The King's Corner

One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful. David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.”  Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her. She then returned to her house. But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, “I am with child.” David therefore sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.”  So Joab sent Uriah to David. When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well. David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.”   Uriah left the palace… 

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:21-25) Mark provides Jesus’ good advice and powerful images.  We are all lights – Christ’s light, and we are supposed to shine where people can see us.  We are not to hide our faith or shy away from displaying our faith based on Jesus’ beatitudes and his commandments. Any burning lamp hidden under a basket will deprive itself of oxygen and will go out – be extinguished.   Opponents to religion in general and to Catholicism, in particular, might like

“On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.  A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.  And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.  And he taught them at length in parables…” (Mark 4:1-20) Have we ever wondered why Jesus who taught by the sea on occasion would get in a boat on the sea and then preach to the crowd that remained back on shore?   Why in a boat away from the crowd he wanted to influence?   Father James Martin provides the answer. Father Martin in his 2014 book “Jesus: A Pilgrimage” described the Bay of Parables – a place he sought and eventually found near the area called Tabgha on the northwestern shore of the Sea of  Galilee.  Tabgha is the traditional site of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to  Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:31-35) Our Gospel has us ask ourselves: Are we Jesus’ brother or sister?   Doing the will of God appears to be the way for us to judge.  Another understanding is provided by Thomas Merton in his book "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander."  Here’s a quote I found in the Center for Action and Contemplation publication "The Mendicant." “Christ came on earth, not to wear the awful cold beauty of a holy statue, but to be numbered among the wicked, to die as one of them, condemned by the pure, He Who was

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house .  (Mark 3:22-30) Today’s Gospel provides an unsettling message in this year of 2020.  Actually, this message has been in play for many years with division of the “kingdom” becoming increasing worse with no reason to suspect it will abate.  This division is republican versus democrat, conservative against progressive, all the while we recognize that the lines between the tribes are not always clearly drawn. Nevertheless, civility has given way to open hostility, name-calling, and derogatory, personal attacks.The “strong man,” our nation, is being tied up from within. The result: our beloved country – o

January 26, 2020, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass .

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you. I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17) Our second reading is one we should all hear in the interest of our Nation’s future and that of our democracy.   Our Republic continues to suffer from “us versus them” attitudes that tear at and rip the fabric of our society. Our government has never been easy; that is, criticism of our government whether led by the Democratic or Republican Party always is necessary and justified and can lead

“…Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized…”  This passage is from Acts (9:1-22).   Since we are already baptized, can we honestly say we have sight, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit.   Scales no longer cover our eyes? Being filled with the Holy Spirit means we go onto the whole world to proclaim the Gospel to every living creature – that we will drive out demons, speak new languages, pick up serpents, and drink any deadly thing – so says our Gospel reading from Mark (16:15-18). All of this means we will practice and preach forgiveness; we will resist evil, in all its many forms such as hypocrisy, oath-breaking, lying, cheating, and betrayal.   We will reach out to refugees from other countries – especially families seeking safety.  We will not be afraid to confront the cruel and racist –

When we feel we have been wronged in some way – or perhaps when we are jealous – do we step back from spreading harmful gossip, saying harsh words or raising our fists in angry exchanges with family or friends.  Biting our tongues or sitting on our hands are far better than a confrontation that does nothing but create harm such as damaging or destroying an important, even precious relationship through our words or actions. Even when we know we are in the right, it’s best to step back.  Do we?  Or do we escalate and worsen the situation? In today’s reading we heard: "Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags.  When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.  David’s servants said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into you

When David and Saul approached (on David’s return after slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums. The women played and sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: “They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship.” And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.  Saul discussed his intention of killing David with his son Jonathan and with all his servants. But Saul’s son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him: “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning; get out of sight and remain in hiding. I, however, will go out and stand beside my father in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know.”  The green-eyed monster re

The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line in the direction of the Philistine. David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground. Thus, David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally and did it without a sword. Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath he dispatched him and cut off his head. (1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51) The above passage is a legend most Catholics remember fondly.  The underdog wins.  The big bully falls and falls hard.  The sling-shot is more powerful that the sword.   The little man takes down the giant with God on his side. David was quite the marksman – stone to forehead: a precise shot as opposed to a sword that doesn't have to precisely hit the mark. 

The LORD said to Samuel: “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” But Samuel replied: “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me.” To this the LORD answered: “Take a heifer along and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do; you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.”  Samuel did as the LORD had commanded him. When he entered Bethlehem, the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and inquired, “Is your visit peaceful, O seer?” He replied: “Yes!  I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. So cleanse yourselves and join me today for the banquet.” He also had Jesse and his sons cleanse themselves and invited them to the sacrifice. As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.” But the L

But Samuel said: “Does the LORD so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the LORD? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams. For a sin like divination is rebellion, and presumption is the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he, too, has rejected you as ruler.” This is what Samuel said to Saul as written in 1 Samuel 15:16-23.   Burnt offerings and sacrifices just don’t cut it.  They are poor substitutes for the real deal; that is, obedience to God. Going to Church to witness our sacrifice on the altar is an empty gesture unless it is accompanied by changed behavior on our part.  That means listening to and abiding by Jesus’ commandment, especially to love God and our neighbor.  Otherwise, we have simply "submitted the fat of the rams” instead of embracing and following the Lamb.

January 19, 2020, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings for today's Homily  To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

“Here am I, Lord; I have come to do your will.”   This is the refrain in our responsorial psalm.  How many of us really mean that?  It’s quite a commitment that’s supposed to rule our lives – to do God’s will. We can envision this pledge as one we’d make to a medieval king or queen while kneeling before the throne with hand over heart and head bowed.  “Lord, or majesty, I have come to do your will.” The next question we’d likely ask is: “What do you ask of me?  What is your will?”   We would await the answer. Here at Christ the King there is no physical throne – just a presider’s chair on which the priest sits for just a short while with most his time spent before the altar. That’s where he does God’s will that we believe involves leading Catholic worship with all of us together in communion as the Body of Christ with the priest acting as Christ's representative.   Part of this worship involves our understanding that God wills our well-being and the well-being of all creatio

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:13-17) Tax collectors worked for the Romans.  It was Roman tax – unfair and oppressive often used as a way to seize land for Roman use and to benefit the wealthy.  No wonder Jesus gave them their own category along with the general term of sinners.  And no wonder he sat at table and ate with them.   They were t

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.  Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way?  He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sin

This is today’s responsorial psalm, and it’s relevant to the on-going and seemingly never-ending reports of sexual abuse of minors by priests – much of that abuse having occurred many years ago.   It continues to haunt and wound our Church overshadowing its many good works and priests having to contend with suspicion and unfair labels. If I was a priest, I might repeat this psalm as one way to speak to abusers [the you's] who sully the priesthood: R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy. Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace, and you go not forth with our armies. You have let us be driven back by our foes; those who hated us plundered us at will. R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy. You made us the reproach of our neighbors, the mockery and the scorn of those around us. You made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy. Why do you hide your face, forgetting our woe and our oppression?  Fo

During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.  One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.  His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was.  The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.  You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said.  “Go back to sleep.”  So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.  So Eli said

The January 5 issue of the Cape Cod Times had a disturbing cartoon in the Ideas & Opinion section.   I include it here: “The United Hates of America” with many divisions being overlaid on the country.   One can only hope this image with all its nasty and horrible implications is an exaggeration.  However, so much is happening in our country and with our relationships with other nations throughout the world that one wonders, and frets. Accompanying that cartoon was a Times editorial that scored high in my estimation: “Try civility, compassion, and contemplation in 2020.” It ended with: “In the year and decade now beginning, a little more civility, compassion, and contemplation may be just the antidotes to inoculate ourselves from the vitriol and viciousness that can clearly be predicted, given the buildup we’ve already seen to this election year.  Focusing more on respect, caring for others and understanding common problems may also be a good path to our own better health.”

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1:14-20) In 1966 Scottish minister William Barclay wrote the book “Fishers of Men.”   To fish for men and women, a preacher must have the following approach according to Barclay: “…It is certainly not true that preaching should always be evangelistically and emotionally demanding conversion; but it is true that preach

January 12, 2020, The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Readings for today's Homily  To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  Take down those Christmas decorations.   Now’s the time, especially to remove the dried up, needle-dropping trees.  Our Gospel reads: Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.  After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17) We were all baptized.   Now as adults can we honestly say we’ve been beloved sons and daughters with whom God has been well pleased?  Have the doves that came upon us left for better feeders and seed. The Word of God is our seed.  T

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.  You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:22-30) The last line of this Gospel reading seems the most c

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it.  Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”  The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray. (Luke 5:12-16) Have we ever felt “dirty?”   By that I mean our having betrayed our own principles and compromised our integrity for some purpose.  Looking the other way and ignoring that which we know must be addressed makes us “dirty.”   Setting aside Jesus’ commandments to achieve some limited objective we think is best achieved by our c

“Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.” (1 John 4:19-5:4) Hate is a strong emotion overwhelming all other frames of mind.  Hate-speech implies no love of God.  Unfortunately, The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that hate speech is legally protected free speech under the First Amendment. 

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.  We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love." (1 John 4:11-18) This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.   It tells us how to see God.   No burning bush

These following three paragraphs belong to Marcus Borg from his 2011 book "Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power – and How They Can Be Restored." “We want justice!” This kind of justice is retributive or punitive justice.  It prosecutes and punishes those who violate laws in order to maintain law and order.  This form of justice is necessary.  People living together in groups need laws and the fair enforcement of laws.  It is impossible to imagine a large-scale society without a criminal justice system. But justice in the Bible most often means much more than this, indeed something quite different.  When the Bible speaks of God’s passion for righteousness and justice, it does not mean that God’s primary passion is the punishment of wrongdoers.  True, some passages do threaten wrongdoers with judgement and condemnation.  But often justice and righteousness refer to the “way of the world,” the social order that humans create, should be.

From today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25): “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land  overshadowed by death light has arisen… ” Using this text as our model: Land of Mashpee and land of Cape Cod, surrounded by the sea, beyond the Canal, home of the Christians [and other faiths], the people who sat in darkness of winter have seen a great light we call Jesus Christ, on those believers dwelling in a land overshadowed by death of plants and by some with sadness of hearts and low spirit, light has arisen through the expectation of spring and a New Year full of promise and hope.

January 5, 2020, The Epiphany of the Lord Readings for today's Homily  To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

Today is the Epiphany of the Lord when we hear about the magi and the search for the child commissioned by Herod.  We know of Herod’s plan – to kill the child.   Today I’ve had an epiphany defined as an experience of a sudden and striking realization.  It came about as a consequence of reading this story of “two natures.” The Teacher sat praying under a tree that had large, exposed roots.  As he prayed, a scorpion, hanging on one of those roots, began to move slowly towards him.,  A young boy passing by saw the scorpion only inches away from the one in prayer and shouted, “Teacher, quick, kill that scorpion; it is trying to bite you!”

From today’s reading:  Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever sins belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.  Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother. (1John 3:7-10) This John makes it clear: anyone who does not love his brother does not belong to God.  That’s quite a penalty.   He says when we sin, we become children of the devil.   Now that’s some condemnation! There’s no way to appreciate John’s meaning in our times.   He wrote for his community a little after 100 A.D.   Here we are about 1,920 years later.   We live in different times with diffe

“…Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who remains in him sins; No one who sins has seen him or known him.” (1 John 2:29-3:6) Today’s reading speaks of sin, and it reminds me of a story. An old teacher was once taking a walk through a forest with a pupil by his side.  The old man suddenly stopped and pointed to four plants close by his side.  The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth, the third was a small shrub, while the fourth was full-sized tree.

Beloved: Who is the liar?  Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.  Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father…”   (1 John 2:22-28) The author of this letter appears to be referring to Matthew 10: 32-33 that reads: “…Everyone who acknowledges me [Jesus] before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.  But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father…”    According to biblical scholar, professor, and minister William Barclay (1907-1978), John is saying: “To deny Jesus is to be separated from God, for on our reaction to Jesus our relationship to God depends.  To deny Jesus is indeed the master lie, for it is to lose entirely the faith and the knowledge which he alone

Today is the Octave Day of Christmas and the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.  Our first reading provides a familiar blessing: The LORD said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them."  (Numbers 6: 22-27) We all ask for this blessing on the first day of 2020.  But first, we must invoke God’s name upon those around us.  But what is God’s name? We Christians say Jesus Christ, of course.  Consider our second reading from Galatians (4:4-7): “… When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law…”