Hearing the Word from disciples

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate how we are called to act as disciples of Jesus.

Walk the walk

In the reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Christians are assured that no one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame.

* [10:9–11] To confess Jesus as Lord was frequently quite hazardous in the first century (cf. Mt 10:18; 1 Thes 2:2; 1 Pt 2:18–21; 3:14). For a Jew it could mean disruption of normal familial and other social relationships, including great economic sacrifice. In the face of penalties imposed by the secular world, Christians are assured that no one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame (Rom 10:11).1

The Psalmist shares the Creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law.

* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11),2

Jesus calls the First Disciples in the passage from the Gospel of Matthew.

* [4:18–22] The call of the first disciples promises them a share in Jesus’ work and entails abandonment of family and former way of life. Three of the four, Simon, James, and John, are distinguished among the disciples by a closer relation with Jesus (Mt 17:1; 26:37).3

Larry Gillick, S.J. and a colleague are guiding a class of twenty-five fourth-year students through their praying of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius...Their huge question, of course, is how do they know they are doing what will be good, successful, fruitful and are they doing God’s Will!

Andrew and his fishing companions seemed to have it easier. They heard and listened and lept. Good for Andrew and all who had first-face encounters with the Word Made Flesh. They heard, listened also to something inside them and were somehow attracted to hear more. Whatever is good, we will always want more of it. The good inside us, in our souls, longs for something more always. These four heard the Word which also spoke to what we call, their “deepest desires.”
Our students find this listening to their “deepest desires” quite conflictual. In searching for these deep longings they are moved to confront their usual selfish, self-centered desires for more “fish” more success, more of the more. Andrew and his companions were forced after their beginning relationship with Jesus about these same healthy human invitations. Our students are spending their prayer-time in agonizing twistings about just how are they going to follow Jesus within the experiencing of their “deepest desires.” No easy answers in the Spiritual Exercises and in the spiritual life of hearing the Word.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus chooses them for what they can become,” by an anonymous early author from the Greek church.

 "'Before he says or does anything, he calls the apostles so nothing may be concealed from them as to Christ's words or works and they may later say in confidence: 'For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard' (Acts 4:20). He sees them not bodily but spiritually, regarding not their appearance but their hearts. And he chooses them not as apostles but because they could become apostles. Just as an artist who sees precious, and not rough-hewn, stones chooses them - not because of what they are but because of what they can become. Like the sensitive artist who does not spurn the unshaped good - so too the Lord, upon seeing them, does not choose their works but their hearts." (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 7, the Greek fathers).5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 4:18-22 notes the fishermen had a personal encounter with Jesus. On their own, they would never have made such a decision. Andrew, whose feast we celebrate today, would never have gone on to preach the gospel in Greece and Turkey and die the heroic death of a martyr. But after he experienced the love of Jesus and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, he did.

It’s important to know that Jesus didn’t choose Andrew and Peter at random, and he didn’t issue them generic invitations to follow him. There must have been many other fishermen on the lake that day, but he zeroed in on these two men. And he did it carefully; he knew what would most resonate in their hearts. He knew what words would help them the most, what tone of voice would be the most compelling.
This is how Jesus calls you. He isn’t distracted or halfhearted or distant. He reaches out in a way that he knows will touch your heart and give you confidence to answer his call.6 

Friar Jude Winkler underlines the eschatology of Paul noting we will be saved at the end of time. Paul defines our justification now, our redemption by Jesus on the cross and our salvation at the end of time. Friar Jude is reminded by the call of the apostles of our call to be transformed to being a sign of the Kingdom.

The article by Franciscan media about Saint Andrew mentions the legend that Andrew preached the Good News in what is now modern Greece and Turkey and was crucified at Patras on an X-shaped cross. As in the case of all the apostles except Peter and John, the Gospels give us little about the holiness of Andrew.

He was an apostle. That is enough. He was called personally by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, to heal with Jesus’ power and to share his life and death. Holiness today is no different. It is a gift that includes a call to be concerned about the Kingdom, an outgoing attitude that wants nothing more than to share the riches of Christ with all people.7 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites the work of Sharif Abdullah, author of “Creating a World that Works for All” as he describes the role of Mender. We are Menders [when] we believe the Earth and our fellow humans need to be healed from the excesses of exclusivity, and we live our daily lives in accordance with this belief. . . . Our goal is to live as a consciously integral part of a living, conscious, and sacred planet. [5]

You can cultivate Mender skills by developing the following:
Your Mender self seeks to transcend the individual self, and desires transcendent experiences.Your Mender self is holistic and ecologic, desires peace and sustainability, and thinks in terms of global realities.Your Mender self desires to practice compassion—for self, others and the more-than-human environment.Your Mender self celebrates and explores its differences from and similarities to The Other. [6]8

Our relationship with Jesus is the Way in which our transformation as disciples will be accomplished in service of the Will of God.

References

1	(n.d.). Romans, chapter 10. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/romans/10
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 19. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 4. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Saint Andrew, Apostle (Feast) - Mass Readings and Catholic .... Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/11/30/
7	(n.d.). Saint Andrew - Franciscan Media. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-andrew/
8	(n.d.). Economy: Old and New: Weekly Summary — Center for Action .... Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://cac.org/economy-old-and-new-weekly-summary-2019-11-30/

Signs of a permanent presence

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of what in life is permanent and can be relied upon as a guide for our journey.

Journey continues

The apocalyptic reading from Daniel 7 presents visions of the four Beasts and ultimate judgement before the Ancient One.

* [7:13–14] One like a son of man: In contrast to the worldly kingdoms opposed to God, which are represented as grotesque beasts, the coming Kingdom of God is represented by a human figure. Scholars disagree as to whether this figure should be taken as a collective symbol for the people of God (cf. 7:27) or identified as a particular individual, e.g., the archangel Michael (cf. 12:1) or the messiah. The phrase “Son of Man” becomes a title for Jesus in the gospels, especially in passages dealing with the Second Coming (Mk 13 and parallels).1 

The prayer of Azariah is the response from Daniel 3.

* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures.2 

Jesus teaches the Lesson of the Fig Tree in the Gospel of Luke.

* [21:5–36] Jesus’ eschatological discourse in Luke is inspired by Mk 13 but Luke has made some significant alterations to the words of Jesus found there. Luke maintains, though in a modified form, the belief in the early expectation of the end of the age (see Lk 21:27, 28, 31, 32, 36), but, by focusing attention throughout the gospel on the importance of the day-to-day following of Jesus and by reinterpreting the meaning of some of the signs of the end from Mk 13 he has come to terms with what seemed to the early Christian community to be a delay of the parousia.3 

Scott McClure reflects on what it means to be Christian – to act in a Christian way as love, kindness, community, patience, and similar words come to mind… as characteristics of this way… Beyond “Because these are good ways to act” what is the reason for our striving to act in this way, as Christians?

 Our answer lies in today’s psalm: Give glory and eternal praise to him! (Daniel 3). How timely a message as we enter the season of Advent! We are called to glorify and praise God; to worship God. This requires a consciousness of the transcendent, an eternal realm that ensures, as Jesus, himself, says: my words will not pass away (Lk 21:33). Those present at the nativity had such an awareness.4

Don Schwager quotes “My words will not pass away,” by an anonymous early author from the early Greek fathers.

  "'This generation' refers both to those who suffer temptation and to those who cause it. It refers to sinners among men and to the demons who are at work in them. For neither group will cease being in the world until its consummation. For Christ said, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 25:41). Moreover, it is necessary that the source of temptation be preserved as long as there is faith which needs testing. It is also possible, however, that 'this generation' refers to those mortal Christians who would not pass over into eternal life and be made immortal and impassible 'until' all the events about which Christ was speaking had taken place.    "'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away' because heaven and earth were created to serve you, but my words were uttered to govern you. Both heaven and earth are subject to vanity, as the apostle said, 'Creation is subject to vanity' (Romans 8:20). Truth, however, is by nature unable to deceive and can never die." (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 49, the Greek fathers).5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Daniel 7:2-14 comments that Biblical scholars say Daniel’s vision is a creative interpretation of Israel’s past and present, ending with the promise that God’s justice will prevail. But that doesn’t keep us from wanting to look for predictions of the future in the cryptic symbolism Daniel uses.

 As Pope Francis proclaimed at the inaugural Mass for his first World Youth Day, “The ‘dragon,’ evil, is present in our history, but it does not have the upper hand. The One with the upper hand is God, and God is our hope!”
Even Daniel’s bizarre-sounding tale ends with the everlasting dominion of the Ancient One. That’s what we have to hold on to in times of turmoil, confusion, and fear. Take heart; hold on. Christ is in you, and he is victorious!6

Friar Jude Winkler traces the series of pagan empires represented by beasts in Daniel 7 to Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes in the 2nd century BCE. Jesus self reference to Son of Man is also connected to being the Suffering Servant of Second Isaiah. Friar Jude reminds of the sign that grey or white hair is of our own end time.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes that most of Jesus’ teaching is what we call nondual, for example: “Let the weeds and the wheat grow together” (Matthew 13:30); “My Father’s sun shines on the good and the bad” (Matthew 5:45). But there are some areas where he’s absolutely dualistic, either/or—usually anything having to with the poor or with money! I believe Jesus is dualistic on these topics because he knows what most of us are otherwise going to do, that most of us will serve mammon. We’re wired to focus on short-term, practical gains. And, of course, money often does solve our short-term problems.

 But I hear Jesus saying that a long-term solution is to seek relationship over money. I saw this at work most clearly when I was able to preach in many “poor” countries that don’t have the same kinds of infrastructure and safety nets that so-called “developed” countries do… In her book, The Soul of Money, Lynne Twist points out that modern science is discovering a similar truth in nature. She writes:
The idea that scarcity and competition are just the way it is is no longer even viable science. Respected evolutionary biologist Elisabet Sahtouris notes that Nature fosters collaboration and reciprocity. Competition in Nature exists, she says, but it has limits, and the true law of survival is ultimately cooperation. . . .7

As we approach the end of this liturgical year, we contemplate signs that remind us of our mortality and the permanent relationship we share with Christ.

References

1	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 7 - United States Conference of Catholic .... Retrieved November 29, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/7
2	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 3. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3
3	(n.d.). Luke 21. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/luke21.htm
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). 34th Week in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic .... Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/11/29/
7	(2019, November 29). Finding Security in Relationships — Center for Action and .... Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://cac.org/finding-security-in-relationships-2019-11-29/

Redemption drawing near

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the connection between times when we have known redemption and the attitude of gratitude that many of our American cousins will ponder today.

Attitude of gratitude

In the passage from the Book of Daniel, he is saved from the Lions.

* [6:8–11] The Jews of the second century B.C. could relate the king’s attempt to force upon them, under pain of death, the worship of a foreign deity to the decrees of Antiochus IV; cf. 1 Mc 1:41–50.1

Part of the Prayer of Azariah is our response today from the Book of Daniel.

* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures.2 

In the Gospel of Luke Jesus foretells the Destruction of Jerusalem and the coming of the Son of Man.

* [21:24] The times of the Gentiles: a period of indeterminate length separating the destruction of Jerusalem from the cosmic signs accompanying the coming of the Son of Man.3 

Andy Alexander, S.J. comments that we who have found ourselves in a lion's den of some sort, at one time or another, can cheer along with the King about our God's fidelity to us.

We might have sought miracles and were disappointed, but our God delivers us from so much - from fear, from anxiety, from a lack of courage, from a feeling of being alone. When we experience a peace that only our God can give, we can truly feel freed from a lion's den...
Jesus is preaching in the temple and warning of the temple's destruction... It is as though the temple falls apart under the Roman invasion, as much from the lack of faith of the people as from the force of the invading Roman army. But, Jesus seems to address his followers with words of hope and encouragement:..“stand erect and raise your headsbecause your redemption is at hand.” (Luke 21:28)4 

Don Schwager quotes “The signs have been accomplished,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

 "The signs given in the Gospel and in prophecy and fulfilled in us show the coming of the Lord... We know that the coming is near by the fact that we see the fulfillment of certain signs of that coming that have been accomplished... The signs that Christ told them to look for are listed in the Gospel of Saint Luke: 'Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the nations are fulfilled.' This has happened and no one doubts that it has happened... It is plain that there is no country or place in our time that is not harassed or humbled according to the words 'for fear and expectation of what will come on the whole world.' All the signs that the gospel describes in the earlier verses have mostly been accomplished." (excerpt from Letter 198)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Daniel 6:12-28 notes that over time, Daniel’s faithful witness gained the attention and respect of Darius. It didn’t happen all at once; it was the result of Daniel’s everyday faithfulness.

This is how evangelization usually starts. It mostly takes place in the course of everyday life and arises out of our day-to-day interactions. It’s hard for people to gloss over the witness of a life of faith. They will see the unique way you treat people—with respect and compassion. They will notice how your faith shapes the way you spend your time, the decisions you make, and even the clothes you wear. It all adds up and points people to the God you worship and his love and grace.6 

Friar Jude Winkler connects the text from Daniel with mockery of “Antiochus IV Epiphanes” in the second century BCE. In Daniel and Luke clouds are a kind of deus en machina occurring with other end times signs. Friar Jude reminds that soon, in Advent, “Maranatha!” will be a key watchword and prayer to say Come Lord Jesus.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that as long as we operate inside any scarcity model, there will never be enough God or grace to go around. Jesus came to undo our notions of scarcity and tip us over into a worldview of absolute abundance. The Gospel reveals a divine world of infinity, a worldview of enough and more than enough. The Christian word for this undeserved abundance is “grace.” It is a major mental and heart conversion to move from a scarcity model to an abundance model and to live with an attitude of gratitude. Lynne Twist, co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance, writes about the reality of abundance, which she calls “sufficiency,” in her excellent book The Soul of Money.

We each have a choice in any setting to step back and let go of the mind-set of scarcity. Once we let go of scarcity, we discover the surprising truth of sufficiency...
When we live in the context of sufficiency, we find a natural freedom and integrity. We engage in life from a sense of our own wholeness rather than a desperate longing to be complete. We feel naturally called to share the resources that flow through our lives—our time, our money, our wisdom, our energy, at whatever level those resources flow—to serve our highest commitments. . . .
Sufficiency as a way of being offers us enormous personal freedom and possibility. Rather than scarcity’s myths that tell us that the only way to perceive the world is there’s not enough, more is better, and that’s just the way it is, the truth of sufficiency asserts that there is enough for everyone. Knowing there is enough inspires sharing, collaboration, and contribution. . . .7 

Fr Richard wraps up by wishing on this holiday in the United States, when many of us pause to give thanks, let us consider how we can allow what we have in “sufficiency” to flow from us, no matter what it is—compassion, joy, humility, time, and yes, even money.

References

1	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 6. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/6
2	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 3. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3
3	(n.d.). Luke, chapter 21 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/21
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Thanksgiving Day (USA) - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/11/28/
7	(2019, November 28). The Gift of Sufficiency — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://cac.org/the-gift-of-sufficiency-2019-11-28/

Wisdom in speaking

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of the practices we need to bring Wisdom guided by the Spirit to our daily witness.

Speaking for justice

The reading from the Book of Daniel tell of the writing on the wall interpreted by Daniel during Belshazzar’s feast.

* [5:26–28] Daniel interprets these three terms by a play on the words: MENE, connected with the verb meaning to number; TEKEL, with the verb meaning to weigh; PERES, with the verb meaning to divide. There is also a play on the last term with the word for Persians.1

The prayer of Azariah from the Book of Daniel is the response today.

* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures.2 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus assures that by our endurance we will gain your souls.

* [21:15] A wisdom in speaking: literally, “a mouth and wisdom.”3 

Chas Kestermeier, S.J. comments in making our choices for God, we are witnessing to ourselves, and while we learn the tricks which we play on ourselves to avoid the gift of giving ourselves constantly and totally to God we also learn what our serious, loving attempts to turn ourselves completely over to God do to us.

And in that transformation that God works in us as we seek Him comes a difference also in that witnessing to those others in our daily lives: the gifts of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, and everything in between make us filled with inner peace, patience, generosity, purity, gentleness, and all the rest, and others can see how God is at work in us.4 

Don Schwager quotes “The faithful Christian is recognized by belief in the resurrection of the body,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"We should have no doubt that our mortal flesh also will rise again at the end of the world... This is the Christian faith. This is the Catholic faith. This is the apostolic faith. Believe Christ when he says, 'Not a hair of your head shall perish.' Putting aside all unbelief, consider how valuable you are. How can our Redeemer despise any person when he cannot despise a hair of that person's head? How are we going to doubt that he intends to give eternal life to our soul and body? He took on a soul and body in which to die for us, which he laid down for us when he died and which he took up again that we might not fear death." (excerpt from Sermon 214.11-12)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 notes that throughout all of his trials, Daniel is depicted as a humble, wise, and righteous man... From the day his stories were written, Daniel has stood as the best of the best, a hero’s hero, someone every eager young believer should aspire to be like.

We will never face a den of lions or a fiery furnace, but we do face cultural pressure to become like everyone else, even if it means denying our faith. Daniel’s example reminds us that God will reward and protect us if we stay strong and hold fast to what we know is right and good.
“Lord, help me to stay strong in my faith like Daniel. Give me Daniel’s courage and wisdom to follow you, no matter what.”6 

Friar Jude Winkler describes the desecration of the Temple vessels during Belshazzar’s feast. The prediction of Daniel about the fall of Babylon is referring to the collapse of the Seleucid Empire who were persecuting Israel at the time the text was written. Friar Jude reminds us of ongoing persecution referring to St Theresa of Lisieux persecution of pin pricks.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, is not going to say capitalism is wrong in all aspects; it does some very real and significant good. But we must be able to offer an honest critique of a system if we want to find a better way forward. In this excerpt, Arthur Simon, a Lutheran minister, deals fairly with capitalism, praising what it does well and encouraging us—especially those of us with power and privilege—to do better.

Left to its own devices, free enterprise capitalism would ruin the environment and let people starve. As a result, no nation leaves free enterprise entirely on its own. Every country will devise policies that, at least to some extent, guide free enterprise toward serving the wider public good, in this way acknowledging that while free enterprise may be a remarkable engine for driving economic growth, an engine is not the same as a steering wheel.7 

Reflecting on Simon’s message, Fr Richard considers: How do Gospel values like justice, compassion, and generosity make their way into our economic decisions?

Greed or good

Do they carry the same weight as our desire for material things? Persecution persists for those following Jesus Way. Our call is to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us to the patient endurance necessary in these tribulations.

References

1	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 5. Retrieved November 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/5
2	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 3. Retrieved November 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3
3	(n.d.). Luke, chapter 21 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/21
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved November 27, 2019, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 27, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 27, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/11/27/
7	(2019, November 27). Moral Capitalism — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 27, 2019, from https://cac.org/moral-capitalism-2019-11-27/