Figuring it out

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today encourage us to clarify our understanding of the Mystery of the Nature of Jesus and to be prepared to use this enlightenment to prepare for the return of Jesus, in our lives, to transform our being through death. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the decision of Paul to preach about the cross of Jesus to the Corinthians follows his difficulty in Athens when he attempted to reach his audience through philosophy. The affinity of the Greek scholars for philosophical discussion seems to have created a situation where the message of Christ is placed with all the other world views in a collection of interesting topics. This is a continuing fault in our times as those who proclaim the sameness of religious thought neglect to consider the implications of the Cross. Paul refutes this assessment of his message and reorients our heart to the Crucifixion where the Father calls us to see love greater than the conquering Messiah in the expectation of the Jewish mind and Divine life in human flesh presenting intimacy deeper than the spiritual comfort of Greek gods. The Gospel of Matthew is impatient with those of us who ‘have to get our act together’ before we “die with Christ” as we transcend to the “wedding feast” of rising with Him. Matthew exhorts us to make sure we have the “oil for our lamps” which will prepare us to meet the Bridegroom.

Deeper thought and our first impressions

The advice given today in the texts from the Roman CatholicLectionary can be appreciated in two ways. When we read the message and greeting of praise from Paul in the passage from the first letter to the Corinthians we acquire an image of a community which is gifted in speech and knowledge of Christ which is waiting in peace for the return of Christ. Perhaps people looking at our Christian community may say the same things. Friar JudeWinkler tells us some of the history of the involvement of Paul with this community. The problem which Paul is addressing in this letter may be related to what he is not saying in his greeting. The pagan converts in Corinth were apparently bringing earlier spiritual ideas to their understanding of the Holy Spirit. Paul mentions gifts in the community which are normally attributed to the Spirit and he credits Christ with them. We might ask ourselves “What is the difference?” Will God be offended if we get the credit wrong? The need we have is to explore the awesome mystery of the Divine Presence, Father, Son and Spirit, with the best tools, experiences and tradition. We are not true to the pursuit of Wisdom and intimacy when we accept “our understanding” of the Great Mystery. The Gospel of Matthew points to the final days and the judgement. The understanding of the early Church which impacted the language of the texts and instructions to the faithful was that Jesus was returning to begin the “end times” during their life time. The advice for an expected return of Jesus “any day now” is a perspective for modern people which we can use to prepare for our personal reunion with Jesus at death. When we live the day as if it is our last in finite time, we may attend to good living and we may be over attentive to our own position of unworthiness which ironically may cause us to be in neglect of those for whom we are called to live, in this time.  Father Robert Barron has referred to the Christian calling to be “both/and”. We are in the world and not of the world at the same time.

Profit for prophets

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts which bring reflection on the strength and courage of those who stand up as prophets to exhort people to live moral lives. The text from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah confirms that the strength for prophesy comes from our relationship with God. The words which point out to people that they need to change direction and attend to the will of God and the precepts of Divine Law will not likely be received as ‘welcome feedback’. The Gospel of Mark comments that Herod was aware of the special nature of the moral preaching of John. The words did reach his heart and he was motivated to listen to John. The life style of John demonstrated the way of a righteous person. The power of fear and the inability to lose face and status are shown as extremely difficult traits for people to overcome. As FriarJude Winkler comments, standing up for morality may be costly. John stood and pointed the way to living in accord with the Law. Our baptismal anointing as prophet is our call to stand and declare the moral path as we also demonstrate by our lives that we live in the Way of Christ.

Attend to the experience of elders

In one of the books of Franciscan priest and spiritual leader, Richard Rohr, the loss of attention in Western Society to our “elders” is noted as related to our confusion on spiritual, moral and ethical issues. The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts which relate how failure to act in accord with tradition and the experience of the Presence of God leads to behaviour which is contrary to the Will of God. The Thessalonians have been confused by charismatic preachers who have made claims not based on the teaching of the Paul, the apostles and the tradition. The author of Second Thessalonians reminds them that the confusing teaching is not in agreement with what they have heard and read from Paul. Friar Jude Winkler reminds us of “Jewish exaggeration” as a teaching tool when he comments on Jesus condemnation of the scrupulous following of the letter of the law by the Scribes and Pharisees which is not only causing them to be blatant hypocrites, but, in this process, they are neglecting the actions of justice, mercy and faith which will show the nature of the relationship desired by God with people. Friar Jude reminds us of the change of heart to which we are invited by God. We often attempt to avoid the change we are called to embrace by attending to the prescriptions and rituals of religiosity to self medicate our lack of peace. Our experience of the Divine and the testimony of our spiritual elders are clearly pointing us to attend to the cleaning of the inner cup so that the outside may also be clean. (Matthew 23:26).

Signs of Success in Tough Times

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary look at suffering and the falseness of external faith. The time when the going gets tough is often a turning point in our lives. We are confronted with a decision to bring peace to a situation either by abandoning our pursuit or by increasing our determination to continue on the right path to overcome difficulty. The second letter to the Thessalonians praises God for the faith which is growing in the community evidenced by increasing love for one another. The letter recognizes the suffering through which the community is moving. So often when a family or community comes together to support one another in tragedy and difficulty, the love becomes visible in action, word and gesture. This love and compassion for each other is the foretaste of the righteousness which is the destiny of the believer. God is love. Witness love is to witness the life of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel of Matthew today rings with the condemnation for those who would impose unnecessary hardship on people and focus on an external faith based on observance of rules and laws. The Scribes and Pharisees are the target of Jesus harsh judgement. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the inappropriate actions whereby Pharisees literally made life hell for others. This imposition of rules and rituals which take our attention away from the love, forgiveness and compassion of our encounter with God are too often accepted by people as an easy way to attend to our need for spiritual peace. The tough going is to seek communion with the Presence of God as we continue to respond to the invitation to greater intimacy with God through the practice of the love as witnessed by the author of the letter to the Thessalonians. 

Radical Choice Household Instructions

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary call for openness to the Word of God from which the radical choices required of those responding to the invitation to greater intimacy with the Divine will be seen as life giving. The proclamation of Peter in the Gospel of John today is offered as our statement of willingness to continue our journey with Jesus. Joshua, in the passage from the Hebrew Testament, calls the Israelites to be clear about the need to choose the Covenant with God who brought them out of slavery in Egypt over the gods and practices of the peoples in the societies among them who do not know the God of Israel. The small band of Israelites living among many who lived differently is to be the example of living the Will of God to their neighbours. The letter to the Ephesians is identified by Friar JudeWinkler as belonging to what are known as the “household instructions” for followers of Jesus. The disciples living in Ephesus were living with people influenced by Stoic philosophy. The instructions in this passage are to the Stoic mind a way to seek the value of order and a plan in the universe. This letter provides a social order which would have suited the dominant philosophy for women to be subject to their husband but it extends it to call on Christian families to also make husbands treat their wives as parts of their own bodies and persons. This value of the unity and oneness of man and woman in marriage would be the model of the wedding of Christ in intimacy with those who accept Him and the model of the Body of Christ, all people, intimately joined in a marriage to Jesus. “I am the Bread of Life” is the radical choice for followers of Jesus. The internalizing of Jesus is the Way believers present the invitation to the Radical Choice to others.

Present in Our Temple

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary ask us to consider the response of people to the faithfulness and steadfast love of God. (Psalm 85). Ezekiel reveals the vision of the restored Temple in Jerusalem where the glory of the Presence of God with the people will be the sign of the faithfulness of God to the Promise to be with the people. The promise to Ezekiel that the people would no longer defame the name of God by their actions turns out to be more a statement of hope and forgiveness than the forecast of behaviour of people. The Gospel of Matthew details Jesus advice concerning spiritual leaders who may not be living the Way. The practices and the authority over which they preside are routed in the Tradition and are valuable for spiritual growth. The lifestyle of self aggrandizement and selfishness is not the behaviour where the indwelling Spirit resonates with the Spirit of God. Our life in Jesus is the guide to living with patience, compassion and forgiveness towards those who perhaps should know better! 

Wrestle with God

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary reveal the great ties of the early Church to the salvation history of the Israelites. This is not surprising among those who followed Jesus as He visits synagogues and the Temple observing the Law and Prophets during His public ministry. One of the Jewish men called to follow Him is Nathaniel. The Gospel of John, today, presents the story of the calling of Nathaniel. Friar Jude Winkler explains the word game embedded in this narrative. The straight forward truthfulness of Nathaniel is recognized by Jesus as he places Nathaniel in both the geography and culture of Israel and in the story of Jacob, who wrestles with God (Genesis 32) and has his name changed to Israel. The proclamation of Nathaniel that Jesus is the Son of God seems to be unrelated to Jesus comment that He saw him under the fig tree. Friar Jude explains that the rabbi taught under the fig tree and Nathaniel was wrestling with God as Jacob did. People today “wrestle with God” as we experience Divine Presence and seek guidance, consolation and support. The fruit of wrestling with God for Nathaniel was his recognition of Jesus nature. In Genesis, Jacob wrestles with God and changes from “deceiver” to Israel. He is given a new name and lives a changed life. The text from Revelation which is the vision of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly kingdom resonates with the “Jacob’s ladder” vision in Genesis. Our challenge is to fearlessly wrestle with God and be open to the name change which will signify our transformation to a closer intimacy in communion with God.

A sign at the festive table

Restoration is proclaimed today in the texts from the RomanCatholic Lectionary. The prophet Ezekiel reveals the plan of God to return the Jews who have been exiled as a consequence of decisions to break the Covenant relationship with God will be returned to Jerusalem as a sign to the pagan nations of the faithfulness of God to His promise. The returnees will be changed Friar Jude Wirnkler explains that “new heart” promised by the prophet will be a new “centre of reason” where the Law will not be external to the people but will be internalized and be part a people with a new Spirit in reconciled resonance with God. This sign to the pagan nations of the Presence of God is presented in the passage from the Gospel of Matthew, according to Friar Jude, as a judgement parable. The mission of Jesus to bring life through intimate communion with the Son of God is compared to the wedding banquet of a King. The expected guests, the Jewish community, into which Jesus is born, reject the invitation to accept the Spirit of New Life. The evangelist indicates that God will present the sign of Jesus to the nations by inviting the pagans to be the people who reveal Jesus. The change of heart of the Jews returning to Jerusalem is also required of the pagans now called to be witnesses of Christ. The guess who refused to wear the wedding gown, which Friar Jude believes was available for all, is the decision not to accept the change of heart. The “New Evangelization” which is underway in Christianity is again a sign to the nations of the love and mercy of God inviting restoration and reconciliation to all. What is the change of heart wedding gown being offered to modern Christians? What outward sign to the nations will those wearing the new evangelization wedding gown present?

Counter cultural shepherds

The counter cultural nature of living the will of God is a strong theme of the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The prophet Ezekiel surveys the actions of the leaders of Judah towards the people who are compared to the sheep of God, the True Shepherd. The deficiencies enumerated by Ezekiel; not strengthening the weak, not healing the sick, not binding up the injured, not bringing back the strayed, not seeking the lost, ruling with force and harshness, are modern problems which in the election season of the UnitedStates should be brought to the attention of candidates apparently clamouringto claim the title of Catholic social justice leaders. The Divine Shepherd of Psalm 23 is One who leads. The actions of care and compassion of God are “in the face” of those who would seek to be enemies of those for whom “the Lord is my Shepherd”. The nature of the high moral ground which is a desired place of proclamation for politicians is in the Divine Shepherd who uses “rod and staff” to act “for His name’s sake”. The actions of God are true to the Divine nature. The desired state of “goodness and mercy following me all the days of my life” is achieved in the anointing, peace and invitation to communion of this psalm. Political strategy to treat “enemies”, as illustrated in the 23rd psalm, are definitely counter to the secure homeland and imperial militarism in the action and policy of many Judeo-Christian nations. The Gospel of Matthew of points to a different ‘economic fairness’ which acknowledges a relationship between workers and land owners to provide the “usual daily wage”. Society associates success and status with wealth. The great myth that the fruit of hard work is wealth and success, unfortunately, has the consequence of denial of health care and education to those who accept the invitation to go to the vineyard later in the day. Jesus models an economic system where the usual daily wage takes care of the usual daily need and those who need work are at the same status as those have the benefit of work for the whole day. Look, in this political season, for those who are truly led to be the counter cultural shepherds who hear the Word.

Rushing to a stop

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary confront us with the dangers of living with our own tendency to rely on the life style which has brought us material comfort and satisfaction of our creature comfort needs including power, pride and position. Ezekiel declares that the assumption of the king of Tyre that he can attribute his success to being as a god when his cleverness and skill have brought him riches and power will bring the wrath of God upon him. The king will be destroyed in a shameful manner at the hands of pagans. The canticle from Deuteronomy is a sharp reminder that God is the author of life and the authority over death. The Church commemorates Pope Pius X today. At the beginning of the 20^th Century he advocated catechetical studies, including the works of St Thomas Aquinas, to purify the doctrine of the Church. In Summa Theologica, Aquinas deals with the seven deadly sins. Pride and covetousness are attitudes which can lead us to the attitude of our centrality like the king of Tyre. Christians have flirted dangerously with the ‘gospel of prosperity’, wherein our good works are rewarded by God with material blessings and wealth, in recent times. The Gospel of Matthew today offers some reconsideration of our attachment to wealth and power. Jesus warns that these attachments may keep us from moving toward greater intimacy with Him. Jesus promises the abandonment of those the self serving passions will bring us to the top of life in communion with God.

Symbolism pointing our way

The Roman Catholic Lectionary draws from the Book of Ezekiel today. The text relates the how Ezekiel followed the instructions of God to use the death of his beloved wife as sign to Judah that the will of God for them is going to bring punishment for the chaos which they have chosen to embrace in their political, social and spiritual lives. The mourning rituals and traditions which Ezekiel omits after the death of his wife are instructions to the people about how to accept the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Attention to the will of God is the path of life. The canticle from Deuteronomy reminds the Israelites that they had forgotten the God who has given them birth. The episode from the Gospel of Mark reminds us that we know, at least in broad strokes, the will of God for all people. God delights in our growth in holiness in a manner similar to parents and grandparents delight in the growth of children. The grandparent perspective may provide richer insight to the Divine delight because of the perspective which sees the bigger picture of today’s events with a background of a life timeline which played out when they were parents. The ease with which grandparents see the love, joy and life in grandchildren is the bias in the view of God for His children. Friar Jude Winkler notes that Jesus dialogues with the rich young man to test his understanding of Jesus Divine nature as the “only one who is good”. From this understanding Matthew uses the seeking of the rich young man for eternal life as the model for our self examination. Friar Jude presents the challenge that we explore the physical, psychological, attitudinal and spiritual obstacles that are keeping us from moving toward greater intimacy with God. He suggests that this movement will be evidence by our growth from the minimal affiliation of “keeping the Commandments” to the model of Jesus as people who live the humility, poverty, peace-making, mercy, forgiveness, patient and trust in Providence of the Beatitudes. (Matthew 5:3-10).

Words are inadequate

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary bring to our attention the understanding that God desires to be in intimate relationship with people, bringing vitality to our being as His delight in us is radiated to society. The passage from the Book of Proverbs is described by Friar Jude Winkler as the personification of an attribute of God, Wisdom, as a woman. She implements the desire of God by inviting those who are unaware of Her gifts to ‘come and eat’. The psalmist praises the life and vitality given the humble who according to the will of God now boast from the security of that relationship. Friar Jude recommends the prayer practice of the Liturgy of the Hours (Christian Prayer) as a way to reacquaint Christians with the ancient and rich proclamations of the Presence in Life as prayed by the psalmists. The letter of Paul to the Ephesians exhorts Christians who have become aware of the intimacy, vitality, wisdom and consolation in their relationship to resist the temptations to selfish turning away from God. A very good summary of Christian thought and mediation on the Word is offered by the web site “The Text ThisWeek”. The Gospel of John today is being proclaimed in the gathering of many Christian denominations. Father Larry Gillick SJ comments on the difficulty of the Scribes and Pharisees to accept Jesus “I am” revelations. The “come and see” invitation, which echoes the message from Proverbs, is Jesus way to allow the depth of this desire of God to be with people to be experienced. Words are inadequate to the Mystery. 

Simply vital

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts which bring us to think about the death caused by sin. The passage from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel enumerates many offenses against God and describes the lifestyle of the righteous person. The maintenance of a list of the sins and commendable actions in life is a difficult and probably insufficient technique to assess the state of our relationship with God. The promise to Ezekiel is that God will infuse people with a new heart and a new spirit. Friar JudeWinkler describes this as an intellect attuned to the will of God and a new vitality which comes from avoiding the death caused by sin. The choice, sometimes often during the day, to follow our own path to attend to our selfishness, pride, privilege, power and need to be appreciated are deaths which mean we have missed the vitality of continuing to live simply in the way motivated by our love of God. The Gospel of Matthew uses Jesus attention to the attitude of the children to emphasize to us that the complicated, sophisticated way we rationalize and justify our attitudes, choices and actions needs to be reviewed. The vitality which is deeply desired by the psalmist today is the fruit of repentance and return to the relationship as children of God. 

Love, passion, fidelity and forgiveness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today touch our lives in the areas of love, passion, fidelity and forgiveness. The description from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel of the Love of God for Israel who is chosen by God from those rejected at birth and nurtured like a wife is described by one Biblical commentator as “not suitable for children”. The prostitution of the wife in the passage from Ezekiel is, according to FriarJude Winkler, the decision of Israel to become so infatuated with its own beauty and political skill that it decides to ignore God and the Covenant of Love and to welcome and accept the life styles and worship of the gods of the world around them. The overwhelming statement of God through Ezekiel is the desire to re-establish the Covenant with Israel. The “faithless bride” is forgiven and God desires the restoration of an even deeper love with those who have moved away from intimacy with the Divine. The Gospel passage from Matthew addresses the challenge of maintaining the union of male and female described in Genesis as a procreative Covenant wherein the partners continue the life giving creation in intimacy with God. Friar Jude comments that the rabbinic responsibility, at Jesus time, included determination of which unions could be ended in divorce. Jesus challenges His disciples to consider accepting the special model of Covenant intimacy which cooperates in Creation with God. The challenge is to decide, like the ‘eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 19:12) that the model of procreative Genesis marriage is to be celebrated and presented as inspiration to the people of the Kingdom. The ‘fairness’ of a special recognition of this marriage state is a question raised by modern society. Those who have set themselves apart, as noted by Jesus in the Gospel, (Friar Jude mentions priests, religious, those without annulment and those who are not heterosexually oriented) have decided to live in witness to faith in Christian marriage as a great mystery of love, commitment and life giving which is at the foundation of continuing Creation. 

Severe blindness and selfishness

The story of the power struggles in the land of Judah and Israel at the time of the Prophet Ezekiel is one of the choices of the leaders of the people to put trust in political and cultural alliances rather than relying on Providence. The text from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today describes the symbolic action of Ezekiel, in response to an inspiration from God, to warn the leaders of the severe consequence of their decisions. Friar Jude Winkler aligns this prophesy with the time between the deportation of the leaders of Jerusalem to Babylon in 597 BCE and the destruction of Jerusalem associated with the second deportation in 587 BCE. We do not see the prophetic messages which are in our time that exhort us to change. Friar Jude explains the importance of the perfect number 7 in relation to Jesus response to Peter’s question about how many times we are to forgive our brother in the episode from the Gospel of Matthew. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant tells of the power that selfishness has to overrule our experience of deep forgiveness and mercy. When we open our eyes today, what direction do we see government, business and social leadership advocating in terms of caring for those overburdened with financial difficulty? What mercy and forgiveness is evident in the response of people to being wronged? Who is taking action like Ezekiel to warn us of the severe consequence of society ruled by self interest and greed? Friar Jude advises that we need to be cautious in self assessment that judges our own behaviour as “not so bad”. Our selfishness is the dark glass that hides the brightness of the prophets in our time.

Life is with the Body

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates today the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The texts chosen for today vary depending on the choice of individual Councils of Bishops. The understanding of Mary as the first and greatest disciple of Jesus and the Model for the Life of a Church focused on Jesus is expressed in this feast. Father Robert Barron, who speaks in the Word on Fire ministry and throughout the magnificent video series Catholicism, teaches

 "Our feast for today--the Assumption of the Virgin--is similarly Christological in focus. It is meant to highlight the reality of Jesus' bodily resurrection from the dead. As the first and greatest disciple of the Lord, the Virgin Mary shares in the effects of this event, participating body and soul in the new life opened up by Jesus.”

The text chosen today from First Chronicles describes the Ark of the Covenant being brought up to Jerusalem. The Ark points to God. The “Yes” of Mary which is the “true blessedness” which Jesus cleverly proclaims in the text from the Gospel from Luke is the model to Christians of response in faith and trust to God. The Mary, the Ark carrying Jesus, proclaiming Incarnation, points to the mission of God to be intimate as the “Word made flesh”. Mary, assumed bodily into heaven, illuminates the Resurrection and our share as disciples in the swallowing up of the victory of death through bodily taking on the imperishability and the immortality preached by Paul to the us and the Corinthians in the passage today. Father Barron comments on the Platonic themes which have dampened modern western life experienced fully in body and soul. He exhorts that ‘the body matters to Catholics”. He invokes the image of the Sistine Chapel with the Creation depicted in the bodies of Adam and the Saints. The Presence of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist calls all Christians to serve the Word, as Mary, in intimate and eternal communion of body and soul with the Father.

Not the common sense

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today emphasize some of the paradox which appears when humans seek to understand the way of God. The prophet Ezekiel is directed by God to speak to rebellious Israel about sweetness of the continued faithfulness of God toward His people which has not been acknowledged or acted upon. Ezekiel must also tell the people, to whom God sends him, of the painful consequence of exile to befall the people who have forgotten God. The psalmist praises the joy which is found in the life direction of the Word of God. This direction for action by God in the world is often contrary to the common sense of our time. What Does Jesus mean in the passage from the Gospel when He indicates that we need to be like little children to fully live in the Kingdom of God? The child like qualities indentified by Friar JudeWinkler, which open us to the Kingdom around us, are trust, wonder and the ability to see neediness. The consequence of living in this attitude may be that we act to care for the one who is ignored by society. This neglect of the marginalized and lost is often justified by notions that we are more virtuous when our actions make economic sense and we give our time and treasure equally to all regardless of need or circumstance. Those who reject the “common sense of the age” and move to act like the Good Shepherd have the special awareness of the Presence in guiding and protecting them. Friar Jude compares those who lack the child like attitude in the Gospel to the brother of the prodigal son, jealous and imprisoned in a sense of justice based on common sense.

Perception and privilege

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts which encourage reflection on the people chosen to be messengers of the Word of God and the privileges and responsibilities of those who are chosen to be aware of their closeness to God. The Prophet Ezekiel writes of a vision and an experience of the awe and wonder of God which is beyond the capability of human language to capture. Friar Jude Winkler comments that there is evidence that Ezekiel was mentally ill. The choice of a person to be prophet who would depend on the power of God to compensate for personal weakness is seen to be a method often employed by God to lead people. Friar Jude comments that the ancient peoples recognized special gifts from God available in the personalities of the mentally ill. We are often blinded by a culture that over emphasizes the strengths and self development of people. The mission intended by God is often brought to life through weakness, surrender and humility. The psalmist praises the situation of those people who are drawn close to God. The well being of Israel is the consequence of closeness to God. The episode from the Gospel of Matthew today opens with the prediction of Jesus passion, death and resurrection. The Son is showing the nature of God in adherence to the Plan of the Father. This is not the expected path of the One so close. Jesus presents the model of being observant to the Law of the Temple tax even as He makes the case that the children chosen by God should be freer in worldly duty than those who are under the rule of human authorities. Privilege is not something that we have or take. The privilege of understanding our invitation to intimacy with God is freely given to be demonstrated to others through humility and service.

Fear, food and Presence

Murmuring fear and depression are some of the attitudes which are addressed in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. According to Father Larry Gillick SJ, Elijah is fleeing in fear from the promise of Jezebel that he will be killed for the actions which are detailed in the previous chapter of the First Book of Kings that demonstrated the power and authority of God over the state sponsored prophets of Baal. Our human experience of fear and flight is exhausting and the episode in the passage for today tells of the Presence of God with those in flight from situations which have become overwhelming. The angel of God restores the energy of Elijah under the broom tree where he has fallen asleep and gives him the will to continue to Horeb. Friar Jude Winkler comments that Elijah is exhibiting the signs of depression. The path of those carrying the wisdom and message of God is sometimes difficult. The psalmist offers the understanding that the support of God is always near for the humble and the downtrodden. In the Gospel of John, Jesus encounters the murmuring of the people about the actions of God to feed them and we are reminded of the discontent of the Israelites in the desert. Jesus, according to Friar Jude, is presenting Wisdom to the Jewish authorities that the Father calls all people to Him. Jesus is the feeding and Presence to the people that they know from their tradition. The exhortation in the Letter to the Ephesians addresses the manner in which we are not to grieve the Spirit with arguments that destroy peace. The tension we cause for others when we use anger, malice and aggressiveness, even in evangelization, to make our point is not the kindness, tender heartedness and forgiveness which brings the love, healing and feeding of God with us under the broom tree.  

What’s going on?

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary speak to the difference between our expectations and the timing of the action of God. The Prophet Habakkuk writes of the pagan conqueror who destroys nations who are more righteous than they. The help of God for His people seems to be absent. The response received by the prophet encourages him to wait for the time of the action of God to be initiated. This is a call to believers to have faith and trust in Providence. Friar Jude Winkler comments that our action and our passion for justice and good is not wrong. In addition to our desire to see God act we need to be accepting of the timetable of God. The trust in God of Saint Claire, who is commemorated by the Church today as one who lived in a spirit of poverty, is an example echoed in the praise of the psalmist today of God Who “does not forget the cry of the afflicted”. The Gospel of Matthew reasserts that our action for God must be based in faith. We trust like Abraham and Mary beyond the point of our experience and senses that the will of God is the most loving direction for the events of our lives to take especially when we are puzzled by “What’s going on?”.

Following Him

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are particularly apt for the feast today of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr. The letter to the Corinthians implores us to be generous and joyful when we give to those in need. Friar Jude Winkler cites the excuses we invoke when we question the worthiness of those who receive our help. The gifts we give thanks to God for are not based on our worthiness. The model of giving is Jesus. In the Gospel from John we are reminded that following Him is about accepting death and resurrection as the life giving act. The psalmist celebrates the righteousness of the person who, like God, is generous with all things. Our mission is to give life.

Restoration renewal and authority

The psalmist from the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary prays for a new spirit and the restoration of joy in the celebration of the salvation offered by God. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah tells of the plan of God to restore the relationship with Judah and Israel. The prophet tells of a new Covenant which Friar Jude Winkler describes as being internalized and which provides the joy sought in Psalm 51 from the core of the person. The indwelling Spirit resonates with the Spirit of God as when Peter responds to the query of Jesus at Caesarea Philippi. Peter proclaims Jesus as the Christ, Son of the Living God. Jesus confirms that this proclamation comes from the Father through Peter. The time of Matthew, the evangelist, in Antioch was a time of emergence of a recognized Church separate from the synagogue. Friar Jude describes the role of the rabbi to determine the requirements for living in the Jewish tradition. The rabbinical authority to loose and bind is given to Peter in this passage. The conclusion of the excerpt from Matthew today illustrates how we can misstep when we have authority or our personal ambitions interfere. Peter is chastised by Jesus for proposing that the Will of the Father be ignored as they move toward Jerusalem and Jesus suffering and death.

Prophets, Preachers and Pagans

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are part of the liturgy which remembers St Dominic, who in the early 13^th century was granted the authority to form the Order of Preachers. Historians comment on the quality of the teaching and mercy of this saint. The passage today from the Book of Jeremiah celebrates the return of the Israelites to the lands of Israel and Judah. Friar Jude Winkler points out the characteristics of God frequently proclaimed in the Hebrew Testament are faithfulness and mercy. The declaration of Jeremiah that God seeks the restoration of “He will be their God and they will be His people” is the statement of the Divine nature. Dominic and his followers sought to renew the Church through the correction of heresy and the example of holiness which is expressed in mercy, compassion and love. The Gospel of Matthew deals with faith. The Canaanite woman is a pagan who is moved to faith in Jesus, evidenced, according to Friar Jude, by her address of Jesus as “Son of David” and “Lord”, seeks healing for her daughter. The radiation of holiness attracts people. Jesus attracted the pagan woman who through faith was able to set aside the derision in which the outsider was held by the Jewish culture to prove herself faith filled, clever and persistent. These qualities are attributes of saints like Dominic who bring truth to people in the example of their lives.

Great faith and recovery

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary focus on the practice of constant faith. We are reminded by Friar Jude Winkler that we all experience moments when our faith and trust in Providence wanes. The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah tells of the loss of the observance of the Law and Prophets by the people of Israel and Judah. The destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon are described by Friar Jude as the punishment which that sin of abandonment of the Covenant carries. The punishment is not the end of the story. The nature of God is call people to return to relationship with Him. The return to God accomplishes His desire to lavish his children with a peaceful home from which praise and joy will be the sign of the restoration of action pleasing to God and the development of leaders who seek direction from their relationship with the Divine. The Gospel of Matthew uses the courageous and impetuous character of the great disciple Peter to point out the universality of doubt and the need as Friar Jude puts it to ‘choose to believe’ rather than let our fear or feelings undermine our resolve to trust in God. The simple faith of the Sick in Gennesaret that touching His cloak would bring healing is a contrast to the difficulty of Peter to walk toward Jesus on the water. The perspective of the psalmist today that God attends to the prayers of the destitute and acts to free the prisoners should be our encouragement to persevere. 

Getting Our Attention

The testimony of Peter concerning his experience of the witness of the voice of God proclaiming Jesus as Beloved Son is at the centre of texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the feast of the Transfiguration. The description of the mountaintop experience from the Gospel of Mark may be a reminder to many believers of moments of spiritual ecstasy during which understanding and clarity beyond the ability of human words and imagery  to describe is experienced.  Spiritual ecstasy takes many forms. The tears flowing down the face of people in prayer, the dancing and rejoicing of worship and procession and the stillness invoked by awe and wonder are transcendent times when the Gospel episode and the visions from the Book of Daniel resonate with our own experience of God getting our attention.

A hierarchy of needs

Psychologists have proposed that human beings satisfy their needs according to a priority which usually puts survival as our first concern. The summary today by Jesus in the passage from the Gospel of John in the Roman Catholic Lectionary of the reasons for the people following Him after He fed the five thousand are about having all they wanted to eat and drink. The text from  Exodus describes the attention of God to the survival needs of the Israelites which was met with abundant manna and meat. The motive attributed to God for this graciousness was to return the  attention of the people of the Covenant to God. Jesus proclaims that He is the bread of life. Our most basic need is to be aware of our relationship with our Creator and Source of Life. This renewed Life, modeled on Jesus, and aware of the lusts and corruption to which we are susceptible is described in the letter to the Ephesians as the path to righteousness and holiness. In the relationship with God we are able to hear how God delights in us and provides all we need to know who we are in the eyes of our Creator and how to seek wholeness in our journey with Him. Thus our basic need is satisfied.

Speaking truth to power

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today bring us to the situation where faithfulness to our relationship to God my require us to use our Baptismal gift of prophesy to see life as God sees it and speak truth to power. Jeremiah is confronted with the threat of death for his action. The Gospel of John tells of the execution of John the Baptist as the consequence of a opportunity to seek revenge for the prophetic message which presented a truth to Herod from which he may have been beginning to seep into Herod's awareness. Our communion with the Divine in truth transcends our earthly existence

And who are you?

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary reveal a challenge which the faithful encounter as they act to make the way of God visible in society. The commission of God to Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah that their life choices were leading to the destruction of Jerusalem was met with a death threat as presented in the passage from the book of Jeremiah. The psalmist proclaims how the zeal he has expressed for God through his religious practice is met with derision and ridicule. The Gospel of Matthew reveals the response of those who knew of Jesus family and origins to His messages and actions in His mission. We are perhaps torn by this response to the Good News. What is the use of trying? The great action in the kingdom to change and bring a new viewpoint on life through a living relationship with God is that of small and determined persistence. The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven are instructions about the marvellous consequence of staying the course. The assessment of our lives that we are just regular folk is troubling if we accept it. We have experienced the treasure of great value. Our consistent modelling of life thankful for all we have received in the delight of a gracious God will infect the world with the desire to accept the invitation to the kingdom.

In between times

The psalmist in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary this morning offers praise for help from God. This recognition that the wonderful and the ordinary events which we recognize as being helpful in our journey are gifts of the graciousness of God sets the stage for our attitude of thanksgiving from which we can act and see the world with prophetic eyes. These eyes are shown in the passage from the Prophet Jeremiah where God shows Jeremiah that nations and people can be reworked by the loving creative hand of God into better vessels. The spoiled efforts that human eyes concentrate on are the source of reformation in the hands of God. The short episodes in Chapter 13 of the Gospel of Matthew contain, in parable form, many lessons about the Kingdom of God which is present in the world in Jesus. This kingdom is lived in relationship with Jesus. It exists in the time between the Incarnation and the Final Judgement. We can place some approximate human time on these events. Historically, Jesus was born in human form in Judah about 2000 years ago. In our journey, our “Yes”, our moment to be Mary, may have occurred at a different time. Our physical death will mark our transition from our current experience of the kingdom. The time between the Incarnation and the Final Judgement is our current existence. These parables advise us that the encounter with and the invitation to awareness of the kingdom is of immeasurable value. It is to be embraced. In that embrace of our life by God, we continue toward the final judgement aware of the growing, like the mustard plant and leaven bread, community that includes all people in the dragnet. In the kingdom, the input of the old faithful and their traditions will be treasured in the same way as the zeal and enthusiasm of the new members. We are returned to the praise of the psalmist for the gracious gifts of God.

Whole "i ness" of the whole heart

The theme in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today is one of the decision to commit our whole person to our relationship with God. We understand the position of the Prophet Jeremiah who complains to God that he considers the hard work he has done in service of God has been a waste of his time and energy. The text reminds us that the work we do is not the relationship desired by God. The request of God that Jeremiah turn back and renew the relationship at a deeper level of trust and action is the invitation to all people. The confidence and surrender of the psalmist to the desire of God to always act for us in the most loving way is a step toward wholeness in our relationship with God. The section from the Gospel of Matthew is entitled “Three Parables”. The two presented today underline the value of the participation in the ‘kingdom of heaven’, which is the eternal relationship with God that begins today, as beyond all human understanding in value. This participation in the kingdom is worth being our whole pursuit. In this wholly life, we expect our daily choices to be made in the light of our deepening relationship with the Divine which becomes fulfills the promise to Jeremiah that “they will come to you” as they seek the treasure and the pearl of great value.