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Why Read the Bible?

7 March 2010, 4:42 pm

During this season of Lent, I have been leading a Bible Study in the parish.  We meet after the last Mass on Sunday for about an hour and fifteen minutes to discuss the Sunday readings.  We have only averaged about five people for each of the three Sundays of Lent so far.

It raises the question ‘are people interested in reading the Bible’?  We should be.  It is our history.  It is not our national history.  It is not our (biological) family history.  It is not our personal history. 

It is our history as the people of God.  It tells us about the relationship between God and the people.  Some believe all that matters is the New Testament.  The Old Testament is important for two reasons.  First, it is the history of how God was there for his people.  Stories like the Exodus where God rescued his people; stories of King David; and stories of the prophets telling the people how God calls the people to live.  The second reason is to understand the New Testament.  Jesus is the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies.  We can’t understand how this is so if we don’t read the Old Testament.  Why do we care how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies?  Because it shows we can count on God’s Word.

Another way in which the Old Testament helps us understand the New Testament is Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:17-19

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.  Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus fulfills both the law and the prophets.  We must understand the law to understand how Jesus fulfills it.  The Commandments of the Law are good because they come from God.  Does Jesus ’set aside’ some of the Mosaic Law such as the prohibition of eating certain foods like pork?  Yes, but Jesus does not ’set aside’ the Ten Commandments.  He helps us understand what it means, not just to obey them but, to live them.

Before Vatican II, the Old Testament was not read much at Mass.  With the new Lectionary, except during the Easter season, the first reading is always picked from the Old Testament.  First, the gospel reading of the day is picked and then an Old Testament reading is picked that somehow relates to the gospel reading.

Is the Bible easy reading?  No, that’ s why the priest who taught my three New Testament classes in seminary was so found of saying we must keep going back to read the Bible over and over.  Some people try to read the Bible from beginning to end.  I find that difficult because you can get stuck in some of the genealogies and rules.

Bible studies are an option when available.  For the beginner I suggest to read the readings of the day and using a reflection book to help (these books will tell you what the readings of the day are).  Examples of such books are Living Faith (quarterly), The Word Among Us (monthly I think), or The Magnificant.  You can find the readings online at http://www.usccb.org/nab/.

Read the Bible.  It is God’s Word.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Filed under The Bible.
Comment

Gluttony

4 March 2010, 7:00 pm

Gluttony is defined by www.catholicreference.net as an “inordinate desire for the pleasure connected with food or drink.”  Gluttony is eating or drinking too much.  Eating too much can lead to obesity, heart attacks, and obesity.  Excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism.  Even if the drinker is not an alcoholic, the excess drink can still lead to other sins because of loss of reason from intoxication.

Gluttony can be sinful in two ways.  First, our bodies are a gift from God and we should take care of them.  To willingly eat or drink too much can be a failure to value the gift God has given us.  Secondly, gluttony can be a sin because, if we are eating or drinking more than we need, then someone else may not be able to get enough food and drink.  In effect, our over-consumption can be “stealing” from those in need (You may wish to check out http://www.renewaloffaith.org/sj/sjwater.htm as it relates to our use of water and other people).

It is not just food and water that we may need to limit our use of.  In our American culture we are becoming experts at “over-consumption”, meaning we use more than we need of everything.  We need to be mindful to not use more than we need.  Our natural resources are limited and many are not renewable.  Other people in the world today may need those same resources.  Likewise, people who live 1,000 years from now will need them too. 

Global Solidarity is a term used today to symbolism our connectedness with other people down the street, on the other side of the world, and those yet to be born.  We are free to use what we need but not all we want.  May our Lenten disciple of fasting help us to live, not just in Lent but always, in solidarity with our neighbors, recognizing their needs.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Filed under The Seven Deadly Sins. Tagged ,
Comment

Greed and Envy

1 March 2010, 9:02 am

Continuing our look at the Seven Deadly Sins, I turn to greed and envy.  I put these two together because they both seek to have things we do not have. 

Greed is to seek what we do not have.  It is not directed towards any person.  It is excessive desire to have material things or power.  I say “excessive” because it is natural to want something like to have a nice home and a nice car.  Likewise, power itself is not bad if the power is used for the good of others.  Our human nature leads us to need someone to be in charge.  Power becomes a problem when a person uses their power for their own gain, material or in name (pride). 

Material things are (generally) not inherently bad.  There is nothing wrong with seeking the things we need.  For example, we all need a place to live.  But when the desire moves from a simple home to a big “fancy” mansion and that desire controls all our actions we commit the sin of greed.  Where do your priorities lie?  Are you more concerned about spending your time with your family or do you spend all your time at work to “get more”?  Remember we are not talking about trying to make enough money to have basic food, water, and shelter.

What about envy”  While greed is directed at ‘things’ or ‘power’ envy is directed at an individual person or a group of people.  To have envy is to desire what someone else has.  It could be have their home or their car or another ‘thing’.  Envy can also be to want to have the good family or life they have.  We should all want to have a good family or good life.  The problem is when that dictates our actions or clouds our judgment.  One might, in a passing thought or initial reaction, say I would like to have that car that my friend just got.  The passing thought is not so much the problem  but again when we dwell on it.  For example, do you think about it every time you see the person?  Do you bring it up in conversation or do you think about it another time? 

Sometimes envy can blind us to the real situation.  For example, a person whose marriage has failed and is going through divorce might start to think that a friend has “that perfect marriage” but that may not be the real situation.  Their friend might have the same problem.

Envy violates the Ninth and Tenth Commandment to covet what is not yours.  Greed may violate the Seventh Commandment is “You shall not steal.”  Greed may not seem like stealing. but if we have more than we need, it could result in someone else not having what they need.  In that case, we have taken from them (steal) what they need.

The Church believes in the right to private property but it also believes in the Universal Destination of Goods; meaning that God has given all that we have not just for our own good but for the good of all.  We have a right to what we need.  Beyond our need we are called to share so that all may have what they need.  There is nothing wrong with having a some fun or vacation.  But the question is always is it the focus of our life or just something we do to relax.

Are your actions governed by love as Jesus calls us to love or by greed or envy?  Remember, Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Filed under The Seven Deadly Sins.
Comment

Pride

27 February 2010, 7:54 pm

Is pride always a sin?

We are to be happy when we do good things.  But what is our attitude when we do good work?  Do we take all the credit without acknowledging those who helped us or without thanking God for helping us?

When we have done good work we should be pleased.  We should also give thanks to anyone who has helped us (share the credit).  We should thank God for the gifts he has given us to make it possible to do good.

When people tell us we have done a good job, we should be gracious and thank them for the compliment.  It is not true humility when we try and make it seem like we didn’t do that much.  I know because I do this.  When people give me a compliment I try to downplay the significance of what I have done; perhaps saying something like ‘oh it didn’t take that much.”  God created the world in six days and on the seventh day he rested and appreciated the good work he did.  We are to follow God’s example.  When I receive a compliment now I try to offer a thank you and say I am able to do it only because of the grace of God.

Pride becomes a problem when we take ALL the credit ourself and build an ego where we claim we did it on our own and then cut ourselves off from God and others.  Then, when we try to do by ourselves, we find out just how much help we need from God.  We try to do it our way rather than God’s way.  We come to think we know better than God.

At times, when I read the Letters of St. Paul in the New Testament, I feel like he had a big ego because he talks a lot about the good work he has done.  But then we read in 2 Corinthians 12:9 we read

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.

God gives us each different gifts in different ways.  It is when we acknowledge that we can’t do it all ourselves that God makes up for what we cannot do ourselves.  It is when we acknowledge what we can’t do that God helps us, making us strong.

Do you have too much pride?  Do you acknowledge God’s help?  Do you acknowledge the help of others?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Filed under The Seven Deadly Sins.
Comment

Another Earthquake!

27 February 2010, 10:26 am

There has been a massive earthquake in Chile.  IT IS 8.8 on the Richter scale with at least 23 aftershocks.  The epicenter of the earthquake is 56 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion.  The death toll is at 85 but we can only image that will rise.  There are building damaged 200 miles away and there is a tsunami wave caused by the quake.  There are tsunami warnings across the Pacific Ocean and the wave is expected to reach Hawaii about 4:15 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).  You can read all this on www.msnbc.com at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35615455/ns/world_news-americas/.

The president of Chile has declared a “State of Catastrophe.”  The geophysicist mentioned in the MSNBC story says this earthquake released 500 times more energy than the earthquake in Haiti. 

One can ask why does God cause such things?  I remember after the earthquake in Haiti (and after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans) people saying it was God’s wrath punishing the people for their sins.  Could it be?  There are certainly stories of God’s wrath in the Old Testament stories (ex. Noah and the Flood). 

But I don’t see every natural disaster as God’s wrath.  God allows these disasters to happen but that does not mean he causes them.  Could God have created a world where there would be no earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or any other natural disasters?  Of course, but he didn’t.  I don’t understand why and I don’t expect to know the answer to that in this life time.

But God is present for those people in Chile.  God is always present.  We are called to be God’s hands in these disasters, helping in whatever way we can with the gifts we have been giving.  There will be requests for donations and help coming very soon I am sure.  The people in Chile need to know others care and through the care and love we show may they be reminded of God’s love.

One last note – there are Rochester Sisters of Mercy serving in Chile.  I just received word from one of the sisters here in Elmira that their Rochester office has been in contact with the sisters in Chile.  They are OK but feeling the aftershocks.

Pray for all those in Chile as God’s children.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

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Anger

25 February 2010, 7:16 pm

Continuing our discussion on the seven deadly sins, we turn to anger.  The gospel for tomorrow (Friday, February 26, 2010) speaks of angry.  Jesus refers to the commandment “You shall not kill” and takes it further.  Not only should we not kill, we shouldn’t even be angry with people.

That’s tough!  Isn’t it natural to get angry sometimes.  Even Jesus got angry (Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-18, John 2:13-18).  If people wrong us, shouldn’t we be upset?  We agree that it is wrong to kill because we are angry.  In fact, no physical violence is justified by anger.  We should never act out our anger physically but it’s a natural reaction isn’t it?

Yes, it can be a natural reaction.  We can’t always control the thoughts and emotions that came into our head.  We can control what we do with the thoughts and emotions.

Paragraph 2302 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church says

Anger is a desire for revenge. “To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,” but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution “to correct vices and maintain justice.” If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.”

Anger becomes a problem when it dictates our actions.  When we lose control of our anger, we might act out not just to the person we are angry with but to anyone.  When we hold onto anger in our hearts, we shut out love.  We can shut out not just from the person we are angry with but any one’s love.

People like to cite the passage “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Leviticus 24:20) to justify their angry actions.  Jesus addresses this in Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’   But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.  If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.  Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.  Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

Jesus tells us to let go of our anger.  The greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor.  Anger keeps us from loving.  Anger can lead us to sin.

To think of it another way, when we sin, does God have a reason to be angry with us?  Yes, but we could on God not acting out his anger towards us.  We want to be forgiven.  We must do the same.  It is the Golden Rule “Do unto whatever you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).

May God help us let go of our anger.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Filed under The Seven Deadly Sins.
Comment

The Seven Deadly Sins

22 February 2010, 7:30 pm

We don’t talk much about sin anymore.  The pendulum swung from frequent Confession to occasion, or never, going to the sacrament.  However, sin has not gone away. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sin as

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.” (1849).

More simply, sin is when we do something that offends God.  Sin is a failure to do good.  There are three criteria given in the Catechism for sin to be mortal (serious)

For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.” (1857).

Grave matter is outlined in the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:1017 or Deuteromony 5:15-21).  To be held accountable for sin we must have knowledge that it is sin and consent to the act.  If we are forced against our will to do something, we have not sinned in doing it.

There are sins that can lead us to further sins (Catechism, 1865).  Among these are what we call “The Seven Deadly Sins.”  They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth (Catechism 1866, Compendium 398); more commonly called pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth is perhaps most easily understood as laziness as it relates to not doing good works and fulfilling God’s plan for us out of laziness.

In the coming weeks I hope to write on each of the seven deadly sins.  Be sure and check back.  For now, you can check out the definition of each at www.catholicreference.net. 

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

 

Filed under The Seven Deadly Sins.
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Lenten Fasting

20 February 2010, 6:32 pm

One of the common practices associated with Lent is fasting.  The readings of the Friday after Ash Wednesday speak of fasting.  The disciples of John come to Jesus and ask why his disciples were not fasting.  He replies that the bridegroom is with them so it is not the time for fasting.  His disciples will fast when the bridegroom is gone.  Jesus is the bridegroom.  Jesus is the Messiah and while he was with his disciples it was not the time for fasting but for joy.

Why do we fast?  In the past, fasting was commonly associated with punishment.  Sinners must be punished with a penance like fasting.

Fasting is not just a punishment.  Fasting is to bring us closer to God.  Fasting is most commonly thought of in terms of food but we could fast from anything that we like.  In fasting, we give up something of this world to seek the gifts that Jesus offers us.  In fasting, we realize that there are things more important (God) than earthly things.

Fasting can also enable us to help others.  In fasting, we don’t use so much ourselves and so perhaps we can give give that “extra” to someone in need.  Or perhaps you have given something like a couple of hours of TV a week.  You can volunteer the time that you would have spent watching TV.

The Lenten practice of fasting is not just punishment.  It is meant to help us be better Christians.  What could you give up that would help you be a better person?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

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The Anointing of the Sick

18 February 2010, 6:44 pm

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not a well-understood sacrament.  Many people who grew up prior to the Second Vatican Council still understand it as “Last Rights.”  Understood as “Last Rights” one would only call for the priest to come when the person was thought to be near death.  Occasionally, when I visit parishioners at the hospital and offer to anoint them they have a momentary look of panic.  These are the people who understood the anointing as “Last Rights.”  So, they hear my offer to anoint them to mean the person is dying.

When the renewals of the Second Vatican Council, the history of the sacraments was reviewed.  For centuries the understanding of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was exclusively “Last Rights.”  However, if you look at the biblical foundation of the Anointing of the Sick (James 5:13-15), you will see an invite to anoint all who are sick. 

James 5:14 says

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.

The presbyters were leaders of the local churches.  In our understanding today, the presbyters are the priests.  Hence, priests are the ministers of the Anointing of the Sick.

What is the understanding of “sick” for Anointing?  A person with a common cold is ’sick’ but would be expected to make a full recovery.  We can (and should) always pray for anyone who is sick but we generally use the sacrament for those with “serious illness.”  “Serious Illness” is anyone who is dying but also includes people with diagnosis of diseases like cancer, major surgery, or heart issues (There is no definite list of “serious illnesses”).  It would also include those who are limited in what they can do by old age.

When is it time to be anointed?  Generally, one should first be anointed when they learn of the illness.  If the disease becomes worse, then it can be repeated with any significant changes.  There is no prescribed interval to repeat the Sacrament.  It is not something to do weekly or even monthly but rather at points of significant change.  One person may not get any worse for months while another may get sicker quickly.

What does the priest do when he anoints a person?  There are various occasions when a person might be anointed.  The first is to anoint the person (people) at a Mass.  Generally, the anointing would be done after the homily.  If done at a Sunday Mass, the readings and prayers of the Sunday are used.  If a special Mass is done during the week, there are special readings and prayers that may be done.

Outside Mass, a person can be anointing at home or in the hospital.  Depending on the urgency, the priest may do a reading, and some introductory prayers.  The most essential part of the Anointing of the Sick is to anoint the person with the Oil of the Sick on the forehead and the palms of their hands (or another place on the person if the forehead or hands are not accessible).  As the priest anoints the person he prays

Through this holy anointing may the Lord, in his love and mercy, help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit (Amen).  May the Lord who frees you from sin and raise you up (Amen).

The Anointing of the Sick should include an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).  If the person is expected to pass soon, the apostolic pardon is offered.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a pray for healing.  Spiritual healing is an important component of this.  The person may not be physically healed but the Lord offers spiritual healing.  It is offered not just for the dying but for all who are “seriously ill.”  You don’t have (and shouldn’t wait for the final moments) to ask the priest to come.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Filed under Sacraments.
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Doubt

15 February 2010, 11:10 am

Today’s first reading (Monday-6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II) comes from James 1:1-11.   James speaks of perseverance and doubt.  We must persevere in faith without doubt.

It is easier said than done.

When life is going well our faith is not challenged.  It is in times of challenge and difficult that we found out just how strong our faith it.  It is in difficult times that we are called to persevere. 

In good times we may take God for granted.  Or in good times we might say we did everything ourselves without help from other people or God.  Yet, when times become difficult we might wonder why God isn’t “fixing everything.”  We might take credit for the good but then blame God for the bad.

Jesus persevered in faith.  Jesus was arrested, beaten, scourged, and hung upon the Cross for us.  Through all of that he persevered in faith.  Some might what to say of course he persevered because he is the Son of God.  It wasn’t all that easy for him.  Remember the story of the ‘Agony in the Garden’ (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46).  Jesus did not want to die.

Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done (Luke 22:42)

and the passage tells us that

He prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44).

Jesus did not want to die yet he persevered in his faith in our Father’s plan.  Did he doubt?  Mark 15:34 gives us the final words of Jesus as

My God, my God why have you forsaken me?  (cf. Matthew 27:46)

Yet Luke’s Gospel has the final words of Jesus as

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46).

Jesus was both human and divine.  In his humanity he had doubt.  In his divinity he trusted in the Father and offered his spirit.

I would love to say I have no doubt in my faith.  However, we can all have some doubt.  I remember thinking when my mother was dying about how the Lord was taking care of her.  Did the Lord cure her?  No, but I believe He did take care of her.

The way I like to look at doubt is that I have no doubt that the Lord will take care of me (and all his people).  However, I do doubt at times that he will do it the way I want.  I don’t believe this is a lack of faith.  Rather, it is an acknowledgement that God knows better than me.  I may find it hard to know how God is present in difficult times but He is.  When things do not go the way I want, I hold on to (persevere in) my faith trusting in God.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

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