Toil and True Treasure

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to reflect on the depth of our transformation from focus on our gain from the material and selfish accomplishments in life to freedom and full life in “putting on Christ”.

Seeking Treasure

The reading from Ecclesiastes asks what profit have we from all the toil which we toil under the sun?*

* [1:2] Vanity of vanities: a Hebrew superlative expressing the supreme degree of futility and emptiness.

* [1:3] Under the sun: used throughout this book to signify “on the earth.”

Psalm 90 declares God’s Eternity and human frailty.

* [Psalm 90] A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Ps 90:1), the Psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Ps 90:2–6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Ps 90:7–12). The Psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Ps 90:13–17).

The reading from the Letter to the Colossians praises the New Life in Christ  through mystical death and resurrection.

* [3:8–10] Put…away; have taken off; have put on: the terms may reflect baptismal practice, taking off garments and putting on new ones after being united with Christ, here translated into ethical terms.

The Gospel of Luke includes the saying of Jesus against greed and the parable of the rich fool.

* [12:13–34] Luke has joined together sayings contrasting those whose focus and trust in life is on material possessions, symbolized here by the rich fool of the parable (Lk 12:16–21), with those who recognize their complete dependence on God (Lk 12:21), those whose radical detachment from material possessions symbolizes their heavenly treasure (Lk 12:33–34).

* [12:21] Rich in what matters to God: literally, “rich for God.”

Andy Alexander, S.J. comments that today's readings offer the grace of a powerful re-alignment of our lives - not focused on "what is on earth," but on our life which is "hidden with Christ in God."

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:13-21 comments about why Jesus warned the man against greed. He could see that it was motivating him far more than love was.

Friar Jude Winkler shares his comments on the texts today.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, begins this week’s meditations by reflecting on our “fall from innocence” as a necessary part of the process of transformation.

Our daily contact with the material world as we seek to acquire our perceived needs may be informed by openness to the Spirit, who prompts us to make choices that aid our transformation as followers of Christ.

Power and Persecution

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that when our actions as disciples of Christ are challenging to the status quo of power dynamics in our society, the Spirit accompanies us in our trials.

Power and Persecution

In the reading from Jeremiah the authorities spare the prophet’s life

“This man does not deserve death;

it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.”

Psalm 69 is a prayer for Deliverance from Persecution.

* [Psalm 69] A lament complaining of suffering in language both metaphorical (Ps 69:2–3, 15–16, the waters of chaos) and literal (Ps 69:4, 5, 9, 11–13, exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation). In the second part the psalmist prays with special emphasis that the enemies be punished for all to see (Ps 69:23–29). Despite the pain, the psalmist does not lose hope that all be set right, and promises public praise (Ps 69:30–36). 

The Gospel of Matthew describes the execution of John the Baptist.

* [14:3] Herodias was not the wife of Herod’s half-brother Philip but of another half-brother, Herod Boethus. The union was prohibited by Lv 18:16; 20:21. According to Josephus (Antiquities 18:116–19), Herod imprisoned and then executed John because he feared that the Baptist’s influence over the people might enable him to lead a rebellion.

Ron Fussell comments that when we know nothing greater than our own power, we are in trouble.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24 concludes that St. Paul reminds us, “If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). In Christ, we are all one family, and we should all care about believers who experience severe persecution, even if it’s not happening to us.

Friar Jude Winkler shares his reflection for today.

Richard Rohr, OFM, summarizes the week of reflections on Holy Listening.

Our mission as disciples of Christ may raise opposition as our actions show areas of need, oppression, injustice, and greed that require change in how society operates.

Resurrection and Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the ways in which the Spirit is calling us to experience full life in our relationships with family.

Full Life in Family

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes his prophecies in the Temple.

* [26:1] The beginning of the reign: a technical expression for the time between a king’s accession to the throne and the beginning of his first official (calendar) year as king. Jehoiakim’s first regnal year was 608 B.C. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 26, n.d.)

Psalm 69 is a prayer for Deliverance from Persecution

* [Psalm 69] A lament complaining of suffering in language both metaphorical (Ps 69:2–3, 15–16, the waters of chaos) and literal (Ps 69:4, 5, 9, 11–13, exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation). (Psalms, PSALM 69, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims His nature to Martha, who declares her faith in Christ as Lord. 

* [11:1–44] The raising of Lazarus, the longest continuous narrative in John outside of the passion account, is the climax of the signs. It leads directly to the decision of the Sanhedrin to kill Jesus. The theme of life predominates. Lazarus is a token of the real life that Jesus dead and raised will give to all who believe in him. Johannine irony is found in the fact that Jesus’ gift of life leads to his own death. The story is not found in the synoptics, but cf. Mk 5:21 and parallels; Lk 7:11–17. There are also parallels between this story and Luke’s parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus (Lk 16:19–31). In both a man named Lazarus dies; in Luke, there is a request that he return to convince his contemporaries of the need for faith and repentance, while in John, Lazarus does return and some believe but others do not. (John, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)

Jay Carney comments that while her contemplative sister Mary “stays at home,” it is the active Martha who seeks out Jesus. It is Martha who confronts Jesus in a biblical spirit of lamentation, decrying his past absence yet also calling on God to act through him.

It is Martha  who confesses the hope of resurrection, and then goes on to proclaim one of the highest Christological statements in all of the gospels: “I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” If the Church is built on the faith of Peter, it is also surely built on the faith of Martha, as well as the contemplative silence of Mary, and the new life given to Lazarus. (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The voice of life and joy that awakens the dead,” by Athanasius of Alexandria (295-373 AD).

"I am the voice of life that wakens the dead. I am the good odor that takes away the foul odor. I am the voice of joy that takes away sorrow and grief.... I am the comfort of those who are in grief. Those who belong to me are given joy by me. I am the joy of the whole world. I gladden all my friends and rejoice with them. I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 11:19-27 comments that family life is not always picture-perfect, but if the whole family tries to come together in faith, despite their differences, each member can grow in love, both for the Lord and for each other. We know that sometimes it is hard to get all family members on the same wavelength, but God can take even the most halting effort and bless it.

Let’s take today’s feast as an opportunity to pray for all families, including our own. May we all take strides to grow closer to each other. May we all take strides to grow closer to the Lord together. And most important, may we all welcome Jesus into our homes and invite him to live with us, just as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus did.

“Lord, be with every family, and help them embrace their calling!” (Meditation on John 11:19-27, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler locates the prophecy of Jeremiah in the Temple to the time shortly after the rediscovery of the Book of Deuteronomy as the prophet identifies two paths, one of which leads to destruction like that of the shrine at Shiloh. The false security of worship hides the need to be accountable for our sins. Friar Jude reminds us that the vitality of full life begins in our encounter with Jesus. In Luke, Jesus reminds Martha of the need for us to spend time with our guests.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that we must receive all words of God tenderly and subtly, so that we can speak them to others with tenderness and subtlety. He  would even say that anything said with too much bravado, overassurance, or with any need to control or impress another, is never the voice of God within us. If any thought feels too harsh, shaming, or diminishing of ourselves or others, it is not likely the voice of God.

If we can trust and listen to our inner divine image, our whole-making instinct, or our True Self, we will act from our best, largest, kindest, most inclusive self. There is a deeper voice of God, which we must learn to hear and obey. It will sound like the voice of risk, of trust, of surrender, of soul, of common sense, of destiny, of love, of an intimate stranger, of your deepest self. It will always feel gratuitous, and it is this very freedom that scares us. God never leads by guilt or shame! God leads by loving the soul at ever-deeper levels, not by shaming at superficial levels. (Rohr, n.d.)

Divine guidance in our journey to greater fullness of life in our family is likely to move us to prayer, inclusion, and openness to attend to the needs of others.

References

Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072922.html 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 26. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/26?1 

John, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/11?19 

Meditation on John 11:19-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/29/451286/ 

Psalms, PSALM 69. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/69?5 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Listening to the Voice of God. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/listening-to-the-voice-of-god-2022-07-29/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul29a 

Transformation and Tension

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the Penitential Pilgrimage of Pope Francis in Canada as we contemplate the power of the Spirit to transform our shattered state into vessels that reflect the Love of our Creator.

Things Old and New

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes the action of the Potter and the Clay.

* [18:1–12] The lesson of the potter is that God has the power to destroy or restore, changing his plans accordingly as these nations disobey him or fulfill his will. Cf. Jon 3:10. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)

Psalm 146 praises God’s Help.

* [Psalm 146] A hymn of someone who has learned there is no other source of strength except the merciful God. Only God, not mortal human beings (Ps 146:3–4), can help vulnerable and oppressed people (Ps 146:5–9). The first of the five hymns that conclude the Psalter. (Psalms, PSALM 146, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew describes scribes that reveal treasures both new and old.

* [13:52] Since Matthew tends to identify the disciples and the Twelve (see note on Mt 10:1), this saying about the Christian scribe cannot be taken as applicable to all who accept the message of Jesus. While the Twelve are in many ways representative of all who believe in him, they are also distinguished from them in certain respects. The church of Matthew has leaders among whom are a group designated as “scribes” (Mt 23:34). Like the scribes of Israel, they are teachers. It is the Twelve and these their later counterparts to whom this verse applies. The scribe…instructed in the kingdom of heaven knows both the teaching of Jesus (the new) and the law and prophets (the old) and provides in his own teaching both the new and the old as interpreted and fulfilled by the new. On the translation head of a household (for the same Greek word translated householder in Mt 13:27), see note on Mt 24:45–51. (Matthew, n.d.)

David Crawford finds Jeremiah encouraging.  A potter looks at a misshapen lump of clay and envisions a beautiful, useful finished product.  God looks at each of us with a potter’s eye and sees potential.  Still better, we – sinners all – are imperfect and often damaged goods, but our Potter repairs and uplifts us so we can serve again.  Thanks be to God!

We shouldn’t view our usefulness as a one-time event, either.  We are all works in progress, with God using and repurposing us as we see fit – and this happens as long as we are on earth.  A dear octogenarian friend used to get frustrated by people who would claim that they were too old or had already made their contributions.  She would tell them, “If you’re still alive, it’s because God still has a use for you.” (Crawford, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes  “A scribe who is trained for the kingdom of heaven,” by Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD).

"A scribe is one who, through continual reading of the Old and New Testaments, has laid up for himself a storehouse of knowledge. Thus Christ blesses those who have gathered in themselves the education both of the law and of the gospel, so as to 'bring forth from their treasure things both new and old.' And Christ compares such people with a scribe, just as in another place he says, 'I will send you wise men and scribes' (Matthew 23:34) (excerpt from Fragment 172) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 18:1-6 comments that each of us is on a journey of faith, and along the way, we all have numerous opportunities to be changed, molded, and formed by the Lord. Just as the potter shapes the clay into something beautiful, God longs to shape us into vessels that reveal his glory and love. If we let him, he can make up all that is lacking in our lives. He can help us grow in virtue and put away sin. Just like pottery that is hand turned, each of us is a unique creation. Each of us reveals God’s handiwork in a new and different way.

Don’t you find it very encouraging to know that God hasn’t given up on you? Even if it feels as if you’ve taken far too many turns on the potter’s wheel, know this: your heavenly Father is committed to making you into the strongest, the most beautiful, and the most useful vessel possible. Know this as well: it’s hard to see, as you’re spinning around on that wheel, just how beautiful you have already become. You may not see it, but God does. And so do many of the people in your life!

“Father, I am so grateful that you love me so much! Keep shaping and forming me so that I can reflect your glory to the world.” (Meditation on Jeremiah 18:1-6, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the message to Jeremiah that even though God gave birth to Israel, He would choose another people. The separation of good and bad by the fisherman points to a final accounting. Friar Jude notes the contrast between Jewish tendency not to mix new and old and Jesus' challenge to risk something good for the future.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces retreat leader and journalist Judith Valente who writes of the importance of listening in Benedictine spirituality.

Listening cracks open the door to another Benedictine concept from which most of us would rather run,—that of obedience. . . . Obedience comes from the Latin, oboedire, to give ear, to harken, to listen. The Benedictine writer Esther de Waal says that obedience moves us from our “contemporary obsession with the self,” [1] and inclines us toward others. . . . . [St. Benedict] moves beyond the common understanding of the word as solely an authoritarian, top-down dynamic. He stresses instead mutual obedience, a horizontal relationship where careful listening and consideration is due to each member of the community from each member, as brothers and sisters. It is by this way of obedience, he says, that we go to God. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

Author Esther de Waal describes how in Benedictine spirituality there is an inherent connection between listening and responsive action.

To listen closely, with every fibre of our being, at every moment of the day, is one of the most difficult things in the world, and yet it is essential if we mean to find the God whom we are seeking. If we stop listening to what we find hard to take then, as the Abbot of St. Benoît-sur-Loire puts it in a striking phrase, ‘We’re likely to pass God by without even noticing Him.’ [3] And now it is our obedience which proves that we have been paying close attention. . . . So to obey [in the Benedictine tradition] really means to hear and then act upon what we have heard, or, in other words, to see that the listening achieves its aim. We are not being truly attentive unless we are prepared to act on what we hear. If we hear and do nothing more about it, then the sounds have simply fallen on our ears and it is not apparent that we have actually heard them at all. [4] (Rohr, n.d.)

We express gratitude that Our Father continues to use our experience of the Spirit to reshape our lives to surrender as we listen to echoes of the Will of God.

References

Crawford, D. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072822.html 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/18?1 

Matthew. (n.d.). Chapter 13. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?47 

Meditation on Jeremiah 18:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/28/450614/ 

Psalms, PSALM 146. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/146?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Listening Heart. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-listening-heart-2-22-07-28/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul28