zechariah, they were anawim, the poor of Israel. Legend says that they dedicated their daughter to God, taking her to the temple in Jerusalem when she was very young. A church in Israel named after St. Anne is believed by some people to be built over the place where Mary was born. Legend also says that, like Elizabeth and Zechariah, Anne and Joachim waited and prayed many years for the birth of a child.
For centuries people in various parts of the world, especially in France, French Canada, and certain cities in Italy, have kept a special devotion to Anne and Joachim. Pilgrims still come to the town of Beaupre, near Quebec, for a special time of pilgrimage.
The name Anne is the English form of the Biblical name Hannah, which means grace.
JUST AS THE CHURCH PUTS IMAGES OF HOPE BEFORE US and the world, we ourselves are called to be signs of hope to and for one another. The help and support we offer each other both expresses and fulfills our hope in others and in God. 1)What does it mean to be a person of hope? Am I such a person? 2)In what do I place my hope as a Christian? Is it in possessions, power and prestige, or is it in working for the kingdom now and anticipating final union with God? 3) Action: As Christians, we know that death is not the final moment. What opportunities will I takeÑor createÑto make the kingdom come alive at home, in my neighborhood, in my workplace?
I am told that there was much excitement in St. Louis during the recent baseball season, when two great players (Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa) were competing to break the home-run record. You can feel the same great enthusiasm as you train for a different goal: the goal of following Christ, the goal of bringing his message to the world.
Each one of you belongs to Christ, and Christ belongs to you. At Baptism you were claimed for Christ with the Sign of the Cross; you received the Catholic faith as a treasure to be shared with others. In Confirmation, you were sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and strengthened for your Christian mission and vocation. In the Eucharist, you receive the food that nourishes you for the spiritual challenges of each day.
I am especially pleased that so many of you had the opportunity today to receive the Sacrament of Penance, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In this Sacrament you experience the Savior's tender mercy and love in a most personal way, when you are freed from sin and from its ugly companion which is shame. Your burdens are lifted and you experience the joy of new life in Christ.
Your belonging to the Church can find no greater expression or support than by sharing in the Eucharist every Sunday in your parishes. Christ gives us the gift of his body and blood to make us one body, one spirit in him, to bring us more deeply into communion with him and with all the members of his Body, the Church. Make the Sunday celebration in your parishes a real encounter with Jesus in the community of his followers: this is an essential part of your training in devotion to the Lord!
Pope John Paul II
THEME: PATIENCE FOR A GOOD HARVEST: A friend of mine is a death row chaplain. He was there the night a man was brought to prison on a murder charge. The arrested man had committed 129 crimes in nine weeks in order to support a cocaine habit. The man was angry, violent, and out of control. Patiently, the chaplain prayed...at first alone and then with the prisoner. My friend did not judge the man. Instead he persevered mercifully and with compassion. In time, the prisoner had a conversion. Although the man faces death, he is now baptized and has helped prepare a video tape for youth encouraging them to make good decisions. His witness led three other death row inmates to Christ. Something good can come from something that at first looks bad. Weeds in the wheat field, at first seem bad; but who knows? With patience, mercy, and love something good may come of it.
