Wisdom, signs and trust

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to consider how faith, trust and signs of the Presence of God are agents of transformation for humanity.

Looking for a sign

The Letter of James opens with an exhortation to seek wisdom from God.

* [1:5] Wisdom: a gift that God readily grants to all who ask in faith and that sustains the Christian in times of trial. It is a kind of knowledge or understanding not accessible to the unbeliever or those who doubt, which gives the recipient an understanding of the real importance of events. In this way a Christian can deal with adversity with great calm and hope (cf. 1 Cor 2:6–12).

In the Gospel from Mark, Jesus continues to be confronted with the disbelief of the Pharisees.

* [8:11–12] The objection of the Pharisees that Jesus’ miracles are unsatisfactory for proving the arrival of God’s kingdom is comparable to the request of the crowd for a sign in Jn 6:30–31. Jesus’ response shows that a sign originating in human demand will not be provided; cf. Nm 14:11, 22.

Eileen Burke-Sullivan is struck by how deeply her understanding of faith challenges modern cultural assumptions.

This week serves as a good time to enter the season of Lent.  As this period of Ordinary Time comes to a close it is well to consider that everything that is authentic about us as creatures of God’s loving creation, depends on God’s compassion and mercy.  If it is trials that we are to be subjected to, we must consider them gifts because they give us the opportunity to ask in faith for God’s help.  In asking for help we recognize our dependence upon God and upon other people.  This position of humility reflects what is true and therefore brings us life that will last in eternal joy.

Don Schwager asks if we are good at reading signs? The people of Jesus' time expected that the coming of the Messiah would be accompanied by extraordinary signs and wonders. He quotes John Chrysostom (347-407 AD) on: Why does this generation seek a sign?

"But for what sign from heaven were they asking? Maybe that he should hold back the sun, or curb the moon, or bring down thunderbolts, or change the direction of the wind, or something like that?... In Pharaoh's time there was an enemy from whom deliverance was needed (Exodus 3-15). But for one who comes among friends, there should be no need of such signs." (excerpt from GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 53.3)

Friar Jude Winkler gives us some background on the Letter of James written to Jewish Christians. Pharisees wanted absolute proof. In our time, people have stopped trusting. Disciples of Jesus should prove our trustworthiness in our efforts to encourage trust in God.

Background to the Memorial of Saint Apollonia is shared in a post by Franciscan Media that hints at the difficulty of St Augustine with martyrdom achieved by jumping into the fire.

There were many churches and altars dedicated to her. Apollonia is the patroness of dentists, and people suffering from toothache and other dental diseases often ask her intercession. She is pictured with a pair of pincers holding a tooth or with a golden tooth suspended from her necklace. Saint Augustine explained her voluntary martyrdom as a special inspiration of the Holy Spirit, since no one is allowed to cause his or her own death.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reminds us that the realm of myth, art, and poetry can heal and create coherence, connection, and deep trust for the human psyche much better than prose that “tells it like it is.”

Good religion, art, poetry, and myth point us to the deeper levels of truth that logos can’t fully explain. Early Christians knew this; but the Western Church spent the last five centuries trying to prove that the stories in the Bible really happened just as they are described. For some Christians, it’s imperative that the world was created in six literal days, otherwise their entire belief system falls apart. Christianity came to rely heavily on technique, formula, and certitude instead of the more alluring power of story, myth, and narrative. These give room for the soul, mind, and heart to expand. Ironically, from such an open and creative stance, we can actually solve problems much more effectively.

In being open to wisdom as a gift from God we are aware that Christianity came to rely heavily on technique, formula, and certitude instead of the more alluring power of story, myth, and narrative wherein wisdom point to truth.

References

(n.d.). James, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/James/1:1

(n.d.). Mark, chapter 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/8

(n.d.). Online Ministries at Creighton University. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Saint Apollonia – Franciscan Media. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-apollonia/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/