June 21, 2007 Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious

  2007년 6월 21일 목요일 성 알로이시오 곤자가 수도자 기념일

 

 제1독서

코린토 2서 11,1-11
형제 여러분, 1 아무쪼록 여러분은 내가 좀 어리석더라도 참아 주기를 바랍니다. 부디 참아 주십시오. 2 나는 하느님의 열정을 가지고 여러분을 위하여 열정을 다하고 있습니다. 사실 나는 여러분을 순결한 처녀로 한 남자에게, 곧 그리스도께 바치려고 그분과 약혼시켰습니다. 3 그러나 하와가 뱀의 간계에 속아 넘어간 것처럼, 여러분도 생각이 미혹되어 그리스도를 향한 성실하고 순수한 마음을 저버리지 않을까 두렵습니다.
4 사실 어떤 사람이 와서 우리가 선포한 예수님과 다른 예수님을 선포하는데도, 여러분이 받은 적이 없는 다른 영을 받게 하는데도, 여러분이 받아들인 적이 없는 다른 복음을 받아들이게 하는데도, 여러분이 잘도 참아 주니 말입니다.
5 나는 결코 그 특출하다는 사도들보다 떨어진다고는 생각하지 않습니다. 6 내가 비록 말은 서툴러도 지식은 그렇지 않습니다. 우리는 그것을 모든 일에서 갖가지 방식으로 여러분에게 보여 주었습니다.
7 여러분을 높이려고 나 자신을 낮추면서 하느님의 복음을 대가 없이 여러분에게 전해 주었다고 해서, 내가 무슨 죄를 저질렀다는 말입니까?
8 나는 여러분에게 봉사하려고 여러 교회에서 보수를 받는 바람에 그들을 약탈한 꼴이 되었습니다. 9 여러분과 함께 있을 때에 나에게 필요한 것들이 있었지만 누구에게도 폐를 끼치지 않았습니다. 마케도니아에서 온 형제들이 필요한 것들을 채워 주었습니다. 나는 어떠한 경우에도 여러분에게 짐이 되지 않으려고 자제하였고 앞으로도 그렇게 할 것입니다.
10 내 안에 있는 그리스도의 진리를 걸고 말하는데, 아카이아 지방에서는 나의 이러한 자랑을 아무도 막지 못할 것입니다. 11 내가 왜 그렇게 하였겠습니까? 내가 여러분을 사랑하지 않아서겠습니까? 하느님께서는 아십니다!

 

 복음

마태오 . 6,7-15
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
7“너희는 기도할 때에 다른 민족 사람들처럼 빈말을 되풀이하지 마라. 그들은 말을 많이 해야 들어 주시는 줄로 생각한다. 8 그러니 그들을 닮지 마라. 너희 아버지께서는 너희가 청하기도 전에 무엇이 필요한지 알고 계신다. 9 그러므로 너희는 이렇게 기도하여라.
‘하늘에 계신 저희 아버지, 아버지의 이름을 거룩히 드러내시며, 10 아버지의 나라가 오게 하시며, 아버지의 뜻이 하늘에서와 같이 땅에서도 이루어지게 하소서. 11 오늘 저희에게 일용할 양식을 주시고, 12 저희에게 잘못한 이를 저희도 용서하였듯이, 저희 잘못을 용서하시고, 13 저희를 유혹에 빠지지 않게 하시고, 저희를 악에서 구하소서.’
14 너희가 다른 사람들의 허물을 용서하면, 하늘의 너희 아버지께서도 너희를 용서하실 것이다. 15 그러나 너희가 다른 사람들을 용서하지 않으면, 아버지께서도 너희의 허물을 용서하지 않으실 것이다.”

 

 

 

 June 21, 2007

 Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious

  

 Reading 1
2 Cor 1:1-11

Brothers and sisters:
If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me!
Please put up with me.
For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God,
since I betrothed you to one husband
to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning,
your thoughts may be corrupted
from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ.
For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached,
or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received
or a different gospel from the one you accepted,
you put up with it well enough.
For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these “superapostles.”
Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge;
in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted,
because I preached the Gospel of God to you without charge?
I plundered other churches by accepting from them
in order to minister to you.
And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone,
for the brothers who came from Macedonia
supplied my needs.
So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
By the truth of Christ in me,
this boast of mine shall not be silenced
in the regions of Achaia.
And why? Because I do not love you?
God knows I do!

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 7-8

R. (7a) Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

 

 

 Commentary

 

Paul is having trouble with the Corinthians. He has been supported by the poorer church of Macedonia so he can minister and preach to those at Corinth. And they listen to anyone who comes along-easily seduced into other forms of belief/teaching. He pleads with them, telling them of what he has tried to do for them freely (the gift of other believers) and that he loves them. But they are a stubborn and slow people.

Jesus teaches us the core of what we believe by teaching us to pray as he prays to God our Father. That God's kingdom may come as it is in fullness, born of hope and freedom now. Daily bread, care for all today. And so we must trust day to day as we share what we have with others so all may have as they need. Forgiveness as graciously and as often as our Father forgives us. Know that we will be tried, and pray for courage to face it and go through it and pray for faithfulness now and at the end of our lives. It is simple-intent on God's will and way and our submission. Let us pray… 

 

 

 Pray for us Children

In his letter to the community at Corinth, Paul pleads in his own defense. He has been misunderstood and the accusations sting. After all, he founded the community and lived there. This was no quick stop on a road trip; Corinth remains close to Paul’s heart. Like a parent, he fears for his children taken in by flashy preachers. Are they as spineless as Eve? From a distance, Paul bellows love and threats.

His words reach into our lives. We have known the ungrateful child, the complaining congregation, scolding clerics, the helplessness of being far away. We have been besieged by noise and division.

Sometimes at Mass, we are surprised to find our hand taken by the stranger next to us. It’s time to pray. The words are familiar and nothing is missing. Swaying slightly, voices merge, our hopes rise together. Flesh meets flesh and we become one body as we call upon You, who belong to all.

Pray, says Jesus, and keep it simple. We aren’t judged by eloquence but by desire. Augustine noted seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer: three concern God and four address our needs. Father, show us your grandeur, establish your kingdom, and reveal your will. Feed us, forgive us, do not test us harshly, and bring us back from trouble.

Like a parent, Jesus closes with a reminder: remember to forgive others if you hope to be forgiven. And Paul beseeches: God knows, I love you.

 

 by
Jeanne Schuler
Philosophy Department

 

 

 “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him”

Do you pray with joy and confidence? The Jews were noted for their devotion to prayer.  Formal prayer was prescribed for three set times a day.  And the rabbis had a prayer for every occasion.  Jesus warns his disciples against formalism, making prayer something mechanical and devoid of meaning, with little thought for God.  When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he gave them the disciple’s prayer, what we call the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer.  This prayer dares to call God “our Father” and boldly asks for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters.

It is through the gift of the Holy Spirit that we can know God personally and call him “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace and favor and mercy. It is his nature to love generously and to forgive mercifully. When he gives he gives more than we need so we will have something to share with others in their need as well.

God is kind and forgiving towards us and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same. Do you treat others as they deserve, or do you treat them as the Lord would treat you with his grace and favor and mercy? Jesus’ prayer includes an injunction that we must ask God to forgive us in proportion as we forgive those who have wronged us.  Ask the Lord to free your heart of any anger, bitterness, resentment, selfishness, indifference, or coldness towards others. Let the Holy Spirit fill you with the fire of his burning love and compassion and with the river of his overflowing mercy and kindness.

“Father in heaven, you have given me a mind to know you, a will to serve you, and a heart to love you.  Give me today the grace and strength to embrace your holy will and fill my heart with your love that all my intentions and actions may be pleasing to you.  Give me the grace to be charitable in thought, kind in deed, and loving in speech towards all."

Psalm 97:1-7

1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols;  all gods bow down before him.

 

 

 JUST PLAIN DECEIVED

'Just as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may fall away.' 2 Corinthians 11:3

A certain priest quietly gives back half of his salary to his financially strapped parish. He faithfully proclaims the gospel, but because he is not a gifted speaker, many find the liturgies boring and leave his parish. Eventually, he is succeeded by a pastor who is eloquent in speech and creative in his liturgies. This pastor does not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist or the virgin birth of Jesus, and freely passes on these thoughts and other falsehoods to his congregation. Because of his dynamic style, the parish flourishes, accepts his teaching, and doesn't mind subsidizing his lavish expenditures.

This hypothetical story bears some resemblance to Paul's situation in Corinth. Like Americans today, the Corinthians were quick to be seduced by a pleasing presentation (2 Cor 11:4). Personal integrity, fidelity, and truth took a back seat to style, image, and stage-presence. Because the Corinthians were puffed-up with pride (1 Cor 4:18), they liked teachers who tickled their ears (see 2 Tm 4:3).

We who have a 'sincere and complete devotion to Christ' can also be corrupted and fall away (2 Cor 11:3). We must put to death our fleshly desires for enticements and empty show (1 Jn 2:16), and seek only Jesus the Truth (Jn 14:6). What influences you the most the message or the messenger? 'What are you looking for?' (Jn 1:38) Live in God's word (Jn 8:31). 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free' (Jn 8:32).

Praise: Even though he suffered ill health much of his short life, St. Aloysius tended to the sick until it caused his early death.
Prayer: Father, transform my mind so that I may learn how to judge what is pleasing to You (Rm 12:2).
Promise: 'If you forgive the faults of others, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours.' Mt 6:14

 

 

 This patron of Catholic youth was born in 1568 and called to God at age 23 in 1591.   Aloysius came from a wealthy and socially prominent family.   He was obliged to participate in court life, but he did not like it at all.  He hated the superficial and the artificial hypocrisy of the courtiers.   He entered the Society of Jesus at age 16.   Always frail, he was told by his Confessor that he would do real penance by eating more and getting more recreation!   Penance is doing what should be done, and not what we want to do.   Aloysius had a delicate conscience and was fervent in every virtue.   He died very young.
Today’s first reading describes the “taking up” of Elijah in a fiery chariot.   Because of this story, popular piety said that Elijah did not really die.   This is not so.   The vivid imagery are intended to show how close Elijah as to God, and not to teach that he did not die.   The story also teaches the continuation of the prophetic office in Elisha.
The Corinthians, as we have said, were a rather insecure people.   They bragged to make up for their shortcomings.    They put others down in order to hide their own weaknesses.   And they tried to identify with the high and the mighty to show that they were “somebodies.”    Paul was probably not very good looking.  He himself says that he was not great preacher; the power of his preaching came only from the Spirit.   He was not one of the “original twelve” apostles.    And he probably had some sort of repulsive sickness.   At any rate, he had sacrificed himself mightily for the Church at Corinth.   Yet they preferred to identify with Peter (Cephas) or Apollos (a spell binding preacher) or with others.   In the section of II Corinthians which begins today, Paul is hurt; yet he must defend his apostleship.   He recognizes that it is a bit foolish, yet he must state that he is not inferior to the “superapostles.”  He tells the Corinthians that he “robbed” other Churches (of his presence) in order to serve them.   He ministered free of charge.   He gave his all, yet he is repaid with ingratitude.
The gospel needs to be taken to heart by all of us.   When we pray, we must not babble on like pagans.   We shall not be heard because of the number of words we say.    God will hear us according to our attentiveness and our spirit and our heart.    one Our Father prayed well is worth ten thousand rosaries prayed without care and devotion.   If we just say syllables, we are not praying.    There is an old Greek adage which goes: “Ou polla, alla polu.”  It means “Not many things, but much.”   We must always remember this when we pray: Not how many, but how well.

 

 

?If you forgive others their wrongs, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours?

Today, Jesus proposes us a great and difficult target: to forgive those who offend us. And He establishes a very reasonable measure: ours: ?If you forgive others their wrongs, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either? (Mt 6:14-15). In another place, He had already given us the Golden Rule of human coexistence: ?In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this sums up the Law and the Prophets? (Mt 7:12).

We want God to forgive us and would like others to forgive us too; but, on the other hand, we seem quite reluctant to do it ourselves. To apologize is kind of difficult; but to forgive is even more so. Should we be humbler, it should not be so difficult; but our pride makes it much harder. This is why we could establish the following equation: the humbler, the easier; the prouder, the more difficult. This will give us a clue to find out our degree of humility.

When the Spanish Civil War was over (year 1939), some ex-captive priests were celebrating a thanksgiving mass in a small town, somewhere in Spain. The officiating priest, after saying the words of the Lord's Prayer ?and forgive us our debts?, he remained speechless and was unable to go on. He could not drive himself to forgive those who had made them suffer so much in a hard labor camp, in that very same town. After a few moments of a most impressive silence, he went on with the prayer: ?as we forgive our debtors?. Afterwards, they asked themselves which homily had been the best one. And they all agreed: the silence of the officiating priest when he was saying the Lord’s Prayer. It is difficult, but with the Lord’s help it is possible.

Furthermore, God's forgiveness is total; it gets as far as oblivion. We tend to forget pretty soon the favours we receive, but not so much so with offenses... If married couples knew how to forget them, they would avoid, and probably overcome, many family dramas.

Let us hope the Mother of mercy helps us understanding our fellow men and forgiving them totally.
 

 

 My prayer does not begin with myself.  The flow of eloquent words should not be the content of my prayer.  The Holy Spirit prays in me with unutterable groaning.  My prayer is a simple gaze of love upon the Father in the Spirit with the heart and eyes of Jesus, the Son.  Jesus gives us the words that go to this beautiful silent music of the Spirit playing in me beyond my ability to find words adequate to the mystery of my sharing in the life of the Trinity.  That life is merciful love.  My forgiveness of others allows that love cycle to continue through me.

 

 

 

 In today's Gospel selection, Jesus teaches his disciples, and us, how to pray. The prayer Jesus describes in teaching us the Lord's prayer is a prayer glorifying God. All of our actions should bring honor and glory to God, the Lord and Creator of all. We are also to pray for "bread," for food, for strength to be true disciples, followers, of Jesus. We are to follow him all the way, step by step, to his Kingdom. Our prayer is to include a desire for reconciliation, of putting things back the way they should be. Being human, we offend God and our neighbor. We pray for forgiveness from those we have harmed and on our part for those who have harmed us. Finally, we are to surrender to the strength of the Lord and not to wander off from God and others trying to do everything by ourselves. The Lord's Prayer says it all. it is right to the point and honest. It brings reverence, honor and glory to God and sound petitions for ourselves. Let us ask Jesus to help make his prayer the model for our own prayers.

Fr. Howard