Tag: <span>Church</span>

May 24, 2021May 11, 2021

Only a Mother Can Love That Face

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

Today’s readings are chosen for the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.

Sometimes it appears that, as Mother of the Church, Mary is nurturing a rag-tag group of unkempt ruffians. As we look at our brothers and sisters in the faith, and even at ourselves, we can become discouraged. Shouldn’t the Church have a higher quotient of perfection? Shouldn’t each of her constituents present a more worthy image of Christ the Master to the world? This discouragement can become particularly poignant when we observe defects in those leading us within the Church.

Today, we do well to look at this rag-tag band through Mary’s eyes. Many are those who seek to follow her Son whose intellects clouded by original sin do not apprehend the fullness of His truth, and whose wills, weakened by original sin, fail at times in their quest to give Him a consistent “yes.”

Judging from her appearances to visionaries throughout the centuries, such as at Lourdes and Fatima, Our Lady can be very demanding. She wants us to pray and sacrifice for sinners, for those estranged from her Son.

But when she looks at each of her Son’s disciples, with all of our imperfections, shortcomings, and sins, her eyes are filled with compassion, as at Cana, when she took pity on the couple who had run out of wine.

As today’s readings show us, and as many saints have reflected, Mary is the “new Eve”–as mother of Jesus, the Word Incarnate, she reverses the disobedience of Eve and gives God her perfect and consistent “yes.” As such, never straying, we see her faithful in today’s gospel, standing under the cross of Jesus, when so many others have fled.

And yet, as rock-solid as her “yes” is, as the Mother given to us by Jesus Himself under the cross, she looks at us, her faltering children, only with eyes of love, understanding, and profound desire for our happiness. She sees when we are lacking spiritual resources, and rushes to aid us. And her all-powerful Son listens to her when she tells Him: “They have no wine.”

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Thank Jesus for the gift of Mary, His Mother, to be our Mother, under the cross. Ask His help to remember to have recourse to her in your need, for she constantly has His ear and thus can deliver swift and effective aid.

Follow the Author on Twitter:
Follow @mvhaywilliams

February 22, 2021February 5, 2021

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

“The Lord is my Shepherd,” says today’s psalm. But in today’s first reading, St. Peter refers to other shepherds–human shepherds. He exhorts human shepherds, acting on Christ’s behalf, not to lord it over their flocks, but to lead by example.

The implication is that sometimes human shepherds do Lord it over their flocks, in contrast to the example of the Good Shepherd whom they allege to serve–and who gives His life for His flock.

Human shepherds can at times be so frustrating. Why does it seem that God goes back on His promise: “I myself will pasture my sheep” (Ez. 34:15)? Why does He send us weak human shepherds to pasture us?

The first such shepherd of the New Testament appointed by Christ is St. Peter himself. He who will deny Jesus three times, and who demonstrated on more than one occasion impetuous inconstancy, this is the shepherd whom Jesus puts in charge of shepherds, and sets as the foundation stone of His Church.

So it is that we see Peter fulfilling that charge in the first reading, exhorting the shepherds of the Church, as the first head shepherd.

Certainly, human shepherds can try out patience, with their sins, shortcomings, and weaknesses. And yet, we see the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise through history: That the human Church, in the midst of all the sins of its shepherds, leads the flock reliably and effectively to Christ, the one Shepherd, through its teachings and through the sacraments.

And after all, what is more glorious and merciful, that God should lead every individual, alone and isolated, in his heart, or that He should assume mere humans into the exalted role of leading others toward Him? What shows His omnipotence more effectively–that He should infuse only the inanimate word on the page with His Spirit, or that He should infuse living mouthpieces, however imperfect, with that Spirit in order to actively lead His flock?

“I myself will pasture them.” God fulfills wonderfully on this promise by instilling, in the most glorious, mysterious, and miraculous way, His very own supernatural charism of leadership into mere sinful mortals.

ldeas for conversation with the Lord: Think of the times that the Church, or at least those in leadership positions within the Church, have disappointed you. Then consider how much beautiful leadership you have received from other Christians, whether in your family, in your local community, or at some higher level. Even as you recognize the disappointment, drink deeply of the inspiring beauty of those whom Jesus has tasked with leading you to Him. And tell Him with all your heart how grateful you are to Him for His faithful shepherds.

Follow the Author on Twitter:
Follow @mvhaywilliams

November 28, 2020November 13, 2020

Violent Transition

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

As the liturgical year ends, Scripture once again confronts us–virtually assails us–with what the end of this annual period symbolizes, that is, the end of the world and of time.

Revelation today paints a beautiful, but also powerful and striking picture. From the throne of God flows the river of life, with the tree of life on either side, bearing fruit twelve times each year.

The image is that of Christ’s Church come to full maturity in eternity. As the passage states, “Nothing accursed will be found anymore.” This is beautiful and yet “terrible,” in the sense of awe-inspiring and fearsome–for those who cling to that which is tainted will be wiped out, in a place of torment, as preceding days’ passages from Revelation have shown.

The symbol also stretches to the Christian Church here on earth, however, as an imperfect precursor to the heavenly Church. Here too, the river of life-giving water flows from the throne of God to His people through the Church. The twelvefold-fruitful tree of life, symbolizing the Church founded firmly on the twelve apostles, provides life through its sacraments–sustenance through its fruit, and medicine through its leaves–until we come to take part in the fully transformed, heavenly Church.

The transformation process in the end times, to reach this beautiful state, will be produced through great travail, like the birth of a beautiful baby. In the Gospel passage today, Jesus says that that last days arrival will “assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.”

The earth, for all its human conflicts, lives for now in an uneasy peace with God. That will not always be the case. The current compromised state of humankind and of our broken world will come to an end, and we will be wise to be ready through a vigilant and wakeful commitment to the teachings of Jesus.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to give you the courage to live with the fragile transience of the world always in mind, without, however, ever despairing or growing impatient. Ask Him for unfailing, vibrant hope in His victory, which will bring grandeur and beauty like you have never seen. Ask Him also for the gift of trusting that He will keep you in His grace if you persistently ask Him to.

Follow the Author on Twitter:
Follow @mvhaywilliams

September 15, 2020August 31, 2020

Her Part in the Play

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

Today is the feast of “Our Lady of Sorrows,” that is, Mary as she who cooperated with Jesus’ act of redemption by suffering with Him.

Often, there are different optional readings for any given day among which the priest saying Mass may choose. The reflections found in this blog always focus on the primary readings for the day found at the Conference of Bishops link that is included. Sometimes, like today, the default is a combo platter. Today’s Gospel is for the feast of Our Lady, whereas the first reading is from the weekday–so, they were not in any way chosen to go together.

At least, not by the hand of man.

On such occasions I love to discover messages that God might have in store for us from the combination that He alone chooses.

In today’s first reading, St. Paul talks about how God creates us for the Church with special gifts to fit together neatly like the parts in a body. (I chuckle that he cites “administration” as one of the spiritual gifts. Hey bureaucrats, you have a place! lol)

In the Gospel passage, we see Mary’s role eloquently portrayed as the Mother of Sorrows.

So putting the two together, we may ask, what was and is Mary’s special role within the body of Christ that is the Church? Where does she fall within St. Paul’s paradigm?

There are so many facets to Mary’s vocation, so many titles for her. It is hard to argue, for example, that today’s title for Mary and today’s Gospel encapsulates the climax of her effectiveness as a disciple of Jesus, under the Cross–for it is the climax of Jesus’ mission.

But then we also have her as Queen of the Angels, the new Ark of the Covenant who carried the Messiah…etc.

In the end, though, if we are to sum up Mary’s special role, we might look at it like this: She is the proto-creature. (Hey! I just invented a title! Notice that it’s not capitalized…) In this, her role is distinguished even from the role of her Son. Jesus was God. As such, one thing that He couldn’t do was model for us how a mere creature with no divine attributes should respond to God’s call.

Mary is not God. She is mere creature, just like you and me. But her response, her “yes” to God, in the midst of the confusion and partial understanding befitting a creature, models for us beautifully how to respond to God in generosity and simplicity.

That “yes” was not a one-time affair at the Annunciation. It continued in the moment we commemorate today, the moment she suffered under the Cross. It was the continuum of her life.

No matter what our particular role and gifts–whether we are administrators, or miracle-workers–we can look to Mary’s yes as the model for how we can entrust full understanding of the big picture to God, and simply listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit each day for how to channel our consistent “yes” to God.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Tell Our Lord that you entrust the big picture to Him. Thank Him for not burdening you with the responsibility of mastering it. Ask him for a few ways that you can show your trust today in an unconditional “yes” to Him.

Follow the Author on Twitter:
Follow @mvhaywilliams

August 19, 2020July 30, 2020

Shepherd of our Hearts

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

Often we become anxious because of the failings–sometimes, grave failings–of those in authority commissioned to serve us, both in society and in the Church.

God apparently shares our concern. Scripture often talks about how those to whom much has been given will be called to account for it. The first reading shows us that when our leaders fail us, especially those shepherding the Church, His righteous passion for His people is stirred.

And yet, mysteriously, He continues to commission frail human beings with the care of His flock. And He tells us to listen to them. For example, He calls out the Pharisees repeatedly for their selfish and hypocritical shepherding of the people of God–to the point that the first reading could be all about them. And yet, while cautioning His disciples not to act as the Pharisees do, He still encourages His followers to listen to and heed what they say.

And it is well known to us as Catholics, that although the history of the Church is spotted with profoundly unworthy shepherds, God’s command to us to follow its Magisterium has not wavered, and those who do so have the guarantee of following His path.

Clearly, as disappointing as many shepherds have been to the Lord, He longs to have human beings share in His own noble role as the Good Shepherd. For there is no attribute of God so exalted that He doesn’t call us in some way to share in it, albeit to a finite degree corresponding to our nature.

And let us not forget that there have been countless great shepherds in the Church who have made this dream of His come true. St. Paul. St. Augustine. St. Athanasius. St. Leo the Great. St. John XXIII. St. John Paul the Great. Even today, coincidentally, we celebrate the feast of a great shepherd, St. John Eudes, who tirelessly preached devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Secularists are quick to point out any flaw in a shepherd not, as in our first reading, to correct constructively. They argue the impracticality and absurdity of the Christian ideal based on the apparent inability of its most ardent proponents to live according to it.

In reality, though, the example of any single individual who lives up to that ideal, like our saint of the day, is an irrefutable demonstration of the possibility of reaching it with God’s grace. The life of every saintly shepherd is a glorious miracle of God enabling the living of the high ideal that He demands. And the example of the innumerable saintly shepherds who have thus lived in the history of the Church constitutes a massively eloquent testimony.

Still, when we encounter at close quarters a shepherd who is gravely flawed, who does not demonstrate a real sense of the sacred, or worse still, who intentionally deceives by deliberately leading a life contrary to what he preaches, this discourages us deeply. This leader, to whom we have entrusted at some level our spiritual care, has failed us miserably.

What answer does God give to our discouragement? He certainly is not indifferent to it, as we see in the first reading: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves!” But His answer comes at the end of that reading, and in the Psalm: “I myself will look after and tend my sheep.” “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

His promise to shepherd His flock Himself is not a call to flee our flawed Church to the ranks of evangelical Protestantism. 🙂 But it is a clear message that while human shepherds pasture our minds and holy ones can inspire us, it is He and He alone who shepherds our hearts. Whether our shepherds are more like the Pharisees or like St. John Paul the Great, we must consistently heed what the Church teaches us, but the only one to whom our heart clings as its Lord is the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. In the end, we are His sheep, and only His. And He will never, ever fail us, even as the primary conduits through which He communicates Himself, both sacramentally and instructively, are flawed human vehicles.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Dialogue with Him about the saints who have most impressed you personally, and then any false shepherds who have caused you particular discouragement. Ask Him if, in the face of varying levels of virtue among human shepherds, He is still capable of guaranteeing you overflowing happiness through an authentic and fulfilling relationship with Him.

Follow the Author on Twitter:
Follow @mvhaywilliams