Optional Memorial of Saint Katharine Drexel, Virgin

 

[In the Dioceses of the United States]

Lectionary 231

"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.

In today's Gospel, we hear the Lord teaching us how to deal with religious authorities. Although he appeared to be speaking to his people in the first decades of Anno Domini, the Evangelists were more concerned about the leaders of the nascent Christian community. Their Gospels and other New Testament writings clearly attest to a lot of misbehavior. There were wolves in sheep's clothing, and hirelings who would abandon the flock at a moment's notice.

Jesus did not deny the legitimate authority of religious leaders; He insisted we should "do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you."  Bishops and priests often refer to the Magisterium -- that is, the teaching authority of the Church -- as they preach, teach, and write pastoral letters. That authority has learned much through its study of the scriptures and theology. It respects the human wisdom of the arts and sciences, and especially the philosophical traditions of Europe. It recognizes the dignity and worth of human religions which formed without the intervention of divine revelation. 

With that Magisterial background, they attempt to speak reasonably to the leaders of this world about contemporary issues, and are often recognized. Our learning is more rational and carries more dignity than much of the world's ethos. 

But the Lord and the Evangelists also knew the personal failings of every Christian, including those found among the leaders of the Church. The Magisterium recognizes sin, "...do not follow their example." 

The entire Church, and not just that of the United States, has learned a hard lesson from the ongoing pedophilia scandal among the clergy and lay leaders of the Church. We have recognized, as we did not, the danger of power in unworthy hands. Too often children were punished for speaking the truth, and lay folks were threatened with excommunication if they turned to civil authorities, even as pastors and bishops refused to discipline their own. Crimes were brushed under the rug until the swelling appeared like an elephant in the room.

The scandal was, and remains, entirely appropriate. The Church and the world has every right to expect more of our clergy. Greater fidelity to God's Word would not have been so surprised, nor would it have left the crimes to go on so long. 

Lent invites everyone to repent, confess our sins to a priest, and turn back to the Lord. There are no exceptions and no excuses for failure. 

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

 Lectionary: 230

"Lord, great and awesome God,
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.

The USCCB website explains that the Book of Daniel, 

"...was composed during the bitter persecution carried on by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (167–164 B.C.) and was written to strengthen and comfort the Jewish people in their ordeal. The persecution was occasioned by Antiochus’s efforts to unify his kingdom, in face of the rising power of Rome, by continuing the Hellenization begun by Alexander the Great. Antiochus tried to force Jews to adopt Greek ways, including religious practices. Severe penalties, including death, were exacted against those who refused."

A secular reading of the era would say that the region had been overrun by the Alexander's Hellenist empire, and suffered the oppression of foreign invaders. Not believing in the God of the Jewish People, the Hellenists expected the Jews to be persuaded by force and cruelty to worship their Greek idols and pay their taxes accordingly. 

Daniel, however, takes a different tack. The author insists that we will not submit, that the invaders have no authority over our hearts or our country, and if they seem to have power it's because God is punishing his people. The Hellenic rulers may think well of themselves, but they are nothing more than tools in God's hands. 

We might expect a work which should "strengthen and comfort" God's people would not recall their sins or suggest they had brought this punishment upon themselves; but that would not explain the abuse they suffered and God's apparent silence. What is happening is not the result of blind forces or human activity. Nothing happens in God's world that God does not see. 

If they want the foreigners to go away, they can do something about it. They can repent of their sins. There is no power in heaven or earth that can prevent their turning to the LORD. 

Many people are complaining about the silence of the Church in the United States as we hear of federal violence against unarmed citizens and assassination of foreign rulers. Why are many bishops and priests not condemning  from the pulpit these illegal acts? Although many Catholics have spoken out, the clergy's silence seems more than the usual avoidance of partisan politics. 

I for one see the situation as a manifestation of God's anger against this nation. The United States set out on the road to today's distress when it incorporated slavery into the Constitution, when it decided that abortion is an acceptable form of birth control, when it permitted serial polygamy, and so forth.... All of these violations of human dignity and many more anticipate an evil harvest of widespread violence. 

Rather than addressing the issues with prayer, fasting, and works of mercy, Catholics locked up their churches against solitary worship and complained about Pope Saint Paul VI's Humanae Vitae. Catholics sought divorce and abortions like their neighbors; many opposed the civil rights of African, Asian, and Native Americans. 

Daniel got it right:  "We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from Your commandments and Your laws." 

Like our ancestors in ancient Judea, Catholics can repent, confess our guilt, and turn back to the Lord. No government can stop us. 

Second Sunday of Lent

Lectionary: 25

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

The Book of Genesis tells us that “God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.” And so it makes perfect sense that God is more than satisfied with Jesus. He is pleased. Everything about God's son is perfect in the divine sense of perfection. As Saint Paul said,

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

All this is beyond human comprehension, and the disciples' reaction was entirely appropriate, "...they fell prostrate and were very much afraid." 

But, the Lord’s mysterious transfiguration deserves more than astonishment. We cannot just say, “Isn’t that amazing! That ‘his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.’ How about that?” and then walk away as if we’ve been watching the Superbowl. Unlike a football or baseball game, this incident on a hill in Galilee means something. We should remain fascinated and delighted about God’s joy, pleasure, and satisfaction in his Son. We should ask, “How does this sign of God's whole hearted endorsement of Jesus change everything for me?”

The impression of God's delight remained on the Lord’s disciples. They might have but would not forget it. That heavenly voice which sounded of such enormous authority and even greater affection, echoed continually in their memories as they followed Jesus to Jerusalem, shared his Last Supper, fled from the Garden of Gethsemane, and then heard of his death on the cross. 

They understood neither his transfiguration nor what happened on that Good Friday. I’m sure they were shaking their heads and stroking their beards as they retired to the Upper Room. What was that all about? Their astonishment knew no bounds. The spectacle of his crucifixion and the sight of his lacerated body drained of every drop of blood horrified them every time they thought of him. 

If God was so pleased with his beloved son, why was he crucified, and why did everything he did, and tried to do, and wanted to do, and did accomplish end in this utter catastrophe? If he was so pleased with his beloved son, why did he not save him from death?

And they must have asked themselves, “Why are we even staying here in Jerusalem? We might as well go back to Galilee or wherever we came from with our broken hearts and shattered dreams and try to reclaim what’s left of our lives.” But they stayed in Jerusalem, hiding in the Upper Room.

Did anyone hiding in that room even mention their cowardice on Friday evening? Peter had insisted he would never abandon the Lord, even as Jesus told him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” Peter, the leader of them all, had said in their hearing, ““Even if all these men abandon you, I will never abandon you.” Did anyone dare to remind him of how he had thrown them under the bus in his eagerness to prove his loyalty? Could he look anyone in the face? 

And yet he stayed and they stayed with him. Only Judas was not there; they knew what he had done; they might not have known he was dead. 

Only after Jesus rose from the dead, after he appeared to them, after he said, “Shalom, Peace be with you.” did they begin to have hope. Only then could they speak to one another. The memory of His Transfiguration and the Voice of God came back to them, ““This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

“Shalom!” he said to them. “Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.” 

Yes, yes, Shalom. Peace be with you. Jesus has forgiven us for what we did to him. He has forgiven us for the world we have made, and for what we did to him. We can live again; we can look in the mirror; we can look eye to eye to each other; we can be the people – the Church =- he has called together. 

And now He gives us the willingness, generosity, and personal authority to forgive others for what anyone does to us. Even as he gives us the courage, integrity, and self-assurance to apologize and atone for our sins. 

I knew a fellow years ago who, after many years deep in anger and abuse, had quit drinking. As he came out of the depths of alcoholic stupidity he found that his wife was still with him. He learned not only to apologize for what he had done, and still did in his human weakness; he also learned to ask her, “How can I make it up to you.” She never said, “Forget about it.” and she often said, “Let’s talk about it.”  

Rather than mulling continually over our sins and unworthiness, as if we practically enjoy remorse, we have learned from Saint Paul, who reminded us today, “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works, but according to his own design.” 

Your salvation is really not about you. It’s about God, so don’t get all bent out of shape about your sins and your foolishness and your unworthiness. Get over yourself!  

As Ezekiel says,

“Not for your sake am I doing these things! When I cleanse you of all your guilt, I will resettle the cities and the ruins will be rebuilt. Empty cities shall be filled with flocks of people; then the nations (and all the Universe) shall know that I am the LORD, when I do these things! 

We have seen in the brief life of Christ our purpose and our destiny. We have learned that our life is not about us and our needs, goals, ambitions, or desires. We have learned that even our desires for pleasure and entertainment; our needs for intimacy and reassurance; our disappointments, suffering, pain, and healing have a purpose which is beyond ourselves. All the mystery, adventure, misery, sadness, and satisfaction in our life is a gift from God. We have learned not to be satisfied with good enough, because God wants to be pleased with us as he is pleased with his Son. 

As we confess and atone for our sins; as we forgive others and call others to live in peace with us, we have become the image of the invisible God, the reborn of all creation. And we have heard him say to us “You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased.