Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 12, 2012

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Mark 1:40-45

          Leviticus sets the rules for dealing with leprosy and other skin diseases. Out of respect for the community, a leprous person shows themselves to be apart from the community by keeping one’s head exposed and by crying out “unclean, unclean.” Such exclamations were designed to keep others away from harm and contagion with fair warning. It seems barbaric to us today, but it was designed as a civil way of maintaining proper health standards. Only the priest, who acted as doctor and judge, could readmit a restored person to society. Anyone who comes into contact with a leprous person automatically cuts oneself off from the community.

          At the very start of his public ministry, Jesus heals a leprous man, thereby placing himself at the periphery of society. Of course, Jesus wishes to cure the man, but he knows that it comes at great risk. He previously announced that his mission was to travel throughout Israel preaching and teaching the kingdom of heaven is among us. He is set to go from town to town beginning with Galilee to bring the good message of salvation. At the outset, he hits a snag in his plans. No longer can he go into towns, villages, and marketplaces or to synagogues and public meeting places. He cannot go where the people assemble. They now have to come to him. It is like telling a presidential election campaigner that she cannot attend a televised debate. Preaching one’s message is much harder to do when a person cannot use the community’s resources for mass communication. However, this is the risk Jesus takes. His compassion will not allow him to do anything else.

           The scene tells us a great deal about what motivates Jesus. He risks his entire mission for the sake of one man who does not even respect the wishes of Jesus. With an injunction to tell no one about what Jesus did for him, he immediately rushes out and tells anyone he sees about his cure. All the townspeople quickly find out that Jesus has become ritually unclean.

          I remember back to the days when AIDS had a hysteria-like quality to it. As a hospital chaplain, I was asked to pray with a woman covered with leprous-like lesions. I remember reacting to her condition and inwardly wanting to avoid contact with her skin, though I knew that AIDS is not contracted by casual contact. As I read the Gospel of the day to her, the passage made her jump up and scream. She hugged me tight and held onto me. She told me that no one ever touches her anymore and she feels completely shunned. Only her dog licks her wounds. All I could do was to hold her in my arms as she wept. Real human needs beg us to go beyond ourselves deep into the lives of others. I think that this is what Jesus did for the leper.

          I have just finished directing another 30-day silent retreat. I am constantly reminded that Jesus wants to heal the most unlovable part of us - the parts we keep hidden from others and even from ourselves. He wants to place his healing touch on a painful memory that we keep pushing out of our minds or cannot even properly remember. We often do not want to think of these unpleasant memories because of the raw pain they cause us. We have to learn to see that they are the content of prayer and not distractions to be dismissed. When we look at these areas with Jesus, we garner new insights and begin the process of healing. Once the healing begins, we can be restored more fully to our true selves and by extension, to the larger community.

          I think Jesus does not care too much if we go and spread the word about what he has done for us like the healed leper did. I think he is just happy that we are coming a step closer to healing and that we live more fully integrated lives. Our happiness and our awareness that we depend upon him is enough. He needs nothing more. He is only concerned to touch our lives to bring us salvation. Our fuller integration and joy is the only testimony he needs. We only wants us to celebrate with him and say thanks.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading:  James bolsters the faith of the young community by telling them to persevere in their faith. Cast away doubts and be of one mind. Just as a weak plant withers in the scorching sun, the rich one will pass away in the midst of his pursuits. Every person is tempted by his or her own desires. Receive the gift of faith as grace that comes down from heaven. A faithful person is to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Like God, show no partiality in love. Partiality leads to sin. Instead, love your neighbor as yourself. Faith is to be shown more in deeds than in words. Just as a body without spirit is dead, faith without good works is dead. Beware of the ways you speak. The same mouth can bring forth blessings and curses. It is good for us if we can exercise control of what we say and how we say it. The good will prosper.

Gospel: As the Pharisees approach Jesus for a sign from heaven, he sighs in displeasure and asks, "Why does this generation need a sign?" As the disciples journey on, they realize they have no bread and they begin to grumble. The perplexed Jesus tells them that, even after seeing the multiplication of the loaves and fish, they still do not understand that they have 'bread' among them. They arrive at Bethsaida and the people bring a blind man to Jesus for healing. After putting spittle on his eyes, the man begins to see, but indistinctly. Jesus prays harder and then the man comes to full sight. Jesus pulls his disciples aside and asks, "Who do you say that I am?" to which Peter replies, "You are the Christ." He then predicts his manner of death and the cost of discipleship. Then he brings Peter, James, and John up a high mountain by themselves where he is transfigured before their eyes.

Saints of the Week

February 14: Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop (Ninth Century), were brothers who were born in Thessalonica, Greece. They became missionaries after they ended careers in teaching and government work. They moved to Ukraine and Moravia, a place between the Byzantium and Germanic peoples. Cyril (Constantine) created Slavonic alphabet so the liturgy and scriptures could be available to them. Cyril died during a visit to Rome and Methodius became a bishop and returned to Moravia.

February 17: The Seven Founders of the Servites (Thirteenth Century) were from Florence and they joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin, who were also known as Praisers. They devoted their apostolate to prayer and service and withdrew to a deserted mountain to build a church and hermitage. After adopting a rule and gaining recruits, they changed their name to the Servants of Mary.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         Feb 12, 1564. Francis Borgia was appointed assistant for Spain and Portugal.

·         Feb 13, 1787. In Milan, Fr. Rudjer Boskovic, an illustrious mathematician, scientist, and astronomer, died. At Paris he was appointed "Directeur de la Marine."

·         Feb 14, 1769. At Cadiz, 241 Jesuits from Chile were put on board a Swedish vessel to be deported to Italy as exiles.

·         Feb 15, 1732. Fr. Chamillard SJ, who had been reported by the Jansenists as having died a Jansenist and working miracles, suddenly appeared alive and well!

·         Feb 16, 1776. At Rome, the Jesuit prisoners in Castel San Angelo were restored to liberty. Fr. Romberg, the German assistant, aged 80, expressed a wish to remain in prison.

·         Feb 17, 1775. The French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Neapolitan Ambassadors in Rome intimate to the newly elected Pope Pius VI the will of their respective sovereigns that the Jesuits imprisoned in Castel S Angelo should not be released.

·         Feb 18, 1595. St Robert Southwell, after two and a half years imprisonment in the tower, was removed to Newgate and there thrust into a dungeon known as "Limbo." 

Prayer: Teresa of Avila

The most potent and acceptable prayer is the prayer that leaves the best effects - those that are followed up by actions.

Prayer: Teresa of Calcutta

To show great love for God and our neighbor we need not do great things. It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God.

Prayer: While Earth Remains

God, who made the earth, declared it good in the beginning, meant a time and purpose for all things that were and would be.

While earth remains, there will be seed-time and harvest, summer sun and winter moon, the dead of night, the bright day.

Though humanity defiled the Eden God had cherished, God did not despise the earth whose worth its Maker could see.

So, in Christ God came from paradise to imperfection, repossessing earth and people through a tomb and a tree.

Wood, though felled to earth, produced a blossom none could perish; Seed, though dead and fallen, burst to life and rose up again.

We, who follow Christ, discover heaven though limitation; pruned, we bear more fruit, and grafted to the Vine we are free.

John Bell

Paul Miki, companion martyrs, and the suppressed church

Read a post from Soohwan Park about her recent trip to Japan. She happened across the story of Paul Miki and his companions where were martyred in 1597, an event that sent the Catholic church underground until its rediscovery centuries later when Japan opened itself to the Western World.

Soohwan Park's commentary on Paul Miki's Japanese community

Prayer: I Bow My Knee In Prayer

I bow my knee in prayer before the Father who made me, before the Son who purchased me, before the Spirit who cleansed me, in friendship and love.

Lord, through your anointed, give us the fullness we long for: for love and affection, for our God, the smile and wisdom of our God, the grace of God.

So may we live on earth as saints and angels in heaven; each shade and light, each day and night, through every moment we draw our breath, God give us your Spirit.

Words - adapted from "Carmina Gaedilca"

Symbols of the Gospel Writers

 Traditionally, the four Gospel writers have been represented by the following symbols: St. Matthew, a divine man; St. Mark, a winged lion; St. Luke, a winged ox; and St. John, a rising eagle.

These symbols are taken first from the Prophet Ezekiel (1:1-21):

“In the 30th year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens opened, and I saw divine visions. ... As I looked, a storm wind came from the North, a huge cloud with flashing fire, from the midst of which something gleamed like electrum. Within it were figures resembling four living creatures that looked like this: their form was human, but each had four faces and four wings, and their legs went straight down; the soles of their feet were round. They sparkled with a gleam like burnished bronze. Their faces were like this: each of the four had a face of a man, but on the right side was the face of a lion, and on the left side the face of an ox, and finally each had the face of an eagle ....”

In the Book of Revelation (4:6-8), we find a similar description:

“Surrounding this throne were 24 other thrones upon which were seated 24 elders; they were clothed in white garments and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightening and peals of thunder; before it burned seven flaming torches, the seven spirits of God. The floor around the throne was like a sea of glass that was crystal-clear. At the very center, around the throne itself, stood four living creatures covered with eyes front and back. The first creature resembled a lion; the second, an ox; the third had the face of a man; while the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and eyes all over, inside and out. Day and night, without pause, they sing: ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, He who was, and who is, and who is to come!’”

These images in both the Old Testament and the New Testament prompted St. Irenaeus (140-202) to liken them to the four Gospel writers because of the content of their Gospels and their particular focus on Christ.

Irenaeus came up with the first living creature designations, but the ones from Jerome finally stuck.

Matthew:  the winged human to symbolize humanity and reason. The theme of the Gospel is the personhood of Christ and the Gospel begins with the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham through Joseph. 


Mark: the winged lion to symbolize royalty, courage, resurrection. The theme of the Gospel is Christ as the Son of God and the Gospel begins with John the Baptist roaring like a lion in the wilderness.


Luke: the winged ox to symbolize sacrifice, strength. The theme of the Gospel is Christ as the healer, priest and sacrifice and the Gospel begins with the temple duties of Zacharias.


John: the eagle to symbolize the heavens, sky, and spirit. The theme of the Gospel is Christ's divine nature and the Gospel begins with Christ as the Eternal Logos, the enduring Word of God. 

The wings on all of the symbols of the gospels are to symbolize their connection to the divine, like eagle wings or angels (who were the messengers of God) they deliver this story and good news.

Poem: The Sacred Now

When we are present in the moment
wherever we be
on the way, at table, ‘round a campfire
time pauses, opens out, lingers a while
for us to come home to ourselves
delight in the company of each other
share and give thanks.

We become patient
wildly patient
letting go of yesterday, tomorrow
open, vulnerable to the Sacred Now
firing, inspiring, spiriting all
delighting in all
moving us to reverence each other
as we are reverenced
by the Beloved of All.

Noel Davis, Australia

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 5, 2012

Job 7:1-7; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39

          Job's speech reminds us that life is filled with heavy burdens and drudgery. Futility and hopelessness surround him and he can see no relief from his life of misery. His life is fleeting like the wind and he declares confidently that he will not see happiness again. Job raises for us the eternal question: If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, why do the innocent suffer? It reminds us that suffering isolates a person and puts one on the fringe of society. People do not want to look at someone who is suffering because it raises something instinctual within us to flee from the horror of pain.

          The Gospel shows us the first actions of Jesus after he leaves the synagogue where he taught with unparalleled authority. He immediately went with his friends, James and John, into Simon and Andrew's house where he met Simon's mother-in-law who lay sick with a fever. The fever left her when Jesus grasped her by the hand. Word spread throughout the town that Jesus has an amazing gift of preaching and healing the sick. Many were brought to him in the early evening to be cured of their illnesses. He was inundated with their pleas.

          The disciples misunderstand the ministry of Jesus. Peter and the others look for Jesus early in the morning because there are more people to be healed. They figure that this is surely his mission because God does not want anyone to suffer, but Jesus tells them that they are to move on. Their true mission is to preach the kingdom of God to all the people of Israel. Preaching is the key. If people learn in their hearts that the kingdom is in their midst, then God's power will be made manifest. Healing is secondary to the mission, but through it we learn the mind and heart of God.

          The narratives raise some questions about who, why, and when Jesus healed people. Is it God's choice that some people are cured and others are left to suffer? Are the healings only to illustrate a point Jesus is trying to make? Are there some people that Jesus was unable to cure? Surely, he was gifted with some power to fashion miracles. We never get a clue about how those who were cured lived the rest of their lives. We hope they were able to hear the message that Jesus proclaimed to them and that they were not only concerned with their own interests. It seems right that preaching the kingdom of God was central to his mission. Everyone has the ability to hear and accept his offer of salvation. To this mission, he knew to be faithful.

          Jesus preached a kingdom-centered theology that showed that God cared intimately for each person. It revealed that God's presence was everywhere and was not more specially present in the Temple or other religious-based buildings. The kingdom of God was among the people. This theology conflicted with the Temple-based theology that showed the primacy of worship was in the Temple and that religious authority rested with the elders, chief priests, and temple authorities. In this theology, the rites, liturgy, and laws are sacrosanct and obedience to the law means life. The human person is valued if he or she upholds the law and teachings. Otherwise, the individual is not considered an important aspect of the faith. These are the types of rules Jesus was continually challenging. This conflict ultimately led to his death. Take for instance, the event when he upset the money-changers and challenged temple authority.

          In parallel ways, the church of Jesus struggles with the same dichotomy today. Many who suffer and look for moral guidance seek Christ in the ordinariness of their day and wrestle with their experiences of faith against the developed doctrine that has endured for centuries. In this scenario, the person's experience matters greatly. Others will hold tightly to the letter of the law or declared teachings because they have persisted and withstood the challenges of time. Here, the person is not considered to be a major factor. Differing philosophies still compete. A classicist worldview is pitted against an historical minded one.

          While this conflict occurs, we take heart from this passage. Jesus moved on to proclaim the kingdom of God is in our midst. We are to do the same. Our preaching about the kingdom is to be central to every aspect of our lives. Christ cares about our suffering and struggles. He begs us to come to his Abba, to the one who will wipe away every tear from our eyes, to the one who has conquered sin and death, to the one who wants to pull us close to his heart.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading:  The elders and leaders of Israel came to King Solomon in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant to Zion, the City of David. The community assembled for the sacrifice and when everyone left, the glory of the Lord settled upon the holy place. Before the people, Solomon prays to God asking that the covenant be remembered. God will be the protector of the people. The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame and wisdom. She visited him and asked subtle questions and she was quite impressed. She offered him abundant gifts the likes that had not been seen before. In his old age, Solomon turned his heart away from the Lord. As retribution, the Lord told Solomon that he would deprive his son of the kingdom. Only one of the tribes would inhabit Jerusalem. When Jeroboam left Jerusalem, Israel went in rebellion. They tore cloaks into twelve pieces. One tribe would remain in tribute to David. Jeroboam persisted in sin as he ordered shrines to be built in Bethel and Dan.

Gospel: Jesus returns to Galilee after healing the demoniac. People recognize him and bring all their sick to him. Pharisees and scribes observe that the disciples of Jesus do not customarily wash their hands before meals. He tells them that they disregard God's commandments but cling to human tradition. He then reminds them that keeping the commandments mean honoring your father and mother. He concludes that what is in the inside of a person defiles them, not outward customs. Jesus declares all foods clean and focuses upon the attitudes that corrupt. He travels to the northwest territory of Tyre where he meets a Syrophoenician woman. She begs him to drive a demon out of her daughter. After originally resisting her, he accedes to her wishes and realizes his mission expands beyond the boundaries of Israel. He then travels back to the Decapolis where he heals a deaf, mute man. He opens the mouth of the man. His heart is moved with pity for the people as they gather to hear him speak. He miraculously feeds over 4,000 people with a scant quantity of fish and bread.

Saints of the Week

Monday: Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs (d. 1597), were martyred in Nagasaki, Japan for being Christians. Miki was a Jesuit brother and a native Japanese who was killed alongside 25 clergy, religious, and laypeople. They were suspended on crosses and killed by spears thrust into their hearts. Remnants of the Christian community continued through baptism without any priestly leadership. It was discovered when Japan was reopened in 1865.

Wednesday: Jerome Emiliani (1481-1537), was a Venetian soldier who experienced a call to be a priest during this imprisonment as a captor. He devoted his work to the education of orphans, abandoned children, the poor and hungry. He founded an order to help in his work, but he died during a plague while caring for the sick.

Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947) was a Sudanese who was sold as a slave to the Italian Consul, who treated her with kindness. She was baptized in Italy and took the name Josephine. Bakhia means fortunate. She was granted freedom according to Italian law and joined the Canossian Daughters of Charity where she lived simply as a cook, seamstress, and doorkeeper. She was known for her gentleness and compassion.

Friday: Scholastica (480-543) was the twin sister of Benedict, founder of Western monasticism. She is the patroness of Benedictine nuns. She was buried in her brother's tomb; they died relatively close to one another.

Saturday: Our Lady of Lourdes is remembered because between February 11 and July 16, 1858, Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in a cave near Lourdes, France eighteen times. The site remains one of the largest pilgrim destinations. Many find healing in the waters of the grotto during the spring.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         Feb 5, 1833. The first provincial of Maryland, Fr. William McSherry, was appointed.

·         Feb 6, 1612. The death of Christopher Clavius, one of the greatest mathematicians and scientists of the Society.

·         Feb 7, 1878. At Rome, Pius IX died. He was sincerely devoted to the Society; when one of the cardinals expressed surprise that he could be so attached to an order against which even high ecclesiastics brought serious charges, his reply was: "You have to be pope to know the worth of the Society."

·         Feb 8, 1885. In Chicago, Fr. Isidore Bourdreaux, master of novices at Florissant, Missouri, from 1857 to 1870, died. He was the first scholastic novice to enter the Society from any of the colleges in Missouri.

·         Feb 9, 1621. Cardinal Ludovisi was elected Pope Gregory XV. He was responsible for the canonization of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier.

·         Feb 10, 1773. The rector of Florence informed the general, Fr. Ricci, that a copy of the proposed Brief of Suppression had been sent to the Emperor of Austria. The general refused to believe that the Society would be suppressed.

·         Feb 11, 1563. At the Council of Trent, Fr. James Laynez, the Pope's theologian, made such an impression on the cardinal president by his learning and eloquence, that cardinal decided at once to open a Jesuit College in Mantua, his Episcopal see. 

Prayer: Bede, the Venerable

Simeon and Anna, a man and woman of advanced age, greeted the Lord with the devoted services of their professions of faith. As they saw him, he was small in body, but they understood him to be great in divinity.