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.