September 11, 2011 Sirach 27:30-28:9; Psalm103; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35 ????????? Sirachwrites, “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs themtight.” These are important words to hear as we remember the September11th attacks on the United States. Of course, it is right that we experienceanger and prudential expression of that anger is warranted. We cannot hold ontoit possessively or unleash it with a fury because it doesn’t do us or anyoneelse any good. Anger needs to be expressed so it can lead to forgiveness andreconciliation. It is helpful to remember last Sunday’s reading from Romanswhere Paul writes, “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is thefulfillment of the law.” It is an ideal that we move towards progressivelyand in stages. ????????? Itis difficult for us to imagine how to progress in this manner because we cannotdo it from our own resources. The parable that Jesus tells about the king whodecides to settle account with his servants helps us grasp the possibilitiesfor a new way of thinking and acting. Moved with compassion, the good king forgivesthe debt of his pleading servant who owes him a great deal. Faced with the samesituation, the forgiven servant does not forgive a man who owes him a muchsmaller amount. In fact, he condemns him to prison to the dismay of the king. ????????? Itis extraordinarily difficult to forgive one another unless we first experiencethe grace of being forgiven. If we scan our memories for these examples we willfind many instances of receiving mercy when we did not deserve it. If we reviewthe world and local news each day, we are bound to find astonishing stories ofkindness and compassion. Mercy fuels the world. Sometimes we see only the awfulthings and our brokenness. We find what we seek. If I look at the bad, I seethe bad; If I set my eyes on the good, the good comes into focus. ????????? Webegin our path to mercy and reconciliation when we let Jesus save into ourmemories those times we were forgiven. We can easily recall them to discern ourchoices in difficult times. It is good to live out of those memories because werecall the pleasant feelings that affirm our inner selves and they help uschoose the good and the right. When we act mercifully towards others we let goof the consuming part of anger and we build a world that is more respectful andconsiderate of neighbors’ boundaries. The world does not revolve around ournegative judgments and expectations, but our decisions can enliven the poor inspirit around us. One act of mercy leads to the probabilities of many more.This is a world in which I would like to live. ????????? Ourlocal and international world needs more acts of kindness and mercy – even inthe face of hatred. It takes a strong person (or nation) to look evil in theface and still choose compassion and forgiveness. It may go against every fiberin our lives to choose this course, but we can expect the repercussions ofthese actions will travel far and wide. Every relationship we have benefitsfrom wise and noble responses. We can never undo the damage done to us byanother; we can, however, erase the sting from our memories with the soothing,healing, reconciling mercy that comes from a transformed heart. Hearts thatseek greater charity will lead us to the world we all want. Themes for this Week’s Masses FirstReading: Paul writes to Timothy to assert that there isonly one God as there is only one mediator between God and humans. He asks thatpeople live in peace and spirit of thanksgiving for receiving the faith. Theyare to pray and sanctify one another. The office and qualities of a bishop andhis deacons are outlined. They are to be holy, temperate, self-controlled,decent, hospitable, sober, gentle, and able to teach the faith. They are toteach what they have heard and known that comes from Jesus Christ and toconform their actions and behaviors to what they teach. A good, gentle teacherwill be known for his fidelity to Christ. Paul urges the people to keep thecommandments without stain or reproach until Jesus comes again on the Day ofthe Lord. Church leaders are to signify Christ’s presence among the faithfulones. Gospel: Jesus is amazed at the faith of a Roman centurion who asks him to heal a slavewho was important to him. The centurion says all he needs are the words ofJesus, not his presence to save his servant. Jesus grants it. Jesus thenjourneys to Nain where he raises the dead widow’s son to life bringing to mindElijah’s visit to the starving widow and her son centuries before. After Jesus goesfrom town to town, preaching the good news, he rests with the Twelve and hisdisciples. Among them are many woman who were cured from evil spirits andinfirmities. They rest and spend time with one another as friends spend timetogether. Afterwards a large crowd gathers around Jesus and he begins to speakof the kingdom in parables. He tells them about the sower who planted seeds onvarious soils; the fruit that grows best is like the one who hears the word ofGod, embraces it with a generous and good heart, and bears fruit throughperseverance. Saints of the Week Monday: The Name of Mary was given to the child in the octave that followher birth on September 8th. Mary (Miriam) was a popular name for a girl becauseit means “beloved.” Tuesday: John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor (347-407) was a giftedhomilist and was called “Golden Mouth” because his words inspiredmany. He was raised in Antioch and joined a community of austere hermits butthe lifestyle damaged his health. He became the archbishop of Constantinoplewhere he introduced many conservative and unpopular reforms. He fled to escapean uprising from the people and on the way to exile he died. Wednesday: The Triumph of the Holy Cross remembers the findingof the true cross by the Emperor Constantine’s mother, Helen in early 4thcentury. Two churches were dedicated in the name of the cross on this day inthe 4th century. Therefore, the feast was applied to this day. In the 7thcentury, the feast was renamed, “The Triumph.” The Church of the HolySepulcher in 335 was also dedicated on this day. Thursday: OurLady of Sorrows was once called the Seven Sorrows of Mary as introduced bythe Servite Friars. After suffering during his captivity in France, Pius VIIrenamed the devotion that encapsulates: Simeon’s prophecy, the flight intoEgypt, searching for Jesus at age 12 in the Temple, the road to Calvary, thecrucifixion, the deposition, and the entombment. Friday: Cornelius,pope and martyr (d. 253) and Cyprian, bishop and martyr (200-258) bothsuffered in the Decian persecutions. Cornelius was being attacked by Novatian,but since Novatian’s teachings were condemned, he received the support of thepowerful bishop, Cyprian. Cyprian was a brilliant priest and bishop of Carthagewho wrote on the unity of the church, the role of bishops, and the sacraments.Cyprian died under Valerius after supporting his church in exile by letters ofencouragement. Saturday: RobertBellarmine, S.J., bishop and doctor (1542-1621) became a Jesuit professorat the Louvain and then professor of Controversial theology at the RomanCollege. He wrote “Disputations on the controversies of the Christianfaith against the Heretics of this age,” which many Protestantsappreciated because of its balanced reasoning. He revised the Vulgate bible,wrote catechisms, supervised the Roman College and the Vatican library, and wasthe pope’s theologian. This Week in Jesuit History · ???????? Sep 11, 1681. At Antwerp, the death ofFr. Geoffry Henschen (Henschenius). A man of extraordinary learning, he was Fr.Jan von Bolland’s assistant in compiling the Acts of the Saints. · ???????? Sep 12, 1744. Benedict XIV’s secondBull, Omnium Sollicitudinum , forbadethe Chinese Rites. Persecution followed in China. · ???????? Sep 13, 1773. Frederick II of Prussiainformed the pope that the Jesuits would not be suppressed in Prussia andinvited Jesuits to come. · ???????? Sep 14, 1596. The death of CardinalFrancis Toledo, the first of the Society to be raised to the purple. He died atage 63, a cardinal for three years. · ???????? Sep 15, 1927. Thirty-seven Jesuitsarrived in Hot Springs, North Carolina, to begin tertianship. The property wasgiven to the Jesuits by the widow of the son of President Andrew Johnson. · ???????? Sep 16, 1883. The twenty-third GeneralCongregation opened at Rome in the Palazzo Borromeo (via del Seminario). Itelected Fr. Anthony Anderledy Vicar General with the right of succession. · ???????? Sep 17, 1621. The death of St RobertBellarmine, bishop and doctor of the Church.

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