The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to attend to the meaning of anointing by the Spirit in our relationships as we seek deep and meaningful love experiences.
In the reading from the First Letter of Kings, Elijah Meets God at Horeb.
* [19:12] Compare these divine manifestations to Elijah with those to Moses on the same mountain (Ex 19:16–19; 33:18–23; 34:5–6; Dt 4:10–15). Though various phenomena, such as wind, storms, earthquakes, fire, accompany the divine presence, they do not constitute the presence itself which, like the “silent sound,” is mysterious and ultimately ungraspable. Moses and Elijah, the two figures who experienced God’s theophany on this mountain, reappear with Jesus on another mountain at his transfiguration (Mt 17:1–9; Mk 9:2–9; Lk 9:28–36). (1 Kings, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 27 is a triumphant Song of Confidence.
* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses Adultery and Divorce in the Sermon on the Mount.
* [5:27] See Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18.
* [5:29–30] No sacrifice is too great to avoid total destruction in Gehenna.
* [5:31–32] See Dt 24:1–5. The Old Testament commandment that a bill of divorce be given to the woman assumes the legitimacy of divorce itself. It is this that Jesus denies. (Unless the marriage is unlawful): this “exceptive clause,” as it is often called, occurs also in Mt 19:9, where the Greek is slightly different. There are other sayings of Jesus about divorce that prohibit it absolutely (see Mk 10:11–12; Lk 16:18; cf. 1 Cor 7:10, 11b), and most scholars agree that they represent the stand of Jesus. Matthew’s “exceptive clauses” are understood by some as a modification of the absolute prohibition. It seems, however, that the unlawfulness that Matthew gives as a reason why a marriage must be broken refers to a situation peculiar to his community: the violation of Mosaic law forbidding marriage between persons of certain blood and/or legal relationship (Lv 18:6–18). Marriages of that sort were regarded as incest (porneia), but some rabbis allowed Gentile converts to Judaism who had contracted such marriages to remain in them. Matthew’s “exceptive clause” is against such permissiveness for Gentile converts to Christianity; cf. the similar prohibition of porneia in Acts 15:20, 29. In this interpretation, the clause constitutes no exception to the absolute prohibition of divorce when the marriage is lawful. (Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Nancy Shirley (2020) comments that the gospel truly challenges us in our everyday life to face our sins and our shortcomings. We need to take that "moral and fearless inventory" that those in 12-step programs know so well. We need to hold that mirror in front of ourselves and see the whole image there. Not easy for any of us. Certainly, we would all find flaws and shortcomings. The difference with this inventory is the opportunity to change what is at hand. As we take count of stock, we can not only recognize what is there but embrace what could be there.
I am, in the words of Teilhard de Chardin, a spiritual being having a human experience and that human experience is blessed, indeed, when I heed the Word and surrender my will.
And, of course, a link for a song to fill our hearts: Big Daddy Weave’s I Know (Shirley, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The fuel of adultery,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
"Because adultery is a serious sin and in order to uproot it, lest our conscience be defiled, he [Jesus] forbade even lust, which is the fuel of adultery. According to the words of blessed James in his epistle, 'Lust when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death' (James 1:15). The Holy Spirit speaks concerning this to David: 'Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock' (Psalm 137:9). The symbolism here is that the blessed and truly evangelical person roots out the desires and lust of the flesh arising from human weakness. He does this immediately before they grow, at the onset, through faith in Christ who has been described as a rock" (1 Corinthians 10:4) (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 23.1.6-7)
[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 Kings 19:9, 11-16 comments that our God is indeed eternal and present in all of creation, which he holds in existence from moment to moment. But he also chooses to be uniquely concerned with each human being.
God wants to speak personally to you. Listen for him when you read Scripture or go to Mass or take a walk today. He might share a word of conviction or compassion or encouragement. He might even ask you a question. So be on the lookout: the Lord is passing by!
“Lord, help me to hear your still, small voice today.” (Meditation on 1 Kings 19:9, 11-16, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Elijah flees to Mount Horeb as Jezabel seeks to have him killed. Elijah is called to anoint kings of Israel and Syria. Friar Jude Winkler notes the extreme response of Origen to the “cut it off” literal interpretation of Jewish exaggeration in the Gospel of Matthew.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, encourages Christians to embrace a sexual ethic that reflects a love of God, self, and others.
The Catholic Theological Society summarized it well when it stated that our sexual actions must aim to be “self-liberating, other-enriching, honest, faithful, socially responsible, life-serving, and joyous.” [1] That is certainly the task and journey of a lifetime, but it is no more or no less than what Jesus said when he taught the greatest commandment of love of God and love of neighbor. The two loves “resemble one another” (see Matthew 22:37–39). They are each the school of the other. We will learn how to be properly sexual as we understand the properly passionate relationship that God has with us. And we learn how to be properly spiritual as we come to understand the true character of human longing and affection.
Finally, the only biblical mandate that matters is to copy and allow the pattern of God’s love in us. If this sounds too soft, perhaps it means that we have never loved “all the way.” We have never let it carry us through all its stages, all of its internal ecstasies, loneliness, and purifications. To attain a whole and truly passionate sexuality is hard and holy work. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ask the Holy Spirit to inform our conscience as we seek deeper understanding of our humanity and the invitation from God to experience the fullness of love on our journey.
References
Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5
Meditation on 1 Kings 19:9, 11-16. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/14/1000451/
1 Kings, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/19?9
Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?7
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-pattern-of-gods-love/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). If Your Eye Causes You to Sin. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun14
Shirley, N. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/061424.html
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