• Editorial - Op Ed
• Bulletin Board, Announcements, Calendar
• Welcome and Website Protocol
• Article Archive

Print this page

Article Categories

• Book Reviews
• Open Letter
• Editorials
• Notes, Quotes & Comments
• Pastor's Study
• Project Millstones
• Sidebar Comments
• Weekly Message

Links

AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

Search

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]
_
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.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 'C'

Sunday August 1, 2010

Life is not a business trip

Although many of us were born long after the infamous financial crash of 1929, you as I may recall many stories about what life was like during the great depression. I remember tales related by my parents and grandparents about how carrots and beets cost two cents a bunch. My huge distaste for carrots and beets moved me to ask: “Wow! If everything was that cheap, how much candy could you buy for only two cents?” Mom was quick with her retort, “When you are making little or nothing a week, two cents is a lot of money!” I also remember how she chuckled when I asked as we walked past the Morristown Trust Company on South Street: “Where do we keep all our money?” She quickly responded: “In the piggy bank in the upstairs closet!” Nevertheless, we got by on a modest budget and, to my childish chagrin, we always seemed to have enough for a bit of meat, potatoes, carrots, beets, and spinach and lots of Jello!

In a more serious vein, I also remember the stories about financial entrepreneurs jumping off rooftops when the bottom fell out of the stock market. Life had lost meaning for those whose lives had become little more than a business trip.

Although the current recession may be considered perilously close to a depression by those out of work, it is unlikely to reach that depth due to government initiatives. Despite the impact of negative polls, most non-partisan economists suggest the economy is crawling back to health, but it is unlikely that we will experience a gold rush in the foreseeable future. Moreover, the talk of creeping socialism by critics of present administrative policies fails to recognize that in many ways, the Roman Catholic Church and most Christian churches are more socialistic in their social teaching than the United States. The government has the obligation not only to protect its citizens from terroristic attack—and this doesn’t mean going to war or initiating preemptive strikes: the government is also responsible for their health, education and welfare. These are not privileges but entitlements.

Qoheleth, the teacher, who speaks to us in the Book of Ecclesiastes was obviously having a bad day but his point is well taken about how vaporous and empty is a life ruled by the pursuit of fame and fortune as if there is not a higher value in the pursuit of virtue and integrity.

Jesus’ words are perhaps the most poignant. “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Life is a not business trip. The quality of our character is determine more by what we give away than by what we possess. We are in trouble when winning at work means losing at life. I once heard a young father say that the most important time of the day is not when he arrives at work but when he arrives home to be with his family. It is at his family table that he is most conscious of his connection to all of humanity and where he is grateful for the gift of life.

The Scriptures challenge us to a transformation of the will and a shift of the center from self to others and in the words of Henrick Ibsen: “Money may be the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings you food but not appetite; medicine but not health; acquaintances but not friends; servants but not faithfulness; days of joy but not peace and happiness.” [Quoted by Pat Sanchez, in Preaching Resources, Celebration, National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City Mo. 2010. Original source: The Forbes Scrapbook of Thoughts on the Business of Life. Forbes, Inc. New York: 1968] or as William James wrote: “The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life.”

My cousin Tom is a frequent ‘critic’ of my homilies, which I occasionally share with him prior to delivery. Yesterday, he remarked, “Ken, leave out page 2 and 3 and it will be just right.” I did leave out the two pages. In the words of the ancient sage, “Blessings come unsought!” Have a good day! And in the words of the other sage, “The mind can only absorb what the seat can endure!” Amen.

Father Lasch

And for those who requested the unabridged edition, here is the full unabridged version of the homily:

Life is not a business trip

Although many of us were born long after the infamous financial crash of 1929, you as I may recall many stories about what life was like during the great depression. I remember tales related by my parents and grandparents about how carrots and beets cost two cents a bunch. My huge distaste for carrots and beets moved me to ask: “Wow! If everything was that cheap, how much candy could you buy for only two cents?” Mom was quick with her retort, “When you are making little or nothing a week, two cents is a lot of money!” I also remember how she chuckled when I asked as we walked past the Morristown Trust Company on South Street: “Where do we keep all our money?” She quickly responded: “In the piggy bank in the upstairs closet!” Nevertheless, we got by on a modest budget and, to my childish chagrin, we always seemed to have enough for a bit of meat, potatoes, carrots, beets, and spinach and lots of Jello!

In a more serious vein, I also remember the stories about financial entrepreneurs jumping off rooftops when the bottom fell out of the stock market. Life had lost meaning for those whose lives had become little more than a business trip.

Although those who are unemployed may consider the current recession perilously close to a depression, it is unlikely to reach that depth due to government initiatives. Despite the impact of negative polls, most non-partisan economists suggest the economy is crawling back to health, but it is unlikely that we will experience a gold rush in the foreseeable future. Moreover, the talk of creeping socialism by critics of present administrative policies fails to recognize that in many ways, the Roman Catholic Church and most Christian churches are more socialistic in their social than the United States. The government has the obligation not only to protect its citizens from terroristic attack, it is also responsible for their health, education and welfare. These are not privileges but entitlements.

On top of all this, the complexity of a global economy has exacerbated the division between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ News commentators remind us nightly of the shrinking middleclass. Unfortunately the diverse economic philosophies of political parties tends to produce an either /or mentality—one assigning blame to the other for impending financial doom. The issues are indeed complex: protectionism versus a world-wide open door market; debt reduction versus increased spending; legitimate utilization of natural resources versus legitimate ecological concerns; personal health care plans versus national health insurance and on and on it goes, all without a raise in taxes.

Everyone has an opinion — economists, politicians, social scientists, human rights activists, preachers and even philanthropists. No one has come up with answers that satisfy everyone and it would be fool-hearty for me to attempt to suggest solutions based on a simplistic or fundamentalist application of the biblical texts.

That having been stated, we can draw to some conclusions about how these texts might impact on the thinking of believers in all religious traditions.
I think we can find some common ground in the conviction shared by true believers and even atheists that we do not own the earth’s resources. Whatever our cosmology or genealogy, we do not have ultimate control over the world and although we enjoy a partnership with God in the exploration of the earth’s resources, we do not have the right to exploit them for our inordinate personal gain or selfish interests but must use them conscious of the needs of the all, especially those who fall through the cracks.

Increasingly, all religious traditions are challenging us to be mindful that there is an ultimate destiny for humanity that flows from the natural order and the laws that govern the exploration, and management of nature and the universe. Yes, nature will not tolerate misuse of its rich resources.

Qoheleth, the teacher, who speaks to us in the Book of Ecclesiastes was obviously having a bad day but his point is well taken about how vaporous and empty is a life ruled by the pursuit of fortune and fame as if there is not a higher value in the pursuit of virtue and integrity.

Jesus’ words are perhaps the most poignant. “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Life is a not business trip. The quality of our character is determine more by what we give away than by what we possess. We are in trouble when winning at work means losing at life. I once heard a young father say that the most important time of the day is not when he arrives at work but when he arrives home to be with his family. It is at his family table that he is most conscious of his connection to all of humanity and where he is grateful for the gift of life.

The Scriptures challenge us to a transformation of the will and a shift of the center from self to others and in the words of Henrick Ibsen: “Money may be the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings you food but not appetite; medicine but not health; acquaintances but not friends; servants but not faithfulness; days of joy but not peace and happiness.” [Quoted by Pat Sanchez, in Preaching Resources, Celebration, National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City Mo. 2010. Original source: The Forbes Scrapbook of Thoughts on the Business of Life. Forbes, Inc. New York: 1968] or as William James wrote: “The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life.”