September 19, 1999 |
In the Old Testament the Year of Jubilee was to be declared every 50th year. It was ushered in by the sounding of trumpets throughout the land on the Day of Atonement. During the Jubilee year the land was to remain idle as in the Sabbatical Year, which came every seven years. The resting of the land was to honor God who was the landlord of all the land. Enough was to be planted in the sixth year to harvest that would last for two years. In the Jubilee year it was to last for three years. All transfers of real estate were to be returned to the original owners. All debts were to be forgiven. The law was written to be and ideal. However, history shows that it was never perfectly followed. You may read about the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus chapter 25. A few weeks ago our Pope asked that the nations that hold debts over others consider forgiving the national debts at least in part. It is a sacrifice of forgiveness that will go far in healing the wounds of division in the world. Pray that some measure of this may be achieved.
Gratitude is one of those responses of the heart that are impulsive and joyous. Gratitude is often thought of as a response: I feel love because of your love...and whose love is greater than love? But God's love for us is displayed in ways that humans cannot always understand, especially those humans lacking in faith. How can we feel grateful for God's "gifts" of illness, loss, or disaster? Some people respond to those gifts by refusing to accept them and being bitter instead of gracious. As a Christian Steward's relationship with God grows, there is a pondering of gifts, especially when one contemplates the sacrifice of the Mass and gift of the Eucharist. It is when we choose to throw out our pride and realize our unworthiness that we allow gratitude to build. Our first American saint, Mother Cabrini, is a fine example of one who accepted God's gifts of rejection, poor health and geography, yet chose to grow in her gratitude.
The theme for this season is "evangelization." The word scares some of us, and yet this is so much of what we are about as Christians and as Catholics. Jesus' final works, in Matthew's Gospel, which were directed at his disciples, were: "...go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything that I have commanded you." That's quite a challenge. But the very last words make that challenge exciting and possible: "And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world."
What is it that bothers, or scares, us about "evangelization"? For me it is the thought of going door to door and "witnessing" my faith by proclaiming scripture passages and statements of faith. I always detested that when I was confronted by other faith traditions at my door or in my face. Those experiences made me happy to be Catholic and happy I wasn't one of "them." Going door to door to be in people's faces about Jesus wasn't my way. I remember being "accosted" in the parkng lot at Lawrence Memorial Hospital several months ago by someone who kept shouting at me (I was in my Roman Collar, of course), "Have you accepted Jesus as your personal savior?" I think he may have been trying to be anti-Catholc, but I praised Jesus that I didn't have the need to do that to anyone.
That is not what we mean by "evangelization." Evangelization, in its pure form, is living the Gospel in the midst of the world...in our family, in our workplace, in our community. It is "witnessing" to Gospel values by living them. When we Capuchins go into a new mission territory (as we did when we went into Papua New Guinea in the 1950's), we do not rant and rave, condemn and damn. We seldom set up "churches." We simply set up communities of friars who live the Gospel. Soon enough people "come and see" what is happening. And then we have the opportunity to "proclaim."
In Mark's Gospel we are told, "The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere. The Lord continued to work with them throughout and confirm the message through the signs which accompanied them." (Mk 16:20)
My dear family in Christ,
We are invited through the Word of God to open our eyes and minds to the ways that God offers in His love. As we hear from the prophet Isaiah, "As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts" (Is.55.9). We will never be disappointed if we truly put our trust in the ways of God.
The challenge we have, more often than not is that we have a tendency to expect God to respond according to our designs and plans. For example, if I pray for something I expect not only to be heard but that it turns out in my favor; I plead for some change and my needs should be met.
As we hear the message today God always surprises us. It is especially difficult to accept the idea that God is more generous to some than to others, especially if I have tried to be good, been generous and basically, lead a moral life. The story of the Gospel today about the owner of the vineyard illustrates that divine generosity is not playing favorites but calling all into the goodness of God.
Fr. Ron
You will find that charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the basket of bread. But you must keep your gentleness and your smile. Giving soup and bread isn't all; that the rich can do. You are the little servant of the poor, the maid of charity, always smiling and in good humor. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting as you will see, but the uglier and dirtier they are, the more unjust and bitter, the more you must give them of your love. It is only because of your love, only your love, that the poor will forgive you the bread you give them.
Paige Byrne Shortal
Preparing music for liturgy is like preparing a meal for a large family. One can't abide mushrooms or peas. Another won't eat anything creamy. One is a vegetarian--and didactic about it. One will eat anything as long as he can douse it in ketchup. One is on a diet and picks at her food. One wants to turn on the television. And one thinks eating together is a waste of time.
I have noticed that differences about how we worship fall into two large categories which I label Taste and Truth.
Differences in Taste include personality, experience, age, and the like. An introvert worships differently than an extrovert. Certain experiences with a worship style mark a person forever and one always goes back to that style as the epitome, just as we always enjoy hearing the music that was playing when we first fell in love. Obviously different music is popular with different generations.
Differences in Truth, or perhaps better, "Perceptions of Truth," include those very real disagreements about what is right and wrong, who Jesus really is, what is expected of God's community, what it means to be Catholic or Christian. Theologians would call these issues of Moral Theology or Christology or Ecclesiology
With regard to differences in Perceptions of Truth we must be very, very careful. No one of us has a handle on the whole truth. As G.K. Chesterton once said, "A heretic is not one who tells a lie and calls it the truth. A heretic is one who tells a partial truth and calls it the whole truth."
God is indeed transcendent, majestic, totally other, and our response can only be to bow down in worship, singing ethereal chant or grand and noble hymns, filled with awe and wonder.
But God is also one who walked this earth, knows our suffering and our joy, drank wine at a friend's wedding and wept over a friend's death. And so God is imminent, ever near, ever accessible. Music with simple melodies or a rousing beat expresses our longing and our exuberance at being called by this intimate and loving God.
Here's the good news: Both are true! We don't have to choose!
The differences of Taste and of Truth often get cloudy because of another phenomenon which I call the Politicization of Taste. We allow our Taste in music or worship style to become falsely symbolic of the Truth. And when this happens we begin to castigate each other's prayer. Those who fancy themselves "contemporary" look askance at those who are more "traditional" (perhaps forgetting that this year's contemporary will become next year's tradition). Guitarists and organists distrust each other. People will be convinced that "On This Day O Beautiful Mother" is a "right" expression of faith while "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman" is "wrong." Or vice versa.
Whether we are charismatic or contemplative; traditional or contemporary; fond of the Rosary or prefer a Gospel Fest; I wonder if we realize that when we judge another by the music they like or how they worship, what we are really saying is this: "My words to God are better than yours." Pretty audacious, isn't it? And how does Jesus respond to someone so brazen? Read Luke, Chapter 18, Verses 9-14.
By the way, in my family we always eat together. No one is at present on a diet or a vegetarian. The TV is never on. The ketchup bottle is. So is the peanut butter, just in case someone really can't abide what is prepared. Critical words of the "ewwww gross" variety are strongly discouraged. A "No Thank You" portion is required--which may only be the touching of the serving spoon to the plate. A sincere "Thank You" to the cook--usually the husband--is an absolute. And in case I forgot, "Thank you, honey!"
Gossip usually means that a person is talking about some thing or person that is only known through hearsay or third or fourth hand. It can be very destructive of people and society. We are to speak of what is helpful to building up the kingdom of God. It is a terrible thing to spread what can be a lie or even a half truth. The saints have compared useless gossip to the letting of feathers from a pillow loose in a wind. It is impossible to pick up all of them. Make sure you know the truth and then ask yourself why you want to share it. If it is for the real good of someone and it is shared with the proper person(s), then it can be constructive and charitable. If it is shared out of your own pride, think first before you do it, less you have to stand before God in judgement one day for your action.
FROM THE WORLD'S MOST TRAVELED POPE comes an invitation to join him on a new kind of pilgrimage. Through his new compact disk, "Abba Pater," John Paul II offers a musical and spiritual experience aimed at helping the listener meditate on the real meaning of the forthcoming Jubilee Year. Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Vatican's Jubilee Committee, notes that the pope's voice is that of a pastor who seeks "to render visible to men, women and youth the inner pilgrimage" that the Jubilee invites. The 11-track CD, featuring the voice of the pope against a musical background, offers prayers, chants and homilies in Latin, Spanish, Italian, French, English. Recorded by Vatican Radio throughout the Holy Father's pontificate over the past 20 years, the selections include a Gregorian chant version of the Our Father, meditations on Scripture, a homily on forgiveness delivered to youth. The title track, 'Abba Pater," (combining the Aramaic and Latin words for "father"), was originally spoken and sung by the Holy Father at a 1995 celebration at St. Peter's Basilica. "Abba Pater" is being released by Sony Classical. Royalties go to Vatican Radio and an Italian order of priests which produced the CD.
Homily During Mass (Cont)
Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Gospel of God's love, which we are celebrating today, finds its highest expression in the Eucharist. In the Mass and in Eucharistic Adoration we meet the merciful love of God that passes through the Heart of Jesus Christ.
In the name of Jesus, the Good Shepherd I wish to make an appeal -- an appeal to Catholics throughout the United States and wherever my voice or words may reach -- especially to those who for one reason or another are separated from the practice of their faith.
On the eve of the Great Jubilee of the two thousandth anniversary of the Incarnation, Christ is seeking you out and inviting you back to the community of faith. Is this not the moment for you to experience the joy of returning to the Father's house? In some cases there may still be obstacles to Eucharistic participation; in some cases there may be memories to be healed; in all cases there is the assurance of God's love and mercy.
The Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 will begin with the opening of the Holy Door in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome: this is a powerful symbol of the Church -- open to everyone who feels a need for the love and mercy of the Heart of Christ. In the Gospel Jesus says: "I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture" (cf. Jn 10:9).
Our Christian life can be seen as a great pilgrimage to the house of the Father, which passes through the door that is Jesus Christ. The key to that door is repentance and conversion. The strength to pass through that door comes from our faith and hope and love. For many Catholics, an important part of the journey must be to rediscover the joy of belonging to the Church, to cherish the Church as the Lord has given her to us, as Mother and Teacher.
Living in the Holy Spirit, the Church looks forward to the Millennium as a time of far- reaching spiritual renewal. The Spirit will truly bring about a new springtime of faith if Christian hearts are filled with new attitudes of humility, generosity and openness to his purifying grace. In parishes and communities across this land holiness and Christian service will flourish if "you come to know and believe in the love God has for you" (cf 1 Jn 4:16).
Mary, Mother of Mercy, teach the people of St. Louis and of the United States to say yes to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!
Mother of the Church, on the way to the Great Jubilee of the Third Millennium, be the Star which safely guides our steps to the Lord!
Virgin of Nazareth, two thousand years ago you brought into the world the Incarnate Word: lead the men and women of the new Millennium to the One who is the true light of the world! Amen.
-- Pope John Paul II
You will probably notice that this weekend the readings proclaimed by the lector at Mass are not the ones in the missalette. Today the Servants of Mary celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the principal patron of the Order. A religious community is allowed to have a unique liturgical calendar, which, while following the general liturgical guidelines, allows for some specific variations from the universal calendar of the Church. Only a feast of special significance would replace a Sunday liturgy. Since Our Lady of Sorrows is the principal patron, this is one of those occasions. I also think that it is most appropriate since all the marvelous stained glass windows in the southwest corner are dedicated to her sorrows. When I was a kid growing up I thought the initials OSM after the name of Servites actually meant the Order of the Sorrowful Mother because the Novena was in its heyday. It wasn't until I joined the Servites that I learned the real name was the Order of the Servants of Mary, since they were always called just the Servites. Then I discovered that the Order existed for a couple hundred years before Our Lady of Sorrows was designated the principal patron. If someone is truly a servant of Mary, they have to know Mary through the scriptures. Mary is a woman of the scriptures. The more I read the scriptures the more aware I am of where Mary appears - always at stressed moments in Jesus' life. Even at the Annunciation, where she is called to be mother of God, she questions how it is to be. The glory of our celebration at Christmas is overshadowed as Joseph frantically searches for a room in an inn, only to be denied. These many passages culminate at the foot of the Cross and with Michaelangelo's depiction of her final sorrow, The Pieta. As a community, the Servites celebrate this feast twice a year, once in Lent and now in September. The Lenten celebration concentrates on Mary at the foot of the Cross. Today's celebration focuses on Mary's fidelity to her commitment at the Annunciation - despite her sorrows she did what she said she would do and remains constantly faithful to her Son, Jesus. I think mothers (and maybe all parents) see her tremendous witness as they remember moments of their hearts being pierced with childish mistakes or even more severely, seeing themselves at the foot of their child's cross. I remember a mother who spent years at the foot of her son's cross remarking I learned from Mary how to deal with this and I thank her. Such insight is why we celebrate today. God bless!
Father Michael Doyle, OSM
