Mt 5:23-26 Sign of Love

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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By SOPHIE DRUFFNER

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,

and there recall that your brother

has anything against you,

leave your gift there at the altar,

go first and be reconciled with your brother,

and then come and offer your gift.

Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.  Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,

and the judge will hand you over to the guard,

and you will be thrown into prison.

Amen, I say to you,

you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

You know how it is with families in mass--the surreptitious pinching, elbowing, squirming, and then the Hand Squeeze to the Death during the Our Father. Then the mum or dad looks over with a disapproving look, and casually slides over between the two warring factions. Peace is restored, but only briefly, until the moment when one kid reaches behind the mum and pokes the other. The war continues.

This, however, is only superficial fighting. There have been many times when my family has come to mass after a serious argument, usually over something not-so-serious: someone didn’t do the laundry when they were supposed to, the kitchen is still a mess from the night before, it took forever for one of my younger sisters to choose an outfit, and hence, we were late. Or maybe we are all suffering from the remnants of an argument that started off the night before. As we go into mass, everyone ignores everyone else.

Then, during the Our Father, our family holds hands, knowing what is about to take place. During the Sign of Peace, we reach over to each other-- “Claire, I’m sorry,” “I shouldn’t have said that,” “I didn’t really mean what I said,” “Guys, let’s just make up.” It’s not so much the Sign of Peace that makes up this forgiveness ritual, it’s the Eucharist that follows a few minutes later. Because we all know that not one of us can go up to the Eucharist with hurtful words in our ears and frowns on our faces. We can’t go up unforgiving, with the tension of the quarrel still between us. We can’t go up to receive Jesus, who is love in the Communion host, if we continue to fight. It wouldn’t be right, it wouldn’t be holy.

The Sign of Peace isn’t just for us to kiss, hug, or shake hands with our wives, husbands, kids, grandparents, sisters, friends, strangers, etc. It’s for us to bring the sense of peace that we will need for the Eucharist. It’s for us to calm down, forgive, and completely forget the altercation which caused us to raise our voices as we prepared to get dressed for mass that morning. It’s the time when we should spiritually be dressed in forgiveness for the Communion feast that is to come.

2 Cor 5:14-21 Ambassadors for Christ

Saturday if the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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By JENNIFER BURGIN

 

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

 This week I heard (yet again) another disturbing story.  After a serious highway accident, a woman laid trapped inside a burning car.  A Good Samaritan tried to unjam the seat belt without success. He cried out to bystanders: "Does anyone have a knife? I need to cut the seat belt and free this woman! Fire extinguisher, anyone?? Please help!" The onlookers remained silent, too preoccupied with their cell phones to respond.  In fact, a few of the bystanders stood there pointing iPhones at the man, shooting video of the entire scene!

Later, the Good Samaritan interviewed with a local radio station.  He said on the air how he couldn't believe nobody offered help.  The people appeared more focused on the entertainment value of the accident than the value of a human life.  Sadly, the woman died.  The husband driving the vehicle survived; however, he was later hauled off to jail and charged with DUI.

Where is the compassion? Will people always be on the lookout for the next big story, ready to exploit a terrible situation?  

I applaud the Good Samaritan for going out of his way to help.  He's a fine example of an Ambassador for Christ.  As for the bystanders, or "cell-phone huggers," they should be ashamed of themselves. I can see the benefit of using a cell phone to place an emergency 911 call.   However, the idea of shooting video of another person's tragedy is distasteful. A person's life, reputation, and privacy demands respect.  Yet, respect is slowly becoming obsolete in a society obsessed with fame and fanfare.  The rush to get the most provocative video posted on You-Tube and win the day's "viral video prize" overshadows class and tactfulness.

Daily we see videos of other people's misfortunes and misbehaviors. How is posting such negative content on a social media site building up the body of Christ?  Such behavior only keeps the flames of sin ignited!  It breaks apart relationships; it causes chaos; and it destroys peace.  Our society desperately needs more love, mercy, and forgiveness.

I wrote a few weeks ago about the importance of using technology wisely and for the benefit of the faith.  We are all called to be Ambassadors for Christ in our thoughts, words, and deeds.  We are not called to exploit one another or treat one another as objects.  We should serve one another in ways that lift up, not bring down.

In today's gospel reading, Saint Paul speaks to the Corinthians about becoming a new creation in Christ as new things come.  The Corinthians were a challenging community, hence the need to write two letters!  The people of Corinth gave him massive migrainesand heavy heartache.  Despite the frustrations, Paul eventually "broke through" to thestubborn community, teaching them the importance of being reconciled to God as wellneighbor.

We can all be Five-Star Ambassadors for Christ!  Firstly, we dedicate our lives to promoting the Truth.  Secondly, we commit ourselves to follow Christ's teachings no matter what society and the world thinks of us.  Remember:  Ambassadors for Christ live in the world but not of the world!

What else makes up a Five-Star Ambassador for Christ?

1. Be a Good Samaritan.

2. Pray, especially for enemies.

3. Forgive others quickly. 

4. Love despite the costs.  

5. Serve one another with dignity and respect.

Certainly, our society can use a little extra kindness and thoughtfulness!

“The "show business," which is so incorporated into our view of Christian work today, has caused us to drift far from Our Lord's conception of discipleship. It is instilled in us to think that we have to do exceptional things for God; we have not. We have to be exceptional in ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, surrounded by sordid sinners. That is not learned in five minutes.”  

- Oswald Chambers

This meditation was written by Jennifer Burgin, a Lay Dominican.  Please visit her blog:  Jennifer's Spectrum of Spirituality

Mt 5:13-16 What To Do As A Christian

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
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By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?  It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

These verses from Scripture are so familiar to us:  "You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.  Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds."

But what exactly do they mean in today's secularized culture?  What can Christians do that will make a difference in the world?

Forgiveness. There's not a lot of forgiveness in the world today.  Maybe it has always been that way.  I don't know.  But forgiveness doesn't come naturally, that's for sure.  It requires a lot of faith, hope and love - putting into practice what Jesus preached.  And while we may witness a lack of forgiveness among non-Christians, don't be surprised to find a lack of it among Christians as well.  Why?  Because we live in a very unforgiving society.  We see it in the way we gossip about others. We see it in the way those who fall from "grace" are treated on social media, especially on YouTube videos, Facebook pages and tweets. 

A few weeks ago our middle school soccer team played their first game of the season against another Catholic school's team.  It wasn't an easy win.  Our opponent's goalie was pretty good.  But he made an embarrassing mistake that cost him a goal.  He let a very slow moving ball go between his legs.  He put - what seemed to be for 5 minutes - his head in his hands.  I thought he may have been crying.  I felt so bad for this kid.  But what really made me feel bad was a boy standing next to me, who shouted out in disbelief, not because he didn't see the goal but because he couldn't believe he didn't capture the moment on his cell phone!     

He was ready to embarrass this kid for life by posting the mistake on YouTube!

Oh my goodness!  We can no longer be human without being eternally ridiculed or insulted!  And this isn't the Olympics!  It's just the DPL (Dallas Parochial League).

The Lord has given all Christians a great opportunity to be salt and light by sharing the Good News of forgiveness! 

Love those who do not agree with you.  Is it possible to love people who do not agree with you?  I think it is, even if it is difficult.  But isn't this something we can do for our neighbors? Isn't this something the Lord demands from us?  Isn't this something we need to be sharing with others?  I absolutely think it is.

I know how nasty some "tolerant folks" can be.  I know how mean some "accepting people" can get.  But we can never be this way.  This is where we can make a huge dent in our society and a huge difference - as big as night and day - for Christ and neighbor.

I have experimented with this concept for the past ten years, and I am proud to say it has never failed me.  In other words, it has always worked.  Loving those who do not agree with you pays off.  You win their respect, their admiration, their appreciation and their time.  You win their heart and ears and eyes.  They warm up to you; they listen to you and they are glad to see you.

Try it.  See for yourself.  Once upon a time Christians were world famous for their ability to win over their enemies.  Can we not do it again?  How do you think they did it???

If you wish to be salt of the earth and light for the world, then love those who disagree with you.

Mt 5:17-19 Legal Idolatry

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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By Benedict Augustine

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,

not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter

will pass from the law,

until all things have taken place.”

To understand what Jesus means by the “law” and “the prophets,” one must consider their origins and context. The law refers to the commandments listed in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, which Moses gave to the Israelites. The prophets that Jesus mentions would eventually take these commandments and paraphrase them for the people – there were, after all, over 600 of them. Together, the law and the prophets make up the majority of the Old Testament and give an idea of provide a framework of what worshiping the one true God actually entailed.

Neither Jesus nor Paul dismissed the Old Testament outright. They both recognize what it did for the Jewish people. God gave these commandments to His people with the intention of establishing a kingdom. Considering that Moses’s people started with no land, no rights, no education, no power, and hardly any experience with civilized life since most of them were slaves, God’s commandments held enormous importance. With His commandments, God essentially created society out of nothing.

When the Israelite kingdom later disintegrated under the corrupt descendants of Solomon and finally fell under the conquest of the Babylonians, many prophets forewarned such a disaster. Through these holy men, God tried to warn His people to follow His commandments; to do otherwise would destabilize their society and have them regress once more to the status of slaves. Prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Elijah often castigated the Israelites for their infidelity and their sinfulness. However, almost as a kind of consolation, they would also foretell of a messiah who would reestablish God’s kingdom and restore His people. A great many Jews kept looking for this Messiah as they tried their best to keep the commandments. The two books of the Maccabees offer a glimpse of this history between Babylonian captivity and the time of Roman occupation in the gospels.

Interestingly, the Sadducees and Pharisees were divided on the validity of the Law and Prophets. The Sadducees, a politically connected party of affluent Israelites, believed only in the Law, but not the prophets, and had a strictly materialist understanding of life, rejecting the notions of a resurrection, angels, or the soul’s immortality. The Pharisees believed in the tradition of the prophets in addition to the law and in the spiritual realm. While not as connected or wealthy as the Sadducees, they were respected and supported by the common people.

Despite their differences, what united these two parties was a desire for statehood. Both of them wanted to usher in a golden age for Israel, one that would rival that of King David. Hence, they both looked at the law as a means of making this happen. Instead of hoping in God or themselves, they hoped in this set of rules which they had come to associate with greatness; it is not an overstatement to say that they made the mistake of idolizing the commandments. Elevating the prophets to a place of honor did not necessarily save the Pharisees from this error. They only pursued their idol with more zeal and violence than the other party.

Jesus and His disciples have the challenge of confronting this fanatical legalism. They do this by acknowledging the Law’s benefits as well as its limits. Jesus has a bigger goal in mind than rebuilding some worldly kingdom, and He has a more ambitious desire than creating an upstanding law-abiding people. He wants to establish a spiritual kingdom of all kinds of people, and He wants the denizens of this kingdom to be saints. The time had come for transcendence, for heroism, for God Himself.

In His miracles, His teaching, His sacrifice and resurrection, Jesus completes, or “fulfills,” what God’s Law promised: a heavenly kingdom with heavenly inhabitants. He liberates the individual from a pattern of sin and death. Furthermore, He does this for all mankind, not just the Israelite people. What happened on the earthly plane of the Old Testament, Jesus brings to the spiritual plan in the New Testament. This change challenges disciples even more than before, but they will receive an infinitely greater reward and have God’s help “until all things have taken place.”  

My 5:1-12 Blessed

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
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By KATIE GROSS

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

​By now, surely everybody has heard of the terrible persecutions of Christians occurring in the Middle East. In this case, we can find comfort in this Gospel reading in knowing that Jesus promised the kingdom of heaven to the persecuted. But not all of us are going to face martyrdom for our faith in our lifetime. Perhaps not any of us will.Even so, in today’s day and age, there are many forms of Christian persecution that aren’t necessarily punishment by death: humiliation, belittlement, name calling, mocking, etc.—and nearly all of us will face these. There’s simply no way around it, and Jesus even promised us that we would face it. Such treatment is frustrating, humiliating, demeaning, and sometimes it leads us to lash out at those who antagonize us. However, although lashing out is easy and momentarily satisfying, Jesus calls us to something different. We must always bear persecution patiently. Not only will we gain Heaven by doing so, but we may even make a difference in the lives of the very people who persecute us.

​

​Here’s an example of the not-so-virtuous way to act, perpetrated by none other than myself. I really need to delete my Twitter account. With Twitter, anybody can send out their opinions, rantings, and rebukes in a matter of milliseconds. Twitter is especially alive whenevercontroversial stories come to the surface. This was exactly the case with the recent Caitlyn Jenner magazine cover. Within seconds of the story breaking, people were postingon Twitter not only to applaud Jenner, but also to preemptively attack those who would speak out in opposition to Jenner’s decision. Anyone who did not agree with the “progressive” approach was sweepingly labeled a “homophobe,” “transphobe,” an “uncultured swine,” etc. Now, I do not have the qualifications or the knowledge or the life experience/maturity to comment on the case. However, I do have an Italian temper. I did not like being flooded with tweets that labeled me as such terrible things by people who do not really understand the teachings of the Church. So, I produced an age-appropriate but not-so-virtuous rebuke back at everyone in my own tweet. I declared to the world that they had no idea what they were talking about and that they should just shut it. And I immediately regretted it and took it down. After all, what had I contributed to the situation by angry-tweeting? I had perpetuated the stereotype that Christians are angry and bitter. I had made everything about me and my personal feelings. And I had probably made one more person feel even further alienated from the Church.

​There’s a better way to answer to those who wish us harm. In fact, there are so many real stories out there about how peaceful response to persecution causes real change.It’s summer break, so I have just begun digging into my summer book list. Right now, I’m reading a gem called The Heart and the Fist written by former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens.  Greitens went to Duke and did humanitarian work in Bosnia, Bolivia, and Rwanda before becoming a Rhodes Scholar and then eventually an officer in the Navy.The thesis that Greitens defends throughout his book is that humanitarianism will fail without military backup, and the military will fail without a touch of humanitarianism. He shares the following reflection on interrogating al-Qaeda subjects:

“One man we captured was Ali Abdul Saoud Mohamed, an al-Qaeda operative behind the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Ali Mohamed had fully expected to be tortured once we took him in. Instead, we assured him that we wouldn’t harm him, and we offered to protect his family. Within weeks, we had opened a gold mine of information… When they broke, the transformations were remarkable. Their bodies would go limp. Many would weep. Most would ask to pray. These were men undergoing profound emotional and spiritual turmoil—the result of going from a belief that their destiny was to fight and kill people like us to a decision that they should cooperate with the enemy.”

​Greitens also reports that young, naïve Army officers who tried to humiliate or strike fear into their subjects had little to no success in gathering information. The fact is that persecutors are not changed by arguments or by aggression. Persecutors are only changed by love, patience, and understanding. And change is possible. 

​

​Oftentimes, when we are frustrated by those who persecute us, our anger makes us sink to their level. For example, it is all too easy to see ISIS taking down Christians and begin to view them as “trash.” At times, that can even seem like justified thinking. Similarly, in our common day-to-day life, we may begin to view mean-tweeters and political writers as hopeless causes who we have full license to treat with disrespect. However, by reducing those who persecute us to “trash” or “animals,” we are doing exactly what they are doing to us—robbing them of their human dignity. Those who persecute us are not of a different species. Nobody is born wanting to be cruel or murderous.  Every persecutor has a human heart and a human soul, as blocked as they may be by hatred, learned attitudes, and malice.

​Therefore, we must be patient. If we respond to all persecution we may face with patience and love—in other words, if we go outside ourselves to do things the way Jesus says is right—we can trust that positive change will happen in our lives and in the lives of others.

Mk 14:12-26 Joing Forces

The solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
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By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it this is my body."  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many."

A few times a year the priest sprinkles water over his congregation.  This ritual always elicits giggles and smiles from young people.  Now imagine for a moment if he sprinkled blood instead?  The sight would be horrifying!!!

That's exactly what Moses did!

In today's first reading, Moses took some blood from bulls and "sprinkled it on the people, saying 'This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.'"

Why sprinkle blood over these people?  Because they have been saved by the blood of others.

Not only by His words did the Lord save us, but by His body and blood, soul and divinity, sweat and tears.  In other words, by His very life.

We often think of God as being just a spiritual being.  He is, but He is also a physical being:  JESUS CHRIST.  And this fact is so life changing in our relationship with God.  We love God not just because of what He said but because of what He did for us:  He created us and died for us.

His blood did not spill to the ground; it fell on us (cf. Mt 27:25).  His blood was not spilled out of desperation, but out of love for us, and we have been invited by the Lord to share our body and blood, heart, mind and soul with the Lord.

In your struggle.  There are so many people who struggle with life.  I recently came across a very disturbing article about a young girl who ran away from home at the age of twelve.  She was picked up by a couple and sold into prostitution.  When she was rescued, a man who was supposed to protect her ended up raping her.  Throughout her ordeal, all she wanted to do is die. 

When I get into philosophical or theological debates that never seem to end, I just think of this young girl.  When I read all the comments regarding Bruce or Caitlyn Jenner, I think about this young girl. 

I know these academic debates will matter little in the lives of those individuals who suffer a lot and wish they were dead. 

Who are these people?  They are the ones who are missing every Sunday. 

I know there are a lot of people who go to Church with a heavy heart, an aching body, and a tearful soul.  They have lost their faith in God, hope in themselves, and love for others.  

They have spilled their blood on the floor with no one to pick it up.

Corpus Christi.  On this Eucharistic Sunday, let us remind ourselves of the great challenge the Lord has given to all his followers:  "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend." 

We may be flesh and blood, but we were created in the image and likeness of God.  Therefore, united to the Lord, by means of the Eucharist, we have been given a great opportunity to shine like the Son and unite our body and Blood to His Body and Blood.  In other words, to make all things new and possible; to take our humanity and mix it with His divinity.  To do what may seem to be insignificant and allow Him to turn it into something significant.

A few days ago I received a text message from a young person who was in town and wanted to get together.  I wasn't exactly in the mood to seem this person - I had so many things on my plate and I didn't have any "time to waste."  The good Lord even provided me with a good excuse not to get together:  I was going to be at a convocation!  But something (more like Someone) kept telling me to make the "sacrifice" and get it over with.  

Our conversation started off  light.  I asked how things were going.  The answer I received did not sound too reassuring.  I asked what was wrong. 
"I don't think I will be coming down to Dallas again, Father."  "Why?" 
"Things didn't work out the way I thought they would."
"What happened?"
"None of my friend wanted to see me.  Only you, Father, responded."

Every Sunday we receive a little host filled with the body and blood, soul and divinity, sweat and tears of our Lord.  With Him, in Him and through Him, we join our humanity to his divinity and end up doing more for Him and neighbor than we could ever have imagined.

Mk 12:38-44 Only A Few Cents

Saturday of the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time

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By JENNIFER BURGIN

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

 Recently, I received a form letter from our pastor asking parishioners to increase their tithes during the summer months.  We need a huge sum of money in order to fix the sanctuary's aging roof.  It's sad to see leaking walls as the choir sings.

After reading the mail out, I thought: Why not direct this letter to the wealthy parishioners only? If they can afford luxury cars, European vacations, and Catholic school tuition they can pay for a new roof.  Better yet, why doesn't a general contractor who attends our parish donate materials and labor free of charge?  Great tax write-off!

My viewpoint changed after reading today's gospel.  It's not only the wealthy responsible for contributing to the upkeep of a beautiful church, but all parishioners. Christians are called to stewardship through time, talent, or treasure.  We all use a church's facilities.   As a result, we share the burden of keeping the lights on, the sacristy stocked, and candles on the altar. We should give from our heart, either through our wallets or through volunteering. Yes, some people can contribute more money than others.  However, we should remember that the rich are no better than the poor.  Because a family can donate a million dollars doesn't guarantee entrance into Heaven!  It may mean a picture with the bishop in the diocese newspaper, but it also means a ton of annoying phone calls as random "charities" solicit even more donations.  

In today's familiar gospel reading, a poor widow places only two small coins in the treasury. Was the poor widow embarrassed or satisfied by her small contribution? Did she do it out of obedience to the Jewish law?  Absolutely!  Jesus observed the crowds as a teaching moment for his disciples.  As the rich dropped in tons of gold coins, most likely conversing among themselves about their great wealth and prestige, this poor humble woman sacrificed much, much more.  She did exactly what Jesus has always wanted his followers to do.  Give despite the cost; give with a sense of purpose and service; give for the benefit of God and mankind.

The scriptures fail to tell us much about this poor widow.  Did she have children? Did she have anyone to care for her?  She contributed to the treasury from her whole livelihood.  She may have had to go hungry for a week or glean for food like in the story of Ruth.  We don't know the poor widow's situation.  However, we do know that her few cents were worth more spiritually than any surplus from the rich.

I admit I'm not the best at tithing.  I always make excuses that I can't afford it.  When I think about how much money I spend downloading reality shows through Amazon or buying pricey coffees at Starbucks, my conscience says:  Jennifer, maybe you should spend less on entertainment and give more to the church. It's for a wonderful and selfless cause!   If the widow can donate two cents, I can donate a few extra pennies, nickels and dimes in honor of God and His holy sacrifice!  It's easy to think, "Let the wealthy take care of the major financial burdens!"  However, if every person can give just a little, thespiritual benefit grows exponentially.  

Hopefully, by the end of this year we can fix our parish's leaking roof and have funds leftover for other facility enhancements.

“Never measure your generosity by what you give, but rather by what you have left.” 

-Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

This meditation was written by Jennifer Burgin, a Lay Dominican.  Please visit her blog:  Jennifer's Spectrum of Spirituality