29th Week, Monday, Oct 23
Romans 4: 20-25; Luke 12: 13-21
Abraham believed in God's promises; He never doubted.
Malcolm Muggeridge, the British journalist and television celebrity, entered the Catholic Church in 1982. In an interview in the U.S. Catholic, Muggeridge describes one of the milestones in his long journey to faith. He says: "It was while in the Holy Land for the purpose of making three BBC television programs on the New Testament that a curious, almost magical certainty seized me about Jesus' birth, ministry, and crucifixion."
Like Abraham, once Muggeridge accepted the gift of faith, he never doubted. He was certain he was home.
***
How strong is our own faith? How do we handle questions when they arise? "It is never a question of faith or no faith; the question is always, 'In what or in whom do we put our faith?' Author unknown
***
Abraham was saved because he believed God and trusted him. Likewise, we will be saved because we believe, and the core of our faith is that Jesus was handed over to death because of our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification or salvation.
When Jesus speaks out against the rich, he does not intend to condemn them but to liberate them. What he denounces is not the fact that they have material goods, but their own attachment to them and the use they make of their riches: for hoarding, for selfish enjoyment, or – as some rich countries do – stockpiling wheat in silos or using oil for economic and political pressure. The value of possessions is relative to the goods of the kingdom, to justice and love. What counts is to be rich and wise before God.
***
It is necessary, even crucial, to have a faith-vision, because a faith-vision will help us to look beyond the present situation and to put our faith in God who is master of the future. Just like Abraham continued to believe and to trust in God even when things did not look good at that moment, nor was it looking good for the future. There is this story of two altar-boys. One was born in 1892 in Eastern Europe and the other, three years later in a small town of Illinois in the US. Although they lived thousands of miles apart, they had an almost identical experience as altar servers. Both had an accident with the wine while serving Mass. They spilled some of it on the floor during the offertory. That's where the similarity in their story ended. The altar-boy in Eastern Europe was harshly reprimanded for being so clumsy and was told to stop serving Mass. That boy grew up to become an atheist and a communist. His name is Josip Tito, who was dictator of the former Yugoslavia for 37 years. The altar-boy in Illinois was consoled with these words from the priest: It is alright my boy. You will do better next time. You may even serve God as a priest. That boy was the famous Bishop Fulton Sheen. Many reflections can be made out of these two stories. But looking at it from the aspect of the faith of Abraham, then it is about having a faith-vision of a hope for the future. Both altar-boys had a similar unfortunate experience of making a mistake, though one was punished and the other was not. But one lost his faith-vision and took control of his future, which turned out to be a tragic one, while the other was given a faith-vision and put his future into the hands of God. So it is a question of where our future lies. If it lies in the self-made security of our riches and wealth, we may have to re-think our future. If it lies in the hands of God, then despite the trials and turmoils of the present, we will still have hope for the future. Because we know that God is in control of our future.
***
Let us pray: Good and merciful God, we often seek safety and security in things to possess and to hold on to. Do not allow things to possess and control us. When our riches mean poverty for others, when our life means death for others, teach us the joy of sharing and give us the courage to seek first the riches of your kingdom through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
***
Saint John of Capistrano
It has been said the Christian saints are the world’s greatest optimists. Not blind to the existence and consequences of evil, they base their confidence on the power of Christ’s redemption. The power of conversion through Christ extends not only to sinful people but also to calamitous events.
Imagine being born in the 14th century. One-third of the population and nearly 40 percent of the clergy were wiped out by the bubonic plague. The Western Schism split the Church with two or three claimants to the Holy See at one time. England and France were at war. The city-states of Italy were constantly in conflict. No wonder that gloom dominated the spirit of the culture and the times.
John Capistrano was born in 1386. His education was thorough. His talents and success were great. When he was 26 he was made governor of Perugia. Imprisoned after a battle against the Malatestas, he resolved to change his way of life completely. At the age of 30 he entered the Franciscan novitiate and was ordained a priest four years later.
John’s preaching attracted great throngs at a time of religious apathy and confusion. He and 12 Franciscan brethren were received in the countries of central Europe as angels of God. They were instrumental in reviving a dying faith and devotion.
The Franciscan Order itself was in turmoil over the interpretation and observance of the Rule of St. Francis. Through John’s tireless efforts and his expertise in law, the heretical Fraticelli were suppressed and the “Spirituals” were freed from interference in their stricter observance.
John of Capistrano helped bring about a brief reunion with the Greek and Armenian Churches.
When the Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, John was commissioned to preach a crusade for the defense of Europe. Gaining little response in Bavaria and Austria, he decided to concentrate his efforts in Hungary. He led the army to Belgrade. Under the great General John Hunyadi, they gained an overwhelming victory, and the siege of Belgrade was lifted. Worn out by his superhuman efforts, Capistrano was an easy prey to an infection after the battle. He died on October 23, 1456.
