Examination of Conscience – but you can lay down if you want to.
Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Readings: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18; Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5; Matthew 23:27-32
Summary
The beatitudes and the woes of the gospel of Matthew can be read as powerful moral counter-images.
The beatitudes are what should be.
The woes are what often happens.
Paul captures the praxis of the issue by declaring: On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us (2 Thes 3:8b-9). They worked at the Beatitudes.
In the Catholic tradition we use a technique called Examination of Conscience. Usually a person is encouraged to use the Ten Commandments as the comparative list to assess the day (evening time). Perhaps for tonight use the Beatitudes and Woes. A kick-start to an old tradition.
When have I lived a beatitude today? (Chapter 5 Matthew)
When have I lived the woe today? (Chapter 23 Matthew)
Condensed as:
Humility vs. Spiritual Gatekeeping
Seeking God vs. Self-Promotion
Spiritual Clarity vs. Blind Materialism
Heartfelt Mercy vs. Rule-Bound Rigidity
Internal Reality vs. External Image
Authentic Integrity vs. Deadly Pretense
Suffering for Truth vs. Suppressing Truth
Reflection
Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. (Ps 128:1-2)
Personal Reflection
Help us, Lord, to walk in your ways.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him (1 Jn 2:5).
Foggy glasses can see nothing. Closed hearts can only project.
Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Readings: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17; Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13; Matthew 23:23-26
Summary
Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach (a prayer at ordination).
We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly. He has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught (2 Th 2:1-2a, 14-15a).
Reflection
Why do we strain at gnats (fuss over minor things) and swallow camels (for example: substituting entire legitimate laws with oddities and novelties)?
The ‘woes’ Jesus outlines in our gospel portion today has its center on hypocrisy which can be described as having these components:
Double Standard – rules for you but not for me.
False Pretense – pretending to be kind, virtuous or honest.
Hidden Actions – private actions not in harmony with their public words/actions.
Misaligned Primacy – placing minor things ahead in importance to more important things.
(This hurts to write but) the mistake of gnats and camels is in direct proportion to the hypocrisy that births them. What distortion in me makes the gnat look enormous and the camel invisible?
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart (Heb 4:12).
If we want to remove our obsession with gnats and the error of swallowing camels it requires we ask ourselves what hypocrisy am I tainted or tempted with? Our psalmist brings us some key indicators of a life not consumed with the wrong things:
Treat people with equity.
Be joyful and help others with their joy.
With constancy be just.
Then you have visibly received the Gospel of Christ.
Personal Reflection
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word (2 Th 2:16-17).
He will be missed. Teacher, friend, and colleague.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may the Perpetual Light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Greetings on this the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle Readings: Revelation 21:9b-14; Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18; John 1:45-51
Summary
The angel spoke to me, saying, “Come here. I will show you (Rev 21:9).
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (Jn 1:46)
Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (Ps 145:12-13)
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” (Jn 1:45).
Reflection
A consistent theme in sacred scripture is the Day of Visitation. Thus it was for Nathanael. For him it was a visitation of of truth and correction, mercy/salvation and vindication, all in one. It was a visitation of historical reference (Jacob), personal spiritual movement, and the revealing of eschatological horizon. It was a visitation of community (Philip).
Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (Jn 1:49-51)
All because he answered the offer to Come and see.
Personal Reflection
When Pope John Paul II came to NYC, I was too busy to go. Over the course of my life, I cannot count the number of festivals and gatherings I did not attend due to responsibilities or, just as often, a lack of interest/motivation.
But in the most important of all invitations, may we never fail to answer the call to Come and see.
Greetings on this the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20
Summary
The Name, the Rock and the Keys in our gospel portion today, give a single, unified view of the position of Prime Minister of the Church, basic purpose and visible structure.
Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
But who do you say that I am?
What shall we call Peter?
1a.Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 2a. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
3a. Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
Reflection
The Old Testament reading today, the giving of authority to Eliakim, brings a meaningful perspective to the keys in our gospel portion.
I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family.” (Isa 22:22-23).
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:19).
a. Peter is the Rock of the Rock (Prime Minister) – with episcopal collegiality. b. Bind and Loose those imprisoned by evil (Binding is to heal, loose is to set free). c. Go on the offensive – proclaim! The gate of hell cannot withstand the force of love and will fall.
Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands (Ps 138:8bc).
He has not forgotten us. He has given us One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
One is Christ, his sacramental gifts, and led by His one Prime Minister.
Holy as it is instituted by the Lord.
Catholic means universal – open to all.
Apostolic means enduring in succession among men until the end of time.
Personal Reflection
This is a very Catholic post. Yet my readers are from all faiths, and also no faiths. And everyone has an opinion about Jesus.
But who do you say that I am? is the question.
Our diversity of experiences, cultures and awareness brings a multitude of interior answers. Language helps but fails ultimately in the technical sense.
How can I reassure an anxious world? Perhaps Pope Leo XIV can speak it best?
“Peace be with you!”
This ancient greeting, still in use today in many cultures, was infused with new life on the evening of Easter on the lips of the risen Jesus. “Peace be with you” ( Jn 20:19, 21) is his Word that does not merely desire peace, but truly brings about a lasting transformation in those who receive it, and consequently in all of reality. For this reason, the Apostles’ successors give voice every day throughout the world to the most silent of revolutions: “Peace be with you!” From the very evening of my election as Bishop of Rome, I have wanted to join my own greeting to this universal proclamation. And I would like to reiterate that this is the peace of the risen Christ – a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. It comes from God who loves us all unconditionally.
The Chair – Authority becomes corrupted when the seat becomes possession rather than service. Mary is exalted precisely because she did not grasp at exaltation.
Greetings on this the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Readings: Ezekiel 43:1-7ab; Psalm 85:9ab, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Matthew 23:1-12
Summary
Today we celebrate the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the octave of her Assumption to heaven. The Blessed Mother is honored by her Son and Lord to be seated as Queen Mother – Mother of the Reigning Monarch Jesus. The concept of the “queen mother” has been used for over 3,400 years, dating back at least to the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt (c. 1500 BCE) (ref: Wiki).
The ordinary readings for today concern themselves with titles so we’ll use the ordinary reading to reflect upon this morning.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice (Mt 23:1-3).
The Denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees has four distinct parts but is one unified whole. If you are in the seat of Moses, you are expected to be the servant leader in honesty and integrity.
Someone must occupy the seat of Moses, that is, someone must have authority to speak (Jesus is not saying teaching authority is void).
But not the way it is being done: 2a. They do not follow what they tell you. 2b. They preach but do not practice. 2c. They create burdens without assisting. 2d. They act in perfunctory ways. 2e. They love honors and titles.
The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Mt 23:11-12).
Rabbi, Father, and Master name real functions and relationships, but Jesus condemns their use as instruments of superiority, prestige, or self-exaltation. 3a. Do as you instruct. 3b. Practice what you preach. 3c. Share the burdens. 3d. Act with sincerity. 3e. Know that titles are for function and authority not personal attributes and personal gain.
A series of seven “woes” that are the apex of the teaching and a summation of the consequences of hypocrisy.
Reflection
Did you TAKE the seat of Moses?
The Blessed Mother did not take her seat but was elevated to her place by Her Son and Lord.
We must always consider the taking v receiving and the performative v the integrity needed to be a servant leader.
Personal Reflection
Lord, whenever I am given a title for function and authority may it always be in service for the kingdom. May I not seek personal gain or haughty attributes and may hypocrisy be far from me always. Mary, Mother of Our Lord, Pray for us!
‘Le cose vanno male, viene il guerrone.’ (‘Things are going badly, the Great War is approaching.’)
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope (The Pope of Peace) Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Matthew 22:34-40
Summary
The synoptic gospels -Matthew, Mark and Luke- each take a different approach to the encounter that answers the question: Which commandment in the law is the greatest?
Matthew stands out as a proper confrontation. Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, and the Pharisees wanted their shot at it.
Its core isn’t Which commandment in the law is the greatest? The core is Who is the greatest?
Reflection
Today is the Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope. He repeatedly had to deal with people that constantly evaluated life in terms of who is the greatest.
Several things stand out:
He did not find comfortable the pomp and circumstance of the overly ornate papal dress (his opinion). He was a poor man in a rich man’s world.
He encouraged Catholics to be politically involved in bringing the Greatest Commandment to the public forum and decision making, peace making.
He rejected the government of France in their attempt to co-opt Church administration.
He had the unfortunate fate of witnessing the beginning of World War I during his pontificate urging restraint and when asked to bless an army the Pope famously replied, “I do not bless arms, but peace.“
Too often we do not ask Jesus in order to be corrected or formed. Beneath our question hides another one: Who is greatest—me or him?
Who is the greatest? Me or him (whomever the ‘him’ is at the moment).
These are the dry bones of Ezekiel. A people can shout about greatness while becoming dry bones—powerful in appearance, but emptied of the Spirit that gives life.
Rather we need to move beyond the ‘who’ to the which. Everything we believe that is good (the law and prophets) depends on these two commandments. The commandment and activity of love.
Personal Reflection
In our secular society we hear over and over again these tropes.
Who is the greatest!
We are the greatest!
It is the voice of the dry bones.
Rather:
“Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off.”
O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live,… thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church Readings: Ezekiel 36:23-28; Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19; Matthew 22:1-14
Summary
A New Creation
I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins. (Ez 36:26, 25).
A Response to an Invitation
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts (Psalm 95:8).
All Are Welcome
Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ (Mt 22:4b, 9).
Be Reconciled with the Lord and one another
But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ (Mt 22:11-13).
Reflection
Given such a beautiful invitation to be restored and to enter the heavenly banquet as Ezekiel and Jesus describe for us today, it takes David to give voice to our inner awareness for conversion, that is, acceptance of the invitation requires a new orientation of honesty.
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19)
Personal Reflection
Saturday (Aug 22) I am going to perform a baptism. In the first years of my ordination I did many baptisms – weekly and multiple. Ever since it has been sporadic and infrequent but always wonderful to enter into this sacred purpose.
(1) Enter into the joy of the parents who welcomed this child as a gift from God -the source of life, and who wishes to bestow his own life on this little one. (2) So that this child, clothed in the baptismal garment, may one day come to the Feast of Heaven.
Animalization occurs when the shepherd no longer sees the sheep as lives entrusted to him, but as something to exploit, consume, or abandon.
Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Ezekiel 34:1-11; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Matthew 20:1-16
Summary
For thus says the Lord GOD: Look! I myself will search for my sheep and examine them. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest (Ez 34:11,15).
In our first reading today we have the Parable of the Shepherds. It is a prophecy against the shepherds actions and the need for the Lord to pasture the sheep instead. The specific examples hint of the underlying problem with the bad shepherds: Animalization (Dehumanization), [they are to be] plunder, because my sheep became food for wild beasts.
The sheep image itself does not dehumanize. Psalm 23 makes that clear. Animalization occurs when the shepherd no longer sees the sheep as lives entrusted to him, but as something to exploit, consume, or abandon.
Why?
They have been pasturing themselves! But should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
The lost I will search out, the strays I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, and the sick I will heal; but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them in judgment (Ez 34:16).
Our psalmist gives us an experiential expression of having a good Shepherd. Psalm 23 reverses that stripping away of moral worth and restores the reality that we are valued, protected, and loved
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
Reflection
The example of Ezekiel and Psalm 23 are beautiful and agricultural expressions of the experiences of having bad and good shepherds. In the Gospel, Jesus moves the problem from shepherd and sheep to person and person. When another person’s blessing becomes a threat to me, I have begun reducing that person to a comparison rather than receiving them as a neighbor.
Generosity brings joy. When another person’s blessing does not awaken joy in us, something within us needs examination.
Are you envious because I am generous?
Personal Reflection
If it ever happens that you are envious rather than joyful for another’s blessings, ask yourself: What has stolen my Joy? Try instead to remember: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Relationship is the greatest riches. Divine relation is the best.
Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Ezekiel 28:1-10; Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab; Matthew 19:23-30
Summary
There are two axioms I want to pin to this reflection as a sort of translation of the story.
(1) I am a self-made man (in its extreme: I am a God). (2) The Rich man is anyone who has more than me.
In our first reading today, the prince of Tyre is the self-made man. At least in his eyes. Ezekiel has none of it. The NABRE commentary on this reading says:
Ezekiel mocks the arrogance of Tyre’s leader, who mistakes the city’s commercial success for evidence of his divinity. At the hands of a foreign army, commissioned by the only God worthy of the name, this leader dies a humiliating, unceremonious death (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/28?1).
In our responsorial, taken from the Song of Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses recalls despite all the riches, provisions, and divine care the people received they turned away from the Lord and sought their ‘no god’. The effects caused chaos and ruin. They didn’t realize how rich they really were. Nevertheless, the Lord comes to their aid again:
Surely, the LORD will do justice for his people; on his servants he will have pity. When he sees their strength is gone, and neither bond nor free is left (Dt 32:36).
Reflection
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich So that by his poverty you might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Rich, how?
In direct reversal of the two axioms: (1) I am not a self-made man but a beloved child of God who showers me with blessings. (2) My riches are ultimately not of cattle and money but love and relationship.
The First Disciples Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us? (Mt 19:27). For Peter and the disciples who gave much, much was given.
For All of Us And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life (Mt 19:29).
Personal Reflection
Rich in what?
The Lord blesses us constantly. We run into trouble when we ascribe our success to our efforts alone. We run into trouble when the Rich is always someone else who has more (as if we are exempt from charity).
