The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider the connections we have to God and our community and the action we take to grow our relationship in Jesus Way.
The Reading from the Prophet Nehemiah describes his Appointment by the King to restore his native city. (Nehemiah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 137 celebrates a singer who refuses to sing the people’s sacred songs in an alien land
* [Psalm 137] A singer refuses to sing the people’s sacred songs in an alien land despite demands from Babylonian captors (Ps 137:1–4). The singer swears an oath by what is most dear to a musician—hands and tongue—to exalt Jerusalem always (Ps 137:5–6). The Psalm ends with a pr ayer that the old enemies of Jerusalem, Edom and Babylon, be destroyed (Ps 137:7–9). (Psalms, PSALM 137 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sets priorities for Would-be Followers.
* [9:57–62] In these sayings Jesus speaks of the severity and the unconditional nature of Christian discipleship. Even family ties and filial obligations, such as burying one’s parents, cannot distract one no matter how briefly from proclaiming the kingdom of God. The first two sayings are paralleled in Mt 8:19–22; see also notes there.
* [9:60] Let the dead bury their dead: i.e., let the spiritually dead (those who do not follow) bury their physically dead. See also note on Mt 8:22. (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Joan Blandin Howard comments that these words of Jesus sound very harsh. Thinking through this reading made no sense to her. Praying with these verses opened her ears and heart– She began to hear Jesus differently.
P
ossibly, these verses are about the urgency of the Kingdom and the spiritual family of Jesus. Numerous times throughout scripture, we hear references to who is part of Jesus’ family. “…those who do the will of my Father…are (His) Jesus’ brothers, sisters and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50). This verse, among others, gives meaning to spiritual kinship over blood relationship. “Follow me”
“The kingdom is at hand,” and I want you with me. We have to be about it now. Make up your mind. Possibly harsh and callous, but carries a sense of urgency and opportunity. Jesus calls and will gently reveal my personal role in the building of the Kingdom. Will I take this opportunity or not? (Blandin Howard, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Put to death what is earthly in you,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"The statement 'Let the dead bury their dead' implies spiritually: Waste no more time on dead things. You are to 'put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry' (Colossians 3:5). These things therefore are dead. Cast them away from you. Cut them off as you would cut off gangrenous flesh to prevent the contamination of the whole body, so that you may not hear it said, 'Leave the dead [spiritually dead] to bury their dead' (Matthew 8:22). But to some it seems abnormal and contradictory that the Savior does not allow the disciple to bury his father. It seems inhumane. But Jesus does not in fact forbid people from burying the dead, but rather he puts before this the preaching of the kingdom of heaven, which makes people alive (Luke 9:60). As for burying the body, there were many people who could have done this." (excerpt from Fragment 161) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Nehemiah 2:1-8 comments that His work doesn’t always involve restoring a structure. Often it’s a relationship that needs to be rebuilt—perhaps with a family member, friend, or coworker. We may see that we are estranged from our parish or the Church at large—or even from the Lord himself. Whatever it is, God wants to bring healing!
Nehemiah accomplished a great work, but he didn’t do it alone. God gave him the courage to ask the king for help and the wisdom and stamina to see the work to completion. With his grace, God can do the same for you!
“Lord, show me what I need to rebuild, and help me to do it!” (Meditation on Nehemiah 2:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today
Fr. Mike Schmitz continues to describe Nehemiah’s process of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and encountering a variety of challenges in his calling. He explains that in doing God's work, we will often face internal or external opposition which we must meet with prayer and perseverance, trusting God entirely. Today’s readings are Nehemiah 4-5, Esther 11-12, and Proverbs 20:27-30.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers how the prophetic lives of Francis and Clare shaped others through their witness.
By “living on the edge of the inside” I mean building on the solid Tradition (“from the inside”) from a new and creative stance (“on the edge”) where we cannot be co-opted for purposes of security, possessions, or the illusions of power. Francis and Clare placed themselves outside the social and ecclesiastical systems. Francis was not a priest, nor were Franciscan men to pursue priesthood in the early years of the order. Theirs was not a spirituality of earning or seeking worthiness, career, church status, moral one-upmanship, or divine favor (which they knew they already had). Within their chosen structural freedom, Francis and Clare also found personal, mental, and emotional freedom. They were free from negativity and ego. Such liberation is full gospel freedom.
Today, most of us try to find personal and individual freedom even as we remain inside of structural boxes and a system of consumption that we are then unable or unwilling to critique. Our mortgages, luxuries, and privileged lifestyles control our whole future. Whoever is paying our bills and giving us security and status determines what we can and cannot say or even think. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the Wisdom of the Spirit to assess the systems in society that may be restricting our full response to Jesus' call to live our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.
References
Blandin Howard, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-1-2025
Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?57
Meditation on Nehemiah 2:1-8. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/10/01/1399013/
Nehemiah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/nehemiah/2?1
Psalms, PSALM 137 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/137?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/prophetic-living/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Fit for the Kingdom of God. Daily Scripture Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=oct1
No comments:
Post a Comment