St, Thomas, Apostle, July 3, 2007 and Wed. July 4, 13th week, 2007
Celebrating the feastday of an apostle always brings joy to those who
attend the Eucharist for it offers us an opportunity to renew our own
mission in the world to be apostles who witness by our deeds to the Good
News or the Gospel that Jesus has given us through the apostles and
evangelists. In our first reading from Ephesians we have this marvelous
statement: "You form a building which rises on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone." This
image is one among many that we have for describing us as members of
Christ's body, the Church. Other images tell us we are the people of God,
the mystical body, the community of the Beloved Disciple, etc. All of
these reflect our needs at different times and not one of them should be
lost in our living out our lives as today's apostles, that is, those sent
by good to make the world a better place to live in. These images of
ourselves and the Church are like the different times on a clock and as the
arms or hands of the clock go around each of them has a role to play in the
timepiece of salvation history. Today we focus on the apostle Thomas who,
according to later traditions and legends, was sent to preach in India and
Iran. This apostle has given us one of the most important texts that
witness to Jesus as our Lord and God. He exclaims in deep faith, "MY LORD
AND MY GOD!" Perhaps, like I you were taught to say this as the priest
would elevate the host and then the chalice at the consecration of the
Mass. This comes to my mind often when I participate in the Mass. I
learned it from the Dominican Sister who taught me catechism. I have fond
memories and no horror stories in my background in remembering all the
sisters who taught me and I try to offset those who exaggerate their past
experiences in gradeschool. At the end of the selection we read that we
who have not seen and possibly touched the wounds of Jesus as did Thomas
are blessed for believing without having his experience of the Resurrection
of Christ. Yet, our faith is the same and we express it by saying each day
through the Holy Spirit, "MY LORD AND MY GOD!"
Wednesday, July 4th, thirteenth week in Ordinary Time
Scripture: Genesis 21:5.8-20. Psalm 34. Matthew 8:28-34.Lectionary # 379:
What a poweful narrative we have for the story of the birth of Isaac and
the saga of Hagar's baby named Ishamael. Sarah and Abraham are almost
centenaries when they learn that God's promise for progeny is to be
fulfilled through the birth of a son whom they will name Isaac. Hagar has
already conceived and brought forth Ishmael which leads to both boys
eventually playing together, but Sarah's jealousy and contempt force
Abraham to send Hagar and her baby boy into the wilderness. The stories
and interchange between the human and the divine are so descriptive and
anthropomorphic that the hand of the Yahwist tradition is easily seen in
the narratives of the Abraham cycle. We learn more about ourselves than we
do of God in these stories which are all so human. This event may be the
foundation for the rift between Israel and the Arab peoples; in textual
format it is the prologue to what is going on between these peoples today.
Both peoples, the Jews and the Arab Muslims are really the key to world
peace today. I am led to reflect on my own experience in the Dayton
Christian Jewish Dialogue which began as a grass root movement and has
continued now for almost forty years. Within the last five years we have
had some Muslims attend the meetings. Presently, a beautiful married
couple who are medical doctors, have helped both the Christians and the
Jews to understand Islam better. They are promoters of what the Koran text
actually says and not what we hear from radical fundamentalists or those
who are fanatics. They interpret the texts which are troublesome for us
and give us their proper context. Context is so important in reading
religious texts like those in the Bible or the Koran. So when they speak
honestly and truthfully, the element of distrust vanishes and we see how
much all three religions do have in common within their foundational
beliefs. It made me think that they are the angel of God who came into our
midst to be assured that their Ishmael would not die but become the source
of numerous offspring. Though we are often in the desert we realize that
God's messengers are nearby assuring us of a future to hope in. All three
components are on holy ground when they do dialogue peacefully and
honestly. After all, we are all brothers and sisters who have been blessed
by God whom we do not see except in one another. Amen.
posted by Fr. Bert SM at 9:29 AM
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