13th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - "I desire mercy"

 Earlier in the week, we considered how the prophet Amos was sent by God to the northern kingdom, particularly those with economic, social, and political power, taking them to task for their mistreatment of the needy, poor, and afflicted—enriching themselves at the expense of the vulnerable.

In today’s reading we hear about how the greedy merchants were eager for the religious feasts to be over so that they could return to their unethical business practices. They would “add to the weights, and fix their scales for cheating”. In other words, they would falsify the volume of their product and the price of the product, so that the buyer would be doubly cheated. 

This passage is certainly a warning from the word of God for all those engaged in business. However, Amos also describes how these sins against the poor were bringing destruction to the kingdom. Theft and exploitation and greed are antithetical to the order of God. 

In its section on the seventh commandment’s prohibition of theft, the catechism talks about how “those responsible for business enterprises have a responsibility to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations. They have an obligation to consider the good of persons and not only the increase of profits.”

Now, most of us do not own our own businesses, but there is certainly a lesson here for all of us. You don’t have to own a business to be tempted by greed or covetousness or pure self-interest. Only thinking about yourself is bad for you and for everybody. Rather, the individual and society thrive when each of us aims at the highest good for ourselves and others. Christ-like sacrificial self-giving which alleviates the burdens of others and works for their betterment, is good pro omnibus et singulis—for all and for the individual.

Catechism says, “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them: "Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would borrow from you"; "you received without pay, give without pay." It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones.”

This is why in the Gospel, the Lord tells the pharisees to go and learn the meaning of the words, “I desire mercy”. 

When we engage in works of mercy-- coming to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities—instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, feeding, clothing, healing, and visiting the lonely, we transform lives and the fabric of our society. May we be found in all of our dealings to be honest, generous, and merciful for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For all Christians, that we may heed the call to show mercy and compassion in our daily lives, recognizing Christ in the face of the poor and marginalized. Let us pray to the Lord.

That the values of the kingdom of God may guide our government leaders and legislators, our families, businesses, civil institutions, and all our domestic affairs. 

For those suffering from poverty and exploitation: may they find relief and support through the work and charity of the Church and people of good will, and for the conversion of the greedy and selfish.

That our parish may continue to respond generously to the needs of our neighbors. 

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

2nd Week of Lent 2022 - Monday - The depths of mercy

Both the reading from Daniel and the Gospel speak of God’s mercy.  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” the Lord instructs in today’s Gospel.

How has God been merciful toward us? “He has loved us even when we were sinners” writes St. Paul to the Romans. Lent invites us to meditate upon God’s mercy upon us. It follows that we will come to a deeper understanding of God’s mercy when we come to understand the depths of our sinfulness.

When I consider how vile my sins are, I’ll also come to understand how good God is for forgiving me. When I consider how much I’ve lost due to falling into sin, I’ll also come to understand how much has been given back to me by God through his mercy. In a sense, the depths of our wretchedness also reveals the depths of God’s love because God’s love reaches the depths of our wretchedness.

Now, many people don’t like to think about their sins. They don’t like to confront how rude they’ve been, how impatient, how cowardly, how undisciplined, how morally weak. They avoid any sort of real examination of their actions and attitudes.

This is one reason why people stray from religion or avoid religion. They don’t want the reminders of their failings. They don’t want to hear about the goodness of Jesus, the goodness of the saints. Because these stories expose their own lack of goodness. They certainly don’t want to hear about the commandments or moral teachings of the church which serve as an objective criteria for their actions to be judged. 

But, the Christian is taught to humbly admit his sins, to measure his actions against the perfect goodness of Jesus. And to willingly do so. And yes, it is uncomfortable discovering how far we’ve fallen. But this is also to discover how much we are loved. And this consciousness of one’s sinfulness becomes a powerful foundation for the Christian life. For the one who is deeply aware of the mercy he has received from God, will in turn show mercy towards others.  Those who give little reflect little on what they’ve been given. Those who give much, have reflected much on what they’ve received.

We have been loved even when we were sinners, and so we are impelled into the world to do the same. We feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, not because they are worthy of our love, but because we have been loved when were unworthy by God.

St. Francis de Sales once said, “the measure of love is to love without measure”.  God has loved us without measure. May we extend that same measure of love to others, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring to all people purification of sin and selfishness.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence. And for all victims of the coronavirus and their families. And for the Church in China and all places where the Gospel is silenced.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

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Sept 13 2018 - St. John Chyrsostom and loving one's enemies

St. John Chrysostom was born in Antioch in the 4th century.  It is unclear whether his parents were Christian or pagan, but we do know that he was baptized around the age of 18. While studying civil law, he felt the call to enter monastic life, but discerning it wasn’t quite his calling, he was ordained a deacon and then a priest for the Church of Antioch.

The young priest soon garnered a reputation for his eloquent preaching. He was as Blessed John Henry Newman said, “a bright, cheerful, gentle soul; a sensitive heart,” who helped the people apply the Scriptures to their daily lives. About 600 hundred of his sermons and commentaries on scripture have been preserved, as well as many treatises on the moral and spiritual life, and a very famous book on the priesthood.

John's influence on our Christian life continues to be evident; he is cited by our current Catechism in eighteen sections, particularly his teachings on Christian prayer.

Commenting on today’s Gospel, in which the Lord teaches us to love, to show charity, to our enemies, St. John Chrysostom comments:

“Let us “be merciful,” not simply so, but “as our heavenly Father is.” (Lc 6,36). He feeds even adulterers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and what shall I say? Those having every kind of wickedness. For in so large a world there must needs be many such. But nevertheless He feeds all; He clothes all. No one ever perished of hunger, unless one did so of his own choice. So let us be merciful. If one be in want and in necessity, help him. (Homily XI)”

The Lord’s command to love one’s enemies has been one of his most difficult teachings for 2000 years. It seems counter-intuitive that Christians are to feed, clothe, protect, heal those outside the Church, those who persecute us, those who undermine the work of the Gospel, those whose politics we disagree with, those who may have hurt us in the past.

St. John Chysrostom helps us to understand and be faithful to this challenging teaching: that Christians are to reflect the love of God, who sent His Son to die for us all, by showing charity to all, no matter what. We cannot withhold charity because we are angry with someone, even disgusted by someone or their lifestyle.

“The measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." If we expect God to be merciful toward us, we must be merciful toward others. May St. John Chyrsostom by his faithful teaching and eloquent preaching continue to help us to be faithful to all the Lord commands for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the bishops of the Church will act as true prophets through their faithful teaching, their courageous witness, and their self-sacrificing love. We pray to the Lord.

That government leaders around the world may carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for freedom and the dignity of human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For the grace to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, to love our neighbors and enemies and those who persecute us, and to share the truth of the Gospel with all.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those who share in the sufferings of Christ—the sick, the sorrowful, and those who are afflicted or burdened in any way, especially those effected by hurricanes and storms.  We pray to the Lord.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased clergy and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray to the Lord.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.