The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be alert to the prompting of the Spirit concerning signs of life and rejection of life on our journey.
In the reading from the Book of Genesis, Cain murders Abel.
* [4:11] Banned from the ground: lit., “cursed.” The verse refers back to 3:17 where the ground was cursed so that it yields its produce only with great effort. Cain has polluted the soil with his brother’s blood and it will no longer yield any of its produce to him.
* [4:15] A mark: probably a tattoo to mark Cain as protected by God. The use of tattooing for tribal marks has always been common among the Bedouin of the Near Eastern deserts. (Genesis, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)
Psalm 50 praises the Acceptable Sacrifice
* [Psalm 50] A covenant lawsuit stating that the sacrifice God really wants is the sacrifice of praise accompanied by genuine obedience (cf. Mi 6:1–8). It begins with a theophany and the summoning of the court (Ps 50:1–6). Then in direct address God explains what is required of the faithful (Ps 50:7–15), rebukes the hypocritical worshiper (Ps 50:16–21), and concludes with a threat and a promise (Ps 50:22–23; cf. Is 1:19–20). (Psalms, PSALM 50, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus addresses the demand for a Sign.
* [8:11–12] The objection of the Pharisees that Jesus’ miracles are unsatisfactory for proving the arrival of God’s kingdom is comparable to the request of the crowd for a sign in Jn 6:30–31. Jesus’ response shows that a sign originating in human demand will not be provided; cf. Nm 14:11, 22. (Mark, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Larry Gillick S.J. comments that we too look, rather by nature, look for signs which will give us a sense of control and power, knowing! Business-relationships can be intense, and can degenerate into being personal, in the sense of attack and diminishment. Love-relationships are up-grading, affirming and personal beyond power and control. So here it is, Jesus offers a love-relationship and the Pharisees want a business where they can convince rather than invite, where they distribute rather than receive. They want to deal with signs with which to dance rather than being met face to face with a Person offering them their persons.
Yes, we want facts, evidence, sureness and that is so much a part of our humanity. This feature then is a large part of the nature of faith, the nature of a personal relationship which Jesus offers the Pharisee within each of us. It is the Holy Tension for each of us to experience and actually enjoy. Believing means we do not know what’s new all the time. What’s new are the opportunities to admit our humanity and allow that to be met quite personally by Jesus, The Real Deal. (Gillick, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Why does this generation seek a sign,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"But for what sign from heaven were they asking? Maybe that he should hold back the sun, or curb the moon, or bring down thunderbolts, or change the direction of the wind, or something like that?... In Pharaoh's time there was an enemy from whom deliverance was needed (Exodus 3-15). But for one who comes among friends, there should be no need of such signs." (excerpt from GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 53.3) (Schwager, 2022)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 4:1-15, 25 comments that we can hurt each other deeply, even when it’s unintentional. Even little annoyances and irritations can lead to angry words and hardened hearts. That’s why we need to invite Jesus into our relationships by asking him to bless them and help us to see them as he does.
Even if you have experienced a major hurt, you can still invite Jesus to heal you. It may take time, so be patient. In the meantime, put your faith in him. With his grace, you can have nurturing, life-giving relationships that give glory to his name!
“Jesus, I thank you for all the relationships in my life.” (Meditation on Genesis 4:1-15, 25, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler asks why the sacrifice of Cain is treated differently from the sacrifice of Abel. When we are treated differently do we accept what God brings to our lives as we recall the mark of protection given Cain by God. Friar Jude reminds that faith is a question of trust even when faith does not seem possible?
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces scholar and retreat leader Megan McKenna who deepens our understanding of God’s desire for us through the prophet Micah. For McKenna, Micah’s simple and challenging verse reveals the essence of what the prophets are about.
“You have been told, O mortal, what is good and what YHWH requires of you: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” —Micah 6:8
“Do justice” means to be faithful as God is faithful, holy as God is holy, to set those in bondage free, to hear compassionately the cries of those in slavery, to do for one’s neighbor what God has so graciously done for you. It is the teaching of the Torah, the source of abundant life. These two words—Do justice—point to the way of God and simply say: walk in it! Whatever the concept of justice might be, it is only by doing acts of justice, by solidly standing with those in need of justice, and by resisting injustice that justice can become a reality.
The second demand is “Love mercy” (or “Love tenderly”). The Hebrew word hesed, compassion, means coming to the rescue of the poor, the outcast, the alien, the slave, the powerless, hearing the cries of those in misery, giving love that is faithful, sustaining, enduring. It is the way God loves [God’s] people, and God’s people are to return that love by loving one another. This urgent command shoots right to the heart of every individual and to the community. [1] (Rohr, 2023)
When our path seems to deviate from walking humbly with God as agents of justice and compassion it may be a sign of our need for reconciliation.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/4?1
Gillick, L. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021323.html
Mark, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?11
Meditation on Genesis 4:1-15, 25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/13/609652/
Psalms, PSALM 50. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/50?1
Rohr, R. (2023, February 13). Mercy, Justice, and Walking Humbly — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/mercy-justice-and-walking-humbly-2023-02-13/
Schwager, D. (2022, August 10). No Sign Shall Be Given to This Generation. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb13
No comments:
Post a Comment