Thursday

7th Week of Ordinary Time, Thursday, Year II

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If Our Lord taught us to store our treasure in Heaven where rust and moth do not corrupt (see Matthew 6:19-21), James in today’s First Reading makes a call to conversion for the rich by describing the darker side of the coin: the consequences of putting treasures over people and not storing up the treasure that really matters, the “treasure” described in today’s Gospel of love and concern for others. For those who put wealth first, all their fine clothes and things will decay and vanish, and their real “retirement” account will be the outcry of all the people they’d wronged in the path to earthly wealth, an outcry that will be heard by the Lord.

The social doctrine of the Church describes the importance of everyone receiving what they need to live and grow as the universal destination of goods: “‘…The earth, by reason of its fruitfulness and its capacity to satisfy human needs, is God’s first gift for the sustenance of human life’ (Centesimus Annus, 31). The human person cannot do without the material goods that correspond to his primary needs and constitute the basic conditions for his existence; these goods are absolutely indispensable if he is to feed himself, grow, communicate, associate with others, and attain the highest purposes to which he is called. The universal right to use the goods of the earth is based on the principle of the universal destination of goods. Each person must have access to the level of well-being necessary for his full development…” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 171-172).

Let’s do an audit today of our time, treasure, and talent, and see how we can invest them not only for our spiritual growth, but for the growth and well-being of others as well.

Readings: James 5:1–6; Psalm 49:14–20; Mark 9:41–50.

7th Week of Easter, Thursday (2)

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Throughout the Acts of the Apostles Luke brings the protagonists of the Gospel over and over again before the Sanhedrin: the Apostles, then St. Stephen, and now St. Paul. The Sanhedrin threatened, punished, and murdered, but none of that stopped the Gospel from spreading: from that first group of fearful disciples in Jerusalem the Church is now spread throughout Asia Minor and has just made her first fledgling steps into Europe. The Romans have imprisoned Paul because of the public disorder his visit to Jerusalem causes, but are also protecting him; due to his place of birth, Tarsus, he is a Roman citizen, and therefore afforded more legal protection than other subjects of the Roman Empire. Paul knows all the tools at his disposal: he knows his rights, and he knows the crowd, and he uses that to full effect. Even if he almost sparks another riot, it is a riot over accepting the truth.

Jerusalem was the center of the Jewish world, and now Paul has come full circle. From asking for letters from the Sanhedrin to persecute Christians (as Saul) he is now presenting them the core of the Gospel: the Resurrection, just as every disciple when faced with the Sanhedrin did, risking their life, reputation, and security. Paul had visited Athens, the cultural center of his world, with few results, and now the Lord was encouraging him to head to the undisputed center of his world: Rome.

The phrasing of this encouragement in Luke’s account is profound, “the Lord stood by him.” The Lord stands by us too. When it seems our belief is on trial it’s not a moment to put distance between us and those who would question and discourage us, but to present the heart of the Gospel message without fear, showing we believe it to be true by not fearing ridicule, imprisonment or death for what we believe.

Readings: Acts 22:30, 23:6–11; Psalm 16:1–2a, 5, 7–11; John 17:20–26. See also 7th Week of Easter, Thursday.

5th Week of Easter, Thursday (2)

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As we saw in yesterday‘s First Reading, the Church has convoked its first council in Jerusalem to discern whether Our Lord requires non-Jewish converts to be circumcised and follow Mosaic law in order to be saved. Discernment is about taking all the factors into consideration to see what God is asking, not to make an informed “vote”; we see that in the elements at play in today’s First Reading. After discussion and debate Peter reminds everyone that it was at the prompting of the Spirit that he approached the Gentiles at all, as we saw a few weeks ago. That was the first step toward seeing that salvation and a life of grace was open to the Gentiles. It was the grace of Christ that saved all believers, not circumcision or Jewish descent.

Then Paul and Barnabas recall all the graces and wonders they’d experienced evangelizing the Gentiles, and, surely, recalling how many times the Gentiles were more excited about welcoming the faith than the Jews were, much like today, when “cradle Catholics” at times are not as enthusiastic about the faith as those who discover the faith as adults. Lastly, James, who among those who considered themselves strictly observant Jewish Christians was well respected, and probably their leader, was able to see from Scripture that the Gentiles had a part in God’s saving plan as well.

It doesn’t always take a council to determine God’s will, but it does require meditating on what God has asked and how God has acted to try and see his will more clearly. Let’s strive to always have this spirit of discernment as well, both individually and as Church.

Readings: Acts 15:7–21; Psalm 96:1–3, 10; John 15:9–11. See also 5th Week of Easter, Thursday.

4th Week of Easter, Thursday (2)

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In today’s First Reading Paul recalls the history of God’s relationship with Israel, and that history gradually grows in hope and expectation until he sends his Son as the Messiah. God gives Israel a place to call home: he frees them from Egypt, establishes them as his people by making a covenant with them, and leads them to the Promised Land after tolerating their infidelity in the desert. He sent them leaders, the judges and the prophet Samuel, to bail them out when their infidelity gets them into deep trouble with surrounding nations. Finally, they ask for a king like the surrounding nations, and he appoints Saul, who ends up being enslaved by public opinion and disappoints the Lord. The Lord is trying to do good with them, and, sometimes, in spite of them.

Then the Lord gave them David, who, despite some faults and failings, ushered in one of the most prosperous times of Israel and a united kingdom. At this same time, touched by David’s devotion, the Lord promises a savior through one of his descendants, whom we now know to be Christ, even though those listening to Paul in today’s First Reading were still on the fence. Paul mentions that David was pleasing to God when he sought to carry out his every wish. Christ took this dedication to a new level, not only being God’s Son, but obeying him and seeking to please him with all his heart. In this way the Lord went from sending help to sending himself.

The Lord has sent so many good people our way, both personally and as the People of God. Our Lord reminds us in today’s Gospel that we too have been sent. Let’s help people believe in the Father and believe in his Son by doing good too.

Readings: Acts 13:13–25;  Psalm 89:2–3, 21–22, 25, 27; John 13:16–20. See also 4th Week of Easter, Thursday.

3rd Week of Easter, Thursday (2)

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The question Philip asks the Eunuch in today’s First Reading could just as well be directed to us when we read Scripture: “Do you understand what you are reading?” Studies in Sacred Scripture can be complex: they can involve studying ancient languages and cultures, literary criticism, history, and other academic disciplines. The secret is that everyone who reads Scripture, if they’re intellectually honest, has to respond, just like the eunuch, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” Experts may argue over what the human author had to say, and back it up with cogent arguments, but the understanding for which everyone really strives is what God is saying through Scripture, and the Lord wants us to seek help. Every Scripture scholar and ordained minister has received a catechism, and then instruction in interpreting Sacred Scripture. The eunuch knows he is missing something, which is why he “begs” Philip to answer his question about the prophecy of Isaiah because he knows there is something important to him there.

That kind of burning curiosity comes from something deeper than simple suspense or intellectual interest. The Holy Spirit sent Philip to meet this man and give him the answers for which he was looking, just as Our Lord has sent the Apostles and their successors, the bishops, to help us find the answers we seek, aided by the Holy Spirit. Interpretations of Scripture can vary, even contradict each other, but Our Lord has helped us with the guides he has appointed to break interpretative stalemates with the authentic interpretation, the Magisterium.

When’s the last time you dusted off your Bible and read it? Sacred Scripture always has something to say, and there are good commentaries out there and the Catechism to help answer the questions you find there. Hopefully they are burning questions, because that shows the Holy Spirit is at work and wants to reveal something amazing to you. Don’t be shy about asking for help.

Readings: Acts 8:26–40; Psalm 66:8–9, 16–17, 20; John 6:44–51. See also 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time,Cycle B, and 3rd Week of Easter, Thursday.