The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the balance between religious observance and action in serving others on our journey.
The reading from the Letter to the Colossians presents Paul as a servant of the Gospel.
* [1:21–23] Paul, in applying this hymn to the Colossians, reminds them that they have experienced the reconciling effect of Christ’s death. He sees the effects of the cross in the redemption of human beings, not of cosmic powers such as those referred to in Col 1:16, 20 (all things). Paul also urges adherence to Christ in faith and begins to point to his own role as minister (Col 1:23), sufferer (Col 1:24), and proclaimer (Col 1:27–28) of this gospel. (Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 54 is a prayer for Vindication.
* [Psalm 54] A lament in which the person under attack calls directly upon God for help (Ps 54:3–5). Refusing to despair, the psalmist hopes in God, who is active in history and just (Ps 54:6–7). The Psalm ends with a serene promise to return thanks (Ps 54:8–9). (Psalms, PSALM 54 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus 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. (Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Steve Scholer references Luke 5:1-11 in his commentary and the post from Thursday, September 7, 2023 Living as Disciples. A question raised today can be asked at any time “.How can we demonstrate that Christ is the center of our lives?”
Our gifts to support the church are worthy; but our active participation in the lived Gospel is the real work of the church that Jesus wants and needs us to do. Maybe we need to remind ourselves of the old adage, “Walking with Christ means walking like Christ.” (Scholer, 2023)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Colossians 1:21-23 comments that “Thank God” that heaven doesn’t depend on our merits! Out of pure love, his Son willingly gave up his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through his cross and resurrection, Jesus has purified us. Now anyone baptized into Christ is washed clean of sin and “reconciled” with God (Colossians 1:22). No wonder the gospel is called good news!
Today in prayer, praise the Lord for the amazing gift he has given you: forgiveness of your sins and the hope of life eternal. Then tell him that you want to be “holy, without blemish, and irreproachable” (Colossians 1:22).
“All praise and glory to you, Jesus, my Redeemer and my Savior!” (Meditation on Colossians 1:21-23, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes how the passage from Colossians underlines that the Gentiles who were once alienated from God are now made holy and are urged to remain stable in their faith. The fence the Pharisees placed around the Law made plucking a few heads of grain an offence when harvesting was intended to be prohibited. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' proclamation as Son of God and interpreters of the Law.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Father Dan Riley who presents a Franciscan way of practicing Lectio Divina.
Francis was reading and learning about God everywhere, beyond the church or the classroom, and responding to the Word as it was alive in everything…. Word and world—indeed this is our home, and we are finding ways to choose to live here together with one another. We need to pick up the Bible and at the same time our world, holding them and letting them hold us, tenderly and gently opening and beginning to page through them, but only as they offer themselves to us. We need to look everyone and everything in the face and be amazed at the face of God looking back at us. (Rohr, 2023)
We are led by the Spirit in our mission of serving the Gospel in the encounters we have with our environment every day.
References
Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?
Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?1
Meditation on Colossians 1:21-23. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/09/778235/
Psalms, PSALM 54 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/54?3
Rohr, R. (2023, September 9). The Franciscan Way: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-franciscan-way-weekly-summary-2023-09-09/
Scholer, S. (2023, September 9). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/090923.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep9
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