(Mark 7)
There’s a story about Pope Pius X as a young priest ferreting out an unfaithful Catholic. He walked by the man’s home on Friday morning and smelled bacon frying. Since the young priest eventually became a saint, we will presume that he didn’t condemn the man outright. But it may be best that we no longer abstain from meat on Fridays, except in Lent, to minimize our judging other people.
This gospel today shows Jesus abrogating the dietary laws of the Jews, at least among his followers. The action is bold because the dietary laws distinguished Jews from their pork-eating neighbors. No doubt, the Jews prided themselves as being God’s people because they did not eat ham. Jesus followers, at least, would have to show themselves to be God’s newly chosen people in other ways. He presents the blueprint for their righteousness here. They will refrain from all evil thoughts and malicious actions.
But do Catholics really live better lives than other groups of people? Catholics seem to divorce as often as non-Catholics. Abortion is not unknown or even strictly uncommon among American Catholics. We probably attend church on Sunday more frequently than other churches. And it can be shown that children going to Catholic schools whose parents attend Mass on Sunday are less likely to use drugs and alcohol and to have sex in high school. But, unfortunately, Catholic education is not as available as it once was. In any case, we must continue to strive for the righteousness that Jesus preaches throughout the gospels. We do so not to see ourselves as better than others but to have God see us as His grateful children.
Homilette for Tuesday, February 6, 2007
(Genesis 1-2)
Although their customs are changing, Italians have a lovely saying reserved for Fridays. They wish one another a “Buona Domenica!” The words mean simply, “Have a Good Sunday!” Since Sunday in Italy is preeminently the day on which families come together at mama’s table, the words express their hopes that colleagues enjoy their meal with parents, sisters, brother, nephews, nieces as well as children, aunts and uncles. Of course, traditionally Italians go to church on Sunday and this custom has not been completely lost. So “Buona Domenica” also gives hope that the people will find the meeting with God and neighbor at Sunday Mass satisfying.
The reading from Genesis lays the foundation for our Sunday observances. On this day, it says, the Lord rested from all the work He had done in creation. Of course, Genesis refers to the Sabbath, which is the seventh day or Saturday. Christianity changed the day of rest and worship to Sunday out of deference to Christ’s resurrection. But it meant to retain the same kind of release from daily activity that the Jews have observed on the Sabbath since antiquity. Perhaps Americans, who have made work less back-breaking although just as absorbing as planting fields, are the leading culprits in both stretching Sunday’s rest into the two-day weekend and then cheating by working on both days.
In his pastoral letter entitled “The Lord’s Day” Pope John Paul II lamented how the joys of the Sunday – rest, family, worship – were being turned into frenetic weekend activity around the world. The beloved Pope urged Catholics to resist this temptaion. He believed that we can please God more faithfully and enjoy life more fully by praying, relaxing, and reuniting with the family on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
Although their customs are changing, Italians have a lovely saying reserved for Fridays. They wish one another a “Buona Domenica!” The words mean simply, “Have a Good Sunday!” Since Sunday in Italy is preeminently the day on which families come together at mama’s table, the words express their hopes that colleagues enjoy their meal with parents, sisters, brother, nephews, nieces as well as children, aunts and uncles. Of course, traditionally Italians go to church on Sunday and this custom has not been completely lost. So “Buona Domenica” also gives hope that the people will find the meeting with God and neighbor at Sunday Mass satisfying.
The reading from Genesis lays the foundation for our Sunday observances. On this day, it says, the Lord rested from all the work He had done in creation. Of course, Genesis refers to the Sabbath, which is the seventh day or Saturday. Christianity changed the day of rest and worship to Sunday out of deference to Christ’s resurrection. But it meant to retain the same kind of release from daily activity that the Jews have observed on the Sabbath since antiquity. Perhaps Americans, who have made work less back-breaking although just as absorbing as planting fields, are the leading culprits in both stretching Sunday’s rest into the two-day weekend and then cheating by working on both days.
In his pastoral letter entitled “The Lord’s Day” Pope John Paul II lamented how the joys of the Sunday – rest, family, worship – were being turned into frenetic weekend activity around the world. The beloved Pope urged Catholics to resist this temptaion. He believed that we can please God more faithfully and enjoy life more fully by praying, relaxing, and reuniting with the family on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
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