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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.

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time 'C'

Friday August 31, 2007

Here comes everybody!

Public transportation provides many opportunities to meet the world at its best and worst. From time to time I take the midtown direct into Penn Station. It’s an easy trip if you know where you are going but I don’t understand why they keep changing the location of the tracks from one side of the station to the other. Of course it’s all in my imagination. My sense of direction is not what it used to be. However, the real fascination of public transportation is the incredible variety of people one encounters from every corner of the globe. Notwithstanding the talk of terrorism and illegal aliens, it’s really hard to tell who’s who and for sure, the complexion of the population is changing rapidly. Moreover, it’s also impossible to know who has a hole in his socks and who doesn’t. In other words, language and color of skin do not determine who qualifies for the dominion of God or who gets into the heavenly banquet.

God’s view of the world is broader than the human mind can grasp and Christ’s love knows no limits. The Vatican Council was not so much about setting limits as it was about breaking down walls of division and building bridges of understanding among Christian churches, other religious traditions and even among nations.

The readings this weekend challenge us to focus on the wisdom that comes from God. This is the wisdom that provokes debate but which also draws nations together and challenges religious and political leaders to tear down walls of misinformation and misunderstanding and to build bridges of trust. Although this vision was addressed by Isaiah to the Jews returning from Babylon it can also be addressed to us in the new world, inviting us to open up the boarders or our minds and our hearts to the alienated and disenfranchised poor without jeopardizing our safety or legitimate homeland defenses. But the text also challenges us to break down barriers within our Church, barriers that keep people away from full communion at our table. “They shall bring all your kindred from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules… to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord.” There are many ways to be “Catholic and still remain faithful to the our tradition.

But there is a paradox to inclusion and it is expressed in the exclusivity of those who choose to catch the rhythm of the divine — the rhythm of God’s spirit. There is a discipline connected with the search for God and a discipline associated with the pursuit of doing things God’s way especially in the face of criticism and even persecution. That’s what the author of Hebrews was addressing in his letter to the early Christians whose spiritual health was endangered by their discouragement in their struggle to live as Jesus taught them to live.

The message of Jesus was inclusivity but the true disciple had to make a singular (exclusive) commitment to live this inclusivity with bias toward none. By the way, it is interesting that the word “discipline” is connected with the word “disciple”. The life of a disciple is truly a life of the discipline of learning from the master.

Most scholars agree that the narrow door mentioned in Luke is Jesus who is himself the way to life, the way to God and the way to salvation. Of course, this assumes that we enjoy more than a passing relationship with him. St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians that we need to live ‘in Christ’, i.e., to put on the new person, Jesus Christ, so that we can say, “I live, no longer I but Christ lives in me.” This exclusive commitment does not exclude the recognition that salvation is available to all nor does it mean that others cannot be saved except through Christ. It means that those who accept Christ, must also accept his disposition of unconditional love for all. Jesus is an historical figure but for those who call themselves his disciples, Jesus is the ‘Christ’, the great paradigm, the universal symbol of what life can look like when we catch the ‘rhythm’ of God’s life on earth. That’s ultimately what it means to be saved.

So as Christians, we accept the fact that God’s love is universal and therefore extends to every race and nation — indiscriminately. Divine love knows no boundaries and is manifested in varying degrees through other priests and prophets and figures who throughout the centuries have given testimony of and witness to divine holiness, compassion, and unconditional love.

In the words of Pat Sanchez, biblical scholar, “ There are no reserved tables at the eternal feast, nor are there place cards designating positions of honor. Admission will not be gained based on anyone’s ethnic background, religious heritage or nationality. While the door may be narrow, it remains open to all who humbly welcome salvation as a gift and who love and are loved by God in Christ.”