Daily Retreat 08/01/07

2007 Aug 1 Wed: Alphonsus Liguori, bp, rf, dr M
Ex 34: 29-35/ Ps 98(99): 5. 6. 7. 9/ Mt 13: 44-46

From today’s readings:  “As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the LORD....  Holy is the Lord our God....  The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field....”

Unveiling Revelation

After spending time talking and listening to God (which is also known as “praying”), Moses descends from Mount Sinai to the Israelites in order to share with them the fruits of his divine encounter.  Moses was not aware that his face had become radiant in reflecting God’s glory - this miracle was to show that, the more that we, God’s children, unite ourselves with Him and grow in our knowledge of Him, the more we actually become like Him.

But Moses had to veil this radiance, for it was too awesome for the rest of the people to long endure.  In the third chapter of his second letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul remarks how Christ wholly “unveils”  God’s glory to present us with the fullness of revelation.  However, as St. Paul goes on to point out, there are those who shrink from that awesome fullness of revelation, and are content with merely a veiled version of God’s plan of salvation.

While explicitly affirming that even a veiled version of divine revelation is in itself an awesome blessing, Paul’s point, of course, is that the fullness of revelation is immensely superior to a partial unveiling.  The desire to welcome the fullness of revelation, though, demands the fullness of personal commitment - are you ready to reach for that, or are you content with just the veiled version?

Daily Retreat 07/31/07

2007 Jul 31 Tue:Ignatius of Loyola, p, rf M
Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9. 28/Ps 102 (103)/ Mt 13:36-43

From today’s readings:“As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down and stand at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.....  The Lord is kind and merciful.....  He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom....”

Tabernacles and Tents

After the exodus out of Egypt,  the Israelites were a nomadic people en route to the promised land, and so of course they had no temple, but they did still have a sacred dwelling place.  In Exodus, chapters 25-31 and 35-40, mention is made of a very special tent, “the meeting tent,” which was the physical focal point for worship, prayer, and “meeting” with God.

Hundreds of years later, at the time of King David, God’s presence was still enshrined in a sacred tent housing the ark of the covenant, but the Israelites themselves had become firmly settled in the promised land.  Finally,  Solomon built the magnificent temple in Jerusalem and transferred the ark there as the new sacred dwelling place, but the Temple’s design clearly incorporated a “tent” motif in the central sanctuary to emphasize the continuity of God’s presence with His people from their nomadic beginnings.

The Latin word tabernaculum simply means “tent.” The tabernacle of each church is thus still an essential element of continuity, for the Lord’s Real Presence dwells in the tabernacle, retaining the focus of our worship, prayer, and awareness of “meeting” with God

Daily Retreat 07/30/07

2007 Jul 30 Mon/ Peter Chrysologus, bp, dr
Ex 32:15-24. 30-34/ Ps 106:19-20. 21-22. 23/ Mt 13:31-35

From today’s readings:“As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing, and with that, Moses’ wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets down and broke them on the base of the mountain....  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good....  All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables....”

Excuses, excuses!

When Moses asked Aaron why he had made an idol for the Israelites, Aaron could only retort with what is certainly among the most pathetic excuses in history: “The people gave me their gold jewelry, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out!”  Such a pitiful reply would be laughable, if only it were not so tragically lamentable!

In all honesty, though, too many of us would have to admit that, when it comes to fumbling to justify our own sins, we’ve often appealed to excuses every bit as lame as the one offered by Aaron.  Just as he claimed to be the victim of circumstances, so do you and I too often cast the blame for our own sins on other people and the complications of situations, when, in reality, our own guilt is just as real as Aaron’s was.

The simple fact is, excuses for sins never justify anyone - they only serve to make sins worse, by strengthening their staying power and muffling the God-given voice of conscience.  Instead of clinging to sins with lousy excuses, the only way to find atonement for sin is to turn to God in soul-cleansing confession of sin, pleading, as Moses did, for His forgiveness, and then pulverizing sins with penance....

Daily Retreat 07/29/07

2007 Jul 29 SUN:SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Gn 18:20-32/ Ps 137(138):1-2. 2-3. 6-7. 7-8 (3a)/ Col 2:12-14/ Lk 11:1-13

From today’s readings:“The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave....   Lord, on the day I called for help, You answered me....  You were buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the power of God....  If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

A Real Prayer

In the middle of middle school, I was given a paperback New Testament, and, in a moment of inspiration, I decided I would read it, instead of just leaving it on my shelf to gather dust.  And so I started with the Gospels - and let me just mention in passing, that if you haven’t yet acquired that soul-nourishing habit of reading the Bible daily, one of the best ways to begin is simply to commit to reading through the Gospels.  Even a single chapter every day, taking literally only 2 or 3 minutes of your time, will get you on the Way....

Now, even though reading the Bible is, in itself, always a good thing, it’s still possible to misuse or confuse that, as well as every other good thing (remember: even the Devil can quote Scripture for his own purposes!).    As often happens when one latches on to just a small part (instead of the whole!) of Scripture, I thought I understood clearly a few verses, and I jumped to the wrong conclusions.

The verses which I seized upon are very familiar: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Now these verses are familiar not just because they are enticing, but they also encapsulate a fundamental teaching repeated often by Jesus: God is our loving generous Father - pray to Him, and He will answer your prayers!

Now, Jesus said it, so I believe it, and I thought, “Wow, this is great - I’ve got to try this out!”  So the next day, which happened to be in the middle of winter, some friends and I were bemoaning the fact that it really hadn’t snowed yet that year.  “Maybe it will snow tomorrow,” one friend suggested hopefully.  “No, I bet it won’t!” replied the pessimist in our midst.  “I bet it will,” I piped in, and before giving the matter any clear thought, I had done just that: shook hands, and made a bona fide bet that it would snow the next day.

When I got home, I did something I had never done before - I checked the weather forecast in the newspaper!  It took me awhile to decipher the page, but at any rate, what soon became clear was that the weather would be clear, with 0% chance of precipitation for at least the next three days.  So, I did what any brash teenager with a desperate bet on the line would do: I prayed!  “Oh God, in the Name of Jesus, I ask You for snow here tomorrow!”  I was asking, seeking, knocking - I opened my Bible, used the exact words Jesus had prescribed, tacked on the Lord’s prayer for good measure, and I went to bed with a smile on my face as the snowflakes already started dancing in my dreams.

But when I awoke, there was no snow!  All day long - no snow!  Even after bedtime, I stayed awake until past midnight, peeking out my bedroom window every 15 minutes hoping for a glimpse of at least a powdery sprinkle that would qualify.  But, no snow - only the cold stars laughing in my face!

Well, not only did I lose my two-bit bet, but I also was in big danger of losing a bit of my faith. Now, in situations of like levity, others have put the Word of God to similar tests, and when the test failed, they have bitterly walked away from their faith - you probably personally know such people.  And I’ll admit it was a crisis of faith for me too, because God had apparently not delivered on a pretty clear promise.

But the grace of God helped me to use my sagging doubts as a springboard to a higher faith.  I imagined myself hearing Jesus speak those words personally, and then boldly asking for something bad, like: “God, in the Name of Jesus, because of its sins, I ask You to destroy New York City!”  This was the very opposite attitude taken by Abraham, who pleaded for divine mercy for Sodom and Gomorrah!    I immediately realized how revolting it would be to ask God to do anything bad for others, or for myself, for what good father would give his son a scorpion, even if he said, “Give me a scorpion, pretty please?”   

So, I realized, God was not some blind Santa Claus that would ever deliver us a box of matches or stick of dynamite just because we asked in the right way!  God loves us too much to ever take part in any transaction that would lead us to harm.  So God’s answer to every sinful, scandalous, selfish, stupid, silly, or even merely untimely prayer, is to set us down, embracing us as He knows best, and whispering in our hearts, “Even when you ask for the world, you ask for too little - why don’t you ask Me for Me instead, so I can give you the Holy Spirit?”

You see, God not only emphatically teaches us to pray, He also lovingly teaches us how to pray!

Daily Retreat 07/28/07

2007 Jul 28 Sat/ BVM
Ex 24:3-8/ Ps 49(50):1b-2. 5-6. 14-15/ Mt 13:24-30

From today’s readings:“This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of His....  Offer to God a sacrifice of praise....  First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn....”

The Mosaic Covenant

“Covenant” is a  word and notion frequently mentioned in Scripture, but unfortunately, the meaning of this crucial term is often misunderstood simply because the word is seldom used in everyday conversation.   The most frequent mistake is to think of a covenant as basically a contract between two parties, but in fact, a covenant is much more than a contract.

A covenant is a sacred promise made between two people or two parties that is permanent.  A contract, on the other hand, is a legal agreement with any time limits spelled out.   A covenant involves the exchange of persons, whereas a contract involves the exchange of goods or services.  A covenant establishes an irrevocable relationship of essence, while a contract creates a contingent relationship of convenience.  

A few examples will illustrate the radical differences between a covenant and contract. A marriage, for instance, by definition is more than a contract - it is a covenant between two people.  The husband and wife give each other to each other - it’s a mutual pledge of their total selves, it’s a gift that is permanent, and the covenant establishes the fundamental relationship of their lives and existence.  Unfortunately, in today’s society, the notion of marriage is often reduced to a mere contract:  if you give me this much, I’ll give you this much, and we can try it out, and if it works for this long, then we can renew it, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll put an end to our relationship.   That’s what happens when a covenant relationship is downgraded to a contractual relationship!

In ancient times, there was also a very elaborate ritual for the covenant of adopting a child.   For adoption is much more than just a contract - it’s a covenant that this child will be for me my son, and I will be for him his father, and this relationship would not be limited to a couple days or weeks or months or years, for by this covenant, I would be completely involved in his life as his father, and he would be completely involved in my life as my son.  There is an implicit covenant in natural parenting as well, for even though it’s not something written in words, the father who begets and the mother who conceives a child establish a permanent relationship with that child, and the implicit covenant allows no room for loopholes and selfish contingencies.  No, for parenting is a covenant,  something that is forever, and a complete gift of self.  

We also speak sometimes of a covenant between states or nations or tribes.  If such a covenant is between equals, a covenant of alliance, then the agreement binds the nations to each other for mutual defense.   If the covenant is between a greater state and lesser state, then the greater state would pledge protection of the lesser state, which would in turn pledge loyalty to the greater state.

God’s sacred covenant with His people is like the intimate covenant between husband and wife, it’s like the selfless covenant of adoption and parenthood, it’s like the history changing covenant of a greater nation extending it’s security to a vassal state.  But it’s even more than all these - it’s the sacred promise sealed in blood, and  because of it, the Lord is truly our God, and we are His people who pledge, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do!”

Daily Retreat 07/27/07

2007 Jul 27 Fri
Ex 20:1-17/ Ps 18(19):8. 9. 10. 11/ Mt 13:18-23

From today’s readings:“In those days: God delivered all these commandments....  Lord, You have the words of everlasting life....  Hear the parable of the sower....”

The Ten Commandments

There’s a simple mnemonic trick to remember where the Ten Commandments are found in Holy Scripture.  Everyone knows that God gave the Decalogue through Moses, who, of course, was also the man God chose to lead His people out of the slavery of Egypt.  That part of salvation  history is recounted in the Book of Exodus, which is the second book of the Bible.  Now, we’re looking for the Ten Commandments in the second book of the Bible, and 10 x 2 = 20, so by a happy coincidence, the Decalogue is found right there at the beginning of Chapter Twenty of the book of Exodus.  Pretty simple, eh?

Another list of the Ten Commandments is found in Chapter Five of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible.  At times, a bit of confusion arises because, although Jews, Catholics, and Protestants all agree that God gave His people these ten commandments, and although everyone agrees that those commandments are listed in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, there are slightly different approaches on how to number them.  

The Jewish tradition considers Exodus 20:2 “I am the Lord, your God” by itself as the first commandment, whereas Protestants also include the next verse, “you shall not have other gods besides Me,” and Catholics count verses 2-6 all as part of the first commandment (this includes the prohibition against idols, which most Protestants count as a separate commandment).   And while Jews and Protestants usually summarize the last commandment simply as “You shall not covet,” the Catholic delineation considers coveting property a separate commandment from coveting a spouse, and the order of these prohibitions follows the order in Deuteronomy, which lists “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” before “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house...” (you might have noticed that the reverse order of those two is found in Exodus).

Of course, there’s no excuse for bickering over how to order or count the commandments - all God cares about is that we take them to heart and obey His commandments!

Daily Retreat 07/26/07

2007 Jul 26 Thu:Joachim and Anne, parents of the Virgin Mary M
Ex 19:1-2.9-11.16-20/Dn 3:52-56/Mt 13:10-17

From today’s readings:“Go to the people and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow....  Glory and praise for ever!...  Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear....”

Godparents and Grandparents

Joachim and Anne, parents of the Virgin Mary, were thus the grandparents of Jesus.  Although scripture records no encounter between Jesus and His grandparents, He presumably had at least some contact with them in His younger years.

Like the nuclear family, the extended family is also part of God’s plan of creation - grandparents and grandchildren are intended by God as mutual blessings for each other.  Oftentimes, and for very good reasons, parents turn to their own parents when choosing godparents for their children, and proactive help from grandparents and godparents makes a huge difference in a child’s faith development.

Today, at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in Spokane, I will be leading a day of prayer specifically designed for godparents and grandparents, with presentations about how to faithfully fulfill these roles of service with daily prayer, exemplary Christian living, and practical ways to help godchildren and grandchildren grown in their faith.  Please pray for patient, persistent passing-on of faith for those who come to the mini-retreat, along with all other godparents and grandparents....

Daily Retreat 07/25/07

2007 Jul 25 Wed:James, ap F
2 Cor 4:7-15/ Ps 125(126):1bc-2ab. 2cd-3. 4-5. 6/ Mt 20:20-28

From today’s readings:  “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us....  The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed....  The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many....”

St. James the Greater

Since there were two with the name “James” among the Twelve Apostles, it’s easy to get them both mixed up.  One of them is mentioned in Mark 15:40 as “James the less,” but this diminutive title most likely refers to his age or height, not his relative importance.  So in contrast, the saint commemorated today, the other James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, is often called “the greater,” but again, that flattering title probably just reflects his greater age or height in comparison to the other James.

This St. James and his brother John and St. Peter were privileged to be the closest companions of Jesus among all the apostles, for  the three of them are mentioned as alone with the Lord on a number of occasions, including the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration, and the Agony in Gethsemane.

The Acts of the Apostles also records (12:2) that James was the first martyr among the apostles.   He was put to death by Herod Agrippa I, and since that monarch had a short reign, the year of James’ martyrdom is well established as 42 AD.

Daily Retreat 07/24/07

2007 Jul 24 Tue/ Sharbel Makhluf, p
Ex 14:21 – 15:1/ Ex 15:8-9. 10 and 12. 17/ Mt 12:46-50

From today’s readings:“The children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.....  Let us sing to the Lord; He has covered Himself in glory....   Whoever does the will of My heavenly Father is My brother, and sister, and mother”

How Far Can Evil Pursue?

No matter how whole-heartedly a person may reject sin and evil, and embrace Christ and His Gospel, no one on this side of the grave can expect to be free from pursuit by the temptations of the Devil.  In fact, a person completely unaware of temptations would have a lot to worry about, since such a situation would suggest that the Devil had so completely deceived him with the presumption that he wasn’t even being tempted!

Pharaoh’s army even managed to pursue the Israelites along their escape path through the Red Sea, and similarly, temptations often dare to appear even in the wake of God’s saving grace, luring partially repenting sinners to despair of God’s power to save, even at the moment they are being led by that very grace to safety!

But even formidable temptations are merely advance scouts of the power of Evil, probing for weaknesses in character on which to unleash Evil’s most vicious attacks.  That’s why the Bible never suggests that the power of Evil is weak - in fact, Scripture makes it clear that Evil will always get the better of mere mortals struggling on their own!  But more importantly, Scripture also assures us that God’s good is infinitely stronger than all the powers of Evil, so casting ourselves on the shore of God’s mercy (and remaining there!) is the only safe haven from Evil’s reach.

Daily Retreat 07/23/07

2007 Jul 23 Mon/ Bridget of Sweden, mw, rf
Ex 14:5-18/ Ex 15:1bc-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Mt 12:38-42

From today’s readings:“Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today....  Let us sing to the Lord; He has covered Himself in glory....  At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here....”

Why Did You Bring Us Out of Egypt?

Think of the joy of the Israelites as they departed the slavery of Egypt - how their hearts must have sung with exultation as they left behind their bondage!  And yet, as soon as Pharaoh’s army appeared on the horizon, their joy melted into dismal panic as they turned to Moses and complained, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? .... Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

We’ve seen how the Passover and the liberation from the slavery of Egypt foreshadowed the Passion of Jesus and His loving act of redemption which liberates us from the slavery of sin.  Such liberation from sin brings incomparable joy to the human heart, and yet, at times that joy is soured and becomes a dismal panic as the Devil madly pursues a soul escaping his enslavement.  As the Israelites learned, it can be so terrifying to break with the bondage of the past, that the former slavery can even start to seem more bearable than the unrelenting demand for courage to continue following Christ’s way of salvation.

But, as Moses answered the people, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today!”  Turning one’s back completely to sin and the Devil does require the utmost courage and unshakeable faith - but not faith in ourselves and our own weaknesses, but faith in our God and His saving power!

Daily Retreat 07/22/07

2007 Jul 22 SUN:SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Gn 18:1-10a/ Ps 14(15):2-3. 3-4. 5 (1a)/ Col 1:24-28/ Lk 10:38-42

From today’s readings:“The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre....  He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord....  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body, which is the Church....   There is need of only one thing.....”

Just One Thing to Remember

What if someone (be it your boss, your family, or even yourself, or Someone else) were to review your “To-Do” list today and then, in all seriousness, say, “There are many things here to do, but really, of all things, in fact, there is need of only one thing to be done.   Concentrate on that one thing, and don’t be so anxious and worried about the non-essentials!”   If true, what a liberating revelation that would be!    What a relief to be able to finally catch your breath, focus, and stop worrying about so many things!

But let us further consider that this single new focal point did not merely supersede all the many things on today’s “To-Do” list, but because of its overarching importance, all of our other tasks and chores for this whole week are now officially to be downgraded.  In fact, not just for the whole week, but the whole month too - yes, even the whole year!  Better yet still: in consideration of your whole life, if you zoom in on only one particular thing, concentrate your efforts and energies, and choose to simply take care of  that one thing, then your whole life will be an unsurpassed success!

How can that overbearing endless “To-Do” list of our life ever be reduced to just one thing?  Who is so naive as to propose such a preposterous possibility?  And yet, we all heard the Word:  “Martha, Martha - you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing!”  Now of course, it is not just “Martha, Martha” who is addressed by the Word of the Lord, but each one of us can hear Jesus repeating our own name as He insists: “You are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing.  Choose the better part, and it will not be taken from you!”

What then is this “one thing” which Jesus reveals is to be the focus of our life?  Well, clearly it has to do with God - we should choose to have Him at the center, rather than the outskirts of our life.  But what does that mean in practice?  

Well, when you see a man who is tan, well-groomed and well-dressed, with bulging biceps, but a tucked-in tummy, it’s obvious that his physical well-being is his priority!  Such a man never puts exercise or diet on the back burner  - he shuns shabbiness, and runs from the near occasion of flabbiness.

Likewise, when you see a saint who is quaint with well-groomed virtues and well-dressed in joyful holiness, bulging with generosity, but tucked in humility, it’s obvious that his eternal well-being is his priority!  Such a man never puts spiritual exercise or fasting on the back burner - he shuns vice, and runs from the near occasion of sin.

So, choosing God in practice as the heart of our life means just that: practically choosing God in our everyday life.  In the morning, a simple but essential prayer: “I need you Lord today - keep me ever beside You, and help me listen to what You have to say!”  Then throughout the day, to check the Cross more often than the watch, for the hands on the crucifix point to eternities, whereas the hands of a clock merely time temporalities.  And when day is done and it is finished, to pray in His words, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us....  Father, into Your hands, I commend my spirit.”  Jesus taught us to choose the better part - all that means is choosing Him as our heart!

Daily Retreat 07/21/07

2007 Jul 21 Sat/ BVM/ Lawrence of Brindisi, p, r, dr
Ex 12:37-42/ Ps 135(136):1 and 23-24. 10-12. 13-15/ Mt 12:14-21

From today’s readings:“The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones....  Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever....  The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.”

Passover to the Last Supper

Genesis 46:27 specifies that there was a total of 70 people in Jacob’s extended family that had migrated to Egypt at the time of Joseph.   Four hundred and thirty years later, even in spite of Pharaoh’s subjugation and cruel birth control policy, the number of Israelites had swelled considerably; according to Exodus 12:37, “The children of Israel set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the little ones.”  God had clearly blessed His chosen people, enabling them to flourish and “be fruitful and multiply,” even in spite of the Egyptian oppression!

Chapter Twelve outlines the rite of Passover, and explains how this Jewish feast was a perpetual memorial of that night of the dreadful tenth plague, when the angel of death struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians, but passed over the homes of the Israelites in preparation for their liberation from the slavery of Egypt.  As we know, it was no accident that Jesus celebrated His Last Supper during the Passover feast, for His New Covenant was established to liberate all from the death and slavery of sin.  So, having read Chapter Twelve of Exodus, it would be very appropriate to read the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper (especially Luke 22), to note how Jesus fulfills and supersedes the old Passover rite with the new rite of the Last Supper.

Daily Retreat 07/20/07

2007 Jul 20 Fri/ Apollinarius, bp, mt
Ex 11:10 – 12:14/ Ps 116:12-13. 15 and 16bc. 17-18/ Mt 12:1-8

From today’s readings:“Although Moses and Aaron performed various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land....  I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the Name of the Lord....  For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath....”

Plagues and Passover

One of the most dramatic parts in the book of Exodus is the series of plagues detailed in chapters 7-11.  These ten plagues (bloody water, frogs, gnats, flies, plague of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and firstborn) first merely fuel Pharaoh’s obstinacy, but then he starts to crack under the pressure as the plagues get worse and worse, and Pharaoh realizes that his magicians, who initially were able to partially duplicate Moses’ miracles, have clearly been outclassed by the greater power of the God of the Hebrews.   

As always, it’s better to take the time to read all the details of those chapters, but Exodus 11:10 is used by the lectionary to summarize all of the mounting tension of the first nine plagues: “Although Moses and Aaron performed various wonders in Pharaoh's presence, the LORD made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land.”

The Bible’s insistence of God’s role in “making Pharaoh obstinate” can be misunderstood.  God did not take away Pharaoh’s free will - rather, Scripture just wants to make it clear that neither did Pharaoh’s stubbornness thwart God’s plan at all.  The explanation God provides for Pharaoh after the plague of the boils is illustrative (Exodus 9:15-16):   “For by now I would have stretched out My hand and struck you and your subjects with such pestilence as would wipe you from the earth. But this is why I have spared you: to show you My power and to make My name resound throughout the earth!”   So we must not tire of reminding ourselves (and heeding the Bible’s reminders!) that even when we can’t understand how all of the pieces can possibly fit together, God always has a plan, and He always knows best!  In Romans 9, St. Paul cites Pharaoh’s obstinacy as the Apostle offers his own reflection on the tension between God’s omnipotence, divine election, and man’s free will.  Check it out!

Daily Retreat 07/19/07

2007 Jul 19 Thu
Ex 3:13-20/ Ps 104(105):1 and 5. 8-9. 24-25. 26-27/ Mt 11:28-30

>From today’s readings:“This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: I AM sent me to you....  The Lord remembers His covenant for ever....  Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. ”

The Name of God

God revealed His Name and identity to Moses in preparation for sending him on the mission of liberating God’s people from the slavery of Egypt.  So what, then, is the Name of God?  Yahweh?  Jehovah?  The LORD?  Exodus 3:14-15 are clearly the crucial verses, but the translations of these verses vary greatly, for a number of reasons.

The Hebrew alphabet consists only of consonants, so in ancient texts, there were generally no indications of what vowels were to be pronounced.  Instead, assumptions had to be made on the basis of context, but that inherent weakness led to many ambiguities in the written Old Testament.  We can consider an English analogy to illustrate these difficulties:   although when spoken aloud there is no confusion, in purely written form, “I read the book” can be either present or past tense - generally the context will resolve the ambiguity, but not always.  Imagine, then, the difficulties in ancient written Hebrew, for which many words with the same spelling have multiple possibilities of pronunciation and meaning.

God’s Name given in Exodus 3:15 is spelled YHWH, and verse 14 explains that spelling as a unique derivative of the Hebrew verb “to be,” meaning “I am who am!”  Because this was the sacred revealed Name of God, in their humble piety, the Hebrews soon concluded it would be presumptuously disrespectful to pronounce that word aloud.   Some scholars have noted a few clues that suggest the word may have been pronounced for awhile as “Yahweh,” but in any event, the tradition quickly was established that whenever YHWH appeared in the Sacred Scriptures, the reader would conscientiously substitute the Hebrew word “Edonai,” meaning “My Lord.”

In the sixth century AD, Jewish scholars known as Massoretes successfully introduced an ingenious system of indicating vowels in the written text as tiny marks inserted under the consonants.  For the Name of God, the Massoretes preserved the consonants YHWH, but they would remind the reader to pronounce “Edonai” by substituting the vowel points for that word, which thus looks something like “YeHOWaH,” which in western languages is more commonly spelled “Jehovah.”  But, as it is clear, the Hebrews never mistook that for the Name of God, because “Jehovah” is merely an anachronistic and  nonsensical combination of the consonants of one word (“YHWH”) with the vowels of another word (“Edonai”).  Fittingly, then, most Christian Bibles simply translate “YHWH” as “the LORD,” often capitalizing all the letters to distinguish it as the holy Name of God.

Daily Retreat 07/18/07

2007 Jul 18 Wed/ Camillus de Lellis, p
Ex 3:1-6. 9-12/ Ps 102(103):1b-2. 3-4. 6-7/ Mt 11:25-27

From today’s readings:“Moses was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed....  The Lord is kind and merciful....  I give praise to You, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, for although You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, You have revealed them to the childlike....”

Appearance of God

A theophany is the technical term given to a manifestation, or appearance, of God.  In Chapter Three of Exodus, Moses experiences his first theophany when God appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush.

I have heard and read many insightful explanations for some of the details of this theophany, suggestions, for instance, about the symbolic “meaning” of the burning bush, and why Moses was commanded to remove his sandals, etc.  But I think it is better to just admit that God’s revelation was mysterious and intriguing - Moses certainly didn’t walk away from the theophany with the assumption that he had it all figured out, and so neither should we.

At the beginning of the theophany, there isn’t even a suggestion that Moses was praying or engaged in any pious thoughts or that he was preoccupied about the plight of the Israelites.  Rather, he was simply going about his work, “tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro.”  As you and I go about our own daily work, God will make Himself more known to us as well - but not in such a spectacular and heavy-handed theophany as a burning bush, because Jesus has taught us that God the Father reveals Himself even more to the childlike, to those who have faith that, as He has promised and demonstrated, the loving Father will always be with them, especially in their hour of need....

Daily Retreat 07/17/07

2007 Jul 17 Tue
Ex 2:1-15a/ Ps 69:3. 14. 30-31. 33-34/ Mt 11:20-24

From today’s readings:“When the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her son and called him Moses; for she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’...  Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live....  Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of His mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented....”

Drawing Out Moses

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy - the first five books of the Bible are the most fundamental part of the Old Testament, and sometimes referred to by their Hebrew title, the Torah, meaning, “the Law,” and also collectively known as the Pentateuch.  Over the centuries, they have also been called the “Five Books of Moses,” and that title has led to confusion, because some people assume that means that Moses himself wrote those five books.  Scripture records that Moses, the great lawgiver, did, at God’s command, write laws and other words of God (e.g., Exodus 24:4) and these revelations certainly were the basis for those first books of Sacred Scripture.  

However, the Bible itself does not say that Moses himself entirely wrote those first five books (and note that the death of Moses is even recorded in Deuteronomy 34 - presumably, Moses didn’t write those verses at least).  Why then did the Torah become known as the “Books of Moses”?  Well, Moses is, in fact, the “hero” and central figure (next to God, of course) in these books, except for Genesis (but since that book ends right before Moses, his life was still a determining factor).  And, since Moses was God’s central mediator in giving the Old Testament law, it’s easy to understand why the Torah was naturally referred to as the “Law of Moses” or the “Books of Moses.”

Chapter Two of Exodus narrates the auspicious and ironic beginnings of the life of Moses.  Upset by the hard slavery of the Hebrews, he tries to right the matter on his own by killing an Egyptian, but that new wrong just makes things worse!  So in the next chapter, God starts teaching Moses that wrongs can only be made right in the right way - God’s way!  And that’s one of the most important lessons you and I must remember as we strive to right wrongs in our own day....

Daily Retreat 07/16/07

2007 Jul 16 Mon/ Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Ex 1:8-14. 22/ Ps 123(124):1b-3. 4-6. 7-8/ Mt 10:34 – 11:1

From today’s readings:“There arose in Egypt a new king, who knew not Joseph....  Our help is in the name of the Lord....  Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

Exodus - the Way Out!

Genesis closes with the death of Joseph, so after a genealogical recap, the next book, Exodus, begins with the well-known ominous verse, “There arose in Egypt a new king, who knew not Joseph.”  This “new king,” historically probably identified as Ramses II, is of course, the Pharaoh who started to oppress God’s chosen people and forced them into slavery until the time of their miraculous liberation by God through His servant Moses.  That deliverance out of the slavery of Egypt gave the book its name, since the Greek word “Exodus” means “Exit” or “Way Out,” and in fact, in Greece, emergency exit doors are even today posted with that same word!

Now, for our older brothers and sisters in the faith of the One True God, for the Jewish people, Exodus is the most important book of the Bible.  It’s like their Declaration of Independence,  their Constitution, and the decisions of the Supreme Court all rolled into one indispensable document for the Chosen people of God.   For Exodus explains how the Hebrews achieved their Independence, how they became a people, how they broke away from Egypt.  And the book of Exodus includes the Ten Commandments and the other constitutional parts of the Jewish law that define what it means to be a Jewish person.  Finally, Exodus also promulgates the juridical decisions that Moses made, and for the purpose of building tradition, those decisions were passed on to the next generation and were held as binding by the leaders who succeeded Moses.

But Exodus is not just a fundamental book of the Bible for the Jewish people - we Christians as well need to recognize its prominence!  No wonder that, in his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul (followed later by numerous early Church Fathers) saw that book of Exodus as prefiguring the way that Christ liberates us:  just as Moses once liberated the people of God, Christ liberates us from the slavery of sin. As Moses  lead the Israelites through the Red Sea on their “WAY OUT” of Egypt, Christ leads us through the waters of baptism, the definitive “WAY OUT” of sin.  Likewise, as the Israelites were then led through the harsh wilderness, so Christ leads His people through the bleak and often frightening desert of trial and tribulation, which is also a part of our life, for even though Christ is with us through it all, that doesn’t mean we always have an easy go of it. And ultimately, Christ leads us to the Promised Land of Heaven.  All echoes of Exodus!

Daily Retreat 07/15/07

2007 Jul 15 SUN:FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dt 30:10-14/ Ps 68(69) or 18(19)/ Col 1:15-20/ Lk 10:25-37

From today’s readings:“If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God, and keep His commandments and statutes....  Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live....  Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation....  Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”

Carrying out the commandment

The moral of the Good Samaritan parable is so clear: in order to fulfill God’s double-edged command to love God and your neighbor as yourself, one must do more than just agree with it in theory - one must carry it out actually, practically, extensively, and inclusively.

It must be fulfilled actually, meaning simply it must be put into action.  The first reading reminds us that God does not ask us to do something unknown or cryptic, which would make it an unjust commandment, like expecting someone without the necessary education to fix a car or a computer, or translate an alien language.  Love God, love your neighbor as yourself - there’s nothing impossible or incomprehensible about that - you have only to carry it out!

The commandment must be fulfilled practically, meaning simply that it must be put into action in our daily lives.  The love that God demands of us is not an academic, larger-than-life love;  rather, it’s the concrete love that gives largeness to life, because it’s the love that God made us for!    Love God, love your neighbor as yourself - there’s nothing abstract or pedantic about that  - you have only to carry it out!

The commandment must be fulfilled extensively, meaning simply that it must be put into action in our daily lives at every possible moment.  What loving husband would kiss his wife in the morning and figure “That’s enough - no need to show anymore affection for the rest of the day!”?   My experience is that we Christian tend to excuse ourselves especially from this aspect - we certainly are committed to helping others, but after doing it a couple of times, we reason that we’ve done enough.  That was the same fallacy the villains of the story fell into: one can almost hear the priest and Levite muttering, “I gave alms three times already on this journey - it’s someone else’s turn now!”  Love God, love your neighbor as yourself - there’s no exceptions granted for those who feel they’ve already done more than their share - you have only to carry it out!

The commandment must be fulfilled inclusively, meaning simply that it must be put into action in our daily lives at every possible moment with everyone.  Recall that Samaritans and Jews had a distaste for each other’s company.  The most natural thing for a Samaritan to do, when confronted with the sight of a Jew in need, would be to excuse himself, “Let the Jews take care of their own kind, and we Samaritans will take care of our own kind.”  But the shock of the story comes from the Good Samaritan’s neighborly compassion for someone who was not of his own kind!  Love God, love your neighbor as yourself - there’s no restrictions on who qualifies as your neighbor - you have only to carry it out!

The Good Samaritan parable was not intended to give anyone warm fuzzies inside - such a reaction would be clear proof of a dangerous degree of self-righteousness!  Rather, everyone should find this parable disquieting, even somewhat bothersome.   That discomforting element of this gripping parable is not that it’s too confusing, or too abstract, or even too demanding - rather, it’s annoying simply because, concerning God’s commandment of love, in our hearts, we know that actually, practically, extensively, and inclusively, we still have yet only to carry it out!

Daily Retreat 07/14/07

2007 Jul 14 Sat:Bl Kateri Tekakwitha, v M
Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a/ Ps 104(105):1-2. 3-4. 6-7/ Mt 10:24-33

From today’s readings:“Can I take the place of God?...  Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!...   Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”

The End of the Beginning

The last few weeks have featured excerpts from the book of Genesis for the daily first reading, and now we come to the end of this book.  With fifty chapters, it’s one of the longer books of the Bible, but since it’s the first book, many people have at least a cursory familiarity with the best known parts: Adam and Eve, Noah and the Ark, the Tower of Babel, Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac, Jacob and his ladder, Joseph and his coat of many colors.

If you can find a few free hours this weekend, consider re-reading the entire book of Genesis from the beginning to the end.  In this way, taken as a whole, Genesis offers a much fuller picture of our earliest family history than is possible from a limited reading of the highlights presented in the lectionary.  

Not only will a complete re-reading remind you of the book’s central themes of God’s providence, family solidarity, and the inevitability of being tested for one’s faith, but you’ll also come across a number of verses that reflect the messiness of our human nature - while many such verses are omitted from the lectionary in order to focus on the more edifying sections, those verses are nonetheless still part of Sacred Scripture and thus help us remember to look for God even in the messy parts of our own lives!

Daily Retreat 07/13/07

2007 Jul 13 Fri/ Henry, mm
Gn 46:1-7. 28-30/ Ps 36(37):3-4. 18-19. 27-28. 39-40/ Mt 10:16-23

From today’s readings:“I am God, the God of your father....  The salvation of the just comes from the Lord....  Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.”

Jacob and Joseph

The book of Genesis traces our earliest family history.  As can clearly be seen in the lives of those first patriarchs, God’s initiative and providence provide the thread of continuity which holds history together, but each individual’s response to God’s grace is also an essential ingredient.

Approaching the end of his life, Jacob (a.k.a. Israel) has an unquenchable desire to see his son Joseph again - the fulfillment of a dream for which he had given up hope!  And yet, Jacob first takes the time to thank God with his sacrifices and consult Him to see if the journey to Egypt is in accord with the divine will.  Of course, God confirms this, and re-iterates the cumulative promise to the patriarchs to make of them a great nation.

In his earlier discussions with his brothers, Joseph betrays how much he missed his father Jacob and how eager he was for news of him.  And yet, rather than casting aside his responsibilities and  leaving Egypt immediately to see his father in his homeland, Joseph realizes that his current vocation as vizier in Egypt is serving God in an indispensable way.  So, instead, Joseph sends for Jacob and then has that tender reunion with him near the border of Egypt in Goshen.

And so both Jacob and Joseph clearly put their faith and God first, but still clearly affirm the importance of family, and that attitude can be summed up as one of the greatest lessons of Genesis!

Daily Retreat 07/12/07

2007 Jul 12 Thu
Gn 44:18-21. 23b-29; 45:1-5/ Ps 104(105):16-17. 18-19. 20-21/ Mt 10:7-15

From today’s readings:“ It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you....  Remember the marvels the Lord has done....  Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give....”

A Plot Twisted with Providence

The story of Joseph is in many senses the climax of the whole Book of Genesis, marvelously bringing together the themes of God’s providence, family solidarity, and the inevitability of being tested for one’s faith.  Having overcome various tribulations and passed all his own tests with his characteristic flying colors, Joseph finds himself in a position to test his brothers, not out of vindictiveness for their past cruelty, but rather, from a fraternal hope for their salvation, provided that they had repented of their past evil.

And the brothers pass their test!  Twenty years ago, driven by jealousy and greed, they had sold their brother Joseph into slavery, then callously led their father Jacob to conclude that wild animals had brought about his death.  But when faced with a new crisis,  rather than selfishly abandoning Benjamin and bringing more grief to their father Jacob or cowardly seeking safety in a mask of lies, the brothers instead stand by each other in complete solidarity, acknowledging their own guilt (cf. 44:16), and committing themselves to the truth, come what may.

And so Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, also revealing to them the Providence of God, which even had brought good out of their past evil!  Of course, that’s not to say that evil may ever deliberately be done that good may come of it (something which can never be justified - cf. virtual retreat reflection for July 7).  But, as Joseph argues, and the Cross of Christ even more eloquently proves, the trademark of divine operations is clearly seen as the almighty and all-loving God continues, in our own day as well, to decree that even evil plots can be twisted with Providence....

Daily Retreat 07/11/07

2007 Jul 11 Wed:Benedict, ab, rf M
Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a. 17-24a/ Ps 32(33):2-3. 10-11. 18-19/ Mt 10:1-7

From today’s readings:“When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them....  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You....  Jesus summoned His Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness....”

Go to Joseph

As I mentioned before, of all of the patriarchs in the Book of Genesis, Joseph and Abraham stand out on the basis of the much more detailed coverage of their lives in that first book of the Bible (Abraham: chapters 12-24; Joseph: chapters 37-50, except 38 and 49).  Unfortunately, in the interest of time, the lectionary skips the majority of the Joseph story, so today’s reading only picks up the narrative in Chapter 41.  It’s safe to assume, however, that the unspoken hope and expectation is that we, the readers, understand the context immediately because we’ve read the previous chapters, so get out your Bible and read Genesis for about 10 minutes, starting with Chapter 37, so that the (previously) unspoken hope becomes a reality, and the Word of God finds more and more room to take root in your life!

Daily Retreat 07/10/07

2007 Jul 10 Tue
Gn 32:23-33/ Ps 17:1b. 2-3. 6-7ab. 8b and 15/ Mt 9:32-38

From today’s readings:“You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel....  In justice, I shall behold Your face, O Lord....  At the sight of the crowds, His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Wrestling with Scripture

Some, but certainly not all, of the verses of Scripture are clear enough that the meaning is quite obvious - for instance, when Jesus spoke of the coming judgment of all on the basis of concrete charity put into action (Matthew 25:31-46), so much of what long-winded preachers and commentators might find to say about those words is superfluous, because the King’s basic message can’t be missed: “Whatsoever you do to the least of My brothers, that you do unto Me!”

But the point and purpose of many passages of the Bible is ambiguous and even cryptic at times.  For instance, the account of Jacob wrestling explains how his name was changed to Israel, and how a certain locale was called “Penual,” and how a certain Jewish dietary restriction arose, but there’s obviously more to the story than all that.

But what exactly is the point of this episode?  God is almighty and Lord of all, so not even the most literal interpretation would dare to suggest that Jacob was physically stronger than God (or His angel) and so actually proved himself the victor in a hand-to-hand wrestling match.  So, in the end, we are the ones who must wrestle with the meaning of this passage!  Starting with the simple fact that these verses narrate a uniquely formative event in Jacob’s life, we’re certainly entitled and encouraged to seek the deeper significance of the event, and ask “Why?”

From the wider context, it’s evident that this moment is a clear turning point in Jacob’s life, for in the events that follow, he shows himself to be more spiritually mature, having now passed his test, even as his grandfather Abraham had to struggle through his test when God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac (cf. Genesis 22).   Also, even though the Bible consistently affirms God’s omnipotence, Scripture also gives constant reminders that human initiative and response to God is an essential part of the equation of our destiny, which can be considered a form of “contending with God.”  Yet all the insights I’ve come upon, all the commentaries I’ve read and sermons I’ve heard about Jacob’s struggle still leave me feeling that there’s still much more to be learned and discovered as we continue to wrestle with Scripture - and maybe that in itself is the most important lesson for today!

Daily Retreat 07/09/07

2007 Jul 9 Mon/ Augustine Zhao Rong, p, & co., mts
Gn 28:10-22a/ Ps 91:1-2. 3-4. 14-15ab/ Mt 9:18-26

From today’s readings:“How awesome is this plae! This is nothing else but the house of God, and the gate of Heaven!...  In You, my God, I place my trust....  The girl is not dead, but sleeping....”

Domus Dei et Porta Caeli

One of the more common inscriptions sometimes found on or above the doors of great churches and cathedrals are the words “Domus Dei et Porta Caeli,” which is the Latin translation of the phrase which so aptly captures Jacob’s sense of awe as he stands at Bethel before the “House of God and the Gate of Heaven.”

The erection of a church or shrine as a holy place does not, of course, negate the fact that God is certainly present with His people everywhere.  Likewise, when a flagpole is raised to proudly unfurl the national banner, there’s no implication that all property beyond the pole’s shadow is somehow less a part of the fatherland.  But the church and the flagpole both serve as a visible reminder of greater realities, and thus they become effective focal points to inspire and express love of God and love of country.

Neither, we might add, does the stipulation of a solemn hour of communal prayer in “God’s House” on the Lord’s Day suggest that it is impossible to talk with God and listen to Him at other times during the week.  Likewise, the observance of a national holiday is certainly not meant to imply that one should be less patriotic on other days of the year.  But sacred times and places are, like patriotic times and places, indispensable for reminding all of us of the greater realities....

Daily Retreat 07/08/07

2007 Jul 8 SUN:FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 66:10-14c/ Ps 65(66):1-3. 4-5. 6-7. 16. 20 (1)/ Gal 6:14-18/ Lk 10:1-12. 17-20

From today’s readings:“Thus says the LORD: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her!...  Let all the earth cry out to God with joy....  May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world....  The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the Master of the harvest to send out laborers for His harvest.”

Where do priests come from?

Where do babies come from?  It seems parents are never quite prepared for that very natural question, or even if the parents believe they are prepared, the question is inevitably raised in an inopportune time or place - perhaps visitors are present in the house, and the indelicacy of possible scandal, or a imminent appointment means there isn’t sufficient time for a detailed answer.  Stories of storks and cabbage patches are ridiculous enough that it’s unlikely that such tales are even halfway believed by even the littlest kids!  It’s clear that only a pressured mom or dad, caught off guard with such a serious call to parental responsibility, frantically stalling for time while fumbling to figure out the appropriate answer and the right time for that answer, would have been creative enough to come up with such an fanciful explanation.  The true answer is that babies come from God, ideally and generally with the loving, prayerful, and committed assistance and cooperation, “working together” of the parents!  (Whatever children might be reading this and are curious for more details, I respectfully refer back to their parents!).

Where do priests come from?  It seems parishioners are never quite prepared for that very natural question, or even if the parishioners believe they are prepared, the question is inevitably raised in an inopportune time or place - perhaps visitors are present in the house, and the consternation of priestly scandals, or some crucial upcoming Sunday recreation plans like watching a game, or playing in the lake, or taking care of the grass means that many would begrudge me sufficient time right now for a detailed answer.  And while no one dares to suggest that the newly ordained, the “baby priests,” are delivered by storks, there is an equally ridiculous myth that is still flying around (and more than halfway believed!) , and that’s the idea that priests come from other parishes, and other families, but certainly not from our parish, and our family.  It’s clear that only a pressured parish, caught off guard with such a serious call to Christian responsibility, frantically stalling for time while fumbling to figure out the appropriate answer and the right time for that answer, would have been creative enough to come up with such an fanciful explanation.  The true answer is that priests come from God, ideally and generally with the loving, prayerful, and committed assistance and cooperation, “working together” of the parishioners.

Curious for more details?  Well, perhaps, after all, this is the right time and place, especially if we give ear to the Gospel words of our Lord, “the harvest is plenty, but laborers are few; pray, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest, that He send laborers to His harvest.”  Indeed, the potential harvest is plenty - dozens in our neighborhoods, hundreds, if not thousands, of people in our own communities, millions in our nation, and billions in our world, are all ripe for the preaching of Jesus, the High Priest.  Or, if you pardon a mixing (or at least a transplanting) of the metaphor - these dozens, hundreds, thousands, millions and billions are positively parched, desperately in need of the creed of Christ and His sacramental seed of life, love, hope, faithfulness, truth, and beauty.  Yes, as the Lord repeated elsewhere, “Look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest!”

But whence come the workers for this harvest?  For no matter how numerous or rich the congregation, they can’t make a priest - but we can pray, and pray, and pray to the Lord of the Harvest, Who, through the Bishop, continues to call by name to priestly service for today’s harvest a new Peter, Andrew, Tom and Matthew, Jim and John, and others, yes, from your parish, from your family!  And these, the Lord of the harvest continues to send to His harvest, even when such faithful workers are sullied by the scandal of being joined by a Judas.

Neither I, nor any other priest, could have even set out on the road to ordination without being called first by the Lord of the Harvest.  But precious few, if any, of us priests have answered His call without the loving, prayerful, and committed assistance and cooperation, “working together” of our parents and parishes.  So, forget about storks and other crazy myths about baby priests coming just from other parishes and other families - the true answer is that laborers come from the Lord of the harvest, priests come from God, ideally and generally with the loving, prayerful, and committed assistance and cooperation, “working together” of parents and parishioners!

Daily Retreat 07/07/07

2007 Jul 7 Sat/ BVM
Gn 27:1-5. 15-29/ Ps 134(135):1b-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Mt 9:14-17

From today’s readings:“ When Esau went out into the country to hunt some game for his father, Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau that she had in the house, and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear....  Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!...  Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”

Sibling Rivalry and Biblical Morality

One of the clearest biblical doctrines of morality states that the ends DO NOT justify the means, that it is wrong to chose to do evil even if motivated by good intentions (cf. Romans 3:8).  And yet, this maxim is not always followed, even by some of the biblical heros!

Isaac’s younger son, Jacob, succeeded in robbing his older brother, Esau, of all of his prerogatives as the firstborn son.  Thus, it is Jacob who goes on to continue the biblical line of chosen patriarchs, while Esau and his descendants fade into obscurity.  Yet even though Esau is presented in the narrative as dim-witted and uncultured, he is not totally deprived of the reader’s sympathy, and later prophets would even explicitly object to Jacob’s deceit  (cf. Hosea 12:4 Jeremiah  9:3).

So even if there’s an acceptance or even implicit endorsement of his overall cunning and craftiness, Bible does not condone the reprehensible dishonesty of Jacob (and Rebekah!).  It is in fact in consequence of their scheming that the mother and son soon are definitively separated from each other.  As shall soon be shown, however, in spite of Jacob’s clear sinfulness, God’s Providence is not thwarted or derailed....

Daily Retreat 07/06/07

2007 Jul 6 Fri/ Maria Goretti, v, mt
Gn 23:1-4.19; 24:1-8.62-67/Ps 105(106)/Mt 9:9-13

From today’s readings:“Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife....  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good....  As Jesus passed by, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post....”

I, Isaac

Although the hope and anticipation of the birth of a son for himself and Sarah figures in much of Abraham’s chronology, Genesis surprisingly treats that son, Isaac, as more of a transitional character, providing a gentle closure to the epic of Abraham, and then quickly shifting the focus to Isaac’s younger son Jacob.  But, as we’ll soon see, after just a few chapters, Jacob’s fame too soon fades before the rising star of his favorite son, Joseph, the only patriarch in Genesis whose life is depicted with the same degree of detail as was Abraham’s, since each of them “star” as the central character in about twelve chapters of Genesis (Abraham: chapters 12-24; Joseph: chapters 37-50, except 38 and 49).

So, what lessons can be learned, and what then is to be said of Isaac, such a shadowy figure, but still an essential link in the chain of chronology and biblical genealogy?  For, notwithstanding Isaac’s low profile, throughout the Bible, God is introduced many times (and even occasionally introduced Himself!) as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

All fathers and mothers have hopes and great dreams for their children.  Sometimes, the dreams actually come true - the children learn the essential life lessons from their parents and proudly follow in their footsteps, building on and at times even surpassing their parents’ accomplishments.  However, there also are many times when children, for various reasons (and often enough even in spite of their parents’ best efforts!), fail to reach the same level of virtue or otherwise achieve as much as their parents did in their lifetimes.  Both tendencies are equally evident in the drama of one generation passing on to another....

There is certainly no suggestion that Isaac was ever a disappointment to his father Abraham.  Indeed, in those verses which treat most specifically about Isaac (Genesis 26), he appears as a veritable “chip off the old block,” even reliving some of his father’s adventures.  Above all, like Abraham, Isaac certainly must have kept faith in God, since he was able to pass that on to his own children.  Perhaps, then, especially in Isaac, there is indeed a clear biblical message for us to hold dear: the commitment to make the most of our inheritance in faith from the past generations, even as we strive to insure we pass it all on to the next generations....

Daily Retreat 07/05/07

2007 Jul 5 Thu/ Anthony Mary Zaccaria, p, rf
Gn 22:1b-19/ Ps 114(115):1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 8-9/ Mt 9:1-8

From today’s readings:“God put Abraham to the test....   I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living....  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....”

Abraham’s Test

Of the twelve chapters of Genesis which recount the life of Abraham, today’s verses from chapter 22 are the most poignant and most memorable, when God put Abraham to the test, and called upon him to sacrifice his son Isaac, for whom he had waited so many years.

At first glance, the incident gives rise to a legitimate objection to God’s way of doing things: how can He, the God who is all good,  ask Abraham for human sacrifice?  According to other scripture passages, such a custom is abominable to God (e.g., Deut. 12:31, Psalm 105:37-40).  Even with the realization that God, who knows all things, already knew how Isaac’s sacrifice would be averted, it still seems God’s command has inexcusably inflicted Abraham with great mental anguish.

And yet, to be the stalwart father in faith, Abraham needed to prove to himself and to his descendants that God ALWAYS comes first, no matter what.  Moreover, the test and lesson for Abraham is just a variation of the teaching of Jesus (cf. Matt. 10:37ff, the gospel of last Sunday), “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”  And, far from condoning child sacrifice, the incident conclusively illustrates that God does not want that - indeed, the gripping pathos of this chapter made that message clear enough to even the most primitive peoples.  And finally, God knew that Abraham’s example would help his descendants one day understand the significance of His own Son’s sacrifice....

Daily Retreat 07/04/07

2007 Jul 4 Wed/ Elizabeth of Portugal, mw/ Independence Day
Gn 21:5. 8-20a/ Ps 33(34):7-8. 10-11. 12-13/ Mt 8:28-34

From today’s readings:  “On the day of the child’s weaning, Abraham held a great feast..... The Lord hears the cry of the poor....  When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met Him.”

Pigs or Persons?

When Jesus exorcized the demoniacs in the territory of the Gadarenes, the demons, at their own request, were sent into a herd of pigs, which were then driven to drowning by the mad monsters.  But when the townsmen heard of the miracle, they frowned on it as a catastrophe, for the Gospel mentions that they came out en masse to beg Jesus to leave their district.

Presumably some of the townsfolk had stock in the herd, and so, they were naturally upset at their loss.  However, any herd of pigs, which Jews consider “unclean,” would have been an unwelcome aberration even in the Hebrew hinterlands.  One would have expected the majority of the people to have appreciated Jesus both for curing the demoniacs and for getting rid of the pigs!

But rather than recognizing any good that Jesus had done, the residents resented Jesus, for whatever reasons, and so begged Him to leave their district (and more importantly, to leave them alone!).  The same annoyed attitude can certainly be found in our own times, probably even in our own communities, and possibly even in our own hearts.  For, in order to fully welcome Jesus, one must evict evil entirely - and that always entails a cost!  For some people, the attachment and concern for the unclean things of life outweighs the grace that Jesus brings, so they tragically continue to beg Him to just leave them alone.

Daily Retreat 07/03/07

2007 Jul 3 Tue:Thomas, ap F
Eph 2: 19-22/ Ps 116(117): 1bc. 2/ Jn 20: 24-29

From today’s readings:  “You are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone....  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News....  Have you come to believe because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!”

Doubting Thomas

St. Thomas the Apostle is popularly known as “Doubting Thomas” because he refused to believe the testimony of the other ten apostles to whom Jesus had appeared on the evening of Easter Sunday.  Even though the “doubting” appellative generally evokes a negative connotation (the chastisement for lack of faith), we shouldn’t overlook the positive aspects of Thomas’ incredulity.

In fact, his initial disbelief established a firm anchor for our own belief!  You may have heard of those imbecilic biblical interpreters who deny the historicity of Christ’s resurrection, claiming instead that the apostles merely suffered the delusion of “wishing thinking” and therefore had some fantasy or psychotic experience of Jesus as “living again” in their own minds and hearts.  

But the irrationality of such a fabrication is exposed by the very rationality of the doubt raised by Thomas!  The death of Jesus was a crushing blow for all of the apostles - none of them possessed such an unrealistic obstinate optimism that they needed to, or would have even been able to, somehow collectively dream up the resurrection to “prove” that their messianic hopes were not unfounded.  

On the contrary, when Mary Magdalene and the other woman witnesses initially reported the empty tomb and the angelic testimony, the apostles completely dismissed their account and refused to believe.  In fact, in addition to Thomas’ doubt recorded in the gospel of St. John, the natural initial skepticism of all the apostles is also clearly attested to in the other three gospels: Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:11-14; Luke 24:11,37.  Such doubt could only be overcome by the most convincing of proofs!  While the details are given only about what Thomas demanded (and received) in order to believe, in His resurrected glory, Christ evidently provided each apostle with the undoubtable evidence needed to establish the redoubtable faith that gave birth to the indubitable, irrefutable testimony of martyrdom!

Daily Retreat 07/02/07

2007 Jul 2 Mon
Gn 18:16-33/ Ps 102(103):1b-2. 3-4. 8-9. 10-11/ Mt 8:18-22

From today’s readings: “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake....  The Lord is kind and merciful....  Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest His head....”

Bargaining with God

Of the twelve chapters of Genesis which treat especially of Abraham’s life, the verses which I found most unforgettable in my youth were these which recount the occasion of his “bargaining” with God on behalf of a hypothetical and ever dwindling number of upright people in Sodom.

Yet we should note, right from the start, that Abraham is not technically bargaining with God! For each time Abraham works up enough courage for a proposition, God simply expresses agreement, without haggling or counter-offers.  So, it’s not as if Abraham “pushed” God to His final offer of saving Sodom for the sake of ten upright people - rather, it was more a matter of Abraham gradually fathoming God’s mercy by stages.

In our process of maturing in understanding the meaning of prayer, probably all of us at one time or another have sought to bargain with God - “I’ll do this for You, God, if You do this for me....”  Of course, as Abraham knew so well, none of us who are “but dust and ashes” can ever presume to force God’s almighty hand to accept any hard bargain from us!  On the other hand, whenever we pray to God, we should seek to fathom the depths of His mercy as we humbly offer Him our very selves, because, after all, that’s what He was willing to die for!