The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that we cannot confine our relationship with Christ to statutes and philosophy that holds us in our comfort zone.
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| A Sabbath scene |
The reading from the Letter to the Colossians focuses on the aspect of Paul’s person and work that urges our adherence to Christ in faith.
* [1:21–23] Paul, in applying this hymn to the Colossians, reminds them that they have experienced the reconciling effect of Christ’s death. He sees the effects of the cross in the redemption of human beings, not of cosmic powers such as those referred to in Col 1:16, 20 (all things). Paul also urges adherence to Christ in faith and begins to point to his own role as minister (Col 1:23), sufferer (Col 1:24), and proclaimer (Col 1:27–28) of this gospel.1
The psalmist hopes in God, who is active in history.
* [Psalm 54] A lament in which the person under attack calls directly upon God for help (Ps 54:3–5). Refusing to despair, the psalmist hopes in God, who is active in history and just (Ps 54:6–7). The Psalm ends with a serene promise to return thanks (Ps 54:8–9).2
In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus participates in a debate about the meaning of observing the Sabbath.
* [6:1–11] The two episodes recounted here deal with gathering grain and healing, both of which were forbidden on the sabbath. In his defense of his disciples’ conduct and his own charitable deed, Jesus argues that satisfying human needs such as hunger and performing works of mercy take precedence even over the sacred sabbath rest. See also notes on Mt 12:1–14 and Mk 2:25–26.3
Barbara Dilly suggests that we Christians have difficulty with “the Gospel truth.” All too often, when we wish to convince others that we are bearers of “the truth” of our faith, we revert to the letter of the law in our zeal to preach to every creature.
In our witness to the Gospel message, our lives should be examples of respect for the law, but a recognition that it is not the law that saves us, it is Christ. To me, persevering in the faith as a witness to others is a challenge to remain firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of my reconciliation with God. Living the Gospel message to me means that I need to keep that reconciliation in my focus of what I want also for others.4
Don Schwager quotes “Withered hands - withered minds,” by Athanasius of Alexandria (295-373 AD).
"In the synagogue of the Jews was a man who had a withered hand. If he was withered in his hand, the ones who stood by were withered in their minds. And they were not looking at the crippled man nor were they expecting the miraculous deed of the one who was about to work. But before doing the work, the Savior ploughed up their minds with words. For knowing the evil of the mind and its bitter depth, he first softened them up in advance with words so as to tame the wildness of their understanding, asking: 'Is it permitted to do good on the sabbath or to do evil; to save a life or to destroy one?' For if he had said to them, 'Is it permitted to work?' immediately they would have said, 'You are speaking contrary to the law.' "Then he told them what was intended by the law, for he spoke as the One who established the laws concerning the sabbath, adding, 'except this: that which will be done for the sake of a life.' Again if a person falls into a hole on a sabbath, Jews are permitted to pull the person out (Matthew 12:11). This not only applies to a person, but also an ox or a donkey. In this way the law agrees that things relating to preservation may be done, hence Jews prepare meals on the sabbath. Then he asked them about a point on which they could hardly disagree: 'Is it permitted to do good? (Matthew 3:4, Luke 6:9) But they did not even so much as say, 'Yes,' because by then they were not in a good temper." (excerpt from HOMILIES 28)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Colossians 1:21-23 reminds us that the picture of St. John Paul speaking intently with his attacker in a stark prison cell has become one of the most moving of his whole pontificate.
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| 1983 file photo provided by Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, |
It shows the pope living out today’s passage: “You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you” (Colossians 1:21-22).
Isn’t it incredible that God calls us his friends, even when we have turned away from him? Isn’t it incredible as well that this friendship is eternal? Of course it’s incredible! But this is who our God is. This is the One we call “Father.” He is completely faithful to his promises, and he offers us his forgiveness, no matter how far we have fallen.6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the dualism of the passage from Colossians. The Law prohibited harvest work on the Sabbath, not snacking on grain. Friar Jude reminds us that the Pharisees were aware of the Divine prerogative asserted by Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, invites us to consider how science reveals that everything is both matter and energy or spirit, co-inhering as one. This is a Christocentric universe. That realization changes everything. Matter is holy; the material world is our temple where we can worship God simply by loving and respecting matter. The Christ is God’s active power inside the physical world. [4]
Find a place where you can sit or lie down with a view of a clear night sky. Just look up and let your eyes open to the vastness before you. Notice the light you can see and travel in your imagination to the source of that light and even further. Lose yourself completely in the deep, mysterious, and unimaginably vast universe. [5]7
The exhortation to steadfast faith requires that we not limit the place of God in our lives to situations we have bounded by our laws and customs because it makes us comfortable.
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