29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today Jesus continues to train his Apostles and at the same time, thanks to St Mark who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he continues to train us. To my mind there are two extremes which Catholic can fall into at this time. The first is an inferiority complex which makes them afraid to identify publicly as Catholic. Believing the propaganda of the mainstream media, scandalized by the sex abuse crisis and drawn in by the slogan "I am spiritual but not religious" they withdraw into their shell. Second, there can be a sort of intellectual and cultural arrogance and superiority. Such Catholics are inclined to mock the hapless situation of non-Catholic Christians who struggle with contemporary moral and social issues. Smugly they revel in the richness of the papal magisterium as well as the artistic and cultural Catholic heritage as they look down on the banal emptiness of atheistic society. This begs the question - what is the Catholic Church for? It is a prolongation of the Incarnation as it mediates sacramental grace to a fallen world and continues the mission of the Master. Thus, the Church is called to serve after the model of its Founder: "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mk 10: 45) At Vatican II the Church fathers taught: "The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ." (Gaudium et spes, 1)

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Jesus asks the rich young man in today's gospel to: "... sell what you own and give the money to the poor" (Mk 10: 21). This, on its face, is difficult enough especially for someone who is rich. Jesus goes on to say, in the same verse: "... then come, follow me." As missionary disciples we must be mindful that it is not enough to spend our resources for others and do any number of works of charity. We must follow Christ. This means that we not only dedicate our material goods to the mission and the good of others, but we also conform ourselves to Christ which means taking up our cross each day and following him. This renunciation of self comes about not through duty or fear but through love: "For the love of Christ urges us on." (2 Cor 5: 14) It is through love that we find the relationship with God for which the rich young man longed. St Paul is uncompromising: "If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor 13: 3) Making Jesus Christ our priority places all of our possessions and concerns in perspective. This calls for a transformation in our understanding of why and for whom we are living. This stands in glaring contrast to the self-obsession of the world: "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal 2: 19-21)

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 When I was a judge for the marriage tribunal, I got a privileged insight into the pain caused by the failure of marriages which started with so much hope and optimism and ended in bitterness, anger and confusion. Jesus, as evidenced by his conversation with the woman at the well (Jn 4: 16-18), was aware of the complexity on human relationships. Nevertheless, his teaching on marriage and therefore sexual morality was strict, especially compared to New Zealand in 2024. The disciples even responded: " If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry'." (Mtt 19: 10) Jesus' teaching was carried on in the Early Church, e.g. Rm 7: 2-3 What is the Catholic Church to do? Should she be conformed to the ways of the world which undermines marriage, family and even sexual identity? Can we solve the challenges of human sexuality by pretending that they do not exist? The answer has been and remains "No." The teaching of Christ and the institutions of marriage and the family need to be upheld. Nevertheless, the Church is mindful of mercy: "... since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Rm 3: 23) I exhort parishioners to strive to be faithful to the teachings of Christ. At the same time as trusting that when they are in a difficult situation with marriages that they can approach the Church to look for a solution in accord with Church law. In doing so they can find a resolution so that they may regularize their marriage relationships and go forward healed and in good conscience as missionary disciples of our loving Master. 

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  We are accustomed to hearing Jesus warning or telling off the scribes, Pharisees and lawyers, for example, in Matthew 23: 1-36. Yet, today, immediately after the episode in which the disciples had been arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest, Jesus replies sternly to John's question about how to deal with unauthorized exorcisms: " 'Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.' " (Mk 9: 38) My question is, who is "us" in this context? It seems that not only were the disciples arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest, but they also claimed a monopoly on the ministry and name of Jesus.  Jesus replied: " 'Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.' " (Mk 9: 39-40) All these centuries later that "us" can be applied today to all the baptized and thereby commissioned as missionary disciples. The mission does not belong to us since it is primarily the action of the Holy Spirit working to bring people through Jesus to the Father. Our task is to spread the joy of the Gospel and not to look to our own interests or hold ourselves out as being the saviours. In fact, our actions may both cause ourselves or others to stumble. Such attitudes need to be cut off and discarded, even though it may be painful to do so. After all: " 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done.' " (Lk 17: 10) 

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 In the Gospel of Mark there are three predictions of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. After the first we hear that: "... Peter took him (Jesus) aside and began to rebuke him." (Mk 8: 32) Jesus replies: "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." (Mk 8: 33) Today is the second prediction which leaves the disciples dumbfounded: "But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him." (Mk 9: 32) However, they soon reverted to their worldly ways: "But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest." (Mk 9: 34) After the third foretelling their jealous rivalry is revealed as James and John look to oust Peter: "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one on your left in glory." (Mk 10: 37) I must ask myself - how much of my faith and religion is taken up with worldly considerations? The key to true faith is not to look to my advantage but to serve others as Christ did, especially in the vulnerable since: "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." (Mk 9: 37)

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today's gospel is very relevant for a church which is called to be informed by missionary discipleship. In New Zealand the Irish descended and culturally formed church has, or is, dying off. It is no longer a question of maintenance because shortly there will be nothing to maintain. What is going to take its place? It is a church of mission. This church understands that: encounter with Christ, conversion, discipleship. communion and mission, are all essential dimensions of Christian life. To fully, consciously and actively participate in this reality, which is actualized in adult baptism, requires a personal decision to acknowledge Jesus as the risen Saviour, to whom I give my loyalty, obedience and love. St Peter makes such an act of faith when he responds to Jesus' question: " 'You are the Messiah'." (Mk 8: 29) This, of itself, is insufficient. Such adherence can still succumb to temptations to worldly power or prosperity as the individual or collective leverages Jesus' image and power for its own benefit. To this end, the cross is essential. It calls us not only to follow Christ but also to imitate him in his life giving, sacrificial love: "For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Heb 13: 15-16)   

  

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today has been designated as Social Justice Sunday by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. The imperative of the gospel to not only proclaim the Good News but to act on its implications in a practical way is always present. To this end the second reading is most relevant. James critiques his congregation for how they show favoritism to the rich. This causes him to think: "... have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (Jm 2: 3-4) Last Sunday we also heard the words: "But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." (Jm 1: 22) Thus, the obligation to work for social justice applies not just to religious and civil institutions. Let us all work for peace and justice in our communities. Such efforts are not political statements rather they reflect the hope we have in the Kingdom of God that God's justice will reign not just in the next world but here and now.