13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Do not be afraid, only have faith.

This sounds familiar – can it be that Jesus uses the same sentiments for the different events of the calming of the storm last week and the healing of the little girl and bringing her back to life?

With faith we can accomplish the seemingly impossible.

The importance of physical touch – tactile, power, embrace, union, intimacy, love

We instinctively or more readily decide as it were, we are more willing to touch or make physical contact with those we love. We keep formal distance with those with whom we have a more distant or businesslike reserve or maintain formality. We do not allow simply anyone to touch us – there are boundaries and there are occasions such as a birthday or anniversary or Christmas when we let the guard down, so to speak. Some people are tactile by their very nature and others almost violently are not tactile at all. It is not their love language.. It is not for everyone.  But there are certain conditions such as a barber, hairstylist, dentist, doctor or physiotherapist to make contact with us for medical and health reasons. Deliberate inappropriate touch however is a violation. But touch can be a powerful bond in the right conditions.

In Jewish culture touch was taboo. In Japan men and women do not hold hands in public. On Ellis Island Muslim and other women from traditional backgrounds felt violated and aggrieved that there were being examined by male doctors.

Even more taboo in Jewish culture was any haemorrhaging of fluids – blood or pus or waste, even nature’s cycles were taboo and rendered a person temporarily  unclean – not just hygienically but socially and ritually and led in those times to a curtailing of participation in worship and society. Of course leprosy was the worst of all.

In the Gospel times there was another level of violation of custom that is startling, alarming and disturbing from a Jewish viewpoint in today’s Gospel - the contact between a man and a woman, that the man was a rabbi, and she was unclean - today among orthodox Jews men ignore all conversation and contact with women, even their own wives, on a public street. It is simply not just ‘ the done thing’ but a religious rationale.

So for Jesus to make physical contact with a woman, and moreover perceived as a holy man or Rabbi, to an onlooker it would appear, and to the woman herself, a terrible risk to make, and punishable.

The woman’s faith is desperate – literally, at her wits end, we will try anything to relieve comfort and pain. But it was not so much a case of Jesus being angry or upset because of a perceived violation – it was to dialogue with the woman – to establish a relationship with her beyond a brief chance touch. Many other people literally came in contact with Jesus and met Him that day – but Jesus and she met – but in her case it was an encounter, a joyful life-changing one.

Right throughout the Gospels, there are 35 recorded miracles. They really happened. But they are also metaphors for the sickness that is sin. Sin is so insidious and poisonous that we can often rationalise and justify it to ourselves – just as we can be sick and not know it or see first symptoms and try to ignore them, so sin can be rooted in us and choke out the good.

The two healings today point to two inherent characteristics of sin. Sin is an ongoing sickness and some sin is mortal –in other words, so bad and so grave it causes us to be spiritually dead. But Jesus alone is the healer and raiser from the dead. The words of Jesus today are applicable to all of us if we have the faith to believe it: there are few words uttered by Jesus but they are enough – they are freeing, liberating, uplifting, powerful and decisive. They apply to our sickness and to our spiritual state.

‘Do not be afraid; only have faith

‘your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.’

 

‘get up.’

Were you ever in a situation of intimate conversation and relationship and delicacy – in a public setting - that you ignored or were oblivious to the world around you? What others saw or heard didn’t really matter – such as a reunion at an airport? We may think – ‘Who cares what anyone thinks – this is our moment, this person is all that matters, we are utterly oblivious and we couldn’t care less what others think – because we are in love.’

When we are being treated by a doctor, nurse or dentist or other professional there is another kind of privacy – a professional kind, an ethical kind, that is no-one else’s business.

Imagine being sick since 2003 – and being suddenly relieved of all symptoms today in 2015, or having a financial or relationship problem that is suddenly lifted. 12 years is a long time in anyone’s’ life. Wouldn’t you be desperate?

In both cases today, the crowds part and disappear into the background as it were- it is Jesus and his disciples alone with the sufferer – it is Jesus and the Church– the world does not understand what is going on –it doesn’t matter what the world thinks, it is the personal life-giving encounter unique to you and me that matters when we truly meet Jesus face to face in the Church’s sacraments, in intimate loving prayer and ultimately in judgment and eternity. We must de-clutter and make space for this encounter to occur in our lives and in our hearts –as it is the heart that is the place of encounter (Catechism n.2563). it is an encounter in Reconciliation and in Anointing of the Sick.

It is why I go to confession at least monthly. I want that intimacy, I need healing, I can get it if I want it desperately enough, and I can live a new life. I can be the best version of myself, the person God has called me to be, every sacramental confession is a mini-resurrection of the soul, heaven can begin now, I can be truer to my calling.

The more convinced I am of these truths the more I want to share it – I am on the spiritual first step is Sinners Anonymous – I am powerless over sin and am willing to surrender to a Higher power and now I want to share it with others. How eager I might be to recommend a particular medicine or tablet or remedy or doctor or specialist? If I take my medication I will live, if I don’t I will die. Our problem is that live thinking we are fine. I have known people suffering from bi-polar and diabetes who didn’t take their medication – rationalising to themselves and others ‘I feel fine’ – but before long the illness comes back and worse than before.

But I am spiritually recovering and am well as I can be if I seek Christ’s healing help humbly, honestly and consistently. Rather than a chance encounter, of desperate faith, I can be healed often. At every confession Christ tells me get up (serve), and ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.. ‘your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint…get up.’

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi

To what shall I compare the annual Corpus Christi Solemnity?

1. Some organisations have Annual Benefit Dinners in honour of their founder, usually a great philanthropist and an enterprising, gifted and visionary genius. A large banquet is held with guest speakers and a Master of Ceremonies. Charitable donations are given as the cause or founding vision is recalled and new directions or a new impetus is called for. This dinner is usually held on or near some significant date in the calendar. The backdrop of the setting can often have a logo or vision statement accompanied by a large photograph of the founder, and relatives hold special places of honour. Speeches preceded by an honorary procession can take place. Banners and bunting are in evidence. Yes, the world knows how to honour its own, for wreaths that wither.

Corpus Christi processions and sermons give honour to Jesus, our Eucharistic Host. At every Mass we hear His words: ‘Do this in Memory of me.’

(2) The timing of Jesus’ last command, his parting gift, about to leave and about to die, was ‘Do This in Memory of Me’. The Mass and the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a mystery and gift.

Jesus’ abiding presence is in every tabernacle. Visitors pass by the sanctuary not even knowing who is among them. I am reminded of the time after being present at a weekly Papal Address on Wednesday in Rome an unknowing Australian tourist approached me asking ‘What’s going on?’ my thoughts included wanting to say: ‘How could you not know?’

The same is the true at every Mass - Calvary the Last Super and the Resurrection are re-presented to us.

At an airport as we part company with a host or guest there is usually the exchange of a gift, as well as important words of farewell, usually deeply felt. A memento or keepsake of the visit is exchanged.

(3)As we look around our houses we have varying amounts of keepsakes from our travels or from visitors and friends. We say proudly, ’oh, my friend gave me that’ or I got that when I was in such- and-such a place. Memories are kept alive. There may be pictures of landmarks and place names. We smile at the memory. We may also have photos of family members and friends taken on special occasions. These are our signs of affection for them, especially for those who have passed on.

Jesus gives us the keepsake of His very self.

(4)The Antiques Roadshow programme on TV reminds us that there could be treasures in our attic, covered in dust, and well beyond what we think may be their value. There may be a huge payoff if we only realised it. Valuers give their professional opinions pointing to clues and characteristic tell-tale designs that we may have missed.

Jesus is the treasure we are in danger of devaluing or overlooking

(5) Often the value in the gift is not so much in its material value, but the spirit and love in which it was given. A parent will keep their child’s first attempt at drawing from school or treasure a homemade Mother’s Day card.

But what if someone gave you a gift as they lay dying? What if it was forever? What if someone died to give it to you? That it cost them their life in order for you to have it? That what they gave you saved your life? That they died so that you might live?

‘This is My Body given up for you. This is the cup of My Blood..shed for you and for many that sins may be forgiven.’

Sadly out of habit and custom, and if we were to count the thousands of Sundays we have received Jesus in the Eucharist over the years we have lived (520 times per decade, 3650 if you are a daily Mass-goer), there is a danger of over-familiarity, and a casual and mechanical approach can enter our receiving Jesus.

Corpus Christi, then, is an annual reminder of the great gift we have received of Jesus in Holy Communion, as well as giving us an opportunity to make reparation for our coolness and that of others. We can rekindle our love and devotion by calling to mind all of the things I have outlined above, which are but shadows of the reality of the greatness and uniqueness and value of even one Host – worth more than the Crown Jewels held under high security and bullet-proof glass in the Tower of London.

We can re-kindle our love and faith and devotion by praying often, especially as we pass a church: ‘Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.’

 

Trinity Sunday

Holy Trinity

 

This Sunday we meditate on probably the most abstract topic – in His mystery it is so difficult for us to conceptualise, or visualise – the Blessed Trinity – GOD!

What is your image of God?

If you were to ask a child to draw a picture it would be probably of an old man in white – elderly –with long flowing beard, on a puffy cloud, looking down on us sometimes kindly, other times angrily at us, waiting to catch us out, ready to send a lightning bolt! But at least we know a bit more than that simplistic image!

God is One and yet God exists as the relationship of mutual inter-personal love of Three Persons. We pray ‘In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’ at the beginning of Mass, we bless ourselves at Mass; and every day in prayer – yet we cannot ever comprehend the Greatest Mystery of all – God.

What is the best image we can come up with?

I find Rublev’s Icon helpful – not only to preach about but as a visual reminder of the Mystery of the Three Persons in One God.

You may have seen this icon before. It is simply beautiful and worth pondering.

The first thing to notice is that the three angels as depicted are all identical facially. This points to the equality – the similarity as in a family -of the Three Persons in the One God. They all have haloes – pointing to the holiness of God

Next, the Father is seated on the left – He points to the Son and the Holy Spirit who look back at the Father – Christ who is sent to redeem us and the Spirit who is sent at Pentecost to sanctify us.

We see the colour blue – which iconographers use to signify divinity or God. Christ and the Spirit have more because they have been seen –become visible

Each holds a rod or staff pointing to their divine majesty and authority. As the queen of England celebrates 60 years this weekend, her ‘majesty’ is miniscule in relation to the Majesty of God.

 

Each of the Divine Person’s hands are also worth examining more closely – that of the Father sending, that of the Son with two fingers pointing downwards symbolising His journey to earth and  His humanity and divinity, and that of the Holy Spirit being sent downwards also to sanctify us.

Christ has a stole on His shoulder pointing to His priesthood and that He has offered Himself for our sakes.

The tree behind Christ points to the Cross on which hung the Saviour of the world.

 The house behind the Father points to our heavenly home

The Mass is the foretaste of ‘first course’ – the Body and Blood of Christ are on the table – the wedding banquet or supper of the Lamb in heaven – to which all are invited.

The three Persons are seated around a table that seats four – the fourth place is for you and me – God invites you to sit with Him and feel at home as an equal - comfortable – there is a place for you in this relationship.

There is restlessness in all of us that can only be satisfied by God and our relationship with Him in prayer and the sacraments. Let us try to know him, love Him and serve Him better in this life on order to be happy with Him forever in the next.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Pentecost Sunday

The Ascension of the Lord

Celebrating this Sunday’s feast of the Ascension it struck me forcibly that like the disciples in Bethany that day 1980 years ago we too are called to be Jesus witnesses as much as they were.

 

A witness gives evidence in public to a fact and an event; is prepared to take an oath to that end; and some witnesses have died preserving the integrity of the truth of their beliefs. (a witness in Greek is a ‘martyr’). We have an opportunity each day through words, actions, example, behaviour, appearance, conversations, standing up for what is right, what is true, what is pure and honourable, unafraid of the consequences – for the right to life, the sanctity of marriage, chastity, honesty and to be unafraid to be identified as a Christian. We are called to be witnesses to the fundamental truths of our Faith. At every opportunity at home, in the family circle, in the workplace and above all our social responsibility in society.

We are called to speak the truth in charity, which is a difficult, important and delicate task, to those who need to hear the truth of change. Anyone who has lived or worked alongside an addict knows the difficulty in speaking of the need for change, and the criticism that ensues. Having the duty and responsibility to tell the truth hurts, but speaking the truth fearlessly sets us and others free. As Catholics in particular we are called to speak up for the most vulnerable members of society, the poor, the disadvantaged and those whose lives are threatened – especially the defenceless unborn.

It is then that we realise that there is an inescapable cost to being a Christian. To be a witness for the truth is to be cross-examined, to be in the public eye, to waive anonymity, to be scrutinised, observed, and to be open to the possibility of contradiction and ridicule. In fact nearly every one of the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension witnessed to Him to the point of death. The Greek word for ‘witness’ is martyr. We must be credible witnesses. This year that means witnessing to Christian marriage.