Thoughts on confession

 

Incarnational Living

Confession and forgiveness are precisely the disciplines by which spiritualization and carnality can be avoided and true incarnation lived. Through confession, the dark powers are taken out of their carnal isolation, brought into the light, and made visible to the community. Through forgiveness, they are disarmed and dispelled and a new integration between body and spirit is made possible.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”   - James 5: 16

Thoughts on giving thanks

We hear and say the word “thanks” fairly often, though perhaps not often enough and usually without much thought. Thanksgiving Day is our most popular national holiday, yet many folks do not recognize or acknowledge the religious dimension of that day. Last Sunday’s master-servant parable reminded us that we are God’s servants and have no reason to expect God to thank us for doing what God asks of us. But while God may have no obligation to thank us, we have an obligation to thank God. Today’s Scripture readings can help us to understand better the rich biblical concept of thanksgiving.

 

In the Bible, to give thanks means to state publicly that God is at work. It involves public witness. It could be in response to the creation of the world or, more personally, it could be in response to having been rescued from danger or illness. In this Sunday’s first reading, the healing of Naaman the Syrian from contagious skin disease is a good example of the biblical approach to thanksgiving. So is the Gospel story of the cleansing of the 10 individuals with leprosy. Those with leprosy believed in Jesus’ power to heal, and on their way the 10 found themselves to have been miraculously healed. All’s well that ends well, but not quite! Only one of those healed returns to Jesus to give public witness to God about his healing. 

 

In our lives, public witness doesn’t necessitate posting expressions of gratitude on websites, parish bulletins, or social media. It does mean living our gratitude in such a way that no one can doubt that God is the Giver of all Gifts. It means helping others to see that we and they should never forget the Giver who is behind the gifts.

Fr Frank Reale, SJ

Thoughts on social conventions

 

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Luke 10:38–42

Friends, today’s Gospel is the story of Martha and Mary. I’d like to offer a fresh take on this famous little story. One of the principal marks of Jesus’s teaching and ministry is the overturning of social conventions. And one of the most striking and surprising of Jesus’s moves was a radical inclusion of women.    While this typically women’s work was going on, men would sit out in the main room of the residence and talk. If a prominent rabbi or Pharisee were present, the men would sit at his feet and listen to his words.   Now we can see why Mary’s attitude was so offensive to Martha and probably to everyone else in the room. Martha wasn’t simply mad that Mary was giving her more work to do; she was mad that Mary had the gall to assume the stance of a man, to take up her position in the men’s space.   In his response to Martha’s complaint, Jesus signals more than a preference for listening over acting; he invites a woman into full participation in the life of discipleship. “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on the Good Samaritan

 

Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 10:25–37

Friends, our Gospel today is one of the best known of Jesus’s parables, the story of the Good Samaritan. Every story, parable, illustration, and exhortation is, at the end of the day, a picture of the Lord.   In one of the great windows of Chartres Cathedral, there is an intertwining of two stories: the account of the fall of mankind and the parable of the Good Samaritan. This reflects a connection that was made by the Church Fathers. The Good Samaritan is a symbol of Jesus himself, in his role as Savior of the world.   Now our task is to be other Christs. “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus says to him, “Go and do likewise.”   We spend our lives now looking for those people stranded by the road, victimized by sin. We don’t walk by, indifferent to them, but rather we do what Jesus did—even for those who are our natural enemies, even for those who frighten us. And we bring the Church’s power to bear, pouring in the oil and wine of compassion, communicating the power of Christ’s cross. Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on life issues

During October, under the patronage of Mary, we are reminded in a particular way of the ongoing challenge of reverencing, respecting and defending life in all stages and faces. Life issues are many, among which are abortion, domestic violence, human trafficking, capital punishment, immigration, homelessness, and proper respect for and care of the elderly.  Another life issue, as Pope Francis often emphasized – and which Pope Leo recently reiterated – is care for the earth.

 

It seems to me that most “social justice” issues are also life issues, since they address the quality of human life both in the present and in the future.  

 

Early October often finds us approaching another set of civil elections. This year, however, is an “off year” in regard to federal elections. That said, the opportunity to exercise responsibility for our society’s well-being is ongoing as we continue to engage in what are generally characterized as political issues. Politics and elections are by definition competitive; sadly, they are also often contentious in a way that calls into question our common commitment to truth, justice, life and the common good.  The U.S. bishops repeatedly have reminded us that we should participate in the political process in a manner that is worthy of our human and Christian dignity.  And, they have emphasized that we should analyze issues for their social and moral dimensions, not just in regard to how they impact self-interest or ideology.

 

It is easy to fall into facile, black-and-white thinking.  It is not so easy to bring reflection to our political stances.   It is even more difficult to do so with that true spiritual freedom which enables us to recognize, and act upon, the moral and ethical importance of our choices. In October, let us pray, through the intercession of Mary, that all of us will be granted the wisdom and freedom we need to engage in political realities.



Fr Frank Reale, SJ

Thoughts on Guardian Angels

 

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Matthew 18:1–5, 10

Friends, today we celebrate the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. Well, is it reasonable to believe in angels? Look at the wild variety in the visible universe—the millions of species of animals, the billions of galaxies, the myriad shells that wash up on the seashore, the incalculable number of cells in each human body. Is it likely that, between this staggeringly variegated physical dimension of creation and God, there simply yawns a great ontological abyss? Isn’t it likely to hold that God has manifested at least an equally great creativity in regard to the purely spiritual order?  But why would God send these spiritual messengers to help us? Why wouldn’t he just take care of us himself? Those questions, of course, are born of a frame of mind that sets God and his world in competition. On the Catholic reading, God delights in using secondary causes, so that his creatures can participate in his active providence of the universe. Aquinas says that each of us, due to our changeable and fallible nature, has been assigned a heavenly guide. Once we’re in heaven, we won’t require a guide anymore, and our angel will become our friend.  Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on vengeance

 

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Luke 9:51–56

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus rebukes James and John for their desire for vengeance. We are walking with Jesus and his disciples as they make their way to Jerusalem. As they pass through Samaria, they are refused hospitality, for their destination is Jerusalem and this annoys the Samaritans. Bothersome? Stupid? Racist? Sure, all of those things. As a result, James and John (the sons of thunder) cry out: “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Can you hear echoes of this cry up and down the ages? Whenever people have been unjustly treated, excluded, looked down upon, they experience, naturally enough, feelings of hatred and a desire to get back. Correctly enough, they will say that their family or their race or their country was offended, and so they, with justification, react.  But Jesus turns only to rebuke them. Why? Because following him and his way of nonviolence is more important than race or country or ethnic group. Our feelings for him have to go beyond even our justified feelings for these good things. Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on a crisis

 

Crisis and Power

Every time we see a major crisis in the history of the Church, such as the Great Schism of the eleventh century, the Reformation of the sixteenth century, or the immense secularization of the twentieth century, we always see that a major cause of rupture is the power exercised by those who claim to be followers of the poor and powerless Jesus.  What makes the temptation to power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.

"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”   - Matthew 4: 8-10

Thoughts on good stories

Luke 16: 19-31

Lazarus and Dives

         

This Sunday’s Gospel has the basic characteristics of all good stories:      

           ● It is interesting (with an unforeseen reversal);

           ● It has a well-constructed plot;

           ● It is engaging (it relates to us; it gets us to think).

According to Aristotle a well-constructed plot has two essential characteristics:  There is a reversal of fortune and it relates to the audience. For Aristotle there is only tragedy or comedy. In tragedy the reversal of fortune is the tragic fall.  In comedy the reversal of fortune leads to success and a happy ending.

In Our Lord’s story of Lazarus (whose name means “God is my help”) and Dives (meaning “rich”), the plot contains a double reversal of fortune.  And in our lives there can also be various reversals of fortune:

● A reversal of fortune can prompt us to remember God. 

● A reversal of fortune might move us to thank God, or perhaps to curse Him.

● A reversal of fortune can cause us to reflect, to reevaluate, and to learn. A reversal may even help us  to grow in wisdom.

Aristotle’s third necessity of a good story teaches that the plot should be engaging and relate to the audience. Perhaps see ourselves in this story. We may even worry and ask if we are a bit like Dives. But even if we do see a little of Dives in our life, we are not heinous sinners. We probably don’t do things that are terribly bad.  The more important question is – How often do we do things that are truly good?

Perhaps many of our sins are sins of omission. That was Dives’ sin.  Dives didn’t do evil; he did nothing; so, he didn’t do good. Dives never even noticed; he was too concerned with himself, with his own self-indulgence. It has been said: “It’s not what Dives did that got him into trouble; it’s what he didn’t do that got him into hell.”

Perhaps I need a reversal of plot in my attitudes, in my life?  Perhaps the plot of my life needs to be amended from potential tragedy to comedy, from a possible terrible fall, to eternal success and happiness.

Unlike Dives, may we pray for the grace to notice our sins of omission. May we notice the needs and the sufferings of others, and may we do something good, something to help. Most importantly, may we remember always to examine our conscience and ask, not simply, “What did I do?"; but also, “What should I have done?” and "What will I now strive to do?"

For us, the Gospel story ends happily, because Our Lord has risen from the dead. He never tires of forgiving us, and He never tires of guiding us in His ways each day. May we always seek His guidance not only to avoid evil, but to do good. 

  Don Saunders, S.J.

Thoughts on evangelization

 

Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 9:1–6

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus sends his disciples on mission. He “summoned the Twelve . . . and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” As members of the Mystical Body, we share the mission of evangelization. In accord with the subjectivism of our culture, many Christians think of their spiritual lives in an individualist way, as the cultivation of their personal friendships with God. But this overlooks something that the New Testament authors took for granted—namely, that Christians exist not for themselves but for the world. Jesus compared his followers to salt, which is designed to preserve and enhance something other than itself, and to light, whose purpose is to be set on a stand in order to illumine what is around it. Pope St. Paul VI articulated the same truth as follows: The Church doesn’t have a mission; the Church is a mission.  We go forth, therefore, with God’s authority and empowered for his work. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, he will ask whether we have taught the world how to praise, how to reverence the truth, how to go out vigorously on campaign to extend the kingdom of God. Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on disciples

 

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

Luke 8:19–21

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus identifies his disciples as his family. I want to say something about our becoming disciples in his family. Once we make the decision to follow Jesus, then every other claimant to supremacy must fall away. As I’ve argued many times before, every one of us has something or some set of values that we consider greatest. Perhaps it is money, material things, power, or the esteem of others. Perhaps it is your family, your kids, your wife, your husband.  None of this is false, and none of these things are bad. But when you place any of them in the absolute center of gravity, things go awry. When you make any of them your ultimate or final good, your spiritual life goes haywire. When you attach yourself to any of them with an absolute tenacity, you will fall apart. Only when we make Christ the cornerstone of our lives are we truly ready for mission. Keep in mind that every encounter with God in the Bible conduces to mission, to being sent to do the work of the Lord. If we try to do this work while we are stuck to any number of attachments, we will fail. Period.  Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on gratitude

 

Gratitude Transforms

The opposite of resentment is gratitude (from the Latin gratia = favor). Gratitude is more than an occasional “thanks be to God.” Gratitude is the attitude that enables us to let go of anger, receive the hidden gifts of those we want to serve, and make these gifts visible to the community as a source of celebration.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”   - Colossians 3: 16

Thoughts on discipleship

 

Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 8:1–3

Friends, in today’s Gospel, we learn that some women accompanied Jesus and provided for him and the Twelve from their resources. Jesus invited women into full participation in the life of discipleship. All of those women sat in eager discipleship at the feet of Jesus. Now, don’t get me wrong! I’m not advocating the contemporary feminist agenda, which often runs rough-shod over the real differences that obtain between men and women.  But I am urging you to see the radicality of Jesus’s call to discipleship, which cuts through so many of the social conventions of his time and ours. I am urging you to see that everyone—rich and poor, those on the inside and those on the outs, men and women—are summoned to discipleship and that this summons is the most important consideration of all.  Given all of this, can we see these women disciples as forerunners of all of the great women who have followed Jesus over the centuries? Can we see them as prototypes of Teresa of Avila, Joan of Arc, Clare of Assisi, Thérèse of Lisieux, Mother Teresa of Kolkata, Katharine Drexel, Edith Stein, and Dorothy Day?  Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on human suffering

 

Our Suffering God

God's compassion for all human suffering is exactly what becomes visible on the cross. What this means is that we are called to see God's suffering in the people. Every time we see someone in pain and we wonder how that person is going to live through it, know that God suffered that pain and is suffering that pain with that person. In a way, the whole of history is the showing of the depth of God's suffering. From a Christian perspective, history is the unfolding of the intensity and immensity of God's suffering, but also of God's resurrection, because in the midst of all the suffering, you can see signs of hope again and again and again.

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”   - Hebrews 13: 3