Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 11, 2011

Sirach 27:30-28:9; Psalm 103; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35

          Sirach writes, "Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight." These are important words to hear as we remember the September 11th attacks on the United States. Of course, it is right that we experience anger and prudential expression of that anger is warranted. We cannot hold onto it possessively or unleash it with a fury because it doesn't do us or anyone else any good. Anger needs to be expressed so it can lead to forgiveness and reconciliation. It is helpful to remember last Sunday's reading from Romans where Paul writes, "Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law." It is an ideal that we move towards progressively and in stages.

          It is difficult for us to imagine how to progress in this manner because we cannot do it from our own resources. The parable that Jesus tells about the king who decides to settle account with his servants helps us grasp the possibilities for a new way of thinking and acting. Moved with compassion, the good king forgives the debt of his pleading servant who owes him a great deal. Faced with the same situation, the forgiven servant does not forgive a man who owes him a much smaller amount. In fact, he condemns him to prison to the dismay of the king.

          It is extraordinarily difficult to forgive one another unless we first experience the grace of being forgiven. If we scan our memories for these examples we will find many instances of receiving mercy when we did not deserve it. If we review the world and local news each day, we are bound to find astonishing stories of kindness and compassion. Mercy fuels the world. Sometimes we see only the awful things and our brokenness. We find what we seek. If I look at the bad, I see the bad; If I set my eyes on the good, the good comes into focus.

          We begin our path to mercy and reconciliation when we let Jesus save into our memories those times we were forgiven. We can easily recall them to discern our choices in difficult times. It is good to live out of those memories because we recall the pleasant feelings that affirm our inner selves and they help us choose the good and the right. When we act mercifully towards others we let go of the consuming part of anger and we build a world that is more respectful and considerate of neighbors' boundaries. The world does not revolve around our negative judgments and expectations, but our decisions can enliven the poor in spirit around us. One act of mercy leads to the probabilities of many more. This is a world in which I would like to live.

          Our local and international world needs more acts of kindness and mercy - even in the face of hatred. It takes a strong person (or nation) to look evil in the face and still choose compassion and forgiveness. It may go against every fiber in our lives to choose this course, but we can expect the repercussions of these actions will travel far and wide. Every relationship we have benefits from wise and noble responses. We can never undo the damage done to us by another; we can, however, erase the sting from our memories with the soothing, healing, reconciling mercy that comes from a transformed heart. Hearts that seek greater charity will lead us to the world we all want.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: Paul writes to Timothy to assert that there is only one God as there is only one mediator between God and humans. He asks that people live in peace and spirit of thanksgiving for receiving the faith. They are to pray and sanctify one another. The office and qualities of a bishop and his deacons are outlined. They are to be holy, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, sober, gentle, and able to teach the faith. They are to teach what they have heard and known that comes from Jesus Christ and to conform their actions and behaviors to what they teach. A good, gentle teacher will be known for his fidelity to Christ. Paul urges the people to keep the commandments without stain or reproach until Jesus comes again on the Day of the Lord. Church leaders are to signify Christ's presence among the faithful ones.

Gospel: Jesus is amazed at the faith of a Roman centurion who asks him to heal a slave who was important to him. The centurion says all he needs are the words of Jesus, not his presence to save his servant. Jesus grants it. Jesus then journeys to Nain where he raises the dead widow's son to life bringing to mind Elijah's visit to the starving widow and her son centuries before. After Jesus goes from town to town, preaching the good news, he rests with the Twelve and his disciples. Among them are many woman who were cured from evil spirits and infirmities. They rest and spend time with one another as friends spend time together. Afterwards a large crowd gathers around Jesus and he begins to speak of the kingdom in parables. He tells them about the sower who planted seeds on various soils; the fruit that grows best is like the one who hears the word of God, embraces it with a generous and good heart, and bears fruit through perseverance.

Saints of the Week

Monday: The Name of Mary was given to the child in the octave that follow her birth on September 8th. Mary (Miriam) was a popular name for a girl because it means "beloved."

Tuesday: John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor (347-407) was a gifted homilist and was called "Golden Mouth" because his words inspired many. He was raised in Antioch and joined a community of austere hermits but the lifestyle damaged his health. He became the archbishop of Constantinople where he introduced many conservative and unpopular reforms. He fled to escape an uprising from the people and on the way to exile he died.

Wednesday: The Triumph of the Holy Cross remembers the finding of the true cross by the Emperor Constantine's mother, Helen in early 4th century. Two churches were dedicated in the name of the cross on this day in the 4th century. Therefore, the feast was applied to this day. In the 7th century, the feast was renamed, "The Triumph." The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 335 was also dedicated on this day.

Thursday: Our Lady of Sorrows was once called the Seven Sorrows of Mary as introduced by the Servite Friars. After suffering during his captivity in France, Pius VII renamed the devotion that encapsulates: Simeon's prophecy, the flight into Egypt, searching for Jesus at age 12 in the Temple, the road to Calvary, the crucifixion, the deposition, and the entombment.

Friday: Cornelius, pope and martyr (d. 253) and Cyprian, bishop and martyr (200-258) both suffered in the Decian persecutions. Cornelius was being attacked by Novatian, but since Novatian's teachings were condemned, he received the support of the powerful bishop, Cyprian. Cyprian was a brilliant priest and bishop of Carthage who wrote on the unity of the church, the role of bishops, and the sacraments. Cyprian died under Valerius after supporting his church in exile by letters of encouragement.

Saturday: Robert Bellarmine, S.J., bishop and doctor (1542-1621) became a Jesuit professor at the Louvain and then professor of Controversial theology at the Roman College. He wrote "Disputations on the controversies of the Christian faith against the Heretics of this age," which many Protestants appreciated because of its balanced reasoning. He revised the Vulgate bible, wrote catechisms, supervised the Roman College and the Vatican library, and was the pope's theologian.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         Sep 11, 1681. At Antwerp, the death of Fr. Geoffry Henschen (Henschenius). A man of extraordinary learning, he was Fr. Jan von Bolland's assistant in compiling the Acts of the Saints.

·         Sep 12, 1744. Benedict XIV's second Bull, Omnium Sollicitudinum, forbade the Chinese Rites. Persecution followed in China.

·         Sep 13, 1773. Frederick II of Prussia informed the pope that the Jesuits would not be suppressed in Prussia and invited Jesuits to come.

·         Sep 14, 1596. The death of Cardinal Francis Toledo, the first of the Society to be raised to the purple. He died at age 63, a cardinal for three years.

·         Sep 15, 1927. Thirty-seven Jesuits arrived in Hot Springs, North Carolina, to begin tertianship. The property was given to the Jesuits by the widow of the son of President Andrew Johnson.

·         Sep 16, 1883. The twenty-third General Congregation opened at Rome in the Palazzo Borromeo (via del Seminario). It elected Fr. Anthony Anderledy Vicar General with the right of succession.

·         Sep 17, 1621. The death of St Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the Church.