Daily Retreat 05/17/08

2008 May 17 Sat: Ordinary Weekday/ BVM
Jas 3: 1-10/ Ps 11(12): 2-3. 4-5. 7-8/ Mk 9: 2-13

From today’s readings:  “...we all fall short in many respects....  You will protect us, Lord....  Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. ”

Taming the Tongue

Control of the tongue is another topic repeatedly addressed in the letter of St. James.  There are so many sins committed by the tongue -  gossip, insults, arrogance, slander, lies, profanity, cursing - you name it!  In addition to these sins, there are those many times when everything would have turned out better if we had just kept our mouth shut, times that we’ve caused trouble just by unnecessary, imprudent speech, even if it was true and non-sinful.  

St. James points out that effort spent taming the tongue can have such positive effects on our whole lives.  Like the bit used to guide a horse, or the rudder which steers a ship, the tongue directs much of our moral orientation, so one who masters his own tongue is in a position to set a straight course of living.   

Reflect on this as well: when we receive Holy Communion, the moment the Sacred Host is placed in our mouths, our tongue is like a throne for Christ our Lord.  Is it a worthy throne?  Not if soiled by gossip and lies, not if defaced with the graffiti of profanity and cursing, not if scratched and scraped with abrasive sarcasm and unkind words!

Daily Retreat 05/16/08

2008 May 16 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
Jas 2: 14-24. 26/ Ps 111(112): 1-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Mk 8: 34 – 9: 1

From today’s readings:  “Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?...  Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands....   What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ”

Faith Without Works is Dead

In the most famous passage from his letter, St. James insists that “faith without works is dead” and such faith cannot save!  This point is actually reiterated other times in the letter (as well as elsewhere in Scripture), but nowhere in the Bible more emphatically than in this passage, which clearly explains the inter-dependency of faith and works.

There is, of course, a well-known controversy here.  Martin Luther, disturbed by the balance St. James defended of faith and works, dismissed this letter as “an epistle of straw.”   Luther maintained that, in regards to justification, the emphasis should shift completely to faith, with the deliberate exclusion of works!  In his defense, Luther quoted from chapter 3, verse 28 of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans “for we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law!” To insure his central dogma wouldn’t be missed, Luther even added the word “alone” in the translation he prepared, “man is justified by faith ALONE apart from works of law!”

But do St. Paul and St. James really contradict each other?  As always, the apparent difficulties are cleared up by reading the texts in context.  In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul writes about genuine, active faith in God, whereas St. James is here distinguishing that same Pauline living faith from deceptive, dead faith.  In one of the hardest-hitting, but often overlooked verses in all of scripture, St. James reminds everyone that, Even the demons believe in God --and shudder! In other words, to the man who says, “I believe in God...” and thinks he thereby has Heaven sewn up because he’s doing God some big favor by simply acknowledging His existence, St. James is so clear that that is not enough - even the demons believe in God’s existence!  That kind of minimal, deceptive, dead faith can’t save!  

Likewise, Paul’s dismissal of works is in fact, reconcilable with James’ endorsement of works because, from the context, note that it’s clear Paul is specifically discounting works of the law of the Old Testament  - circumcision, for instance, whereas James is talking about the good works which embody Christian faith, such as feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.  

Now, those corporal works of mercy remind us of what Jesus said about the Last Judgment: (This excerpt from Matthew chapter 25): “Then the King will say to those at His right hand, 'Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food,” and “I was naked and you clothed Me... ” All those good works mentioned by Jesus are explicitly linked by Him as reasons for inheriting His Kingdom.

Now, let’s be clear:  St. James is NOT saying, and as Catholics, we do not, I repeat, we DO NOT believe good works in themselves can ever earn justification and salvation apart from God’s grace - in fact, that idea is a heresy, a form of  Pelegianism.  Good works can help prepare for faith, good works give essential witness to a living faith, good works, as Jesus Himself explains, are a way of welcoming and serving Christ and freely cooperating with God’s grace, but removed from that amazing, saving grace, good works in themselves do not earn salvation, and the Catholic Church, following St. James and the whole of Scripture, is very clear about these points.

Daily Retreat 05/15/08

2008 May 15 Thu: Ordinary Weekday/ Isidore the Farmer, mm
Jas 2: 1-9/ Ps 33(34): 2-3. 4-5. 6-7/ Mk 8: 27-33

From today’s readings:  “Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that He promised to those who love Him?...  The Lord hears the cry of the poor....  He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.”

Preferential Treatment

When we focus on minor details, it’s tempting to dismiss scripture as archaic and inapplicable to our modern situations.  But when we look at the big picture and main points, it’s almost uncanny how pertinent and timely are the insights of the Word of God.

St. James, echoing the teachings of Christ, insisted on the equal dignity of all people, rich or poor.  The image of a rich man with gaudy golden rings might seem ridiculously ostentatious for modern taste (and therefore not overly impressive), but of course the essential point is not how he is dressed, but how he is treated because of his wealth.  And today, as well as the time St. James wrote, we continue to give rich people preferential treatment.

But our Christian faith calls us instead to give preferential treatment to the poor, recognizing in them our Lord Jesus, who said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of My brothers, that you do unto Me!”

Daily Retreat 05/14/08

2008 May 14 Wed: Matthias, ap F
Acts 1: 15-17. 20-26/ Ps 112(113): 1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 7-8/ Jn 15: 9-17

From today’s readings:  “Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles....  The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people....  You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

The College of Apostles

Chapter 15 of Acts (the Council of Jerusalem) recounted an instance of the inspired and decisive leadership of the Apostles in the early Church.  This was also seen even earlier in the election of Matthias, which was the Church’s first order of business after the Ascension of Jesus.

The “apostolic” foundation is one of the four marks of the Church, which is “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.”  The New Testament relates that the Apostles were more than once at odds with one another, yet they managed to preserve and pass on the unity of their faith.  To continue their work, they chose Matthias, and after him, a long line of others who were ordained among the college of Apostles, continuing in an unbroken tradition to the bishops of this day.

The apostolic foundation is the anchor of our Christian faith - neither the Pope nor all the bishops together are able to contradict the original teachings of the Apostles in matters of faith and morals.  However, disciplinary practices in the Church can change though - for instance, I wouldn’t imagine that bishops today are chosen by drawing lots, as was Matthias!  But, what cannot change is the apostolic commitment to appointing successors - even the Pope and all the bishops together could not decide never to ordain more bishops, because such a decision would contradict the apostolic precedent.

Daily Retreat 05/13/08

2008 May 13 Tue: Ordinary Weekday/ Our Lady of Fatima
Jas 1: 12-18/ Ps 93(94): 12-13a. 14-15. 18-19/ Mk 8: 14-21

From today’s readings:  “No one experiencing temptation should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and He Himself tempts no one.....  Blessed the man You instruct, O Lord....  Jesus said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’ ”

How Tempting!

Temptation, of course, is not the same as sin - temptation is the “lure and enticement of desire” which leads to sin.  Even though temptation comes from Satan (never from God!), remember, Jesus Himself was tempted, so there is no sin involved merely in experiencing temptation.  In fact, it has been said that a person unaware of any temptations in his life has a lot to worry about, because the Devil evidently assumes such a one is already in his possession!  So, when a person perseveres, fighting against temptation, he is being virtuous.  That does not mean, however, that one should deliberately entertain temptation, for to do so intentionally would be a sin of presumption that one could successfully resist the temptation.

In fact, the most effective and straightforward resistance to sin is at the level of temptation.  When a person falls regularly into sin, an essential defense tactic is for him to quarantine himself as much as possible from the sources of temptation.  That’s the reason that, when making an examination of conscience, not only must we take responsibility for our sins, but we need to go the additional step of identifying the “near occasions of sin,” so as to avoid them in the future.  This is why we pray, “Lead us not into temptation...,” imploring God to lead us away, as far as possible, from sources of temptation, not because God Himself ever would lead us into temptation (note how emphatic James is about this point)!

Daily Retreat 05/12/08

2008 May 12 Mon: Ordinary Weekday (Sixth Week in Ordinary Time)
Jas 1: 1-11/ Ps 118(119): 67. 68. 71. 72. 75. 76/ Mk 8: 11-13

From today’s readings: “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.... Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live...  The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from Him a sign from Heaven to test Him....”

Greetings from St. James!

Yesterday’s solemnity of Pentecost signaled the end of the festive Easter season, so a marked shift now appears in the selection of daily scripture readings as the “ordinary time” liturgical season is resumed.   Ready for a change?  Read St. James!  In his letter, James writes to Christians of all ages about some of the most fundamental practical questions that arise in living out a daily whole-hearted commitment to Christian faith.

What to do when faced with difficulties and trials?  “Consider it all joy!”  What?!  Isn’t it our troubles that shatter our contentment - how then can we see problems as joy?  Because “the testing of your faith produces perseverance!”  And what a blessing that is, to rejoice in faith that has weathered all trials, and been strengthened instead of compromised.  

An anemic, untested faith will always be a source of concern and preoccupation, like a newly designed fighter plane that hasn’t been test flown yet - no matter how maneuverable in theory, the question still remains: how will it hold up in adverse conditions?  But after testing, there is proof of perseverance -  the plane (and faith!) can be relied upon to hold up under future trials - consider it all joy!

Coincidentally, today also marks the beginning preparation for a changed focus in my own priestly ministry.  This coming July, after ten years as pastor, I will be leaving Our Lady of the Valley parish in Okanogan, WA and moving to Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregan, where, in fulfillment of a long-held dream, I will be teaching scripture and serving as one of the formation directors on staff.  So, today I am driving to Mt. Angel for a short orientation session, and, my thoughts turn to those words of St. James, “Consider it all joy....!”  For, even though the decade in Okanogan has emphatically been full of many blessings, there has also lately been various trials which, while I would not have chosen them voluntarily, have nevertheless helped me, by the grace of God, to personally experience St. James’ joyful assertion that “the testing of faith produces steadfastness!”

If I can still be of service to Immaculate Heart Retreat Center and the readers of this “virtual retreat” column, my hope and plan is that I will be able to continue these daily reflections from new home at Mt. Angel - I’ll be looking into the feasibility of that as I learn more at this orientation about my new responsibilities.  So, remember me in your prayers, and pray also for priestly vocations!

Daily Retreat 05/11/08

2008 May 11 SUN: PENTECOST S
Vigil: Gn 11: 1-9 or Ex 19: 3-8a. 16-20b or Ez 37: 1-4 or Jl 3: 1-5/ Ps 103(104): 1-2. 24. 35. 27-28. 29. 30/ Rom 8: 22-27/ Jn 7: 37-39.
Day: Acts 2: 1-11/ Ps 103(104): 1. 24. 29-30. 31. 34/ 1 Cor 12: 3b-7. 12-13/ Sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus/ Jn 20: 19-23

From today’s readings:  “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together....  Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth....  No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit....  Receive the Holy Spirit...”

Confirmation

The Latin roots of the word “confirmation” mean “to make strong.”  On the feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was sent down upon the disciples to make their faith strong, and so that occasion marked the first celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation.

And how their faith was strengthened indeed!  Instead of hiding behind closed doors, they all went forth to spread the good news of Christ’s Resurrection and His abiding presence in their lives - and so zealous were they, that 3000 were baptized into the faith that day, filling the new Church with the blessing of so many new members!

And yet, strength is to no avail without the commitment to use it wisely and diligently!  Having been strengthened in their faith, the disciples could have chosen to keep their strength and blessings to themselves, to  “play it safe,” to just stay with the status quo, or maybe form a committee to consider the pros and cons of different evangelization strategies.

All of us Christians who have received the sacrament of Confirmation have now been strengthened in our faith - we, no less than the first disciples, have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  What do you and I do with our strength of faith?  Do we zealously go out to the whole world to proclaim our faith in deed and in word, and thus lead many others to God?  Too often, perhaps, we’ve failed to apply our strength of faith for its proper use and instead, complacently kept our faith and blessings to ourselves.  Celebrating today the feast of Pentecost, we certainly can get fired up by the example of the first disciples to realize how thoroughly God strengthens our faith so that we can pass it on!

Daily Retreat 05/10/08

2008 May 10 Sat: Easter Weekday/ Bl Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'i, p
Acts 28: 16-20. 30-31/ Ps 10(11): 4. 5 and 7/ Jn 21: 20-25

From today’s readings:  “Paul received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ....  the LORD is just, He loves just deeds; the upright shall see His face....  There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.”

The Incomplete Gospel

St. John’s Gospel ends with a humble assertion of limitation, noting that “there are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.”  Clearly, the written gospels, the “good news” about Jesus Christ, accurately give the definitive and comprehensive account of the Lord’s life, but at the same time, they are necessarily only anecdotal and summary, and do not pretend to be unabridged accounts of everything that Jesus said and did.

St. Mark commenced his Gospel with a similar disclaimer: “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”  In other words, the whole written Gospel of Mark is just the beginning of the entire good news about Jesus Christ, because He is alive and at work in the world today, in a different manner, but no less so than He was 2000 years ago.

As we’ve seen, the Gospel of St. John is particularly featured during the Easter Season, which comes to an end tomorrow with the celebration of Pentecost.  The final verses of the Fourth Gospel read today are thus an invitation to re-read that entire Gospel of St. John, but also to review with thanksgiving in our hearts the good news about all that Christ has done in our own lives!

Daily Retreat 05/09/08

2008 May 9 Fri: Easter Weekday
Acts 25: 13b-21/ Ps 102(103): 1-2. 11-12. 19-20ab/ Jn 21: 15-19

From today’s readings:  “When Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar....  The Lord has established His throne in Heaven....  Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You!”

Shepherd of the Lord’s Flock

Jesus Himself not only prayed for unity in His Church (cf. yesterday’s Gospel and reflection), He also took concrete measures to achieve it!  Throughout the New Testament, there are numerous verses that record the leadership that Peter exercised in the early Church, and the Gospels attest that Jesus Himself entrusted Simon Peter with this office of shepherding all of the Lord’s flock.

The Gospels also record that Peter was not perfect.  But even though he failed more than once and even denied the Lord three times, Jesus forgave him and led Peter to perfect contrition and reconciliation in his triple affirmation of whole-hearted love, as recorded at the end of the Gospel of St. John.  Later, as the Lord prophesied, St. Peter sealed his love in blood by dying as a martyr in Rome for Christ.

After St. Peter’s martyrdom in Rome, history records that St. Linus was called upon to fill his shoes in exercising the ministry of visibly shepherding the Lord’s flock.  After he died, another took his place, and this unbroken apostolic succession continues today in the person of Pope Benedict XVI, who is the 264th historical successor to St. Peter, for the Lord still prays and provides for the guidance of visible headship in His Church!

Daily Retreat 05/08/08

2008 May 8 Thu: Easter Weekday
Acts 22: 30; 23: 6-11/ Ps 15(16): 1-2a and 5. 7-8. 9-10. 11/ Jn 17: 20-26

From today’s readings:  “I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead....  Keep me, O God, for in You I take refuge....  I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word....”

Unity and Communion

Concluding His priestly prayer at the end of the Last Supper, Jesus expressed His longing for unity and communion among His disciples, “ut omnes unum sint” (“that they may all be one”) that they would reflect the absolute communion and unity of Jesus with God the Father.

All Christians long and pray for this unity among believers, ut omnes unum sint, that there be an end to division and discord in the mystical body of Christ.  To our prayers, we must join our own whole-hearted commitment to charity and to truth, for unity and communion is impossible without life being immersed in divine love and guided by the fullness of truth.

This means that every one of us needs to begin by repenting of sins against charity and striving daily to put into practice the divine command that we love one another as He has loved us.  It also means that each of us needs to accept all the teachings of Christ and His Church, no matter how demanding or difficult some may find them, for those who reject even part of Christ’s Gospel thus reject part of the one true foundation for unity and communion!

Daily Retreat 05/07/08

2008 May 7 Wed: Easter Weekday
Acts 20: 28-38/ Ps 67(68): 29-30. 33-35a. 35bc-36ab/ Jn 17: 11b-19

From today’s readings:  “ I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock....  Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth....  And I consecrate Myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

Truth Twisters

Paul’s exhortation to the presbyters of Ephesus was for them to “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers...” (Acts 20:28).  Notice that, as is regularly emphasized throughout scripture, moral watchfulness begins with self, before being extended to include guidance of others.  And Paul emphasizes commitment to the full truth of the faith, warning against the wolves that will come forward “perverting the truth.”

If we are to commit ourselves to the full truth of our faith, we need, first of all, to know the Truth.  Wolves are able to lead disciples astray, not so much because they lie outright, but because they “pervert the truth,” that is, they say something that has elements of truth, but the truth is twisted.  This is seen, for instance, among pro-abortion forces who couch their advocacy in language of “pro-choice” and “pro-privacy.”  In themselves, “choice” and “privacy” are indeed values to be defended, but never at the cost of another’s life!  

Whenever the Church’s teaching is spurned, it is almost always on the basis of a “twisted truth.”  Paul’s exhortation reminds us to take the time and effort to pursue the fulness of truth, first for ourselves and the matters of our own lives, and then to aid others in the quest for the untwisted truth.

Daily Retreat 05/06/08

2008 May 6 Tue: Easter Weekday
Acts 20: 17-27/ Ps 67(68): 10-11. 20-21/ Jn 17: 1-11a

From today’s readings:  “I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God....  the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death....  Jesus raised His eyes to Heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Give glory to Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify You, just as You gave Him authority over all people, so that Your Son may give eternal life to all You gave Him.’ ”

The Lord’s Prayer

As the conclusion to the Last Supper, Jesus turned to God the Father in intimate communion and fervent intercessory prayer for His disciples of that time and of all ages.  While the “Our Father” is the “Lord’s Prayer” because He taught it to us, the “Priestly Prayer” of Christ in Chapter 17 of John is the “Lord’s Prayer” because He Himself spoke those words of supplication and intercession as the compendium of His entire saving mission at that pivotal moment at the end of the Last Supper and right before the suffering of His Passion.

The prayer has three main parts.  First, Jesus prays for Himself (vv. 1-5), for the glorious fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation about to be completed through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.   Then, Jesus prays for His Apostles (vv. 6-19) with ecstatic confidence in the unity He enjoys with the Father and extends to His disciples, concluding with verse 19, the distinctively priestly summary of His life: “And I consecrate Myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth!”

Finally, Jesus prays also for the whole Church, for Christian unity among all those who will come to belief through the apostolic foundation.   In other words, Jesus was praying for you and for me and for all believers of all times!  Just as His prayer embraces us, we embrace the Lord’s prayer and raise our voices and shape our wills in union with His....

Daily Retreat 05/05/08

2008 May 5 Mon: Easter Weekday
Acts 19: 1-8/ Ps 67(68): 2-3ab. 4-5acd. 6-7ab/ Jn 16: 29-33

From today’s readings:  “Paul entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God....  Sing to God, chant praise to His name; whose name is the LORD....  In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world!”

He Has Conquered!

Chapters 13,14,15, and 16 of the Gospel of St. John recount the Lord’s Farewell Discourse spoken to His disciples during the Last Supper.  So many words of our Lord are recorded there: words about humble service; words about the commandment to love one another; words about the way, the truth, and the life; words about the Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth; words of comfort and promise; words of confident assurance, all concluding with Jesus saying, “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world!”

What does it mean that the Lord has conquered the world?  Amazingly enough, these words were spoken before Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  Easter, of course, confirmed that Jesus was clearly the victor over sin and death, but it was on Holy Thursday when Jesus was already assuring His apostles that He had conquered the world!

It’s obvious that Jesus was not speaking of a military conquest.  But we certainly shouldn’t think of His triumph as something less than a military victory - rather, it was much more!  For every military conquest is subject to eventual displacement in history by some future conquest - every land that the mighty Romans once subjugated, for instance, has since their time seen new battles, with new victors and new vanquished peoples.

In contrast, the Lord’s conquest is complete, definitive, and eternal.  Yet how can that claim be made, since the world as a whole clearly does not fully recognize God’s dominion?  God’s will is done completely in Heaven, but on Earth, in accordance with divine decree, the probation of human free will continues to be played out in the great drama of history, because that is the whole purpose of history - for each person created by God to exercise free will in the loving choice of embracing the Lord of all!

Daily Retreat 05/04/08

2008 May 4 SUN: Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:12-14/ Ps 26(27):1, 4, 7-8/ 1 Pt 4:13-16/ Jn 17:1-11a
(In some regions, the liturgical celebration of the Ascension Thursday is transferred to this Sunday)

From today’s readings: “All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer....  I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living....  Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ....  Now this is eternal life, that they should know You, the only true God, and the One Whom You sent, Jesus Christ....”

Novena

A novena is a nine day commitment to pray for a particular petition.  Why nine days?  Acts 1:14 relates that the disciples were all gathered with Mary in prayer - this was the time between the Ascension of Jesus (forty days after Easter) and the Coming of the Holy Spirit (“Pentecost” - fifty days after Easter).  The disciples would have certainly been praying for the fulfillment of Jesus’ words, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you...” (Acts 1:8).

The scripture readings offer material for a novena theme, for they all include instances of prayer which reflect a commitment to praying more than on a single occasion.  In the first reading, scripture succinctly states, “All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer....”

All the psalms are prayers - today’s includes that most important petition of all: “One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life!”  Obviously, this prayer should be made regularly - it makes a good final prayer at the end of each day.

The second reading includes the crucial reminder of what to do when faced with Christian suffering - instead of complaining, give glory to God !  “But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the Name....”

The prayer that Jesus makes in chapter 17 of the Gospel of St. John is the sublime summary of Our Lord’s whole lifetime of prayer.  Read the whole chapter, and thank Jesus for His prayers for you and me!

Daily Retreat 05/03/08

2008 May 3 Sat: Philip and James, aps F
1 Cor 15: 1-8/ Ps 18(19): 2-3. 4-5/ Jn 14: 6-14

From today’s readings:  “For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that He was buried; that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve....  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork....  I am the way, and the truth and, the life.  ”

Philip and James

Philip’s request to Jesus (“Lord, show us the Father...”) elicited a profoundly rich theological response from Christ: “Philip, after I have been with you all this time, you still do not know Me?  Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father!”

The unity between Jesus and God the Father is one of the central themes in John’s Gospel, and the beautiful thing is, Christ desired ardently to share and extend that unity to His followers (cf. John chapter 17).  The very purpose of the Resurrection of Christ and Descent of the Holy Spirit can be found in the Lord’s commitment to establishing that unity in His Church.

Philip and James, and the rest of the Apostles that witnessed the Resurrected Christ, spent their whole lives evangelizing to the world about that God-Love that defines our lives and the entire universe.   That’s the Gospel that has been preached to us, which we have received, and in which we, like Philip and James, hope to always stand firm!

Daily Retreat 05/02/08

2008 May 2 Fri: Athanasius, bp, dr M
Acts 18: 9-18/ Ps 46(47): 2-3. 4-5. 6-7/ Jn 16: 20-23

From today’s readings:  “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you....  God is king of all the earth....   I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you....”

Good Reason for Great Courage

In contrast to Athens, the city of Corinth gave Paul an overall warm welcome, which is why he stayed there for a year and a half before returning to Antioch and thus ending his second missionary journey.  During his stay, he wrote his letters to the Thessalonians, which are generally recognized as the oldest parts of the New Testament.  Later, on his third missionary journey, Paul would also write profound epistles to the Corinthians themselves.

The Lord’s words to Paul at Corinth are words for us as well:
“Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you....”   Christ’s comforting, joy inspiring presence is the cause of our courage!

Daily Retreat 05/01/08

2008 May 1 Thu: ASCENSION THURSDAY
Acts 1: 1-11/ Ps 46(47): 2-3. 6-7. 8-9 (6)/ Eph 1:17-23/ Mt 28:16-20
(In some regions, the liturgical celebration of the Lord’s Ascension is transferred to Sunday)

From today’s readings:  “[Jesus] presented Himself alive to them by many proofs after He had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God....  God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord....  May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to His call, what are the riches of glory in His inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power for us who believe. ....  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age!”

Where Christ, Our Head, Has Gone, We Hope to Follow!

The beginning of the Acts of the Apostles specifies that Jesus was on earth for forty days after His Resurrection, before ascending into Heaven.  So today, forty days after Easter, the scriptures direct our attention to this mystery, which is unfortunately overlooked by many Christians in their celebrations of Eastertide.  In Luke 9:51, Jesus begins His climatic journey to Jerusalem which was to culminate in His being “taken up.” In the original Greek, the same verb is used in this verse as Luke uses in the Acts of the Apostles to refer to Christ’s Ascension, so this day marks the corporeal completion of the Paschal mission. The First Eucharistic prayer especially highlights this importance of the Ascension, mentioning it at the anamnesis (right after the “mystery of faith” acclamation) along with the Passion and Resurrection as the completion of the Paschal triptych.  

Since baptism makes a person a member of the Body of Christ, the members share in the destiny of Christ the Head.  Since Christ has ascended into Heaven, that is the hope to which all the members of His Body press toward.  As the Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions (§662):

 "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces His lifting up by His Ascension into Heaven, and indeed begins it. Jesus Christ, the one priest of the new and eternal Covenant, "entered, not into a sanctuary made by human hands. . . but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." There Christ permanently exercises His priesthood, for He "always lives to make intercession" for "those who draw near to God through Him". As "high priest of the good things to come" He is the center and the principal actor of the liturgy that honors the Father in Heaven.