Author: yuengerwv

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Peace and Love
Fr. Paul

In the first reading we hear, “through his suffering, my servant shall justify many.” Are we willing to suffer for the benefit of others? I have often wondered if I would be brave enough to follow the example of those on the Titanic who voluntarily gave up their places in lifeboats so that others could escape. Or even the officers in our cities and towns, who sometimes look into the face of death as they do their job to protect others in the community.
In the psalm we ask God for his mercy. Do we really place our trust in him? Are we willing to give to others the same mercy we are asking for ourselves?  When we make a mistake, we think we deserve mercy, yet when others make mistakes, we demand justice. 
The second reading invites us to “Let us hold fast to our confession.” Do we hold fast even when it is uncomfortable or not popular? There is the old saying that if we don’t stand for something we will fall for anything. 
In the Gospel we first notice the disciples jockeying for positions of power and authority.  How many of us will volunteer for the lowliest position if we cannot be the boss? Jesus says whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all. Are we willing to let go of our ego and our will for the sake of others?  Are we willing to clean the latrines as quickly as head up the field office?

The first reading begins with a request for prudence. Do we ever ask for such? How about riches?  Do we really think we can simply walk away from all our possessions without a struggle?  In how many movies does one of the characters prefer the lure of riches instead of a safe escape from danger? The psalm response asks God to fill us with his love. Do we really want to love as God does? Are we willing to embrace our neighbors or enemies the way Jesus embraces us? The second reading says God’s word is like a fine sword. Are we ready for our life to be so exposed? God’s fine sword can slice between our thoughts and actions, with no room for us to escape.  In the Gospel Jesus invites the young man to eliminate his possessions and follow him. What hinders us from following Jesus without reservation?  How many of us have ever tried to bargain with God for the things WE think are more important?  Or do we eagerly await God’s directives for our lives and respond without hesitation?

We have in our readings this week a subject that is difficult for many in our society today. The issue of what constitutes a marriage has become a political issue and the issue of divorce is ongoing. The Church ‘s teachings are quite clear as spelled out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part II, Article 7, #1601-1666. 1t is important, however, to remember that the Church recognizes a list of 20 reasons a marriage may not be valid. This includes fraud, force, insufficient use of reason, lack of due discretion, lack of capacity, error regarding marital unity or indissolubility, simulation, conditions on consent (future/past/ present), and others for which those who are divorced may apply for a Declaration of Nullity, commonly called an annulment. It is equally important to remember that a divorce does not remove or excommunicate someone from the Church. Pope Francis has consistently said they are still members of the body of the Church and are expected to continue their faith journey within the Church to the best of their ability. While much has been made recently regarding Pope Francis’ exhortation AMORIS LAETITIA, the Pope made no changes to Church Teachings or Church Law in that exhortation.

For many years people argued, as still do, about the Church’s teaching that outside of the Church there is no salvation. They take it to mean the physical manifestation of the Church and not the Church as the Catechism teaches. Many other denominations do the same. If one is not part of their church they go to hell. Yet the first reading reminds us that the us/them argument doesn’t hold for God. Eldad and Medad would have been the “Others”. God’s spirit rested on them just as it did on those who were part of the “In” group. Who are we to say God can only do thus and so, when God can clearly do whatever he pleases? Are we jealous? Can we not exclaim with Moses, “Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!”
How often do we look at those who are rich as our role model? While sometimes they can be role models, but we cannot consider them role models just because they are rich. We need to see how they live and follow what Jesus teaches? Do they allow their wealth to seduce them into thinking they no longer need God? Do we in our wealth in our country begin to think we are entitled to all that we desire, regardless of who else must suffer?
Picking up on the first reading the Gospel has some complaining about others doing good things, because they are not a part of the “In” group. We need to support those who have picked up their crosses and are following Jesus, rich or poor, noble or plebian.

Following up on last week’s gospel, about picking up our cross. This week’s readings remind us that a cross is unavoidable if we follow God’s desires. The world will confront us because our faith is obnoxious to them. They will play games to trip us up and do all they can to make our faith sound like a hypocrisy. Some of that is because they are filled with jealousy and selfish ambition, which create “disorder and every foul practice.” In the mist of this negativity, we are called to remain pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.”

Just because we are Christians does not mean we are immune to jealousy and ambition. Even as Jesus was explaining he was going to be killed, the disciples debated among themselves, who was the greatest. Are we willing to be the servant of all? Even to those who may wish to do us harm?

The readings today remind us that we need to live our faith each day and not merely give our faith lip service. Do we listen to God’s words? Do we reach out to those who persecute us? Do we recognize that regardless of what happens in this world, we “shall not be put to shame?” For ultimately God is the one who upholds us, not the people of this world. James emphasizes this when he reminds us of what Matthew says, “just because you call me Lord, does not mean you will enter the kingdom.” It is not enough to call ourselves Christians. As someone once asked, “If it were illegal to be a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?”

The Gospel reminds us that we need to see the world, not as we desire, but as God desires. Even Peter, who after professing faith, was chastised for not seeing as God does. Are we willing to deny ourselves and our wishes and desires in order to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Or are we too busy saving our life in this world, only to lose it in the next?

We read in this weekend’s second reading from James 2:1-5.  He tells us to “show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.”
This should challenge us to our core.  Who among us never shows partiality?  All one has to do is read the “news” or “social media” which are filled with vitriol regarding people who are different in look, shape, size, color, creed, age, birthed, un-birthed, gender or political thinking.
I was reading recently about Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas.  Regardless of one’s political persuasion, did you ever wonder why he is no longer a Catholic?  It is because, “good Catholics” didn’t listen and pay attention to what James was saying!  It was other Catholics who “made distinctions among yourselves and become judges”.  This isn’t ancient history, this is recent!  This isn’t about life in the “South” this is life in the “North” and “East” and “West” and “Middle” of our United States of America!  This isn’t about “progressives” or “conservatives” or non-affiliated people, it is about US.  Each of US.  All of US.
How many people leave the Church, not because of theology, or Church teachings, but because of the attitude of other “holy people” toward them?  How many have left the church because of ME or YOU?  In my own journey becoming a priest, there were those who rejected me and considered me to be “tainted” because I had been married, and thus unworthy and not pure enough to become a priest.  When we stop to think, are any of us worthy to be called “Christian” or “Catholic”.  Are any of us worthy to be saved by Jesus! 

We have in the first reading an echo in the prophet of the healing miracles Jesus performed. The blind sees, the deaf hear, the lame leak, the mute speak. We in our day begin to take modern miracles for granted. Just because a physician performs surgery or gives us medicines, does not mean that God is not doing anything. Most physicians I know will say that they can put the pieces in the right place to facilitate the healing, but it is God who still does the healing. Do we give God the credit, or just the physician? God reaches out to all his children to assist them as he wants all to come to him. As James says, he shows no partiality and expects us to “show no partiality” as we “adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” We need to remember that “God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him. As mentioned earlier Jesus fulfills what the prophets foretold when he healed the deaf. We continue to use Jesus’ word “Ephphatha” each time we baptize an infant asking that their ears be open to hear God’s word and their mouths be free to proclaim the glory of God.

You recently offered the anointing of the sick. Can you say more about this sacrament?

James 5: 14-15: “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.”
“The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members” (CCC 1421).  Anointing of the Sick along with the sacrament of Penance, are the two sacraments called healing sacraments.  Every year at the Chrism Mass before Easter, the bishop blesses olive oil (Oil for the Sick and Oil of Catechumens) and consecrates olive oil mixed with Balsam (Sacred Chrism) to be distributed to the parishes for the priests of the diocese.  When the oils from this mass are returned to the parish they are usually stored in a special location called an ambry. 
The Oil for the Sick is used for this anointing of the sick.  Often priests carry a small vial with this oil so as to be always ready to administer this sacrament. 
The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.  Danger is not limited to those with advanced age.  I have anointed children at birth who were in danger as well as those going into surgery.  I have had some say I was giving the sacrament to healthy people.  My approach is simple.  I do not have the medical knowledge to know who is in danger, so I let the recipient decide.  This also goes for old age.  Here I am reminded of the joke that states that no one dies from old age today, they die from illnesses.  Besides, as I have gotten older myself, “old age” seems to have gotten older and older.  So again, I let the recipient decide.   For caretakers, when people are dying, it is best to ask the priest to anoint the person early in the process, as he may not be available at the last moment.
I am aware there are non-ordained groups that use an oil and anoint people for healing, however, a priest alone validly administers the anointing of the sick.  This issue was debated a few years ago and the Church sticks with a priest only because, like the sacrament of penance, the anointing of the sick involves the forgiveness of sins, which is also reserved to priests.

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