The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite reflection on our Baptismal call to be a prophet.
Consider our reflection
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah contains the promise of God that “they shall not prevail against you.”
* [1:5] Jeremiah was destined to become a prophet before his birth; cf. Is 49:1, 5; Lk 1:15; Gal 1:15–16. I knew you: I loved you and chose you. I dedicated you: I set you apart to be a prophet. The nations: the neighbors of Judah, along with Assyria, Babylonia, and Egypt.1
Psalm 33 praises the greatness and goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22).2
The Gospel of Mark relates the Passion of Saint John the Baptist.
* [6:17–29] Similarities are to be noted between Mark’s account of the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist in this pericope, and that of the passion of Jesus (Mk 15:1–47). Herod and Pilate, each in turn, acknowledges the holiness of life of one over whom he unjustly exercises the power of condemnation and death (Mk 6:26–27; 15:9–10, 14–15). The hatred of Herodias toward John parallels that of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus. After the deaths of John and of Jesus, well-disposed persons request the bodies of the victims of Herod and of Pilate in turn to give them respectful burial (Mk 6:29; 15:45–46).3
Tom Lenz comments that our reflection comes from God because we belong to God with all of our being.
If we look in the mirror and our thoughts go no further than, “I am rich” or “I am powerful” or “I am smart,” then our ego doesn’t allow us to move beyond those thoughts – we are stuck only seeing a small part of our wholeness. But, Paul reminds us that those with less are paradoxically able to see more. Those who have less move beyond their ego to know what they have comes from God and therefore we can, “boast in the Lord.” With less, we “consider our calling” by looking into the mirror and knowing that which reflects back at us is the image of God – and that image is good.4
Don Schwager quotes “The Weakness of the Tyrant and the Power of the Beheaded,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"Note well the weakness of the tyrant compared to the power of the one in prison. Herod was not strong enough to silence his own tongue. Having opened it, he opened up countless other mouths in its place and with its help. As for John, he immediately inspired fear in Herod after his murder - for fear was disturbing Herod's conscience to such an extent that he believed John had been raised from the dead and was performing miracles (Mark 6:14-16)! In our own day and through all future time, throughout all the world, John continues to refute Herod, both through himself and through others. For each person repeatedly reading this Gospel says: 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife of Philip your brother' (Mark 6:18). And even apart from reading the Gospel, in assemblies and meetings at home or in the market, in every place... even to the very ends of the earth, you will hear this voice and see that righteous man even now still crying out, resounding loudly, reproving the evil of the tyrant. He will never be silenced nor the reproof at all weakened by the passing of time." (excerpt from ON THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD 22.8-9)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 6:17-29 suggests that we might not put ourselves in the same category as John the Baptist, but in one sense we are like him. The Holy Spirit lives in us and is calling us to reach people with God’s love and mercy.Friar Jude Winkler comments on the USCCB reading from 1 Corinthians and the demographics of early Christianity. The folly of rash promises is a lesson for today. Friar Jude reminds us that our prophetic call is to stand up for what is morally right.
So consider: how might the Holy Spirit make you attractive to the people around you? Maybe, like John, you have a passion for holiness that grabs their attention. Or maybe your sense of peace helps other people stay calm in a crisis. Or perhaps your joy overflows and lifts the spirits of your loved ones. Do you want to cultivate these spiritual gifts? Then nurture your relationship with the Lord. The more you spend time with him, the more you will experience his love and mercy in your own life. And that will make you more attractive. There will be something different about you, something that sets you apart and touches the people around you.6
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, would like to offer a form of contemplation—a practice of accepting paradox and holding the tension of contradictions—called “The Welcoming Prayer.”
When you’re able to welcome your own pain, you will, in some way, feel the pain of the whole world. This is what it means to be human—and, also, what it means to be divine. You can hold this immense pain because you too are being held by the very One who went through this process on the Cross. Jesus held all the pain of the world, at least symbolically or archetypally; though the world had come to hate him, he refused to hate it back. Now, hand all of this pain—yours and the world’s—over to God. Let it go. Ask for the grace of forgiveness for the person who hurt you, for the event that offended you, for the reality of suffering in each life.7
Our presence to others, like John the Baptist, should declare our faith truthfully and radiate the attractiveness of our life in Christ.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment