Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-05-05, Opt. Dedication, Basilica St. Mary Major-Rome

August 5, 2005
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Friday 34

Reading I
Dt 4:32-40

Moses said to the people:
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
All this you were allowed to see
that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.
Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you;
on earth he let you see his great fire,
and you heard him speaking out of the fire.
For love of your fathers he chose their descendants
and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,
driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,
so as to bring you in
and to make their land your heritage, as it is today.
This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21

R. (12a) I remember the deeds of the Lord.
I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.

Gospel
Mt 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."

The Word Among Us

Friday, August 05, 2005

Meditation
Matthew 16:24-28

When we read, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,” does it stir up fear? Or maybe denial? “He doesn’t mean lose everything literally.” That would be pretty radical, and most of us have worked hard for what we have. Houses and cars, education, jobs, or simply food on the table: Few of us get these things effortlessly; and most of us want to hang on to what we have and do and love.

And yet, this is precisely what Jesus does mean. “Whoever wishes to save his life” means, whoever desires deliverance—material, this-world deliverance—from danger, suffering, sickness, and so forth, will lose it. It means that whoever lives and strives entirely for comfort, possessions, and worldly achievements will end up losing it all.

Wait a minute! Isn’t it right to want those things? What’s wrong with a comfortable, prosperous, successful life? Absolutely nothing! The question Jesus’ words should raise in us is whether that’s all we’re laboring for. What is the passion of our lives? God wants so much more for us than maintaining the status quo or making a few improvements on the periphery of our lives. He knows exactly what we need and he will take care of our needs (Luke 12:22-34), thus freeing us to concern ourselves with what he wants—with living for his kingdom.

How do we get there? To start, use your head. List everything you know about your Father who is asking this of you. He is all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, wise, compassionate, merciful, and forgiving. When memory runs dry, turn to Scripture to find more. Then, list what he has done too, like creating the world from nothing, delivering the Hebrews from Egypt, and raising Jesus from the dead. Then, use your heart. Spend some quiet time recalling what God has done for you personally, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a deep gratitude for all of this. Recall these powerful acts often in your day, and let them stir your heart with love. We simply cannot tell ourselves too often, “This is what God has done. This is the One for whose sake I am willing to lose my life.”

“Jesus, I trust your love, your kindness, and your wisdom for me. Remind me who you are and what you have done. I want to give you my life today, that I might have eternal life with you.”

Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Psalm 77:12-16,21

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

August 5, 2005

Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica

First raised at the order of Pope Liberius in the mid-fourth century, the Liberian Basilica was rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III shortly after the Council of Ephesus affirmed Mary’s title as Mother of God in 431. Rededicated at that time to the Mother of God, St. Mary Major is the largest church in the world honoring God through Mary. Standing atop one of Rome’s seven hills, the Esquiline, it has survived many restorations without losing its character as an early Roman basilica. Its interior retains three naves divided by colonnades in the style of Constantine’s era. Fifth-century mosaics on its walls testify to its antiquity.

St. Mary Major is one of the four Roman basilicas known as patriarchal cathedrals in memory of the first centers of the Church. St. John Lateran represents Rome, the See of Peter; St. Paul Outside the Walls, the See of Alexandria, allegedly the see presided over by Mark; St. Peter’s, the See of Constantinople; and St. Mary’s, the See of Antioch, where Mary is supposed to have spent most of her life.

A now discredited legend, unreported before the year 1000, gives another name to this feast: Our Lady of the Snows. According to that story, a wealthy Roman couple pledged their fortune to the Mother of God. In affirmation, she produced a miraculous summer snowfall and told them to build a church on the site. The legend was long celebrated by releasing a shower of white rose petals from the basilica’s dome every August 5.

Comment:

Theological debate over Christ’s nature as God and man reached fever pitch in Constantinople in the early fifth century. Athanasius, chaplain to Bishop Nestorius, began preaching against the title Theotokos, “Mother of God,” insisting that the Virgin was mother only of the human Jesus. Nestorius agreed, decreeing that Mary would henceforth be named “Mother of Christ” in his see. The people of Constantinople virtually revolted against their bishop’s refutation of a cherished belief. When the Council of Ephesus refuted Nestorius, believers took to the streets, enthusiastically chanting, “Theotokos! Theotokos!”

Quote:

“From the earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, in whose protection the faithful take refuge together in prayer in all their perils and needs. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the People of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation...” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 66).

I am sure you are aware of this, but for the benefit of other readers, this is a summary of the Catholic teaching on the interplay of faith, grace, and works in salvation.

Christ's grace is the only source of salvation that is unmerited. Faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. On this we agree with the Protestants and disagree with Pelagius, or his welfare state followers today.

Works are necessary to sustain and witness the faith, and certain acts are explicitly demanded from us by Christ. As St. James puts is succintly, "faith without works is dead". Several parables illustrate that teaching.

In all or nearly all cases where Jesus heals someone, -- and His healing always there to teach about salvation rather than do therapy, -- there is an act of faith, not a mere declaration of faith, that prompts Jesus to heal. For example, a paralytic contrives to enter the house through the roof, a woman steals along to touch His garment, a Canaanite woman enters a dispute with Him.

In at least two passages that come to mind beside today's reading, Jesus makes a direct comment on the necessity of works. When asked, "what must I do to enter eternal life?" the answer Christ gives is all in terms of "works": obey the commandments and do charity to the point of self-negation (Mt 19:16-26). At the same time, a mere declaration of faith is not enough: "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).

The works fall in two broad categories. One is participation in the Sacraments of the Church: the Baptism (all Christians agree on that), the Eucharist, -- "He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day" (Jn 55), also "do this in rememberance of me" (Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 11:24-25); and Sacrament of the Sick and Confession, -- (James 5:15-16, 2 Cor 5:18).

The other is works of charity: forgiveness of others, turning the other cheek, self-sacrifice.

It does not mean that Christ is not present in everything else we do, -- as even a sparrow cannot fall on the ground without God's will, but these works are specifically mandated by Christ, and linked by Him to our salvation.

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