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Daily Scripture

+ 5th Week in Ordinary Time

It still has meaning.

1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 Psalm 132:6-7, 8-10 Mark 6:53-56

The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary, the holy of holies of the temple. There was nothing in the ark but the two stone tablets which Moses had put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel. [1 Kings 8:6, 8]
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In recent years there has been much discussion in liturgical circles about the proper location of the tabernacle in the worship space. The directives implementing the Constitution on the Liturgy by the Second Vatican Council prescribed that the tabernacle be located in prominent location in the church or chapel, preferably in a chapel dedicated to the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament and appropriate for veneration. In any case, it was not to be located on the altar table used for the celebration of the Eucharist. As a result in many churches renovations, the tabernacle was moved to the ‘side altar’ previously used for the veneration of the Blessed Virgin or St. Joseph and in some churches, it was placed on the old altar previously used for Mass. In situations the old altar was replaced with a permanent pedestal on which the tabernacle was placed.

In liturgical matters, nothing is simple. Those of a more conservative disposition insisted that the location of the Tabernacle on the side altar reduced the status of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist thereby diminishing its meaning in the devotional life of the faithful. Others of a more liberal persuasion opined that in fact, the location in a separate chapel within the church assigned to the sacrament greater prominence thereby increasing the devotional aspect. Moreover, in as much as an emphasis of the ‘action’ of the Mass as the repetition of the “Lord’s Supper” was promoted by the Council, it seemed to liturgists that the location of the tabernacle in the main sanctuary behind the free standing Eucharist table would compete with the ‘action’ of the Mass as a sacred meal.

The most recent prescriptions in the United States provide that the tabernacle be located in the main sanctuary on suitably ornate pedestal. It is ironic that in the major basilicas including the basilica of St. Peter in Rome, the tabernacle is located on a side altar that is not very prominent.

Whatever the location, it should not be a bone of contention worthy of a liturgical battle. The public and private devotion to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is rooted in the long tradition of the Church and should not be disparaged. In the same way in which the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments was symbolic of God’s presence in the temple, so too, the reservation of the Eucharist Bread has been one of the longest-standing practices of the devotional life of Catholics. It is intended to extend the meaning and the effects of the Eucharistic celebration into the life of the faithful who continue to spend time in prayerful meditation on the mysteries of the life of Jesus not the least of which is his faithfulness unto death on the cross for the salvation of the world. The two aspects of Eucharist need not be in competition. The ‘Mass’ continues to be considered a “sacrificial” meal. But we need to be clear that its connection with the passion and death of Christ even as the lamb of God is not to suggest that his death was mandated to satisfy and angry God. That in my opinion is not an appropriate application of Old Testament sacrifices. No, Jesus sacrificial death was the completion of his entire sacrificial life of unqualified and indiscriminate love in the same way as the sacrificial love of partners in marriage offer their sacrificial love to one another or in the manner that Mother Teresa offered her live in sacrificial service to victims of poverty in the streets of Calctta. It is in this sense that devotion to the Eucharist in the tabernacle takes its extended meaning.

During the celebration of the Eucharist, we become what we eat. Through our devotion to the Eucharist reserved in the tabernacle, we are reminded that the Eucharistic presence in our mind, heart and soul extends into all the good works of our lives with the hope that we too will always think and act with the same sacrificial love as did Jesus in his earthly life.

Fifth Sunday of Easter 'C'

Sunday May 2, 2010

Love is all ya need!

I’m not exactly the ‘touchy-feely’ type and my family has never been overly demonstrative in expressing our love for one another. However, we do send lots of cards and notes and of course, always add “Love” or “Love to all” to our signature. I always sign my name, “Love, Ken” accompanied by a sketch of a large heart with a smiling face in the middle

In whatever manner we end our conversations or sign our cards, I think it is true to say that most of us offer a hug and a kiss to our loved ones before departing on a journey. It’s not that we do not expect to see one another again but it is an assurance that we will remain connected and that our bond will endure despite the separation of time and space or a hurricane now and then.

John the Evangelist has recorded for us Jesus’ final words of farewell, his “Love ya” speech, as it were. Of course John has “reconstructed” Jesus’ farewell address and prayer on the style used by prominent leaders of those times. He did not necessarily put words in Jesus’ mouth but more than likely interpreted Jesus’ message for those he was leaving behind and for their posterity. But Jesus also added a new commandment—that his disciples love one another. “Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for one another.”

I suppose our farewells contain the same entreaties at least non-verbally. We want our loved ones to stay connected. However, Jesus strengthened that request by telling them and us that this is in fact “how all will know that you are my friends: your love for one another.”

Without offense, I hope, I have often teased my co-workers and friends about their frequent use of the phrase “Love ya”. It is meant as a gentle reminder that these words can become rote and, over time, lose their meaning. The word “love” has many meanings and applications. Even the phrase “making love” has come to mean, “having sex.” But having sex can become merely an act of self-gratification rather than a true expression of love. Of course it is true that genuine expressions of love are rarely free of self-gratification and they are not necessarily incompatible. Someone has observed, wisely, that even the sacrifices of saints though divinely driven are not completely free of self-interest. Nevertheless familiarity with the word and its physical expressions can lead to a dulling of its depth of meaning and its transforming power.

At this time of the year, I find the nurturing of plants a useful metaphor for the caring love of one person for another. Every plant has its unique quality and its special needs. A cactus does not want a lot of water in the winter but it does need plenty of sunshine all year round. It takes a while to get to know the ‘personal needs’ of some plants. Some are more introverted than others. I have several plants with which I converse on a daily basis. I nurture their life and attempt to give them what they need but first I listen. If I don’t give them what they need, they die. Does that sound strange? I hope not. Love means listening first to what the other is saying and then listening carefully to what the other is not saying. Listening not just with the ears but with the heart is the key to love. A good book was written many years ago with the title, “How do I learn to listen to what you are not saying.” Very interesting!

Introverts need privacy and lots of space; extroverts don’t know what they are thinking until they talk it out. Some folks like to dream and others prefer to celebrate the present moment. Some people like to organize their lives and the lives of others while others prefer to float through life as if to say, “Lets see what happens!” As the sidewalk psychologist said, “there are different strokes for different folks!” How true.

God listens to us in Christ. God doesn’t decide life for us but with us. God offers us a listening ear and an understanding heart so that God can give us what we need to be our best selves. God does not control us but animates us and empowers us to listen to others, doing for them whatever enables them to be their best selves. This is what it means to “love one another as I have loved you!”

We can even take this a step beyond family and friendships to the human community at large. God’s love also empowers us to justice. As faithful disciples, we need to listen to the cries of humanity—to the poor in Haiti and in troubled spots across the globe and to those on the edges of life that we may respond with the transforming love of God for humanity.

Listening is a real stretch because all too often we are tempted to answer questions that are not being asked or respond to our own needs or to what we think others “should” want.

I have strong memories of my time in ministry to the ‘inner city’ of Paterson in the days of so-called urban renewal. Instead of listening to the indigenous population at the core of the city, political leaders decided they knew what the city folks needed. The end result was the construction of a new police headquarters, fire stations, cosmetic lampposts and curbing. This is not to suggest that these were not in need of repair or replacement. However, the basic survival of the people surely should have come first.

And love is never a cover-up or evil or a denial of wrong-doing. True love means saying “I’m sorry” when I offend—not, “I’m sorry if I have offended you!”

Back in November of 1968, the Beatles’ pop hit attempted to sing it in a few words albeit repetitiously, “All ya need is love…” I think they were not exactly on the same page as John 3:16 and I had the feeling that they spelled it ‘LUV’ instead of love. On the other hand, perhaps that’s the correct spelling. “To love another is to see the face of God!”

“God is love and those who abide in love, abide in God and God in them.”

I have heard that there is a series of billboards on a certain highway in Arizona – of all places!— on which drivers will find these messages from God:

“Tell the kids I love them.”—God
“Let’s meet at my house next Sunday before the game.”—God
“We need to talk.” —God
“That ‘Love they neighbor thing… I really meant it.” —God
“I love you, and you, and you and you…”—God
“Will the road you are on get you to my place?”—God
“Make someone’s day brighter today and tell them I was asking for them.”—God

“I give you a new commandment” again for the first time! “Love one another … as I have loved you.”

“Love is all ya need!” no matter how you spell it.

Luv ya!

PS I am in the process of a move from Apt 2-E to Apt 3-V. This will necessitate a reinstallation of my internet connection and may result in a hiatus service. Therefore, I will not provide any daily postings during the coming week.

Father Lasch