Deacon Rudy Villarreal – Page 40

February 9, 2020February 5, 2020

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

picture of a hill overlooking water and two people far in the distance on top of hill

First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10
Responsorial: Psalm 112:4-9
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Brothers and sisters, we’ve talked a lot about discipleship. But today’s readings, help us understand what it means to live a life of discipleship. Look at the first reading, for example, from Isaiah. The people have returned from captivity and they’re trying to rebuild their lives, their nation, their capital and in particular, the temple, which is the center of Jewish faith and worship.

Earlier in the book of Isaiah he addresses forms of inauthentic worship. So, now the people are rebuilding the temple to restart Jewish cultic ritual, but Isaiah cautions them. He says to them that proof of authentic worship is by the way the people live their lives, like sharing their bread with the hungry, or sheltering the oppressed and homeless, and clothing the naked.

In other words, authentic faith life is not about ticking a box on your calendar, showing up for mass, then rushing out the door to get a great seat at the restaurant. Isaiah is telling us that authentic praise and worship begins with an internal conversion. If you treat the people around, especially the marginalized with generosity, then you will be light in the darkness.

We hear a similar metaphor in today’s Gospel. True discipleship has to be about – it has to begin with real, internal conversion. And the proof of our conversion is that way we engage the world around us. Our light will shine in the darkness if we try to live authentically – when we walk the walk.

Jesus also describes the disciple as salt of the earth. Salt not only flavors food, but it’s a preservative, right? So, living a life of discipleship challenges the way things are and helps preserve goodness in the world. That sounds nice and it’s certainly a noble pursuit, but I think it can be very difficult in today’s culture where we define success as money, privilege, and power to live out our faith. I think it can be difficult for the Christian to reconcile our faith with the way we work. It’s just business, right?

First, helping the marginalized – feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked – begins by treating every person we encounter, especially those we work with and those who work for us, with respect – by not trying to cheat them or take advantage of them for the sake of quarterly earnings. If someone accepts employment in good faith, but your profitability strategy hinges on laying them off before Christmas or after they turn fifty, then that is an exploitative practice and a sinful injustice. It’s the opposite of being a light set on a lampstand.

Ok, so does that mean we need to show up for work with our Bibles and our catechisms, or get an advanced degree in theology so that we’re ready to debate with leaders and shareholders? No, of course not. St. Paul gives us some insight into how we could begin in today’s second reading.

Now he’s going to build on what he’s telling us in the second reading next week, but this week he says you don’t need to come with some big compendium of faith under your arm. We show up in humility and we trust in God. Paul shows up before the Corinthians in weakness and fear and much trembling. But he put his faith in the scandal of the cross and stood before the people. He calls it scandalous because Jesus had to be crucified and die on it.

Putting our faith in Christ Jesus who was scandalized for our sake and allowing ourselves to feel a little uncomfortable regardless whether people will see us as foolish is a willing sacrifice we make as his disciples. Because in the end, it’s not about us – it’s not about whether you or I feel comfortable or uncomfortable. It’s about Jesus. We try by our actions, our words, the very way we live our lives, to facilitate an encounter between someone – anyone – and Jesus Christ. That’s it. We trust that encounter to the Holy Spirit, and we get out of the way.

Homework! After receiving Christ in the Word proclaimed and, in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions.

You are the light of the World. How can I bring light and truth into my interactions with others?
Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. How does the way I live reflect what I believe?

Our homework this week is a good exercise for us as disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? The go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
Montague, George T. SM. First Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Christian beatitude, 1716, 1720
Poor in spirit, 544, 2546
Pure in heart, 2518
Peacemakers, 2305, 2330
Heaven, 326
Christ, center of catechesis, 426

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 73
Mass Readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020920.cfm
First Reading
Isaiah 58:7-10
Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Responsorial
Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
Alleluia.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
Alleluia.
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
Alleluia.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
Alleluia.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.

Alleluia
John 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

February 5, 2020February 5, 2020

ATC 3 The Public Square

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G.K. Chesterton said, “Right is Right even if nobody does it. Wrong is wrong even if everybody is wrong about it.”

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. We’ve talked about authority and obedience, and now with the election season in full swing in the United States, I think we need to talk a little about the public square.

What is the public square? The public square is where all the facets of community life come together – where we exchange news, information and ideas. This is the heart of the community where we engage the full spectrum of community life from art to religion to politics and public policy. I hope that broad description helps explain what I mean by the public square.

Does the Church have a place in the pubic square? Yes, absolutely – both the institution represented by our bishops, and by each and every one of us, both clergy and lay. As Bishop Olmstead wrote, “…it is our duty to engage the culture, not run from it,” (Olmstead, #30). As disciples who are supposed to go out into the world, we have to engage culture in order to evangelize it, as Bishop Robert Barron so often talks about, (Barron, 1).

By engaging in public dialogue, we are not trying to impose our morality on anyone. Practicing what we believe in our everyday life – at home, at work, among our friends and in politics – is an example of living with integrity. It’s an example that we walk the walk.

And it’s healthy for democracy for a wide variety of ideas to be exchanged. It’s good for society when we are all, Catholics included, involved in the democratic process, (Olmstead, #12). But here’s the distinction, I think, about Catholic involvement in public policy debates or politics. Being Catholic is not a private affair. You don’t just wake up one day as an unbaptized person and announce that you are now Catholic. Your sense of church cannot be limited to enjoying a cup of coffee on your back porch and watching the sun rise. No, this isn’t about a privatized faith. Being Catholic means that we are part of a community of believers in Christ Jesus. Situated in the community of believers, we engage society.

What should the Church’s role be in this public dialogue?

Well, as the Second Vatican Council suggests, we begin with our fundamental belief that we are all created by God’s love in His image and likeness, and that we are constantly preserved by God’s love, (Gaudium et Spes, 19). Human dignity then is intrinsic to all human beings.

As Bishop Olmstead points out, “the Church intervenes by making a moral judgment about economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the person, the common good, or the salvation of souls requires it,” (Olmstead, #11; CCC #2420; GS 76 §5). It’s really outside the Church’s per view to comment on every single thing that governments at all levels – local, regional, national, global – do. Rather, the Church will focus on key issues that infringe on or undermine human dignity or the common good.

Is the goal of the Church to change public policy? No, that is not necessarily the case. Pope Benedict wrote, “It is not the Church’s responsibility to make this teaching prevail in political life. Rather, the Church wishes to help form consciences…and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act…” (Deus Caritas Est, 28). So, while there are undoubtedly things the Church would like to change in our society, one of its primary roles as expressed through our bishops is to teach from our understanding of our shared human dignity and common morality, and thus to evangelize the general public.

While it’s not necessary for the Church to weigh-in on all the issues that confront government, we should. For those of us citizens and taxpayers living in democracies, we have a duty and a responsibility to be educated and informed about what’s going on at all levels of government. Being a good citizen doesn’t mean simply relishing in our rights. Being a citizen means understanding that our rights have corresponding responsibilities.

Can Catholics disagree with the Church and are all issues equal?

God does not see “left” and “right”, “liberal” or “conservative”, (Gomez, Foreward). He just sees us and the world he created. God loves diversity and perhaps inherent in his design is a plethora of ideas and perspectives. This means that all issues are not equal. Catholics do not need to agree with each other (or their bishops or priests) on every point nor do we need to move in lockstep with each other.

Catholics do not need to agree on a host of issues, like education, taxation, welfare reform, or illegal immigration, etc. While we are called to strive to understand the spirit of any Church law or teaching or disciplinary action which does not lead to sin, not all Church teachings are equal, (Gaillardetz, 126). We may, for example, agree on the Church’s teaching about the preferential option for the poor, but we may all come to different understandings about the best public policy application, (Olmstead, #16).

There is one caveat – actually it’s a showstopper. The Church teaches that Catholics (really, all Christians), should never support an issue, initiative or law that is intrinsically evil, (Olmstead, #14). What does that mean? A moral act that can never result in good, no matter the circumstances is intrinsically evil. In other words, the ends cannot justify the means.

Look, if the ends justify the means, then we’d all see Thanos as the hero in the Marvel movies Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In the movies, Thanos believes that a balanced world order is a good thing – a moral imperative. Murdering 50% of the population to accomplish that goal doesn’t matter to him.

As Catholics – as Christians – we are called to resist the temptation to believe that the ends justify the means. That means that we can never support or promote any government policy or law that attacks human life. So, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment are non-negotiables for Catholics.

Whew, all of this can be a bit overwhelming, right? I know that life is hectic and when we’re done for the day, we just want to relax. But being a good citizen requires some effort on our part. Emotionally, we need to participate in the love God has for the world. Intellectually, we should constantly form and inform our consciences as we strive to understand what the Church teaches about life in Christ in the light of Scripture and Tradition. Practically, as Christians and as citizens, we need to resist the hedonistic and mediocre culture in which we find ourselves and do our part to make this world a better place. John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country,” (Kennedy, Inaugural Speech).

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal and next time on All Things Catholic we’re going to talk about the Lord’s name – what does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain, what’s really going on and what you can do about it.

You’re listening to All Things Catholic.

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again on our next episode and until then, peace!

References:

Barron, Robert. “Welcome Letter.” Evangelization & Culture, Autumn 2019.
Benedict, Deus Caritas Est. 25 December 2005. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html.
Gaillardetz, Richard R. By What Authority? A Primer on Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Sense of the Faithful. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2003.
Gomez, José H. Foreword to Catholics in the Public Square, rev. 4th Edition, by Thomas J. Olmstead. Charlotte, NC: Saint Benedict Press, 2016.
Kenney, John F. “Inaugural Address.” 20 January 1961. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/inaugural-address.
Olmstead, Thomas J. Catholics in the Public Square. Revised, 4th Edition. Charlotte, NC: Saint Benedict Press, 2016.
Second Vatican Council. Gaudium et Spes. 7 December 1965. Vatican Archive, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html.

Catechism Links: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Social doctrine of the Church, 2419-2425

February 2, 2020February 2, 2020

Presentation of the Lord

drawing of a baby being held in two hands

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Responsorial: Psalm 24:7-10
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Today we celebrate the presentation of the Lord. There are so many interesting things about today’s readings as a whole. Truly the interconnectedness among Malachi, the Psalm, Hebrews and Luke is fascinating. Even taken individually, each of the readings has so much meaning. And today’s Gospel has greatly influenced the life of the Church. For example, Luke’s description of Jesus as the light for the nations has inspired candlelight processions before mass, what we call Candlemas. And Simeon’s song of praise in the Gospel that begins, “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace …” that song of praise is prayed by the Church in Night Prayer every night, “…so that like Simeon, the faithful may end their days and their lives in God’s peace.” <1> Night Prayer is part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Daily Office.

Ok, so my point is that there’s a lot of ground for you to explore on you own. But for today’s reflection, I would like us to focus on Simeon and Anna just for a bit. Luke describes them both as elderly, and they’re both waiting. Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah. And Anna, Luke gives us a rather detailed introduction for her. We know she has spent the vast majority of her life praying and fasting at the Temple. We don’t know if she was also told to wait, nonetheless she has maintained this constant vigil almost for her entire life.

Now I suggest to you that to wait for so long is a sign of great faith. They believed in God and accepted God’s plan for their lives and they waited. What amazing faith!

Ok, here is one of the dangers of reading or listening to Scripture. We might come to the readings at mass passively – just going with the flow – and we might think to ourselves, “Well that was a nice story.” And when we do that, we miss out on the ways that the Holy Spirit is trying to guide us.

You see, so often in our Western culture, and perhaps more specifically in the United States I think, we want what we want when we want it. Right? If I want a double pumpkin spice latte with a dash of cinnamon and dash of nutmeg, then that’s what I want – and oh by the way, I want it now! I mean, that’s just an example. You get my point, right?

But it’s not about our latte. Oh no, before our latte even hits the counter, we’re on to the next thing. Maybe it’s a text message we’re responding to or maybe we’re scrolling through social media, or maybe we’re posting a status update. “Looking forward to the best cup of coffee ever! Heart emoji, thumbs up emoji, smiley face emoji.” But even in that update, we’re not in the present – we’re looking forward to the future. We can’t sit still and just be right here, right now.

Today’s Gospel suggests that what you want – what you believe you are being called to do or to see or to experience – will happen in God’s time, not your time. And that means you might need to wait an awful long time – maybe years and years. What do you think about that idea? I suspect that many of my over-achieving type AAA personality friends cringe when they hear me say that. Wait! For years! For what I want?!? Are you kidding me?!?

My brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel invites us to be open to the possibility that we might need to slow down before we can speed up – that if we are indeed the people of faith we say we are, then we might need to wait or to at least slow down for things to unfold in God’s time.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions this week.

When was the last time I sat down quietly and prayed to Jesus – and I mean just sit and speak to Jesus as I would any friend?
What am I waiting for God to do? What are my sources of hope?

I think doing our homework will help us as disciples to slow down in order to speed up. Do you got it? Do you get it? Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Citations:
<1> Pablo T. Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018), 71.

References:

Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018.
Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2016.
Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Jesus’ circumcision, 527
Presentation of Jesus, 529
Consolation of Israel, 711
Sign of contradiction, 575, 587
Jesus and the temple, 583
Mary’s ordeal, 149
Satan’s power, 407
Jesus’ love for us, 609
Jesus’ atoning death, 615, 1992

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Lectionary: 524
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
First Reading
Malachi 3:1-4
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Responsorial
Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Second Reading
Hebrews 2:14-18
Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

Alleluia
Luke 2:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 2:22-40 OR 2:22-32
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
–and you yourself a sword will pierce–
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

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