Reflections on February 24-Second Sunday of Lent

Transfiguration and Trinity

The day's reading can be found here.

“Master, it is good that we are here.”  (Luke 9:33).  Every Second Sunday of Lent, the Church offers us a gospel account of the Transfiguration of the Lord — a pre-Passion glimpse at the future glory of Christ.  The Early Church Fathers saw allusions to the Most Holy Trinity in the Transfiguration account: Christ takes three disciples (Sts. Peter, John and James); St. Peter wants to build three tents (for Jesus, Moses and Elijah).  The most direct reference to the Trinity – to one God in three Persons – is similar to the Baptism in the Jordan, but more emphasized: the Father’s voice is heard, the Son is transfigured, and the Holy Spirit is present in the cloud.  Just as God revealed His glory to Moses on Mount Sinai, and later to Elijah on Mount Horeb, so Jesus manifests His divine splendor on Mount Tabor amidst Moses and Elijah to show that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

Perhaps the most important words of this gospel passage for us to take along with us on our Lenten journey are those of the Father directed to Jesus’ disciples:  “This is my chosen Son; listen to him” (Luke 9:35).  As beloved sons and daughters of the Father, how are we listening to Jesus?  Yes, we must listen to His commandments and the teachings of His Church, but how are we listening to His words directly to us?  Are we even making time to listen?  If we are struggling to hear His voice, we must let Him know so He can help us.  The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27).

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Why is Pope Benedict XVI Resigning?

When I awoke on Monday morning, I looked at my iPhone to see what time it was.  I had a text message from a priest-friend that read: “I heard they are summoning you to Rome.”  I thought he was playing a joke on me – which he was – when I started to receive text messages from other priests indicating: “Holy Father has announced resignation.”  I pulled up a news site on my internet browser and could not believe it.  For the first time in almost 600 years, the Pope has decided to resign his office as Supreme Pontiff.

Aside from the initial shock, many people including Catholics are confused about this decision.  How can we reconcile our belief that a man who has been appointed by the Holy Spirit as Successor to St. Peter could give up this ministry while still living?  Firstly, it is important to know that in Canon Law – the law of the Church – the Pope does have the right to resign freely and publicly (Can. 332 §2).  Secondly, before we can jump to conspiracy theories, we should read what the Holy Father actually said.  In his Declaratio, Pope Benedict admits that he does not have the sufficient health and energy to carry out the duties of the Petrine ministry amidst the demands of today’s world.  In my opinion, the Pope is making a very prayerful and humble decision to concede the papacy to one who is more physically apt to carry out the heavy duties of Roman Pontiff.

On a human level, I am saddened that he will no longer be known as His Holiness, Benedict XVI.  I intensely studied his writings – both as Pope and as Cardinal Ratzinger – during my time in seminary, and I spent five wonderful years in Rome during his reign.  I attended countless Masses celebrated by him, heard him preach often, and I even had the opportunity to meet him in January 2010.  His contribution to maintaining a spirit of continuity with our theological and liturgical tradition – both pre- and post-Vatican II – is an aspect of his pontificate that I will greatly miss.  However, I think he will be most remembered for his gentle, prudent leadership of the Church during a time of external persecution by a secular world and the internal healing after devastating scandals.  The one that many thought would be God’s fierce Rottweiler in the Church turned out to be a benevolent German Shepherd.

The next four weeks will be very interesting and exciting as the resignation becomes effective on February 28 and a conclave is convened in early-March.  Although these are strange times in the Catholic Church, we must pray that the Holy Spirit inspires the cardinals to elect the one who will carry out the ministry of feeding Christ’s sheep (John 21:17).  May the Lord greatly reward Pope Benedict XVI and may He abundantly bless his successor.

Reflection for the beginning of Lent

What am I going to "do" for Lent?

The readings for Ash Wednesday can be found here.

In three days — ready or not — the season of Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday.  The Church offers Lent as a way for us to be healed of our spiritual sicknesses, namely, our personal sins and vices.  Like the paralytics in the gospels, we often times encounter obstacles to Jesus’ healing in our lives.  These obstacles can be people, places and things.  Nevertheless, the four actions that help to liberate us from sin — to receive Jesus’ healing — are prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and our own personal sacrifice during Lent.

Some of you may already know what you want to do for Lent, but I would like to offer for your own spiritual reflection some ideas.  If you have decided to “give up” something, there needs to be an action on your part to “do” something in its place.  For example, if you are giving up soft drinks or sweets (or alcohol!), you need to donate the money that you would have spent on these things to the church or another charitable cause.  If you are giving up TV and/or radio, you should take up a practice of prayer or spiritual reading to do in their place.

If you are thinking of “doing something extra” during Lent (as opposed to “giving up” something), then it needs to be united to a pure intention.  For example, if you are going to start a new exercise routine during Lent, your intention cannot just be so that you “look good.”  Physical health (detached from vanity) is good, but perhaps you could go to daily Mass during Lent as “spiritual” exercise.  Rather than exercising with your iPod ear buds in your ears, you could pray a rosary instead.  If you are planning on giving more money to charity during Lent, you could decide to not go out to eat to restaurants during Lent as a sign of your solidarity with the poor.

If you are still unsure of what spiritual practice you want to do during Lent, you might ask God in your prayer: What do You want me to do?  The important thing is that we do not take on too much, but that we stick with our discipline through all 40 days as a sacrifice pleasing to God.  As we approach Jesus today in the Most Blessed Sacrament, let us ask Him what He wants us to do during Lent — that our prayer, fasting, almsgiving and our own personal disciplines will bring us closer to Him throughout this sacred season.

February 3-Reflections on the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our Salvation through the 

One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic Church

The day's readings can be found here.

Every Sunday, towards the end of the Nicene Creed, we say: I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.  These are called the “Four Marks of the Church,” that is, the four qualities of the true Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself (CCC 811-870).  Because Jesus Christ chose to found one Church (Mt 16:18) – not a collection of churches – and that this one Church has visible boundaries (Mt 5:14), there is a doctrine we hold that is often avoided and at best misunderstood.  The name of this doctrine in Latin is: Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, that is, “Outside the Church there is no salvation” (CCC 846-8).  Now, firstly, what does this mean?  It means that membership in the true Church, the Church Christ founded, is necessary for salvation.  St. Paul teaches that the Church has Christ as its head and we are individually members of His body (1 Cor 12).  It is impossible to be joined to Christ without somehow being joined to His body.

Secondly, what does this doctrine NOT say?  We as Catholics are not saying that everyone else, including Protestant Christians, are going to hell!  (That is not our call!).  We, as members of the true Church, acknowledge the millions of non-Catholic Christians out there who love Jesus Christ and are faithful to their interpretation of the Holy Bible (Vatican II: Lumen Gentium, 15).  However, we lament the fact that they are not in full communion with us and have instead interpreted the Scriptures in their own way — not in keeping with the Sacred Tradition (2 Thess 2:15) and the consistent teaching of the Church’s Magisterium (1 Tim 3:15).  In a certain sense, they have severed the Head from the Body (Jesus—Yes; the Church—No).  The worst part is that many lack the sacraments except for baptism (and sadly today even some have rejected Trinitarian Baptism).

Nevertheless, it is not for us to condemn anyone.  Actually, because we know so many fine, committed non-Catholics, we can hope and pray for their salvation — but not apart from the Church.  If they are saved, they are still saved because of the Catholic Church, of which they are members in an imperfect way because of their faith in Christ and through sacramental baptism.  Many Protestants, especially Evangelicals, are our greatest allies in promoting a Culture of Life.  We should seek to work together for common goals.  On the other hand, just because we are Catholic does not give us a free ticket to heaven.  Yes, God’s grace is free and the Church (as Christ’s Mystical Body) is the mediator of grace, but we must freely choose to cooperate with that grace to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  And as Catholics, we have a duty to do our best to get Protestants and the lost sheep (fallen-away Catholics) into full communion with the Catholic Church.  Evangelization is not opposed to ecumenism, because both endeavors seek the same object: truth.

We are all on a road towards Christ.  Even though there are many highways and backroads that can get us to Him, the most direct route is the Catholic Church.  As we receive Him worthily in Holy Communion today, He keeps us in perfect union with Himself.  St. Augustine reminds us: Receive whom you are; become whom you receive.