Memorial of St. Maria Goretti, Virgin

“Seek always the face of the Lord.” (Ps. 105)

  Last summer I had cataracts removed from my eyes. What a joy to be able to see and read clearly again! As I age, I am amazed at how much I am learning about my relationship with God through my own body! Today we read from the prophet Hosea, who cautions us against injustice and idolatry. “Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety, break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”

  In spite of all the lushness and fertility that the people of Israel have been blessed with, they are not satisfied. They manipulate the laws for their own selfishness. They disregard the needs of the poor and the less privileged.  Israel has allowed the cataracts of egotism to grow over their eyes and hearts. How similar to our day is the tension of Hosea’s Israel!

If we really listen to God in our hearts, AND we allow ourselves to cooperate, gradually our eyes and hearts are cleared of all those negatives that we have allowed to build up within ourselves: vanity, bigotry, selfishness, laziness, and injustice. Like cataracts or shingles, these negative behaviors cling to us. Unless we consciously try to rid ourselves of them, they will overtake our personalities with their words and actions and spread to others.

  In our gospel today, Matthew relates how Jesus calls his special disciples. Certainly, like us, they are not perfect people! But Jesus knows that the closer they follow him and imitate his interpersonal relationships with people, the more they will respect opposing opinions and respond with understanding to people who are different from them.

  Today we are also celebrating the life of Maria Goretti. In 1902, the young man, Alessandro, gave into his lust and struggled with Maria. Alessandro thought he could persuade Maria. Although she fought her attacker, she was killed in the process. Whatever our demons—and each one is couched in a capital sin—we cannot battle them alone.  Jesus reminds us in today’s gospel: “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That means the here and now. Let’s reflect on what is being offered us each day in interpersonal relationships, our reactions or responses to the daily news, our own personal thoughts and feelings.  Where must we remove our cataracts to see clearly?

  When Psalm 105 encourages us to “seek always the face of the Lord,” God is reminding us of this love relationship that encourages us to make just and fair decisions regarding our brothers and sisters.