The Bottom Line

August 31: Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time:

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2,3-4,5-6,8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship?.

The Bottom Line

“Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Jeremiah wanted to quit: “I say to myself, I will speak in his name no more.” It is discouraging to be humans trying to persuade humans to live and act like God—and to bring peace to earth by remaking society according to God’s standards. Who wouldn’t get discouraged?

But Baptism committed us to this:  “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice… Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed”—and transform society.

Jesus tells us the first transformation is to accept life on his terms: we must die to ourselves and all human expectations, and focus only on offering ourselves in love.

“Take up your cross, and follow me” means 1. to endure whatever falls on our shoulders as a result of the sin of the world and love back; 2. to “lose our lives”—our time, energy, hopes, pleasures and deepest relationships—and “find them” again by living for one thing only: to establish the reign of God on earth.

This is “total abandonment.” No wonder the first pope couldn’t accept it. But God gave Peter time—and gives us time. The bottom line is, this is all we have time for.

PRAY and PRACTICE:  Abandon yourself all day long through the “WIT” prayer: “Lord, act With me, act In me, act Through me.” Live only to love.

The Laity’s Responsibility

August 30: Saturday of Week 21 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Psalm 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21; Matthew 25:14-30

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

The Laity’s Responsibility

“Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.” 1Corinthians 1:26

Paul insists Jesus turned our culture’s standards upside down: “God chose those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something.” God doesn't want his Church respected because of the evident importance, education and social status of its members. This applies even more so to the clergy and hierarchy. To the degree that we treat priests and bishops as “more important people,” we are destroying the Church.

See the destruction we have already brought about. How many bishops and pastors really consult or listen to the laity? How many priests are arrogant and rude? How many drive people out of the Church? How many pontificate from the pulpit, “exspouting” rules and doctrines dogmatically, without asking input from anybody? How many “bishops of bling” and self-pampering pastors “wear soft robes and live in royal palaces” as if entitlement to a lavish lifestyle were intrinsic to ordination?

Whose fault is this? The laity’s! Sheep who accept wolves for shepherds deserve to be dogfood. If the laity refused to “live the lie” by treating the clergy as privileged, the abuses would stop. But when parishes suffer in silence, silence becomes applause.

The name for this is “clericalism.” The remedy is not anti-clericalism but insistence that we all share one common dignity—“being Christ” by Baptism—and actually treating all as equals.

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PRAY: “Lord, show me who I am.”

PRACTICE: Treat priests and bishops as equals. 

Dead and Alive

August 29: Friday of Week 21 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptizer

1 Corinthians 1:17-25; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11; Mark 6:17-29

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Dead and Alive

“We proclaim Christ crucified.” 1Corinthians 1:23

The last line of the Gospel sounds pretty final: “When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.” John’s disciples, yes. But when Jesus’ disciples laid his body in a tomb, that was just the beginning.

We proclaim Christ risen. And we proclaim it by being Christ visibly—his risen body continuing his messianic mission as Prophet, Priest and King.

And yet we proclaim Christ crucified.

Our only justification for walking erect among the people of this earth is that we have died in Christ. He took us, with all of our sins, into his body on the cross, so we could die with him and in him, and go down into the grave with him, where our sins were annihilated. We rose with him out of the waters of Baptism a “new creation.” We have no record of sin. The one who committed those sins died in Christ on the cross. We are his risen body: a “new creation.”

We can present ourselves as Christ risen only because we proclaim Christ crucified. He is risen in us because we died in him.

Jesus on the cross is my excuse for being on earth.

Until we really know our sin, we don’t know Jesus crucified. Until we know him risen, we don’t understand him crucified.  

PRAY: Jesus, I died in you. Live in me.”

PRACTICE: Look at the crucifix. Be aware. Appreciate.

In Christ Jesus

August 28: Thursday of Week 21 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Matthew 24:42-51

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

In Christ Jesus

“Called to be sanctified... enriched… strengthened… united… awaiting” 1Corinthians 1:1-9

Three words dominate the beginning of Paul’s letter: call, name, and Jesus Christ. Paul is called an apostle of Jesus Christ, writing to those called saints because they are made holy in Christ, and call on the name of Christ. To them grace (divine life), light, and strength are given in Christ. They are called through the name of Christ into the fellowship of Christ as they await the final revelation of Christ.

For Paul, to be “the Church of God” is to be Christ in five essential ways: We are:

1. Christians: “made holy and called saints in Christ Jesus, thanks to the grace of God given in Christ Jesus, who call on the name of Jesus Christ”;

2. Disciples: “enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge," to be “made perfect in unity of mind and judgment”;

3. Prophets: “in whom witness to Christ has been strengthened (or  ‘confirmed’) so that we are not lacking in any spiritual gift ”;

4. Priests: “called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ”;

5. Stewards: who “await  the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Christian ministry is to help people be these five things.

PRAY: “Live, Jesus, in my heart!”

PRACTICE: Be Christ.

Spiritual Freeloaders

August 27: Wednesday of Week 21 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18; Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5; Matthew 23:27-32

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Spiritual Freeloaders

 “Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Paul had the rank of a bishop. But in Thessalonica he earned his own living by moonlighting, making tents. This tells us, not what bishops should do today, but how every Christian should think. There are no freeloaders. And no work is “beneath” anybody.

There is a “clergy joke” meant to express the exact opposite of how priests should think: “These hands were made for chalices, not calluses.” Pope Francis, asked about clerical dress, said, “The problem is not whether you wear a cassock, but rather if you roll up its sleeves to work for the good of others.”

Every Christian is consecrated at Baptism to minister. A paraphrase of Paul could be: “Anyone unwilling to minister as Christ should not eat the Bread of Christ.” We would never actually refuse Communion to the “spiritual freeloaders.” But Paul’s words indict all who won’t contribute to the liturgy by singing and greeting others, or to the life of the community by listening intently (intentionally) to the word of God as disciples, making decisions about how to live it out in a “prophetic” lifestyle, and expressing their faith, hope and love in physical words and actions as a “priests in the Priest.” Or who won’t take responsibility as “stewards of Christ’s kingship” for transforming the Church and the world.

Clergy and laity are equally obliged to minister.

PRAY: “Lord, send me into your vineyard.”

PRACTICE: Minister to everyone everywhere.

Self-knowledge

August 26: Tuesday of Week 21 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17; Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13; Matthew 23:23-26

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Self-knowledge

“Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside.” Matthew 23:26

Jesus says the heart counts more than behavior. Behavior can both reveal and hide the true values of our heart. Sinners may be “pure of heart,” because they hate the sins they fall into. Scrupulous law-observers may be unscrupulous exploiters whose hearts are “full of greed and self-indulgence.” Pope Francis describes a modern form of Phariseeism in The Joy of the Gospel:

93. Spiritual worldliness, which hides behind the appearance of religiosity and even love for the Church… is a subtle way of seeking one’s “own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:21)... Since it is based on carefully cultivated appearances… from without, everything appears as it should be. But [in the Church, it is] “infinitely more disastrous than any other worldliness which is simply moral.”

94. This worldliness… is the self-absorbed promethean neopelagianism of those who in their hearts rely only on their own strength and feel superior to others because they observe certain rules or remain intransigently faithful to a particular Catholic style from the past. A supposed soundness of doctrine or discipline leads to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism. Instead of evangelizing, they evaluate and label others. Instead of opening the door to grace, they put all their energy into controlling... They are not really concerned about Jesus Christ or others” (quoted August 5 above).

Use this to judge yourself, not others!

PRAY: “Create a clean heart in me, O Lord.”

PRACTICE: Examine your motives and desires.

Inherited Diseases

August 25: Monday of Week 21 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12; Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 4-5; Matthew 23:13-22

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Inherited Diseases

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees...” Matthew 23:13

Paul compared ministry to giving life: “My little children… I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). But like all parents, we give the life we have. Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees… when you make one convert, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves!” Distorted doctrines and poisonous practices are passed down for generations in the Church. So, because we are all ministers, we need to watch over our spiritual health as much as a pregnant mother cares for her body for the sake of the child in her womb.

The most common inherited diseases are legalism, clericalism and triumphalism—all explicitly rejected, but not eradicated, by the bishops in the first session of Vatican II.

Legalism refuses to look to the purpose of laws and to apply them with common sense and mercy. Clericalism denies the equal dignity and responsibility all Christians have by Baptism. Triumphalism basks in worldly signs of success: riches, prestige and power. All three preclude relationship with God, do away with discipleship, cancel out Christian witness, undermine ministry and destroy the Church. And unfortunately, frequently they are CTD’s: clerically transmitted diseases. Those most contaminated in the Gospels were the higher-ranking clergy (“chief priests”), “approved” religion teachers (“scribes”), and super law-abiding laity (Pharisees). Verbum sat sapienti.

PRAY: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

PRACTICE: Turn to Jesus.

Reliance

August 24: Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time:

Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Reliance

“You are the Christ…. You are Peter.” Matthew 16:16

Jesus ties together his identification and Peter’s: “You are… You are.” This isn’t accidental: Peter will only understand his identity as pope by seeing it together with Jesus’ identity as Messiah. Peter is neither lord over nor savior of the Church; he is simply the foundation of human weakness that keeps us conscious of our need for the strengthening power of God. By choosing weak, impetuous, overconfident Simon to be Peter (“rock”), Jesus showed he wasn’t building his Church on human wisdom, talent or virtue.

The Gospels show Simon as a leader, yes, but make a point of showing he was only right twice (Matthew 16:16; John 6:68). He was wrong every other time he opened his mouth: when he rejected Jesus’ way of saving the world, misunderstood the transfiguration, presumed Jesus paid the temple tax, protested he would never deny Jesus, objected to Jesus washing his feet, slept during Jesus’ agony in the garden, and cut off Malchus’ ear (Matthew 16:16,22; 17:4,25; 26:35,40; John 16:22; 18:10).

Peter walked on water by faith, then almost drowned by doubting. John delightedly reports Peter could not run as fast or see as well as himself. And if we just go by Scripture, Simon the fisherman never caught a fish without divine intervention! (Matthew 14:20; 17:27; Luke 5:5; John 20: 4,7; 21:3).

Relying on yourself in ministry is being more Catholic than the pope.

PRAY: “Jesus, help me!”

PRACTICE: Never trust in yourself.

Ministry and Ambition

August 23: Saturday of Week 20 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Ezekiel 43:1-7; Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Matthew 23:1-12

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Ministry and Ambition

“Kindness and truth shall meet… glory dwelling in our land.” Psalm 85:9-0

In every generation we see “scribes and Pharisees” taking the “seats of power.” That is natural: those who love power do what works to get it. What traditionally works is robotic obedience to rules, supportive subservience to anyone in authority, and flying flags of loyalty to everything pretentious in the Church. Legalism, clericalism, triumphalism.

Until Pope Francis. His instructions are that candidates for bishop should be “pastors close to the people, fathers and brothers, gentle, patient and merciful; animated by 1. inner poverty [humility vs. clericalism], 2. the freedom of the Lord [vs. slavish legalism], and 3. outward simplicity and austerity of life [vs. triumphalism]. They must not have the psychology of ‘Princes’ and must not ambitious, or want to be bishops.” They must see themselves as “married” to their diocese, and not covet a bigger, more prestigious one (to Apostolic Nuncios, June 21, 2013).

Everything above applies to everyone in ministry, both laypersons and clerics. And “ministry” includes every interaction with people that aims at helping everyone grow to the fullness of divine life—that is, every interaction that is authentically Christian.

Authentic ministers speak as fellow disciples, not “experts.” They interpret and apply laws through deep, prayerful knowledge of the heart of Christ. They never want to be treated with special respect because of their title or position.

PRAY: “Lord, give me a servant’s heart.”

PRACTICE: Serve Christ by serving others as Christ.

Life is Love

August 22: Friday of Week 20 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Matthew 22:34-40

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

Life is Love

“Prophesy over these bones.” Ezekiel 37:4

The Gospel completes the first reading. God shows Isaiah the dry bones of Israel coming to life. Jesus tells us how it will happen: “You shall love…”

God said “You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live.” Jesus says we will know he is the Messiah and Savior when we let him open our hearts and raise us out of our absorption with ourselves. When he puts his Spirit of love in us, we will live.

Those in whom faith is dead will return to Mass. The youth will be on fire. Love will breathe spirit into dried-up devotion. God’s People will stand up, come together, and live.

If we make love our life.

When you hear “religion,” do you think of love? Does “God” mean “Love” to you? Is Mass an experience of passionate love? When you participate, are you thinking of love?

Do you get out of bed to love? Is that your first thought every morning? Your preoccupation in everything you do? Your parting thought before you dismiss the day?

Love puts life into death.

PRAY: Every time you deal with another person, say: “Lord, love this one with me, love this one in me, love this one through me.”

PRACTICE: All day, whatever your thoughts or feelings are, replace them with love.