Now and forever

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider consequences of the decisions we make in our relationships with others. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the frustration of Jeremiah as he tries to convince the people of Judah that the help which they hope will come from alliance with Egypt against Babylon is a false hope. Our tendency to be hopeful and expect our difficult situations to be resolved through deals and promises from others who are committed to their own welfare and success is dangerous. The certainty in life is found in the steadfast love of God. Our trust in the Trustworthy One will sustain when the difficulties of life loom large. Even from the midst of turmoil, the person rooted in trust in God bears fruit like the tree planted near the riverbed as reference by Jeremiah and the psalmist. The consequence of our pursuit of self in competition and accumulation of excessive wealth may be a situation like that of the rich man in the parable from the Gospel of Luke. The images of consolation and feasting at the heavenly banquet for Lazarus are contrasted by the isolation, separation and desperation of the rich man. The thought that these consequences are experienced after death does not bring the full impact of the message for today. A comparison to Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” may be more apt. The isolation of Scrooge, and his redemption, is in this life. The peace of Cratchit and his reward are also before death. Luke warns us that even the Resurrection of Jesus may not be enough of a witness to open the eyes of people to consider the eternal consequences of the chains they built in life.

Petition the Servant

The paths of believers take them to surprising situations. This is illustrated in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Our tendency, perhaps, is to be comfortable in that “old time religion”. The sense of despair and disappointment of Jeremiah when the truth which he had to speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem about their seeking help from politics which were not in accord with their mission as chosen people of God brought him threats of death as a collaborator with the enemy. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the consequence of doing right is often a life which becomes more difficult in relationship with some people. The followers of Jesus hear that He will suffer and give His Life as they move toward Jerusalem. This is not the image they have of the Messiah in triumph in the Holy City. The text at the end of the passage from the Gospel of Matthew tells of the request of the mother of James and John that they have special positions in the Kingdom of the Messiah. Responding to His question of whether they will be involved in the same difficulty as Jesus, He confirms their fate and instructs them in the nature of leadership by servants who put the needs of the other before their own welfare. The choice to follow the Way of fullness of Life is the path of the servant leader which will bring surprise and suffering and the communion with Jesus which motivates the acceptance of the mission.

Pharisee and restoration

The nature of our relationship to God is presented for consideration through the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The prophet Isaiah warns the leaders of Israel that their decisions and actions are not in accord with the will of God. The consequence of their behaviour is compared to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the call of the Prophet Isaiah for the evil leaders to turn back to care for the people of Israel and to restore social justice in the land is the will of God. We choose to turn away from God and thereby deprive ourselves of the grace of our communion with God which leads us into loneliness and self satisfaction and the denial of our need for God. The psalmist continues the theme of examination of our lives and our associations so that we might see the decisions we make as movements toward or away from being thankful to God for our life. In this thanksgiving is the seed of the desire to move toward the Divine. The Gospel from Matthew describes Jesus using Jewish exaggeration technique to teach about the life of humility through which our desire to be seen as a holy and observant believer is refocused on thoughts and actions which consider the other first.

Lament and Life

The people of Israel are seen to be in a state of shame and dissolution in the passage from the Book of Daniel which begins the Liturgy of the Word in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today. This Book is presented by scholars as essential to an understanding of the religious significance of the humiliation of Judah and Israel by the Assyrian and Babylonian empires prior to 500 BCE. The lost of the vision of the Will of God for the people through the failure to hear the prophets and princes is at the core of the lament in the text today. The psalmist reflects this grief at the loss of the communion between God and the people in the verses which declare the lowly state of the people, faith that God will restore His favour and a note that God may not want to be seen as the destroyer of His people by other tribes for whom Israel is meant to be an example. The Gospel of Luke follows the account of Jesus Sermon on the Mount, the blessings and woes of the Beatitudes, with wisdom sayings about mercy, forgiveness and openness of heart. FriarJude Winkler advises that we not attribute wrong to evil people but understand that people are God’s children who make bad choices.The journey to holiness is an evolution to being merciful, forgiving others and giving generously not only because it is commanded or expected by Jesus, but that in living by His Way we move to greater openness that hears the Word of Life more clearly and experiences a Spirit of openness in our heart which sees others more with the eyes of God and has more capability to listen, appreciate and be thankful for the privilege of being.

Transfigured to be Transformed

We remember the big events of our lives. The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are some of the memories which God presents to humanity so that we have record and a path to consider and reconsider the invitation and meaning God has for our life. Genesis is described by Father Larry Gillick SJ as “a complex collection of stories which lead the reader to an understanding of how Israel depicted its history and beginning identity as God’s Holy People”. This identity as a Holy People is tied to being a fertile people with population and land to support them. The promise made to Abram in the passage today requires enormous faith and trust that God will transform the wandering and infertile faithful family into the ancestors of a tribe so large that the members cannot be counted. This people will inhabit the land which will support their life. The promise of the powerful to the weak is often in Covenant form. It consists of blessings and curses which will accrue from their relationship. Friar Jude Winkler points out that God calls a curse upon himself (to be torn asunder like the carcasses through which He passes) should He not live up to the Covenant.  This event for Abram and Israel is the memory which will sustain the people to continue in the memory of the glory of the Davidic Kingdom (9th Century BCE) to live in persecution and exile as the people of Israel live as God’s Holy People faithful to the Covenant. The Gospel of Luke signals an important memory event for Jesus followers as He takes Peter, James and John up the mountain to pray. At least 3 characteristics point to the deep significance of this event. These three companions are present at many crucial revelations of Jesus to humanity. The destination is a mountain which is where the people of God from Abraham onward have encountered the Divine. Jesus is going to pray. In prayer, He is in communion with the Will of the Father. The greatness promised to Abram is the Will of the Father for all. The transformation required by people to live daily as Jesus is the exhortation, today, of Paul to the Philippians and us. This change will require an acceptance of our Cross to be examples of the selfless service which is our memory of the mountain of Calvary. The luminous experience of the Transfiguration is a mountaintop experience. We have such memories that give us the encouragement that the future is about fulfillment of the Promise even though the present may find us struggling to be transformed people in a life deprived environment.

Perfection and Powerful Problems

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer some food for consideration of the praise which is offered to God for His Law. The conclusion of the Book of Deuteronomy expresses the format of Covenant which presents the blessings and curses of the decision of the people to adhere to the Law of God. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the date of this text around 600 BCE and the revelation of God who seeks a life giving relationship with Israel who will be the example of a people chosen by God to all the nations. The explanation in the text of some of the duties expected of those under the Law may strike us as excessively detailed. We reflect on the Pharisees of Jesus time, who are criticized for the legalism which marked their religious observance. When we cry out “just tell me what to do”, we often prefer the detailed answer specific to time, task and treasure. The psalm selection today is a small part of many verses of praise to God for the ordinances that God has given whereby we may live diligently observing them. The path of detailed guidance is often assumed to be superior to the life which seeks an overall guiding principle for action. The tension between these positions is important. The exhortation that Jesus makes, as Friar Jude notes with Divine authority, to love those who persecute us is in the nature of a difficult overall guiding principle. It is likely only achievable through the active life of the Spirit within our being. The perfection we seek is not the perfectionism of the Pharisee where we adhere to the letter of the Law but the perfect Love of the Father who sees all humanity as His children and only through our communion with the Trinity might we experience such Love.

The Chair of the Shepherd

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate the chair of the Saint Peter the Apostle. The gigantic influence of the life and person of Peter on the Church is a force which continues to inspire and attract people to the present day. The declaration of Peter about Jesus has been described as the fundamental choice for believers. Father Robert Barron in the magnificent video series Catholicism looks at this importance of this decision. Peter makes the declaration which all who choose to follow Jesus to holiness must address. Peter leads. The Gospel of Matthew which bridges the Word of the Hebrew Testament to the Word made Flesh of the Christian Testament identifies Jesus as the Messiah who is come to establish the Kingdom of God. The psalmist expresses the nature of the Shepherd Leader, God, in the deeply rich phrases of Psalm 23. These are the qualities of the leadership given to Peter, described by Friar Jude Winkler as the rabbinic authority to decide who was within the community and what this membership required of them. The passage from the first letter of Peter emphasizes the need for the leadership of Christian communities to exercise their ministry in service. It is not power which leads people but the example of service which looses self in the mission to bring others to Christ.

Most loving response

The praise of the psalmist today in the texts from the RomanCatholic Lectionary is for God who answers our prayers. The final verse proclaims that the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. Friar Jude Winkler visits the theme of God who gives the most loving response to our prayers. The Gospel passage from Matthew tells us to ask and receive, search and find, knock and be welcomed in our relationship with God. The Father is the parent who loves for us. Our trust in faith is required to move with and welcome the purpose God has for us. The end of the passage from Matthew confirms that God wants us to act in accord with the “Golden Rule” as we do to others what we would have them do for us. This is noted by Friar Jude as the expression of the Law “standing on one foot”

What Jonah sees

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today point out that God is for all people. The danger of our tight focus on our immediate communities and the rituals through which we are gifted by intimate experience of the Presence is that we forget the ongoing plan of God to be with all people. Friar JudeWinkler relates the surprise and depression of Jonah that God should turn back His anger at the people of Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian empire which had conquered Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke tells of Jesus pointing out to the Jewish people that the pagans had in the past and now, in Jesus time, are hearing the Word of God which is being addressed to the Jews. It is not logical to consider that this acute hearing of the message of Life is somehow in our time now being solely heard by Christian ears. Like Jonah and the Jews of Jesus time we should look around and see how those outside our Tradition are hearing what God is saying and how they may be signs to us of the actions we should take to continue our journey to holiness

Prayer power

One of the traditional Lenten observances of prayer, almsgiving and fasting is brought to mind by the texts of the Roman CatholicLectionary today. The power of prayer is a phrase worth some meditation. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah tells of the certainty with which the Word of God accomplishes the reality of which it is the creation. The understanding that the Word is the essence of creation and salvation for believers is rooted in Genesis where the Word became the universe and in the Gospel where the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Our prayer often involves words. We seek to be servants like Jesus of the Word and will of God. Our memory is a vital tool of prayer. As we remember the goodness of God, like the psalmist today, we see some of the pattern of protection for those in communion with God and we hear the never ending message to continue to bring His love, compassion and forgiveness to others. One powerful starter in prayer is the Word of the Gospel from Matthew known as the Lord ’s Prayer. In a few verses it positions us relative to the Divine and opens our need to be in harmony with the Will of God from which will come our daily life and the transformation of our spirit to be the forgiveness and charity for which we pray.

Holy Challenge

The call to holiness is the challenge of the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The text from the Book of Leviticus instructs the Israelites to be separate from the peoples around them in the way in which they live a moral code which makes the adherence to the Law from God visible and obvious. Other concepts of holiness are noted by Friar JudeWinkler. We fall into these practices today. Our concept of holiness is mistakenly linked to perfect obedience to Law. Our striving in Pharisee like over attention to our keeping of the letter of the Law sets up a very legalistic relationship with God and prohibits the triumph of Love in our relationships with others. The religiosity through which we can find comfort in mouthing the prayers and observing the rituals but not modifying the way in which we relate to the people around us falls to present the love, patience and compassion of God to whom we pray. The 25^th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew takes us to a dramatic judgement scene where Jesus, coming in glory at the end time assembles all the nations and separates them into groups based on their practice of holiness. The sheep, which Friar Jude explains, behave less selfishly in nature than the goats by maintaining the foliage from which they graze and not disturbing the water for other animals, are described as those people who saw to the hunger, thirst, nakedness and oppression of their neighbours. These are described as the righteous and they are invited to be in eternal communion with God. The pattern of their striving for holiness by making obvious to the world of their mission to live selflessly in adherence to a moral code modelled by Jesus is the challenge for us. 

Desert Life

For the first Sunday of Lent, the texts from the Roman CatholicLectionary bring an opportunity to reflect on the memory we have of the action of God in our lives. This remembering is prayer as we are returned to those intimate experiences of Love. The history of the Chosen People is recalled in the passage from Deuteronomy in the context of bringing the first fruits from the rich land to the Temple as a sign of thanksgiving to God. Paul exhorts us to return to the deep link of trust in God which is the faith which brings us peace in our hearts. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the “yes” to God which is within needs to be brought to our actions toward others to be the Word proclaimed of which Paul speaks. Our gratitude to God may find its expression in the trust of the author of Psalm 91 that God protects us from serious harm. Our memories may help to reinforce the protection we received even when we were unaware of the danger lurking in our lives. The Gospel of Luke tells of the encounter of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, with great temptations in the desert. In desert time, our yearning for the self satisfaction of taking life for ourselves, of being the powerful center of attention and putting ourselves as our primary love interest is strong. Our identity, which Father LarryGillick SJ reminds us is the gift of our Baptism, is that which Jesus temptation attempts to deny and which Jesus death on the Cross confirms, is the identity of Son of God. From the position of gratitude for who we are, we are open to the Holy Spirit to lead us from the temptations which threaten to isolate us from the Love which is our Life.

Adding Companions

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite us to consider how we may be living with a lack of appreciation of the invitation which the Lenten season offers to all. The Book of the Prophet Isaiah challenges those who have returned to Jerusalem after the exile to seek the Presence of God in actions which bring them in contact with the needs of others for community, for sustenance and acceptance. The tendency we have to keep to ourselves, mind our own affairs and often clique together with no thought, except negative ones as suggested by the prophet, for the other. The movement toward others is the movement toward God. Friar Jude Winkler discusses the attitude of obligation which we often bring to observing Sabbath time. Our communal gathering is experience of Presence of God. The decision to participate more in the community gatherings of Lent is a decision to be more aware and deeper in Love. The Gospel from Luke dramatically asserts that we need to be outrageous in our outreach to the outsider. As Friar Jude explains, the tax collector was considered by Jewish society to be a deeply dishonest collaborator with the Roman oppressor who was unclean and who carried sin and corruption as a contagion. Jesus invites this person to be His companion. As Friar Jude notes the “com-panion” is one with whom we share bread. This action of sharing meal time with those who are outside and offering to bring them in is the fast track to sharing a Word which is spoken through acts of Love.

Fast to focus

The psalm chosen in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today is Psalm 51. The introduction to this psalm places the characters of David, the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba in our mind. In Psalm 51 we hear the deep contrition of the sinner and yearning for restoration to the joy of life in communion with God. This psalm is a powerful reflection piece for our own journey and struggle with sin. The Liturgy of the Hours morning prayer on Friday returns us to these verses weekly. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the fasting of those who are the subject of the passage from the Book of Isaiah. These people are those who have returned to Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon and they find life difficult and they feel the promises of God have not been kept. The fasting which moves us forward in our journey to deeper intimacy with God is action in which we focus on God and others and place our selfishness behind us. The struggle against putting our pride, privilege, possessions, passions and pleasure at the forefront of our lives requires recall of our conviction and experience of true life involved in the mission of Jesus. Fasting helps refocus us on our deep need, like David, to be in communion with God. The fasting which occurs in the passage from the Gospel of Matthew after the Bridegroom leaves is the mourning fast which Friar Jude comments is the reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus and a small opportunity for us to share that sacrifice for the salvation of the world.

Continue to choose life

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for the second day of Lent presents choice to the reader. From the Book of Deuteronomy the proclamation of Moses presents the blessing of life to those who choose to follow the commandments and precepts of God as they prepare to enter the Promised Land after the long journey in the desert. The first psalm advises readers to choose between following the way of the wicked who scoff and scorn and delighting in the Law of the Lord. Those who attend to meditation and practice of the Law will be fruitful in all their endeavours and the Lord will watch over them. The presentation of these choices may be interpreted as something that people need to be able to commit to today for the rest of their lives. The reality of human nature is that we continue to let the gods which Moses warns will destroy us lead us in pride, privilege, power and pleasure. We perk up our ears when the scoffers and scorners have an issue to discuss. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus also presents choice between losing our lives by failure to pick up our cross and follow Him and saving our lives by following Him into the self giving love which redirects our selfishness to love of God and neighbour. Jesus is constant and continuous in His invitation for us to journey in His direction, living His mission and knowing the blessings and fruitfulness promised to the ancients by accepting our cross and moving with Him. 

Turning to God

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary support the day for Christians to begin the discipline of Lent in preparation for the celebration of Easter. The Prophet Joel speaks of the call of God to people to return. The verb used in Hebrew means to turn around and to change direction. The context of the writings of Joel is a time of disaster in Jerusalem when the population is attacked by locusts. In the difficult times, we too often are turned away from God. The steadfast love of God is proclaimed by Joel. It is affirmed by Psalm 51 through which we reflect on the serious transgressions which even the great and blessed like King David experience as personal pride, power and passion for pleasure overtake us and move us away from our intimacy with the Divine. We join David in the prayer for renewal and we understand that our restoration to life will be the attraction we present to others who seek reconciliation with God. Paul exhorts the Corinthians and us to know that now is the acceptable time. Our tendency is to plan to take on those changes and seek that forgiveness sometime soon. The traditional steps toward restoration of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are presented in the Gospel of Matthew as quiet rather than public opportunities. The great bluster which we sometimes think will cement our resolve to change direction is not as effective as the quiet steps which are known only to ourselves and God. Our return is personal. We can move towards God as we see His Presence in those to whom we give time, treasure and talent as we remove some of the distractions from our life and pause to look inward for the changed heart sought by Joel, David and Paul.

Dominion Decisions

The passages from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today bring us to consider the place of humanity in Creation. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the creation narrative of the priestly authors at about 550 BC, which is the first creation account in the Book of Genesis. The position of God as One who is Creator of all things is presented in words which omit any reference to the pagan traditions regarding gods of sun and moon and good and evil. The work of the sixth day is good. The Creation of humans is special in the use of the creation verb three times as the Jewish writers are conveying superlative creation and equality in the male and female genders of humans. The people who appreciate the wonder of Creation cry out in praise to God, as does the psalmist, for the awesome role of stewardship which is entrusted to humanity. The creation of rest, according to Friar Jude, is an essential part of our keeping in balance our lives as viceroys of Creation and our powerful self direction from which our pride and passion for privilege and pleasure pulls us to make choices through which evil enters the goodness of Creation. In the Sabbath times we are offered opportunity to connect with Creation and the original relationship with God. The Gospel of Mark presents a scenario where Jesus identifies those who strive so hard to keep the Law in a deeply legalistic manner may have created loopholes and opportunities for the cunning of the human creature to manipulate Sacred Tradition for selfish ends. The review we need is of those legalistic practices in our lives which may actually be deflecting opportunities to be Christ to others.

Word and Life

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today returns to the beginning of the Bible. The account of Creation which opens the Book of Genesis is explained by Friar Jude Winkler as the detailed crafting of the Power of the Word of God to create. It dates to the 6^th century BCE and the choice of phrases and language reveal an understanding of the Creator bringing everything to being as it is named. The naming represents the status of having power over. The Creator separates the good from the evil, the day from the night and the land from the sea. Creatures with blood and breath are given life. Heaven, earth, living things and humans are created and not made or called into being. Creation is original. It is order from chaos. It is something from nothing. God takes special attention to the creation of spaces which teem with life. These are separated from the forces of evil and specifically avoiding mention of the natural deities of sun, moon fire and water to which other peoples of the time gave homage. The psalmist praises the Creator who continues to maintain and support the Life of the people. The earth is declared full of the creatures and life of the Lord. The elements necessary to sustain this marvellous world are provided abundantly by God. The Gospel from Mark tells of the Power of healing and sustenance which accompanied Jesus as He moved through communities bringing the Word. Our reflection on Providence and the power of Presence to heal and recreate is the invitation to participate in the ongoing giving of life in our actions guided by the Word as we seek to know our Name and our uniqueness.

Unworthy and empowered

The reflection we might be encouraged to take as a result of the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today is to consider the moments when we have been overwhelmed by a sense of the Presence of God. It may have been during worship as Friar Jude Winkler tells of the passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. It may have been in one those times in our life when the great mysteries of birth, death and truly intimate love flood our experience. It may have been as Paul relates to the Corinthians, when the Presence tears us “as one untimely born” from a womb of comfort and blindness to the blinding light of revelation. Friar Jude identifies two of our responses to the Presence. We are powerfully attracted, like Isaiah, Moses, Peter and Paul. We fear our unworthiness and know our sinful state in relation to Good. FatherLarry Gillick SJ uses the recent experience of the Super Bowl advertising to remind us the advertising techniques to find or create a deep need which, of course, can only be satisfied by their product. The deep need of our being is known by God. Father Larry considers how Peter in the passage from the Gospel of Luke is faced with both his lack of success in the work of being a fisherman and the use of that sense of inadequacy and incompetence by God to be the basis for the mission which draws Peter more toward the Holy One. The great persecutor of the Way reveals to the Corinthians his encounter with the resurrected Christ, Who will reshape the zeal and energy of the Pharisee to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. Our unworthiness and the inadequacy of the efforts through which we encounter disappointment, working according to our plan, are transformed to bring in a real harvest in His vineyard working according to the Will of the Father.

Led to serve

The instructions at the end of the Letter to the Hebrews from the Roman CatholicLectionary today remind us our need to live as those attentive to leaders who are chosen by God. We are prepared to witness openly to our faith that Jesus Christ is the eternal Covenant with the Divine. Our tendency to put our plans and our inspirations forward is important and we need to supplement that enthusiasm with the attitude in the 23^rd psalm that the Lord is my Shepherd. His lead will accomplish for me and others the life in the House of the Lord. The Gospel message from Mark, as noted by Friar Jude Winkler, is that our need for rest and restoration in the work of ministry is real and needs to be addressed. The decision to take care of our legitimate and real needs must be interrupted as Jesus shows when the needs of the other can be addressed instead.

Attractive Life

The advice at the end of the Letter to the Hebrews from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents some moral standards for Christians. The journey to holiness is one of becoming more like Jesus in our relationships with others. The author mentions strangers and prisoners in particular. The efforts of Christians to evangelize certainly must include attractiveness toward the outsider and the burdened. Accepting people where they are is not always easy. Friar Jude Winkler echoes the importance of Christians to lead by moral example. The moral advice in Hebrews may set up a dichotomy between the practices of the stranger and the life of the Christian. Our status of being a work in progress allows us to be attractive to the outsider even as we may not embrace all of their behaviour. The psalmist is confident in Providence to raise him up and maintain his life. The example of the execution of John the Baptist from the Gospel of Mark indicates how the holy man can penetrate the awareness of the most unlikely people. The murder of John seems to be an event which is closes off the opportunity for further work on Herod. Father Robert Barron in the magnificent video series, Catholicism, presents the Cross as the ultimate “in your face” symbol to the Emperors of the ancient world. Through the hated instrument of torture and death, the complete humility of Jesus as willed by the Father becomes eternal life. Friar Jude reminds us to seek that humility which opens us to lose face, accept ridicule and be oppressed for the good of the other. 

Present to the people

The tests today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invoke consideration of the role which we individually have in the presentation of the Kingdom of God to the world. Friar Jude Winkler highlights the approach of the author of the Letter to the Hebrews who points out that our understanding of the Presence of God in our lives, through Jesus, is much more intense and intimate than the experience of the Israelites with Moses on Mt Sinai who were terrified by His Presence. That suspension of our ordinary path in the awareness of Divine Presence is experience for which we unfortunately do not spend enough time preparing ourselves and anticipating it will happen. The psalmist indicates that we will come to greater understanding of the dwelling place of God in the world by walking and living in expectation of a Divine encounter. Friar Jude suggests that the establishment of the Kingdom of God could be an action entirely accomplished through the initiative of God. The Gospel of Mark specifies how the followers of Christ are to be active as the witnesses to His Presence. The discipline of losing self in our encounter with the people in our lives is essential for the success of our mission. Our concern that the will of God be done is our motive. When the people with whom we interact accept the invitation to be with us, we trust that their response, with acceptance or rejection, is the proper direction in the plan of God. Our experience of God Present in His people is our vision of the heavenly Jerusalem in the Letter to the Hebrews.

Discipline to see deeper

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary prompt consideration of a series of assumptions and practices which plague believers and often dull our zeal to strive for holiness. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews shifts to discussion of Christian morality. The goal of holiness, through which we are prepared to see God, requires discipline. FriarJude Winkler sees the opportunity for discipline in the way we approach the difficulties of life. The way we interact with others can be driven by our emotions and we can be self satisfied that non Christian action is justified in particular case with certain people. Friar Jude understands this as backing up from our mission to witness. Our self discipline is to be aware of the direction our daily decisions take us in the direction of, or away from, being a witness to holiness. Hebrews compares Divine discipline to the discipline of a parent toward children. The psalmist takes the position of a child of God and praises Divine Providence which sustains and protects people with love regardless of their position or disposition in regard to holiness. The Love is the motivation for holiness. The Gospel of Mark relates the cognitive dissonance in the people of Nazareth as they attempt to reconcile the recent public actions of Jesus in natural miracles, exorcism and healing with His familiar position as carpenter Son of Mary with family they all know in the community. Our assumptions about people, as noted by Friar Jude, can be a path to miss the goodness they embody as we concentrate only on those aspects of their personalities which annoy us. Our discipline includes positive action to see others as God sees His children and be the Love which attracts them toward holiness.

Keep the faith

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer an opportunity to review and extend our experience and understanding of the role faith plays in our lives. The opening line from the twelfth chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews invokes an image of the “so great a cloud of witnesses” which was part of a local chapel. This line has been imaged by many artists and photographers. Friar Jude Winkler conveys the idea that the image is of the community of saints which Christians proclaim in the Creed to be a community that transcends physical death. The experience of closeness to diseased family and friends is our faith tying us to this wealth of support through love which never dies. The psalmist speaks about the families of the earth who receive their support and deliverance from God who hears them even from their sleep in the earth. Friar Jude notes the technique used by Mark to interrupt one story about Jesus with a story within the story. The daughter of the synagogue official is declared by Jesus to be asleep. Friar Jude offers the comparison of this statement to how a child often understands death. The conviction from the young that the love experienced in relationship with the diseased is only interrupted is recommended to us as our consolation. Our faith will support this position and the distress we experience in mourning is an example of the struggle from which our faith will draw us to healing. The inner story in the Gospel of Mark contains the revelation that Jesus was aware of the power for healing leaving Him though He was unaware of who had touched Him. Friar Jude suggests that the faith of the woman with the hemorrhage was the key to her healing. Faith was declared by Jesus as responsible for making her well. Faith prompted action and faith brought healing. Keep the faith. 

Faith sustains

Faith moves mountains. The texts from the RomanCatholic Lectionary today present examples of strong faith which conquers powerful opposition from people and demonic forces. The psalmist praises God who hides the faithful who trust in God from human plots and shelters them from contentious tongues. The Letter to the Hebrews list many “heroes of the Kingdom” in the Hebrew Bible. We know people who we describe as being of great faith. That spirit of undaunted perseverance is the quality we identify in their lives. The Gospel of Mark today opens in a section where Friar Jude Winkler comments that Jesus is performing the three types of miracles categorized in His time, nature miracles, exorcism and healing. The relationship of non-believers with miracles is complicated. The image of “buddy Jesus” who is all too human fits with soft miracles of emotional healing and spiritual consolation. Jesus of the prosperity Gospel is more likely to help with insight on good investments of our time, talent and treasure which will have consequence in our cup overflowing. The intimate relationship to which Jesus invites us through which our faith matures is communion with the Son of God, as recognized by the “legion” within the demoniac. The power of transcendence over natural disaster, struggles, persecutions, temptations and illness is the experience of those who live in the faith which acknowledges the once for all full participation in our life and death by Divine Presence. 

Prophetic problems

The prophetic role is presented in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah addresses the question which only in our relationship with God can we find the answer. Who am I? What is my name? What am I called to do? Our Christian tradition celebrates our initiation in Life in the Spirit in Baptism. The Baptismal Liturgy anoints us as priest, prophet and king. Our prophetic role is to see and listen to our environment and speak of the situations in our experience which are moving people away from greater intimacy with God. The proclamations of Jeremiah to the people of Judah required great strength from his relationship with God because, as Friar Jude Winkler comments, Jeremiah was thought of as a collaborator with Babylonian forces threatening the Kingdom of Judah. The conflict behind the exhortation of Love by Paul to the Corinthians is the misuse of the Gifts of the Spirit, in particular the gift of speaking in tongues, by members of the community. Our culture is characterized by Father Larry Gillick SJ as one of deep individualism. The excitement of those gifted with tongues or other charisms is a natural human response. The temptation to self aggrandizement and pride is great for the one who is gifted. Father Larry encourages us to review and revise the Western motto of “What’s in it for me?” (WIFM) to the Christian love mission of “What’s in it for Them?”  (WIFT?) The appearance of Jesus, popular teacher and center of many gracious gifts of food and health, in the synagogue in His home town Nazareth is described in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus uses the text from the Prophet Isaiah to proclaim that He is the awaited Messiah in their midst. The community holds the reaction to this great leap from carpenter’s son to Messiah until Jesus points to the failure of the chosen people, in the time of Elijah and Elisha, and in His time to recognize the Presence. The action of God in their midst is seen and accepted by the pagans in history and by the outsiders in Capernaum rather than among His townspeople in Nazareth. The hymn to Love which Paul quotes to the Corinthians is a conscience assessment for all. It is the direction in which the true prophetic message exhorts people to move. Venturing into the world of “What is in it for them” will bring the ire of the culture to our attention. We have the strength of the Spirit which accompanies of giftedness as prophet.

Presentation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today mark the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. As Friar Jude Winkler points out, the Temple in Jerusalem was the Presence of God among the Jewish people. This Presence was not in bodily form. Luke who writes of the presentation of Jesus was a Gentile who may have confused two rites of Jewish tradition. The promise of purification by the Messiah is made in text of the Prophet Malachi. This text was probably written during the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The people had ceased the practice of some of their traditional ways. We struggle today with the question of which Christian traditions can be abandoned in reform thinking and which need to be recovered from the orthodox point of view. The letter to the Hebrews reminding us of the humanity of Jesus and His communion with us in all things but sin, is proclamation that the Word made Flesh is our continuing Presence and the details of the blessings, Canticles and purifications will be studied and revived and rejected as our humanity seeks to grow in knowledge and wisdom with Brother Jesus. When we seek to draw more from tradition and ritual than it can offer, we substitute our imperfect spiritual understanding for the search for deeper intimacy with the Divine. When we reject the profound experience of the Divine in ritual and tradition we risk prescribing to God how He is Present to humanity.

Time to grow

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary can be viewed on the surface as a review of some of the clichés of the Christian Believer. The struggle which the author of Hebrews reminds us we have gone through to be where we are in our relationship with God is not to be dismissed. Reflection on our spiritual path will deepen our hearing of the messages in these texts. Friar Jude Winkler comments on tribulation as an experience which accompanies our conversion and growth and which may be a ‘great tribulation’ in our future. The time frame of God is not our usual way of understanding time. One powerful distinction between humanity and God is that we live “in the time” as temporal beings who for the most part understand linear progression of events. We seek to be patient but we want that patience now! The longer view can be facilitated by considering the words of the Psalms. The praise and desire of Israel is not foreign to us. For thousands of years we have sought justice and deliverance from God who will uphold His faithful and rescue us from trials. The preparation of the person to be the faithful participant in the Covenant takes time. The Gospel of Mark according to some commentators is intended to be read aloud. The full experience of the message comes to us through hearing. The ancient Shema “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” reminds us of the power in the Word which is the created reality in the Jewish mind. Mark presents Jesus to us in action and we are open to hear His teaching which requires us today to focus on the seed. The timing of the seed is both predictable and unpredictable. The farmer of the land of Jesus needed to be one who trusted in the unseen and believed that beyond his meagre efforts and willingness to distribute the seed, the growth would occur in the small percentage of ground that is “good soil” and that it would produce a miraculous and plainly visible yield of food, shelter and rest. We rejoice at the opportunity to go to the vineyard and labour so that the will of God can use us as faithful sowers.