Paradox and Power

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be courageous disciples of Christ as we experience the paradox of fullness of life in service to others.

Paradox and Power

The reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims the Paradox of the Ministry.

* [4:7–5:10] Paul now confronts the difficulty that his present existence does not appear glorious at all; it is marked instead by suffering and death. He deals with this by developing the topic already announced in 2 Cor 3:3, 6, asserting his faith in the presence and ultimate triumph of life, in his own and every Christian existence, despite the experience of death.

* [4:7] This treasure: the glory that he preaches and into which they are being transformed. In earthen vessels: the instruments God uses are human and fragile; some imagine small terracotta lamps in which light is carried.

* [4:8–9] A catalogue of his apostolic trials and afflictions. Yet in these the negative never completely prevails; there is always some experience of rescue, of salvation.

* [4:10–11] Both the negative and the positive sides of the experience are grounded christologically. The logic is similar to that of 2 Cor 1:3–11. His sufferings are connected with Christ’s, and his deliverance is a sign that he is to share in Jesus’ resurrection.

* [4:12–15] His experience does not terminate in himself, but in others (12, 15; cf. 2 Cor 1:4–5). Ultimately, everything is ordered even beyond the community, toward God (2 Cor 4:15; cf. 2 Cor 1:11). (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 126 is a lament after Israel’s return from exile.

* [Psalm 126] A lament probably sung shortly after Israel’s return from exile. The people rejoice that they are in Zion (Ps 126:1–3) but mere presence in the holy city is not enough; they must pray for the prosperity and the fertility of the land (Ps 126:4). The last verses are probably an oracle of promise: the painful work of sowing will be crowned with life (Ps 126:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus responds to the request of James and John.

* [20:20–28] Cf. Mk 10:35–45. The request of the sons of Zebedee, made through their mother, for the highest places of honor in the kingdom, and the indignation of the other ten disciples at this request, show that neither the two brothers nor the others have understood that what makes for greatness in the kingdom is not lordly power but humble service. Jesus gives the example, and his ministry of service will reach its highest point when he gives his life for the deliverance of the human race from sin.

* [20:20–21] The reason for Matthew’s making the mother the petitioner (cf. Mk 10:35) is not clear. Possibly he intends an allusion to Bathsheba’s seeking the kingdom for Solomon; see 1 Kgs 1:11–21. Your kingdom: see note on Mt 16:28.

* [20:22] You do not know what you are asking: the Greek verbs are plural and, with the rest of the verse, indicate that the answer is addressed not to the woman but to her sons. Drink the cup: see note on Mk 10:38–40. Matthew omits the Marcan “or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized” (Mk 10:38).

* [20:28] Ransom: this noun, which occurs in the New Testament only here and in the Marcan parallel (Mk 10:45), does not necessarily express the idea of liberation by payment of some price. The cognate verb is used frequently in the LXX of God’s liberating Israel from Egypt or from Babylonia after the Exile; see Ex 6:6; 15:13; Ps 77:16 (76 LXX); Is 43:1; 44:22. The liberation brought by Jesus’ death will be for many; cf. Is 53:12. Many does not mean that some are excluded, but is a Semitism designating the collectivity who benefit from the service of the one, and is equivalent to “all.” While there are few verbal contacts between this saying and the fourth Servant Song (Is 52:13–53:12), the ideas of that passage are reflected here. (Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)

Larry Hopp comments that we must never forget what following Jesus, what bearing fruit is really all about.  We are indeed blessed to be a blessing!  Following Jesus allows us to experience His joy in the bad times as well as the good.  Following Jesus requires a servant’s heart – something our world simply will never comprehend.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to never forget, with deep reverence and awe, all that you have done for us throughout our lives.  Give us your eyes to see the miracles that you are working out each and every day in our lives.  Empower us to maintain our focus upon the goal – the goal of using our lives to point others to you – to let your holy love flow through us.  In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen (Hopp, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Not to be served but to serve,” by John Chrysostom (344-407 AD).

"[Jesus] says, 'The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.' It is as if he were saying, 'I willed not even to stop at death but even in death gave my life as a ransom. For whom? For enemies. For you. If you are abused, my life is given for you. It is for you. Me for you.' So you need not be too picky if you suffer the loss of your honor. No matter how much it is lowered, you will not be descending as far as your Lord descended. And yet the deep descent of one has become the ascent of all. His glory shines forth from these very depths. For before he was made man, he was known among the angels only. But after he was made man and was crucified, so far from lessening that glory, he acquired further glory besides, even that from his personal knowledge of the world."

"So fear not then, as though your honor were put down. Rather, be ready to abase yourself. For in this way your glory is exalted even more, and in this way it becomes greater. This is the door of the kingdom. Let us not then go the opposite way. Let us not war against ourselves. For if we desire to appear great, we shall not be great but even the most dishonored of all. Do you see how everywhere Jesus encourages them by turning things upside down? He gives them what they desire but in ways they did not expect. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 65.4.25) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 20:20-28 comments that James’ boldness didn’t hinder him. In fact, God used it to make him a faithful witness of the gospel. Tradition says he ventured as far as Spain to preach the good news, and he was so effective that even today he is revered as the patron of that country.

Take courage from St. James’ example. He was persecuted and ultimately martyred, but he knew the Lord hadn’t abandoned him. Jesus will never abandon you, either. So today and every day, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with his grace to proclaim the goodness of the Lord.

“St. James, pray that I can become a bold witness to the gospel.” (Meditation on Matthew 20:20-28, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the 2 Corinthians passage reminds us that we are treasure in earthen vessels that may be broken by life but the message will not be destroyed. In Colossians we hear that we make up what is lacking in Christ’s suffering. In Matthew, the Mother of the sons of Zebedee asks about positions for her sons on Jesus right and left. In Mark the request is not made by the mother. In Matthew, the author distances the request a bit. Friar Jude reminds us that it is a rude question because inheritance is discussed when we die. When following Jesus we are called to the Cross and to service as Jesus cites the “Son of Man” in Daniel and the Songs of the Suffering Servant Service and not power.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rabbi Or Rose who tells of the prophetic witness and spiritual audacity of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–1972), one of the great religious leaders of the 20th century. 

 

In fine prophetic fashion, Heschel rails against ritual observance divorced from social responsibility…. He wrote, “Prayer is no panacea, no substitute for action.” [2] While Heschel was an eloquent spokesperson for a life of disciplined religious praxis—including prayer and other traditional observances—he was steadfast in his call for a holistic approach to spirituality and ethics….  

Heschel joined Dr. King and other civil rights leaders in the famous Selma to Montgomery March. Upon returning from that protest, he wrote the following words:    

For many of us the march from Selma to Montgomery was about protest and prayer. Legs are not lips, and marching is not kneeling, and yet our legs uttered songs. Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying. [3]  

For Heschel, marching for voting rights was a holy act, an embodied devotional response to God’s ongoing call for dignity and equality…. Rather than turn away in rage or despair from engagement with non-Jews, Heschel became a champion of racial justice and interreligious cooperation. He used his own experiences as a victim of bigotry and hatred to work to stamp out these destructive phenomena in his new homeland and throughout the world…. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the connection Christ makes with the Suffering Servant of Isaiah as we pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit in our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in service of the people on our journey as an earthen vessel.

References

Hopp, L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection July 25, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-25-2025 

Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20?20 

Meditation on Matthew 20:20-28. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/?utm_content=buffer5c902&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/126?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-model-of-faith-and-justice/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Not to Be Served but to Serve. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jul25a 

2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/4?7 

Power and Parables

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to revisit the impressions we may have of God and the role of our relationship with Jesus through love, mercy, and compassion.

Learning Love and Liturgy

The reading from the Book of Exodus proclaims The Great Theophany.

* [19:2] Apparently from a different source (P) than v. 1, which notes the date, v. 2 from the J source includes a second notice of the arrival in the wilderness of Sinai. The Israelites now will be camped at Sinai from this point on all the way to Nm 10:10. This is a striking indication of the centrality and importance of the Sinai narrative in the overall composition of the Pentateuch.

* [19:16] Shofar: a ram’s horn used like a trumpet for signaling both for liturgical and military purposes. (Exodus, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Response from the Book of Daniel proclaims Praise and Exaultation for God.

* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures. (Daniel, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explains the Purpose of Parables.

* [13:11] Since a parable is figurative speech that demands reflection for understanding, only those who are prepared to explore its meaning can come to know it. To understand is a gift of God, granted to the disciples but not to the crowds. In Semitic fashion, both the disciples’ understanding and the crowd’s obtuseness are attributed to God. The question of human responsibility for the obtuseness is not dealt with, although it is asserted in Mt 13:13. The mysteries: as in Lk 8:10; Mk 4:11 has “the mystery.” The word is used in Dn 2:18, 19, 27 and in the Qumran literature (1QpHab 7:8; 1QS 3:23; 1QM 3:9) to designate a divine plan or decree affecting the course of history that can be known only when revealed. Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven means recognition that the kingdom has become present in the ministry of Jesus.

* [13:12] In the New Testament use of this axiom of practical “wisdom” (see Mt 25:29; Mk 4:25; Lk 8:18; 19:26), the reference transcends the original level. God gives further understanding to one who accepts the revealed mystery; from the one who does not, he will take it away (note the “theological passive,” more will be given, what he has will be taken away).

* [13:13] Because ‘they look…or understand’: Matthew softens his Marcan source, which states that Jesus speaks in parables so that the crowds may not understand (Mk 4:12), and makes such speaking a punishment given because they have not accepted his previous clear teaching. However, his citation of Is 6:9–10 in Mt 13:14 supports the harsher Marcan view.

* [13:16–17] Unlike the unbelieving crowds, the disciples have seen that which the prophets and the righteous of the Old Testament longed to see without having their longing fulfilled. (Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Kimberly Grassmeyer comments that much of the passage relies on Isaiah’s prophesy that the people can look but not truly see, and hear but not truly understand, and as such  have “gross” hearts. 

There is so much that I don’t truly comprehend from Christ’s teaching, so much of God’s word that is difficult to absorb.  Am I the person who doesn’t truly see, understand, and love God with my whole heart?  Am I among those who will have everything taken away?  Jesus told the disciples that many prophets and faithful people had fallen short in their attempts to do so - who am I to hope that I’m better than they?

Ahhh, but I’m a New Testament Christian, eager to believe in God’s Grace.  So I’ll cling to the closing phrase from Isaiah’s prophesy:

“lest they see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their hearts and be converted

and I heal them.”

My prayer today is to ask that God continue, always, to open wide my heart, my eyes, and my ears, that I may be truly converted and healed.  That I may one day know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.  And as importantly for this Christian, that I would live them out in my daily life on earth, sharing light and love with all people.  Amen. (Grassmeyer, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Ears that refuse to hear,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"Faith perceives the mysteries of the kingdom. A person will make progress in those things he has been immersed in and will abound with an increase in that progress. But in those things he has not been immersed in, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. In other words, he suffers the loss of the law from the loss of his faith. Lacking faith, the people of the law lost even the efficacy of the law. Therefore, gospel faith receives a perfect gift, because it enriches with new fruit those things that have been undertaken. But once it is rejected, even the help of one's former means of support is taken away. (excerpt from a commentary ON MATTHEW 13.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20 comments that our first reading may have given people the idea that the “Old Testament God” is terrifying and violent, ready to strike us down when we do something wrong. He’s not like the God of the New Testament, who is loving and merciful.

But that’s a serious misinterpretation. God is God and he never changes.

God never changes. His demonstrations of power are always expressions of his love. No matter how he reveals himself, it is always meant to bring us his blessings.

“Lord, all power and glory are yours, forever and ever.” (Meditation on Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20, n.d.)

 

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the Exodus passage and how the Israelites approach the mountain of the Lord made manifest in a powerful theophany that God uses to communicate through Moses. He compares it to when Elijah finds God on the same mountain in a gentle way. Why does Jesus teach in parables? Jesus is not hiding but expressing things in the simplest way and even then people reject Him. The proclamation in Matthew that many Prophets would like to see and hear is a call to us to respond to our revelation through the Church with generosity.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Theologian Meggan Watterson who describes the source of what she calls “sacred rage”. Watterson affirms our inherent goodness as the source of both rage and healing.

Rage and goodness are not mutually exclusive. Rage is often necessary in order to draw fierce boundaries when we or those we love or those we feel connected to are being harmed. And rage is necessary to remind us of our innate goodness. We’re angry because we are good, because we recognize, we know innately, what is good. Rage, like a slow controlled burn, can fuel and inform us….  

Rage is information. Rage is not an action plan. Rage holds no answers for what’s next. And it can quickly galvanize action. Yet, if we act only from that rage, if we move the way rage wants us to move, we will cause harm to ourselves and others. So when we go to take action, we must first intentionally return to love. Rage informs us about what we love, and love moves us to act in ways only love knows. (Rohr, n.d.)

We may find the power of God more familiar than the care of God for our needs that include understanding of the Love and Gentle encouragement to understand the Way of Jesus.

References

Daniel, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3?52 

Exodus, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/19?1 

Grassmeyer, K. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-24-2025 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?10 

Meditation on Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20. (n.d.). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2025/07/24/1339210/ 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Rage and Goodness. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/rage-and-goodness/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Many Longed to Hear What You Hear. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jul24