New Song in New Year with ancient Truth

The Way or the World

The commentary from the USCCB on the text from the first letter of John in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today states that “Love of the world and love of God are thus mutually exclusive”. We often equivocate when it comes to identifying the worldly temptations and attractions which take our focus away from Love of and in God. Mike Cherney summarizes the themes of the texts today as he shares the problem of needing to have control rather than trust in God. The Gospel from Luke tells of the devout life of Anna and how as she sees her hope for the consolation of Israel being fulfilled in Jesus. Don Schwager reflects on how our hope in the faithfulness of God to His promises can be developed as we age. Discernment, through life experience of charity, clarifies the Truth of the Way which we trust, in faith, will bring about our hope for deep Love in God which excludes the lifestyle focused on self gratification.

Hope that we leave the enticements of the world.

Joy and Sorrow in a full Life

New Year and New Song

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our mindset at the end of a calendar year in at least two ways. We recall the past year as we focus on marking it’s end. We contemplate how the experiences of the past year might be the seed for some change or positive development in our lives. The first letter of John looks at how some members of the community have left and how they are teaching heretical concepts which are in conflict with the Truth revealed in Christ through the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of John begins with the proclamation of the Word which is flesh among us. This Incarnation is the both the motive for Christmas celebration and the daily source of Life for the believer. The Logos spoken of by John is a development of philosophical thought in the ancient world as experienced by the disciple who was called to Jesus community early and who lived the longest with Christians after the Resurrection. Don Schwager notes that when this Gospel was written the vast majority of Christians were no longer converts from Jewish communities, but people who lived in a world dominated by the culture, thought, and worldview of Greece and Rome. John appealed to their powers of reason and reflection to consider who Jesus claimed to be. Reason and reflection around the deeply profound question of God who is transcendent and immanent is the subject of Greek and Roman philosophers. The Council of Nicea wrote the Christian creed on the action of God becoming flesh among us. Barbara Dilly asks how we should respond to this daily opportunity to live through the gift of grace upon grace in communion with the Word made flesh?. We need to contemplate the question for next year: “What is the new song the Lord wants from us?”

 

Devotion with respect and humility

Invitation to a beloved relationship

The feast of Stephen underlines a difficult message for some

The Timeless is with us

Simple surprise gift

The events of life are opportunities to name Wonder

Praise for hope which is born from humility and patience

Discern choose and surrender in the Mystery

Yes and everything changes

Gracious Gift as answer to prayer

Prayer and patience to obey the Plan

Salvation history is a story of symbols

Rebellious self interested may hear the invitation

Cleverness and curses reveal the promise

Tradition tells us that Jubilee Joy is ours to bring today

Joy from Jubilee to Incarnation

The Roman Catholic Lectionary brings texts for rejoicing on Gaudete Sunday or “rejoicing Sunday” The passage from Trito-Isaiah, which Scripture scholars date to after the Babylonian exile is tied to the Jewish Jubilee tradition which provided a restart for agriculture and freedom for slaves. Jesus proclaims the joy of Isaiah in Luke 4.18 at the beginning of His public ministry. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the joy shown in the restoration of the earth as Nature responds to the time of Jubilee. Tradition informs much of our action during Advent and the Christmas season. The tradition of a paraenesis or last minute instruction is used by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians to exhort us to strive for holiness in rejoicing and prayer. Our prayerful reflection in Advent, as Friar Jude notes, is also traditionally addressed to the “end times”. This is in harmony with Nature in the Northern Hemisphere as the length of sun time during the day shortens.Rev. Dr. J. Carl Gregg invites us to really hear the Canticle (as Responsorial Psalm) known as the Magnificat which is  Mary’s enthusiastic song in response to Jesus’ impending birth. He invites us to consider What Christianity would look like if the focus were more on the situation in society today. Maureen McCann Waldron invites us to recognize Jesus in our presence, and feel him healing us in our most unlovable places; encouraging us to offer hope to the downtrodden, and holding us close, wrapped in a cloak of his gentle love. When the Levites came to John the Baptist, as described in the Gospel from John today, they encounter the voice crying in the wilderness who the Evangelist writes is to called give witness to the person of Jesus. The text uses the of untying the sandal in the Levirate marriage law to symbolically indicate that not John the Baptist, but Jesus is to be the Bride of Israel and raise up children as a consequence of Israel treating Yahweh as if dead. The deep tradition which surrounds our preparation to celebrate the Incarnation is rooted in the call for believers to bring the Jubilee joy to all the nations.

Loving Service and Unity from a Surprise Source

The "yes" of the vulnerable to the will of God

The Less and the blessed

We are less thank God

A theme of the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today is difficult for modern ears to hear. We are less. The passage from Deutero Isaiah is one wherein Jacob is addressed as a worm and Israel as a maggot. Friar Jude Winkler develops the theme of a redeemer for the lowly exiles in Babylon by using the term goel, a special person to whom rabbinic tradition gives important roles to release family from slavery and distress. In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus identifies John the Baptist as being among the least who have not yet seen the fulfillment of the Kingdom. The message of the intimacy that God desires to have with seemingly insignificant people is expressed in Isaiah by the use of the first person pronoun, as noted by Friar Jude, and by George Butterfield in the image of God grasping us by the hand. John Piper argues that the modern “gospel of self-esteem” is robbing us of understanding of our true position as worms. From the position of least we can know the working of the hand of God in our lives. Conversion is experienced by those who come to know how little they contribute to the joy in their lives and how much is sourced in the “Amazing Grace” of God.

Our humble yes brings eagle's wings

Humble and Eternally Happy

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents a deep paradox in texts from Matthew and Isaiah. The meek and humble of heart will soar with eagle’s wings. The passage from Deutero-Isaiah is written to the exiles in Babylon who may have become discouraged. Friar Jude Winkler explains the disappointment of the exiles in the apparent lack of action from God to restore them to freedom. The exiles are told to expect that their weariness will be replaced with the energy and freedom of the eagle. The passage about rest in the Gospel from Matthew uses Hebrew language which, according to Friar Jude, refers to the the Sabbath rest or the Eternal rest. Some who live humble lives appear to have accepted a difficult yoke and we rejoice that they do find eagle’s wings in eternity. Friar Jude invites a deeper reflection based on the tradition that the yoke of Jesus time was skillfully crafted to be a perfect fit for the animal. Nancy Shirley resonates with Friar Jude in declaring that this new way of living, yoked to Jesus, is a perfect fit to our gifts and weaknesses. In the double yoke with Jesus, our humble and meek movements will be as natural and free as the graceful and energetic flight of the eagle. Our Sabbath rest is coincident with our action in Jesus, our Eternal rest is part of a continuous path which begins with a humble “yes”.

Our humble proclamation of a Shepherd for all

Proclaim and Pray

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge disciples to act so as to bring attention to the intimate focus of God on loving each human being. The author of the passage from Deutero-Isaiah exhorts us to proclaim the holiness of God and His Lordship over history. Friar Jude Winkler comments how this text portrays the fatherhood and motherhood of God as Shepherd. The Gospel from Matthew declares that the shepherd will leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray. This action is contrary to our cultural sense of cutting our losses. Friar Jude suggests that we are responsible to reflect about our actions toward the lost sheep so as we can give them what they need now. Our faith is that God always provides the most loving response and our limited vision is too often blinded by our own limited expectations and selfish concerns. Susan Tinley is comforted by the intimate eternal knowledge God has about us. Our prayer is to be open and humbly seek guidance from God to align our action with His Will to Love the anawim.

Fear is defeated by the "yes"

Sandals for the Bridegroom who is coming

Mark time for the Marriage

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Second Sunday in Advent carries a theme of preparation for significant change. The passage from Deutro-Isaiah is addressed to exiles returning to Jerusalem from Babylon. The path of return to home is through unexpected geography where God leads and gathers His scattered flock. Carol Zuegner reflects on how journeys along winding roads can help us prepare for what’s ahead. The second letter of Peter deals with transformation of a society which is drifting away from focus on righteousness and justice and in denial about the return of Jesus. The Gospel from Mark begins with a description of John the Baptist and his ministry which is a prelude to the mission of Jesus. Exegesis at Our Lady of Wisdom Church explores a book by prominent Spanish scripture scholar Luis Alonso-Schokel which begins by noticing 5 similar texts from the New Testament all dealing with St. John the Baptist. The article summarizes the role of John to prepare Israel the Bride for her nuptial with Christ her bridegroom. Travis Meier explains "the way" in the Gospel of Mark is attached to title Lord. He identifies counter imperial claims by Mark who is associating the life and ministry of Jesus with a new way of life counter to the way of the empire. Our experience of meditation on a long road trip and the story we have of living in an intimate personal relationship with spouse or friend is to be the essence of the change we hope will be evident in our lives and in the restoration of mercy, forgiveness, love and compassion to our society.

Teacher is face to face in service

Teacher and Servant

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary resonate with the need in our society for some instruction in ways to free ourselves from violent and self serving acts. We are invited to meditate on the source and delivery of teaching messages which might provide some light in our darkness. The text from the Prophet Isaiah uses images of light of sun and moon as it delivers a prophetic message of a Teacher who we will know intimately on a face to face basis. Keith Kozak finds that the Teacher speaks with the voice of his Papa suggesting that the “busy life” may be interfering with the loving life. A cross reference guide to the role of teacher in the bible gives an overview of this theme in Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Psalms and the Christian Testament. The Gospel from Matthew today identifies Jesus personal distress about our state of being without a Shepherd. He commissions the Twelve to go in His Name with His authority to bring the Kingdom to others through acts of loving service. When we encounter the other face to face in service, two Teachers are inviting us to learn. Our commission to bring love and healing to the other meets the message in the voice of the other from Him which guides us through the darkness.

Faith to see the Divine Plan

The eyes of faith

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary remind us that we put a great deal of faith in the cliche that seeing is believing. The Prophet Isaiah paints images of the way in which God’s plan for the Israelites will change what they see in the world around them. Daniel Patrick O'Reilly recounts his experience with a threat to his sight through which he reflects on the nature of faith through the difficulties of life. The Gospel from Matthew highlights Jesus action of giving sight to the blind as both a healing event of Divine mercy and a spiritual invitation which Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros understands as part of the synergy of our lives in Christ wherein we shy from seeing Him face to face. Don Schwager sees the deep meaning of knowing God to be mercy. The vision of the plan and action of God is clearer to the humble, courageous, childlike and just mentioned by the psalmist as those who see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. We approach Jesus blind and ask for the gift of faith to improve our vision.

Trust and do

Food for the spirit and Providence

Humble and simple trust to see the Kingdom

Advent of Shalom

A Vision of Shalom

The Roman Catholic Lectionary uses texts today which focus on the hope for peace which will be a theme for Advent. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is used in the Christian Prayer known as the Liturgy of the Hours. The mountain of the Lord is where the authority of God will end all dispute between peoples who will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Friar Jude Winkler discusses the hymn which Isaiah and Micah share about the profound shalom which brings peace to all nature. The image from the Gospel of Matthew of Jesus and the Roman Centurion together as an agent of the pagan occupying authority asks a favour of the Jewish rabbi and is praised for faith which will put him in the company of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is truly a source of hope that we have the ability to see that God is present and works in those we place on the outside. Pope Francis has returned to Rome from a visit to Istanbul where he gave witness to the deep desire for profound peace by pausing to face Mecca while in the Blue Mosque and by bowing to seek the prayers and blessing of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. The shalom of Isaiah comes when authority bows to service and the Will of God invites us to reconcile and begin to make pruning hooks from our spears.