30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The focus of this Sunday's readings is prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "... humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that, 'we do not know how to pray as we ought,' are we ready to accept freely the gift of prayer. 'Man is a beggar before God'." (CCC 2559) It also states: "Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ. It is the action of God and man, springing forth from both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union with the human will of the Son of God made man." (CCC 2564) I encourage all Catholics to read the section of the Catechism on prayer (CCC 2558-2865) which is a beautiful and accessible exposition of this amazing phenomenon which is so central to the Christian life. It is available online for no cost: Catechism of the Catholic Church Let us not be like the Pharisee who in the literal text "prays to himself." If we truly wish to pray, we must orient ourselves to God and like the tax collector humble ourselves in his presence especially as we enter the great mystery of the Mass today.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today we hear of the "unjust judge" (Lk 16: 6). Previously, in Luke's gospel, we have heard of evil disciples "If you then, who are evil" (Lk 11: 13) and the "dishonest manager" (Lk 16: 8). In each case a deficient human being is shown as acting in a shrewd or correct way despite their limitations. This contrasts with God, who is merciful (Lk 6: 36), to show how much more divine love and justice surpass human weakness. Luke intervenes as editor to state the purpose of the parable which is the: "... need to pray always and not to lose heart." (Lk 16: 1) The intention is to strengthen the trust that Theophilus and other disciples have in God's providential love and care for them. The question I have is the same as the implicit question that Luke has for Theophilus, that is: have you stopped praying? have you lost heart? Maybe there are members of the Lukan community who were losing hope as they suffered persecutions. When we consider how Catholic culture and practice has declined over the last fifty years are we in a similar situation? If so, then this gospel is for us. If we who are evil and weak know what it is to hold on to our love for our spouses, children and grandchildren who suffer and to pray for them, so much more does God care for us and attend to our prayers if we stay faithful to him.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Have you ever noticed that Jesus never says "please"? However, he does say "thank you": " 'Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me...' " (Jn 11: 41-42) At the pivotal moment of his earthly ministry Jesus likewise gives thanks. St Paul records: "For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks..." (1 Cor 11: 23-24) It is this action that gives the name "Eucharist" to what we do at Mass. Gratitude is central to Jesus' ministry. Hence, we can understand why Jesus asks the question: "But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Lk 17: 17-18) It is in the act of giving thanks that the Samaritan finds that his gratitude leads to further graces: "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well." (Lk 17: 19) The early Christian community was exhorted: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in thanksgiving." (Col 4: 2) and: "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God." (Phil 4: 6) Let us likewise gives thanks with unfeigned hearts in our worship today so that we too may receive the graces that God wishes for us.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The answer to the request: "Increase our faith!" (Lk 17: 5) is "be humble." Jesus tells his disciples: "So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves, we have done only what we were asked to do'." (Lk 17: 10) This is reinforced in the First Reading which admonishes us: "Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith." (Hab 2: 4) Pride is toxic to faith. The Evil One is described by Job in this way: "It (Leviathan) surveys everything that is lofty; it is king over all that are proud." (Job 41: 54) On the other hand, those who trust in God are raised up.  Our Lady in the Magnificat proclaims: "... for he has looked on the lowliness of his servant,,, for the Mighty One has done great things for me... he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, he has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly." (Lk 1: 48, 51-52.) Despite all of the achievements of human beings in science and technology we are all subject to God's ultimate judgment and grace: "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? ' 'Or who has given him a gift to receive a gift in return?'" (Rm 11: 33-35) Let us therefore seek to humble ourselves in the presence of God and pray with trusting hearts at Mass today.

Feast of the Archangels - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

 This feast is helpful in a number of ways. First, it reminds us that there are spiritual beings created by God to serve his purposes and it is in that function that we know each of them. Second, these incorporeal beings are not all alike. There is a hierarchy of angels who are distinct from each other. Third, the principle or arch angels are known and located in Scripture. Michael, as we hear today, in the Book of Revelation, Raphael in the Book of Tobit and Gabriel in the Gospel of Luke. Fourth, there is an ongoing battle against evil which is orchestrated by those spirits who refused to serve God and set up a counter hierarchy of demons: "In my vision war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven." (Rev 12: 7-8) These beings continue to have a presence and influence in the Church. We know this because at Mass we acknowledge that we pray with them in the Confiteor and in the preface to the Eucharistic Prayer. The preface for this feast concludes: "Through him (Christ the Lord) the multitude of Angels extols your majesty, and we are united with them in exultant adoration, ass with one voice of praise we acclaim..." (Preface of the Archangels, Roman Missal) Let us, every time we are at Mass be mindful of the exultant praise of heaven and earth as we recite or sing the Holy, holy.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 One astonishing thing about this parable is that Dives (the rich man), even though he is in Hell, still thinks that Lazarus can be put at his disposal: "... send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue..." (Lk 16: 24). He not only thinks that he can relate to Abraham as a peer, but he also knows Lazarus by name even though when he was alive, he would not give him a morsel that would fall from his sumptuous table! Unfortunately for him, he is now not "the rich man" but: "... The man who had been rich" (Lk 16: 27). Furthermore, after the initial rebuff, his tone changes: "Then, father, I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house" (Lk 16: 27). He is reduced to begging. This does not help him. There is a fatalism here as if his brothers will not listen to Moses and the prophets they will not be convinced "... even if someone rises from the dead." (Lk 16: 31) The continuity between Jesus and the Scriptures is thus indicated and the ultimate rejection of him by rabbinical Judaism. The challenge for each of us lies in whether we are behaving as Dives. It will be too late to change once we have died. Let us therefore respond to the Gospel now while we still have a chance to live according to the commands of the risen Lord who, as we hear in the Second Reading: "... is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords." (1 Tim 6: 15) 

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The parable for today speaks of "dishonest wealth," the literal translation is "the mammon of wickedness," and contrasts it with "true riches." (Lk 16: 11) Mammon has two meanings - money or wealth, and the demon of greed. St Paul, in his writings, points out: "... greed (which is idolatry)." (Col 3: 5) Idolatry is when I place somethings ahead of God in my life as the ultimate good. How many people in our society sacrifice true happiness in pursuit of money? Our passage for today concludes: "No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Lk 16: 13) The Second Reading tells us: "For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2: 5) Money does not mediate the eternal or the divine.  Hopefully we know already, through observing the lives of others, that money cannot buy eternal life or indeed happiness in this life. I like the quip: "Money cannot buy you friends but it does buy you a better class of enemy." Material possessions are given to us so we may use them wisely for their true purpose which is arrived at through listening to the wisdom of the Gospel and discerning the greater good for ourselves and others. We are advised in the Book of Proverbs: "Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice." (Prov 16: 8)