St. Barnabas, apostle and martyr

While very little is known about St. Barnabas, whose feast we celebrate today, he seems to be an important figure in the early Church.  A companion of St. Paul, it is believed that he was a Jew from Cyprus, and convert to Christianity.  He accompanied Paul in his preaching ministry in Antioch and at Cyprus.  In the Acts of the Apostles Barnabas have a major role at the Council of Jerusalem. 

How does one even reach the Barnabas level of discipleship?  There is no apostle application process.  From the very beginning it would seem that Barnabas had been a leader in the Christian Church at Jerusalem.  A ardent defender of the Gentile converts he proclaimed the foundational truths as expressed in the Gospels.  Most certainly Barnabas expressed his convictions to the Word of God on a personal and relational level.  Perhaps his imitation of Christ was more as a 'Servant-leader' rather than trying to theologize the Paschal Mystery.

St. Paul sometimes alludes to the fact that he always tried to be gentle in his approach, never pouncing on the communities he served.  When he had to challenge the beliefs or lifestyle of the various churches, he followed his own advice and did so with love and charity.  We have to imagine that the early Church chose its leaders based on their imitation of the Paschal Mystery.  It was those persons who preached and lived the cross which were sent out to proclaim the Gospel.

When we consider the the Council of Jerusalem we see in its final consensus a determination to continue on the context of the Gospels, but not making the faith overwhelming for its converts.  What is essential for belief in Jesus, and what is simply piety.   These are good questions for us in the Church today as well.

Tradition has it that Barnabas was instrumental in the establishment of the Christian Church in Cyprus.  Tradition also holds that he was martyred.  Though details of the latter are not real clear.  What is evident is his faith-filled leadership and commitment to the truth of the Gospel.

Jesus Christ King of Glory

An important piece of today's Gospel (LK 7:11-17) which goes unnoticed, is that this son is the child of a widow.  In Jewish society, at the time of Jesus, a woman's social status is dependant on her husband, or some other male in the family.  So the loss of her son is devastating enough, but now she will live in poverty.  So Jesus' compassion and pity is multi fold.

Throughout the mission and ministry of Jesus we see him restoring men and woman (and children) to life and wholeness.  This is commensurate with his mission statement whereas he quotes from Isaiah, "...Bring glad tidings to the poor, and release to prisoners... ."  Jesus does not fear death, sickness, or oppression, but transformation into the lives of the broken and afraid.  in all of the Gospels we see a Jesus who not only has compassion towards the sick and suffering, but is troubled and angered at death and injustice.

The creation story points to a God who makes all things in beauty and wonder.  Gazing upon creation God proclaims all being to be 'God.'  Jesus knows that we are not made for Sin and death, but for full communion with God.  Jesus stops the coffin and commands the  young man to rise.  An encounter with Jesus always brings about newness of life.  Just as he commands demons to release their grip, and paralytics to stand up, pick up their mat, and walk. 

Knowing that Jesus is in our midst our faith communities take up the mission of offering new life to people.  So we support and encourage those who have lost loved ones, suffering from disease, and struggling with issues of unemployment.  We are Church when we gather people who suffer from addictions, and support the young and the old.  Today we continue to be called to halt the 'coffins' in this the culture of death, and offer a vision of light, happiness, and peace.  Where our brothers or sisters seem to be dead, in Jesus' name we command them to arise.

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

Today's feast sees its origins in the 11th and 12th centuries.  Saints Bernard of Claivaux, Bonaventure, and Gertrude, wrote reflections concerning the love of God being made manifest in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  In particular the Gospel passion images of blood and water flowing from the side of Jesus are remarked as indicators of the beginning of sacramental life of the Church.  When we receive the sacraments we are returning to that hill at Calvary, receiving the grace of that sacred moment.  In the 18th century we have the revelations of the Sacred Heart and the immaculate as given to Margaurite Marie Alacoque.

In human cultures, from the beginning of time it would seem, the heart is seen as the center of life.  A healthy heart allows blood to flow throughout the body.  A diseased heart hurts the human body, as well as the emotional state of the person.  To be sure scripture, and literature itself, describes persons who are stubborn, inflexible, obstinate, or immovable, as having a hardened heart.  Cold or unfeeling persons we are told have no heart.

So in Scripture Jesus' heart is moved with pity as he recognizes the hurts and brokenness of the crowd before him.  He begins teach them and will eventually feed them because they are like sheep without a shepherd.  Throughout his mission and ministry Jesus is moved with compassion for individuals as he brings them healing and peace.  And most importantly his heart is focused on the love of God and will allow his own hart to suffer, and be poured out if you will, so as to bring salvation and peace to a broken and corrupt world.

This devotion today focuses us on the fact that yes 'God so loved the world,' and continues to pour out upon us every grace and blessing.  This complete and selfless love requires from us a response of faith and faithfulness.  Just as the Paschal Mystery is a profound and deep response to human Sin and suffering, so too our devotion to Christ and his mission requires an extreme response.  While it is easy to stand back and admire this kind of love, our kinship with God, through Jesus Christ, can also be a sign and symbol that we are truly children of God.

Just as Bonaventure today suggests that the Passions unveiled a hidden love for humanity, we are challenged to receive God's love with faith and devotion, and share it with increase for the world.

Boniface - Bishop and Martyr

Even into the last century the words "Bishop" and "Martyr" are often tied together.  It is not easy to be a bishop today, and extremely difficult to be a faithful bishop.  And Boniface was just that.

A Benedictine monk, was sent as a missionary to what is today the Rhineland, Bavaria, and west Germany.  His primary role was the reform of the Christian communities in this region and outreach to the pagan Germanic tribes.  In 748 he became Bishop of this region, and spent his time in preaching and evangelization.  His establishment of several Christian communities in this area, including a monastery at Fulda, provided for a foundation of strong faith in this place.

In a letter to his people Boniface reflects, "Let us wait upon God's strengthening aid, let us stand fast for what is right,  let us preach the whole of God's plan to the powerful and to the humble, to rich and to poor..."  To be sure there was a real zeal about Boniface, and as the Collect states today, he was loyal to his faith.

I think that sometimes we can be too much like persons posing for holy cards in respect to our faith.  I had a Pastor that had suggested the communion song at First Communion should be, "That Magic Moment."  Anne Dillard's reflection of Christians rings true.  If we believe what we profess we should be wearing crash helmets and wearing life preservers.  It is good to know about God, but we have to feel and possess God in our hearts too.

Boniface tread-ed on many toes throughout his journeys and in his preaching.  Like many who proclaimed the Gospel to the pagans, unbelievers, and truly evil people, Boniface was murdered by marauding tribes.  But his life and efforts had a great impact on many in that locality.  His faithfulness was a living witness to the cross, and an invitation to remain faithful.

Body and Blood of Christ

St. Paul today reminds his listeners that our blessing and sharing of the bread and cup, are done in memory of the Christ who saves us.  More over our participation in this Sacred meal is at once a comfort and a challenge.  St Paul will say later on that if we receive this meal unworthily, then we are eating to our own condemnation.  Paul implies an interior disposition, and an exterior response to the Eucharist which we receive.

We have to say from the start that the Eucharist we celebrate and participate in is the Body and Blood of Christ.  It is not simply blessed bread but consecrated elements of bread and wine that have been transformed into Christ's Body and Blood.  In the same way then that food is changed and becomes part of us, the Eucharist becomes part of us an Christ lives within us.  When at St Edward's High School, if I came around the corner to the sound of profanity or other un-chaste conversation, I would ask whether they received the Eucharist with that same mouth.

Christ Jesus presents himself to us in very simple signs and symbols.  Vatican II calls this sacrament, and the liturgical action surrounding it, the source and summit of our catholic life.  This action is what unifies us and brings us into communion with each other.  The Body and Blood of Christ are the great equalizer which demands that we remember all that God has done to save us.  The ultimate act of love an charity, by the Father, are repeated each time we celebrate this mystery, and asks us to share what we have received through God's love and mercy.

Now there is a sadness in that many who had received the Eucharist for the first time several weeks ago have not been seen since.  Lately person opt out of having a wedding or funeral Mass.  It would seem that Jesus is not invited to participate in these lives.  The mission and ministry of Jesus was certainly about caring for those who "Were like sheep without a shepherd."  The Eucharist reveals to us the nature of our God and his life with us.  It is a challenge but also a promise of salvation.

God have given us His unconditional "Yes" in this sacrifice of the altar.  We gather together in faith and love to say "Yes" back to got.  With this food for the journey we offer our faithful response.

Taking the Chalice

During his General Audiance today, Pope Francis asserted that parishes need to be a place of hospitality and welcome.  In the realm of parish stewardship this has been a common theme.  Francis made it clear that in our society today, whereas we are bombarded by so much 'stuff,' with little or no personal interaction or compassion, the parish becomes a refuge and sanctuary.  People should feel at home there.

Presently in our parish our welcoming ministry has slowly dissolved.  As we were working to re-vitalize it, one woman commented that she did not need to be welcomed into her own church.  I consider that sometimes we do not know, that we do not know.  When we come home, or visit family or friends, even as a frequent visitor, we usually appreciate being welcomed into a home or space.  There is something very human, and Christ-like, when we embrace each other with a spirit of hospitality.

Which brings us to James and John who wan to sit at the places of honor in the Kingdom.  The apostles are interesting in that they continue to have the experience of Jesus but miss the meaning.  In Mark's Gospel Jesus moves from one situation of healing, forgiving sins, expelling demons, to the next.  Jesus' glory is on the cross, and in the revelation of the Father's love.  For Jesus the most important act is to wash the feet of his disciples and be crowned with thorns.

To be a welcoming community means the necessity of going outside our own comfort zones, and extending ourselves to others.  People judge the community they are part of when they are made to feel like part of the family.  To be sure we need to care for the poor and anawim, but we also look after each other, inviting each other to be part of our faith lives.  One gentleman in our parish tells the story how as a new parishioner, a young single man, an elderly woman came up to him,  introducing herself, welcomed him into the parish.  That was enough for him to stay, and become actively engaged in the parish.

Jesus sat next the crippled, lost, and afraid.  His demeanor was at once healing and welcoming.  The parish community is where we all first meet Christ.  And from there we proclaim his kinship.

Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

For a while we spoke about the Holy Trinity as how we experienced the Trinity - God as creator, the Son a the redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier.  The problem with that is we are dividing God into three functions.  The doctrine of the Trinity speaks of God's communion and unity.  Foremost we need to have our starting point with the being of God.

 

God is a communion of persons existing in a relationship of love.  Even before everything was created God was a unit of others.  Again we have to forget the images of weekday afternoon love stories.  Our triune God exists in a celebration of selfless love which gazes on the other, and past the other unto all that is created.  When God creates men and women in his image, he pronounces them as 'good,' because that is our nature, but also because we share in God's goodness as well. 

 

Jesus refers to this intimacy that he has with and by the Father.  The love of the Father and Son is so great that they send the Spirit to maintain this new relationship fostered by the Paschal Mystery.  The prayer of Jesus for the apostles, and for the whole of the Church, as found in John's Gospel. indicates Jesus' desire that we have the same oneness with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as does Jesus. This powerful prayer consecrates to the truth of God.

 

For us this image of the Trinity is exemplified in the sacraments, especially in that of vocations.  Here there is a transformation and the creation, nourishing, and nurturing of life.  Love and mercy must be a mainstay throughout the life of one dedicated to this particular life, and in doing so the individuals are a living example of love and faithfulness to the whole world.  So while the theology of the Trinity is quite eschatological, it's practice is in seeking out the very best for another, and forgiving injuries and wrongs.  It is how we live our a relationship of love.