The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider the gifts we have received in our relationship with Christ.
Gifts received
The reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians contains a fatherly admonition to the community.
* [4:8] Satisfied…rich…kings: these three statements could also be punctuated as questions continuing the series begun in v. 7. In any case these expressions reflect a tendency at Corinth toward an overrealized eschatology, a form of self-deception that draws Paul’s irony. The underlying attitude has implications for the Corinthians’ thinking about other issues, notably morality and the resurrection, that Paul will address later in the letter.1
Psalm 145 proclaims the greatness and the goodness of God.
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity.2
The Gospel of Luke addresses a question about 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
Scott McClure comments that the laws governing the sabbath were prescribed by God. Is it not reasonable for the Pharisees to uphold these? And yet, is it not also reasonable for the disciples, in their hunger, to pick and eat grain though they are doing so on the sabbath?
So, is Jesus disregarding the law? Quite the opposite. Jesus is elevating our understanding of the law. For proof of this, see Luke 10:25-28. From the beginning, God has endowed human beings with a conscience. We are meant to form our consciences and use them to discern how best in each and every moment of our lives to adhere ourselves to God; to do his will; to love. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33) As we live this day and every day, let us trust in God. Let us look inward and read what God has written on our own hearts so that we may never stray from his path.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 1 Corinthians 4:6-15 notes that each of us has different gifts. Each of us appreciates some characteristics more than others when we consider the people around us. But all of these gifts come from Jesus and are meant to reveal his love and his presence to us.
In fact, God wants us to recognize his image and likeness in every one of the people we encounter—parishioner, coworker, neighbor, even enemy. So when you’re at work or at church, look for the ways God has gifted the people you meet. Appreciate the creativity of the Lord, who makes himself visible to us in so many ways. And give thanks to Jesus, the One from whom all these talents come.6
Friar Jude Winkler notes the efforts of Paul to discourage boasting and pride as not part of Gospel of the Cross. Service and surrender are signs of living the Gospel. Friar Jude reminds us that the Son of Man interprets the Law.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Lectio divina (Latin for sacred reading) is a contemplative way of reading, praying, and taking a long, loving look at Scripture or some other text. In lectio divina, God teaches us to listen for and seek God’s presence in silence. The text for this lectio practice is from Fr. Richard’s book, “The Universal Christ”.The article today provides a method to contemplate the phrase:
“A mature Christian sees Christ in everything and everyone else.” [1]7
Contemplation of the gifts we see in the people God has placed in our lives helps reduce the impact of our ego on our actions of service and surrender.
References
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