Daily Retreat 11/01/08

2008 Nov 1 Sat: Solemnity of ALL SAINTS
Rv 7: 2-4. 9-14/ Ps 23(24): 1b-2. 3-4ab. 5-6/ 1 Jn 3: 1-3/ Mt 5: 1-12a

From today’s readings:  “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb....  Lord, this is the people that longs to see Your face....  Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God....  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven....”

Diverse Paths to Life’s One Goal

Among the familiar canonized saints, there is a remarkable range of personalities: compare, for example, the poverty of St. Francis of Assisi with the courtly splendor of St. Louis, or the brilliance of St. Thomas Aquinas with the simple-mindedness of St. Bernadette, or the eloquence of St. Anthony with the muteness of St. Joseph, or the restless zeal of St. Frances Cabrini with the steadfastness of St. Benedict.  They all are alike in Christian holiness, but quite different in their paths to beatitude.

Then too, we must not forget that, in addition to all the famous saints in the Church’s calendar, there are many other quiet unsung heroes in Heaven, making up that “great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.”  Again, they share similarities in their sanctity, but also varied greatly in their earthly lives.

Certainly, all saints make a whole-hearted embrace of the love of God and have at least that much in common, but they do this in quite different ways, and that is as it should be.  In an unforgettable passage near the beginning of her autobiography, St. Thérèse de Lisieux reflected on this diversity of saints, and wrote:
    Our Lord has deigned to explain this mystery to me. He showed me the book of nature, and I understood that every flower created by Him is beautiful, that the brilliance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would lose its springtide beauty, and the fields would no longer be enamelled with lovely hues. And so it is in the world of souls, Our Lord's living garden....

There are many ways, then, of becoming a saint.  In fact, every person born into the world has a unique vocation of serving God in a particular way!   We are each inspired and strive to pattern our lives on the example of certain saints which appeal most to us, yet we are not called to be carbon copies of anyone who has gone before us, or anyone who will come after us.

That does not imply that we are to “do our own thing” in our lives, when that means giving free reign to our own will and tastes.   Rather, we are always to do God’s will in our lives, and He has formed us with a unique combination of abilities, inclinations, and challenges to fulfill His will with personal love and faithfulness.

Too often, we waste our saintly creativity dreaming of how we would faithfully fulfill another’s vocation: “If I were a priest, I would study and explain the Scriptures better than our pastor!” or, “If I were bishop, I would proclaim the truths of our faith more boldly than our ordinary!” or, “If I were the cantor, I wouldn’t draw so much attention to myself,” or “If I were their mother, I would discipline those children better!” etc.

But such thoughts are devilish distractions, for we each need our full concentration and inspired imagination just to discern and live out our own call to serve God in the unique and essential vocation to which He directs each one of us.  

So, if I am to become a saint, I must discover and fully embrace the ideal of sainthood for which God created me.  If you want to become a saint, you must discern and live the model of sanctity which God deems most suitable for you.  Certainly, the practice of virtue will be indispensable for both of our vocations, and so we each must commit ourselves to that, but there will also be many differences in our respective vocations which we must accept as well, in order for you to help me, and me to help you, so that we too one day can take our unique place in swelling the ranks of all the saints!

Daily Retreat 10/31/08

2008 Oct 31 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
Phil 1: 1-11/ Ps 110(111): 1-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 14: 1-6

From today’s readings:  “I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you....  How great are the works of the Lord!...  Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?”

You’ve Got Great Mail!

In his epistle, Paul himself mentions many of the reasons he’s so found of the Philippians, but it’s also helpful to remember why that city of Philippi was a memorable milestone in Paul’s own missionary journeys.  In chapter 16 of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke notes that Paul, Timothy, and Silas were on the way to Bithynia, in northern Asia minor, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.  Instead, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia beckoning for help.   Paul recognized this as a divine direction to preach the gospel in Macedonia (northern Greece), so he and his coworkers crossed the Aegean Sea and were the first missionaries to bring Christ to the continent of Europe!  How they must have rejoiced at the spread of the gospel as they sailed across that sea, and after disembarking in the port town of Neapolis, they proceeded immediately to Philippi, which was the leading city of the district.  

On the first Sabbath there, Paul and company went to the riverside to pray, and there, they were welcomed by Lydia, a hospitable seller of purple goods, and she and her household were soon baptized.  Not long afterwards, calling upon the name of Jesus, Paul expels a demon, but for this good deed, he and Silas are thrown in jail!   But even there, they pass the time praying and singing hymns to God, sharing the good news with their fellow prisoners.  You can read chapter 16 of the Acts of the Apostles to find out why Paul then passed up a miraculous opportunity to escape, and then recall the rest of his intense adventures there in Philippi.

So that background helps us understand Paul’s affinity and affection expressed in his epistle to the Philippians.  What a beautiful letter!  Perhaps somewhere, you’ve held on to some treasured letter of your own, either because of the love for the person who sent it to you, or because of the inspirational, memorable contents - those are the same sentiments that emanate from this, Paul’s letter to the Philippians, the special type of letter we all rejoice when others send them to us, the kind of letter we should take the time to write to those dearest to us!

And Philippians really is a letter!  Some of Paul’s writings are a bit lengthy and intimidating, but not this one.  In fact, if you’ve never read in one sitting an entire book of the Bible before, this is the place to start!  You can readily get through it in just ten minutes - not that I’m encouraging you to ever rush through the Bible, but it’s important for you to know how easy it will be to sit down this evening with the Bible for ten minutes - and what better way to end your day than with the Word of God?

Daily Retreat 10/30/08

2008 Oct 30 Thu: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 6: 10-20/ Ps 143(144): 1b. 2. 9-10/ Lk 13: 31-35

From today’s readings: “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil....   Blessed be the Lord, my Rock....  Jerusalem, Jerusalem,you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! ”

The Real Fight

As Christians, we certainly pray for, and are personally committed to promoting God’s peace in the world.  Nevertheless, as Sacred Scripture reminds us, we need to be actively engaged in battle - not to kill or hurt any people, but rather, to challenge and defeat all strongholds of evil in our lives and in the world, drawing our strength from the Lord and from His mighty power.

Fighting evil is a formidable task - even moreso than we can imagine!  Yet God has graciously equipped us with the spiritual armor necessary for victory.  The closing page of the letter to the Ephesians specifically teaches us to gird ourselves with truth (which is fundamental and essential), clothe ourselves with the breastplate of  righteousness (which is vital and must be taken to heart), shod our feet in readiness for the Gospel of peace (since we need to be messengers rushing to share the Gospel), hold faith as a shield (crucial for defense against the supernatural weapons of the Devil),  don the helmet of salvation (viz., recognize salvation as the head issue of our lives), and take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!

By separately mentioning each of these elements of our armor, Scripture also reminds us that the whole suit is what is truly needed for battle readiness.  Perhaps today, you and I can review the condition of each of those items in our own lives, and then resolve to seek the Lord’s specific aid again wherever there’s a dent or nick or even tarnish to be found in that armor!

Daily Retreat 10/29/08

2008 Oct 29 Wed: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 6: 1-9/ Ps 144(145): 10-11. 12-13ab. 13cd-14/ Lk 13: 22-30

From today’s readings: “Each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does....  The Lord is faithful in all His words....  Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

Why Doesn’t the Bible Condemn Slavery?

Most people feel there is something fundamental missing when they read through the Bible and find no stronger objection to slavery than the admonition for masters to “stop bullying” (an obscure rhetorical question in Job 31:15 also can be noted in opposition to the abuse of slavery).  Why didn’t Christ or His Apostles clearly condemn such a prevalent and obvious evil?

Prudence is the only answer - Christ certainly never condoned slavery, but if He had spoken in His earthly life directly against it, He would have been justly charged with insurrection, since slaves accounted for around half of the population in Rome at the time!

But Christian prudence is not to be confused with cowardly copouts!  Although Christianity did not initially tackle the slavery issue head on, the tenets of the faith relentlessly struck at the roots in the societal mindset that tolerated slavery.   Since the dignity and solidarity established by new life in Christ surpasses even the distinctions between slaves and freemen (cf. Gal 3:28), the ultimate unraveling of the illogic of looking on fellow humans as chattel was inevitable in the context of Christianity.  

But the abolition of slavery would not have happened without the commitment of Christians to live the logic of their faith!  When you and I and all Christians of this time and place courageously live the logic of our faith, the same invincible march of unadulterated Truth will eventually snuff out the scandalous vestiges  of slavery that exist in prostitution rings, child labor ghettoes, and the abortion mentality that so callously abuses and disposes of human life for the convenience of other persons.

Daily Retreat 10/28/08

2008 Oct 28 Tue: Simon and Jude, aps F
Eph 2: 19-22/ Ps 18(19): 2-3. 4-5/ Lk 6: 12-16

From today’s readings:  “You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but 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....  Their message goes out through all the earth....  ”

St. Jude, Patron of Desperate Cases

Among the twelve men listed as Jesus’ apostles, for most of them (including St. Simon the Zealot and St. Jude Thaddeus) not much is known historically about their lives after Pentecost.  Different traditions (some of them contradictory) supply various details, although such traditions are not essential to the Faith.

When it comes to prayers, there’s certainly a legitimate concept of “strength in numbers,” although this doesn’t mean that, for instance, if two people are praying for the same petition, they have twice the “chance” of getting their prayers answered.  So anyway, in addition to having friends on earth praying with us for particular petitions, we can also petition friends above (the saints!) to join there prayers with ours.

When I was in the 2nd grade, I remember a priest explaining the origin of the custom of invoking the intercession of St. Jude in desperate cases.  I’m passing on that explanation - it’s quaint, but it has a certain logic, and I personally am inclined to believe there’s truth in the legend, but I add the disclaimer that it certainly should not be held with the same conviction as “Gospel truth”:

After the deaths of the Apostles (most, according to tradition, by martyrdom), people have often sought the prayerful intercession of the whole company of Apostles for particularly important petitions.  Many would express their intention to seek the intercession of all the saintly Apostles and then begin going through the list individually, offering a particular prayer for each of the Apostles by name.   Now, although not everyone can name by memory all twelve apostles, very few fail to recognize the name of Judas Iscariot.  So, whenever the name “Judas” came up, most people thought immediately about the Lord’s betrayer, and tended to forget that there was another (saintly) Apostle named Judas (in English, the tradition has arisen of referring to the saint as “Jude” and the betrayer as “Judas”, but their names are actually the same).  So, the upshot of it was, St. Jude’s intercession would often not be invoked the first time petitioners would cycle through the Apostles.  But eventually, anxious (and at this point, even desperate!) to still be waiting for an answer to their prayers, people would realize that they had left out St. Jude (by confusing him with Judas Iscariot); so, after including him and completing their petition to all the saintly Apostles, their prayers would be answered.

Daily Retreat 10/27/08

2008 Oct 27 Mon: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 4: 32 – 5: 8/ Ps 1: 1-2. 3. 4 and 6/ Lk 13: 10-17

From today’s readings:  “Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God....  Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked....  Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit....”

See the Light!

What difference does our faith make?  Well, practically speaking, faith ought to affect the way we see everything in life!  It is the light of faith which causes the virtues to sparkle with the brilliance of diamonds, when those same virtues probably seemed so dull to us before the illumination of faith.  And it is the light of faith which exposes the ugliness of vices, though they might seem so appealing to us before faith’s enlightenment.

If we are to walk and live, as Paul urges, as “children of light,” then you and I must examine ourselves, our actions, our choices, our deliberations, and our environment in the light of faith.  In fact, a candle is aptly presented at baptism to represent this light of faith.   But a candle must be carried properly and prominently to enable one to see in the light!  Conversely, the candle can be hidden behind one’s back, or carelessly allowed to be extinguished, or even deliberately discarded.  

So it is with faith: when carried properly and prominently, it serves well its purpose of illuminating the darkness of life.  But when faith is lugged around as an afterthought, or carelessly allowed to be whiffed out by empty arguments, or even intentionally exchanged for a more worldly luminary, well then, how can that ever light the way to inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God?

Daily Retreat 10/26/08

2008 Oct 26 SUN: THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ex 22: 20-26/ Ps 17(18): 2-3. 3-4. 47. 51 (2)/ 1 Thes 1: 5c-10/ Mt 22: 34-40

From today’s readings: “I am compassionate....  I love you, Lord, my strength....  In every place your faith in God has gone forth....  Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

Love your neighbor as yourself

The clear center of our moral obligation as Christians is the command to love:  "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

When considering these words of Jesus, we often rightly focus on the injunction to love God, with the realization that, no matter how much we truly love God at this moment in our lives, we still have room for our love to grow, for as of yet, who of us can claim truly that we love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind?

Then too, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to love of neighbor as well - each of us can probably recall several moments in the past week when our love for neighbor was dreadfully lacking....

But what is often forgotten in the commandment is the part about loving yourself!  Obviously, this is not an endorsement of self-centeredness and egotistic attitudes, but it is a reminder that, since God made us in love, each of us is intrinsically lovable and endowed with the loftiest destiny as a beloved child of God.

I recall one time in my childhood when I was in my room crying inconsolably.  I don’t remember what it was about, whether I had been punished by my parents, or had just suffered some bitter disappointment.  Anyway, I happened to look at myself in a mirror and see the grotesque expression on my face - and I had to laugh because I could hardly recognize myself!  And as I laughed, I found that, try as I might, I couldn’t even return to my crying, because I realized that God, who made me in His own image and likeness, obviously made me for something more important than ugly faces.

That insight has returned to me numerous times when I felt bad about myself.  Even though I am so clearly capable of messing up and making myself ugly with failures and sin and selfishness, God made me for more than any of that, and thus He stands ready and eager to dispel all the ugliness with the light of His countenance which shines, not just upon me from above, but also from within me, for I too am made in His image and likeness.

So, we must also learn to love ourselves as our neighbors, for God loves our neighbors as ourselves!

Daily Retreat 10/25/08

2008 Oct 25 Sat: Ordinary Weekday/ BVM
Eph 4: 7-16/ Ps 121(122): 1-2. 3-4ab. 4cd-5/ Lk 13: 1-9

From today’s readings: “Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift....  Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord....  if you do not repent, you will all perish....”

Building up the Body of Christ

One of Paul’s most vivid meditation images is the Church as the Body of Christ.  We are all familiar with this metaphor - perhaps too familiar, if we no longer find ourselves compelled by its implications of unity, solidarity, cooperation, and the headship of Christ.

The radical individualism of the modern age militates against all these ideas.  Without even intending to, you and I can gradually buy into those worldly assumptions to the point that the doctrine of incorporation in Christ can seem foreign and unrealistic.

And yet, if we accept the reality of our status as members in Christ’s body, we can begin to realize what really is foreign and unrealistic: the pitiful image of the left arm locked in bitter struggle against the right arm, the left foot kicking the right shin - all the tragedies of our disunity caused by rejection of Christ and His Church, when
“Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body's growth and builds itself up in love.”

Daily Retreat 10/24/08

2008 Oct 24 Fri: Ordinary Weekday/ Anthony Mary Claret, bp, rf
Eph 4: 1-6/ Ps 23(24): 1-2. 3-4ab. 5-6/ Lk 12: 54-59

From today’s readings:  “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all....  Lord, this is the people that longs to see Your face....  You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

Recipe for Peace

Peace is a blessing we all hope and pray for: world peace, peace in our nation, peace in our community, peace in our family, peace in our hearts.  The presence of violence and unrest in so many places does not mean peace is unattainable, but it certainly proves peace is not easy.

Paul gives the Christian recipe for peace:  “live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace....”

We can dismiss Paul’s vision of how peace will come as an impossible ideal, or we can commit ourselves to putting it into practice (with the peace it brings!) in our hearts, in our family, in our community, in our nation, and in our world.  As the saying goes:  Know Jesus, know Peace.  No Jesus, no peace.

Daily Retreat 10/23/08

2008 Oct 23 Thu: Ordinary Weekday/ John of Capistrano, p
Eph 3: 14-21/ Ps 32(33): 1-2. 4-5. 11-12. 18-19/ Lk 12: 49-53

From today’s readings:  “To Him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine....    The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord....  I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! ”

3 dimensional prayer

Often, in what we think God can do or in what we allow Him to do in our lives, we effectively consider Him as confined to one or two dimensions of our lives, as if, for instance, He were content to concern Himself with our spiritual welfare, but indifferent to our physical, emotional, social, or intellectual well-being.

To attempt to banish God to a single plane of our lives, though, is to treat Him the same as a pagan god whose sphere of influence was believed to be demarcated by the existence of other gods, each with his own domain and focus.  One of Paul’s essential efforts in Ephesians is to enable his readers to appreciate the fullness and completeness of God’s universal sovereignty and goodness, and the implications of that.

As you read through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, let his lofty words penetrate whatever residue of pagan narrow-mindedness has limited your perception of God and His involvement in your own life, “that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God!”

Daily Retreat 10/22/08

2008 Oct 22 Wed: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 3: 2-12/ Is 12: 2-3. 4bcd. 5-6/ Lk 12: 39-48

From today’s readings:  “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit....  You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation....  Much will be expected from the one to whom much has been given....”

Mystery Revealed

Common parlance sometimes reduces “mystery” to the notion of a “riddle needing to be solved,” but in the context of faith, the word “mystery” specifically denotes a revealed Truth that is beyond reason, although not contrary to reason.

The triune nature of God (the Holy Trinity) is a typical mystery of faith.  The fundamental unity yet distinction of three persons in the Godhead could never be discerned by unaided human reason, so God has deigned to reveal this truth to us.  This truth is not contrary to reason, but it is beyond reason.  It is not a riddle needing to be solved, but it is an ultimate really relevant revealed reality whose depths can never be completely fathomed by human contemplation.

This fundamental understanding of “mystery” is needed to grasp Paul’s point as he revels in the inscrutable riches of the goodness of God manifest in divine revelation, “so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church....”

Daily Retreat 10/21/08

2008 Oct 21 Tue: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 2: 12-22/ Ps 84(85): 9ab-10. 11-12. 13-14/ Lk 12: 35-38

From today’s readings:  “ Now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ....  The Lord speaks of peace to His people....  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival....”

Without Christ

Every once in awhile, you probably have the frustration of ISP technical difficulties that leave you momentarily without Internet access.  We’re also all familiar with occasional power outages that leave us without electricity for a spell.   As annoying as such times are, they do illustrate for us the degree to which we take such modern conveniences for granted, so it’s always such a relief when our service is restored!

Although we certainly take Him for granted, Christ never deprives us of His presence, even though, tragically, some do reject His presence by committing a mortal sin.  No one, of course, wishes that another ever commit sin and spurn Christ’s presence, but St. Paul does invite the Ephesians to recall the time when they were without Christ and without the hope He brings.  Paul merely is helping the Ephesians appreciate the blessings they have in Christ, so they won’t callously take them for granted.

Many of us were baptized as infants and raised in strong Christians families, so it can be difficult even to imagine life without Christ - almost like attempting to imagine being born blind!  But even so, you and I can certainly commit ourselves to thanking God for the infinite blessings of our Savior, even as we recall that we can only take Him for granted because God has so graciously granted Him to us!

Daily Retreat 10/20/08

2008 Oct 20 Mon: Ordinary Weekday/ Paul of the Cross, p, rf
Eph 2: 1-10/ Ps 99(100): 1b-2. 3. 4ab. 4c-5/ Lk 12: 13-21

From today’s readings:  “God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love He had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ....  The Lord made us, we belong to Him....  You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”

Possession Crisis

All of the Gospels, but St. Luke’s in particular, record the loving compassion Jesus showed to those who are poor, and as well as His loving warnings to those who are rich, urging them to use their wealth in charitable ways, so that it aids rather than impoverishes their efforts toward eternal life.

The parable Jesus told about the rich fool is not just intended for millionaires and billionaires - it applies to all of us who have more than we need!  For, in spite of a standard of living that was hardly attainable for even kings at the time of Jesus, our materialistic society emphasizes to everyone, “You don’t have enough yet - you need more, more, more!”

But the truth is, we don’t need more!  Rather, we need to share more!  Instead of striving to lay up ever more wealth in stock markets and bank accounts and other earthly storehouses, we need to invest more in our heavenly accounts.  As St. Ambrose once noted, “The hands of the poor and the homes of widows are storehouses that endure forever!”

Daily Retreat 10/19/08

2008 Oct 19 SUN: TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 45: 1. 4-6/ Ps 95(96): 1. 3. 4-5. 7-8. 9-10 (7b)/ 1 Thes 1: 1-5b/ Mt 22: 15-21

From today’s readings: “ I am the LORD, there is no other....  Give the Lord glory and honor....  For our gospel did not come to you in word alone....  The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.....”

Irrefutable Answers

The enemies of Jesus tried, many times during His earthly life, to trap Him in His speech, to get Him to say something publicly which was politically revolutionary, theologically contradictory, or personally unsavory.  But Jesus was always deftly able to provide an irrefutable answer which, while never skirting the issue, nonetheless established a reasonable yet disturbingly tight nuance. That’s why His answers turned the tables on His opponents - He challenged the legitimacy of the very dilemmas they had posed to trip Him in His speech.

For instance, when the Pharisees queried Jesus about the legitimacy of paying taxes to Caesar, they figured that any answer Jesus gave would lead to His demise.   If He naively had objected to Roman taxes, Jesus would have immediately been apprehended as a revolutionist.  But if He had resignedly endorsed the Roman taxes, Jesus would have been dismissed by the Jewish people as a turncoat.  Worst of all, if He tried to duck the issue with a cowardly “No comment,” Jesus would have lowered Himself to the level of a common politician.

So His answer comes as a thunderbolt, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s!”  Not only does Jesus sidestep the Pharisees’ pitfalls, but He even clearly challenges the Pharisees (and everyone else - including you and me!) to re-examine core loyalties and priorities.

But even so, the enemies of Jesus were only silenced momentarily by the divine wisdom of His answers.  For soon, they would inevitably be conspiring again to trap Him in His speech - and just as they did with Jesus, they continue to do with His Church - which is one reason why so many of the Church’s teachings are carefully worded to preserve specific nuances and essential balances.  

But by ignoring those nuances, the enemies of the Church try to discredit her, just as they once tried to trap Jesus in His speech.  For instance, in their attempt to undermine  the Church’s opposition to abortion, detractors dishonestly label that stance as “misogynist,” as if fighting to protect the lives of baby girls (and boys) were somehow an affront to the dignity of women!  Or, in misrepresenting the Church’s objections to the evil of homosexual acts, some falsely claim that the Church anathematizes homosexual persons as “sub-human.” And again, in political debates, appeals to Church teaching are dismissed as necessarily irrational, when in fact, the erosive logic of centuries of debate has established that there is nothing in Christian revelation contrary to reason - Jesus Himself, with His irrefutable answers, assures us of that!

Daily Retreat 10/18/08

2008 Oct 18 Sat: Luke, ev F
2 Tm 4: 10-17b/ Ps 145: 10-11. 12-13. 17-18/ Lk 10: 1-9

From today’s readings:  “Luke is the only one with me....  Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of Your Kingdom....  The Kingdom of God is at hand for you....”

St. Luke

In chapter 4 of St. Luke’s gospel, the stirring manifesto of the Messiah’s mission is presented. Jesus quotes from the book of the prophet Isaiah about how the Lord has sent Him to announce the good news (the Gospel) and to proclaim liberty to the captives, and healing to the blind, and release to the prisoners... and it’s so filled with good news — and yet there's this reaction from the people of Nazareth that they don't want to hear it... in fact, they want to get rid of Jesus. And this is what happens time and time again in this Gospel. Luke paints in inviting detail just how good is the good news. And yet there's people who completely ignore or even reject this good news.  

But, Luke also takes great pains to show, not just who Jesus is (the One who brings the good news) but also who are the people who do receive the good news. Luke, more than any other evangelist, has a beautiful picture, a portrait, of the supporting cast:  the people who received the good news, who were there with Jesus and are taken up by His message. Now Luke of course, has good reason for this detail, because in his second volume (the Acts of the Apostles) he's going to develop more fully how those people who received the good news, the supporting cast of Jesus, continued to carry out His mission.

So Luke presents this ongoing contrast between those who accept and those who reject the Gospel.   Consider, for example,  the crucifixion of Christ, there's only one Gospel that sets off the good thief and the bad thief- and that's the Gospel of St Luke.  What a contrast - in the hour of death, either humbly crying out, “Jesus, remember me!” or tragically, blaspheming Him.  All throughout the Gospel, there are people that get the message and there are people who don't get the message.  So you and I, the readers, are presented with this clear option: are we going to humbly accept Jesus and His Gospel, or are we going to tragically ignore and reject Him?

Daily Retreat 10/17/08

2008 Oct 17 Fri: Ignatius of Antioch, bp, mt M
Eph 1: 11-14/ Ps 32(33): 1-2. 4-5. 12-13/ Lk 12: 1-7

From today’s readings:  “In Christ we were also chosen.... Upright is the word of the LORD, and all His works are trustworthy....  Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees....”

God’s Grand Plan

Perhaps you recall one of the earliest questions in the elementary catechism: “Why did God make me?”   The answer provided summarized that “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven.”

In essence, this insight is one of Paul’s points in the first verses of his letter to the Ephesians.  There’s purpose to our life:  our Creator did not put us here for a life of meaninglessness, because, in fact, God sent His Son both to accomplish and to make universally known the divine intention for the whole human race.

But we’re so snarled in the minutia of worldly concerns that such lofty reflections on the meaning of life can entirely escape, not only our grasp, but even our attention and interest!  BUT DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU!   Take whatever time necessary to read and assimilate Paul’s point, because, you see, these solid verses are meant to serve as the rudder which keeps your life direction squarely on course!

Daily Retreat 10/16/08

2008 Oct 16 Thu: Ordinary Weekday/ Hedwig, r/ Margaret Mary Alacoque, v
Eph 1: 1-10/ Ps 97(98): 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6/ Lk 11: 47-54

From today’s readings:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him....  The Lord has made known His salvation....  from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah....”

Polished Paul

Each of Paul’s epistles sparkle with a unique brilliance - the Letter to the Ephesians is particularly rich in doctrinal contemplation, and you’ll certainly find it more upbeat than the tough corrective Letter to the Galatians which we just finished!

You simply cannot read this letter quickly - like a well-distilled liqueur, the words must be savored, and imbibed slowly and thoughtfully.  Consider just these opening verses, in which Paul recalls that
    - God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens”
    - God chose us for holiness “before the foundation of the world”
    - God adopted us as His beloved children through the incarnation of His Son
    - the Blood of Christ wrought our redemption, the forgiveness of sins
    - God has enlightened us with Divine Revelation
and each of these is but a poor simplified summary of Paul’s more concentrated phrases!

So, as you read, be content for the moment to merely focus on any one of Paul’s points that inspires you most intensely, and ask God to help you to realize the richness of the blessings we have in Christ Jesus!

Daily Retreat 10/15/08

2008 Oct 15 Wed: Teresa of Avila, v, r, dr M
Gal 5: 18-25/ Ps 1: 1-2. 3. 4 and 6/ Lk 11: 42-46

From today’s readings: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control....  Those who follow You, Lord, will have the light of life....  Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces....”

The Fruit of the Spirit

Possibly the best known passage of Galatians (5:22f) lists the Fruits of the Spirit.  The tradition of the Church includes twelve (charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity), but three of these are justifiably omitted in current translations because their absence in the earliest manuscripts proves they were later glosses.

The Fruit of the Spirit is the result and product of a life guided by the Gifts of the Spirit (see Chapter 11 of Isaiah).  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus insisted, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16,20).  So Paul’s classification of the good fruits of the Spirit, contrasted with the evil fruits (“works of the flesh” mentioned in Galatians 5:19ff) offers us an objective reference to evaluate our own efforts: have we brought forth good fruit or bad fruit?

Since most of us would have to admit to a mixed harvest of good fruit and bad fruit, the next logical (and necessary!) step is to cultivate those actions which lead to good fruits, while uprooting those vices which lead to bad fruits!

Daily Retreat 10/14/08

2008 Oct 14 Tue: Ordinary Weekday
Gal 5: 1-6/ Ps 118(119): 41. 43. 44. 45. 47. 48/ Lk 11: 37-41

From today’s readings:  “ For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness.... Let Your mercy come to me, O Lord....   Give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Faith working through Love

St. Paul is certainly the greatest theologian to expound on the profound nature of faith in Christ Jesus.  Now when we try to appreciate a certain artist’s use of color, we need to consider how he used color in ALL of his works - it would be a hasty conclusion to suppose that we could draw valid conclusions about his use of color from just one painting, or just one part of a certain work.

Similarly, to grasp St. Paul’s teaching on faith, we need to reflect on his teachings on faith in all his letters.  Many hasty and superficial conclusions about faith have been based on just one or two verses in Paul’s letters.  Such errors can be avoided only by carefully considering, not just all of Paul’s writings, but rather, the full deposit of faith!

So today’s reading concludes, “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”  This is an essential insight about faith, but even so, not yet the full insight.  There’s much more to faith than can be summed up in a short virtual retreat reflection!

Daily Retreat 10/13/08

2008 Oct 13 Mon: Ordinary Weekday
Gal 4: 22-24. 26-27. 31 – 5: 1/ Ps 112(113): 1b-2. 3-4. 5a and 6-7/ Lk 11: 29-32

From today’s readings:  “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery....  Blessed be the Name of the Lord forever....  This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah....”

Reading the Old Testament through the New Testament

Galatians is the first book of the New Testament we’ve seen in awhile for the lectionary’s first reading, and yet, interestingly enough, St. Paul turns our attention back to Genesis, as he reflects on the allegorical significance of Abraham’s two sons.

It is essential that we are aware of the essential unity and complementarity of the Old and New Testaments.  Most Christians (including myself!) are far more familiar with the New Testament - while those scriptural books are certainly more crucial (from the Latin word crux, “cross”) to our faith, the Old Testament books are ultimately more fundamental (from the Latin fundamentum, “foundation), since they outline foundational groundwork laid by God in His plan of salvation.

People often tune out passages of Paul’s more complex reasoning simply because their lack of familiarity with the Old Testament makes it difficult for them to grasp the issues involved.  But our faith offers us more than just catchword Christianity and a salvation of slogans - with mentors such as St. Paul, we’re meant to delve into the fullness of faith and comprehension of the whole of salvation history.

Daily Retreat 10/12/08

2008 Oct 12 SUN: TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 25: 6-10a/ Ps 22(23): 1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6 (6cd)/ Phil 4: 12-14. 19-20/ Mt 22: 1-14

From today’s readings: “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines....   I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life....  I can do all things in Him who strengthens me....  The kingdom of Heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son....”

Accepting the Invitation

Most people can think of a special invitation in their life that meant the world to them.  Whether it was being invited to a cool birthday party in grade school, or asked out to the prom in high school, or an opportunity to show the best of one’s work at a crucial moment, or a chance to meet a personal hero - such invitations are certainly welcomed as dreams come true, and no one could ever imagine purposely turning such solicitations down in favor of the boring day-to-day obligations of life.

And yet, in the Gospel, Christ complains that many turn down His invitation to the Heavenly Wedding Banquet.  He calls us to the fulfillment of our hearts’ desires, but so many ignore or even spurn His generous invitation.  Even those of us who, with our baptism, have formally and joyfully accepted His invitation, are too often guilty of dragging our feet, delaying in our replies and making excuses for not joining whole-heartedly in the celebration.

In fact, Holy Mass is the foretaste of the Heavenly Wedding Banquet, for it is our privileged invitation to partake of Heavenly food and revel in the real presence of the Bridegroom.  So, let our enthusiasm for the celestial “pre-party” reflect our eagerness and excitement for the Heavenly Banquet, and may our zeal and pious preparation attest to our gratitude and enthusiastic acceptance of the invitation to Life!

Daily Retreat 10/11/08

2008 Oct 11 Sat: Ordinary Weekday/ BVM
Gal 3:22-29/Ps 104(105):2-3, 4-5, 6-7/Lk 11:27-28

From today’s readings:  “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ....  Rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!...  Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Pedagogues

Many of the wealthier Romans retained pedagogues for their sons.  Generally, these would be trusted, well-educated Greek slaves who were nonetheless given broad authority for the children’s education, welfare, and discipline.  Of course, the boys would eventually grow to manhood and full autonomy - having (ideally) assimilated all the pedagogue had to teach, the new adult would then formally dismiss his slave, either for other work, or sometimes even for full freedom.

Paul explains that the Jewish ritual laws were a type of pedagogue - these were necessary for the time of spiritual childhood, but they have become superfluous, having served their purpose of leading the chosen people to the age of faith in Christ.   Bear in mind that Paul is only referring to ritual laws such as circumcision and dietary restrictions - Paul never suggests that the moral laws, such as the Decalogue, have been made obsolete by Christ!

For Christians, faith in Christ thus has become the ultimate bond of unity that transcends all surface distinctions.  As Paul puts it, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise.”

Daily Retreat 10/10/08

2008 Oct 10 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
Gal 3: 7-14/ Ps 110(111): 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 11: 15-26

From today’s readings:  “Realize that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham....  The Lord will remember His covenant for ever....    Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

Children of Abraham

Abraham, the Old Testament patriarch, is recognized as our father in faith.  Paul thus argues that the true children of Abraham are those who share his faith as their inheritance, even more so than those who follow the law of circumcision and other Jewish observances.  

Recall that Abraham’s faith was an absolute trust in God’s promise and sovereignty, even to the point of willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.  So often our own faith is a mere shadow of that - we’re willing to surrender a small portion of our life and will to God, trusting Him to manage a few inconsequentials in our life, but still trying to rely on ourselves for what really matters.

But such an attitude excludes the great blessings of faith!  If a person has complete faith in an airplane and its pilot, he can fly fast and far.  But if his faith is rather timid, he might climb aboard the plane, but only for a practice takeoff and climb to a shallow “safe” height, followed by a quick landing before things get out of sight.  Similarly, if our faith in God is absolute, we will receive the fullness of the blessings promised to Abraham and his children.   But if our faith is tentative, we’ll keep bringing our spirit in for a landing before it’s had any chance to soar!

Daily Retreat 10/09/08

2008 Oct 9 Thu: Ordinary Weekday/ Denis, bp, mt, & co., mts/ John Leonardi, p
Gal 3: 1-5/ Lk 1: 69-70. 71-72. 73-75/ Lk 11: 5-13

From today’s readings:  “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?...   Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has visited His people....  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?”

Who has bewitched you?

The verses of today’s first reading are certainly among the sharpest found in all of scripture.  Paul’s exasperation strikes clearly as he frantically probes the Galatians to learn why and how in the world they went astray from his teachings.

As we listen to these biting words, perhaps you and I can have the courage to allow them to apply to ourselves in light of any and all choices we make which betray or compromise our faith, asking ourselves, “Who bewitched us with such temptations?  How could we be so stupid?  After beginning with the Spirit, are we now ending with the flesh? Did we experience so many things in vain?”

But let this soul probing not end in exasperation!  Rather, may it lead where Paul is leading the Galatians with his words:  to repentance and renewed commitment to fully embracing our faith!

Daily Retreat 10/08/08

2008 Oct 8 Wed: Ordinary Weekday
Gal 2: 1-2. 7-14/ Ps 116(117): 1bc. 2/ Lk 11: 1-4

From today’s readings:  “James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised....  Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News....  Lord, teach us to pray....”

Controversy and Cooperation in Evangelization

In spite of their overall unity in dedicating themselves to living and spreading the Gospel, the early Christians had to work through honest disagreements and opposing viewpoints.  One of the most contentious issues was whether or not Gentile converts to Christianity had to also observe all the Jewish laws and practices.  Since Jesus Himself was a law-abiding Jew, it certainly was reasonable to assume that His followers should also obey the Mosaic laws.   

It’s important to note here that there never was a debate about whether or not Christians needed to follow the moral laws (e.g., the Ten Commandments) of the Old Testament - that was always taken for granted!  But many of the precepts of the Old Testament deal with dietary restrictions and other customary practices apart from guidelines about morality - were Christians bound by all those obligations as well?  Those who held and taught this doctrine in the early Church have been called Judaizers.

This position, however, was eventually rejected by the Church in the Council of Jerusalem (cf. Acts 15).  Much of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians deals with this controversy.  Paul had clearly taught the Galatians that Gentile converts did not have to conform to all the Jewish customs, such as circumcision.  But after Paul left the Galatians, certain Judaizers had quickly arisen to flatly contradict Paul’s position.  In response, Paul wrote this epistle to prove that his own position was known and shared by the other apostles, and that the Judaizers’ stance had to be rejected.

There was a lot of tension as the Church worked through this controversy.  Paul points out that fraternal correction had been necessary even for Peter (Cephas), who had fallen into dissimilation by withdrawing briefly from association with Gentiles, thus tacitly supporting the Judaizers even though he had concurred earlier with Paul’s position.

All the Church’s controversies of our own day will also eventually be settled, but meanwhile, we too need to work our way faithfully through the times of tension.  This requires charity from all, and a commitment to preserving unity by following the lead of apostolic authority.

Daily Retreat 10/07/08

2008 Oct 7 Tue: Our Lady of the Rosary M
Gal 1: 13-24/ Ps 138(139): 1b-3. 13-14ab. 14c-15/ Lk 10: 38-42

From today’s readings:  “The one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy....  Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way....  Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing....”

Former Way of Life

More than any other religion, Christianity embraces the idea of conversion, and not just the act of converting to Christianity from a non-Christian religion, but also the conversion from a lukewarm to a more zealous state of faith, which is just as important!

In the biographical snippet found in his Epistle to the Galatians, St. Paul outlines his “former way of life,” then mentions a few incidents after his call by Christ to conversion, leading up to his apostolic ministry.  Paul’s purpose is clear: he wants the Galatians to understand that God deserves the credit for his conversion, as well as for all the good in his life!

All of us likewise should be able to trace a conversion moment or tendency in our lives, since God is constantly drawing us to deeper faithfulness and greater attentiveness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  This means that by nourishing ourselves with His Word and sacraments, we should be constantly growing in holiness, so if looking back over our lives you or I cannot detect the thread of conversion, then we are evidently hampering God’s grace which provides us every day with the means to advance on the way to perfection.

Daily Retreat 10/06/08

2008 Oct 6 Mon: Ordinary Weekday/ Bruno, p, h, rf/ Bl Marie-Rose Durocher, v, rf
Gal 1: 6-12/ Ps 110(111): 1b-2. 7-8. 9 and 10c/ Lk 10: 25-37

From today’s readings:  “But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ....  The Lord will remember His covenant for ever....  A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho....”

Something New

While the lectionary selections might seem haphazard at times, as I’ve mentioned before, there’s actually a methodical arrangement for the readings at Mass.  For the past few months, the first reading has generally been from a book of the Old Testament.  Today, the lectionary finally returns to a New Testament book:   Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.

Sugar-coated diplomacy was not a characteristic of the great Apostles to the Gentiles - he spoke the Truth without hesitation or equivocation!  But of all Paul’s letters, the Epistle to the Galatians  comes across as the harshest - after just a few opening verses of greeting, he launches into what could well be considered a tirade: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ, and turning to a different gospel....”  Only a few months had passed since Paul had personally preached to the Galatians the Gospel of Christ, but already the good news was being distorted, misrepresented, and twisted with ideological interpretations, and people were buying into such errors!

From the beginning, con men have used the Gospel as the wrapping for various ideological packages fundamentally at odds with Christ and His Church.  Whether it’s the Judaizers (cf. Acts. 15) that Paul berated in the first century, or the liberation theologians which Pope John Paul II had to deal with in the twentieth century, the usurpers’  insidious tactics are the same: convince people that their own agenda and ideology lies at the heart of the Gospel, so that following the Gospel would imply endorsement of their ideologies!

The con men can be quite good at such equivocations - they had evidently made enough inroads among the Galatians that Paul was compelled to launch such a harsh letter to dispel the spell of those Judaizers.  How can we be protected against such scams in our own time?  Only by studying our faith assiduously in order to grow stronger in it!  For it’s always a simple matter to dress a skeletal faith in the garbs of error, but when faith is burly and beefy, the rags of heresy inevitably fit too tight for comfort, since such ill-suited duds can never be stretched to cover the full body of revelation.

Daily Retreat 10/05/08

2008 Oct 5 SUN: TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 5: 1-7/ Ps 79(80): 9. 12. 13-14. 15-16. 19-20/ Phil 4: 6-9/ Mt 21: 33-43

From today’s readings: “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done?...  The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel....  Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious....  There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.... ”

The Lord’s Vineyard

The Old Testament Prophets, the Psalms, and the New Testament Gospels all offer more than once the image of a vineyard as a metaphor illustrating the relationship between God and His people.   Perhaps more than most other agricultural endeavors, a vineyard particularly demands constant patience and painstaking effort in order to produce a good yield, and even after the harvest, much time and work is needed for the grapes to become wine.

In God’s vineyard, the patience, effort, time, and work is never lacking on God’s part - He always does everything necessary for a most bountiful harvest!  So when there is no yield of good fruit, that can never be blamed on God.  When you and I fail to bring forth good in our lives for God, we cannot blame Him.  Rather, we must acknowledge our own responsibility, that our choices have too often frustrated, rather than aided, the efforts of the Lord of the Harvest.

If we have few or no good fruits to show in our lives, there is absolutely no room for complacency or resignation to failure - God expects us, and will help us, to examine our mistakes and repent of our sins, and re-dedicate ourselves to cooperate with God’s planting and pruning efforts in our lives.

Daily Retreat 10/04/08

2008 Oct 4 Sat: Francis of Assisi, rf M
Jb 42: 1-3. 5-6. 12-17/ Ps 118(119): 66. 71. 75. 91. 125. 130/ Lk 10: 17-24

From today's readings: "I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know....  Lord, let Your face shine on me....  Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it ...."

Good Job

The Book of Job closes on an upbeat note, with Job being doubly rewarded, having patiently persevered in his trials, and having humbly learned well the lesson of the infinite transcendence of God.  Yet that ending can seem a bit unsatisfactory, since, as was mentioned, the book resolutely refuses to offer any neat, pat answers to the profound questions raised.

Certainly, in every life, there is a share of suffering, as well as a messy stockpile of unanswered questions.  Job's extreme example proves that the light of faith can and should be introduced in all aspects of life, including the most trying, frustrating, confusing, and disheartening moments.

Most of us would have to admit to exaggerating when we try to equate the severity of our own troubles to Job's extreme trials.  That comparison in itself can help us put our tribulations in a better perspective!  On the other hand, though, the lessons and examples from the Book of Job are clearly intended to engage us all, to help us think, question, struggle, plumb the depth of our own faith, and then come to the work of simply letting God be God, which is, after all, the most important job of our lives.

Daily Retreat 10/03/08

2008 Oct 3 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
Jb 38: 1. 12-21; 40: 3-5/ Ps 138(139): 1-3. 7-8. 9-10. 13-14ab/ Lk 10: 13-16

From today's readings:  "Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer You?...  Truly You have formed my inmost being - You knit me in my mother's womb.....  Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me, rejects the One who sent Me."

Are you God?

As mentioned, the book of Job refuses to merely hazard glib and ultimately unsatisfactory answers to the questions about suffering in life.  In fact, when God appears towards the end of the book, rather than answer questions, He poses dozens of new ones!  But all of the Almighty’s questions asked of Job can be summarized into one: Are you God?

Of course, if God asked us that same question, you and I could do no better than mumble Job’s same answer: “Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer You? I put my hand over my mouth!”

What then is the point of God’s questions for Job (and for us)?  Do they amount to just a cheap copout, an avoidance of the issue by changing the subject?  Job’s innocent suffering raises some profound questions about life - is it wrong to turn to our faith for answers?  

No, it’s not at all wrong to plumb our faith in such situations - in fact, it’s the absolute best thing to do!  And as we delve deeper into our faith, we’re faced with a crucial (but oft forgotten!) insight: God is infinite, we are finite - it stands to reason that much about Him is beyond our ability to understand all at once!   

But, here’s the clincher: God does not just abandon us to the misery of our ignorance and limitations; rather, He has fully committed Himself to blessing His children with the fullness of His self-revelation!  However, there’s no getting around the fact that contemplating the fullness of revelation requires time, effort, and experience on our part.  And yes, patience - the patience of Job!

Daily Retreat 10/02/08

2008 Oct 2 Thu: The Guardian Angels M
Jb 19: 21-27/ Ps 26(27): 7-8a. 8b-9abc. 13-14/ Mt 18: 1-5. 10

From today’s readings: “ But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives....  I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living....  See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in Heaven always look upon the face of My heavenly Father.”

Job’s prophecy

As mentioned before, the book of Job must be read in its entirety to understand and contextualize all its parts.  Tuesday’s first reading was from chapter Three, which begins after the arrival of his three friends with Job’s lament about his life, but today’s reading is from chapter Nineteen! The readings for yesterday were from chapter Nine of Job, so it’s obvious that many chapters of the book have been skipped.

Basically in those chapters, Job’s friends confront him with various philosophical and theological attempts to explain and understand his suffering, but Job is always able to point out inconsistencies and insufficiencies in the suggested explanations.  Today’s reading is part of Job’s reply to his friend Bildad’s second attempt to make sense of Job’s suffering.

This is one of the most crucial passages in the book, but unfortunately, translators and scholars are quite divided on how to render and make sense of it.  Many, but not all, of the Church Fathers believed that Job’s words anticipate the clear Christian teaching of the resurrection of the body.  Thus St. Jerome, whose feast was celebrated yesterday, wrote, “Job here prophesies the resurrection of the body in such a way that no one has written on this subject in so clear and certain a manner.”  For this reason, this text is often used for funerals, even though some modern translations obscure the notion of resurrection.

In any event, the words ring with the unquenchable hope of vindication, so Job’s faith was the foundation for one of the most succinct Christian creeds: I know that my Redeemer lives!