The first gospel reading after Easter (Mt 28:8-15) picks up right after Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” go away from the tomb after the angel tells them that Jesus is risen and that they are to go and tell His disciples.  Now they encounter Jesus and give Him homage.  He also tells them to go to His disciples.  Meanwhile, those who had “guarded” the tomb tell the chief priests everything that went on.  After the chief priests took counsel with the elders they settled on the line above to relay to the guards.  In addition, they tell the guards they will appease the governor if there is any trouble for them on that end.  The soldiers do as they are told, starting a false story that persisted to the day of the writing of the gospel.

Not only did the story endure for a few decades, in some circles it persists to this day, twenty centuries later.  More important for our reflection, consider the action of the Sanhedrin.  They had witnessed Jesus in action for three years, noting all the good He did, hearing Him preach, witnessing His miracles.  Nevertheless, they knowingly put Him to death unjustly.  Then, when He rises as He foretold, instead of finally coming around upon hearing this awesome, never before heard of, news, they double down and after taking counsel — this was not a hasty or knee jerk reaction but a well thought out plan — pay off witnesses to the event.  Their hearts only hardened as did their ancestors time and time again as we read in the Old Testament.

Unlike these Jewish religious leaders, may any hardness in our hearts soften upon the news of the risen Christ, transforming us into “a new creation” (2 Cor 5:17).  That Jesus is alive is not news to hide or deny but to proclaim boldly to the world!  The Lord has defeated death and He “was raised for our justification” (Rom 4:25).

This is good news.  Share it!

I suppose that I’m about six days early with this post, but a talk to which I was listening in the car this morning inspired me to write.

The subject was “the eighth day,” that is, the day of the resurrection of Jesus.  God began creation on the first day of the week (Sunday) and rested on the seventh day (Saturday).  Christ’s exit from the tomb signaled a new creation or renewed creation and thus was dubbed “the eighth day” by the early Fathers of the Church (and why Christians’ sabbath is on Sunday).

The connection between the first day we read about in Genesis (1:3-5) and the resurrection of the Lord (see Mt 28:1-10, Mk 16;1-8, Lk 24:1-12, Jn 20:1-10) jumped out at me like a flash, so to speak.  Matthew tells us an angel whose appearance “was like lightning” rolled back the stone of the tomb (28:2-3).  Luke tells us of two men in “dazzling garments” announced that Jesus was alive (24:4).  And who doesn’t imagine the scene when Jesus rose as one in which His visage was very much like that which amazed the apostles during the Transfiguration (see Mt 17:1–9, Mk 9:2-8, Lk 9:28–36)?

But, to make this connection, we need go no further than Jesus’ own words: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).  This same Jesus is the Word of God (see Jn 1:1-5) who effected creation at the beginning of time.  On the first Easter He effected a new creation by conquering death.  In doing so He calls us to reflect that light to others: “You are the light of the world…your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:14, 16).

May the coming Easter season see a renewal of that light and may it start with each and every one of us.

For the first time in this blog the headline’s quote does not come from the Bible.  Rather, it is referred to in a commentary on Deuteronomy I’ve been reading (the Navarre Bible; read Deut 30:11-14).  It is from the Council of Trent’s document De iustificatione.  The full quote:

God does not command impossible things; when he makes a commandment he is telling you to do what you can to ask (his help) as regards what is beyond, and he helps you to fulfill it. (11)

Reading this, I immediately thought of the most challenging statement Jesus ever uttered:

So be perfect, just as your heavenly father is perfect. (Mt 5:48)

It is not uncommon to hear persons say, “I’m only human” or “Nobody’s perfect” when they commit some offense.  But this is not the standard to which we are to hold ourselves.  It is inhumane to sin when we compare ourselves to the perfect man, the one we look to as fully human.  Can we be perfect on our own?  Of course not.  But what we often miss is that “for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).  As we just read from Trent, God can make up the difference if we conform ourselves to Him.  I am not alone at marveling at the great saints who lamented their shortcomings even though most would look at them as extraordinarily holy (see 1 Tim 1:15).  False humility?  Not a chance.  Rather, they realized more keenly than most the horror of sin and the distance it pushes us away from God.  When we come to this realization in ourselves and throw ourselves upon the mercy of God, begging His graces, we will be amazed at the progress we make.

The headline comes from the last line of today’s first reading (Jas 4:13-17).  James leads up to this by decrying the boasting of those who make plans as though they were in charge of their lives instead of God.  He suggests that all planning should acknowledge that what they propose will happen only if God wills it.

Regarding the first part of the reading, not only should a suffix of “God willing” to our statements of intent acknowledge God’s sovereignty over our lives, but it would serve well to give us pause as well: are we following God’s will in what we intend to do?  This may be for us an effective means to achieve the aim of the final sentence of this reading.  Try these: “Tomorrow I’m going to do my taxes and deceive the IRS where I think I can get away with it, God willing.”  “This evening I’ll be heading to the mall to spend lavishly on a new wardrobe I don’t really need, if it is the Lord’s will.”  Now, you fill in the blank.  Is this not an effective way to help ensure our wills align with God’s?  A sort of ongoing examination of conscience.

Getting to the last line, I’m sure that many homilies and reflections for today will focus on sins of omission.  This is worthwhile to consider.  But let us not forget that we can and should consider sins of commission here as well.  That is, simply taking the wrong course of action.  So, for example, engaging (or remaining in) a conversation in which a person is being torn down by detraction, calumny, or rash judgment.  The right thing to do is leave, steer the conversation in another direction, or defend the person being abused.  Or maybe the situation is going to or remaining at an event that offends against the core beliefs of your faith as opposed to not going or leaving when things go south.  In these, and other events like this, our concern too often is focused on what other persons think, not what God demands.  And what is it that he commands?  “Be perfect” (Mt 5:48).  Yes, the gospel is challenging.  But who among us, when standing before the judgment seat, will dare to throw at that excuse when the Lord Himself promised: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9)?  Let us do the right thing today and every day.

The Old Testament reading (1 Kgs 8:22-23; 27-30) for today’s Mass is an excerpt from Solomon’s prayer upon dedicating the temple he had just built.  He wonders how God can be confined to such a structure, His dwelling place on earth.  He promises the Lord prayers and petitions from himself and God’s people Israel and asks the Lord for pardon.

Being a New Testament people, we see in this temple a prefigurement of God permanently dwelling with us, in a real and substantial way, through the Church established by His Son.  At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the priesthood and the Eucharist, thus anticipating the promise He made at the end of Matthew’s gospel: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).  Solomon’s call for prayers, petitions, and pardon are still perfectly valid.

Today is also the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  Wonderfully tying into the regular reading for the day just discussed, we are reminded that the Word became flesh in Jesus’ first tabernacle, His mother’s womb.  Is it any wonder we honor Mary so highly for accepting the joys (Lk 1:46-55 and the miracle at Cana [Jn 2:1-11] which happens to be the gospel reading for this feast day) and sorrows (Lk 2:35) that were to accompany this awesome responsibility?  The Son of God became man in order to save us.  He told us that “the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51).  This glorified body is present and available to us today at every Mass and in every tabernacle in the world.  Don’t ever miss out on this blessing of life that was provided to us at such a great price.

Deciding to spend a few minutes after Mass this morning in front of the tabernacle I thought I would open the Bible at random and read the chapter that my eyes first fell upon.  As is often reported, such an action can be surprisingly fruitful.  In my case, Psalm 16 was blessedly presented to me (parts of vv. 8 and 11, particularly applicable to my location at the time, are found above).

The psalmist is particularly hopeful here, knowing that his “destiny [is] secure” and that he “shall never be shaken” despite the concern for his safety he expresses in the opening words.  He relies on the Lord’s counsels and benefits from them.  He will not be abandoned because “You will show me the path to life.”

What a great encouragement to remember God’s presence in our lives!  This is put in no more stark relief than when in front of Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.  I have just found a great new prayer to say in adoration and great words to remember especially in times of worry.  I hope you have as well.

Today’s headline comes from the end of a short passage (Mt 5:13-16) that follows immediately the Beatitudes which begin the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7).  We are salt that must not lose its flavor.  We are light not to be hidden under a basket but to “shine before others.”

The Beatitudes give Jesus’ hearers instructions on living; the similes of salt and light found in this reading tell them to live the Beatitudes boldly.

Note that in the closing words of the reading good deeds are required but not so that we should garner praise.  Rather, any good we do redounds to God.  This emphasis on humility is a key takeaway from this passage.  Whenever humility comes up in Scripture (and it does very often), my thoughts turn to Luke 17:10: “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'”  Jesus is not simply requesting or suggesting here, He is commanding.  We are obliged to comply.  When praise comes our way, we don’t deny our gifts, we simply acknowledge the giver.  Let us let our light shine, do good deeds, and give the glory to God.  Then we are in right relationship with the Creator and the creature.

The beginning of Mark 6 (vv. 1-6) has Jesus coming back home to Nazareth with His disciples.  Jesus teaches in the synagogue there causing many kin and neighbors to marvel at the learning, wisdom, and “mighty deeds” coming from this man whom they have long known (or thought they knew) and who still has a mother and other relatives living there.  Apparently the tone is negative because Jesus is “amazed at their lack of faith” (v. 6) thus being able to do little healing there.

My first thought upon hearing the words in the headline had to do with our contemporary culture that, when unable to ignore or dismiss Christian principles, seems to increasingly take offense at them.  This is true, of course.  What is worse, and what is the focus of this episode in Jesus’ life, is His being rejected by those who knew Him best!  We, as Christians, should know the Lord best.  This is why it is all the more disturbing when we reject Him by our words and actions.  All sin signifies rejection of Jesus in some way, but does not necessarily indicate a complete break (mortal sin is the decisive break from the life of grace).  Do not Christians “take offense” at Jesus when they promote intrinsically evil acts like abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, and homosexual “marriage” (the so-called “non-negotiables”).  We are to be the light of the world, advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth, not advocating for evil or being silent in the face of it.  Jesus was rejected by family and friends for His words and works.  Are we willing to accept this for ourselves when our Christian faith collides with popular culture, political correctness, “tolerance,” and a false sense of compassion?

Jesus carried the burden of being offensive all the way to Calvary.  How far are we willing to carry it?

Today’s first reading from 1 Samuel (15:16-23) tells the story of the beginning of the end of King Saul’s reign.  Instructed earlier (in verse 3) by God through Samuel to spare no living thing under Amalek, Saul, after routing the Amalekites, spares their king’s life and all “worthwhile” livestock.  Now we are at the point where Samuel, having been alerted by God to Saul’s disobedience goes to meet him.  Samuel confronts Saul with Saul’s sin, Saul tries to justify it by claiming (dubiously — see v. 12) that his sparing of animals was for the purpose of providing sacrifice to the Lord but Samuel tells Saul the words at top just before relaying that God has rejected Saul as king.

This is a particularly good reading in the run-up to Lent (it is not too early to think about it!).  Although this has changed somewhat in recent years, our tendency still is to think of Lent as a time of sacrifice — which in most minds means “giving up something.”  But whether your intended sacrifice for Lent is not doing something you like to do or doing something extra you don’t normally do, it is worthwhile to be mindful of Samuel’s words to Saul at top.  What should we give up for Lent?  What does the Lord want us to give up first and foremost?  It isn’t chocolate or coffee or TV or Facebook or whatever.  It is sin that he wants eliminated.  And not just for Lent (although what better time to begin a change for the rest of our lives?).  So give up chocolate if you like, but also give up gluttony — for good.  Give up TV and then vow to eliminate procrastination and laziness from this point forward.  That is, hit hard those “comfortable” sins and vices by turning to their opposite virtues (Dante is of great help here):

Of particular help will be to begin Lent with a well-examined conscience followed by the Sacrament of Confession which must conclude with a sincere Act of Contrition.  All sacraments provide grace (they are the ordinary means, ordained by Jesus, to do so).  Take advantage of it often, as we are bound to stumble.  But upon stumbling don’t give up but resolve even more firmly to strive to “be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).

The first reading continues the Year II first readings for weekdays that started yesterday which was the first day of ordinary time after the Christmas season.  We read further in Samuel (1 Sam 9-20) about the plight of Hannah who we already learned suffered shame, rebuke, and heartache because she had not yet become pregnant.  Today we hear of her silent pleading to the Lord in the temple.  The priest Eli sees her lips moving but hears no words so he rebukes her for being intoxicated.  She responds by meekly telling him that she is not drunk but miserable due to her childlessness.  Eli prays that the Lord will grant her a child which perks her up considerably.  Soon after she becomes pregnant and that child, who she promises to dedicate to the Lord, is named Samuel.

Striking here is Hannah’s passive, submissive and, most of all, humble attitude toward this man who accuses her unjustly.  It would be easy to understand if she responded to Eli’s initial words with anger or dismissiveness.  He could have no idea of her sorrow yet he gives her grief for coming to the temple to pray.  Instead of showing compassion he treats her harshly.  Yet, she submits to this priest, telling him of her pain while explaining her actions, asking him not to think poorly of her (see the headline).  How Christlike to see such humility and gentleness in the face of anger and rebuke.  And, as it was with Jesus, this humble attitude leads to great things for Hannah.  She gains the favor of the priest who intercedes to God on her behalf.  Henceforth she delivers a son who eventually succeeds Eli as a great judge of the Chosen People and a prophet.  May we too learn that God works through our humble obedience to Him to turn any adversity, strife, anger, humiliation, or evil we endure into a greater good we could not have anticipated or effected.