Evil Betrayer or Distraught Zealot

Zeal for your house has consumed the psalmist in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Isaiah writes of the suffering servant who accepts the help of the Divine with the humiliation which has been heaped upon him for the unpopular message of peace and unity which he is bringing in accordance with the will of God. Matthew writes of Judas. He is, traditionally, the Great Betrayer. The zeal of the psalmist may have been the zeal of Judas. Some writers have seen him as the ideas man. He was zealous for the promise he understood that Jesus was brining to Israel. His vision was not of the suffering servant about to give His Life for love and forgiveness. Israel needed more? A King? An end to the Roman domination! How we are too often guilty of imposing our will and our zeal on others. We need to consider the reed that we will not break.

Right with the Mission

The sense of mission pervades the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Isaiah proclaims the role of Israel as a light to the nations. The psalmist calls out for God to be a “rock” and “fortress” in a difficult mission. John relates how Jesus proclaims the relationship of Son and Father and acknowledges that two of His followers will betray Him. The troubles of struggle for life or against evil that all people experience have a resonance in the recollection of Jesus journey and the problems of the prophets. Looking for the solid rock of righteousness or being “right” with the will of God is the strength for the mission.

Contradictions are only Apparent

The psalmist proclaims “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. This confidence is a product of the relationship of the indwelling Spirit with the Divine. The situation of the faithful may be fragile measured by secular means yet, as Isaiah indicates the attitude of those who bring the message of the delight of the Divine in and for humanity have the attitude of servant and gentle person. This apparent contradiction between opening eyes, freeing prisoners and not breaking the reed puts the power of this conversion in the movement of the Divine. The followers of Jesus, John relates, deal with contradictions too. The anointing of Jesus with very expensive perfume is difficult for those who legitimately manage the money for the good of others to understand. What is the consequence of the measures to attempt to control the movement of the Spirit to be within human expectations? Jesus refers to this anointing as being intended for His burial. John indicates that the attempt to control Jesus has put Lazarus life in danger. The apparent contradiction of those charged with the life of Israel now seeking death as their means can be missed in our shock over the cost of the ointment.

Holy Week guide for Weak

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today brings us into the start of Holy Week. Christians begin to celebrate the week prior to the Celebration of Easter. The liturgies and reflections of the week will bring the love and service of Jesus to the forefront. It is our relationship with Jesus which brings life to Christians. Ultimately we are the Body of Christ. The words and actions of Holy Week renew our understanding of what we are called to be in the world. We will be able to imagine the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The Prophet Isaiah will present the longing of the world for the Servant of God. Isaiah will outline the humility and service of the Anointed One. Paul proclaims the ‘scandal’ of Christ. He emptied himself taking the form of a slave. The texts of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper will direct us to continue to commemorate with our lives the gift of Body and Blood which enable us ( in Catechetical language ) to “become what we are”. Luke’s account of the Passion which is read today will reveal Jesus gifts and giving and the betrayal which He encountered in large and smaller ways. Judas story of handing Jesus to the authorities for crucifixion and Peter’s vow of loyalty being three times broken and the rest, like us, often too involved in our stuff to see the love of others towards us, who succumb to sleep. The words of Jesus to the prisoner crucified with Him are a challenge and hope for all. 26‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ Love prevails, mercy trumps justice, and forgiveness is the hallmark of these events.

Unity of all people

In John’s Gospel from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today we read of the plot of the Pharisees to kill Jesus. Caiaphas, the high priest that year, proposes, ‘…50You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ This unity of the nation is the promise of the texts from Ezekiel and Jeremiah. The death of Jesus seemed inevitable and the threat of Roman force to put down Jesus popular movement was realistic. Caiaphas could be seen to be sacrificing Jesus life for the greater benefit of all. Sacrifice is finally offered by Jesus in obedience to the will of the Father to actually accomplish the unity, not only of Israel, but of all humans as children of God through the resonance of the indwelling Spirit to the Love and Forgiveness of Son Jesus.

Control that blocks revelation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary provide more background on the mystery of the persecution of prophetic people who bring insight into the relationship with the Divine. Jeremiah is resolute to complete the mission that God has given him. He is aware that his audience seeks to destroy him yet he is reassured that God is with him. He is confident that God will live with him and carry his spirit through the mission. The psalmist praises God as rock, fortress, and deliverer. John relates the difficulty the Jewish authorities have with Jesus. The works of Jesus in compassion, forgiveness and healing are not moving their hearts to attempt to address His origin and mission. They have allowed their ideas to trap them and attempt to trap Jesus in a blasphemy that is tied to Jesus proclamation of His relationship to the Father. It is a great leap for the minds closed by concerns for control that the Divine relationship with all is that of Father and son. It is a Divine intimacy from which Jesus and the earlier prophets of the tradition drew strength and power to love.

Spirit to triumph over limitations of fear and control

Isaiah writes about the great action of reconciliation of the Covenant between God and His people in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The lengths to which the Divine desires to be united with humanity includes the birth of “God is with us”, Immanuel. The psalmist radiates delight in doing the will of God and bringing the news of the intimacy of the Divine to the congregation. At the same time she prays for protection and as she accepts that security she knows it is because the message of the great desire of God to be immanently present to people threatens the control systems which put humans in charge of faith and belief. The author of Hebrews exhorts us to wake up and realize that our actions and will are not possible as valves to allow and deny the support of God in our lives. The acceptance of the Will of the Divine to Incarnate as human through the faith beyond senses of Mary, the young Jewish girl, is the Great Yes which brings the Son of God to human existence. Luke presents the “majesty” of the Annunciation with angelic peace yet this leaves hidden the bravery for a young unmarried Jewish girl to conceive and bear a child. Her pronouncement of the delight of God in His people and the restoration of the Covenant would be physical and she would need the indwelling Spirit of trust and courage. The 4th Century Father of the Church, Gregory of Nyssa, writes in an excerpt from his work, The Creation of Man, that the holy person is able to allow the energy of the Spirit to overcome the passions and sensual direction of the flesh. This “holiness” itself is a Divine gift. It is a required element to put trust in the Will of the Divine over what our earthly nature holds us to.

Truth and Trust in the beloved

The truth which sets you free is one subject of the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The book of Daniel has sections which are included in the Catholic and Orthodox canon but are missing from Protestant canons. The story of King Nebuchadnezzar and the faithfulness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to God and truth which set them free from death in the fiery furnace is considered canonical by most Christians. The path to freedom through truth does not avoid the fire or the trial. It involves that faith of Abraham which is beyond what the senses can support and it falls into the domain of faith and trust that we place in the ‘beloved’. The ‘beloved’ is worthy of that faith and trust. We give it. John relates Jesus dialogue with the Pharisees about the truth of His relationship with the Father. This intimacy of “children of God” is the freedom which is revealed by Jesus truth. It is a status that requires faith and trust is be lived.

Clearing the Roadblocks tests patience

When we have an insight which we believe will help a loved one we often become impatient if we encounter resistance to our efforts. The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today reminds me of these impatient experiences. The Hebrew people are becoming impatient with God as they wander in the desert. These wanderings of our spirit in the dark and ego spaces can produce spiritual death. Like the Hebrew people, we need to lift our eyes and Spirit with the recognition that our Life is outside and beyond ourselves. John reflects the frustration and impatience of Jesus with those who are head strong with intent to remove Him from their lives without a single consideration of the possibility that He is the Divine guide for them and the people. Many experience the lifting of their indwelling Spirit through His Presence, the ‘stiff necked’ are frustratingly blocking the movement of invitation to new life.

Trying to Keep Them in the Dark

The gospel of John in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today tells of the response of the Pharisees to Jesus proclamation of His mission to be the “Light of the World” and guide all people from the darkness. The imminent usurping of the leadership of the people by Jesus places the Pharisees in the position of questioning the authority of Jesus testimony. As Jesus links Himself to the Father, He reasserts the understanding of the relationship with the Divine as being without judgment. It reminds us of the nature of the relationship expressed by the psalmist through the words of the 23rd psalm. The “healing wisdom of the 23rd psalm” is the message of an inspiring book by Rabbi Harold Kushner. (Kushner, 2003) Kushner, H. (2003). The Lord is my Shepherd. New York: Anchor Books.

Cast the first stone

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today reminds us of how easily we can judge others.

Blocking our Inspiration

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today provides some texts which let us meditate on how we react to situations which threaten our status quo. The Prophet Jeremiah perceives that his life is threatened by those who his prophesy threatens. The psalmist calls out in praise of God who justifies the righteous over those who evil of the wicked. John’s Gospel recounts the dismissal of Jesus because of their belief that He was a Galilean. How often we tend to jump to the conclusion which maintains our present understanding. We are so closed to inspiration and resonance of the indwelling Spirit. We throw up mental blocks as protection. What are we missing?

Joseph Father in David's line Faithful and Trusting

The psalmist proclaims “You said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: 4“I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations” in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today. Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary. Luke’s Gospel relates the inspired decision of Joseph to be Mary’s husband. Through his lineage, the promise made by the Lord to Nathan in 2nd Samuel is continued in Jesus. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, recalls the deep faith and hope of Abraham to whom the Promise was made. It is this “faith beyond our senses” that Mary and Joseph lived through the life of Jesus. The transcendence and the immanence of God are key in the realization of the Promise and the continuing relationship with the Divine through the indwelling Spirit. Joseph is the prototype of the human father living in the guidance of the Divine.

Moses Then and Now dealing with Stiff Necks

The person of Moses is referenced by the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Exodus recounts how Moses “stood in the breach” to negotiate the fate of the Hebrew people after they made a calf to worship at Horeb, in spite of the covenant with God. Moses appeal is to the very nature of the Divine and the reputation of God among the peoples. The psalmist praises God and cites the failings of the people for whom Moses made intercession. John details Jesus declaration of the witness that the people are missing of His origin and mission. Jesus points to the contradiction that those seeking evidence about Him have declared that they have searched the Scripture and yet have missed Moses testimony concerning Him. The relationship with the Divine is the desire of God. Our need to control surfaces to attempt to divert and categorize this love movement in our terms.

Can our Divine brother forget us?

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts which take us to (2) fundamental pieces of Christian trust in God. Isaiah raises the question of whether God can forget the relationship with people. The reassurance offered by the prophet is that the love of mother of the infant at her breast is more likely to forget her child than God to forget His people. John’s Gospel leads us into the discourse of Jesus which reveals the closeness of Father and Son. In this discourse, we are asked to trust in the Divine nature of Jesus. This trust continues to be a stumbling block. The will of the Father is the authority of Jesus and is the movement in which we ultimately put our trust. Our indwelling Spirit responds to our essence as ‘children of God’ and recognizes Jesus as Divine brother.

Controlling the Flow of Life

The Prophet Ezekiel is led to a vision of the waters of life streaming from the Temple in Jerusalem in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The Covenant is the relationship between the Divine and humans where “I will be your God and you will be my people”. The fruit of the Covenant, like the waters flowing from the Temple, is abundant Life. The psalmist reflects on the awesome power of God as witnessed in the events of nature, storms, floods and earthquakes. We understand how impossible it is to control and master Nature. In the episode related by John, Jesus visits the healing waters of Beth-zatha and draws the wrath of the religious authorities by healing on the Sabbath. The attempt to control the movement of the Divine in our lives is very much a human activity. The Pharisees attempted to be authority over God. We attempt to schedule our relationship with the indwelling Spirit for the convenient times.

Trust Love to heal

The psalmist in the Roman Catholic Lectionary proclaims “O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me” This cry of thanksgiving is echoed by the Roman official in John’s Gospel who trusts Jesus promise of healing for his son. Isaiah presents a vision of the New Jerusalem that God will create for the faithful who have been in exile. The cynical part of our nature seeks a sign. The part of our being which knows love and the abandonment of self for the other trusts love to be faithful and knows that love is the healing balm for human troubles.

Brothers in Harms?

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, bring the message of reconciliation to us. Paul exhorts the Corinthians and us to spread this message. In the Daily Reflection of Larry Gillick, S.J. we are challenged to consider that Luke’s telling of Jesus parable of the Prodigal and His Brother is a story about the existence of the two brothers within us. The logical, lawful, dutiful, and resentful personality who obeys and does what is expected is perhaps our dominant personality. The rebellious, rude and irreverent identity surfaces to take us “on our way”. The reconciliation message is that the Father, who watches for us, does not judge or exclude. The Father forgives the blatant transgressions of the ‘prodigal’ and the concealed contempt of the ‘first born’ and offers the choice of rejoining the household and the intimate relationship with the Divine to both and all. Perhaps through the humility of the fall to the deepest depths, the ‘prodigal’ who knows of the great forgiveness he has received, responds with the greatest love.

Where am I in this story?

The Roman Catholic Lectionary offers a look at being righteous before God. Psalm 51 is the great prayer of the sinner, all of us, before God. Luke relates Jesus parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector. We can identify with at least one of these characters. It may not be the one who is righteous before God.

Love trumps

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today relate understanding of Love. The Prophet Hosea tells of the deep love of God for Israel. Even though the people have sought their success outside of the ways of the Divine, Hosea assures them of the desire of God to bring them to the from their spiritual desert existence to the green and rich environment like that of Lebanon. The psalmist gives voice to the depth with which God seeks the return of the stubborn people to Him. The reminder is for people to recall the actions of the Divine in their lives to rescue and reassure. The psalmist reminds the people that they have turned away and God is jealous for their return. Mark relates Jesus discussion with the Scribes about the Great Commandment, which had been pronounced by Moses. Jesus confirms the Love is the Great Commandment. St. Augustine would add in later that our morality is to “love and do anything”. The depth and completeness of the Love expressed in the Great Commandment, if reached, is all that is required for the life of holiness.

Avoiding a stiff neck

In the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, Luke relates the episode where the crowds question Jesus about the source of the power by which he is able to cast out demons. They should have been attentive to the inability of evil to remain in His Presence. The “stiff necked people” who Jeremiah laments are unable to hear or see the action of the Divine in their community will endure consequences of spiritual and physical separation from the land, truth and promises of God. The psalmist prays that the “hard heartedness” which in the past separated the people from the Divine will not return. When we seek the answers on our terms, we risk blocking the truth that is literally “in our face”. The ego which puts our way at the centre is the root of our ignorance and discontent.

Law as Lifestyle Example

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate the gift of the Law and Ordinances. In Deuteronomy, Moses presents the statutes as the guide for the lifestyle which the Israelites are to live. This lifestyle will show the other peoples the wisdom and discernment they have acquired from God. The closeness of God to Israel will bring the other peoples to know God. The psalmist praises how the Lord has dealt with Israel by giving the law and ordinances which testify to the presence of God. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus makes it clear that the purpose of these laws and ordinances are to be fulfilled. The world is to see and know that God is present in peoples. Those who teach and demonstrate this Presence are blessed.

Humble appeal for mercy

What is the basis to appeal for Divine mercy? There are texts in the Bible where God is implored to act in the Divine nature and to honour promises to people because that is what God needs to do. The text today from the Book of Daniel in the Roman Catholic Lectionary is of this type. The people have been decimated. The appeal is made to restore the Promise made to Abraham of many descendants. The psalmist praises the mercy of God and the instruction God makes available to the humble. It is through the attitude of humility that the grace and mercy of the Divine is appreciated. Forgiveness and humility are related. We seek forgiveness out of the humility of our poor choices. We offer forgiveness as Peter discovers in the dialogue with Jesus as related by Matthew through the experience of being forgiven. Our need for forgiveness is continuous as humility reveals. Our forgiveness of others is necessarily equally gracious.

Great opportunities are close

The great curiosity of people is an amazing gift. This need to know drives development and discovery. It can inhibit growth in the spiritual area of trust. The deep love we experience for someone can result in our movement toward them and their requests without hesitation and without analysis or curiosity. It may be a measure of the depth of our love. The story of Naaman in 2nd Kings from the Roman Catholic Lectionary contains some of this element. He has leprosy. The directions of the Prophet for healing puzzle him. He is reminded that had the prophet made a more difficult request, as he expected, he would have complied. The yearning of the psalmist to experience or re-experience the Presence of God is very clear. Perhaps his yearning will eventually move him to searching and finding that the Presence he seeks is close by in his being. Luke relates the experience of Jesus when he speaks of the phenomena where we do not experience the Presence of the Divine in the areas and events from which we have chosen to exclude our searching and looking. There is no “Prophet” welcome in his own land. The reaction of the people of Nazareth to Jesus is typical of this thinking. The response is so often anger. Is this anger the result of a reflex which perceives the request to look and experience the Divine with an attempt to “put one over” on our intellect and necessary precaution? Leap!

Nourish our relationship

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the 3rd Sunday in Lent cover a lot of topics. The Book of Exodus relates Moses encounter with the Divine in the Burning Bush. The psalmist raises a hymn in praise of the goodness of God whose steadfast love for people is beyond measure. Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians shows us how the people before us are examples we need to learn from to develop our relationship with the indwelling Spirit. We need to know that God offers the same relationship to them. Some desired evil. Some complained. Some moved away from the relationship. Luke writes of Jesus using a parable to awaken the people to the call to bear fruit in their relationships. The gift of awareness of our relationship with the Divine calls us to bring this understanding to others. There are not “evil” people who are condemned but we risk loss of the knowledge of our connection to the life giving Spirit if we do not nourish it. It will wither if it is not lived.

compassion yielding abundantly

The characterization of the Divine is attempted by the words of today’s Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Prophet Micah begins by comparing God to a shepherd guiding His people with a staff. The shepherd feeds and delights in his flock. He extends clemency for their transgressions and has compassion for their situations. The psalmist praises the Lord who redeems, heals and saves our life from the “Pit. Luke relates Jesus parable of the son who demands his inheritance from his father and leaves home to live sinfully and squander his resources in a distant place. Eventually he reaches bottom and starts for home. The Divine is shown in the statement that “But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him”. The decision to return is necessarily that of the offender, but the response of love, forgiveness and compassion of the Divine experienced by the one returning is “prodigal” (yielding abundantly)

Who are the Wicked Tenants today?

The great story of the Divine action in the Hebrew tradition is the deliverance from Egypt. Today the text from Genesis in the Roman Catholic Lectionary sets the stage for the migration of the Hebrew people to Egypt. The youngest son of Israel, Joseph, is favoured by his father and is victimized by his jealous brothers. The psalmist summarizes the change of fortune of Joseph in Egypt where, at the proper time he is put in charge of the household of the king. Matthew records Jesus telling of a parable about wicked tenants of the “vineyard” who fail to produce the fruit expected by the owner and who eventually kill the owner’s son. The Pharisees who listen understand that the parable is aimed at how the religious authorities of Israel have “kept the Promise” to be the People of God and to bring others into the family of God. The declaration of the crowd, affirmed by Jesus that the kingdom of God must be taken from the wicked tenants and given to those who would bring the fruit of the Kingdom spoken in public by one proclaimed as a ‘prophet’ must have shaken them. Today, those who form the Body of Christ, have the same mission to expose the wicked tenants who hold the control which attempts to limit the spread of the fruits of living in the Kingdom where the indwelling Spirit motivates the faithful tenant.

Psalmist offers Two Ways

Luke writes of Jesus telling a story about a Rich Man and a beggar, Lazarus from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today. The plot and lesson of the story are predictable. The surprise comes from Jesus having Abraham proclaim that they will not believe even if someone rises from the dead. The senses and the intellect will help us maintain our own understanding of our experience. Words and stories will not convince the ego to release control of our ‘mission’. Richard Rohr suggests that two experiences will open the door to surrender of control. He identifies deep love and deep suffering as two paths to overcome the ego which maintains our way in spite of all evidence to the contrary. The states of meditation and trust in the Divine which Jeremiah and the psalmist celebrate require that the indwelling Spirit be uncontrolled by the ego as it resonates to the Divine Presence.

Paradox in the spiritual pursuit

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today offers some texts which address some paradox in the spiritual journey. The Prophet Jeremiah understands that the powerful leaders against whom he has spoken desire his life. He does not understand that life itself is sometimes the service of the faithful. The psalmist trusts God to deliver him from the hands of enemies who are persecuting him. Matthew tells of Jesus revealing to His disciples the consequence of His mission among the people would be His persecution and death at the hands of His enemies. In the account of Mark, (Mark 8:31-33), Peter reacts by denying that this would happen to Jesus. The mother of James and John seeks Jesus special blessing on her sons. This request creates the opportunity to reassert the primary need to trust in God for the distribution of tasks and to be servant in the approach to living out the will of God. The position of wisdom that sees love in all and gives thanks for all is the fruit of the spiritual journey.

Hope even for hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is the situation that the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary address today. The psalmist identifies those who appear to direct religious practices yet do not accept the discipline of the spiritual journey in their lives. Matthew writes Jesus advice to do what the religious leaders say in relation to prayer and spiritual exercises but not to do what they do. There is always some difference between the ideal and the actual as we struggle in spiritual growth. The texts today indentify those situations where the struggle to serve and be thankful and humble has been abandoned. The ego has regained control. Isaiah continues to express the mercy and forgiveness of the Divine, even for those transgressions which have been identified by those around us as hypocrisy.

Mercy, mercy choices have consequences

The virtue of mercy is the theme of the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Book of Daniel relates many episodes of Hebrew imprisonment as a consequence of the neglect of their relationship with God. The psalmist cries out to the Lord with a petition that the people not be dealt with as they deserve because of their sins. Luke relates Jesus exhortation to not to judge or condemn others. We are advised that the measure we give of forgiveness and mercy will be the measure we receive. This advice is in tension with the idea that experiencing the consequences of our decisions is really helpful to us. The concept of “original sin”, which is associated with Baptism, recognizes that the poor choices, the sinful choices of people have generated a background or societal turning away from God. This perhaps is most easily seen in the injustice and unfairness in the world economy. The consequence of poor choice in how we treat each other is famine and death from natural disaster in some regions and a high level of protection from these evils in other regions. Personal responsibility for this situation is difficult to assign. The wealth of the north may have the poverty of the south as the consequence. Choices produce consequences and require us to seek mercy.