The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek understanding of the Love of God and our relationships with others in a Way that respects Law through the practice of self giving Love.
The reading from the First Letter of Kings describes Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal.
* [18:1–45] The story of the conflict with the prophets of Baal (vv. 21–40) is embedded in the story of the drought and its ending (vv. 1–20, 41–45). The connection between the two stories is found in Canaanite theology, in whose pantheon Baal, “the Cloud Rider,” the god of rain and storm, was recognized as the one who brings fertility. Worship of many gods was virtually universal in the ancient world; the Israelite requirement of exclusive worship of the Lord (Ex 20:3) was unique. The people of Israel had apparently become comfortable worshiping both Baal and the Lord, perhaps assigning mutually exclusive spheres of influence to each. By claiming authority over the rain (17:1; 18:1), the Lord was challenging Baal’s power in Baal’s own domain. The entire drought story in chaps. 17–18 implies what becomes explicit in 18:21–40: this is a struggle between the Lord and Baal for the loyalties of the people of Israel. (1 Kings, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 16 is a Song of Trust and Security in God.
* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11). (Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches about the Law and the Prophets.
* [5:17–20] This statement of Jesus’ position concerning the Mosaic law is composed of traditional material from Matthew’s sermon documentation (see note on Mt 5:1–7:29), other Q material (cf. Mt 18; Lk 16:17), and the evangelist’s own editorial touches. To fulfill the law appears at first to mean a literal enforcement of the law in the least detail: until heaven and earth pass away nothing of the law will pass (Mt 5:18). Yet the “passing away” of heaven and earth is not necessarily the end of the world understood, as in much apocalyptic literature, as the dissolution of the existing universe. The “turning of the ages” comes with the apocalyptic event of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and those to whom this gospel is addressed are living in the new and final age, prophesied by Isaiah as the time of “new heavens and a new earth” (Is 65:17; 66:22). Meanwhile, during Jesus’ ministry when the kingdom is already breaking in, his mission remains within the framework of the law, though with significant anticipation of the age to come, as the following antitheses (Mt 5:21–48) show. (Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Martha Slocombe asks whether we attend a party or sit in the pews at church, why do we think that we don't play a significant role in what is happening? When we are engaged in a conversation, why do we think the listening role isn't of value? When we are out living our so-called ordinary lives, why do we think our role as follower of Jesus is of little significance?
Your role matters.
In today's gospel reading of Matthew 5, Jesus reminds the disciples that what they do matters, that the life they live in the big and the small is important, that the example they set is crucial:
"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."What is Jesus asking of us here? To understand our role as kingdom-builders in the group of humanity. To understand that following and teaching his ways matters. To step into that role and make a difference. (Slocombe, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “What you teach, you should do,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
"While it is sinful to abolish the least of the commandments, all the more so the great and most important ones. Hence the Holy Spirit affirms through Solomon: 'Whoever despises the little things shall gradually die' (Sirach 19:1b). Consequently nothing in the divine commandments must be abolished, nothing altered. Everything must be preserved and taught faithfully and devotedly that the glory of the heavenly kingdom may not be lost. Indeed, those things considered least important and small by the unfaithful or by worldly people are not small before God but necessary. For the Lord taught the commandments and did them. Even small things point to the great future of the kingdom of heaven. For this reason, not only words but also deeds are important; and you should not only teach, but what you teach, you should do." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 20.2.1-3)
[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 18:20-39 comments on how completely silent Baal was to the cries of his prophets. Even when they made all kinds of noise and slashed themselves to get his attention, they received no answer at all (1 Kings 18:26, 29). That isn’t good news for anyone seeking a relationship with Baal. He doesn’t even exist! No amount of pleading can ever change that.
We have false gods today, but they don’t typically look like a statue of Baal. Our idols tend to come from the good things God has given us but that we have allowed to capture our heart more than Jesus. They include wealth, food, sex, beauty, and power and influence. We can chase after these false gods all we want, shouting and hurting ourselves in the process, but they will never fulfill our deepest needs and longings. Only the Lord can do that. Only he can give us life because he’s the only One who is alive—alive with the grace, the love, the purity, and the joy we all long for.
So who will you follow today?
“Lord, you are my one, true God!” (Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explores the background of the connection of Jezebel, and the people to the agricultural god Baal and often Yahweh, Adonai, the desert God, at the same time. In the Gospel of Matthew, written to Jewish Christians, the Law is not completely rejected and Paul examines slavery to the Law to his Gentile audience. Friar Jude notes how the view of Paul became dominant after the rabbis expelled Jesus followers from the synagogue.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on our need for human and divine intimacy and asks “How does this secret of intimacy become unhidden?”
Only when we stop hiding—from God, from ourselves, and from at least one other person. Such risky self-disclosure is what I mean by intimacy and it is the way that love is transmitted. Intimacy happens when we expose our insides—and this is always scary. We must be prepared to be rejected and the pain of rejection after self-disclosure is so great that it can sometimes take years for us to risk again. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek understanding through the Holy Spirit of the interplay of Law and Love in our role as followers of Christ and leaders in living His Way.
References
Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?17
Meditation on 1 Kings 18:20-39. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/12/994748/
1 Kings, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/18?20
Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/divine-intimacy/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Great Are Those Who Teach and Obey the Commandments. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun12
Slocombe, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/061224.html
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