The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to remember to be cautious on our journey to avoid neglecting the Life we experience in Christ.
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| Parking our decisions |
The reading from the Book of Sirach warns against presumption in our relationship with God.
* [5:1–8] The vices of the rich are pride and independence (vv. 1–2), presumption (v. 3), false security (vv. 4–6), and impenitence (v. 7), which cannot escape the divine wrath (vv. 7–8). Cf. Prv 18:23; 19:1; 28:6.1
Psalm 1 is a preface to the whole Book of Psalms as it shares images of the wisdom and folly in our choices.
* [Psalm 1] A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The Psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death.2
In the Gospel from Mark Jesus teaches the dangers in the temptations to sin. He uses the simile of Salt for His disciples.
* [9:49] Everyone will be salted with fire: so the better manuscripts. Some add “every sacrifice will be salted with salt.” The purifying and preservative use of salt in food (Lv 2:13) and the refinement effected through fire refer here to comparable effects in the spiritual life of the disciples of Jesus.3
Mark and Farley Mowat in his book “And No Birds Sang” cite Isaiah Chapter 66.[Mark 9:48 and Isaiah 66:24]. Michael Fishbane shares the monotheism open to the world in the last Chapter of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.
In Isaiah 40‑66, then, monotheism is portrayed as a total and absolute phenomenon.But this does not lead to exclusiveness or intolerance. The foreigners are repeatedly promised access to the Temple and the divine service performed there–both as pilgrims and as practitioners (56:1‑8; 66:18‑21). The strident nature of these passages, with their bold assertion of priestly service by non‑Israelites, strikes one as a polemical stance in the postexilic community. ‘As for the foreigners … who hold fast to My covenant–I will bring them to My sacred mount and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices shall be welcome on My altar; for My House shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (56:6‑7).4
Kimberly Grassmeyer asks what is the millstone that pulls us away from a right path?
Do we struggle with greed? Jealousy? Perhaps we tell white lies or manipulate to achieve our ends. I can judge too quickly. Too often I fail to put others’ needs above my own. Jesus’ words challenge us to be introspective enough to see our flaws so that we can then choose to remedy those flaws. I have no intention of removing any body parts, as Jesus imagines in his teaching… but I can mindfully and with discipline act better than my nature. I can have the humility to claim my imperfection yet not be “overconfident” in carelessly clinging to my imperfections as an excuse to then expect forgiveness. I can strive to be better, to be closer to God, to move further from my sinful nature, and to have the humility to ask for help and for the forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ.5
Don Schwager quotes “Why not skip over such passages,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"This is no trivial subject of inquiry that we propose, but rather it concerns things most urgent, and about which many inquire: namely, whether hell fire has any end. For that it has no end Christ indeed declared when he said, 'Their fire shall not be quenched, and their worm shall not die' (Isaiah 66:24). Yes, I know a chill comes over you on hearing these things. But what am I to do? For this is God's own command... Ordained as we have been to the ministry of the word, we must cause our hearers discomfort when it is necessary for them to hear. We do this not arbitrarily but under command." (excerpt from the HOMILIES ON FIRST CORINTHIANS 9.1)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 9:41-50 shares that Jesus taught them that humility and self-giving are the pathway to true greatness. Why is this so? Because humble service acts as a salt scrub.
You don’t have to look far to find opportunities to humble yourself and serve other people. According to St. Francis de Sales, “Great occasions for serving God seldom come, but little ones surround us daily.” Kindness to an irritable spouse, patience with a slow driver, and encouragement to a struggling coworker are all little acts of service. Offering to empty the dishwasher, pick up the dry cleaning, and pour someone a second cup of coffee—these small personal acts can help you keep “salt” in yourself—and they can promote peace with those around you. Through them, you are offering your life to God and to his people—and that’s always a beautiful sight!7
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the Wisdom of Sirach that today is the day of conversion. Some who do not have instruction on the over the top Jewish teaching may respond in an eccentric manner as attributed to Church Father Origen. Friar Jude has a vision of Christians leaving Church that is similar to children running to recess.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, knows he has never been separate from God. He would love for us to bring this realization to loving consciousness!
In fact, why not stop reading now and just breathe and let it sink in? It is crucial that you know this experientially and at a cellular level—which is, in fact, a real way of knowing just as much as rational knowing. Its primary characteristic is that it is nondual and thus an open-ended consciousness, which does not close down so quickly and so definitively as dualistic thought does.8
Our familiarity and presumption are potential obstacles in our journey. Humility and nondual contemplation help restore our relationship in Christ.
References
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(n.d.). Sirach chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Retrieved February 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/Sirach/5:1
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(n.d.). Psalms chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Retrieved February 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/Psalms/1:1
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(n.d.). Mark, chapter 9. Retrieved February 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/mark/9:38
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(n.d.). Isaiah 40-66: Return and Restoration | My Jewish Learning. Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/isaiah-40-66-return-and-restoration/
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved February 28, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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(2019, February 28). 7th Week in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/02/28/
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(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/02/
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