Truth and Our Questions

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today anchor our faith in the truths proclaimed to us through the action of the Spirit.

Spirit of Truth and Love

In the reading from the First Letter of John, a New Commandment is proclaimed.

* [2:3–6] The way we may be sure: to those who claim, “I have known Christ and therefore I know him,” our author insists on not mere intellectual knowledge but obedience to God’s commandments in a life conformed to the example of Christ; this confirms our knowledge of him and is the love of God…perfected. Disparity between moral life and the commandments proves improper belief.

* [2:7–11] The author expresses the continuity and freshness of mutual charity in Christian experience. Through Christ the commandment of love has become the light defeating the darkness of evil in a new age. All hatred as darkness is incompatible with the light and Christian life. Note also the characteristic Johannine polemic in which a positive assertion is emphasized by the negative statement of its opposite. (1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 offers praise to God Who Comes in Judgement.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Is Presented in the Temple.

* [2:22–40] The presentation of Jesus in the temple depicts the parents of Jesus as devout Jews, faithful observers of the law of the Lord (Lk 2:23–24, 39), i.e., the law of Moses. In this respect, they are described in a fashion similar to the parents of John (Lk 1:6) and Simeon (Lk 2:25) and Anna (Lk 2:36–37).

* [2:22] Their purification: syntactically, their must refer to Mary and Joseph, even though the Mosaic law never mentions the purification of the husband. Recognizing the problem, some Western scribes have altered the text to read “his purification,” understanding the presentation of Jesus in the temple as a form of purification; the Vulgate version has a Latin form that could be either “his” or “her.” According to the Mosaic law (Lv 12:2–8), the woman who gives birth to a boy is unable for forty days to touch anything sacred or to enter the temple area by reason of her legal impurity. At the end of this period she is required to offer a year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon as an expiation of sin. The woman who could not afford a lamb offered instead two turtledoves or two young pigeons, as Mary does here. They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord: as the firstborn son (Lk 2:7) Jesus was consecrated to the Lord as the law required (Ex 13:2, 12), but there was no requirement that this be done at the temple. The concept of a presentation at the temple is probably derived from 1 Sm 1:24–28, where Hannah offers the child Samuel for sanctuary services. The law further stipulated (Nm 3:47–48) that the firstborn son should be redeemed by the parents through their payment of five shekels to a member of a priestly family. About this legal requirement Luke is silent.

* [2:25] Awaiting the consolation of Israel: Simeon here and later Anna who speak about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem represent the hopes and expectations of faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment.

* [2:35] (And you yourself a sword will pierce): Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to the role of Jesus (Lk 2:34). Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it” (Lk 11:27–28 and Lk 8:20–21). (Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mike Cherney asks what did Mary and Joseph know about their Son? The Gospel says, “The Child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about Him” in conjunction with Simeon’s comments. Were Jesus’ parents fully aware of who He was, or did they too need to grow in this knowledge? 

My prayer today focuses on the present.     

Dear Lord,
So much of my life has been spent living in the future or living in the past.
Allow me to live fully in the present, experiencing and growing in knowledge.
Help me to direct my attention to the here and now.
Assist me in being more aware of Your many gifts that surround me.
Let me sing a new song with praise and gratitude.
Guide me with the use of my time acting in Your service.
Grant me the strength and awareness to practice what I preach. (Cherney, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Simeon and Anna represent both sexes awaiting their Redeemer”, by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.

"Simeon and Anna, a man and a woman of advanced age, greeted the Lord with the devoted services of their professions of faith. As they saw him, he was small in body, but they understood him to be great in his divinity. Figuratively speaking, this denotes the synagogue, the Jewish people, who, wearied by the long awaiting of his incarnation, were ready with both their arms (their pious actions) and their voices (their unfeigned faith) to exalt and magnify him as soon as he came. They were ready to acclaim him and say, 'Direct me in your truth and teach me, for you are my saving God, and for you I have waited all the day' (Psalm 25:5). What needs to be mentioned, too, is that deservedly both sexes hurried to meet him, offering congratulations, since he appeared as the Redeemer of both." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.18) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 2:22-35 asks us to stretch out our arms and let Mary place Jesus in them.

Treasure the Messiah, the hope of your people, whom you are holding in your own arms. Let him move your heart to respond and to offer your life to him!

“Jesus, I am so grateful that you set aside your heavenly power and glory to become a vulnerable child I can hold in my arms! Thank you for the unconditional love that has brought you so very close to me.” (Meditation on Luke 2:22-35, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes how the emphasis on keeping the commandments in the Letters of John is different from the Gospel of John in which Love of Jesus is the commandment.The Holy Family goes up to the Temple for the purification rite for the mother and the Redemption rite of the first born male. Friar Jude reminds us of the difficulty of the the young Jewish girl to discern the mission of Jesus.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reminds us of the loving heart of the prophets.

We need the wisdom of a “full prophet,” one who can love and yet criticize, one who can speak their words of correction out of an experience of gratitude, not anger. We have to pray to God to teach us that. I don’t know how else we learn it. We can’t learn it in our minds rationally. God has to soothe our angry hearts and spirits. God has to allow us to come to a place of freedom, a place of peace, and a place of fullness before we can speak as a prophet. [1]

A prophet must hold on to the truth of their anger, especially as it is directed toward injustice—but the danger of the anger is that when we let it control us, we’re not a help anymore. That’s why we have so many false prophets in America and in the world today. They are so angry. I want to sit there and say, “I agree with you. That situation deserves anger, but you’re not a good messenger because you’re only making me more angry. You’re feeding your anger by letting it become your ego.” Of course, in my early life that was me. I think what we see in the Hebrew prophets is autobiographical. My early social justice sermons at New Jerusalem just edged people out of the room. I’m sure many of them thought, “I don’t think we want to hear Richard today. He’s on one of his tirades.” They saw me at my angriest when I had just come back from Latin America and Africa. Anger is usually a necessary starting place, but it is never the full message. [2]

That’s why I always go back to prayer. It’s the only way for me. I rest in God, let God massage my heart for a while, cool me down and say, “I love you. You don’t have to save the world, Richard. You don’t have to ‘play’ the prophet and you don’t have to do anything except what I tell you to do.” The more I rest there with God, the next time the words come out so differently.

We’ve got to learn how to discern the Spirit. We have to listen to our own hearts and discern where the voices are coming from. Are they harsh, angry, hurtful, resentful, cynical voices telling us we’ve got to go out and do some righteous thing? Or are they coming from a place of freedom and a place of peace? (Rohr, 2023)

Our faith in Jesus Christ is supported by our connection to the role of the Messiah, who is revealed in the truth of the Holy Spirit.

References

Cherney, M. (2023, December 29). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122923.html 

Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?22 

Meditation on Luke 2:22-35. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/12/29/862080/ 

1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?3 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1 

Rohr, R. (2023, December 29). A Full Prophet — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-full-prophet/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Favor of God Was upon Him. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=dec29 

Advocate in Adversity

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the atrocities in our world that will only be eliminated through love that motivates all our relationships, especially as we witness the actions of greed, revenge, and hatred that steal life from the children.

Adversity for Migrant Children

The reading from the First Letter of John proclaims God Is Light and Christ is Our Advocate.

* [1:8–10] Denial of the condition of sin is self-deception and even contradictory of divine revelation; there is also the continual possibility of sin’s recurrence. Forgiveness and deliverance from sin through Christ are assured through acknowledgment of them and repentance. (1 John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [2:1] Children: like the term “beloved,” this is an expression of pastoral love (cf. Jn 13:33; 21:5; 1 Cor 4:14). Advocate: for the use of the term, see Jn 14:16. Forgiveness of sin is assured through Christ’s intercession and expiation or “offering”; the death of Christ effected the removal of sin. (1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 124 offers 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 Gospel of Matthew describes the Escape to Egypt and the Massacre of the Infants.

* [2:13] Flee to Egypt: Egypt was a traditional place of refuge for those fleeing from danger in Palestine (see 1 Kgs 11:40; Jer 26:21), but the main reason why the child is to be taken to Egypt is that he may relive the Exodus experience of Israel.

* [2:15] The fulfillment citation is taken from Hos 11:1. Israel, God’s son, was called out of Egypt at the time of the Exodus; Jesus, the Son of God, will similarly be called out of that land in a new exodus. The father-son relationship between God and the nation is set in a higher key. Here the son is not a group adopted as “son of God,” but the child who, as conceived by the holy Spirit, stands in unique relation to God. He is son of David and of Abraham, of Mary and of Joseph, but, above all, of God. (Matthew, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Barbara Dilly notes that when winter nights turn to joy and good cheer, we first must pass through the longest night of the year. The earth in its orbit so far from the sun, let us all consider the good deeds of light left undone.

Now let us reflect on earth’s solstice sorrows: poverty, hatred, hunger, and violent storms.

Bigotry, racism, injustice, in all its forms. Let us seek light for our earth’s bright tomorrows.

Too many people are living in fear, in hopes that deliverance will soon be here,

Yet, we are mired in darkness so far from light, let us pause and consider what we can make right.

Too many hearts are weary and worn, too many children in anguish are born,

And too many people never see them at all, they live in the darkness and cannot hear their call.

Now is the season to seek warmth for our hearts, now is the season to make our new starts.

To work our way back to the glow of the Son and bring His life-giving blessings to everyone. (Dilly, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “The first martyrs of Christ,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"In Bethlehem therefore all the babies were slain. These innocents who died then on Christ's behalf became the first martyrs of Christ. David refers to them when he says, 'From the mouths of nursing babies you have perfected praise because of your enemies, that you might bring ruin to the enemy' (Psalm 8:2). ... For in this persecution even tiny infants and nursing babies were killed on Christ's behalf and attained to the consummate praise of martyrs. Meanwhile the wicked king Herod was destroyed, he who had usurped the realm to defend himself against the king of the heavens. Thus it is that those blessed babes have deservedly lasted beyond others. They were the first who were worthy to die on Christ's behalf."(excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 6.2) [Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 John 1:5–2:2 comments that John reminds us that Jesus is “expiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2). By his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus has done more than just atone for our sins. He has released us from the very power of sin itself. That applies to our own personal sins but also to the sins of the whole world. John doesn’t want us to forget that Jesus can forgive and restore it all, even the heaviest, most heartbreaking, terrible things that we do to one another. None of it is a match for the redemption Jesus has won for us. This amazing truth can fill us with hope.

So of course, we weep and mourn, as Rachel did for her children (Matthew 2:18), every time we see the damage that sin inflicts on our world. But in the midst of our lamentation, our hearts can be lifted up by a sure and certain hope—the hope that Jesus, who took on flesh and came into our darkened world to redeem it, is there with us. He is holding out his hands to all of us: receiving victims into his embrace, reaching out to comfort the ones left behind, and even inviting those responsible to come and receive his mercy.

As we suffer with those who suffer, we can know that Jesus, who has forgiven and healed our sins and those of the whole world, is standing with us.

“Jesus, Redeemer, even in the face of tragedy, I place my hope in you!” (Meditation on 1 John 1:5–2:2, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler contrasts the theology of expiation in the Letter of John with the Gospel of John and its emphasis on revelation of God through love. We are called to perfection but we are not there yet. Friar Jude notes that the megalomaniac Herod may have been responsible for 50,000 deaths during his reign.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Choctaw elder and retired Episcopal bishop Steven Charleston who writes about how prophets arise in periods of crisis or “apocalypse” to chart a message of resilience and hope. Charleston believes that everyone can be a prophet if we awaken to the possibility and responsibility of our time.

I invite you to join me in becoming a prophet.… It does not matter what your race or religion may be. It does not matter what age or gender you are. We can all become prophets of our own time. We are all needed….

We are all prophets. We are not divine messengers. We do not speak for God. We are not miracle workers or moral judges. Instead, we are … human beings living in extraordinary times. We are what the Hopi are: communities seeking a spiritual purpose to their lives. We are question askers. We are vision seekers. We strive to be common-sense advocates for what will work best to help our people.…

Believe in yourself. You are a prophet. You are already making your migration. You have been chosen because you have been born. You are a prophet because you are awake. You are a keeper of revelation: a person with a thought that may create a new world. Do not hide that piece of the sacred tablet, for the time is short, but give it to as many as you can, as often as you can, until the apocalypse becomes a blessing. (Rohr, 2023)

We identify with the murder of the innocents through the ravages of war, greed, and insecurity in our world that kill children daily.

References

Dilly, B. (2023, December 28). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122823.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2?13 

Meditation on 1 John 1:5–2:2. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/12/28/861575/ 

1 John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/1?5 

1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2 

Psalms, PSALM 124 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/124?2 

Rohr, R. (2023, December 28). We Are All Prophets — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/we-are-all-prophets/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Rachel Weeping for Her Children. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 28, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=dec28