The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reassure us of the unceasing Presence of God in our lives inviting us to fullness of life with patience at our response.
The reading from Genesis declares God’s Promise to Noah.
* [8:7–12] In the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic, Utnapishtim (the equivalent of Noah) released in succession a dove, a swallow, and a raven. When the raven did not return, Utnapishtim knew it was safe to leave the ark. The first century A.D. Roman author Pliny tells of Indian sailors who release birds in order to follow them toward land.
* [8:13–14] On the first day of the first month, the world was in the state it had been on the day of creation in chap. 1. Noah had to wait another month until the earth was properly dry as in 1:9. (Genesis, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Psalm 116 offers Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness.
* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions. (Psalms, PSALM 116, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida.
* [8:22–26] Jesus’ actions and the gradual cure of the blind man probably have the same purpose as in the case of the deaf man (Mk 7:31–37). Some commentators regard the cure as an intended symbol of the gradual enlightenment of the disciples concerning Jesus’ messiahship. (Mark, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Mike Cherney comments that his career development has molded him into a person who pushes to look deeper. It is frustrating when a satisfying answer does not seem to emerge.
I see those whose faith grows out of a profound experience and those whose faith grows out of an innate trust. I suffer from a mindset of a scientist. I have some experience that suggests a path toward God, but I also have things that raise doubts. As in my work, I adopt theories that seem to be a good bet to me, but I keep on testing these hypotheses and learning more. My hope is that new knowledge will continue to support these “beliefs”, but I do not experience the unshakeable faith that my parents and some of those around me seem to possess. This leads me to my prayer for the day.
Dear Lord,
Open my heart and my mind to the truth.
Rather than frustration with feeling that I have not discerned the ultimate answer,
Grant me satisfaction in participating in the process of an enlightening quest. (Cherney, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Through the divine word of Christ he received his sight,” attributed to Pseudo-Chrysostom, 5th century A.D.
"[Jesus] spat indeed, and put his hand upon the blind man, because he wished to show that wonderful are the effects of the Divine word added to action; for the hand is the symbol of working, but the spittle, of the word proceeding out of the mouth. Again he asked him whether he could see any thing, which he had not done in the case of any whom he had healed, thus showing that by the weak faith of those who brought him, and of the blind man himself, his eyes could not altogether be opened. There follows: 'And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees walking;' because he was still under the influence of unfaithfulness, he said that he saw men obscurely. From the commencement, however, of the return of his senses, he leads him to apprehend things by faith, and thus makes him see perfectly. He then goes on to say, After that, he put his hands again upon his eyes, and he began to see, and afterwards he adds, And he was restored, and saw all things clearly; he was perfectly healed in his senses and his intellect."
(excerpt from a Commentary on Mark 8:22-25, by an unknown early church father, who was thought for a time to be John Chrysostom (5 th century AD), now described as Pseudo-Chrysostom) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 comments that like Noah’s family after the flood, we have been drawn out of the waters of baptism and brought into a new life. We have received the Spirit, who “recreates” us into God’s children and uses us to “renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:30). And as he did with Noah, God promises to fill our new life with blessings and to be always present with us. God makes a covenant with us, never to destroy us because of our sin and weakness. Once more, he blesses us, gives us dominion over the earth, and makes us his own people.
It’s a new day! You’re coming off the ark as a new creation, with all the grace you need to live as a child of God. And you’re not the only thing that’s new. God’s mercy and compassion are new—every single morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Each day, God pours out fresh grace upon you. Each day, he promises to make you fruitful, to give you power over sin, and to transform you more and more into his image. Each day, he proclaims, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Even you.
“Thank you, Lord, for a new beginning today. Come, Creator Spirit, and renew me.” (Meditation on Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler compares the story of the end of the flood in Genesis with that in the Babylonian story where the gods are presented as needing to be appeased. The Genesis text declares God that will never turn away even from inconsistent humanity. Friar Jude compares the staged return of vision of the blind man to the stages of revelation of Jesus' truth to the disciples up to the Cross.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author and podcaster Kat Armas who writes of truth telling as a valued part of her upbringing and finds support for this way of being in the Scriptures.
I learned very young that when there’s a problem, you confront it. It’s how you get by…. For me, confrontation has always been equated with intimacy…. It wasn’t until I left my context, my culture, that I realized how rare it is to value confrontation and truth telling, and what length many people will go to in order to silence the prophets in our midst.
I imagine Huldah the prophet held to similar values.
Her story is found in 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34. It’s not surprising that we don’t know much about her or hear of her often. I wonder if her story goes untold because it’s hard to reconcile a truth-telling woman, a prophet who instructs a man—the king—in the way of God, with the narratives that are forced on women by much of the church. Some in the church tell women that they can’t lead men, that the Bible says so, but what about Huldah? She was called by God to tell the truth…. (Rohr, 2023)
We are prompted by the Spirit to accept Jesus' invitations to see our lives more clearly as fulfilling our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.
References
Cherney, M. (2023, February 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021523.html
Genesis, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/8?6
Mark, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?22
Meditation on Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/15/610756/
Psalms, PSALM 116. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116?12
Rohr, R. (2023, February 15). Huldah: A Trustworthy Prophet — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/huldah-a-trustworthy-prophet-2023-02-15/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Blind Man Was Restored, and Saw Everything Clearly. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb15
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