Tag: C. S. Lewis

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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

picture of many roads going in different directions and many confusing street signs

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Mass readings

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10A
Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6
Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 OR 22:1-10

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101120.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

What an interestingly odd Gospel reading today. Don’t you think? Those who are invited turn their backs and are destroyed. Those who are invited and come are not guaranteed to remain. How is that fair?

Ok, maybe this reading isn’t as odd as it is disturbing. Why would those invited not come? Well, it’s all about distraction. In the Gospel, they are so caught up in their own lives – their businesses and their busyness – that they ignore the invitation.

Now maybe we can all relate to this in some way. We get caught up in work or in our activities, binge-watching a show or glued to social media. Have you ever looked up and thought to yourself, “Where did all the time go?” These little distractions can amount to sins if they keep us from our true purpose.

In The Screwtape Letters, “Letter 12”, C.S. Lewis writes, “You can keep him up late at night, not roistering, but staring at a dead fire in a cold room. All the healthy and outgoing activities which we want him to avoid can be inhibited and nothing given in return, so that at last he may say, as one of my own patients said on his arrival down here, ‘I now see that I spent most of my life doing neither what I ought nor what I liked.”

Sound familiar? These distractions that keep us from doing what we ought or what we like can seem so important in the moment. Believe me – I’ve been there and done that – and sometimes I think I keep falling into the same trap! Technology makes it all too easy to get lost on three-hour tour of nothing!

God invites us. We are invited! The first reading gives us a wonderful description: rich foods, choice wines, where death is destroyed and every tear is wiped away (Isaiah 25:6, 8). We are invited, but God will not make us come to him. We must freely choose. So, in the Gospel account those who chose to ignore eventually experienced the reality of their poor choices. They were wiped out!

What about the person who was invited and came to the party without a proper wedding garment? I think this person is like the bench warmer. You know the type – the person who comes to mass for any reason except out of commitment to Jesus Christ. This person might come out of obligation. Worse still, this person participates in the Eucharist – a taste of the heavenly banquet – but is not converted. They are so filled with their own sense of right and wrong that the words of Scripture can’t penetrate the heart. But really, this person comes without a wedding garment. In other words, the person does not come predisposed to the saving grace offered by God through his church.

C.S. Lewis closes this letter this way, “You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [meaning God]. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

Whoa! Listen, I wouldn’t recommend listen to the dramatized version of the Screwtape Letters, like the Radio Theatre version, on a cold, rainy night! But is this accurate? Look, most of us will never encounter the physical manifestation of evil, thank God! Lucifer’s greatest power is to plant seeds of fear and doubt. Lucifer can’t make us do anything, but by sowing doubt, discord, disunity, we put distance between ourselves and God.

Scripture says, “…let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the Lamb’s wedding feast has come…” (Revelation 19:6-9). Where will you be on that day?

Homework! Nourished at the table of the Word and Sacrament, let’s reflect on the following two questions.
1. What distractions occupy too much of my time?
2. Are there things I could be doing right now to help build the kingdom of God – to help my pastor and my parish community reach out to those on the margins?

I think our homework might help us refocus our attention. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Ament!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

Notes: Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

References:
1. Hamm, Dennis, SJ. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2013. Kindle.
2. Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters and Screwtape Proposes a Toast. Annotated Edition. New York: HarperOne, 2013. Kindle.
3. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Jesus invites sinners, but demands conversion, 543-46
2. The Eucharist is the foretaste of the Messianic Banquet, 1402-05, 2837

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101120.cfm
Lectionary: 142

Reading 1
Isaiah 25:6-10A
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial
Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6
R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Reading 2
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Brothers and sisters:
I know how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia
Ephesians 1:17-18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
so that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel

Matthew 22:1-14 OR 22:1-10
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

or

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.”

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Vanity of Vanities

Life, death, and meaning of existence are intertwined. (Woman gazing into boudoir mirror forms shape of skull.)

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Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23
Psalm: Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Hello! In today’s Gospel, we hear a parable that reminds of the familiar saying, “store up treasure in Heaven.” Often, this passage from Luke is interpreted to describe the effects of greed in our lives, but I think there’s something more going on here.

Today we heard the Gospel according to Luke 12:13-21, Jesus tell us the familiar story about a rich man who one year experienced a significant harvest – more than he could store. So, he decided to tear down his barns and build larger ones. He thinks to himself that now at last he can enjoy what he’s saved up. But that very night he dies, then we hear, “Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God,” (Lk 12:21).

Greed, right? But when we consider this passage together with the first reading today from Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23. Now, Ecclesiastes is a very puzzling book in the Bible. The author, Qoheleth, seems to point out in the most excruciating detail the futility of life. But Qoheleth’s point isn’t to annoy us or discourage us or depress us. Rather, he is trying to show us a world without God – without a Father in heaven who promises to embrace us. But in the end, he tells us, “Remember your Creator before evil days come,” (Ecc 12:1).

Why are we asked to consider vanity with this particular Gospel reading? How does it all fit together? Well, first, we must remember that the most potent weapon Satan has is to spread fear and doubt. But fear and doubt are not things we can simply fall into. Consider The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis. If you’ve never read it or listened to a recording of the dramatic reading, I highly recommend it! The book is a collection of letters written by senior demon named Screwtape to his nephew-demon, Wormwood. Wormwood is trying to lead a man called “the patient” toward “Our Father Below” or Satan and away from “the Enemy”, who is of course Jesus.

In “Letter 17,” Screwtape tries to explain one of the methods to accomplish the goal of leading souls astray by using “the patient’s” own mother as an example. Her assigned demon, Glubose, has lead her to indulge in a particular kind of sensuality – delicacy. She says, “Oh please, please…all I want is a cup of tea, weak but not too weak, and the teeniest weeniest bit of really crisp toast.” She is convinced that because she wants something smaller and less costly, that she isn’t indulging in gluttony. But she is so convinced that her point of view is so correct that, as Lewis describes, “…a positive terror to hostesses and servants.”

Screwtape later comments that a common expression of this form of gluttony is the phrase, “all I want,” as in “all I want is a properly cooked steak”. Screwtape says that it’s easy to turn people into gluttons with the help of their vanity.

You see, vanity can lead people – can lead us – to an unwavering belief that your point of view is correct or that what you want is reasonable, regardless of how much people must work to make that happen.

In these cases, vanity becomes a distraction. The mother can’t see, in The Screwtape Letters, that she is hurting the people around her. And this is how Satan works – simple vanity becomes a distraction not just with those around us, but even in our relationship with God. That’s what Qoheleth is trying to tell us in Ecclesiastes. We can get so caught up in ourselves and in the things around us that we lose sight of what is really important and the things that really last – God and the blessings that flow from God, like our family and our friends. Being thankful for our blessings and enjoying our blessings and most importantly sharing our blessings with others are ways that we can store up for ourselves treasure in heaven. But to do that, we have to be humble enough to not become vain – totally self-absorbed. That is one of the many challenges of our readings, I think.

Homework!

  1. First, what things in my life am I rigidly particular about?
  2. Second, what distractions keep me from praying regularly?

I think that our homework will help begin the process of taking stock of our lives and re-centering on Jesus Christ. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

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The Passion of Our Lord…So What?

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Lone cross on deserted hill

Mass Readings

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
March 25, 2018
At the Procession with Palms, Gospel – Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16
Reading 1 – Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm – Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Reading 2 – Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel – Mark 14:1-15:47 or Mark 15:1-39

Today we celebrate the great feast of Palm Sunday! The readings today are so richly textured, that it is difficult to know where to begin. Perhaps we need to start with that shocking question that my wife and I have already encountered as we make our transition to Europe: so what? If Jesus really existed, then this is an awful story, but so what? What does that have to do with me? Well first, we need to remember that C. S. Lewis, the great expert in mythology, tells us this is no myth.1 So how do we answer this question?

As my family marks the one-year anniversary of my father-in-law’s death, my kids’ grandpa Jim, one approach to answering that question is to consider pain, suffering and death. You see my family is not the only one touched by death. I know there are people in our community right now who are scared as they wait for test results or are dealing with the news they already got from the doctor. I know there are people in our community right now who are coping with the death of someone they loved. Maybe it’s someone who’s been dead a long time, but something stirs up that pain, like the memory of a laugh or perhaps an empty seat at the table, especially at holidays, birthdays or anniversaries. Perhaps we can draw closer to Jesus, as our diocesan Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary reminds us, through our woundedness.2

Sometimes there are no words – no words that can wipe away our fear or our pain. But having someone who loves us and who can relate to what we’re going through can be more helpful than words.

My brothers and sisters, I have good news! Our God is not some detached deity who sits on a throne high above on some cosmic mountain! No! Our God loves you and loves me so much that he chose to become human; to walk in our shoes; to experience our pain, our suffering and our death. In many ways our experience is like our own personal road to Calvary. Archbishop Fulton Sheen tells us that at any time during the Passion, Jesus could have cast off his humanity, but he doesn’t.3 He walks in our footsteps.

Isn’t amazing that just a few months ago we celebrated Christmas. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Think about: the Lord of all humbled himself and took the form of a slave, as St. Paul tells us. The creator who set the stars in heaven couldn’t even reach up and touch the cattle around him. He couldn’t take care of himself. He was dependent on someone else to feed him, to clean him, to dress him!

Have you ever experienced either personally or through a loved one someone who couldn’t take care of themselves – someone who needed to be fed, cleaned and dressed? Jesus who walks with us on our journey can relate. He knows what it’s like to feel helpless.

Then we come to the Mass of Lord’s Supper on Thursday described in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane who scripture tells us cries so intensely that he sheds tears of blood, looks to heaven and asks, “Father, take this cup from me…”

Have you ever been so frustrated about an illness or the approach of death that you looked to heaven and yelled out, “why is this happening?” Jesus who walks with us can relate. He knows what it’s like to cry out to heaven and look for a different answer.

Finally, we arrive at Good Friday where we behold what the late great evangelist, Billy Graham called the scandal of the cross! Jesus looks to heaven and cries out the words of the Psalmist, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me,” as he passes away, and the veil of the sanctuary is torn.

Have you ever felt so alone in illness? Have you experienced the tearing of the veil of your own heart when someone you love passes away? Jesus who walks with us knows what it’s like to face death.

For some of us, that’s where we leave it. We try to pick up the pieces of our lives and move on. And some people never really move on. But that’s not the end of the story!

Just a couple of days later, on Easter morning, we see the risen Jesus Christ who overcomes pain; who overcomes suffering; who overcomes death. Pope Francis tells us that in Jesus our wounds are risen.4 Jesus offers us the promise of the resurrection where every tear will be wiped away. It is the risen Jesus who gives our lives purpose. It is the risen Jesus who gives our suffering and our death meaning. That is the answer to the question, “so what?”

Homework!

As you journey through Holy Week, think about your woundedness, your fears, your pain. After the Mass of the Lord’s supper on Thursday during adoration, lift up your wounds in prayer. At the Veneration of the Cross on Friday, let it go. As you touch the cross, give your suffering to Jesus, so that on Easter morning, we will awake refreshed by the glory of the resurrection.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Through the intercession our diocesan Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, may we draw closer to Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. +Amen!

To listen to the homily recorded during mass, click here. If for some reason the link does not work or stops working, in your browser search for St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas, and click the link. Once there, in the search bar type “homilies” which should take you to a list of all the homily recordings archived on our website.

Peace!

Notes:
1. Bishop Barron on The Meaning of Easter
2. Diocese of Austin Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
3. Archbishop Fulton Sheen on The True Meaning Of Easter
4. Pope Francis on Wounds