The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the tension in our lives between self satisfaction and the life that comes from awareness of our relationship with God and others.
Aware of our mission
The reading from the Book of James explores trial and temptation in our lives.
* [1:13–15] It is contrary to what we know of God for God to be the author of human temptation (Jas 1:13). In the commission of a sinful act, one is first beguiled by passion (Jas 1:14), then consent is given, which in turn causes the sinful act. When sin permeates the entire person, it incurs the ultimate penalty of death (Jas 1:15).1
Psalm 94 praises God as the avenger of the righteous.
* [Psalm 94] A lament of an individual who is threatened by wicked people. The danger affects the whole community. Calling upon God as judge (Ps 94:1–2), the Psalm complains about oppression of the holy community by people within (Ps 94:3–7). Bold declarations of faith follow: denunciation of evildoers (Ps 94:8–11) and assurance to the just (Ps 94:12–15). The Psalm continues with further lament (Ps 94:16–19) and ends with strong confidence in God’s response (Ps 94:20–23).2
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus warns about the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.
* [8:15] The leaven of the Pharisees…of Herod: the corruptive action of leaven (1 Cor 5:6–8; Gal 5:9) was an apt symbol of the evil dispositions both of the Pharisees (Mk 8:11–13; 7:5–13) and of Herod (Mk 6:14–29) toward Jesus. The disciples of Jesus are warned against sharing such rebellious attitudes toward Jesus; cf. Mk 8:17, 21.3
Tom Lenz comments that Jesus is trying to tell them that God works from a stance of abundance, while our human tendency is to only see the scarcity of life. If we are looking to earthly matter for sustenance, we will always go hungry because it is a finite supply and will eventually run out. But God has a whole different operating system. Scarcity is not even a consideration – only abundance.
As an adult, I sometimes catch myself leaning towards these behaviors of scarcity out of the same fear I had that my candy was eventually going to run out. I am afraid that I will not have enough time to do the things I think are important, I am afraid that I am not doing enough to help at work or home, I am afraid that I do not have enough money, I am afraid that if I do something wrong people will not like me, I am afraid that if I do not pay attention to my health that I will get sick, I am afraid of the unknown, and on and on. These are the realities of our humanity, and yes we need to attend to them. But, making decisions and living based on fear of “not having enough” is exactly what Jesus is telling us not to do. There will always be “enough” to sustain us if we can get past our way of seeing that only focuses on the limitations of life. God is abundance and we just need to use our “eyes to see” and our “ears to hear” and we will also know.4
Don Schwager quotes “Heed the truth of the Gospel,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"The apostles are ordered to watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They are warned not to be involved in the disputes of the Jews. The works of the law are now to be viewed in the light of faith. They are forewarned that they, into whose time and age the truth had appeared incarnate, should judge nothing except which lies within the position of hope in likeness of the truth that is revealed. They are warned against allowing the doctrine of the Pharisees, who are unaware of Christ, to corrupt the effectiveness of the truth of the gospel." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 16.3)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on James 1:12-18 urges us to make it a point to spend some time with at least one Scripture passage every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to be with us. Then read the passage several times. Perhaps one word or phrase will jump out. If it does, sit with it for a while. What might God be saying through this passage or phrase?
As you develop a habit of daily Scripture reading, your life will become a “word” of God—a word of truth and compassion. Trust him to make it happen, for he has promised that his word “shall not return . . . empty” (Isaiah 55:11). “Lord, may your word be the light that guides me each day.”6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how James connects our weakness to sinfulness. The disciples in Mark’s Gospel, like us, frequently do not get it. Friar Jude reminds us of the symbols of 7 and 12 in Jesus' feeding and of how our doubt and confusion can open us to try to continue to trust.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Tilden Edwards, a spiritual teacher and co-founder of The Shalem Institute, a contemplative organization, who describes the purpose of prayer. He comments that if the fundamental spiritual discipline is prayer, opening to God, then the fundamental discipline of prayer is turning to our heart and inviting a sustained mutual presence.
Quiet, contemplative prayer happens when we are still and open ourselves to Christ’s Spirit working secretly in us, when we heed the psalmist’s plea: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). These are times when we trustingly sink into God’s formless hands for cleansing, illumination, and communion. . . . We are in a state of quiet appreciation, simply hollowed out for God. At the gifted [that is, graced] depth of this kind of prayer we pass beyond any image of God and beyond any image of self. We are left in a mutual raw presence. Here we realize that God and ourselves quite literally are more than we can imagine. . . .7
As we recognize our poverty and fear of scarcity we become open to the Spirit that calls us to generosity and awareness of love from God for others.
References
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