19th Week, Wednesday, August 16
Duet 34:1-12 / Matthew 18:15-20
Moses dies; "You shall not enter the land. "
Moses died before entering the Promised Land. This underscores one of the ironies of history. Great leaders, who work so hard for a cause, often die without enjoying the fruits of their labours. The historical Jesus died before seeing his Father's kingdom spread to the four corners of the earth. Martin Luther King died before seeing the political and social liberation of black America. John F. Kennedy died before seeing an American walk on the moon, a dream he had and worked for in America's space program.
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How generously do we work for causes whose fruits we will never enjoy personally? "Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:7
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Moses handed over and left. It was a selfless and wise choice. He went to the top of Mount Nebo. He was rewarded with a glorious sight. He saw the land of the promise, for which he had lived and fought, spread out before him as far as the eye could reach. He was both: very happy and sad. It was God's punishment that he could not enter and enjoy the victory, relish the honour, and take possession. He accepted the punishment gladly and let it accomplish its purpose. This is the way a punishment becomes an act of penance, making good for his sins and the sins of his people. That is what every death should be. His death was not an accident due to sickness. It was an act of obedience to God. He wanted to go alone so that his tomb may not become a shrine for the superstitious. It was a joy to see the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Happy the death that is the radiant crowning fulfilment of a rich life.
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God shows to Moses the land he had promised to his people. They will enter and occupy it under the leadership of Joshua.
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Conflicts are bound to occur whenever men live together. Jesus says: Try to settle conflicts privately in confidence, face to face, or better, heart to heart. Speak! do speak! It is wrong to brood over injuries and injustices. It poisons the mind. It makes one bitter. It is wrong to write a letter. No letter can ever convey the sound of the voice. Before speaking:
1. Make yourself calm.
2. See the matter objectively. Formulate it. Ask yourself what was your fault and acknowledge it.
3. Make sure of your intention: If you sincerely want peace, the right order, cut out all that could hurt. Then speak calmly, clearly with sincerity in your voice. Not all conflicts can be solved. We may have to bury them in our love. And in all this ask the Lord to intervene and do the needful according to his will, Christ adds to it what gives every family and every community the bond of unity, the desire and the conviction that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is among them.
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What if my brother or sister goes astray? One of the most difficult and delicate tasks is to bring a brother or sister back when he or she errs. It is a duty, but one that requires courage and at the same time much tact, the right moment and the right disposition on both sides. It is my concern, because he or she is my brother or sister, vulnerable as I am, and wounded.
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Prayer
God of mercy and compassion, your Son Jesus Christ has brought us together as a community of sinners that knows that you have pardoned us. When our weaknesses threaten our unity, remind us of our responsibility for one another. Let your unifying Spirit give us the strength to care for one another and to do all we can to remain a living, forgiving and welcoming community where we keep meeting in the name of Jesus, our Lord, now and forever. Amen
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Saint Stephen of Hungary
Feast Day August 16
At the turn of the second millennium, St. Stephen succeeded his father as leader of the Magyars in Hungary. Looking to strengthen his authority, he determined to consolidate the state and extend Christianity throughout the land. In 1001 he arranged to have Pope Sylvester II name him king of Hungary. The pope obliged. As an additional sign of support, Sylvester had a special crown fashioned for Stephen that has become world famous.
Stephen extended his control over Hungary by restricting the power of the nobles. By creating dioceses and establishing monasteries, Stephen strengthened the church and positioned it for expansion. Politically, he aggressively used his power to establish Christianity as Hungary’s religion. He ruthlessly abolished pagan customs, outlawing adultery and blasphemy. Stephen ordered everyone to marry, except religious, and forbade marriages between Christians and pagans.
But Stephen had a kinder, gentler side. Like St. Louis IX, he made himself accessible to his people. He also took personal concern for the poor. He used to walk the streets in disguise so he could give alms to needy people. Once he barely escaped when some beggars beat and robbed him. But he refused to stop the practice. Stephen was a family man. In 1015 he had married Gisela, the sister of emperor St. Henry II. The couple had one son, Emeric, whom Stephen groomed as his successor. In the following letter to his son, Stephen lays out his vision of what a Christian monarch must be:
My dearest son, if you desire to honor the royal crown, I advise, I counsel, I urge you above all things to maintain the Catholic and apostolic faith with such diligence and care that you may be an example for all those placed under you by God and that all the clergy may rightly call you a man of true Christian profession. However, dearest son, even now in our kingdom the Church is proclaimed as young and newly planted; and for that reason she needs more prudent and trustworthy guardians. . .
Finally, be strong lest prosperity lift you up too much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death. All these virtues I have noted above make up the royal crown and without them no one is first to rule here on earth or attain to the heavenly kingdom.
Sadly, Emeric died in a hunting accident, leaving Stephen no successor. After the saint’s death in 1038, a series of Magyar kings undid much of his work.
