Author: Mary Ann Kleinfelder

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Mary Ann Kleinfelder

“Jesus said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan!  You are an obstacle to me.  You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do.  Those who want to come after me must deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow me.’”

In his 18 years as a TV meteorologist, Chris Gloninger at Des Moines’ KCCI has gotten his share of angry calls and e-mails from viewers:  Why did it rain on my daughter’s wedding?  How could you miss a storm that dropped eight inches of snow on our town?  Can’t you make it cool off?  It goes with the job.

But of late, the messages have reached a new and terrifying level of rage.  Gloninger has been assaulted with violent messages and death threats because of his coverage of climate change and the environmental crisis.  The e-mails and phone calls accuse Gloninger of perpetuating the “hoax” of climate change and promoting the “liberal conspiracy theory” buy reporting on weather extremes – like the 100-year-floods and droughts that have become near-annual events in Iowa.  “I saw it as my responsibility to our audience to connect the dots between climate change and extreme weather events in the region,” Gloninger says.  “Iowa is a state, after all, where livelihoods are at the mercy of Mother Nature.  Agriculture-related industries accounted for nearly 11 percent of the state’s total economy in 2021.  And in 2022, 64 percent of its electric grid was powered by wind; turbines are a source of income for farmers.”

Journalists are expected to grow thick skin,” Gloninger acknowledges, “but with each new e-mail, it became more difficult to recover.  Something had to change, but one thing was certain:  I would not be deterred from addressing an issue I saw as an existential global crisis.”

The most chilling e-mail to Gloninger read: “What’s your home address?  We conservative Iowans would like to give you an Iowan welcome you will never forget.

Station management took the threat seriously, putting Chris and his wife Cathy up in a hotel.  Police apprehended the writer of the harassing e-mails, but the stress had become too much – Gloninger resigned from the job he loved at KCCI this summer.  But he’s not abandoning his commitment to raise awareness about climate change.  He is now senior scientist in climate and risk communication at the Woods Hole Group, an environmental consulting firm.  In his new role he develops educational programs in climate and science literacy and works with communities to respond and adapt to climate change.

Station management took the threat seriously, putting Chris and his wife Cathy up in a hotel.  Police apprehended the writer of the harassing e-mails, but the stress had become too much – Gloninger resigned from the job he loved at KCCI this summer.  But he’s not abandoning his commitment to raise awareness about climate change.  He is now senior scientist in climate and risk communication at the Woods Hole Group, an environmental consulting firm.  In his new role he develops educational programs in climate and science literacy and works with communities to respond and adapt to climate change.

                Gloninger says, “While thoughts about the impact of climate change, as well as the sometimes toxic discussions about it, might seem paralyzing, we should not lose hope.”              

                                           (Boston Globe Magazine, July 9, 2023)

Looks like we can add meteorologists to the list of people – educators, health care workers, scientists, librarians and store employees – targeted by some for daring to do their jobs.  At times, we’re all Peter in today’s Gospel:  we diminish or deny whatever challenges our perspective, whatever forces us out of our comfort zones, whatever requires us to change our ways of thinking and doing things – and it seems our rejection of what we do not want to be true is becoming more and more strident and divisive.  No, Jesus warns us, following him often demands accepting realities we refuse to accept, walking roads we seek to avoid, rejecting people we want nothing to do with.  To take up our crosses in the spirit of Jesus begins by accepting the reality of our failings and abandoning our self-centered view of the world in order to transform our lives into the life and love of God.

Anybody praying for good weather for Labor Day?

  Fr. Glenn

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Mary Ann Kleinfelder

All the gospels, and the synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke) in particular, witness to the growth in faith of the disciples of Jesus. In the synoptic gospels a point of climax is reached when Jesus asks his disciples the question: ‘Who do you say I am?’ It is a question which all Christians must answer.

Peter speaks up and declares his belief, perhaps also shared by the others, that Jesus is the promised Messiah. What is special in Matthew’s story of Peter’s profession of faith is the commissioning of Peter which follows. Faith leads to a mission.

The words of Jesus to Peter ‘You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church’ have been understood as the basis for the special role of the bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter, in relation to the whole church. In their varying ways each of the gospels testifies to the leadership role of Peter. The words of Jesus to Peter in Matthew’s gospel are words of assurance, for it is Christ who will build the Church and Christ who endows Peter with authority.

The reading ends with Jesus instructing the disciples to tell nobody he was the Christ. The title of ‘Christ’ or ‘Messiah’ was understood in various ways, and Jesus had reservations that he might be misunderstood as a worldly leader. The true role of the Messiah will be taken up again in next Sunday’s gospel reading.

 

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Mary Ann Kleinfelder

Jesus said to the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Your car’s engine has been making a strange noise.  You bring it to your mechanic.  “So, what’s wrong? you ask.

                “Well, that’s a complicated question,” the mechanic  begins.

The kitchen remodeling is already several weeks behind and living in your mother-in-law’s house has stretched everyone’s patience.  “How long? you ask.

“You see, so much depends on other people,” the contractor replies – as he replies to all his clients.

Your elderly parent has been moved to hospice.  How long does Dad have you ask.

“There’s no good answer to that question,” the physician replies.

Oh, for a straight answer!

We have mastered the “non-answer.” We’ve learned to sidestep the question that challenges us to take a stand, that compels us to commit, that forces us in a direction we’d rather not go. Alternative” facts? Certainly. Extenuating circumstances?  Absolutely.  We always seem to leave ourselves an “out” – we provide ourselves an escape hatch.

We’re committed to being noncommittal.

Let’s see how it goes.

  It’ll all work out in the end.

Don’t worry – that will never happen!

If our Baptisms have any meaning, if we seek to make the love of God a reality in our lives, we can’t dodge the answer to the question Jesus poses to Peter and the disciples – who is this Christ to us?  The Christ who preached reconciliation and forgiveness, the Christ who revealed a God of compassion and mercy, the Christ who called us to realize the “kingdom of God” here and now, the Christ who washed the feet of his followers the night before he took up the cross, the Christ whose life God vindicated by raising him from the dead?   It’s a question we are called to confront when we are least prepared to answer:  when we’re debating whether to respond to a situation with vengeance or mercy, when someone in desperate straits asks us for help that is sure to cost us dearly, when we have to decide to act for the good of the community or in our own best interests or profit.

Our answer must be the straightest answer we’ve ever given to any question.

Have a good week!  Fr. Glenn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Mary Ann Kleinfelder

“Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the tables of their master.” 

                A very determined mother pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter.  It takes place in the area of Tyre and Sidon, two Gentile settlements north of the borders of Israel.  What is Jesus doing in a non-Jewish territory?  But in Matthew’s previous chapter, he has just learned of the death of his teacher/cousin, John the Baptizer and Jesus has also appeared on Herod’s radar.  Perhaps he’s getting out of Herod’s jurisdiction to lie low for a while.  He could be anonymous and regroup to strategize about how to continue his mission.

But he’s recognized.  A Canaanite woman comes pleading for her daughter and we’re asked to remember that when Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land, they found it occupied by the Canaanites and under Joshua’s leadership, brutally and barbarically slaughtered every man, woman and child – along with all the livestock – to take over the land given by God to Abraham and his descendants.  Survivors migrated north to places like Tyre and Sidon.

She pleads with Jesus, using a phrase familiar to Roman Catholics: “kyrie eleison” (Lord, have mercy).  Uncharacteristically, Jesus seems to brush her off, declaring his mission only to the descendants of Abraham.  If this mother was asking only for herself, this encounter might have ended.  But nothing fuels a mother’s audacity like that of her child’s well-being.  Jesus gets even more insulting by calling her and her daughter “dogs” who are unworthy of receiving the food of his teaching and healing.

But this mom is crafty and doesn’t return insult for insult but redirects her rage, finding clever words while remaining respectful.  “But Lord even dogs eat the scraps that fall from the tables of their masters.”  With that, something shifts in Jesus.  She stretches Jesus to see her not as “other” or “historic enemy” but as one with whom he shares a common humanity, a common desire for the well-being of children.  He recognizes that faith and her daughter is cured, despite her pedigree!

Despite our 21st century American philosophical, political and religious differences, we’re bound by a common humanity.  To be disciples these days demands that we listen with compassion and respect to the pleas of the “Canaanite” mothers in our midst, offering help and care because they, like we, are children of God.

Enjoy these last days of summer!  Fr. Glenn

The Transfiguration of the Lord

Posted on by Mary Ann Kleinfelder

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.

As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’ 

 

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Mary Ann Kleinfelder

Farmers periodically take samples of their ground and have them tested. If your spiritual ground was tested now, would you be:

  • an infertile footpath? (Mt 13:4)
  • infertile rocky ground? (Mt 13:5)
  • fertile but unfruitful ground overgrown with thorns? (Mt 13:7)
  • fertile, fruitful ground bearing a 30-fold harvest? (Mt 13:8)
  • fertile, fruitful ground bearing a 60-fold harvest? (Mt 13:8)
  • fertile, fruitful ground bearing a 100-fold harvest? (Mt 13:8)

When a farmer finds from testing that his soil is deficient, he does not ignore this information but takes measures to improve the condition of his ground. This should also be true spiritually. If you are an infertile footpath or rocky ground, repent and go to Confession as soon as possible. If you are fertile but unfruitful, ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of your thorny compromise with the ways of the world (Jn 16:8). If you want to increase from a 30-fold harvest to 60-fold or 100-fold, you need community life and daily Bible study.

In good ground, you can grow almost anything worth growing. In bad ground, you can hardly grow anything. The condition of the ground is critical. Recognize the condition of your ground and improve it.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Mary Ann Kleinfelder

Jesus is gentle and humble of heart (compare Zec 9:9). Jesus “humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!” (Phil 2:8) Jesus humbled Himself and washed the feet of the apostles. Then He commanded: “What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do” (Jn 13:15). Jesus promised: “Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Mt 23:12).  

The Lord commands us to be humble in personal relationships. This is called “submission” (see Eph 5:21). We are to be humble in managing finances and possessions. This is called “stewardship.” The Lord commands us to be humble in obeying His Word through the teachings of the Church and her Bible. This humility in receiving teaching is called “docility.” In effect, the Lord wants our lives to be permeated with humility. The Lord promised: “I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly” (Zep 3:12). “Be humbled in the sight of the Lord” (Jas 4:10).