Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The parable of the Prodigal is one of the most memorable and powerful of Jesus' parables. I think it grows in effect if we place it in continuity with the shorter parables that precede it and keep in mind the audience that listened to it. The self-righteous, judgmental Pharisees and scribes were obsessed with legal and ritual purity. They had no desire to help or empathise with the tax collectors and sinners. Rather their impulse was to condemn Jesus for associating with the the objects of their scorn. What a contrast we get with the joy of the shepherd who searches out the lost sheep and the woman who finds her lost coin! On both occasions they say "Rejoice with me." (Lk 15: 6 and 9) Similarly the father of the Prodigal says the the Elder Brother: "... we had to celebrate and rejoice." (Lk 15: 32) This challenges me to ask what my attitude is towards people who struggle morally or religiously as well as those who try to help them. Do I condemn the helpers? If the person repents do I rejoice? If I am filled with such joy then I am in tune with the mind of God and the angels: "Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Lk 15: 10) Even better, will that joy give me the inclination to reach out to people who struggle and show them the kind of love illustrated by the father as he welcomed back his son: "But while he was still far off his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him." (Lk 15: 20) 

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus says: "For which of you intending to build a tower..."? (Lk 14:28) The question I can ask myself is what tower am I building? What is the project of my life? When I look at other day to day aspects of my life I automatically do a cost/benefit analysis yet am I capable of doing that with the "big picture"? What is ultimately at stake is salvation and the judgement that will be made of my life, not in the eyes of my neighbours and friends, but of the Lord: "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5: 10) It is clear from the Gospel that whatever we have in prospect on earth fades into comparison with what is in store for us in the life to come: "For this slight momentary afflication is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what we can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (2 Cor. 4: 17-18) Let us never forget that our destination is not of this world but our experience of it will be affected by what we do in this world. The stakes are high. Jesus warns us: "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mk 8: 36-38)

Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

When we read the Gospel it pays to remember that the designation "Pharisee" is not fixed in time, applying only to members of that sect among the Jews. Even by the time of St Luke the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 meant that the whole Jewish religious landscape had changed. The term "Pharisee" functions to refer to a misguided disciple in need of correction. Thus, it pays for us as disciples, who tend to get things wrong, mixed up or out of proportion, to test the authenticity of our discipleship by applying what is said by Jesus to the Pharisees to ourselves. Today Jesus teaches: "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends (etc) ... in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid." (Lk 14: 12) Is it the case that all of my hospitality is directed towards people who I like and who will reciprocate? How often am I generous or welcoming to people who cannot repay me and who give me no social advantage? Maybe I should, in this Year of Mercy, make an effort to offer hospitality to someone who is not in my social circle. "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Lk 14: 14)  

Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today an anxious voice from the crowd asks Jesus: "Lord, will only a few be saved?" (Lk 13: 22) This question still has resonance for many people today even though it seems that many people are indifferent to the salvation of their souls. You just need to watch some ot the tele-evangelists to see that. The horrible possibility of eternal damnation, considering the awesome holiness of God in comparison to our own sin, makes it seem likely that we will not enjoy the Beatific Vision. Interestingly, Jesus does not give a direct answer or a number. His response is to encourage us to strive for holiness and never give up: "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." (Lk 13: 24) Living in accord with God's commandment of love is not easy. It is the case that we should not always look for the easy way out of our obligations or depend on others faith or prayers. God our Father has children; he does not have grandchildren! We need to come to faith; we need to pray; we need to go to Mass on Sunday; we need to give alms and act with mercy towards others. Our complacency or presumption, simply because we have encountered the Gospel, will not help us: "Then you wil 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 all you evildoers!' " (Lk 13: 26-27) We need to make a personal faith response, however, we can do so trusting that God wills that everybody be saved: "(God) who desires everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2: 3-4) The default setting of the Universe is salvation. This is because it is the will of the God who created it in the first place.

The Feast of the Assumption

This year the bishops of New Zealand have transferred the Feast of the Assumption, which is the patronal feast of this country, to Sunday so that all Catholics will have the maximum opportunity to encounter this mystery of the Church. Why would the bishops make such a big deal of this feast? Some people would criticise it as being non-Scriptural or that it detracts from the celebration of the Resurrection which is proper to every Sunday. I think that the bishops are right in holding this great feast, made a doctrine in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, in front of our eyes. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is risen. We can understand that of him and yet we are tempted to distance ourselves from him and make of him an exception. The resurrection of the body surely can't apply to us mere mortals! Yet, St Paul tells us: " ... for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then as his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Cor. 22-23) Where the head is the body will surely follow. Through baptism we are made members of that Body. Our Lady, human like us, however takes precedence. She enjoyed, immediately upon her death, the priviledge experiencing the ressurection in full. In this she, through her obedience and perfect charity, is the pathfinder for us in hope. We can pray that through imitation of her virtues and with the help of her intercession we too will ultimately enjoy in body and spirit the fulness of peace and joy in the resurrection.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus says to the disciples: "Do not be afraid little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Lk 12: 32) It was the case then and it is the same now. The disciples are a "little flock." The number of Christians around the world numbers about two billion however, especially in countries as secularized as New Zealand, those who practise the faith seem to be a very small flock indeed. Surrounded by an indifferent society and the rampant effects of abortion, divorce, suicide, drug abuse, poverty, inequality, racism, etc we can often feel not only small but also fearful. Will we have enough priests? How can we pass on the faith to the next generation? How will we pay for the upkeep of our church buildings, especially those that are earthquake prone? What about Islamic terrorism? The answer of the Gospel is to trust in the Father. It has pleased him, the ineffable Majesty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, to look kindly on those who follow his Son. We do not need to win the Kingdom through our own efforts. The Father has seen fit to give it to us. What we need to do is love him in return for his love and obey his commandments.