The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the transformation we are called to accept to be apostles of the fullness of life in Christ.
The reading from the Prophet Isaiah describes a vision of God in the Temple.
* [6:1] In the year King Uzziah died: probably 742 B.C., although the chronology of this period is disputed. A high and lofty throne: within the holy of holies of the Jerusalem Temple stood two cherubim, or winged sphinxes, whose outstretched wings served as the divine throne (1 Kgs 6:23–28; Ez 1:4–28; 10:1, 20). The ark of the covenant was God’s footstool (Ps 132:7–8; 1 Chr 28:2), placed under the cherubim (1 Kgs 8:6–7). Temple: the holy place, just in front of the holy of holies.
* [6:2] Seraphim: the plural of saraph (“to burn”), a term used to designate the “fiery” serpents of the wilderness (Nm 21:8; Dt 8:15), and to refer to “winged” serpents (Is 14:29; 30:6). Here, however, it is used adjectivally of the cherubim, who are not serpent-like, as seen in the fact that they have faces and sexual parts (“feet”). See the adaptation of these figures by Ezekiel (Ez 1:10–12; 10:4–15).
* [6:3] Holy, holy, holy: these words have been used in Christian liturgy from the earliest times.
* [6:4] Smoke: reminiscent of the clouds which indicated God’s presence at Mount Sinai (Ex 19:16–19; Dt 4:11) and which filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:34–38) and the Temple (1 Kgs 8:10–11) at their dedication.
* [6:5] Doomed: there are two roots from which the verb here could be derived; one means “to perish, be doomed,” the other “to become silent,” and given Isaiah’s delight in puns and double entendre, he probably intended to sound both notes. “I am doomed!” is suggested by the popular belief that to see God would lead to one’s death; cf. Gn 32:31; Ex 33:20; Jgs 13:22. “I am struck silent!” is suggested by the emphasis on the lips in vv. 5–6, and such silence is attested elsewhere as the appropriate response to the vision of the Lord in the Temple (Hb 2:20).
* [6:7] Touched your lips: Isaiah is thus symbolically purified of sin in preparation for his mission as God’s prophet. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 93 praises the Majesty of God’s Rule.
* [Psalm 93] A hymn celebrating the kingship of God, who created the world (Ps 93:1–2) by defeating the sea (Ps 93:3–4). In the ancient myth that is alluded to here, Sea completely covered the land, making it impossible for the human community to live. Sea, or Flood, roars in anger against God, who is personified in the storm. God’s utterances or decrees are given authority by the victory over Sea (Ps 93:5).
* [93:1] The LORD is king: lit., “the LORD reigns.” This Psalm, and Ps 47; 96–99, are sometimes called enthronement Psalms. They may have been used in a special liturgy during which God’s ascent to the throne was ritually reenacted. They have also been interpreted eschatologically, pointing to the coming of God as king at the end-time.
* [93:3] The flood: the primordial sea was tamed by God in the act of creation. It is a figure of chaos and rebellion, cf. Ps 46:4. (Psalms, PSALM 93 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew addresses whom to Fear.
* [10:25] Beelzebul: see Mt 9:34 for the charge linking Jesus with “the prince of demons,” who is named Beelzebul in Mt 12:24. The meaning of the name is uncertain; possibly, “lord of the house.”
* [10:26] The concealed and secret coming of the kingdom is to be proclaimed by them, and no fear must be allowed to deter them from that proclamation.
* [10:32–33] In the Q parallel (Lk 12:8–9), the Son of Man will acknowledge those who have acknowledged Jesus, and those who deny him will be denied (by the Son of Man) before the angels of God at the judgment. Here Jesus and the Son of Man are identified, and the acknowledgment or denial will be before his heavenly Father. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Gladyce Janky imagines the Apostles talking about what they heard and how they felt.
As the oil lamps dim and the conversation slows, Peter speaks up. My friends, do I need to remind you who we are following? The Messiah. The One promised by the prophets. Andrew and I left our father to follow him, as did you, James, and John. Matthew, you left behind financial security, fine clothes, and a beautiful house. We all made sacrifices because we know we have found the One to free our people – perhaps free the whole world. I hear your questions and uncertainty about our ability to do his work. We have seen Jesus cast out demons, heal the sick, teach, and stand firm against anyone who uses the law to oppress the poor. We will never be greater than him, but it is enough that we become like him (Mt 10:24). He has assured us we only need to fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna (Mt 10:28), but we can put aside that fear if commit to serving God. It is getting late. We can talk more about this tomorrow. For now, I leave you with one more question for your reflection.
If we are true believers, even if we have doubts and fears, how can we not accept the gift of this commission and everything else that comes with following Him? (Janky, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Do not bewail death - but sin,” by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD).
"The gospel is life. Impiety and infidelity are the death of the soul. So then, if the soul can die, how then is it yet immortal? Because there is always a dimension of life in the soul that can never be extinguished. And how does it die? Not in ceasing to be life but by losing its proper life. For the soul is both life to something else, and it has it own proper life. Consider the order of the creatures. The soul is the life of the body. God is the life of the soul. As the life that is the soul is present with the body, that the body may not die, so the life of the soul (God) ought to be with the soul that it may not die."
"How does the body die? By the departure of the soul. I say, by the departure of the soul the body dies, and it lies there as a mere carcass, what was a little before a lively, not a contemptible, object. There are in it still its several members, the eyes and ears. But these are merely the windows of the house; its inhabitant is gone. Those who bewail the dead cry in vain at the windows of the house. There is no one there within it to hear... Why is the body dead? Because the soul, its life, is gone. But at what point is the soul itself dead? When God, its life, has forsaken it... This then we can know and hold for certain: the body is dead without the soul, and the soul is dead without God. Every one without God has a dead soul. You who bewail the dead rather should bewail sin. Bewail ungodliness. Bewail disbelief." (excerpt from SERMON 65.5-7) (of Hippo & Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 6:1-8 comments that “God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.” Many of our heroes and heroines of the faith certainly didn’t seem to have the proper résumé, but they still made a difference.
Like Isaiah, you may feel unworthy. Or like Carlos, you may be facing what seem like insurmountable obstacles. The Lord is well aware of these challenges, but he wants you anyway. He has work for you to do, and he will guide you and empower you to do it. He has people for you to reach, and he is already preparing their hearts. Even if you feel limited by illness or a disability, even if you’re behind prison bars, you can make a difference. Just keep praying Isaiah’s prayer, “Here I am, Lord. Send me!” God always honors such a request. He will open doors for you and help you walk through them!
“Here I am, Lord. Send me!” (Meditation on Isaiah 6:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the theophany experienced by Isaiah in the Temple probably with the singing of the Levites in the background. None of us are worthy to be the messenger of God but we are invited to accept the purification needed to be a messenger of the truth. Friar Jude reminds us that evil may kill the body but it will not really harm us.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Ilia Delio who names our responsibility for our own transformation.
Of what use is it to pray and do good without being transformed? Of what use is it to hear the Word of God and not make it one’s own? Life in God is meant to be transforming, changing us from virtue to virtue and glory to glory (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). If the Word of God is not made our own, then the Scriptures have no more meaning than reading a good novel or the Sunday paper. The Word of God is meant to be taken into one’s life, consumed and digested to stimulate growth. We should grow into the freedom of love that God is. We should grow into “another Christ” renewing in our lives the mystery of divine love. Perhaps the will of God remains a question for many of us because we never get beyond the initial stage of knowing God. We never make the Word of God our own; hence, we never really come to know the truth of Christ nor are we set free…. (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate the work of the Spirit to show us our transformation and acknowledge our mission to share the Way of Jesus with the people in our environment.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/6?1
Janky, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071324.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?24
Meditation on Isaiah 6:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/13/1021738/
of Hippo, A., & Schwager, D. (n.d.). Fear Him Who Can Destroy Soul and Body in Hell. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul13
Psalms, PSALM 93 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/93?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Weekly Summary: Authentic Transformation. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/weekly-summary-authentic-transformation/
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