The Rambler

  30TH SUNDAY, ORDINARY TIME [B] Students are gathered around their rabbi. He wants to know: How can you tell when the night has passed and the day has begun? Response number one: When you see an animal in the distance, and you can determine that it is a dog and not a sheep. The rabbi shakes his head, and this leads to a second response: When you see a tree in the distance, and you can determine that it’s a fig tree and not a peach tree. The rabbi, continuing to shake his head, goes on to explain that: It’s when you can see the Lord’s presence within the people around you. Until you can do that, it remains the dead of night.  We can say this with regard to the students and the rabbi: they are not on the same page. For the students, it’s all about physical eyesight. For the rabbi, it’s more about the gift of true vision. Bartimaeus would love to be able to distinguish a dog from a sheep. What a blessing that would be! Happily, now that ability is being granted, thanks to Jesus...

  29TH SUNDAY, ORDINARY TIME [B] Upon hearing the name of “Rapunzel,” you will immediately begin thinking about the length of her hair. Next, you will think about the tower in which she resides. And finally, you will think about the prince who desires to marry her. You probably won’t give any thought to the subject of suffering . Nevertheless, suffering represents a critical aspect of the story. She resides in the tower…as a prisoner. She is being held captive by an evil witch. The evil witch appears more than once within the narrative, bringing hardship to both Rapunzel and also the prince. For his part, the prince finds himself being drawn to the tower by the sound of Rapunzel’s voice. She sings in order to pass the time. Unfortunately, the tower has no entrance. We know, however, that the prince will eventually gain entry by way of the window. Rapunzel voluntarily leans out of the window, allowing her train of hair to descend, reaching all the way to the ground. The prince promp...

  28TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] It’s been said that if you give a man a fish you have fed him for a day. However, if you teach a man to fish you have fed him for a lifetime. This ancient Chinese proverb ranks the intangible ahead of the tangible. A fish placed in your hands represents something tangible. Meanwhile, when someone teaches you how to fish, you’re being given something intangible. You are being endowed with elements of knowledge—elements of knowledge through which you will be able to catch fish on a recurring basis. Therefore the proverb favors the intangible.  Our first reading this weekend likewise favors the intangible. This passage can be understood as a celebration of wisdom (Wis. 7:7-11). When you celebrate the virtue of wisdom, you’re celebrating something intangible. On the other hand, it’s possible that you might find yourself identifying with the rich young man portrayed in Mark chapter ten. This means that you have a preference for what is tangible....

  27TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] Jesus presents it as a requirement: you will need to become like a child if you want to have a place in the Kingdom of Heaven (see Mk. 10:14-16). Are you interested in Heaven? I am. My guess is that you are as well. Therefore, now might be an appropriate time to reflect upon the long-lost days of your childhood. Think about all of those childhood attachments. For example, did you have a teddy bear? Speaking for myself, I can say that I did not have a teddy bear. I did however have a stuffed Snoopy. And I cherished that stuffed Snoopy—at least for a while. At some point I lost track of that stuffed animal. It’s possible that he ended up at Goodwill. Or he came apart at the seams and had to be thrown away. The point is that he was cherished, but only for a period of time. As far as bonds go, it definitely was meaningful. It was both meaningful and likewise…temporary.  The Lord would like to establish a bond with each and every one of us. What ...

  26TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] What will you see if you decide to attend an air show? You will see an assortment of aircraft, some vintage and some modern. Some will be parked as static displays, and some will be flying overhead. When a high performance, modern day jet-powered aircraft takes to the skies, will it be performing at its fullest level of capacity? Actually, no. The FAA does not allow for that type of full-scale demonstration. Those who perform need to operate within the limits that have been established by the governing body. For example, a pilot can fly fast, but not faster than the speed of sound. An infraction takes place when a pilot breaks the sound barrier.   It’s something that’s not supposed to happen—and yet sometimes it does. Three years ago, it happened in Oshkosh Wisconsin. An F-16, having carried out a vertical climb, was just beginning its descent. Moments later a “sonic boom” was registered. The concussion startled people and there were rep...

  25TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] Scripture readings are proclaimed when we gather together at Mass. Sometimes the words we hear come across as words of affirmation. However, the words for this weekend reflect more of a critical tone. We can say this about what’s happening in the Book of Wisdom: it’s the kind of thing that shouldn’t be happening (see Wis. 2:12-21). How about what’s happening in the Book of James? Again, it’s something that shouldn’t be happening (see James 3:16–4:6). And the theme continues when we proceed into Mark chapter nine: this argument about status is, once again, something that shouldn’t be happening (Mk. 9:34). Jesus calls for a child to be brought forward (9:36-37). This is for the sake of contrast. According to Jesus, when you become child-like, you secure a place for yourself within the Kingdom. It’s all about becoming child-like—child-like rather than child-ish.  You’re probably wondering about a plan of action. Perhaps the concept isn’t as clea...

  24TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B] Some questions require an either/or response? Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? Do you root for the Wolverines or the Spartans? It has to be one or the other—either/or. Then we have to consider the question being raised in James chapter two: are we justified by faith or by works? It sounds like we are dealing with yet another either/or question. In fact, that is exactly how the question has been handled down through the centuries.  However, in more recent times, the question has taken on a new shape, a new structure. Now it’s being answered as “both/and” rather than “either/or.”  It’s generally agreed that we are in fact justified by faith. But are we talking real faith? Or something artificial? How can you distinguish a real faith from an artificial faith? According to James, in order to be real, your faith has to be a manifested faith (2:14-26). If it’s being manifested through the carrying out of good works, then it will qualify as an au...