Passion despair rejection and empathy

Theophany and Angels

Angels showing truth

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary celebrate the revelation of God to people assisted by visions of angels in service to the Divine. Friar Jude Winkler discusses the theophany of the passages from the Book of Daniel and Revelation where truth about the nature of God is being revealed. Jesus uses the title of the Son of Man from Daniel and references to the suffering servant of Isaiah to establish His mission, not as the Davidic King who will bring political change to Israel bearing the Messianic title “Son of God” but as the “Son of Man” who will reveal the truth about God through the glory of His triumph over evil on the Cross which is marked by the death of the demon in the passage from Revelation. The Gospel from John tells of Jesus encounter with Nathaniel who is wrestling with God in trying to understand Jesus mission. The story of Jacob wrestling with God to find truth is used by Jesus to call Nathaniel to greater understanding and intimacy. Larry Gillick SJ directs us to consider the Eucharistic celebration where daily we join the Presence with angels giving glory to God.

Return to the path of compassionate humble service

Choosing compassion and humility

The topic of conversion flows from the texts today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The passage from the Prophet Ezekiel may shake our comfort in a technique like the scales of justice as the manner by which God sees our righteousness. The Prophet warns that those who abandon the good life for evil have chosen death. Anne Osdieck reflects on the understanding of Christian commentators about conversion as a turning toward God in a choice for Life. Friar Jude Winkler follows his comments on Ezekiel with a look at Jesus as portrayed by Paul to the Philippians. He notes that the greatest exaltation of God is in the deep surrender of Jesus in compassion and service as the One who is truly God becomes truly human to death for us. Tom Shanahan, S.J. understands Paul is exhorting us to imitate the humility of Christ. The Gospel from Matthew brings attention to the difference between saying and acting. The on going conversion of our hearts toward God is measurable in the increased frequency of our rethinking a direction taking us to pride and selfishness in favour of compassion, humility and service.

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Daily joy in the journey

Real Joy

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary may, at first glance, offer some support to those who advise believers to “get real”. Eileen Wirth reflects on our very short life time in comparison with the eternal timelessness of God. Friar Jude comments on the message in the Book of Ecclesiasties about living with God in your life from youth with a perspective that death will come and reward, if any is found in our life today. A more optimistic view of our existence is based on living today in the belief that life is about the journey and not the destination. The Church remembers St Vincent dePaul today who lived his journey every day and has left a legacy of enormous importance by inspiring the work of Christian charities world wide.

The Gospel from Luke tells of the inability of Jesus disciple to accept that He would suffer and die as part of His journey in accord with the Will of God. Believers may turn to the prayer of the psalmist today for God to  “Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.” (Psalm 90)

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Time and Timeliness

Turn turn turn

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to wrestle with the difference in the logic and understanding of timeliness in the Will of God. The verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes resonate with people of the generation now in their 60’s. A perspective of the older generation on the passing of time and the events of life is shared by Tom Purcell. Experience reveals that God has a plan which we will struggle to comprehend but in our decision to go with the Will of God, Friar Jude reminds us, we will find peace. We may join Peter in surprise over the Divine logic which gives us Life in Jesus not to overcome political bondage as Davidic king but to call us to an intimate relationship in which we will abandon our bondage to sin. The disciple who lives daily in temporal reality is challenged to be present in the moment to God and others while maintaining the trust that the plans of God for us exist in a universe that is infinite and eternal through experience of Love that is timeless.

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Vanity and interest or disinterest

A view of vanity

The tension between interest and disinterest is a theme in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. Friar Jude Winkler notes that Ecclesiastes by Qoheleth is very interesting but not in the usual Wisdom book pattern. We risk becoming arrogant when our pursuit of Wisdom fills our mind with the illusion of understanding. The situation of Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, in his fascination with Jesus, and before his execution at the hands of Herod, John the Baptist confirms the experience of many who watch and listen to the preacher and the disciple yet seem to be resistant to move toward greater involvement in relationship with the One about Whom they witness. Our attention to the words and actions of attractive speakers may need to break through the deep interest we have in our own agendas and plans to attain gratification through diligent work in a world which Barbara Dilly warns may be full of vanities unless we move to understanding how little we understand.

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Living the journey in trust

Relationship and mission

The Gospel from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today tells of Jesus sending the Twelve out to do the work He has been doing in His Galilean ministry. Friar Jude Winkler notes that the Gospel and the text today from Proverbs focus on Providence which provides just what we need to accomplish our mission. Joan Blandin Howard comments on the counter cultural nature of our mission. Unlike temporal missions, it is not measured by success in achieving goals. She notes the emphasis on continuing to act in intimate relationship with Jesus who is our access to Love of the Father. Like Job, who is cited by Friar Jude, we trust God and understand that we don’t understand. Don Schwager identifies “poverty of spirit” as the attitude which frees us from preoccupation with our needs and agenda. The prayer from the author of Proverbs that he avoid neither riches nor poverty is an expression of a desire that the conditions of the world not be cause for a rupture in our relationship with the Divine.

Love and Action for the poor

Action to Love

The mysterious interplay of prayer and action in response to the Word of God is explored today in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Wisdom sayings of the passage from the Book of Proverbs are reviewed by Friar Jude Winkler. The warning to those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor is the reflection of Angela Maynard. Pope Francis in Albania draws attention to those of all faith traditions who find the good life in loving and giving oneself for love’s sake. The Gospel from Luke is a declaration that we become family of Jesus when we hear the Word of God and act on it. The action to which we are led may be like that of the saint commemorated in Mother Teresa Square in Albania or perhaps like the saint of today, Padre Pio, who was a Franciscan friar, priest, confessor, stigmatist, and mystic. Prayer for greater communion with the Divine will bring our action to love according to His Will.

Just and transparent

The texts today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary describe the blessings which accrue to the just person and reveal the desirability to seek transparency in our lives. The wisdom sayings of Proverbs identify the struggle of the just person to maintain ideals of kindness and fairness against the constant pressure of the culture which invites us to accept a lower standard of behaviour as what everybody does. The envy of those who seem to be less scrupulous is a deceiving emotion. Love of God and neighbour is the path of Wisdom. In the Gospel from Luke, we are warned that hiding from our relationship of Life with God for moments to take care of our own passions and hide our light may lead to our experience of that light becoming dimmer. The striving for transparency in our lives is effort which Jesus tells us will let that Divine Light shine to brighten our days and be a guide to others we encounter on the journey

Mysterious and Generous

Generosity, forgiveness, inclusion

The texts today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary demonstrate how disciples of Jesus may confuse people with actions contrary to our expectations. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah underlines that the merciful forgiveness in the nature of God is not the way of much of human culture. David Lose comments on the Gospel from Matthew, the parable of the workers in the vineyard, asking us to choose love or justice. The words of this Gospel give Carol Zuegner pause to consider how much we are concerned about the other getting ahead. Don Schwager declares a grandiose generosity in God who does not restrict His Kingdom to those who have laboured for Him all their lives. Paul reveals to the Philippians that He is open to either death as martyr in full communion with Jesus or life in service to those to whom his mission for Jesus brings him. Generosity, forgiveness, inclusion are the measure of our transformation to disciples of Jesus living in the will of God.

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Seeds, Plants and living as disciple

Fruitful disciples receive the Word

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are associated with ideas of seeds and fruit. Paul continues his presentation to the Corinthians of the meaning of the Resurrection of Christ. The image of the wheat plant following the seed but being different is made analogous to the resurrected body being different from our earthly body. Eileen Burke-Sullivan explores the growth of the Korean Church through lay people who were good soil for the Word which they encountered in the lives of Jesuits in China. The Church grows at times through the blood of martyrs who, Eileen Burke-Sullivan notes value the experience of living the life of Jesus more than attachment to our earthly existence. In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to indicate that our fruitfulness in living as a disciple of Jesus is centered on our openness to receive the Word and act on it.

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Women and Jesus

Easter joy and Women

"He's Alive" by Dolly Parton captures the joy of the resurrection which is preached to the Corinthians by Paul in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the Greek Gnostic philosophy which prevented some Corinthians from accepting resurrection. USCCB commentary notes the grave consequences for the faith of these Corinthians. The Gospel of Luke today presents Jesus as an itinerant preacher traveling in the company of the Twelve and of the Galilean women who are sustaining them out of their means. Friar Jude provides two biblical facts about Mary Magdalene who is a figure wrapped, by tradition, in mystery and misconception. She was cured of seven demons and she was the first to bring news of Jesus rising from the dead to the other Apostles. Pat Borchers reflects on some of the myths of this Mary to arrive at a message for all of us concerning the demons of our lives. Don Schwager comments on the characteristic of Luke’s Gospel to give women a special place. A list of the role of women throughout the life of Jesus opens our eyes to the choice of God to speak and act through women. Looking to women for spiritual direction and example is hopefully less countercultural than it was in Jesus time.

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Forgiveness Love and Life

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary connect the Divinity of Jesus with our very human response to being forgiven. Friar Jude Winkler explains the difficulty of the people of Corinth who believed that the soul was a prisoner of the body to accept the resurrection of Jesus. Paul in this Letter to the Corinthians reminds them of his first teaching, the kerygma.

The Gospel from Luke relates an experience of Jesus as He attends a meal at the home of a Pharisee during which Robert Heaney comments that the basic requirements of Middle East hospitality were omitted by the host. The love of the woman forgiven moves her to act to rectify this situation. The life of loving service which is a consequence of forgiveness is the initiation of the eternal communion with God which faith assures us includes resurrection according to Jesus example.

Deep Knowledge beyond cliche

After the but

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present some poetic words on love and understanding from Paul and Luke ending with “but”. “but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13) Nate Romano, S.J. suggests that we need to battle against the cliche use of Chapter 13 of the Letter to the Corinthians to hear what Saint Ignatius knew about Love. Friar Jude comments on the transformation through love from childish selfishness to clarity about loving for the Love of Christ. “But wisdom is vindicated by all her children” (Luke 7:35) is the conclusion of the passage wherein acceptance of Jesus is blocked by preconceptions about what the Messiah should be among the people. Friar Jude concludes today by reminding us of our own experiences, supported by scripture and tradition, that God becomes present to us in surprising ways like street people and annoying relatives.

Prophet, teacher or change agent

Presence inviting change

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today confronts us with texts which challenge us to change. Stoic philosophy was admired by many in the communities to whom Paul spoke. The concept of one humanity is used by Paul in the Letter today to the Corinthians. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the desire of Paul to explain how we are all brought together with our gifts into the Body of Christ. Friar Jude notes the Apostle is prioritizing the gifts. Mary Lee Brock addresses the question of many of us about the relevance of our gifts to the great charitable and social justice movements around us. The Presence of the Divine compels us to change. Friar Jude notes the crowd who witness the reanimation of the son of the widow of Nain in the Gospel from Luke are never the same afterwards. The Body of Christ is our encounter with the Divine which invites us to change to greater love and service.

The Perfect Disciple Leads

Some paths of difficult faith positions

Curation of the commentators on the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is an activity of appreciation of the various paths which lead from contemplation of Sacred Scripture. One unifying theme, on the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, is that the tough ground of difficult faith positions is the heritage of Christian believers. Friar Jude Winkler reflects on both choices of Gospel text. He contemplates the situation of Mary under the cross from the Gospel of John. The visible scene of Mother with dying Son is sorrow. The sword that pierces Mary’s heart from the Gospel of Luke is symbolic of how she will have to deal in the centre of her reason with Jesus apparent contradiction with the fundamental Jewish understanding of One God. Sacrifice in the life of is real. The reflection of Rev. Richard Gabuzda on the psalm today and the text from the Letter to the Hebrews, in the liturgical calendar for Canada, call us to obedience over sacrifice when we seek to model Jesus example. The example of Mary, the perfect disciple, to share the sorrow and burden of Jesus by taking up our crosses daily is the “take-away” from which fruit of true communion, lacking in Corinth, that the will of God seeks for all humanity.

Symbols of Love and Full Life

Banner of Love

The celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross by Christians today may be confusing as perhaps seeing the John 3:16 banner at sports events. The Gospel of John and the other texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today expand our understanding of the nature of Divine Love. Friar Jude Winkler places the famous biblical citation in the context of John’s presentation of Jesus conversation with Nicodemus. In John Chapter 3, key words “Lifted Up” and “Eternal Life” precede “Gave” in 3:16. The Evangelist substitutes glorification for Moses simply mounting the serpent in the text from the Book of Numbers. Frederick Buechner declares the Good News in this Christian symbol for participating in the life of Jesus today. Friar Jude uses the Greek word “kenosis” in reference to the Will of God for Jesus which is praised in the text from the letter to the Philippians. The pattern of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation on the cross, where the measure of the Love of God is visible, is the giving of the Father to humanity in 3:16. Richard Hauser, S.J. asks about our experiences of gazing at Jesus on the Cross and praying for strength.The USCCB commentary on John 3:17 notes that God did not come to condemn (the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation). Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment and some condemn themselves by turning from the light. Let seeing the 3:16 banners and T-Shirts be an opportunity for us to enter with John the Evangelist into the exaltation of infinite Love offered us daily to live with Him.

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Living in Response to Love

Living in communion

What actions done by a Christian would surprise you? The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary remind us that we try to make decisions which reflect our communion in the Body of Christ. Friar Jude Winkler note that Paul exhorts the Corinthians to avoid practices which would make our actions demonic. Amy Hoover revisits the Ignatian spiritual exercises to consider the great gifts we have as children of God. The decision we have to make is placed in Catholic tradition by Amy Welborn. In the fourth century, Saint John Chrysostom exercised his giftedness for preaching and theology in a Church full of conflict. The Gospel from Luke shows some examples of good fruit as the measure of our willingness to go beyond calling on the name of the Lord. What are the ways today to use our gifts for Jesus?

The links to the text and commentaries are here.

Disciples lose self

Disciples reviewed

The Text from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offers a reflection on the nature of discipleship. Fr Robert Barron asserts the world changing consequence of Paul’s decision to follow the Spirit to Europe. This short preview from the video series Catholicism captures the mission taught Paul by Jesus. Friar Jude Winkler comments on how Paul countered problematic Corinthians by serving all in whatever manner they needed. The letter to the Corinthians tells how he made himself a slave to all. The Gospel from Luke declares the relationship Jesus shows between teacher and disciple. Don Schwager understands that the healing necessary for the disciple to see the blank in his own eye comes from the Divine Physician. Maureen McCann Waldron quotes Pope Francis who challenges the disciples of Jesus to stop being gossips. A look within ourselves will reveal gifts from God which when brought to serve others will reduce our hypocrisy as we strive to walk in Jesus steps.

Challenged to deepen Love

Hear the challenge to love deeply

The mission of the Christian is associated with Love. The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary challenge the depth to which we practice love. Diane Jorgensen urges us to strip our love of sentimentality, obligation, reciprocity and doing the minimum. Our religiosity may confine our love to personal preferences, legalism or convenience. Friar Jude Winkler discusses the struggle which Paul had with the Gnostic heresy which emphasizes special personal knowledge over love. He cites Maximilian Kolbe as the author of the assertion that we need to love the Nazis as the only power to conquer their evil. How hard it is to hear the Christian message of love to conquer evil as we prepare to bring military might against evil forces, of our time, in Iraq and Syria. The psalmist reminds us that we need to seek the guidance of God through community effort. The Gospel from Luke is the core of Jesus teaching on loving our enemies. As we return to the problem in Corinth, the role of taking care of everyone in the community rather than focusing on ourselves and viewing our actions from our own sense of morality and in our arrogance with our special understanding.

Relationships and Blessings

The real poor are aware of relationship needs

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer advice for enduring tribulation and developing relationships. Paul advises the Corinthians about patient endurance in a world which is passing away. Marcia Shadle-Cusic probes our sense of relatedness to others through our need for the other in our life. The Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke are thought by Friar Jude Winkler to be the more original. The blessings and curses are in the Hebrew format in Deuteronomy. The real poor and real hungry hold unto Jesus for dear life. When we are self satisfied we find in hard sometimes to address the void in our lives that only a relationship with Jesus can fill.

Our mission and our transformation

A mission by imperfect agents

The reflection of Chas Kestermeier, S.J. on the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today starts some serious consideration of the mystery of selection according to the will of God. The Gospel account of Luke emphasizes the time Jesus spends in prayer before the Twelve are chosen. Friar Jude Winkler notes how Jesus knew the character of Judas Iscariot, yet, the will of God would be done through his selection. Saint Peter Claver SJ, commemorated by the Church today, was transformed to serve justice and charity during the slave trade. This period in our history was one when some Church members failed to see slavery as evil opposite to the Love of God. The airing of our laundry in public which frustrates Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, is sometimes a necessary action for the Church as the sex scandals of recent time teach us. We lose sight of mission for which we live. In our ineptness and even sin, we are loved.

Symbols and Genesis

Abstract and real models

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today offers us texts which highlight trust, pondering and hope presented in prophetic and richly symbolic language. The opening prayer at Mass speaks of the birth of Mary's Son as the dawn of our salvation and asks for an increase of peace. Friar Jude Winkler links the dual interpretations of the prophecy of Micah, the plan of God explained by Paul to the Romans and the gematria of the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel to comment that God worked through unusual women in the past. The “yes” of Mary is the capstone of this tradition. The expression of righteousness as compassion and the qualities of trusting and pondering are set as models by the Holy Family for those who seek God.

Fraternal Correction and Witness

Love which transcends tragedy.

The Church is called out of the world to be a community of sons and daughters of God. The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary relate to this mission. The Prophet Ezekiel is instructed by God to be a sentinel for Israel. A paper by SHIMON BAKON, in the Jewish Bible Quarterly, highlights the importance of this mission to the exiles in Babylon. Paul addresses the Romans about a relationship of the Christian Community with God through Jesus through which Divine Love is enfleshed. This state of being allows love to supercede all the directions of the commandments for moral living. Our experience is that we and other members of the Church fall short of the standard of love capable for disciples of Jesus. Friar Jude Winkler speaks of the importance of fraternal correction which is the process whereby Church members are brought to realize the serious situation of living a lie in moral choices we make. The consequence of excommunication is extreme but Rene Girard sees Jesus letting himself be like the Gentile or tax collector as the image to assure His desire for all to be in the Community. Andy Alexander, S.J reflects on the deep divisions and violence everywhere in our world community and advocates the community prayer as the starting point to petition God for the grace that we might be the Love which transcends tragedy.

Intimate presence and guide to rules

Lord and lowly

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary expand upon the proclamation of the psalmist that God is near to all who call on Him. The presence of God in our lives may take the form of the fatherly love and attention of Paul for the Corinthians as Ed Morse sees as personal assistance in his daily life to live in love and respect for those he encounters. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the efforts of Paul to call the Corinthians away from visions of being admired and rich to the reality of living the cross of Jesus. He notes that Jesus, in the Gospel from Luke, declares His authority as God to reset the priority and practices the scribes and Pharisees commanded be observed on the Sabbath. Ed Morse understands the presence of God in the freedom from rule based practices that Jesus declares. In life as a disciple, modelling Paul in attending to participating in the cross of Jesus, we experience an intimate relationship of freedom from concern about doing the right thing.

Choices which conflict with culture

Transformation is wise

Strife Immaturity Mission

Faith and demons

Moving through misunderstanding

The message of the Good News which comes as a surprise in making valued what we have considered of little value and asking us to be humble and open to rejection as we live it helps us understand that, as Friar Jude suggests, the invitation to be messengers of the Word may pass from us to others.