Monthly Archives: June 2016

Thursday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Amos 7:10-17 | Psalm 18:8-11 | Matthew 9:1-8

Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven’. (Matthew 9:2)

Even in this modern age of advanced medicine and scientific reasoning, many of us still instinctively react to a leper or other terribly-afflicted person with “poor chap, wonder what grievous sin he committed”. We mentally curse those who we feel are great sinners with “you just wait, your sins will rebound on you”. Some of us even invoke “karma” as often as “oh my God”.

Yet when we pray for our suffering friends and loved ones, we never ask for their sins to be forgiven. Why is there such a stark contradiction in our faith, that we unconsciously tie grievous suffering to mortal sin, yet don’t follow through with the obvious solution? Why do we not pray “Lord, forgive him his sins and thereby heal him of his infirmity”?

Perhaps we don’t actually believe, despite our reactions, that there’s an intimate link between sin and temporal suffering. After all, the Gospels (Mark 2:1-12 also documents this incident) don’t mention why this man was paralyzed, only that he was. Perhaps his paralysis was for some mundane reason, like falling off his own roof while repairing it, rather than for sleeping with his best friend’s wife.

Also, note the phrasing of today’s Gospel. It’s not a case of “your sins are forgiven, and therefore you are physically healed”, rather “look here, you doubting scribes, I have the power to work miracles, so who are you to doubt My authority to forgive sins?” Even Jesus isn’t equating this man’s sin with his paralysis!

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That said, it’s certainly the case that sin can cause physical illness. For instance, rampant fornication dramatically increases the odds of contracting a venereal disease, and insomnia induced by the fear of being caught and tried for embezzlement would certain lead to all sorts of health issues.

Even so, repentance and forgiveness does almost nothing for VD; you’d still need to apply the appropriate medical solutions.

But it’s the insomniac example above that illustrates the universal cost of sin: it’s the knowledge of our wrongdoing that foists a mental burden on our shoulders, which in turn affects our physical well-being. The fear of being found out as adulterers affects in turn our ability to sleep soundly, which in turn may cause us to make a wrong move high up…while repairing the orphanage roof on our mission trip.

Clearly, doing good deeds may not protect us from the consequences of our earlier actions, nor are evildoers guaranteed to be punished for their sins on this earth. I believe even Buddhists and Hindus, to whom “karma” is more than just a vague synonym for “retribution”, understand it to refer to the consequences of current actions that would apply in future existences.

It is in this respect that we Christians sorta agree with them: what we do in this life will be judged in the next, so even though corrupt politicians and other evil personages in our lives may now be shielded from the effects of their actions, we can be assured that they will be called to account in the fullness of time.

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During my irreverent period that wasn’t many years ago, I once concocted my own addition to the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the gong-gong (stupid), for they shall always be happy, not knowing that they have sinned.”

Oh, what an gong-gong fool I was!

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Your mercy. Amen.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
Acts 12:1-11 | Psalm 33:2-9 | 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18 | Matthew 16:13-19

In today’s first reading, we learn about King Herod Agrippa’s pandering to the Jews of his time, beheading St. James the Greater (a.k.a. the Santiago of Compostela) and imprisoning St. Peter. While Herod’s strict Jewish upbringing would have naturally predisposed him towards opposing “this blasphemous cult of human divinity”, it seems the approbation of his subjects played a significant role in his persecutory enthusiasm.

We’d like to think that we’re above such clearly horrible behaviour, but the worldwide reach of social media and the approbation of fellow habitual sharers threatens to turn us all into modern Herods.

Take, for instance, the recent and very sad story of Jessica Hampton, a young mother who was stabbed to death on a Chicago mass transit train. Not one fellow passenger lifted a finger to help the young woman in her time of mortal desperation, though the thought of confronting an armed man without a weapon of your own would understandably give most people pause.

But You Won’t Believe What Happened Next: some people on the train took pictures of her bloodied body and posted them on Facebook. The poor woman’s family members were left staring at gruesome images of a unknown stabbing victim in their social media feeds, only to find out hours later just who she was.

I wonder how many of those voyeurs were secretly thinking “OMG, this will blow my likes and reshares through the roof!” If you just tasted bile in your mouth, I’m right there with you.

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We are not called to sordid sharing, brothers and sisters. We are not called to herald the ineptitude of our bosses and co-workers, to boast of the indigestion suffered from gorging on expensive raw seafood at local buffets, to take our hated neighbours down a peg with unflattering candid videos.

Instead, we are called to Spirit-filled sharing. We are called to herald the Good News of salvation, to boast of the wonders of our God, to take our mildly annoying neighbours up to eternal paradise with our faith, hope and love.

Which basically describes the mission of the Daughters of St. Paul, who are of course celebrating their Feast Day today. When you see them at your parish, or chance upon their bookshop at Church of the Risen Christ, do buy a book or two, read them…and be inspired to share the love story of God the Father, Son and Spirit with those around you. I certainly have.

The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)

St. Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr
Amos 3:1-8,4:11-12 | Psalm 5:5-8 | Matthew 8:23-27

“Prepare to meet your God!”

An ominous end to today’s reading, no doubt inspiring the more recent “prepare to meet thy maker” that prefixed a thousand on-screen death blows.

Even we Christians are troubled by this phrase. We proclaim “blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David” (Mark 11:10), yet when confronted with the real possibility of journeying towards that kingdom (i.e. imminent death), we hesitate, deviate…or run screaming in the opposite direction. All those crass thoughts and harsh words, all those naughty things we did and the good we didn’t do, O LORD HAVE MERCY ON US JESUS MARY JOSEPH ALL THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN AND HELL PRAY FOR US…

(Desperate last-minute prayers tend to be very fervent, but not very coherent.)

This should be a wake-up call to us all of the need to walk with God every step of every day, giving and receiving love without fear or favour, always doing that which pleases the Lord. We may not achieve perfection in this life, but by doing our level best and leaving the rest to God, we can at least be one with St. Francis of Assisi, who concluded his masterful Canticle of the Sun with:

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing Your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.

Amen.

Monday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Amos 2:6-10,13-16 | Psalm 49:16-23 | Matthew 8:18-22

Yes, that’s the literal response to today’s psalm.

No, I’m not kidding.

It’s a stark reminder of the many times we have forgotten about our Creator, as we conduct our daily lives in the ways we see fit, guided only by our flawed morality. Let us turn back to God this instant, remembering Him as we pray…

For the times when we’ve thought ill of others, deserved or not: forgive us, O Lord.

For the times when we’ve spoken ill of others for whatever reason: forgive us, O Lord.

For the times when we’ve taken advantage of others: forgive us, O Lord.

For the times when we stood silent as others were taken advantage of: forgive us, O Lord.

From all earthly temptations: deliver us, O Lord.

From all evil visited on us: deliver us, O Lord.

From everlasting death: deliver us, O Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, You who bore our sufferings and carried our sorrows, hear our prayers for our spiritual healing and strength, for we are weak and easily turned from You. Remind us constantly through our Christian brethren that You are always with us, to guide and guard us from our hellish foes. Give us the courage to stand with the downtrodden, to shine Your light of truth on the darkness of evil deeds, and to love each other unreservedly, as You loved us unto Your own death. Seal and sanctify us in your most Precious Blood, so that we may return in the fullness of time to our Heavenly Father as one united and eternal chorus of praise.

Amen.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
1 Kings 19:16,19-21 | Psalm 15:1-2,5,7-11 | Galatians 5:1,13-18 | Luke 9:51-62

Today’s first reading and gospel explore the theme of conditional discipleship, of the all-too-common response: “Yes, Lord, but only when no one else has a claim on my time, and when it can be done in comfort.” That’s not far short of an employment contract, where your service is contingent on certain negotiated conditions.

Instead, Jesus is asking us for unconditional and constant discipleship. In modern terms, it may not be “drop everything and join the clergy”, but it’s always in the spirit of what everyone assumes to be the United States Postal Service motto. Rephrased in faith-based terms, it might read thus:

Neither hunger nor pain nor distractions nor moody blues stays the Christian from the swift accomplishment of their appointed mission of love for others.

As St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians, this mission is simply to serve each other, without reservation or hesitation, in works of love. To this end, God has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions day and night. All we need to do is listen to the Spirit and act accordingly.

Of course, it’s sometimes easier said than done, especially when we are beset by evil influences and shouty people. But it’s especially at these times that we should take a deep breath of the Spirit (pun intended), look anew on our surroundings with eyes of love, and pray:

Lord, guide my thoughts toward love for others.
Lord, guide my words to show love for others.
Lord, guide my actions in the service of love for others.

Amen.