34th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Feast of Christ the King

 It is difficult to take in the fulness of the mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, there can be a temptation to emphasize one aspect of his person. This can be seen in how we approach the Mass. Some will assert strongly the centrality of the sacrifice on the Cross while others, equally vehemently, hold that the key is the Resurrection. Likewise, during the liturgical year we must not focus too narrowly on any one season or event in the life of the Lord. The Feast of Christ the King, which brings an end to the liturgical year ahead of a new one begun in the First Sunday of Advent, draws our gaze heavenward to see that the journey started in Advent, with the mystery of the foretelling of the Messiah, leads to its fulfilment in Christ the King ruling creation through his risen power. This glory sums up the whole of Christ whom we celebrate and receive in the sacrament every Sunday. Let us contemplate the whole of Christ and be immersed in the spiritual reality that not only speaks of what happened to him but also how his power and glory are at work in us through the working of the Holy Spirit to the greater glory of God the Father.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Last Sunday the focus of the Church was on the Church of St John Lateran. Today the focus of the disciples is on the Temple in Jerusalem: "When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God." (Lk 21: 3) Both of these buildings and indeed all buildings will ultimately pass away along with the rest of Creation. These sacred buildings prefigure the heavenly realities as does the liturgy of the Mass. In the Letter to the Hebrews we hear: "But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made from hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Heb 9: 11-12) Let us not be carried away by the passing attractions of possessions, which charm with their status and glamour, especially as our society begins to advertise Christmas and the commercialism that informs the atheistic celebration of it. Our focus needs to be on the intangible realities which are articulated by the faith we share: "For we know that the earthly tent in which we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling - if indeed, when we have taken it off, we will not be found to be naked," (2 Cor 5: 1-3)

Dedication of Saint John Lateran

 Jesus says: " 'Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!' " (Jn 2: 16) Notice that he says "my." His relationship with the Father is unique and personal. In baptism we are adopted into that relationship. We are privileged to call God "our Father" every time we pray the Lord's Prayer. The church is essentially the gathering of the People of God; however, the building that houses them for the sacred liturgy reflects and symbolizes their dignity as a priestly people. How mistaken were people in the recent past when they thought to build churches that were "multi-functional!" As we gather for Mass let us be aware of the sacred space and our sacred dignity as the baptized. The Church is the sacrament of Christ therefore the building has a sacramental character which means that it is a sign of God's action in the world. The beauty of the edifice and its decorations all lead us to engage with the great mystery of the Holy Eucharist which communicates the "temple of his body" (Jn 2: 27) which we receive as food and drink to transform our own bodies into temples of the Holy Spirit which are conformed to his glory: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself." (Phil 3: 20-21) 

Commemoration of All Souls

 The words that strike me from the gospel for today are when Jesus tells the grieving widow: "Do not weep." (Lk 7: 13) Such tears are often a sign of hopelessness. We can feel powerless in the face of sin and death. We can also feel this way about those who have died. We know that, like us, they had sins and darkness in their lives which would prevent them from experiencing the fulness of beatitude in pure light of God's unmediated presence: "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor 5: 10) Yet the Catholic doctrine of purgatory speaks of a hope for those who are sinful even though they have died. Purgatory allows those who need it to be purified of their sins. Our prayers, especially in the Mass, assist them as they engage in this process. In this way we are able to hope for those who have died and long for the time when we will be united with them in eternity free from sin, regret and guilt. Our hope is founded not in our own merits but in the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ: "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand and we boast of our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we boast of our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Rom 5: 1-5)

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.