The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer contrasting views of jubilation, justice and deadly betrayal.
Changes for the better?
The reading from the Book of Leviticus describes the Year of Jubilee.
* [25:8–17] The fiftieth year is the jubilee, determined by counting off “seven weeks of years.” It is sacred, like the sabbath day. Specifically, in it indentured Israelites return to their own households and land that has been sold returns to its original owner. Different laws are found in Ex 21:1–6; Dt 15:1–3, 12–18 (cf. Jer 34:8–22).1
In Psalm 67, the Nations are called to praise God.
* [67:2] May God be gracious to us: the people’s petition echoes the blessing pronounced upon them by the priests, cf. Nm 6:22–27.2
The Gospel of Matthew describes the death of John the Baptist.
* [14:1–12] The murder of the Baptist by Herod Antipas prefigures the death of Jesus (see Mt 17:12). The Marcan source (Mk 6:14–29) is much reduced and in some points changed. In Mark Herod reveres John as a holy man and the desire to kill him is attributed to Herodias (Mk 6:19, 20), whereas here that desire is Herod’s from the beginning (Mt 14:5).3
Today we honor the life and memory of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. Through his inspiration we have the Spiritual Exercises, a book of reflections on God’s love for us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Tom Shanahan, S.J. shares one of his experiences in following these exercises.
What a blessing this day is for the many who have grown spiritually in love of God and Jesus’ life portrayed in the gospels. The Exercises has been a guide for so many who have opened themselves to the wonders of God through the gift of St. Ignatius’ work. And for me on a personal note, I extend my deep gratitude for the Late Joe Diamond, S.J., gifted director of women’s and men’s hearts and mentor to me those glorious days at Oshkosh.4
Don Schwager quotes “Integrity is a hardship for the morally corrupt,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).
"John aroused Herod by his moral admonitions, not by any formal accusation. He wanted to correct, not to suppress. Herod, however, preferred to suppress rather than be reconciled. To those who are held captive, the freedom of the one innocent of wrongdoing becomes hateful. Virtue is undesirable to those who are immoral; holiness is abhorrent to those who are impious; chastity is an enemy to those who are impure; integrity is a hardship for those who are corrupt; frugality runs counter to those who are self-indulgent; mercy is intolerable to those who are cruel, as is loving-kindness to those who are pitiless and justice to those who are unjust. The Evangelist indicates this when he says, "John said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.'" This is where John runs into trouble. He who admonishes those who are evil gives offense. He who repudiates wrongdoers runs into trouble. John was saying what was proper of the law, what was proper of justice, what was proper of salvation and what was proper certainly not of hatred but of love. And look at the reward he received from the ungodly for his loving concern!" (excerpt from SERMONS 127.6-7)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Leviticus comments that ancient Jubilee tradition sounds attractive. The truth is, we can experience the blessings of the Jubilee just as Israel did. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has ushered in a new Jubilee—our redemption—that we can experience here and now.
You don’t have to wait for heaven; you don’t even have to wait fifty years! Jesus is your source of restoration and rest—today. He has given all of us the grace to live in the freedom of the children of God! “Thank you, Jesus, for fulfilling God’s promise of Jubilee!”6
Barbara Holmes affirms that stillness is important for all who want to transform their pain instead of transmitting it: “Stillness is a state of wholeness, an antidote to the fragmentation of BIPOC people that comes with marginalization. . . . Sitting in stillness may allow the pieces of us to reassemble.” [1] Fr Richard Rohr, OFM, comments.
Each day at the CAC we begin our morning sit by repeating a line from Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” With each repetition, we drop a word f rom the verse until we finally say only “Be,” before entering the silence together. It is a reminder that no matter how we arrive that day, we are called to be, and be still, before God.7
We are opened to deeper understanding through contemplation in spiritual exercises.
References
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