Friday

7th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I

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Anyone who uses FaceBook occasionally receives a post from a “friend” who wonders whether his “friends” are willing to show their friendship. He asks his post be re-posted on his “friend’s” FaceBook to show not only that his “friend” is reading his posts, but that he acknowledges him publicly as a friend. Not surprisingly some “friends” get upset at this kind of request. FaceBook probably chose to name the magic button “friend” because “acquaintance” was too long a word.

Sirach in today’s First Reading reminds us that there is a difference between a friend and an acquaintance: a friend is someone you can trust and count on; an acquaintance is simply someone you know. Some friends do not go the distance: they’re friends in fair weather, but abandon ship in hard times. They turn on you when you upset them. That’s why a true and faithful friend is a rare treasure, and it’s only something you discover over time. That doesn’t mean avoiding others; Sirach also counsels us to be on good terms with everyone, but also to be very cautious in making friends.

We all have a faithful friend who fits the profile perfectly: a sturdy shelter, beyond price, and a life-saving remedy. You already know His name. Why not get in touch with Him today if you haven’t spoken in a while? No FaceBook required.

Readings: Sirach 6:5–17; Psalm 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34–35; Mark 10:1–12. See also 19th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday and 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B.

6th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I

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The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us in today’s First Reading that communication leads to communion, and where there is a lack of one, the other is soon to disappear. The people constructing the tower today shared the same language, but, ultimately, their plans reflected pride and egotism: they wanted to make a name for themselves. No society built on pride and egotism will last, because it never truly sets aside an unhealthy individualism as the expensive of others. The people at Babel had communication, but they didn’t truly have communion, and the world, plagued by the effects of Original Sin, had lost communion with its deepest source: God.

We can learn from this in today’s world, still wounded by sin, that communion is necessary for true progress, and communication is needed for that. It’s no coincidence that at Pentecost the Apostles receive the gift of tongues: it was a reversal of the disharmony brought at Babel. The Church seeks to unite humanity with its true source and foundation: God.

This teaching doesn’t just hold true on the macro-level of society and humanity; it holds true on the micro-level of family and friends. Let’s take stock of any Babel in our life today in order to restore communication and communion with the Holy Spirit’s help.

Readings: Genesis 11:1–9; Psalm 33:10–15; Mark 8:34–9:1. See also Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 18th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year II, 18th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday.

5th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I

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Today’s First Reading recalls the sad moment when history became salvation history: the Fall of Adam and Eve. Even today it bears valuable lessons for us on how to identify and resist temptation.

First, the serpent exaggerates God’s strictness: he asks Eve to confirm if the Lord had prohibited all trees in the garden. He exaggerates God’s strictness, and, while Eve does not buy into it completely, she does buy into it: the Lord had said, “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die.” Eve says the Lord said, “You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die,” which is not the same.

Did Eve not listen completely to what the Lord had said? Did Adam repeat it to her incorrectly? Was she too starting to feel the pinch of being forbidden to do something? We’ll know in eternity, but from today’s First Reading we know that the serpent questioned whether God was being reasonable, and she believed the serpent over the Lord. Whenever you’re faced with a doubt, especially in moments of temptation, it is important to stick to the facts and not blow anything out of proportion.

The Fall wasn’t immediate: Eve started considering the fruit, relishing the thought of eating it and all the “good” it bore after she spoke with the serpent. If you dwell on temptation, instead of refuting and rejecting it, it will worm it’s way into your heart. The best remedy to temptation is to ignore it: being tempted is not sinful, but consenting to it is. It always blows the potential “good” out of proportion and tries to blind you to its downside. Adam and Eve soon realized that the “good” they’d expected from eating the fruit what not all it was cracked up to be. Experience with temptation and sin reminds us of this over and over again, and it’s important to learn from experience.

Lastly, Adam was with Eve during her moment of temptation and said and did nothing to stop her. Eve didn’t exactly twist his arm about eating the fruit. We are responsible for each other’s spiritual well being: if we love someone we’ll warn them about sin and help them not fall into it.

Let’s pray today for everyone experiencing temptation and for the strength to overcome it in our own lives.

Readings: Genesis 3:1–8; Psalm 32:1–2, 5–7; Mark 7:31–37. See also 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B.

 

4th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the Letter to the Hebrews encourages us to practice fraternal charity in a variety of situations. First, by practicing hospitality: making someone welcome. Whether they’re sent by the Lord or not, you are loving Our Lord through loving them. Second, by visiting those who at a low point in life: there’s no distinction between the guilty and those who got a bum rap when it comes to showing concern and kindness. Third, by honoring someone’s family as much as you honor them: not doing anything to break up a family, especially not for self-interest. Fourth, by not worrying about what you have and what you don’t: there’s no need to “keep up with the Jones,” just to trust Our Lord to help you with what you need.

Lastly, we need to consider everything our leaders have done for us. Authority can be a thankless job at times, and our leaders in the faith do so often making great sacrifices. Even leadership in the Church is a way of practicing fraternal charity. In following his advice we’re imitating Christ, who shows us that fraternal charity never goes out of fashion.

Herod in today’s Gospel failed in fraternal charity on so many levels, even though the Lord tried to reach him through John’s preaching. John may have been behind bars, but Herod’s prison was worse: he was trapped in doubt, immorality, distorted self-interest, and enslaved by his friends’ opinion of him. Let’s ask Our Lord today to help be more like John and less like Herod.

Readings: Hebrews 13:1–8; Psalm 27:1, 3, 5, 8b–9c; Mark 6:14–29. See also 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, Year II, Passion of St. John the Baptist, and 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday.

 

3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that as Christians we have not only had moments of mistreatment due to our faith, but have witnessed the mistreatment of our brothers and sisters in the faith as well. Even today we witness countries where Christians are persecuted and deprived of their “property,” and suffer imprisonment due to the faith. We have to have spiritual solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters, even if that involves us being subjected to ridicule.

The unasked question behind these reflections is also, why is all this suffering necessary? Why should we have to suffer for being Christians? The answer is that if we suffer materially, we must not and should not suffer spiritually, because the spiritual benefits of our suffering will be a “better and lasting possession” if we persevere in hope. If, materially speaking, we’re comfortable, maybe, spiritually speaking, we should be concerned. Are we flying below the radar when it comes to giving witness to our faith and supporting our brothers and sisters who are suffering persecution?

Let’s ask Our Lord today to help us stand with our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for the faith so that we can all give witness to the priority of a “better and lasting possession” in our lives.

Readings: Hebrews 10:32–39; Psalm 37:3–6, 23–24, 39–40; Mark 4:26–34. See also 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Monday and 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B.