Assumption of the BVM

Our celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has much to do with the Paschal Mystery, and God's plan of salvation. The Assumption teaches us that Mary is set apart as the Theotokos, or God-bearer, and has a special part in God's plan of salvation and redemption. Because she bore the Word of God made flesh, she was taken into heaven body and soul. Two things to remember, that Mary was not effected by original Sin, and the body is made sacred.

Mary shows herself to be a faithful disciple. She trusts and believes in the Word of God. So much so that she actively participates in the action of salvation. When she hears about Elizabeth's status, she goes to help her. Receiving the Word of God requires faith and trust in God's promise. Possessing the Word of God challenges us to take responsibility for the faith we have received. The love of God and of others is paramount to our faith.

The Magnificat that we hear in Luke's Gospel today is sort of a summation of salvation theology. God continues to intervene in human history to bring about the Kingdom of God. Using simple and broken human instruments God lifts up the lowly and feeds the hungry. Perhaps this is why Mary's soul is so full of joy. Once again God enters our lives to bring us salvation and peace.

This feast is about the communion we have with God through Jesus Christ, and a reminder of God's great faithfulness in our lives. Hopefully like Mary we can be full of joyfulness as we reflect all that God has done for us, and share in becoming true disciples like Mary.

Those dog-gone papists

There was an editorial in the America magazine last week that commented on the "New Americanism" In its review of the history of our nation the editor brought forth the fact that our country was greatly influenced by Puritan ideals. Though one of my summer reading books suggests though we were founded around religious ideals, we were never a Christian nation. Back in the days of Leo XIII the Church was concerned with the American ideas of charity and responsiveness to the poor and anawim. The Church was muted throughout history because many saw the Church as a foreign entity.

Pope Benedict XVI almost seems to be addressing our post modern culture when he speaks about the necessity of solidarity with the poor and the suffering. Our cultural response to those who are in need is to place them in a program, and give money to the enterprise. The Church would ask that we change our relationships with those around us so that those who are poor, widowed, orphaned, addicted, unemployed, or homeless, would find support and encouragement on the local level. The Church's teachings on social justice talk about addressing the root causes of the evil and brokenness that afflicts our society.

The notion of community is difficult for us. We easily put a dollar or two in a jar for hungry children, but we do not want to think about them beyond that. Each year at Lent we do the Rice Bowl, via CRS, as part of our Lenten alms giving. Hopefully the parishioners are actually being aware that that are emptying pocket-change for those in Sudan, or Southeast Asia. Or as they are eating soup and crackers for a 'fast-meal,' they pray for and make mention of the poor and the suffering. Our social justice teachings challenge us to share and to be made aware of the needs and concerns of others.

That awareness and understanding effects our attitudes and even our use of time and money. More so the Eucharistic celebration becomes a reflection of the Bread of Life, and our participation in the Paschal Mystery.

There are today many needy people who require what a government program cannot give - compassion, dignity, and respect for all life. Our Catholic faith needs to fill the gap that these folks so often fall through. We stand together with our brothers and sisters in the name of Jesus Christ. Our Catholic faith is prophetic, and must be a beacon of hope shining in the darkness.

Of Monks and Nuns

Today is the Memorial of St. Clare, Virgin and Religious. A contemporary of Francis of Assisi, she was moved to embrace a life of strict poverty and prayer. Saint Clare is noted for her intensity of prayer, patient suffering, and endurance, as she led the new founded order in a rather secular society. Clare based the spirituality of her order, as well as her own life, upon the ideal of gospel simplicity and following Christ Jesus.

In a letter to Blessed Agnes of Prague, Clare reflects upon the role of being a bride of Christ. "Look into that mirror daily and study well your reflection, that you may adorn yourself, mind and body, with an enveloping garment of every virtue ... most chaste bride of the King on high." I like that imagery. We probably do not make a big enough deal of it, but at baptism we give the newly baptized a garment, a candle and anoint them. These are powerful symbols that point to the fact that we are putting on Christ.

For those of us who went to catholic grade school, we remember that we had to change out our school uniforms after school. Those blue slacks and shirts, or skirts and white blouses for the other gender, communicated to others that we belonged to a catholic school community. In the same way our baptismal garment says that we embrace a particular lifestyle based upon Christ Jesus. So our words and actions are commensurate to that life.

The Monastic communities can teach us a lot of living out our baptismal commitment. Everything from treating each encounter as if we were meeting Christ, to the importance of not allowing anger to build up within us. There is a balanced life which challenges one to be fully human and alive for Christ Jesus. In a noisy and chaotic world quiet and heart-felt reflection give us the strength and courage to meet the challenges of life. Monastics are wonderful stewards whereas stuff does not own us, and our gifts and talents are shared with the community.

Monks and Nuns are some of those stumbling blocks that cause us to pause and consider what is important and what really matters in life. Maybe we do not live in a monastery or convent, but hopefully all that we do is done for the glory of Christ Jesus.

Witness Faith

In a recent conversation with Directors of Catholic Social Services, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Bishop of New York, lamented the obstacles that Catholic institutions face today. New Government regulations and recent Court rulings make it more difficult to maintain Dolan reflected that more and more it becomes difficult to offer the traditional ministries of Catholic Charities and Catholic Social Services. In many cases within the past year, Some dioceses have abandoned particular aspects of Social Service, namely those of adoption and foster care.

Archbishop Dolan challenged those involved in this ministry to remain and grow firmer in their Catholic identity. He reminded the directors of these ministries that what they do is a ministry, and not simply social work. To be sure the Catholic Social services offers assistance to all persons, irregardless of their faith, race, or social background. It is imperative that these ministries reflect a Catholic theology and spirituality.

In explaining his challenge, Dolan borrows quite heavily from the Catholic Social teachings. These are the best kept secrets of the Catholic Church. The Church's social teachings reflect the dignity and wholeness of all men and women. Our social services cannot offer or direct persons to resources that might disregard the humanity and sanctity of our lives. Men and women disire and deserve love and respect from conception until natural death. To be sure what Social Service providers in the Church do is a ministry.

Dolan admits that while evangelization and catechesis is a must, it cannot be blatant or even offensive. When the opportunity arises, Dolan suggests, and when a client is ready, it is not unreasonable to share one's faith and the faith of the Church. Overall the mission of any Church ministry is to convey the vision of truth and the Kingdom of God.

Today as we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence it is important to recognize how our faithful service can give witness to the name of Jesus. Like Lawrence our Church is called to serve all men and women, especially the poor and anawim, even in the face of adversity. Our true treasure resides in the people of the Kingdom of God, and making known the name of Jesus.

The Sound of Silence

This part of Kings, concerning Elijah, is best understood when we go back a bit. Elijah has just challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to see whose 'god' is the best. The prophets of Baal spend most of the day chanting and dancing and do not cause a reply from Baal. Elijah invokes the name of the Lord God, and the mountaintop is consumed in fire and a flood. The queen Jezebel is not real happy and sends her guards to kill Elijah. So Elijah is taking refuge in this cave, fearing for his life, wishing he had never agreed to be a prophet.

The Apostle Peter is the leader of the Apostles, but so often falls short of the expectations of discipleship. Here we have Peter in the boat and are full of awe as he climbs out onto the water. But the wind and waves are too much for him as he begins to sink. "Lord save me."

To be sure in the midst of Sin and confusion we can wonder why God is not hearing our voice. Sure the mountain is engulfed in fire for Elijah, but then he has people chasing him with sharp instruments. He probably thought propheting would be a lot easier. But then we recognize that Jesus speaks to us in quiet and simple ways. Bread, wine, a word, or a touch. Even his Crucifixion was most likely unnoticed by most people on that Good Friday.

The real challenge as we are taken by the storms of life is to remain focused in faith. It is too easy to wander away looking for easy fixes and simple solutions. Sin and sinfulness can so easily distract us that we do not always recognize that Jesus is standing before us inviting us to come to him. As disciples in the boat we need to be real attentive as he calms us, "Have courage, do not be afraid, it is I."

Transfiguration

In the orthodox churches there is a large screen that is placed at the front of the sanctuary. This wall of icons, or Iconoclasis, distinguishes the sanctuary from the nave of the church. There are certain Icons that must be included on this wall, in a particular order. The priest and deacon enter the sanctuary from the right, and leave on the left side. The liturgical rites are not seen by the congregation, but throughout what would be the Eucharistic Prayer, the deacon comes to the entrance of the sanctuary and leads the people in chants and song.

The feast we celebrate today is that of the privilege which the Apostles, and we the hearers of the Gospel, have in seeing Jesus in his glory. Jesus is not simply a doer of good works, or an articulate speaker, he is the Son of God who shows us the way to the Kingdom. Towards the end of this Gospel people wander away from Jesus as he expresses the demands of discipleship. In John's Gospel we begin to witness the hostility towards Jesus because of his teachings and actions. These folks have not allowed Jesus to lead them through the "portal" into the vision of the Kingdom.

The Transfiguration calls to mind for us the fact that God has a plan. The prophets and all of the holy men and women call upon us to be true to the covenant and to live a worthy life of conversion and discipleship. Remember several weeks ago whereas we heard Jesus remind his followers that some would call out his name, to which he would respond that he does not recognize them.

The challenge of that our faith conveys is a certain depth and intensity in regards to our relationship with Christ. Christianity is a climbing the mountain experience, not a stroll through the park. One has to wonder how often that vision was discussed by Peter, James, and John. And in their ministry after the death and resurrection how it might have become that source of strength and confidence.

Today's feast gives us a momentary glimpse into the everlasting banquet, beyond the screen. It reminds us in a most powerful way of our ultimate life with God; challenging us to live as God's holy people.

Taking up the Cross

We hear this admonishment often in our spiritual and religious lives. It seems that this is a common theme to preach; we must take up our cross. We like to think that if we "do things," then we will move forward into heaven. The misunderstanding that comes about here is that we move into a point system mentality in which we are barely conscious of counting the cost, in order o gain God's favor. It becomes sort of like, 'I shared a cookie with a coworker, smiled at the nasty woman at the front desk, and waved someone in front of me in traffic - 248 points.'

Martin Luther would suggest that we look not so much at what we do, but what God did for us. God has resolved our salvation problem through the Incarnation. Jesus Christ comes into our lives very much like us; except the Sin. In that marvelous Philippians hymn, Paul states that Jesus emptied himself of heavenly glory to take on our human nature.

'Doing' charitable works is important to be sure. Such actions might lead us to discover where we need to become emptied. The real hard work of the cross is to rid ourselves of pride, anger, jealousy, self-importance, and the like. These vices are more difficult than the garden variety of sinfulness that can often plague us. Jesus embraces his human nature and brings it to the cross. We want to make sure that our religious life is not a pretense or a front in hopes of finding favor with God and others.

There is that phrase from the sixties or seventies, "I am number three." God is first, others are second, and I am number three." It is harder than it looks. Back in Fulton we had an ecumenical stations of the cross on Good Friday. The Methodist pastor carried the cross one year. This was two 4x4s, about five and one half feet tall, and four feet across. At the end of the service he commented that it is harder than it looks. How true that is for all of us.

We begin each Mass by praying, "I Confess to Almighty God ..." This is a good daily prayer to recognize our masks or attitudes that distract us from our Holy enterprise. May what God has begun in us be brought to completion.