Today’s gospel reading from Luke (7:11-17) relays an episode in which Jesus, about to enter the city of Nain, sees a funeral procession in which a widow mourns her only son who has died.  Pitying her, Jesus stops the group, touches the coffin, and tells the dead man to arise, which he does.  The people are afraid and amazed, leading them to spread the word about Jesus far and wide.

At this morning’s Mass, my pastor made a wonderful observation.  He invoked the words from the cross, “'[Jesus] said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son’; then [Jesus] said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother’” (Jn 19:26-27), to help understand Jesus’ motivation for raising the dead man.  Anticipating His own death, which would leave His widowed mother heartbroken at the loss of her only child, Jesus gave the son back to His mother to her great joy.  I would take this further and say that Jesus would restore Himself to His mother through His own power as well.  We only hear of three persons in the gospels whom  Jesus raised the dead (this man, Jairus’s daughter, and, of course, Lazarus).  In this case, unlike the others, Jesus performed the miracle entirely without prompting from, or discussion with, anyone else.  This was something He had to do, an internal prompting.  Just like Jesus gave this son to his mother, and to all of us in its recording in scripture, so He gave His own mother to us in entrusting her to John.

The pope’s letter in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, from which the quote above is taken, is getting a lot of attention.  I wish he would have expounded on the matter more, but as far as official Church teaching on salvation, atheism, and conscience (which, I feel confident the pope adheres to) note these quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

CCC 848 “Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men.” (from the Vatican II document Ad Gentes, 7)

CCC 2123 “Many . . . of our contemporaries either do not at all perceive, or explicitly reject, this intimate and vital bond of man to God. Atheism must therefore be regarded as one of the most serious problems of our time.” (from the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes, 19 § 1)

Also see the CCC on conscience: paragraphs 1776-1802.

This quote, taken from the beginning of today’s first reading (Col 1:24-2:3), is the cause of much consternation, confusion, and debate among Christians.  Was not Jesus’ suffering (more than) sufficient for the redemption of the world?  What could I possibly add?

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is helpful:

“These words could be misconstrued to mean that the suffering of Christ was not sufficient for redemption and that the suffering of the saints must be added to complete it.  This, however, would be heretical.  Christ and the Church are one mystical person, and while the merits of Christ, the head, are infinite, the saints acquire merit in a limited degree.  What is ‘lacking,’ then, pertains to the afflictions of the entire Church, to which Paul adds his own amount (St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians 1, 6).” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, The Letters of St. Paul to the Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, 30)

In the same section, it states that “[s]uffering is a mission for all the faithful as a means of conforming ourselves to Christ.”  This goes a long way in making sense of suffering.  St. Alphonsus Laiguori helps us here:

“‘[F]or the merits of the Passion to be applied to us according to St. Thomas (Summa theologiae, III, q. 49, a. 3), we need to cooperate (subjective redemption) by patiently bearing the trials God sends us, so as to become like our head, Christ” (St. Alphonsus, Thoughts on the Passion, 10).” ( The Navarre Bible, Captivity Epistles, 171)

A recent meditation in my Weekday Missal spoke of the four general types of prayer.  I have arranged them in the following way so that the first letters form a mnemonic:

Petition

Adoration

Contrition

Thanksgiving

It is important for us to engage in all of these frequently (daily ideally).  The idea of making a pact with God to be entirely faithful is a core component of prayer.  We petition Him for things that are good for us (which doesn’t always correspond to what we want).  We adore Him for who He is and what He did (He made us and everything else!).  We are contrite for failing Him, for being unfaithful.  And we thank Him for the manifold blessings in our lives (regardless of any particular difficulties we may be facing at the moment).

The meditation goes on to say that “we must beware of praying only when we want something.”  In fact, it says, over time we should be focused much more on adoration, thanksgiving, and true contrition.  This is wise counsel.  And when we do ask for things, let us get in the habit of completing every such prayer with “but, ‘Thy will be done'” (Mt 6:10).  As this quote is taken from the Lord’s Prayer, it is hard to think of any better way to complete our requests.  In fact, including the Our Father in each prayer time is a laudable thing.  After all, Jesus told His disciples that, when they pray, they should say these very words (cf. Lk 11:2).

Today’s gospel (assuming a different one was not used because of Labor Day) is taken from Luke 4:16-30.  Jesus has come back to His hometown of Nazareth.  As He always did, He went to synagogue on the sabbath.  Given the opportunity to read, He quotes Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”  When finished all present look at Him intently. He finally speaks, telling them that the passage is fulfilled in their hearing.  They react enthusiastically, speaking highly of Jesus.  But then the Lord, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, tells them that He will not perform great deeds there as He has elsewhere.  He cites the cases of Elijah and Elisha who healed pagans over the Chosen People.   Furious, they desire to kill Him (see above) “but he passed through the midst of them and went away” (v. 30).

We might, upon first completing this reading, identify with Jesus.  Conveying a tough message to a presumably friendly group (family, friends, familiar faces) can put us on the outs, even to the point of severely straining or even losing certain relationships.  We would hope to remain stalwart in the truth in the face of this adversity.  But maybe it is better to consider ourselves Nazarenes today.  Imagine (or maybe recall) an experience in which we excitedly await attending a talk of a famous speaker of whom we’ve heard many great things.  Maybe we even are familiar with some of his material and appreciate that he really “gives it to” those who we feel need “straightening out.”  We tell everyone to check him out.  The day comes and we eagerly await words of comfort to us and wrath to those we find problematic.  And then the tables are turned.  The message of reform seems to be aimed directly toward us.  We’re not the ones that need fixing!  How dare you come in here with that nonsense!  We’re not the problem!  But then, hopefully, we recall that “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Heb 4:12).  When we feel the poke, the pinch, the deep cut, in whatever way we encounter God’s Word, the difficulty lies with us, not Christ.  Unlike Jesus’ neighbors, may we not grow so blind and angry that we are more willing to toss the Word of God over the proverbial cliff.  Rather, such an experience should compel us to closely examine ourselves in light of Scripture and make the changes necessary to conform us to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Had today not been the feast day of the apostle Nathaneal (son of Tolmay), we would have continued reading from Ruth (2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17).  Yesterday we heard of Ruth, a Moabite, leaving her homeland to follow her mother-in-law back to the latter’s home in Jerusalem upon Ruth’s insistence (Naomi, the mother-in-law, had invited Ruth to go back to her town in Moab).  Extraordinary because Moab was Gentile territory in which pagan gods were worshiped, unlike the monotheistic Jews.  In Bethlehem she marries Boaz, a clansman of Naomi’s late husband, the union of which yields Obed (of whom Naomi predicts great things — see the headline) who, we are told, will become the grandfather of the great King David.

In Matthew’s famous opening genealogy, only four women are mentioned, and Ruth is the second one.  All are Gentiles.  God’s plan does not allow unusual circumstances or “undesirable” persons to alter it.  The greatest king of the Old Testament was David and his great-grandmother was a pagan.  Jesus’ line included all stripes of person, both male and female.  God will not be deterred by man’s failings, and potentially can include anyone, regardless of origin, status, or any other factor that is used by men in unjust discrimination.  Thus, we should be open to the Lord’s message to us in our lives regardless of where, or from whom, it comes.  Let us not be like the disciples who Jesus admonished by saying to them, “Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?” (Mk 8:18)  Be attentive to the Lord whether His Word comes in a roar or a whisper, from an expected place or the most unlikely source imaginable.

Today’s gospel (Mt 16:24-28) has Jesus telling His disciples the conditions of discipleship, this coming on the heels of His first prediction of the passion He will soon endure.  Jesus’ opening statement is given above.  He goes on to say that giving one’s life for His sake will ensure everlasting life; everyone will be repaid based on his conduct in this life,  He closes by telling them that some of them will see Jesus coming in His kingdom.

Now, we tend to think of the hardship of carrying our crosses, whether they be physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological.  It is understandably (from the perspective of this world) considered something undesirable that unfortunately needs to be endured.  But consider the one person in history who actually carried Jesus’ physical cross: Simon of Cyrene (Mk 15:21, Mt 27:32, Lk 23:26).  Each of the synoptic gospels tells us that he was forced to carry the cross to help the severely weakened Jesus make it to His place of execution.  It seems quite likely that Simon, initially being conscripted to this duty, would have been forever changed by the experience, especially upon seeing the fruits of the resurrection (Acts refers to Cyrene and Cyrenians several times).  A lesson for us in that, knowing what we know now, we should try to embrace the cross joyfully when invited to carry it, acknowledging the redemptive value that comes from it as we walk up to Calvary with Jesus.  The payoff is everlasting.

The optional first reading for today’s Feast of St. Mary Magdalene is taken from a letter of St. Paul (2 Cor 5:14-18).  The Apostle tells us that Christ died for us so that we could live for Him out of love for Him.  His redeeming death has made us new creations.

This is a great encouragement!  How often do we feel anything but “new”?  As the years pass and we age, we begin to slow down, grow set in our ways, become ensconced in the drudgery of the day to day, and get worn down by life.  How easy it is to miss the exciting newness of the world around us or become jaded about such things because of life experiences.  Yet the one who is “ever ancient, ever new” (from Augustine’s great Confessions) renewed us in baptism and continues to offer this renewal whenever we take advantage of the graces available through the sacraments and prayer.  If we ever get down about where we are in life, we would do well to recall the teaching of St. Paul.  We are “in Christ” through baptism and we must stay close to Him through prayer, Scripture, and liturgy.  In the unhappy event that we should separate ourselves from God (or have been away from Him for far too long), He always welcomes us back, regardless of the seriousness of our transgressions, through the sacrament of Reconciliation.  If we daily renew our commitment to the Lord, this recurring newness we have been gifted will spill over and help others to realize the newness that can be given to them or renewed in them.  This is Good News that must be shared.

In today’s gospel excerpt (Lk 10:38-43) we come across the familiar story of Jesus staying with the sisters Martha and Mary.  Martha gets upset with Mary for sitting and listening to Jesus while Martha busily attends to affairs of hospitality.  She demands Jesus tell Mary to help her.  Jesus tells Martha to overcome her worry and anxiety and closes with the words above.

What is the “better part”?  Matthew tells us: “[sitting] beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.” (v. 39)  Two things stand out here.  First, and most importantly, is Mary’s disposition.  She is humbly positioned near Jesus with her full attention on Him and her full submission to Him.  This properly prepares her for hearing the Word of the Lord.  What a lesson this is for us today!  1.) Staying close to Jesus.  2.) Listening to what He has to say attentively.  3.) Submitting to His word.  A lifetime plan.  Developing a relationship with the One we love (and who doesn’t want to know everything about, hear everything from, and do everything we can for the one with whom we are madly in love?) through prayer, encountering the Real Presence, and our relationship with our fellow man (see Mt 25:40, Mk 12:31, and Lk 10:25-37 for starters).  Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church (the Magisterium) give voice to Divine Revelation — does hearing some of this make up a part of our daily lives?  Finally, being “all in” to obeying Christ by striving to perfectly submit to His will in our lives must be our goal (“God willing” is a good way to cap off any discussion of our plans).  Mary was there.  Martha, while undeniably doing important things, was clouded with worry and anxiety, as Jesus saw when looking beyond her activity and into her heart.  Jesus does not criticize Martha for her hospitality (Jesus grew up with the perfect hostess) but cautions her about an interior disposition that blocks the Word and inadvertently looks to do the same in others.  It is important that we do our duties well while always making sure that our actions always honor God and are never allowed to distract us or pull us away from Him.

Today’s Old Testament reading continues the story of Joseph and his brothers (Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5).  The scene is Joseph’s ten brothers returning to Joseph (whom they still do not recognize) in Egypt after it is discovered that the youngest has in his possession a silver goblet (planted by Joseph).  Joseph tells them that this brother, Benjamin, must stay with him.  That is where today’s reading begins.  The brothers beg Joseph, on behalf of their father, not to keep Benjamin, relaying how the father loves him and would die if he didn’t return.  Joseph, unable to maintain the deception any longer, clears all Egyptians out and reveals himself to his brothers.  He is wailing, his brothers are dumbfounded.  He tells them not to reproach themselves for the evil they did to him, concluding with the words at top.

What a spectacular attitude Joseph has!  By all rights he should have been furious at the brothers who so callously wished to kill him out of envy years before.  He had the means to do with them what he willed, even to kill them, with no repercussions to himself.  While it is true that after much suffering he, through a gift of God, attained a high position, he was still in a foreign land long separated from his family, knowing that, to a man, his brothers had it out for him.  Yet, after, admittedly, causing them some grief, he has the insight to realize that God was able to bring a greater good out of the sins of the brothers, ultimately saving his whole family from famine and ensuring the flourishing of future generations.  It is an example for us to follow.  In great difficulties, downturns, or trials, it is often hard to see what good can come of our pain (likely Joseph spent years feeling this as well).  Yet, trusting in the Lord and seeking to do His will, one day at a time, by faith we can be assured that what the Most High has in store for us (and quite possibly our loved ones and even others) is far beyond the challenges of the moment.  It is the light of faith that is the beacon for us in this journey, just as it was for Joseph and all of the patriarchs, prophets, and disciples of Jesus.  Such stories should be a great inspiration to us to move forward in trust.