21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The question asked of Jesus and by us today is: "Lord, will only a few be saved?" (Lk 13: 23) The issue of justification is obviously one which has been relevant to spiritual people from the beginning. The next question, for Christians today, may be: "How are people saved - by faith or by works?" This issue, sadly, has caused division among Christians since the time of Martin Luther when he, it is said, nailed the 95 Theses to the cathedral door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. The good news is that on October 31, 1999, a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was signed between the Holy See and the Worldwide Lutheran Federation. This agreement, in short, ended one of the fundamental differences between Christians in the West. It led to a new era of cooperation and dialogue which continues today. Effectively it is the end of the Protestant Reformation and, therefore, the Catholic Counter Reformation. All Christians need to accept that we have more in common than we have that divides us. Sure, there is still work to be done. We still do not have full communion but the days of hostility and even hatred have ended. Let us walk together in faith with our fellow Christians and continue the process of mutual understanding and shared faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. One thing is certain - we should not commit the sin of presumption in thinking that because God is loving we will be saved regardless of our actions: "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But the Lord will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, you evildoers!' " (Lk 13: 26-27)

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today's gospel is confronting. Jesus tells us that he comes to bring division! This is not usually what we expect from Jesus who, in his resurrection, greets the disciples: "Peace be with you" (Lk 24: 36) How does the division come about? I think it is because Jesus asks the question: "But who do you say that I am?" (Lk 9: 20) We know from our own experience, including our families, that the responses to this question vary. The fire that Jesus brings is a judgement that purifies our hearts and asks of us a living faith whereby we trust in him. Being a Christian takes ongoing conversion and openness to God's love even if others look at us sideways or think of us as strange or even deluded. Coming to Mass on Sunday is important because it affirms the fundamental choice we each make to follow Jesus, as his missionary disciples, and orient our lives towards him and him alone. No other relationship, ideology or lifestyle can take his place. the mystery of the gift of faith is deepened further when we understand that the initial choice come not from me but from God: "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. you did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another." (Jn 15: 15-17) 

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today we hear, sadly, a lot about mental illness. There is an epidemic of loneliness, depression, anxiety and other conditions that makes the lives of many miserable. That is why it is so comforting to hear Jesus say to his disciples: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Lk 12: 32) How can we, in 2025, rely on this promise and allow it to give us strength in meeting the challenges of a complex world where things are changing so rapidly? Our answer comes from the Second Reading: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval." (Heb 11: 1) It is the gift of faith, both of the Church and personal, that gives me the assurance that the desires in my heart for love, peace and ultimately eternal life, are not deluded. St Paul tells us: "... for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." (2 Cor 4: 7-9) Our desire to what is right and good, including our participation in Sunday Mass, arises not from duty or fear but out of gratitude and love. We rejoice, as our ancestors in faith did, that the good we do finds its meaning in the great and higher purpose given us by God and sustained by his grace: "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain." (1 Cor 15: 58)

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 The Second Reading teaches us, regarding the resurrection: "But each is his own order; Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Cor 15: 23) Today's feast recognizes that, in the order of the resurrection, Our Lady, her Son excluded, takes priority ahead of all other human beings. In fact, she shares now fully in the resurrection where the human body is glorified, and shares in the same resurrected state as the Lord. How does this happen? In my opinion, it is fitting that the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception (1854) was proclaimed ahead of that of the Assumption (1950). It is because Our Lady was free from sin, both original and personal, that the corruption of death did not touch her body. We speak not of her death but the "dormition," that is, the falling asleep of Our Lady. In other words, the curse: "... you are dust and unto dust you will return" (Gen 3: 19), spoken to Adam and Eve due to their disobedience after believing the lies of the Serpent: "You will not die" (Gen 3: 4), does not affect her.  St Paul tells us "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rm 6: 23) This privilege was not solely for her benefit but also for the rest of the Church so that our own hope of resurrection and ultimate glory would be strengthened. We hear in the Preface for the solemnity: "For today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church's coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort of your pilgrim people; rightly you would not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb since from her own body she marvelously brought forth your incarnate Son, the Author of all life." (Roman Missal, Preface for the Assumption of the BVM)