Saturday, October 29, 2011
GOSPEL READING TODAY - Luke 14:1, 7-11 (Cure & a Lesson in Humility)
1 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 7 He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, 9 and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. 10 Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
A LESSON IN HUMILITY - By: Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD
Did Jesus exaggerate with His parable? I think not. It reminds me of a fiesta in our parish a long time ago. After the solemn Mass, the late Cardinal Sin went to the parish hall for the well-prepared snack. He, the priests, and the parish council president and members were seated at the presidential table. One seat was still empty and suddenly an elderly man came in, saw the empty seat, went there and sat down. When the person who was supposed to sit there arrived, the uninvited guest had to be asked to please vacate the seat.
Yes, it happens. In the case of our fiesta it was surely lack of sensitivity or common sense by the man. But in the meal Jesus attended, He seems to give us a lesson in humility.
Humility! A virtue lacking so much in today’s macho society. Who wants to be humble? Because humility is often interpreted as weakness and cowardice.
What then is this humility that Jesus wants us to acquire?
St. Bernard defines humility as “a virtue by which a person knows himself as he truly is, lowers himself. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of humility.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, the great 13th century philosopher and theologian, defines humility similarly as “the virtue of humility that consists in keeping oneself within one’s own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one’s superior.”
“True humility” is distinctly different from “false humility,” which consists of denigrating one’s own sanctity, gifts, talents and accomplishments for the sake of receiving praise from others. In this context, legitimate humility consists of the following behaviors and attitudes:
Submitting oneself to God and His legitimate authority; recognizing virtues and talents that others have, particularly those which outshine one’s own, and giving due honor recognizing the limits of one’s talents, abilities or authority, and not reaching for what is beyond one’s grasp.
To be really humble needs a lot of courage and strength. It’s far from weakness!
Yes, it happens. In the case of our fiesta it was surely lack of sensitivity or common sense by the man. But in the meal Jesus attended, He seems to give us a lesson in humility.
Humility! A virtue lacking so much in today’s macho society. Who wants to be humble? Because humility is often interpreted as weakness and cowardice.
What then is this humility that Jesus wants us to acquire?
St. Bernard defines humility as “a virtue by which a person knows himself as he truly is, lowers himself. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of humility.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, the great 13th century philosopher and theologian, defines humility similarly as “the virtue of humility that consists in keeping oneself within one’s own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one’s superior.”
“True humility” is distinctly different from “false humility,” which consists of denigrating one’s own sanctity, gifts, talents and accomplishments for the sake of receiving praise from others. In this context, legitimate humility consists of the following behaviors and attitudes:
Submitting oneself to God and His legitimate authority; recognizing virtues and talents that others have, particularly those which outshine one’s own, and giving due honor recognizing the limits of one’s talents, abilities or authority, and not reaching for what is beyond one’s grasp.
To be really humble needs a lot of courage and strength. It’s far from weakness!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
GOSPEL READING TODAY: Luke 13:31-35 (Herod the Fox)
31 Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. 33 Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! 35 Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Jesus’ Lament - By: Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD
The first part of today’s Gospel (Luke 13:31-35) corrects some wrong images. First of all, we usually imagine the Pharisees to be enemies of Jesus. Most of them were, but there were also others who were worried about the safety of Jesus. They came to warn Him.
Then we usually imagine Jesus as very meek and soft. Today we hear how He uses bad words when He called Herod Antipas, the powerful ruler of Galilee, a fox, an expression of slyness, of cunning.
Jesus’ mood then changes. From anger and defiance, it turns to sadness. As a pious Jew, Jesus must have loved Jerusalem, the holy city, the place where the Temple, the House of His Father, stood.
From history He knew only too well that Jerusalem never lived up to its reputation as “holy city.” How many prophets had come and warned them to repent but were persecuted like Jeremiah, and even killed like other prophets? Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed already once, more than 500 years ago, a punishment for the sins of idolatry, injustice, corruption and oppression of the poor, as the prophets interpreted the catastrophe.
Jesus remembers the time He, like the prophets of old, had preached in Jerusalem and tried to turn the people from evil to a God-pleasing life — in vain! The image of the mother hen protecting her chicks under her wings is touching. What a pity that artists have never developed this beautiful picture.
Before we shake our heads at the stubbornness of Jerusalem’s people, I wonder what Jesus would say if He would speak about us. How many times have we been told to change our lives, to repent? How many times have we been told that just saying prayers and outward signs of piety will not save us? How many times have we been told that it is not enough to love God but that we love God most when we love our neighbor in need? Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem could be a lament over His followers in the 21st century.
Then we usually imagine Jesus as very meek and soft. Today we hear how He uses bad words when He called Herod Antipas, the powerful ruler of Galilee, a fox, an expression of slyness, of cunning.
Jesus’ mood then changes. From anger and defiance, it turns to sadness. As a pious Jew, Jesus must have loved Jerusalem, the holy city, the place where the Temple, the House of His Father, stood.
From history He knew only too well that Jerusalem never lived up to its reputation as “holy city.” How many prophets had come and warned them to repent but were persecuted like Jeremiah, and even killed like other prophets? Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed already once, more than 500 years ago, a punishment for the sins of idolatry, injustice, corruption and oppression of the poor, as the prophets interpreted the catastrophe.
Jesus remembers the time He, like the prophets of old, had preached in Jerusalem and tried to turn the people from evil to a God-pleasing life — in vain! The image of the mother hen protecting her chicks under her wings is touching. What a pity that artists have never developed this beautiful picture.
Before we shake our heads at the stubbornness of Jerusalem’s people, I wonder what Jesus would say if He would speak about us. How many times have we been told to change our lives, to repent? How many times have we been told that just saying prayers and outward signs of piety will not save us? How many times have we been told that it is not enough to love God but that we love God most when we love our neighbor in need? Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem could be a lament over His followers in the 21st century.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Prince of Peace who causes Division - By: Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD
I am often asked by a Catholic young man or woman whether it would be alright to marry a non-Catholic partner. I know several couples who live a harmonious married life even though they belong to different Christian denominations. But, to be honest, these cases are rare.
I cannot forget Scott Hahn’s book, Rome Sweet Home. He and his wife had taken academic degrees in theology and were very active in their ministry as Evangelicals. But Scott began to question Protestantism and felt attracted to Catholicism; he finally converted and became a devout Catholic. His wife followed later but before she converted their marriage nearly broke up.
“Days and weeks would pass without us sharing anything spiritual,” he writes. “As my spiritual life surged forward, my marriage tumbled backward… Most attempts to deal forthrightly with our differences would end in grief and frustration.”
After Mrs. Hahn’s conversion to the Catholic Church, most of their former Evangelical friends broke away from them.
This is just one example that illustrates Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel (Luke 12:49-53). While working in one parish, I witnessed the pain of parents whose son or daughter joined another Christian group or religion. The division can be even worse when a married couple belongs to a completely different faith.
St. Francis of Assisi met strong resistance from his father when he decided to live a life of poverty. Some young people who answer God’s call to the religious life often find strong resistance from their parents. Yes, a decision for Christ and His values can cause division. Jesus, the “Prince of Peace,” surely came to bring peace. Yet, since conformity, compromise and popularity are not accepted values by Christ, our loyalty to Jesus’ Word can cause the loss of friendship and lead to quarrels and even ostracism. Do we have the strength to face such tensions?
I cannot forget Scott Hahn’s book, Rome Sweet Home. He and his wife had taken academic degrees in theology and were very active in their ministry as Evangelicals. But Scott began to question Protestantism and felt attracted to Catholicism; he finally converted and became a devout Catholic. His wife followed later but before she converted their marriage nearly broke up.
“Days and weeks would pass without us sharing anything spiritual,” he writes. “As my spiritual life surged forward, my marriage tumbled backward… Most attempts to deal forthrightly with our differences would end in grief and frustration.”
After Mrs. Hahn’s conversion to the Catholic Church, most of their former Evangelical friends broke away from them.
This is just one example that illustrates Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel (Luke 12:49-53). While working in one parish, I witnessed the pain of parents whose son or daughter joined another Christian group or religion. The division can be even worse when a married couple belongs to a completely different faith.
St. Francis of Assisi met strong resistance from his father when he decided to live a life of poverty. Some young people who answer God’s call to the religious life often find strong resistance from their parents. Yes, a decision for Christ and His values can cause division. Jesus, the “Prince of Peace,” surely came to bring peace. Yet, since conformity, compromise and popularity are not accepted values by Christ, our loyalty to Jesus’ Word can cause the loss of friendship and lead to quarrels and even ostracism. Do we have the strength to face such tensions?
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