22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 29, 2010

22.c.2010.stmb.humility.and.welcome

Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29; Heb 12:18-19,22-24; Luke 14,1,7-14

We can understand the first part of today's gospel regarding humility in variety of ways. Some of us can even come to a simple conclusion that  Jesus is encouraging us: to play the power game, wherever it takes place, more shrewdly so we can get ahead of others and avoid  being like buffoons who set themselves up for embarrassment in front of others.

          But then He clarifies his advice. In his eyes humility is not a strategy to receive greater recognition and influence. Rather humility is knowledge that all people are cherished children of God. Any standards and practices of discrimination which would diminish that should be overthrown. We should accept others as equals and pay more attention to those who for variety reasons are more challenged by the circumstances of their lives. Righteousness, not social position or the esteem of others, should be a driving force of our lives. God wants us to look at others the way He does. He wants us to welcome them in our midst and to make them a part of our community.  

          We all probably would agree that these are fine words. But the proof of our understanding and acceptance of these words are in our actions. So to test it let us ask ourselves some very simple questions. For example:

·       Does a physical space of our church allows for those who are elderly or with disabilities to participate fully in the life of our parish?

·        Are we a part of liturgical ministries or other ministries of our community?

·       Do we value the presence and the gifts of others who come and worship with us here? Do we take time to get to know them?

·       What do we do about those who are sick or homebound or who grief or who are in prison, about those who are marginalized or in need in any other way?

          As long as we see other people only as an abstract or impersonal demographic or a menace or a stepping stone, but not as sacred and holy children of God, we luck humility Jesus talks about, and our worship of God is not authentic.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, 2010

assumption.of.mary.2010.stmb.our.destiny

Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Luke 1:39-56

The cult of the saints developed gradually in the early Christian centuries. The earliest expressions of devotion to the saints were directed toward martyrs who had shed their blood for the faith. Later, confessors, virgins, and other ascetics gradually were included among those receiving special honor. During the Council of Ephesus in the year 431 the church gave a very special recognition to Mary stating that she is Theotokos – Mother of God. This proclamation, in a sense, has become a major force for the Church’s Marian devotion over the centuries.

Today’s feast of Mary, The Assumption of Mary, originated in Jerusalem in the fifth century and was originally called the “Dormition” (falling asleep) of the Virgin. The feast was universally observed by the end of the sixth century in the East and the seventh century in the West, where it came to be called the Assumption. On November 1, 1950, Pius XII defined the dogma of the Assumption as an article of our Catholic belief. He stated in his apostolic constitution of 1950, Munificentissimus deus, The Most Munificent God Apostolic Constitution the following:

“The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that  she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.”

What is the meaning of this feast for us?

By accepting the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary we proclaim the belief that Mary has been taken up into heaven and therefore already uniquely participating in Christ’s resurrection. She is already enjoying the resurrection we hope for.

What it means is that the Mother of God enjoys now that which will be our destiny – fullness of life with God. She is a sign for us that the gift of Christ’s resurrection is attainable to each one of us.

The Preface for today’s Mass sums up very simply this belief of our church in the following words:

“Father, ….Today the virgin Mother of God was taken up into heaven to be the beginning and the pattern of the Church in its perfection, and a sign of hope and comfort for your people on their pilgrim way.”

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 08, 2010

19.c.2010.stmb.faith.and.religion

Wisdom 18:6-9; Heb 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48

Someone once said: "Faith is so rare and religion so common" and I have to say this is so true. Perhaps this is why when we read the holy scriptures, the Bible, we very quickly notice that faith and deep personal relationship with God, not religious rules and practices, are the main and the most important themes. Today's readings are no exception to this.

          The author of the first reading from the book of Wisdom refers to the very first Passover observed by Moses and the Hebrew tribes after they left Egypt, and cites their faith in God, which inspired and empowered such an escape. Because of their faith they became God's people united with God in a covenantal love that would continue to define who they were: witnesses to the world that God cares, God sees, God loves, God liberates, God protects. Because of their witness, we, their spiritual descendents, continue to believe that God is the ultimate source of meaning in every human life.

          In the second reading, the author of the letter to the Hebrews offers an extended reflection on Abraham and Sarah, our ancestral parents. Faith in God let them to embark on a lifelong journey to places they had not planned to go and among people they did not know. With God as their only compass, they endured and surmounted the sorrow of childlessness. Then, when at last the child was given them, they were tested by the unthinkable possibility that their child and his life and destiny were not theirs to plan or protect.

          So many parents and caregivers face similarly unthinkable challenges in life. Yet faith, not religious practices and regulations, that is summoned by most of them in that very moment when logic fails to satisfy and every reasonable hope seems to wither. From deep within the human heart we grasp at faith that does not see or understand, but we trust God, who sees and knows all.

          I have to say that this rings a bell for me quite  a bit. As many of you know I went to Poland in July to see my very ill mother. In June, after many months of pain, she was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. She needs 24/7 care. I spent most of my time in Poland with her in the hospitals as she was going through radiation procedures and later at my sister's house helping my mom and my sister's family as much as I could. No one but God knows how long my mother will live, a month or four or longer? No one, but God,  knows how much more we are all going to be tested.

          As I think about my mother, my sister, my sister's family, my responsibilities in the parish, and my life in general,  I have no desire for more religious practices and regulations to help me and my family, but I have a real need for more faith and deeper personal relationship with God to have the strength and the courage to carry on even when I do not know the answers. It is faith in God and relationship with Him, not multiplication of religious practices and increased observance of religious rules on my part, that seem to keep me going.

          No wonder that this helped so many before me, too.