This Sunday, October 21, 2012, Mark's Gospel passage depicts the disciples' response to
Jesus' third passion prediction. Like the first two predictions,
the disciples again appear to misunderstand what Jesus has told them. They are caught up with the ambition for power, glory and honor. Our Discussion Questions will guide
your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.
In this Gospel James and John are
more concerned with the success
of having highest positions of honor and power in the kingdom. In fact,
Fr. Campion P. Gavaler, OSB reminds us that shortly before, Jesus had
called Peter a Satan because Peter rebuked him when he began to talk
about the suffering and death he would soon undergo.
The Twelve Were Imperfect, Ordinary Men
The
naked ambition of James and John
should be of much consolation to everyone of us. James Gilhooley says
Mark is telling us that neither one of these gentlemen was a saint. And,
Fr. Orly Sapuay, MS points out,
the other ten did not understand any better. In fact, Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA adds, one of Mark’s aims was
to show us the disciples in their very human condition, warts and all. Eventually they would all abandon him.
And just like them, many of us today also want to be of service to God,
and we want to be recognized as one of His favored followers.
What we often are chasing in all of this
- Fr. Ron Rolheiser cautions us - is notice and adulation so that we
can be duly recognized and loved. So just like the twelve we are
imperfect.
Msgr. Charles Pope tells us, however, that
imperfection is something to be accepted with humility. We are ordinary, imperfect and we live in a seldom perfect world strife with loss, death and suffering. But
these are not are not the worst thing for us,
even though they certainly seem to be. Fr. John Foley, S. J. says the
worst would be loss of love’s groundwork, the never-ending love of God.
Greatness in Humble Service
Jesus
takes up the disciples’ ambitious attitude and, in fact, even enjoins
them to aspire for greatness. But our Lord makes it clear, Fr. Omer
Prieto points out, that such
greatness is defined by humble service.
Jesus in effect redefines greatness. Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio says the
one who is greatest, and is most like God, is not the one who appears
on the cover of People magazine.
It is the one who will go to the greatest lengths for those who are least worthy and least grateful.
If we are to be followers of Jesus and be truly great, we must renounce
placing any limits on how much we are willing to give or whom we are
willing to serve. Because as, Father Cusick tells us,
the door to the heavenly reign is through suffering and service. And
it is not the Presider’s chair,
the Bishop’s cathedra, the judge’s bench or the big chair in the Oval
Office that confers true authority. Fr. Phil Bloom points out that
true authority, true power comes from God.
The Year of Faith
We
embark this month on the Year of Faith. Pope Benedict introduced this
week a new series of catechesis meant to accompany the Church during the
year-long celebration.
Here is a translation of the pope's address. The Holy Father said it will be
a year of catechesis
dedicated to healing the rupture between what we profess and how we
live our daily lives as believers in Christ and avoid "do it yourself
religions".
In its essence, faith is an acceptance of what God has revealed about
himself in Christ. Yet, Archbishop Richard W. Smith of Edmonton reminds
us, we can sometimes find ourselves
assuming that the reach of God's power does not extend beyond the parameters of our human judgment.
So how should we live this Year of Faith? The Bishops have suggested
that we spend the next 365 days delving deeper into our relationship
with Christ and her Church. That sounds fine enough, but how? Sherry
Antonetti offers a few methods for turning this year of faith into a
rich experience --
100 ways, in fact. The goal is to grow so pick a few that will stretch your soul. I and steel your faith.
New Saints of the Church
Also a part of the October celebrations at the Vatican is the canonization of seven saints. We feature two of them today.
Blessed
Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), also known as Blessed Catherine
Tekakwitha, is among those who will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on
October 21. She was born at Ossernenon, near Auriesville, New York,
USA. Her father was a Mohawk chief and her mother was a Catholic
Algonquin. When Tekakwitha was eighteen, Father de Lamberville, a Jesuit
missionary, came to Caughnawaga and established a chapel. At age twenty
she was baptized and was given the name of Kateri, which is Mohawk for
Catherine. Kateri is known as "Lily of the Mohawks" or "Beautiful Flower
Among True Men."
Read her martyrdom story here.
Pope Benedict XVI will also canonize
Blessed Pedro Calungsod
who gave his life for the faith on April 2, 1672, in Guam. Calungsod
was a Filipino lay catechist born in 1654 and was doing a missionary
work in Guam. Blessed John Paul II beatified him on March 5, 2000. The
saint has been referred to as intercessor for the young.
Catholics & the 2012 Elections
The
election fever hits a fever pitch as we wind down to the last two weeks
of campaigning. But the internet age has created a real problem: too
much information, not enough meaning. That means the real skill now is
learning how to pick out the useful information from all this noise.
However, Simcha Fisher tells us that we are never to lose track of the
difference between
Catholic context and Catholic noise.
The Church is specific where she needs to be, and broad where she knows
people need room to act according to their consciences. The Church
speaks on behalf of God, who knows hearts.
Meanwhile,
if you watched the vice presidential debate, you must have scratched
your head when Vice President Joe Biden stated "as fact" that the HHS
mandate does not infringe on religious freedom. Not unexpectedly,
the U.S. bishops immediately criticized him for an “inaccurate statement of fact” about the HHS mandate’s impact on religious institutions.
Happy Husbands and Great Mother in Laws
Jennifer Fulwiler must have been first in line when God was handing out
mothers-in-law. She said she managed to get one who has always been a
great mother-in-law. She shares with us
the most important three things her mother in law did, especially in those first few years of her marriage to her husband, that really helped set a great tone for years to come
While Katie Sciba talks about her husband. She says though women wonder what men want,
she can tell you with ZERO hesitation or uncertainty that what her husband Andrew wants.
What he really wants – she says – is a happy, attentive, supportive
wife. From her side of things, life goes along more merrily when her
hard-workin’ breadwinner is content all around.And from his perspective,
she can only imagine the pleasantness of coming home to pleasantness.
Hollywood Rediscovers Faith
Lured by public-domain source material and epic adventure stories ripe for big-time special effects,
studios and filmmakers are rediscovering the Good Book.
And so when it sets sail in the coming film "Noah," a massive 148-foot
wooden ark will carry not only a slew of zoo animals, but one of
Hollywood's biggest wagers in years. "Noah," a $125 million epic from
Viacom's Paramount Pictures, starring Russell Crowe and directed by
Darren Aronofsky, is one of a boatload of religious films in the works
from major movie studios.
Also on the Hollywood front,
Jerry Mathers, the "Leave it to Beaver" star of the 50s and 60s,
recently returned to his hometown, Sioux City, Iowa to boost the cause
of Catholic education. Mathers' family lived in Morningside and he was
baptized at Immaculate Conception. Today, he lends his name to many
non-profit causes. He graduated from Notre Dame High School and says his
Catholic education has helped guide him over the years. "It gives a
child a different perspective than a public education, and one that I
believe in," said Mathers who also sent his three children to Catholic
school.
Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.
Keep the Faith. Peace.
Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief
BURNING QUESTION:
Is it OK to just not vote?
FEATURED BLOG:
100 Ways to Live this Year of Faith
PASTORAL HISPANA:
El servicio no hace semejantes a Dios
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