The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, chosen by the CCCB on the Feast for Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions celebrated today in Canada, challenge us to explore the Life and Death Conflict that resulted in the martyrdom of these missionaries in 17th Century North America.
The reading from the Book of Revelation declares the Triumph of the Elect.
* [7:1–17] An interlude of two visions precedes the breaking of the seventh seal, just as two more will separate the sixth and seventh trumpets (Rev 10). In the first vision (Rev 7:1–8), the elect receive the seal of the living God as protection against the coming cataclysm; cf. Rev 14:1; Ez 9:4–6; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30. The second vision (Rev 7:9–17) portrays the faithful Christians before God’s throne to encourage those on earth to persevere to the end, even to death. (Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 124 is a Thanksgiving for Israel’s Deliverance
* [Psalm 124] A thanksgiving which teaches that Israel’s very existence is owed to God who rescues them. In the first part Israel’s enemies are compared to the mythic sea dragon (Ps 124:2b–3a; cf. Jer 51:34) and Flood (Ps 124:3b–5; cf. Is 51:9–10). The Psalm heightens the malice of human enemies by linking them to the primordial enemies of God’s creation. Israel is a bird freed from the trapper’s snare (Ps 124:6–8)—freed originally from Pharaoh and now from the current danger. (Psalms, PSALM 124 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians shares the Paradox of the Ministry.
* [4:8–9] A catalogue of his apostolic trials and afflictions. Yet in these the negative never completely prevails; there is always some experience of rescue, of salvation.
* [4:10–11] Both the negative and the positive sides of the experience are grounded christologically. The logic is similar to that of 2 Cor 1:3–11. His sufferings are connected with Christ’s, and his deliverance is a sign that he is to share in Jesus’ resurrection.
* [4:12–15] His experience does not terminate in himself, but in others (12, 15; cf. 2 Cor 1:4–5). Ultimately, everything is ordered even beyond the community, toward God (2 Cor 4:15; cf. 2 Cor 1:11). (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches the Conditions of Discipleship.
* [9:23] Daily: this is a Lucan addition to a saying of Jesus, removing the saying from a context that envisioned the imminent suffering and death of the disciple of Jesus (as does the saying in Mk 8:34–35) to one that focuses on the demands of daily Christian existence. (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares the Coming of His Hour.
* [12:24] This verse implies that through his death Jesus will be accessible to all. It remains just a grain of wheat: this saying is found in the synoptic triple and double traditions (Mk 8:35; Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24; Mt 10:39; Lk 17:33). John adds the phrases (Jn 12:25) in this world and for eternal life.
* [12:25] His life: the Greek word psychē refers to a person’s natural life. It does not mean “soul,” for Hebrew anthropology did not postulate body/soul dualism in the way that is familiar to us. (John, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Franciscan Media comments on Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions who are commemorated by the USCCB on October 19.
Faith and heroism planted belief in Christ’s cross deep in our land. The Church in North America sprang from the blood of martyrs, as has been true in so many places. The ministry and sacrifices of these saints challenges each of us, causing us to ask just how deep is our faith and how strong our desire to serve even in the face of death. (Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean De Brébeuf, and Companions, n.d.)
Cindy Murphy McMahon, as she reflects on the texts of the USCCB today, asks are there certain groups or types of people or individuals that she mentally excludes from the family of God, whether consciously or unconsciously?
Don Schwager offers a comment by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD) on the theme that those who listen and obey God's word become true children of God.
The Word Among Us shares a Meditation on the USCCB text from Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20.
Friar Jude Winkler’s reflection, for September 26, 2023, explores the USCCB texts.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that we have to allow ourselves to be drawn into sacred space, into liminality. All transformation takes place here. There alone is our old world left behind, though we’re not yet sure of the new existence. That’s a good space where genuine newness can begin. We must get there often and stay as long as we can by whatever means possible. It’s the realm where God can best get at us because our false certitudes are finally out of the way. This is the sacred space where the old world is able to fall apart, and a bigger world is revealed. If we don’t encounter liminal space in our lives, we start idealizing normalcy. The threshold is God’s waiting room. Here we are taught openness and patience as we come to expect an appointment with the Divine Doctor.
I believe that religion’s unique and necessary function is to lead us into liminal space. Instead, religion has largely become a confirmation of the status quo and business as usual. Religion should lead us into sacred space where deconstruction of the old “normal” can occur. Much of my criticism of religion comes about when I see it not only affirming the system of normalcy but teaching folks how to live there comfortably. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate the conflict and struggles of the Jesuit Martyrs in their mission and seek the guidance of the Spirit to activate our zeal in a Way appropriate to our time and place.
References
John, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/12
Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9
Psalms, PSALM 124 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/124
Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/7
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Liminal Space. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/liminal-space/
Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-isaac-jogues-jean-de-brebeuf-and-companions/
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/4
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