Attractive speech and action

The words “socialism” and “ecumenism” are sparking different responses among Catholic Christians in this time than they did a few decades ago. The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite a consideration of our attention to the actions of those in our midst who are being formed by the Spirit, in the words of Fr Larry Gillick SJ, to be “better for” others than “better than” others. Fr Larry reminds us that change of life direction in humans occurs through attraction. Our “decisions” on a partner, a soul mate, a political movement and a spiritual guide are mostly the consequence of attraction. The ancient role of the Chosen People was to attract the other nations to come to know the God of Israel. Moses proclaims his blessing on the action of God to call those outside the listed group to prophesize and he wishes such spirit were extended to all the Lord’s people. The Irish Jesuits who write Living Space comment that it is very easy for a chosen group to become elitist, to claim for itself a monopoly of doing good. Friar Jude Winkler notes, from the Gospel of Mark,  Jesus instructions to His disciples, who may have been sensing the their special relationship with Jesus and the gifts which flow from it, to include all who do good work in His Name as friends of Jesus. The Roman Catholic Bishops will soon begin to synod on the question of the “New Evangelization”. They hopefully will have the understanding that the “inner circle” and current political climate are not the concern of the Spirit when attracting people to relationship with Jesus. This intimacy with the Divine which presents itself in being better for others opens possibilities for change in the people for whom we use our riches. The Letter of James warns that our neglect of those in need and particularly those for whom the economic system has contributed to their suffering, while perhaps, at the same time supported our wealth, may bring the opposite consequence that the “gospel of prosperity” had promised.  The greater attention in our lives to including others will require that we work at attractiveness and avoid scandalous witness to our selfishness and sin. Friar Jude sees the stark examples of the text from Mark today as Jewish exaggeration.  The depths of detachment imaged in the text have been experienced by people, according to author Farley Mowatt, to name one, in the living hell of war.  The depraved actions of humans have made the thought of such punishment seem acceptable sometimes. Some deeply moved followers of religion have practiced self mutilation as a response to conquer severe temptation. The prayer of the psalmist today that “the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart  be acceptable to you, O Lord” is the direction of change that resonates with the expression of Father Robert Barron in the Catholicism video series that “the body matters to Catholics”.

Battles and Struggles for Life

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts which celebrate Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels. Meditation on these passages reveals some of the nature of the ongoing battle between good and evil in life. The text from Daniel 7 is where the phrase the Son of Man is used to identify the recipient of power and authority from God to lead the people of God in their struggle for life. Friar Jude Winkler reminds us that the Son of Man title was claimed by Jesus for Himself by reference to this text. The heresy which places heavenly creations with human nature at a lesser value than pure spiritual beings, like angels, has supported ideas in harmony with Greek philosophers, like the Gnostics. This distortion of truth tends to draw believers to a false disregard for the body in which we fight selfish desire and bring real charity, compassion and mercy to others. The text from Book of Revelation identifies Satan as the accuser of our comrades. Friar Jude comments that pure justice for our sin will be demanded from God by the accuser, and God will respond with mercy. This model of mercy trumping justice is part of the Mystery which Nathaniel is seeking to explore as he sits in the learning position and is identified by Jesus as one who is a descendant of Israel, who was renamed from Jacob as he was transformed from deceitful behaviour to truthfulness, as he wrestled with God. The struggle we see between the angels of good and the angels of evil today is the parallel of our continuing struggle. We have the Blood of the Lamb as the means whereby we shall ascend Jacob’s ladder as the Mystery of the Law of Love is opened to our complete understanding.

Peter Proclaims a new season

The author of Ecclesiastes catches our attention today with the familiar words in the Roman Catholic Lectionary which remind us that “to everything there is a season”. The gist of this reflection is that we are part of a great Divine plan under which the movement from one season to the other and from one set of life’s circumstance to the next is a rhythm to which wise people harmonize their lives and thereby live without frustration and disappointment. The plea of the psalmist for deliverance is a slightly different philosophy. The overwhelming awe with which we understand God is not diminished, yet we also assert the beliefs that trust in God will change circumstance to bring deliverance from temporal distress. The Gospel of Luke tells how Peter responds to the question about the nature of Jesus which arises from discussion about Christ as “Elijah returned”. Friar Jude Winkler points out the reference in this text to the “Son of Man” in Daniel 7 and the use of the vocabulary of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah to describe the suffering and death Jesus predicts He will encounter in Jerusalem. The paradox contained in this prediction of the One from God being servant who is put to death is a starkly different “season” than the Hebrew Qoheleth probably intended in his dissertation on sublime truths.

Pondering and Perplexed

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary present the pondering of people about the nature of life and the mysteries which we encounter daily. The great question stimulated by the musings of the author in Ecclesiastes who appears caught up in the repetition of sameness in his days is “Why”? The psalmist concludes that the time of life on earth is short and without great impact on the nature of things yet he seeks the grace from God to bless the work of his hands. We encounter the “Why?” through both mundane and marvelous experience in our lives. The indwelling Spirit is still somehow aware that we are drawn to seek answers to our great questions. The attraction of the people to Jesus has Herod, in the passage from the Gospel of Luke, wondering who? and why?. Our observations of nature today, in many cases, point to deep change in the environment, in political organization and in the economic system in which many have put faith for security. The observer from Ecclesiastes looking today may not see so much predictability. Our response is to be a witness to the world as people who continue to be attracted to Jesus through whom the Way, Truth and Life point to the Why?

Witness is Both And

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for Canada today presents texts to commemorate the feast of the Jesuit martyrs St. John de Brebeuf, St. Isaac Jogues and their companions. The magnificent imagery of the Book of Revelation presents the victory of the martyr as one of those who are robed in white garments at the heavenly banquet. They are proclaimed as those who have been washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb. This text is the satisfaction we crave to see justice for those who give so much to the welfare of others. Debate rages in the final days of the US presidential election campaign about the nature of Catholic social action. There is no dichotomy between charity and justice. There is tension about relative priority and methods of action but the disciples of Jesus are those who live both virtues. The Letter to the Corinthians reveals the path of the believer to be one where our lives in Christ will bring us through being perplexed, attacked and persecuted. Our faith causes us to speak relying on the grace of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to spread the message which will not suit the ears of those who seek to divide charity and justice and which will likely bring ridicule to us as our ego participates in thanksgiving with the death offered to believers by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke today. The death of self, without which we will not know life, is the daily cross which we are offered to be a witness to the Way.

Close relations to God

The psalmist proclaims the desire to walk in the way of the Law of God today in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. We find knowing the law and the details of our way very comforting. How often do we offer our request to others to “tell me what you want me to do”? The passage from the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus use of a situation to underline the importance of our openness to understanding and living the Word of God. A specific list of what is right and what is wrong does not require us to live in the awareness of the living Presence of the Word. The understanding of Law which comes from living a relationship is the desire of holiness. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the understanding of Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant tradition about the human brothers and sisters of Jesus. The Gospel call is to hear and be opened to the Word. This openness will bring us into the intimacy with Jesus whereby the examples, advice and written commandments will integrate into the Law written in our heart, visible in our eyes and witnessed by our authentic action. The advice of the elders to the sons of the Davidic kings is presented in the text from the Book of Proverbs. This advice would integrate into their life and give them Wisdom to be in harmony with the Will of God in their actions as monarch.

Authenticity and Wisdom

Friar Jude Winkler comments today on the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary describing the passages from the Book of Proverbs and the Gospel of Luke as wisdom writings. This type of writing offers us short and powerful suggestions for how to live. We are encouraged to live in consideration of the needs of our neighbour and to be quick to respond when we are able to assist them. The rationalizations that they can wait, I will attend to that later or someone else will take care of that are not the path of the righteous person. Our daily lives put us in the position of needing to be humble to accept that we too will be in the position of being put off, deferred and ignored. The psalmist answers a question (Psalm 15:1)” O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?” with verses which call us to treat our neighbour in an open, fair and respectful manner. We need to avoid speaking ill of others. The authentic desire for intimacy with the Divine is witnessed, according to the Gospel of Luke, by those who let their light shine. Friar Jude encourages us to hear the need to be transparent and authentic in our dealings with others in this text. The gifts we have from God are to be used in authentic action to show love. We hear this, we respond and our openness to be gift to others increases. We ignore this and act for self or in devious ways and our ability to be gift to others decreases. “Fake it till you make it” is the antithesis of the message from Scripture today.

Peace and powerlessness

One of the most important transformations in the lives of those following Jesus is described today in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Book of Wisdom tells us that the lifestyle of the righteous who persist in patient pursuit of the will of God aggravates those with evil intent. What is to be done about this? The psalmist prays that justice will see the triumph of the righteous over the wicked. The path proposed in the letter of James is to seek the harvest of righteousness which comes from sowing peace through the acts of love in mercy, forgiveness, kindness and sharing. The fruits of envy, jealousy and selfish ambition are quarrels, fights and conflict as we strive to possess what we do not have and satisfy passions which are self centered and for our personal promotion and gain. Friar Jude Winkler tells us that the disciples in the passage from the Gospel of Mark are arguing about who is the greatest among them even as Jesus reveals for the second time, to ears that choose not to hear, that the aggravation and anger of the religious authorities with Him will cause them to kill him. Jesus sets the model for loving in calling for loving service to a child, the least significant member of the society, who cannot possibly return the service in material gain for the givers. The patient pursuit of peace in powerlessness is service to humans in the love of God.

Seeds of life

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary plant seeds for our spiritual growth. Paul compares the resurrection to the change which happens to a seed which sprouts from the ground in a new body which is continuous with the old body but has been transformed. Our transformation from corruptible to incorruptible, from finite to infinite begins as we journey in this life towards greater intimacy with Jesus. Friar Jude Winkler brings the teaching of the Rabbis to the parable of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke about the sower and the seed. The command to love God with our whole heart, soul and strength is used to analyse the failure of the seed on the path which did not penetrate our heart for our lack of understanding and wisdom, in the rocky soil which did not capture our soul for the depth to hang on in trouble, and the thorns where our strength is diverted to acquisition of material and temporal gratification. The rich soil is prepared and grows the seed when the love of God is resonant in our heart, mind, soul and strength.

Matthew with Mercy

Paul addresses the Church at Ephesus in the passage today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary and speaks of the life style of humility, gentleness and patience which facilitates the struggle to maintain unity in the Body of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The gift given by God to believers to take on the tasks of equipping the saints for the work of ministry and building up the Body of Christ is in different measure to all recipients. FriarJude Winkler has often commented that our judgement of the actions of others needs to be tempered by our understanding that we respond to the call of God to act in accordance with the gift we have been given. The Gospel of Matthew today tells of the scandal seen by the Pharisees when Jesus dines with the tax collectors who gather with Him at the house of Matthew after former tax collector accepts Jesus invitation to follow Him. Friar Jude reveals that scholars consider that the depth of Jewish reference to the Hebrew Testament in the Gospel of Matthew suggests a second author who was likely a converted Pharisee who added these links at a later time. The directive of Jesus, in the text, to go and learn about the desire of God for mercy not sacrifice points to directly to the Prophet Hosea and is in the themes of the writings of Isaiah and Jeremiah. The effort we bring to the evangelism of people will be shaped toward the Divine will. Our humble expectation to give and receive mercy will join our experience to the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Powerful Proclamation

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary present essential elements of Christian faith. Paul addresses the Corinthians with the kerygma or preaching which according to Friar Jude Winkler is the basic truth that the resurrected Christ pulled Paul from the womb of his former life, as one untimely born, to be an apostle of the Good News. This action of the Person of Jesus in the life of Paul is the experience of the Resurrection whereby new life is given to Paul, the most unlikely choice of servant of Christ. The proto Gnostic thinking of the Greeks considered that liberation of the soul, the link to the good and Divine, from the body, the source of evil, was the desired spiritual goal. The Resurrection is the glorification of the body which continues to be essential in Life in communion with Jesus. Many scenes in the magnificent video series, Catholicism, narrated by Father Robert Barron, confirm the importance of the human body in the expression and mission of the spiritual journey to God. The episode from the Gospel of Luke today is the presentation of the salvation of the one with many sins through her personal encounter with Jesus. Her actions in performing the traditional Jewish rites of purification and welcome with tears and ointment demonstrate bodily the forgiveness she has experienced through Jesus. Friar Jude comments that salvation begins for people in the Gospel of Luke when they come into personal relationship with Jesus. This begins for the woman, as Jesus proclaims, while she still lives in her body which has been transformed from sinful action to thankful witness to Love.

The greatest gift

The poem on love which is contained in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is very often used at weddings. Friar JudeWinkler comments that it was likely borrowed from a non Pauline author because of the differences in style and vocabulary from the rest of the Letter to the Corinthians. It is a powerful meditation on the power of Love. It hopefully generates thanksgiving for the gift of love that we have experienced in our lives. The recipient of love can be overwhelmed by the realization that the Other, human or Divine, is putting our well being, our happiness, our mourning and our temporal spiritual and emotional needs in the forefront of their action. The commitment of the newlywed to live up to the characteristics of love in patience, kindness, forgiveness and fidelity is a powerful promise but life in a long term relationship of love is an overpowering witness to the real mystery of this Gift from God which conquers all and endures all. The child like faith to which Paul refers is attractive and in the innocent ones it shines radiantly. As the people move in worship, in particular to the Eucharistic meal, we have the opportunity to reflect on Love which has sustained and continues to animate lives. The faithful believer shows the peace and joy of a lifetime experience of the Transcendent which has converted sickness to health, isolation to communion, rashness to patience, fear to faith, and anger to understanding. The observation of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke today may be appropriate to the fickle and those who have yet to know depth in love. The Wisdom that comes with awe at the greatest gift at work in people is the consolation of the believer.

Gifts for the community in my eyes

The people in Corinth are addressed by Paul today in the texts from the Roman Catholic lectionary. He enumerates some of the many gifts of God for the community and identifies the gifts with the roles of apostle, teacher, preacher, healer and those with the gift of speaking and interpretation of tongues. Friar Jude Winkler comments that Paul was attempting to correct the misassumption among the people that the gift of tongues was superior to the other gifts because it demonstrated the full control of the person by the Spirit. (a proto-Gnostic idea?). The Christian understanding is the gifts are given by God to and for the community. Friar Jude suggests that the learned Paul borrows an idea of the body of humanity from Stoic philosophy. The philosophies of human thought developed by creatures of God are valid sources for study by believers who may see the struggle for the understanding of place in the universe which is only satisfied in communion with God. Community and Providence are interlinked. The invitation to reawaken our awe at this relationship of Infinite and Perfect with finite and imperfect is given through the episode of the healing of the son of the widow of Nain in the Gospel from Luke. Our personalities are gifts for the wider community. Luke, the physician, is particularly aware of the compassionate actions of Jesus. Our sense of justice, generosity, authority, order or mercy, our personal philosophy, will highlight to us the aspects of Jesus ministry which we can illuminate for the greater glory of God and fuller life in the community. 

Trust in transformation

The mystery of the action of God in our lives is expressed through meditation today on the texts from the RomanCatholic Lectionary. In the text from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, the practice of some in the community in celebrating the Eucharistic meal is detailed. Paul points out that the consequence of this practice is to make the division between rich and poor painfully obvious. He cites the differences in opinion and practice among the believers. From this understanding that things are not commendable in the way they practice communion among themselves and trusting in the transformative power of Christ through the experience of Real Presence Paul exhorts them to live always in the Spirit of inclusion and solidarity which testifies to our transformation to be One in Christ.

Friar Jude Winkler points out that an necessary element in the realization of our prayers and the achievement of peace, love and joy among people is to trust in the plan and action of God. The Gospel of Luke recounts the episode of Jesus responding to the request of the Jewish leaders to include the petition of a Roman Centurion in the trust that God transforms life and heals even those situations which are foreign to our experience. The sense of trust of the petition of the Centurion is recalled today in the Eucharistic celebration as we present our faith to trust in the Presence of Christ to continue to heal and restore us from practice that is foreign to the plan of God while at the same time opens our heart to accept the transformation of the formerly foreign to join us in the intimacy in which all are invited in Christ.  

The Caesarea Philippi decision

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today take us to  Caesarea Philippi where the Gospel of Mark describes the dialogue of Jesus with the disciples when Peter responds to Jesus question of "Who do you say I am?" with "Messiah". The messianic secret in Mark is shown as Jesus orders them not to tell anyone about Him. The suffering servant text is a description of  a lifestyle lived by Jesus and shown in His works. Peter's assertion that Jesus is Messiah is based on the Jewish belief in the return of a Davidic leader who will return glory of Israel. The Suffering Servant of Isaiah is the model chosen by God for the restoration of Israel and the extension of the Covenant in intimacy with the Body of Christ to all people. The works of the disciples to heal, forgive and love others, taking care of the widows and orphans, will combine with the faith which will be exemplified in the actions of Peter as leader of the followers of the Way to spread the Good News throughout the world. The Caesarea Philippi decision is the question which all Christians answer. It is  forcefully presented by Father Robert Barron in the video series Catholicism. 

Sorrow is source of solidarity

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today chooses texts to focus on the experience of sorrow in life which we endure by sharing in it with Jesus. The Letter to the Hebrews emphasizes the adherence of Jesus to the Hebrew tradition of chief priest who comes from the community and experiences life with all of the joy and sorrow, fear and faith and intimacy with God and separation from the Divine it contains. The Passion of Jesus is an intense experience of living, loving and confronting death. The Gospel of John today places Mary at the foot of the cross. John the Evangelist is understood in Christian tradition to have taken Mary to Ephesus after Jesus return to the Father. The heart of Mary is understood in Hebrew tradition as the centre of her thoughts. The prophet Simeon in the text from the Gospel of Luke voices the difficult struggle she will live in the depths of her being. Jesus, her son and Messiah, is also Son of the Father and the Lamb who dies for the sins of all. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the true difficulty for Mary, a devote Jew to reimage God. The deep sorrow of death of her son is a mystery without understanding. The proclamation of John concerning Mary is that she believed without understanding and her faith defeats the fears that the mystery of death bring to overpower the human heart. The additional symbolism of the episode from the Gospel of John, under the cross, according to Friar Jude, is the marriage of the disciples of Jesus, represented by John, to the Church, represented by Mary, to continue the mission of the dying Bridegroom, Jesus, to bring forth children, more disciples for God. We truly have a High Priest who shares in all our life. 

Resetting Expectations for Eternity

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts to celebrate the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The Gospel of John proclaims the Divinity of the Son of Man, Jesus, as the One who has ascended into heaven. The expectation that God should condemn and destroy those who have rejected and treated Jesus with the instrument of terror, death and intimidation used by the Roman occupiers to suppress and dominate people is reversed in the proclamation of forgiveness and salvation from God in the words of John that the world is not condemned. Friar Jude Winkler points out that the cross is the presentation of Jesus glory in the Gospel of John as God who “loves us to death”. The hymn from the letter of Paul to the Philippians proclaims the desire of the Divine Son to empty Himself (Friar Jude defines it as kenosis ) and live as servant to people in humility and healing. The text from the Book of Numbers, at first glance, appears to border on “idol worship”, a much prohibited practice in traditional Jewish spiritual life in Covenant with God. Friar Jude explains the ancient practice of using an icon of the healing received from God as the reminder or “faith lens” through which the love and healing of God is recalled. This practice continues as the Cross focuses believers on the eternal Presence of Jesus with us as the One who gives all for our healing and communion with Him. Father Robert Barron, in the magnificent video series Catholicism, points to the “in your face” nature of the Cross to those of the Roman occupation who would attempt to treat Emperors as gods. The instrument designed to terrorize and end resistance to Roman control is eternally the icon of love and forgiveness. Many sites of Catholic shines in the world are visited by Father Barron in this video series. We see and understand the observation of Friar Jude that icons of hands, feet and body parts healed in these places return the focus of the faithful to the love of God   Faith, daily, converts the fear of death on the cross to thanksgiving for healing from God.

An approach to living with others

The psalmist in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary proclaims how fearfully and wonderfully we are made. This meditation on the wonder and awe of our being should extend into the emotional and spiritual gifts we use daily to experience life with others. Paul addressed the Corinthians with the challenge to act in community in a manner which does not scandalize others even if we have to give up our “rights” to express our opinion, act according to knowledge or understanding foreign to others and do our own thing. The focus that Paul extols Christians to have is to avoid any action or presentation which may be interpreted by the other as improper or immoral. Our conscience or sense of morality must give way to the sensibilities of the other if we are to be examples of living in Christ. Friar Jude Winkler notes that the Gospel from Luke calls for the compassion to see those who hurt us as sinners not as evil people. In that light, we understand the separation they are creating from God in their lives through their actions and we join Christ, who died for sinners, in giving ourselves without expectation of return to their needs. The Kingdom where compassion, mercy and freedom from judgement reign is build upon these actions by believers in resonance with the Spirit of Jesus.

Blessing and Woe

The reality and hope of Christians is expressed in the letter of Paul to the Corinthians from the texts of the Roman CatholicLectionary today. He concludes the message today with the advice and observation that the present form of the world is passing away. Friar JudeWinkler explains that Paul’s conviction that the end of the world was imminent is based on the evidence of Jesus resurrection, a sign of the end, which fired Paul’s missionary activity and advice to prepare the world with the Good News. The form of the world which is hoped will pass away is that which Luke observes in the Beatitude presentation from the Gospel in which hatred, rejection, poverty and hunger will be eliminated for the  anawim (Hebrew for “the poor of Yahweh”). The author of the Ficino Cafe cites Richard Rohr OFM who writes of those who know they cannot do it alone and rely on the blessings of God. Friar Jude reminds us of our broken state which is the opportunity for our personal experience of poverty of spirit and need for the blessings declared by Luke for those who hunger, thirst and persevere for that time of grace when the world, in its present form passes away. The Ficino Cafe uses the image of Mary to remind us of the changes which can happen in societies when the Spirit of Jesus is given opportunity to move in the lives of people. Fr. Robert Barron describes his reaction to first seeing the image ofOur Lady of Guadalupe, and reflects on the power that image has had through the years. We understand that the great change is perhaps very close and we need to be Pauline in our desire to bring many to this gracious event.

Moving to and Fro

The movement of people in the texts today from the RomanCatholic Lectionary reveals our dual nature to move away from the Way of the Christian community in some life situations and to seek presence among those healed and cured of unclean spirits in other circumstances. Paul addresses the people of Corinth in very strong words about their decisions to take disputes among community members to the civil courts for judgement. The unity in the Spirit of Christ is the hope for believers that we would be able to resolve disputes guided by the Spirit in the pursuit of what action is modelled by Jesus for our lives. Paul cites specific cases of wrong doing which clearly can be judged as not part of Life in the Spirit. He reminds those who doubt the seriousness of these actions that some of them have had previous experience living these vices and the decision to abandon these practices in following Christ has already judged the evil practices as obstacles to intimacy with Jesus. We identify with the crowds in the Gospel of Luke who understand where the true rest for the turmoil in their hearts and souls resides. We reach out to touch the goodness of Jesus and celebrate the establishment of apostolic models chosen by Jesus to establish a community of people committed to life in harmony with the One who heals us to Life.

Making Decisions about other people

The challenge of making decisions about people in the Christian community is presented in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. Paul confronts the issue of an immoral sexual lifestyle among a community member

by directing that he be removed from the community. Friar Jude Winkler comments on understanding excommunication as a therapeutic initiative toward the expelled to let him understand the gravity of his situation and the scandal he brings to the community. Friar Jude acknowledges that excommunication has not always been used to help the offender. It is difficult to act in ways which truly are "for your own good" when that is being applied to the other. The community and the individual may be in tension. The Gospel from Luke is a scenario where we, like the Pharisee, often attack an individual for one aspect of their life which we use to justify our dismissal and complete rejection of him. Jesus decides to heal the withered hand of a man on the Sabbath. This was not life saving action for which the critics who have less to say but it was a good act which could have been postponed. Friar Jude suggests that we act in our overheated political actions to demonize our opponents and become blind to the good that is also in them as brother or sister in God. 

Blindness and Contrast

The contrast in the attitude we have toward people of wealth and privilege and those who are poor and unnoticed is brought to our attention by the passage from the Letter of James in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The blindness we have to the value of all persons in the eyes of God is demonstrated in the way we treat generous donors in comparison to those who give less is mentioned by Friar Jude Winkler. The Gospel of Mark shows Jesus receiving the deaf man in the pagan territory of the Decapolis and using body fluids to symbolize the transfer of the essence of life and healing from Jew to Gentile. This traditional separation of the clean and unclean is demonstrated by Jesus. It is not well accepted. The Book of the Prophet Isaiah addresses the remnant of Israel to return from the exile in Babylon. The restoration of their life in Jerusalem will be based in the renewal of the Promise where God will attend to those in need and provide sight, hearing and abundant opportunity to the oppressed as His people renew their commitment to the marginalized in their community. The call to Christians for action in community is a call to justice, maintenance of the law, protection of rights and care of the widows and orphans. The political parties today seem to want to tear believers away from some of our mission. We can stand for traditional values but we cannot care for the sick, elderly and marginalized with the same political effort. The way of the social conservative too often ignores the work of the liberal activist in care of the disadvantaged. Rich, poor, healthy, sick, Jew, Gentile, male, female, gay and straight are all included in the Promise of Life. 

Blessed Birth Plan

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today provide a meditation on the both/and involvement of the Plan of God and human decision in the history and present living of the Children of God. A first glance at the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew may not be enough for us to appreciate the construction of this passage which makes it more than a linking of Jesus to the line of David, which would be extremely important for the Jews and Jewish Christians to whom Matthew addresses this Gospel. Friar Jude Winkler points out the pattern of 14 repeated 3 times as the proclamation of Jesus as the superlative “David”. Matthew does not detail the “yes” of Mary, in this account of Jesus birth, yet Mary is an unusual, unexpected choice of God to be Mother of Jesus. Friar Jude points out that the “maleness” of this genealogy of Jesus makes reference to unusual women who made choices which were crucial in the path of the Divine Plan. The challenge of praising “predestination”, as Paul does in the passage of the letter to the Romans while celebrating the “choice” of Mary (and the decision of Joseph to keep Mary from the traditional ‘stoning’) is the edge or boundary where we faithfully acknowledge that God is Lord even of time and the linear, “perfect” path of a human oriented revelation and predictability is not the Way of God, who uses and redeems frail human nature to accomplish the Plan.

Old and new

The passage from the Gospel of Luke which concludes the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today ends with the praise of the old things. This is preceded by some warnings about mixing new wine and old wine skins. Friar Jude Winkler comments on this in the light of the Jewish traditions which prohibit mixing. The first letter of Paul to the Corinthians contains, according to Winkler, some teaching about the new proto-Gnostic ideas which have been promoted in the community. These ideas are based on the concept that evil is from the material and the flesh. The experience of God, in this philosophy is entirely spiritual as knowledge through spirit. The preaching of Paul or any human then, is inadequate and likely contaminated with human error. Paul refutes judgement of the value his life, and the lives of all people by human assessors. Friar Jude emphasizes understanding that the eyes of God see the hidden aspects of our personality, gift of the Creator, with which we live. The mercy of God for which the Church offers the Collect prayer today is ours to have and to extend to others with the appreciation that we cannot know the depths of their “old” being.

Wealth of the foolish

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary prompt consideration of the foolish ideas and endeaveaours which seem to consume a lot of our attention. Paul addresses the Corinthians with the comparison of human wisdom to Divine foolishness. The human enterprise so often is involved in forming cliques for power, influence and pride. The companionship of these groups too often becomes the competition to be better than the other. Paul offers the intimacy as adopted brother and sister of Christ and communion as sons of God as the “foolish” association to which all people are invited. FriarJude Winkler cites two reactions of people to the experience of Holiness. The response of Simon, a simple fisher, to the extraordinary daytime catch of fish in the passage from the Gospel of Luke today is to realize, in awe and wonder, the place of our existence in the giant scheme of God’s universe. There is no reason, no apparent advantage, no human logic in the desire of the God of the Universe to invite a band of fishermen to follow Jesus and be charged with the revelation of the Kingdom to the world. What gracious and grand foolishness!

Chosen and Nurtured

The Collect prayer which precedes the reading of the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary at Mass today seeks a deepening of our sense of reverence, whereby God might nurture in us what is good and keep safe what He has nurtured. The psalmist praises the attention of God for the people chosen to do His will. The text from the 1^st Letter to the Corinthians continues the teaching of Paul to correct divisions in Corinth between proto Gnostic groups who claimed special spiritual status and knowledge which was not contaminated with the state of the flesh. Friar Jude Winkler points to the attention of Paul to the rallying of people around particular personalities as evidence of their attention to the needs of the flesh. Paul advocates the nurturing of what is good by emphasis on the division of labour in the task of responding to the choice of God to call them to be evangelists of His Word. The two functions of teaching and Baptism must work together. The reverence for which we pray is supported by awe for the Divine plan to bring people to God through acts of faith, hope and charity empowered by our intimate relationship with Jesus. The Gospel of Luke presents the struggle between good and evil continuing as Jesus keeps safe the life He has nurtured in Simon and Simon’s mother in law in harmony with the mission to bring participation in His Life to all people. The consequence of accepting the nurturing and healing of Jesus is confirmation of intimacy with the Son of God. 

Recognizing Spirits

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today explore how we can be led by the Holy Spirit on our journey to greater intimacy with Jesus. Paul proclaims the origin of the Holy Spirit as the Divine essence, the Spirit of God. Our spiritual nature is open to resonance with the Holy Spirit. The Christian community in Corinth, according to Friar Jude Winkler, was being influenced by proto-Gnostic ideas of special knowledge. Some in the community had that indicated that the spiritual being was of God and human flesh was inferior to God and the source of evil. Paul exhorts all people to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit which is given and revealed to the spiritual heart of all. Father Robert Barron asserts in his teaching, “the body matters to Catholics”. The Gospel of Luke illustrates an episode in the battle between good and evil waged by Jesus. The evil spirits are aware of the Presence of the Spirit of God. The body of the possessed man is in slavery to the spirit of evil. The body is free when the evil spirit is replaced with the Spirit of God. The “mind of Christ” which Paul explains is our gift in the Spirit and the nature of the God of steadfast love and compassion praised in the Psalm is the life force through which we can choose to be empowered to push out our temptations and addictions to self satisfaction which are pathological to our Life in the Spirit.

Confusing Approach

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary reveal that the actions of Jesus and Paul to draw people to attend to the Word of Life were unexpected and confusing. Paul points to the Cross and uses the death of the Son of God on the horrific instrument of terror and intimidation of the Roman conquerors to make visible and real the nature of the Love of God for people. The victory of love and peace over fear and terror in Christ is his proclamation to Greeks, like those in Athens who Friar Jude Winkler comments were not moved by the philosophic persuasion of Paul, who could not accept God taking on human form and dying in the manner of thieves and troublemakers. The Jewish audience found it very hard to see the triumphant Davidic Messiah restoring the Kingdom in Jerusalem in the form of Jesus on the cross. Rejection of the Suffering Servant of God is the response of those who may be trapped in their own illusions of having special insight, intelligence and knowledge. The trouble in Corinth being addressed by Paul, according to Friar Jude, was the development of cliques which had a sense that they possessed special gifts of the Holy Spirit in knowledge and understanding. The great trouble of our elevation of knowledge and our ideas to Divine inspiration has troubled believers in many forms. The Gospel from Luke today describes the clash between the knowledge of the learned in Jesus community about His origin in poverty and His claim to be the Jubilee of God from whom would come peace, restoration and rejoicing for the dispossessed and burdened. The cognitive dissonance is unacceptable to them. Their confusion is resolved by driving Jesus away. The Church commemorates the feast of St Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the Church, who struggled in times in the 6^th century of much social, political and environmental disruption. St Gregory lived the counter cultural lifestyle of a pope who was the servant of the servants of God. The path presented for peace and love may be confusing to us and that is a good sign.

Laws of Love

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer direction in the attempt we must make to live faith in real life. The Book of Deuteronomy praises God and the Law which has been given to the Israelites to follow diligently and reverently to internalize the example that they are giving to their neighbours of being a people close to God. The desire of the human heart to be at peace in relationship to the Divine sometimes propels us into a pattern of religiosity wherein we follow traditions, observe religious practices and spend much time away from others in diligent observance of religious practices. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Pharisees in the Gospel of Mark today had “built a fence around the Law” giving the widest possible interpretation to the prohibitions therein. The relationship with God through rules and decrees can be lifeless theory. Jesus declares that the separation from God comes from the self centered actions which originate in our hearts. The decision to follow our passions and temptations necessarily turns us away from the practice of self sacrifice, patience, tolerance, mercy, compassion, consideration which is the fruit of Love and the reality of God. Getting real in our journey to intimate relationship with God is the path of charity toward those are at the margins of life. A friend mentioned his discussion this week with a retired Evangelical minister who expressed to the desire to live constantly in the manner that gives glory to God. This “law” is truly written in the heart.

Risk your money

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary speak to the response we should have to the great gifts we have received from God. Paul addresses the Corinthians with a reminder that they are not members of intellectual, social or political elites. In the eyes of society, they are simple insignificant people. FriarJude Winkler notes that many were in the merchant class and some were slaves. Paul exhorts them to accept the gifts from God which will be given, by them, to others so that the power of God will be demonstrated in the foolish who have wisdom and the poor who have spiritual richness. The Gospel of Matthew is one of Jesus discourses on action in anticipation of the final judgement. FatherRobert Barron discusses this “parable of the talents” with many references to being on the edge of the Christian paradox. In the phrase often attributed to St Francis, “it is in giving that we receive”. Fr Barron sees the theme, which resonates with commercial affairs, of investment, risk and return. North American culture understands this ethic in terms of entrepreneurship. The facts of this parable tells us that the servants are gifted with an enormous amount of wealth so the attitude of the one who “hid the talents” is understandable as that of those who have made it and have the income security to carry them home. The conclusion is that the gifts we have, financial, social, political, emotional, intellectual, entertaining, greeting, forgiving, compassionate, empathetic, strategic are lost if we hold them or in Father Barron’s words “privatize them”. The commercial model most applicable to Christian life is risk rather than conserve.