The Solemnity of All Saints

In the Letter to the Hebrews the writer, having spoken of the faith of Abraham, Moses and other Israelite heroes, to a Christian community living in fear of persecution, says: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us...". (Heb 12: 1) During the Covid19 pandemic we have seen how relevant a live crowd is to sporting events. The fans are not merely passive. Even though the players or competitors must run the race or play the match the presence and support of the fans gives their efforts meaning and helps them to keep going even when they are behind on the scoreboard. The significance of saints in the Catholic Church is not to act simply as role models. Rather, they cheer us on and intercede for us so that we may keep going and join them in glory. The life of faith in 2020 is not easy. We are surrounded by challenges not least of which are our own anxiety, fears and doubts. Thus, by gathering together for Sunday Mass and at other times we encourage each other to continue our discipleship journey together until the end. St Paul wrote: "Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified." (1 Cor 9: 24-27) Let us, therefore, strive with the help of the saints to become worthy of our Baptismal calling.

 

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Looking at today's gospel reading the summary of the law by Jesus is so pithy it is tempting to skate over it since we have heard it so many times before. It deserves closer inspection. As per usual Jesus does not actually answer the question directly. He was asked about which of the commandments is the greatest. Instead of giving one he gives two. Catholic theology also tends to avoid absolutes such as by faith alone, grace alone or scripture alone. It tends to be "both and" with faith and works, soul and body, spiritual and temporal. In this case we have love of God and neighbour. However the situation is complicated by the condition that we love our neighbour "as yourself." (Mtt 22: 39) Thus, in any love relationship there necessarily exists a trinity of relationships. The priority goes to love of God because it proceeds all other loves: "We love because he (God) first loved us." (1 Jn 4: 19) 

The second commandment "is like it." What does that mean? Since God said: " 'Let us make humankind in our own image, according to our likeness" (Gen 1: 26) it is impossible to love God without loving other human beings: "Those who say, 'I love God' and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love  brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers or sisters also." (1 Jn 4: 20-21) It is impossible to have love of God, therefore, when we do not recognize him in our fellow human beings. This has implications for how we regard the whole of humanity as Pope Francis has pointed out in his recent encyclical Tutti Fratelli.

This leads me therefore to myself since I, like all other human beings, am made in the image and likeness of God. Yet, how many of us are prone to self-condemnation!? We punish ourselves for our mistakes and sins. We inflict penance on ourselves for what we have done wrong and belittle ourselves in the eyes of others. Through negative self-labelling we self sabotage our happiness and our unhappiness becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Since 70% of my talk is, in fact, self-talk then my relationships with others, which is the remaining 30%, can only mirror my internal dialogue.

The key to fulfilling the law, enunciated by Christ, is to love God and be grateful to Him for the gift of myself. By accepting myself and loving myself I honour God's creation in me. When I honour God's work in me I will then have the vision to see God's grace and creation at work in others. That means I can love others since, like me, they are loved by God and, I pray, forgiven by God and healed by God. When I see God's grace at work and me and in others I rejoice. With gratitude I find my wonder at God's love amplified and my desire is, in fact, to love the Lord my God with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind. I am brought to love God solely out of a desire to love him and not through fear, obligation or duty: "Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us." (1 Jn 4: 11-12)

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we hear how Jesus catches the Pharisees and Herodians who set a trap for him. Their insincerity and hypocrisy are revealed. In other words, their words do not match their actions. What about us? St Paul, in the second reading, tells the Thessalonians: "For we know...that he (God) has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." (1 Thess 1: 4-5) We must be vigilant as Christians that our faith is not simply a matter of words. We should be alert to how the Holy Spirit and God's power is manifested in our lives. If it is not, then we need to ask for the Holy Spirit: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Lk 11: 13) It is the Holy Spirit who will guide us and enable us to integrate the gospel message into our lives and transform them through the conviction that it brings to be a living faith that shows forth the power of God.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What a contrast there is between the first reading and the gospel this week! The prophet Isaiah speaks of the end of death and the fulfilment of creation as a great banquet on the mountain. Imagine the view! On the other hand we have the promise of a wedding banquet that ends in bitterness and bloodshed: "The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city." (Mtt 22: 7) Even the anonymous guest who comes to the wedding without a garment is treated severely: " 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Mtt 22: 13) It is fitting therefor that we also pay attention to the second reading where we read: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil 4: 13)It is true that an account will be asked of us for the lives that we have led however we need not be afraid when we walk with the Lord in our daily lives. We need to be mindful of the call and the promise that we have received and constantly invite the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we find ourselves rejoicing in the Lord at the wedding feast when our time comes.