14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Jesus not only sent out the Twelve he also sent out the seventy. This tells us that the clergy are not the only ones to go forth as missionary disciples. This mission pertains to all the baptized. He also sent them out in pairs. This tells us that evangelization takes teamwork and mutual support. Jesus told the disciples to: "ask the Lord of the harvest." (Lk 10: 2) Evangelization requires that we pray for guidance and for workers to respond to the needs of the apostolate. The disciples are to travel light and be satisfied with what is set before them. They are also not to be defeated by negativity and failure since they are confident of the victory that will be achieved by their Master. What is interesting for us today is that the seventy returned with joy. Have you felt that joy? Do you know what it is like to see lives transformed through lives touched by the Gospel? Let us take on board the message of the Gospel for today so as to motivate ourselves to serve more diligently and zealously as heralds of the Good News in our families and communities. May all of us hear the words: "Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Lk 10: 20)

Feast of St Peter and St Paul

 The theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, which has received magisterial approval in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 773, speaks of diverse aspects or dimensions of the Catholic Church which are exemplified in historical individuals in the gospels. Saint Peter represents the hierarchical and juridical aspect of the Church while St Paul shows forth the missionary aspect. Both of these aspects are oriented to the holiness of the Church which is exemplified in the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thus, it is fitting that the Church honours both of these saints in the same feast since their activity in the mission of the Church complements each other and informs the life of the whole Communion. The words of St Paul also apply to both: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim 4: 7) Both men died a martyr's death. Both men had their relics retained and they are foundational to our understanding of the faith today. Thanks to their teaching and intercession we can say of Jesus, together with Peter: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Mtt 16: 16)

Feast of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ

 St Paul tells the Corinthians: "Beloved, I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you." (1 Cor 11: 23) What we do on a Sunday, in our eucharistic celebration, is to hand on what we too have received. We do this because we are obedient to the Lord who, according to St Paul says twice: "Do this in remembrance of me." (1 Cor 11: 24-25) What is the effect of this? It is no mere calling to mind. As a living memory, or as the Eucharistic prayers call is a "memorial," Christ is made present and our faith is renewed: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Cor 11: 26) Preface II of the Most Holy Eucharist puts it this way: "For at the Last Supper with his Apostles, establishing for the ages to come the saving memorial of the Cross, he offered himself to you as the unblemished Lamb, the acceptable gift of perfect praise." Just as in the Hypostatic Union the human and divine natures of Christ are joined so to in the Holy Eucharist the substantial and spiritual are united. The pending canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the apostles of Eucharistic miracles of our time, reminds us of this great mystery which has the power to unite us as Church and gives us a foretaste of the heavenly realities to come as the Preface continues: "Nourishing your faithful by this sacred mystery, you make them holy, so that the human race, bounded by one world, may be enlightened by one faith and united by one bond of charity. And so, we approach the table of this wonderful Sacrament, so that, bathed in the sweetness of your grace, we may pass over to the heavenly realities here foreshadowed." 

Feast of the Holy Trinity

 St Paul writes to the Romans: "Since we are justified by faith" (Rm 5; 1) it is clear that right relationship with God requires us to trust and hope in a God whose mystery surpasses our understanding. By the way it is evident that St Paul, at variance with one tenet of Protestantism, does not say "we are justified by faith alone." In the Letter to the Hebrews faith is described in this way: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Heb 11: 1) the Catholic Church teaches that human beings can know of the existence of God using reason alone, this was taught by the Church at Vatican I in Dei Filius, 2 however the revelation of the Holy Trinity is received by faith. This is because there is no other way that we could know the truth of the nature of God unless God, who is unseen, should will to reveal it to us. Each time we gather for Mass the liturgy begins with the Names of the Holy Trinity and the congregation is blessed prior to the dismissal by that same Name. In other words, everything that happens between the sign of the Cross and the final blessing occurs under the auspices of the Holy Trinity whom we praise, bless and worship today, even though in his infinite majesty is beyond our comprehension: "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual." (1 Cor 2: 10-13) 

Feast of Pentecost

 As we rejoice in the "birthday of the Church," which is also the patronal feast of Palmerston North Diocese, this single day seems insufficient to adequately articulate the glory of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. I was struck by a reading from St Basil the Great, one of the eastern doctors of the Church, which speaks of the influence of the Holy Spirit on those who open themselves up to him in faith: 

"So too the Spirit is present like the sun to each individual who is capable of receiving him, and emits an influence which is sufficient to help them all, but is not divided; and they profit by sharing in him according to their natures, not according to his power.... Even as bright and shining bodies, once touched by a ray of light falling on them, become even more glorious and themselves cast light, so too souls that carry the Spirit, and are enlightened by the Spirit, become spiritual themselves and send forth grace upon others. This grace enables them to foresee the future, to understand mysteries, to grasp hidden things, to receive spiritual blessings, to have their thoughts fixed on heavenly things, and to dance with the angels. So is their joy unending, so is their perseverance in God unfailing, so they aspire to likeness to God, so - most sublime of all - do they themselves become divine." (Office of Readings for Tuesday Week Seven of the Divine Office)

St Paul writes: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit." (2 Cor 3: 17-18)

Let us therefore use this opportunity, given by the Church, to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and summon him to transform us.