The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be open to the promptings of the Spirit to seek the wisdom of God in times that call for help for our unbelief.
The reading from the Book of Sirach is in Praise of Wisdom.
* [1:1–10] This brief poem serves as an introduction to the book. The Lord is the source and preserver of all wisdom, which he pours out upon all. See Jb 28:20–28; Prv 2:6; 8:22–31; Wis 7:25–27.
* [1:1] Wisdom: throughout the book Ben Sira describes in great detail just what wisdom is: sometimes divine (1:6, 8), sometimes a synonym for God’s law (24:22–23). Ben Sira makes clear that all wisdom comes from God. (Sirach, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Psalm 93 praises the Majesty of God’s Rule.
* [Psalm 93] A hymn celebrating the kingship of God, who created the world (Ps 93:1–2) by defeating the sea (Ps 93:3–4). In the ancient myth that is alluded to here, Sea completely covered the land, making it impossible for the human community to live. Sea, or Flood, roars in anger against God, who is personified in the storm. God’s utterances or decrees are given authority by the victory over Sea (Ps 93:5).
* [93:1] The LORD is king: lit., “the LORD reigns.” This Psalm, and Ps 47; 96–99, are sometimes called enthronement Psalms. They may have been used in a special liturgy during which God’s ascent to the throne was ritually reenacted. They have also been interpreted eschatologically, pointing to the coming of God as king at the end-time.
* [93:3] The flood: the primordial sea was tamed by God in the act of creation. It is a figure of chaos and rebellion, cf. Ps 46:4. (Sirach, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark describes the healing of a boy with a spirit.
* [9:14–29] The disciples’ failure to effect a cure seems to reflect unfavorably on Jesus (Mk 9:14–18, 22). In response Jesus exposes their lack of trust in God (Mk 9:19) and scores their lack of prayer (Mk 9:29), i.e., of conscious reliance on God’s power when acting in Jesus’ name. For Matthew, see note on Mt 17:14–20. Lk 9:37–43 centers attention on Jesus’ sovereign power.
* [9:29] This kind can only come out through prayer: a variant reading adds “and through fasting.” (Mark, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Sr. Candice Tucci, OSF, comments that our first reading reminds us of how all of creation is a living prayer of God’s dwelling spirit of Wisdom. Our Gospel tells us to remember this. We must be in communication with Wisdom who is Spirit, with Jesus. We must pray. We must believe in the power of prayer as we become a living prayer. We must believe in the power of prayer to be with us in times of suffering and encounters with evil forces within our world. Believe in God’s loving communication through each of us.
Wisdom speaks. The Spirit of God is alive and well within each of us. As we move toward Lent, I urge us to be with Wisdom. Listen to God’s voice as the disciples heard on Mt. Tabor. This is my son, Jesus, Listen to him! Yes, listen. Talk with Jesus.
You too will come to know the discipline of wisdom revealed, understand her ways and subtleties through Jesus.
Wisdom will reveal to you the power of God’s Word!
Pray.
Drink from the fountain of God! (Tucci, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Emerging faith seeks maturity,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"In saying, 'When the Son of Man shall come, shall he find faith upon the earth?' our Lord spoke of that faith which is fully matured, which is so seldom found on earth. The church's faith is full, for who would come here if there were no fullness of faith? And whose faith when fully matured would not move mountains (Matthew 17:20; 21:22)? Look at the apostles themselves, who would not have left all they had, trodden under foot this world's hope, and followed the Lord, if they had not had proportionally great faith. And yet if they had already experienced a completely matured faith, they would have not said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith' (Luke 17:5). Rather we find here an emerging faith, which is not yet full faith, in that father who when he had presented to the Lord his son to be cured of an evil spirit and was asked whether he believed, answered, 'Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief' (Mark 9:24). 'Lord,' says he, 'I believe.' 'I believe': therefore there was faith; but 'help me in my unbelief': therefore there was not full faith (Hebrews 10:22)." (excerpt from SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 65) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 9:14-29 comments that as confident as he is, the man also realizes his weakness. Maybe his new faith isn’t all that strong yet; maybe he has some doubts that Jesus can heal his son—especially since the disciples couldn’t do it. But it doesn’t matter. He is not ashamed to cry out to Jesus, acknowledging his need in honesty and humility.
Today, make sure that your prayer of intercession is just as complete as this man’s. Tell Jesus you believe. Take the Nicene Creed or the Apostle’s Creed and proclaim each phrase with all the conviction you can muster. Or take today’s psalm and read it aloud, proclaiming your trust in the Lord. Then ask Jesus to help your unbelief. Bring him your struggles; if a family member is suffering, ask Jesus to help you believe that he is with them. Or if you worry that you can’t witness to your faith, ask him to remind you of the ways he has worked through you in the past.
Keep these two components together, and you’ll feel God’s presence wash over you like cool, clear water.
“I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief.” (Meditation on Mark 9:14-29, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the Book of Sirach that was initially grouped with the deuterocanonical texts until a Hebrew original copy was found. Hebrew wisdom is presented as just as good as Greek wisdom that understood emanations came from God at the other end of the universe. Friar Jude reminds us to live in faith that we be the best we can today and a bit better tomorrow in partnership with God’s plans.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Jesus' initial preaching is summed up in the verse, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15). It is a theologically packed statement. What does the word “repent” mean? First of all, it doesn’t mean to beat ourselves up or to feel bad about ourselves. “Repent” (or metanoia in Greek) means to turn around, to change. The first word that comes out of Jesus’ mouth is change—be willing to change.
People who are not willing to change are not willing to turn away from themselves. What we’re in love with usually is not God. We’re in love with our way of thinking, our way of explaining, our way of doing. One of the greatest ways to protect ourselves from God, and to protect ourselves from truth and grace, is simply to buy into some kind of cheap conventionalism and call it tradition.
But the great traditions always call people on a journey of faith to keep changing. There’s no other way this human personality can open up to all that God is asking of us. There’s no way we can open up to all we have to learn, all we have to experience, unless we’re willing to let go of the idols of yesterday and the idols of today. The best protection from the next word of God is the last word of God. We take what we heard from God last year and we build a whole system around it, and then we sit there for the rest of our lives. (Rohr, 2023)
We are nudged by the Spirit to address the events of our lives with a Spirit of trust in the Providential Love of God that will nourish our faith as both gift and response.
References
Mark, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/9?14
Meditation on Mark 9:14-29. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/20/614071/
Psalms, PSALM 93. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/93?1
Rohr, R. (2023, February 20). Keep Changing — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/keep-changing-2023-02-20/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb20
Sirach, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/1?1
Tucci, C. (2023, February 20). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/022023.html
No comments:
Post a Comment