Mission and Movement

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to consider the nature of our ministry and the need for movement in our mission.

Inspired to Move

The reading from the First Letter of John emphasizes our need for testing the spirits.

* [4:1–6] Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf. 1 Cor 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.

* [4:3] Does not acknowledge Jesus: some ancient manuscripts add “Christ” and/or “to have come in the flesh” (cf. 1 Jn 4:2), and others read “every spirit that annuls (or severs) Jesus.” (1 John, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 2 shares God’s Promise to His Anointed.

* [Psalm 2] A royal Psalm. To rebellious kings (Ps 2:1–3) God responds vigorously (Ps 2:4–6). A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God (Ps 2:7–9) and warning kings to obey (Ps 2:10–11). The Psalm has a messianic meaning for the Church; the New Testament understands it of Christ (Acts 4:25–27; 13:33; Heb 1:5). (Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee to Crowds of People.

* [4:12–17] Isaiah’s prophecy of the light rising upon Zebulun and Naphtali (Is 8:22–9:1) is fulfilled in Jesus’ residence at Capernaum. The territory of these two tribes was the first to be devastated (733–32 B.C.) at the time of the Assyrian invasion. In order to accommodate Jesus’ move to Capernaum to the prophecy, Matthew speaks of that town as being “in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Mt 4:13), whereas it was only in the territory of the latter, and he understands the sea of the prophecy, the Mediterranean, as the sea of Galilee.

* [4:17] At the beginning of his preaching Jesus takes up the words of John the Baptist (Mt 3:2) although with a different meaning; in his ministry the kingdom of heaven has already begun to be present (Mt 12:28). 

* [4:23–25] This summary of Jesus’ ministry concludes the narrative part of the first book of Matthew’s gospel (Mt 3–4). The activities of his ministry are teaching, proclaiming the gospel, and healing; cf. Mt 9:35.

* [4:23] Their synagogues: Matthew usually designates the Jewish synagogues as their synagogue(s) (Mt 9:35; 10:17; 12:9; 13:54) or, in address to Jews, your synagogues (Mt 23:34), an indication that he wrote after the break between church and synagogue.

* [4:24] Syria: the Roman province to which Palestine belonged.

* [4:25] The Decapolis: a federation of Greek cities in Palestine, originally ten in number, all but one east of the Jordan. (Matthew, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock comments that we know how people who become famous are treated. Yet he still healed and through the many references to the Kingdom of God, the Reign of God, which occur throughout the gospels, we begin to understand the essential point of the Kingdom. It is not just then. It is now.

The Kingdom of God dwells in the believer’s heart and soul. God reigns in your heart and mine. It is an action of ours to do good works, to go beyond mere belief but to manifest that belief in kindness to others.

Let’s do our best to manifest the Kingdom here and now throughout this year in acts great and small. (Braddock, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The true light of revelation to the Gentiles,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"The Evangelist commemorated in this passage the prophet's words: 'Beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light' (Matthew 4:15-16) In what darkness? Certainly in the profound error of ignorance. What great light did they see? The light concerning which it is written: 'He was the true light that illumines everyone who comes into this world' (John 1:9) This was the light about which the just man Simeon in the Gospel declared, 'A light of revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel' (Luke 2:32). That light had arisen according to what David had announced, saying, 'A light has arisen in the darkness to the upright of heart' (Psalm 112:4).

"Also, Isaiah demonstrated that light about to come for the enlightenment of the church when he said, 'Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you' (Isaiah 60:1). Concerning that light also Daniel noted, 'It reveals the profound and hidden things, knowing those things which are in darkness and the light is with it' (Daniel 2:22), that is, the Son with the Father, for even as the Father is light, so too is the Son light. And David also speaks in the psalm: 'In your light shall we see light' (Psalm 36:9), for the Father is seen in the Son, as the Lord tells us in the Gospel: 'Who sees me, sees the Father' (John 14:9) From the true light, indeed, the true light proceeded, and from the invisible the visible. "He is the image of the invisible God," as the apostle notes (Colossians 1:15)." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 15.1) [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 Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 comments that Jesus didn’t come to liberate us from foreign rulers; he came to set us free from sin and death. He is “the light of the world” (John 8:12) because only he can show us a way out of spiritual darkness. Only he can liberate us from the pain and confusion that have plagued our world throughout history.

If you are facing some kind of “darkness” in your life right now—something confusing or something you can’t see your way out of—fix your eyes on Jesus. Even if you feel as if you are still in the dark, cling to him in trust and believe that he will lead and guide you. Jesus is truly the light of the world. As you follow him step-by-step, he will give you the eyes to see!

“Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom. . . . I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me” (St. John Henry Newman). (Meditation on Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25, n.d.)

The commentary from Friar Jude Winkler was not available at publication time.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces retired Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry who describes the early “Jesus Movement”. Curry calls for a revitalization of the Jesus Movement in our time, offering farmer and theologian Clarence Jordan (1912–1969) as a model of courage:

Pastor and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan was one of those people. In 1942, he worked with a team to found Koinonia Farm in Georgia, welcoming people of different races to live and work together, caring for each other and for the land. They called it a “demonstration plot” for the God Movement…. Jordan kept his eye on “the God Movement, the stirring of [God’s] mighty Spirit of love, peace, humility, forgiveness, joy and reconciliation in the hearts of all of us.” [1] 

Jordan once offered wise counsel to a young peace worker named Craig Peters. It is worth repeating today:  

I am increasingly convinced that [Jesus] thought of his messages as not dead-ending in a static institution but as a mighty flow of spirit which would penetrate every nook and cranny of [human] personal and social life…. I really don’t think we can ever renew the church until we stop thinking about it as an institution and start thinking of it as a movement. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate our Baptismal mission as priest, prophet, and leader and seek openness to the Spirit to activate our movement.

References

Braddock, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/010625.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4?12 

Meditation on Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/06/1174819/ 

1 John, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4 

Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/2?0 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Jesus Movement. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-jesus-movement/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). From Darkness and Death to Light and Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan6 

Love Revealed

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to evaluate the star we are following that is the recipient of our wealth, praise, and life force.

Love Being Revealed

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is a vision of the Ingathering of the Dispersed

* [60:1–9] The light the prophet proclaims to Zion symbolizes the blessing to come to her: the glory of the Lord, the return of her children, the wealth of nations who themselves will walk by her light. The passage is famous from its use in the Latin liturgy for the feast of Epiphany. (Isaiah CHAPTER 60, n.d.)

Psalm 72 is a Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King.

* [Psalm 72] A royal Psalm in which the Israelite king, as the representative of God, is the instrument of divine justice (Ps 72:1–4, 12–14) and blessing (Ps 72:5–7, 15–17) for the whole world. The king is human, giving only what he has received from God. Hence intercession must be made for him. The extravagant language is typical of oriental royal courts. (Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians details Paul’s Commission to Preach God’s Plan.

* [3:2] Stewardship: the Greek is the same term employed at Eph 1:10 for the plan that God administers (Col 1:25) and in which Paul plays a key role.

* [3:3–4] The mystery: God’s resolve to deliver Gentiles along with Israel through Christ; cf. notes on Eph 1:10; 3:9. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew describes the Visit of the Wise Men.

* [2:1–12] The future rejection of Jesus by Israel and his acceptance by the Gentiles are retrojected into this scene of the narrative.

* [2:1] In the days of King Herod: Herod reigned from 37 to 4 B.C. Magi: originally a designation of the Persian priestly caste, the word became used of those who were regarded as having more than human knowledge. Matthew’s magi are astrologers.

* [2:2] We saw his star: it was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that “A star shall advance from Jacob” (Nm 24:17), though there the star means not an astral phenomenon but the king himself.

* [2:4] Herod’s consultation with the chief priests and scribes has some similarity to a Jewish legend about the child Moses in which the “sacred scribes” warn Pharaoh about the imminent birth of one who will deliver Israel from Egypt and the king makes plans to destroy him.

* [2:11] Cf. Ps 72:10, 15; Is 60:6. These Old Testament texts led to the interpretation of the magi as kings. (Matthew, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Edward Morse reviews the events described in the readings.

We live downstream from these events, and yet we also must dwell with uncertainty, waiting patiently for all to be fulfilled.  Like the faithful of old, we must walk in the light we have.  We have gifts they did not enjoy, including life supported by the sacraments and the Church, but we also must persist in hope despite a world of trouble and confusion, guided by divine light.

Do not forget:  Christ has come.  Christ is here.  Christ is coming again.  Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “The glory of Christ's divinity is revealed,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"Let us now observe how glorious was the dignity that attended the King after his birth, after the magi in their journey remained obedient to the star. For immediately the magi fell to their knees and adored the one born as Lord. There in his very cradle they venerated him with offerings of gifts, though Jesus was merely a whimpering infant. They perceived one thing with the eyes of their bodies but another with the eyes of the mind. The lowliness of the body he assumed was discerned, but the glory of his divinity is now made manifest. A boy he is, but it is God who is adored. How inexpressible is the mystery of his divine honor! The invisible and eternal nature did not hesitate to take on the weaknesses of the flesh on our behalf. The Son of God, who is God of the universe, is born a human being in the flesh. He permits himself to be placed in a manger, and the heavens are within the manger. He is kept in a cradle, a cradle that the world cannot hold. He is heard in the voice of a crying infant. This is the same one for whose voice the whole world would tremble in the hour of his passion. Thus he is the One, the God of glory and the Lord of majesty, whom as a tiny infant the magi recognize. It is he who while a child was truly God and King eternal. To him Isaiah pointed, saying, 'For a boy has been born to you; a son has been given to you, a son whose empire has been forged on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).'" (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 5:1) 

[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 Matthew 2:1-12 invites us to ponder the gifts that we might offer our King today.

• Gold is a precious metal that represents wealth. What is your gold? Maybe it’s the time you offer to serve him, or it’s your money that you can share with the poor.

• Frankincense was a gift of worship. You can offer him the frankincense of the prayers and praises that rise from your heart to the throne of the Lord Almighty.

• The myrrh is a perfume that foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The myrrh you can offer are the times you sacrifice yourself to care for your family or those closest to you.

On this feast day, bring your precious gifts to the Lord. Offer him everything you have. Pour out your life before him and pay him homage. Jesus is pleased with every gift that you have for him.

“Jesus, I want to praise you and offer all I am to you!” (Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12, n.d.)

The commentary from Friar Jude Winkler was not available at publication time.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, summarizes a pattern of five stages of change that have taken place in religious and cultural institutions. He calls these stages the “Five M’s”: human, movement, machine, monument, and memory. The church is at its greatest vitality as the “Jesus Movement,” and the institution is merely the vehicle for that movement. No single person can ever control the movement itself through any theology, doctrine, or dogma. We cannot control the blowing of the Spirit. The movement stage is always very exciting, creative, and also risky.

Eventually this monument and its maintenance and self-preservation become ends in themselves. It’s easy just to step on board and worship at a monument without ever knowing why or longing for God ourselves. There’s no hint of knowing that we are chosen and beloved by God, who invites us to an inner journey. In this state, religion is merely an excuse to remain unconscious, holding on to a memory of something that must once have been a great adventure. I’m afraid that Christianity is no longer life itself, but actually a substitute for life or, worse, an avoidance of life. The secret is to know how to keep in touch with the human and movement stages without being naïve about the necessity of some machines and the inevitability of those who love monuments. We must also be honest; all of us love monuments when they are monuments to our human, our movement, or our machine. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to guide us in understanding the revelations of Divine Love that we encounter on our journey to recognize the NewBorn King.

References

Ephesians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/3?2 

Isaiah CHAPTER 60. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/60?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2?1 

Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/05/1172798/ 

Morse, E. (2025, January 5). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/010525.html 

Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/72?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Vitality of Movements. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-vitality-of-movements/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 5, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan5