The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to ponder how the distractions and cults of our culture are cleverly devised to reduce our compassion and care for people who are outside the group.
The reading from the First Book of Kings describes Jeroboam’s Cultic Innovations.
* [12:26–31] At the center of the story of Jeroboam the narrator describes how the king went beyond the political separation of Israel from Judah to create a separatist religious system as well. Jeroboam feared that continued worship in the single Temple in Jerusalem would threaten the political independence of his kingdom. To prevent this he established sanctuaries with non-levitical clergy in his own territory. At two of the sanctuaries he set up golden calves, which the narrator depicts as idols. Thus begins what will later be called “the sin of Jeroboam” (13:34), a theme that will be echoed throughout 1–2 Kings in the condemnations of almost every king of the Northern Kingdom. Historically, Jeroboam’s innovations were not as heterodox as our narrative portrays them. Bethel was an ancient and traditional site for worship of the Lord; and the calves were probably intended to be a dais for the deity invisibly enthroned upon them, rather like the cherubim atop the ark of the covenant. (1 Kings, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Psalm 106 is a Confession of Israel’s Sins.
* [Psalm 106] Israel is invited to praise the God whose mercy has always tempered judgment of Israel (Ps 106:1–3). The speaker, on behalf of all, seeks solidarity with the people, who can always count on God’s fidelity despite their sin (Ps 106:4–5). Confident of God’s mercy, the speaker invites national repentance (Ps 106:6) by reciting from Israel’s history eight instances of sin, judgment, and forgiveness. (Psalms, PSALM 106, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand.
* [8:1–10] The two accounts of the multiplication of loaves and fishes (Mk 8:1–10; 6:31–44) have eucharistic significance. Their similarity of structure and themes but dissimilarity of detail are considered by many to refer to a single event that, however, developed in two distinct traditions, one Jewish Christian and the other Gentile Christian, since Jesus in Mark’s presentation (Mk 7:24–37) has extended his saving mission to the Gentiles. (Mark, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Eileen Burke-Sullivan comments that if a person or a group determines to pursue their own flourishing in opposition to the common good, and at the cost of other’s lives and wellbeing they effectively worship the golden calf as the Jews of the Exodus had. One has only to look at “super bowl Sunday” tomorrow for the same symptoms in the United States in our day.
The movement from self-adoration to genuine worship of God is expressed in the whole liturgy that moves from acknowledgement of sin to repentance and then to gratitude and the contemplation of great deeds for those who love God. In celebration of Saint Scholastica we would do well to honor and emulate women and men who have made the choice to adore God with their lives by living generously through discerning the greater needs that we can fill with the gifts that have been poured out on us.
“No human lives by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4.4b) (Burke, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Breaking the bread of God's Word,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"In expounding to you the Holy Scriptures, I as it were break bread for you. If you hunger to receive it, your heart will sing out with the fullness of praise (Psalm 138:1). If you are thus made rich in your banquet, be not meager in good works and deeds. What I am distributing to you is not my own. What you eat, I eat; what you live upon, I live upon. We have in heaven a common store-house - from it comes the Word of God." (excerpt from SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 45.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 8:1-10 comments that we’ve seen God work in our lives; we’ve received many blessings. Yet when we are faced with a new or challenging dilemma, that same question often dominates our minds: “How can I get this need satisfied”? Like the disciples, we can work through various scenarios of how to provide for ourselves and forget how good and powerful he is!
Today in prayer, choose a situation that has been troubling you. Then come to Jesus and ask him to supply your need. He is with you and knows what you lack. Even if you have to wait for an answer, put your trust in him. He is a God of abundance, and he will not disappoint!
“Jesus, help me to remember to go to you first for all that I need.” (Meditation on Mark 8:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the concern of Jeroboam that he would lose the loyalty of the northern tribes if they made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The shines at Dan and Bethel contained golden calves that southern observers may have cited as confusing like the ox of the Baal religion. Friar Jude notes the two multiplications of bread in Mark and Matthew indicate the attention of Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles.
Brian McLaren introduces Randy Woodley who points to the values that have been essential to Indigenous wisdom.
These are the ancient values … that help us reconnect to sacred Earth.
Respect: Respect everyone. Everyone and everything is sacred.
Harmony: Seek harmony and cooperation with people and nature.
Friendship: Increase the number and depth of your close friends and family.
Humor: Laugh at yourself; we are merely human.
Equality: Everyone expresses their voice in decisions.
Authenticity: Speak from your heart.
History: Learn from the past. Live presently by looking back.
Balance work and rest: Work hard, but rest well.
Generosity: Share what you have with others.
Accountability: We are all interconnected. We are all related.
This is by no means a comprehensive list. But if we nurture these values in our lives, we will become more rooted in the community of creation. (McLaren, 2024)
We are nudged by the Spirit to respond to the needs of all the people on our journey with concern and compassionate action.
References
Burke, E. (2024, February 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021024.html
Mark, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?
McLaren, B. (2024, February 10). The Seven Stories: Part Two: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-seven-stories-part-two-weekly-summary/
Meditation on Mark 8:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/10/892424/
1 Kings, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/12
Psalms, PSALM 106. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106?6
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb10
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