• Bulletin Board, Announcements, Calendar
• Welcome and Website Protocol
• Editorial - Op Ed
• Article Archive

Print this page

Article Categories

• Book Reviews
• Open Letter
• Editorials
• Notes, Quotes & Comments
• Pastor's Study
• Project Millstones
• Sidebar Comments
• Weekly Message

Links

AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

Search

Daily Scripture

+ Ascension Thursday

There is no proof; there are only witnesses.

Readings: Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:14-23 Luke 24:46-53

You are witnesses of all these things. And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high. [Luke 24:50-51]

In an age of technology and scientific progress, we have an explanation for everything or at least the promise of the same. Yet, there are still truly human experiences – both positive and negative—that defy human explanation. Death is one such experience. Doctors know the medical reasons for death but an autopsy doesn’t tell the whole story. Conversely, who can explain the field of energy that binds lovers for life?

During his life on earth Jesus created a field of energy that changed the course of history and it did not cease at his death or even at his resurrection. It continues to this day – locally and globally. Or else how explain the heroism of the saints of yesterday and the saints of today? Women and men, energetic witnesses who have said ‘yes’ to unconditional love under any and all circumstances continue to change the course of history in the face of those who attempt to chain the Word of God. No, most of them are not formal preachers or even religious teachers per se, but people who live the message of the Gospel of Jesus day in and day out.

The gospel today is typical of the departure of a hero. We might even consider it the conclusion of a hero story. Jesus assures his disciples that he is not abandoning them. Not only that but he will send an advocate who will empower them to continue his mission. “You will be clothed with power from on high.” They will be clothed with the mantle of Christ just as the ancient Elijah was clothed in the mantle of Elias before Elias departed in his chariot to the heavens. It’s metaphor and allegory, of course but the underlying truth of Jesus mission will continue to be proclaimed as Good News for all.

But hang in there until Pentecost when the gifts of the Spirit will be renewed and we will be empowered once more to preach the Good News—using words only when necessary.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 'C'

Saturday February 17, 2007

It’s enough to knock your socks off!

Last weekend, Luke’s version of the Beatitudes challenged us to think about what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Students of Luke’s gospel tell us that he wanted to incorporate fully the ancient Jewish notion of ‘hesed’ and to demonstrate the quality of compassion in Jesus through the strength of his words and the urgency of acting on his word.

“Hesed” is what we are willing to do for someone beyond the ‘golden rule.’ It is to make obligatory the opposite of what justice might demand.

We have a good example of ‘hesed’ in the reading from the first book of Samuel. Justice would have dictated that David heed Abishai’s advice and lop off Saul’s head. But David acceded to a high demand, not as an act of favor or generosity but as his obligation and responsibility.

Luke assures us that those who take this sermon seriously might find themselves tilting toward ‘hesed,’ alienated from the mainstream of political, religious and even family wisdom. “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers or sisters, and even he cannot be my disciple.” [Luke 14:26]

Cancel my subscription!

“Blessed are you who are poor, yours is the kingdom of God!” Notice, Luke does not say, “Blessed are you who are poor in spirit…” as in Matthew’s gospel. Luke’s Jesus has a preferential option for those who are literally poor, and hungry, and in sorrow, and for those who are hated because they take Jesus and his word seriously, “Be happy and jump for joy! You shall have a great reward in heaven.” But who wants to wait that long?

And if this were not enough, Luke’s Jesus goes on to put the rich in their place. “You rich people are in for trouble because you have already had an easy life… you will go hungry, you will have your sorrows, and you have enjoyed all your rewards on earth…”

“What I say to you is this: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you….” You can read the rest of it in chapter 6:27 – 38.”

It’s enough to knock your socks off!

For those of us who have a different notion of what it meant to be “messiah” this should clear it up. Who can endure this kind of philosophy? Jews, Romans or any particular nation or nationality didn’t kill him. He was killed by the deception that stifles truth, snuffs out goodness and smothers the fire of divine love. He was the epitome of all God’s qualities in human form, and relentless in his pursuit of the holiness and integrity of God.

Had enough already? Do you want to cancel your subscription too?

Jesus is asked a lot of his disciples but always in the awareness that they could not take it all at once. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and to Peter’s objection he responds, “Peter you may not understand now what I am doing but one day you will understand… what I have done for you, you must do for one another.”

Luke presents a Jesus who asks of his disciples nothing less than ‘hesed’ but he was patient with them.

Although Luke’s words need not be interpreted literally, they should not be taken lightly.

In a world in which governments fight for power and demand blood as the price of victory, Jesus says that it cannot be that way with those who follow him. Might does not make right. Jesus is he epitome of God’s preemptive strike. “Unless you deny yourself and take up your cross daily, you cannot be my disciple.”

Paul makes it clear in his first letter to the Corinthians that ‘hesed’ is not in our genes. Like Adam we are tied more to the earth than to the things of God’s dominion above. However, Paul also makes it clear that it is our ultimate destiny “to bear the image of the heavenly one.”

The notion of ‘hesed’ can be learned over time and there is no better way to learn it than through the practice of compassion.

How will discipleship play out in our attitude toward capital punishment or sanctions against innocent citizens of foreign nations or labor laws that force the poor to work harder for less or even the pursuit of justice that knows only vengeance and no mercy?

I struggle with this teaching every day as I work with victims of abuse. How do I curb my anger and temper the thirst for justice with the need for mercy? When I want to lop off someone’s head or pin someone to the wall, how do I make obligatory the dictates of ‘hesed?’

And yet Jesus did not disband with the rule of law or the demands of Justice. Perhaps the real challenge lay in the way we accede to the demands of justice and the rule of law. Perhaps it is tied to the script we use and the lengths to which we are willing to go in the interests of healing, forgiveness and ultimate reconciliation.

I don’t have all the answers but I do know that the demands of love are greater than my capacity at times and so it is only by the grace of God that I am able to make even a modest effort.

It’s enough to knock your socks off!