Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 9, 2013

1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 30; Galatians 1:11-19; Luke 7:11-17

Elijah visits the widow of Zarephath to discover her only son has crossed over the threshold of death’s door because he no longer breathes. Elijah prays over him and asks the Lord to restore life to the son, because without him, the widow is certain to die. Jesus, on his travels to Nain, visits a widow whose son just died and he is being carried out for burial. He intervenes and commands a young man to arise because he is moved with pity for his mother. Both readings talk about restoration to life. Paul’s life is also restored from the time when he was a persecutor of the church to become an apostle to the Gentiles. New life is creatively given to Paul.

A few days ago, the church memorialized Blessed John XXIII who was often referred to as ‘The Good Pope.’ His brief five-year long pontificate left its mark on the Church with historic reforms. Pope John Paul II said that Pope John “knew how to rejuvenate the Church and resume dialogue with the modern world in loving trust.” He helped the world understand that peace and goodwill need its chance in the world. He profoundly transformed the Church by convening the Second Vatican Council to bring it up to date by throwing “open the doors and windows of the Church to let in the fresh air.” During this 50^th anniversary since the start of the Council, many tie the recent election of Pope Francis to Blessed John XXIII.

The almost-daily news items about Pope Francis are refreshing. He is moving us closer to what it centrally means to be Church. He rejects pompous clericalism, idolatry of material wealth, and values contrary to the hard Gospel lessons. He emphasizes core Christian values like kindness and hospitality, especially when considering the poor.

The other day he asked if a young, engaged couple that presents themselves to the Church are joyously welcomed by the parish staff? What are the first words they hear? “Oh, well, have a seat. If you want the Mass, it costs a lot.” Or do they hear, “That’s great. Congratulations. I’m glad you are getting married.” Instead, they find a closed door. The Christian has the ability to open a door and to thank God for a people who want to deepen their sacramental life. Pope Francis says, “We are many times controllers of faith, instead of becoming facilitators of the faith.” He continues, “When we have this attitude, we do not do good to the people of God. Jesus is indignant when he sees these things because those who suffer are his faithful people, the people he loves so much.” Pope Francis illustrated other examples of ways good people in the church close doors on one another.

His words cause us to reflect on our actions. Do our attitudes close or open doors for others?  Are we aware of the full effect of our words? I am painfully aware of those times when I am shut down in conversation, but I’m not always aware of those ways I may shut down someone else. I’ve found that refraining from using words like, “but, not, and no” and being inquisitive prolongs the conversations and shares new, sometimes surprising information. Remaining silent while someone else is speaking rounds out an experience of truly being present to the person. Each one of us remembers something simple, yet profound that someone spoke to us when we were down. We rightly cherish the memory of that person and we pass on that story to our loved ones as lessons in gratitude.

Our words have great potential to create goodwill and to encourage those who need a gentle nudge. They are the first mirrors to our attitudes on hospitality and they may suggest whether we bother enough to care, but words are never enough. We need the integrity to follow through on our commitments. Maybe far too often, the phrase, “Insha’Allah” is used in the Middle East. It can simply mean, “God willing,” or “circumstances are out of my control,” or “something unanticipated came up,” or even, “unless a better offer comes along.” Those half-hearted commitments cannot be a way of life because they are ones that lack true hospitality.

While it is difficult to remain consistent in words and deeds, we can ask ourselves whether our attitudes are open to hospitality. Hospitals are places where our sick are welcomed, nurtured back to health, and restored to society. They are places were life is preserved and valued. Words of healing are needed today to restore many to a place of dignity, honor, and good health. Let us slow down during this week just to notice the words we use and then ask ourselves whether they give life and encourage others. We can then ask ourselves if we can choose better words to represent what we believe as Christians.

The words of Elijah eventually gave life to the widow’s son and sustained the widow’s life; the words of Jesus restored the widow from Nain’s son, which kept her alive as well. Words carry much weight and responsibility with them. When God speaks, God creates. Let us do our best to speak an encouraging word to others, to promote their ability to thrive, and to bring life to those places where hope might be lost. Your words have to power to save and bring life to one who is barely hanging on. Learn to speak in ways that always create possibilities. Someone’s world will never be the same again.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: Paul and Timothy encourage the people of Corinth in very aspect of life, especially in their afflictions and suffering. Paul exhorts the people to be firm in their convictions – to let their “yes” be “yes” and their “no” mean “no.” It is our conviction in Jesus that gives us security. Confidence comes from our justification by God. The ministry of righteousness will bring about unsurpassed glory. With the teachings of Moses, a veil lies over the hearts of the children of Israel, but with the Spirit of the Lord, freedom reigns. All who gaze onto the unveiled face of the Lord will receive glory. Our preaching is not of ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord. We realize we are treasured earthen vessels and that our power comes from God, not from us. We who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus so that his life may be manifested in our mortal flesh. It is this love of Christ that impels us, which makes those who live no longer live for themselves but for Christ. We therefore regard no one according to the flesh for all who believe in Jesus are new creations. Be reconciled to God.

Gospel: The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes as Jesus tells his people to be joyful for the kingdom of God is unlike the worldly standards. He then instructs them to be righteous for all to see. Their goodness shall stand above the ways of others. He makes it clear that he is not rejecting any law, but upholding every single aspect of it. One’s dutiful obedience is required in faith. The people have to rise about the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees and exceed it. Righteousness is demanding. If one has an unsettled account with another, he must make sure to reconcile before coming to worship God. With regards to adultery, anyone who has an attitude of lust has already committed adultery. Guard yourself against your fundamental attitudes that cause sin. Regarding oaths, no one is to make one. The integrity in one’s life will be enough.

Saints of the Week

June 9: Ephrem, deacon and doctor (306-373), was born in the area that is now Iraq. He was ordained a deacon and refused priestly ordination. After Persians conquered his home town, Ephrem lived in seclusion where he wrote scriptural commentaries and hymns. He was the first to introduce hymns into public worship.

June 9: Joseph de Anchieta, S.J., priest (1534-1597), was from the Canary Islands and became a leading missionary to Brazil. He was one of the founders of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero. He is considered the first Brazilian writer and is regarded as a considerate evangelizer of the native Brazilian population. Alongside the Jesuit Manuel de Nobrega, he created stable colonial establishments in the new country.

June 11: Barnabas, apostle (d. 61), was a Jew from Cyprus who joined the early Christians in Jerusalem to build up the church. His name means "son of encouragement." He accepted Paul into his community and worked alongside him for many years to convert the Gentiles. He was stoned to death in his native Cyprus. He was a towering  authority to the early church.

June 13: Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor (1195-1231), became a biblical scholar who eventually joined the Franciscans. Francis sent him to preach in northern Italy, first in Bologna and then Padua. He very especially beloved because of his pastoral care, but he died at age 36.

Friday: The Sacred Heart of Jesus is set on the Friday following Corpus Christi. The heart of Jesus is adored as a symbol of divine, spiritual, and human love. Its devotion grew during the Middle Ages and was transformed in the 17th century when Mary Margaret Alocoque and her Jesuit spiritual director, Claude La Colombiere, reinvigorated the devotion.

Saturday: The Immaculate Heart of Mary began as a devotion in the 17th century. In 1944, the feast was extended to the Western Church. Her heart signifies her sanctity and love as the Mother of God.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      Jun 9, 1597. The death of Blessed Jose de Ancieta, Brazil's most famous missionary and the founder of the cities of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro.

·      Jun 10, 1537. Ignatius and his companions were given minor orders at the house of Bishop Vincenzo Negusanti in Venice, Italy.

·      Jun 11, 1742. The Chinese and Malabar Rites were forbidden by Pope Benedict XIV; persecution broke out at once in China.

·      Jun 12, 1928. Fr. General Ledochowski responded negatively to the idea of intercollegiate sports at Jesuit colleges because he feared the loss of study time and the amount of travel involved.

·      Jun 13, 1557. The death of King John III of Portugal, at whose request Francis Xavier and others were sent to India.

·      Jun 14, 1596. By his brief Romanus Pontifex, Pope Clement VIII forbade to members of the Society of Jesus the use or privilege of the Bulla Cruciata as to the choice of confessors and the obtaining of absolution from reserved cases.

·      Jun 15, 1871. P W Couzins, a female law student, graduated from Saint Louis University Law School, the first law school in the country to admit women.