Category Archives: Musings

The Lord is here

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In today’s first reading we hear from the Prophet Ezekiel. It is from the end of his prophetic writings and there is a lot of “water under bridge” that has led to this amazing vision of a new temple being the source of restorative and living water, water that is so inevitable, so powerful, that even the Dead Sea valley will be restored. The language used echoes that of the story of creation from the Book of Genesis, which portrays paradise as a garden, rendered fruitful by a river flowing out of Eden and dividing into four branches, and which Yahweh visits daily (3:8). The imagery Ezekiel provides finds later echoes in the prophets Joel and Zechariah. Ezekiel’s vision of the stream also lives on in the NT. One may recognize a veiled allusion in Jesus’ words in John 7:38: “As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water,’” presumably as a life-giving agent of divine grace and blessing. There are other NT references for which the use of specific Greek words might connect to Ezekiel 47, but without doubt the clearest reference is found in the last book of Scripture:

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Court Watching

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On March 31, the US Supreme Court will hear argument in Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission. The branch of Catholic Charities involved in this case provides housing and job training to disabled and elderly persons in the Wisconsin Diocese of Superior

The origins of the case go back to 2016 when the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission ruled that the Catholic Charities is ineligible for an unemployment tax exemption. The state permits exemptions for organizations “operated primarily for religious purposes,” yet the Commission ultimately determined that the charitable works of Catholic Charities serves no “religious purpose” when it ministers to the poor, the elderly, and the infirm. The Commission ruled that Catholic Charities’ work is secular (and thus, non-exempt) because its activities resemble those of secular charities.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court acknowledged that the work was rooted in religious motivations, but that since the work lacked any recognizable religious activities such as worship, ritual, teaching the faith, or spreading a religious message. Hmmmm?

We don’t help others because they are Catholic. We help because we are Catholic.

Musing and Meaning

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Today’s gospel is a familiar part of the Christmas story – the Angel Gabriel inviting Mary into the plans of God for redemption and salvation of the world. I suspect we quickly want to jump the 9 months and have our thoughts move quickly to the Nativity of Jesus. But let us put things on “pause” for a moment and remember we are in the midst of Lent and in that vein let us reconsider this well-known story for this liturgical season. 

The Annunciation is deeply part of the Church’s tradition of religious art. The scene of the Angel Gabriel and Mary has been interpreted by many great artists: Da Vinci, Rembrandt, El Greco and countless other artists and iconographers over the ages.

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In All Circumstances

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In the first reading, we hear the end of the story of Naaman, a Syrian general, who has just been cured of his leprosy. When Naaman comes to Israel he encounters the prophet Elisha. Naaman has come bearing all manner of riches and gifts, but Elisha wants none of it. He simply instructs Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Pretty simple and ordinary, yes?

Lots of ways that Naaman could react. Scripture tells us he is not pleased. In effect he responds, “Are you kidding me? This nasty little river? I have great rivers in Damascus. Couldn’t I have washed there? And, aren’t you supposed to put on a big show? This was a serious waste of time.” And at that he turns to leave and go home.

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STAT

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If you have ever watched a movie or television series with hospital emergency room scenes, you have undoubtedly heard a medical professional say that they need something “Stat.” The context alone lets you know that the meaning is “immediately.” Did you ever wonder why “Stat” means “immediately?”

If the word was “stats” at least we know it is simply a shortened version of “statistics.” But the origin of “stat” as “immediately” is an abbreviation for the Latin word statim, also meaning “immediately.” Ok…. but why did the medical profession pick up the word for use? When stat first entered the English lexicon in the early 19th century, it was used by physicians clarifying that a drug or procedure should be administered immediately – with Latin being a source of words that could move across language barriers.

“Stat” is used today, sometimes to differentiate a medication that must be administered immediately from two other types of medication orders that are to be given immediately. What about if the medication is to be given as needed? Thank you, Latin for for pro re nata (literally, “for the affair born”), meaning “as needed.”

So, here’s hoping you read my blog pro re nata – or stat when a new one is published!

The Folly of Empty Worship

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Today’s gospel (Matthew 23:1-12) seems pretty clear in its intention: the burdens laid upon the people by the Pharisees and their scribes are not pleasing to the Lord. The burdens include the Pharisaic interpretations of the Law (You have heard it said….but I say to you) as well as the overly ritualized forms of temple/cultic worship. In many ways it is the same message Isaiah had for the people of his time, our first reading (Isaiah 1:10, 16-20).

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Grace, Conversion and Anger

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It is quite usual to hear someone confess the sin of anger. After all anger (or wrath) is one of the seven deadly sins. I might ask the person if they think their anger was justified and impacted a righteous cause. For example, someone cuts you off in traffic in a dangerous way, you are instantly upset, perhaps even angry, but you take a deep breath and move on with your day. Was that a sin? It was certainly a temptation to sin, but that temptation came along wrapped in grace.  On that day you chose grace and let the anger pass. This leads me to think about grace, temptation, sin and what Jesus is trying to convey in today’s gospel where murder and calling someone a fool end up in the same verse.

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The Word Unleashed

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We are here in the first week of Lent and the collection of first readings so far this week have emphasized the Word of God. On Monday, the Word comes from God through his prophet Moses where he instructs the people about the meaning of God’s intentions couched in the Ten Commandments. In yesterday’s first reading we hear from the prophet Isaiah: “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) I find that such a hopeful pronouncement that there will be a day when God’s word will be fully realized in each one of us. We will fully understand God’s intention and purpose in the Commandments and fully integrate that into our very being and in the life we live.

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The Joy of Anticipation

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There were two dieticians who lived very strict lives of diet and exercise. They would eat a healthy diet, watch blood pressure and cholesterol, get exercise and absolutely eat incredibly intentionally and purposefully. Perhaps the great symbol of all of this was the omnipresence of oat bran: cereal, muffins, the ever imaginative addition to more recipes than can be remembered; Oat bran every day. They lived to the late nineties. Both died and went to heaven. One day while walking around and seeing all the wonders one said to the other, “Gee, I never imagined it would be like this.”   The other said, “Just think we could have been here years ago if it wasn’t for all that oat bran.”  … and isn’t heaven the ultimate end we hope for? And Lent is the liturgical season when we consider our spiritual practices, our spiritual exercises, and spiritual diets. And it begins here on Ash Wednesday.

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Who can be saved?

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Today’s gospel asks: “Who then can be saved?” The answer is found in the first reading, words from the Book of Sirach, a passage that speaks to both the reality of human sin and the infinite mercy of God. Sirach 17:20-24 reminds us that though we may fall into sin, the Lord ever and always calls us back to Himself with love, urging us to repent and turn to Him with all our hearts.

The passage begins by acknowledging the weakness of human nature. “Their iniquities are not hidden from Him, and all their sins are before the Lord.” God sees everything—our struggles, our failures, our sins—but He does not look upon us with condemnation. Instead, He calls us to conversion: “To the penitent He provides a way back, and He encourages those who are losing hope!“

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