Commandment for Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary nudge us to choose love of God and neighbour in preference to disputes and disagreement with the people we encounter on our journey.

Life and Health

The reading from the Second Letter of Timothy introduces a worker approved by God and issues a warning against useless disputes.

* [2:8–13] The section begins with a sloganlike summary of Paul’s gospel about Christ (2 Tm 2:8) and concludes with what may be part of an early Christian hymn (2 Tm 2:11b–12a; most exegetes include the rest of 2 Tm 2:12 and all of 2 Tm 2:13 as part of the quotation). The poetic lines suggest that through baptism Christians die spiritually with Christ and hope to live with him and reign with him forever, but the Christian life includes endurance, witness, and even suffering, as the final judgment will show and as Paul’s own case makes clear; while he is imprisoned for preaching the gospel (2 Tm 2:9), his sufferings are helpful to the elect for obtaining the salvation and glory available in Christ (2 Tm 2:10), who will be true to those who are faithful and will disown those who deny him (2 Tm 2:12–13).

* [2:14–19] For those who dispute about mere words (cf. 2 Tm 2:23–24) and indulge in irreligious talk to the detriment of their listeners (2 Tm 2:16–19), see notes on 1 Tm 1:3–7; 6:20–21. Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Tm 2:17), while accepting the Christian’s mystical death and resurrection in Christ through baptism, claimed that baptized Christians are already risen with Christ in this life and thus that there is no future bodily resurrection or eternal glory to come. The first quotation in 2 Tm 2:19 is from Nm 16:5; the other quotation is from some unidentified Jewish or Christian writing. (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 25 is a prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance.

* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. (Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus recalls the First Commandment.

* [12:13–34] In the ensuing conflicts (cf. also Mk 2:1–3:6) Jesus vanquishes his adversaries by his responses to their questions and reduces them to silence (Mk 12:34).

* [12:28–34] See note on Mt 22:34–40. (Mark, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Susan Naatz shares how through her husband’s chemo, surgery, more chemo and several weeks of radiation, they were anchored with love and held in this bewildering sometimes fierce fight by family, friends, Jesuits, Creighton Prep colleagues, and countless people who have Prep connections.

Perhaps Peter Schineller S.J. says it the best:  There is an inseparability between love of God and love of neighbor.  It is one movement, the movement enabled by grace (the grace of God in Christ Jesus) to which we give witness.    Without Love of Neighbor by Peter Schineller S.J., America Magazine, February 18, 2019 (Naatz, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Love God with one's whole self,” by Gregory of Nyssa, 330-395 AD.

"Human life consists in a threefold unity. We are taught similarly by the apostle in what he says to the Ephesians, praying for them that the complete grace of their 'body and soul and spirit' may be preserved at the coming of the Lord. We use the word 'body,' for the nutritive part, the word for the vital, 'soul,' and the word 'spirit' for the intellective dimension. In just this way the Lord instructs the writer of the Gospel that he should set before every commandment that love to God which is exercised with all the heart and soul and mind (Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27). This single phrase embraces the human whole: the corporeal heart, the mind as the higher intellectual and mental nature, and the soul as their mediator." (excerpt from ON THE MAKING OF MAN 8.5.10) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 12:28-34 comments that we might find that perhaps we aren’t so eager to serve as we once were. Or maybe we find excuses not to pray. We might discover times when we were thinking of our own needs before the needs of others. Or maybe we have become too easily annoyed with other people or more critical of them.

But don’t despair if you discover that your love has grown lukewarm. The Holy Spirit is only too willing to renew your heart if you ask him. God is love, and you can trust him to fill you with that love—a pure, unselfish love that longs to give itself away—even if you have to keep asking for it every day! That’s how the kingdom of God breaks forth. May it begin with each of us!

“Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me once more with love for you and my neighbor.” (Meditation on Mark 12:28-34, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that 2 Timothy, written as if it were Paul in prison, warns against disputing words about docetism and gnosticism and emphasizes living a good life as witness to the truth. Friar Jude connects Jesus' reference to the Great Commandment to the Shema and our intellect, life force, possessions, and conscience.

James Finley introduces teacher Carmen Acevedo Butcher who shares how she came to know and be transformed by the Jesus Prayer. Sophie Buschbeck at that time was a widow living alone…. 

She asked me to read the Bible to her in German. She didn’t know my backstory, so I read the Bible to her.

I was walking all over Heidelberg during that very cold winter. I came over from Georgia in the U.S. with only polyester sweaters which just would not cut it, and Sophie had to give me a wool sweater. I began to pray, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” and variations of the Jesus Prayer. I said it over and over and over all day long. At the end of that time, when I went back home, all my problems were still there. I still had my own internal struggles, and I was trying to navigate my ongoing breakdown. [But] the Jesus Prayer—this constant returning to the present awareness of love—had begun to heal me. I will always be grateful for Sophie, for giving me that nudge and for being able to repeat this prayer until I could feel my soul being knit together again. (Finley, n.d.)

We consider the ancient commandment and recipe for full life that resonates with the Shema and urges us to seek the guidance of the Spirit as we serve the needs of the people in our environment.

References

Finley, J. (n.d.). A Prayer of Healing. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-prayer-of-healing/ 

Mark, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/12?28 

Meditation on Mark 12:28-34. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/06/990512/ 

Naatz, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060624.html 

Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Love the Lord with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun6 

2 Timothy, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 6, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/2?8 

The Lineage of Faith

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, invite us to consider the Plan of God that we experience through faith and openness to a vocation to care for those who live in the margins of our society.

Righteousness and Compassion

The reading from the Second Book of Samuel is the Oracle of Nathan.

* [7:8–16] The message Nathan delivers to David, called the Dynastic Oracle, is prompted by David’s intention to build a house (i.e., a temple) for the Lord, like David’s own house (i.e., palace) of cedar. David is told, in effect, not to bother building a house for the Lord; rather, the Lord will make a house for him—a dynasty, the House of David. Not only will he have descendants (v. 12) who will sit upon the throne of Israel (v. 13), their rule will last forever (vv. 13, 16); and even if they transgress the Lord’s commands, the line of David will never be removed from kingship as Saul was (cf. 1 Sm 13; 15). The oracle establishes the Davidic king as standing in relationship to the Lord as a son to a father (v. 14; cf. Ps 2:7; 89:27). The Dynastic Oracle, with cognate texts in the Scriptures, is the basis for Jewish expectations of an anointed king (1 Sm 12:3, 5), son of David (Mt 21:9); cf. Acts 2:30; Heb 1:5.

* [7:13] He it is: Solomon, in the event.

* [7:16] The unconditional promise made here, and reflected in Ps 89:34–35, stands in contrast to the tradition in Ps 132:12, where the continuation of the line of David depends on their fidelity to the Lord; cf. also 1 Kgs 2:4; 6:12; 8:25. (2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 89 praises God’s Covenant with David. 

* [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Ps 89:2–5). The Psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Ps 89:6–9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Ps 89:20–38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Ps 89:39–52).

* [89:3–5] David’s dynasty is to be as long-lasting as the heavens, a statement reinforced by using the same verbs (establish, stand) both of the divine love and loyalty and of the Davidic dynasty and throne, cf. Ps 89:29–30. (Psalms, PSALM 89 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans declares that God’s Promise is realized through Faith.

* [4:1–25] This is an expanded treatment of the significance of Abraham’s faith, which Paul discusses in Gal 3:6–18; see notes there. (Romans, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Birth of Jesus, the Messiah, is presented.

* [1:18–25] This first story of the infancy narrative spells out what is summarily indicated in Mt 1:16. The virginal conception of Jesus is the work of the Spirit of God. Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary is overcome by the heavenly command that he take her into his home and accept the child as his own. The natural genealogical line is broken but the promises to David are fulfilled; through Joseph’s adoption the child belongs to the family of David. Matthew sees the virginal conception as the fulfillment of Is 7:14. (Matthew, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Burke-Sullivan shares a story of a friend and Jewish father who told her about his relationship with Abraham and his love for the wisdom of the tradition that handed down a deep care for and attendance upon family.  Another night we spoke of King David who had a less than stellar relationship with his wives, but an unquenchable love for his children both the loyal and disloyal.

St. Joseph came from this tradition of faith and remembrance.  God’s people are his “children” to be loved and cared for with every gift of his personality.  God’s Fatherhood is perhaps most gently demonstrated in Joseph and his care for those he protects and guides according to the Jewish culture.  He is willing to stand by and care for Mary and her child which was clearly a puzzlement for him – such faith in the faith of Abraham and David, and the faith of all fathers and husbands who take their role of protector, shepherd, guide and shelter seriously.

At a time when our world needs real fathers – men who care profoundly for the children, grand children and even great grandchildren this is a time when men can perform this most sacred human role for a world confused and angry about so much.  Let’s look to men who honestly “father” their families and their neighbors’ families to bring peace and justice to a world hungry for such love. (Burke-Sullivan, 2009)

Don Schwager quotes “The character of Joseph,” from a homily by Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153.

"Joseph's character and qualities can be deduced from the fact that God honored him with the title of father, and, although his doing so was a mere matter of convenience, this was what he was known as and believed to be. Joseph's own name, which as you know means "increase", supplies further indications. Call to mind the great patriarch of old who was sold into Egypt, and you will realize that it was not only his name that our saint received but also his chastity, innocence, and grace. His brothers' envy had caused the earlier Joseph to be sold and taken to Egypt, thus symbolizing the selling of Christ: the later Joseph carried Christ into Egypt, fleeing before Herod's envy... The first Joseph had the gift of interpreting dreams: the second was given a revelation of the divine plan and a share in its accomplishment. Joseph the patriarch stored up grain, not for himself but for all the people: our Joseph was given custody of the living bread from heaven to keep safe both for himself and the whole world. There is no doubt that the Joseph to whom the Savior's mother was engaged was a good and faithful man. He was, I say, the wise and faithful steward whom the Lord appointed to support his mother and care for himself in childhood, singling him out for his complete reliability to help him with his momentous plan." (Hom. 2 super Missus est, 11.16: PL 183, 69-70) (Schwager, 2009)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 comments that God’s promises aren’t automatic guarantees. Because he gave us the great gift of free will, we need to cooperate with him to make sure those promises come to pass. And that’s where faith comes in—the faith of people like Abraham, David, and St. Joseph. These men didn’t always understand what God was asking of them, and they didn’t see his promises completely fulfilled in their lifetimes. But that didn’t keep them from trusting him and seeking to obey him. In Joseph’s case, that involved not just marrying Mary, but fleeing with his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath, and then moving back to Nazareth when an angel told him to.

On this day when we honor St. Joseph, let’s thank him for being such a wonderful model of trust in God’s promises. Let’s also imitate his deep faith in God and willingness to take decisive action when the Lord calls us.

“Oh, St. Joseph, watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, pray for me and for all the Church! May we all follow your example of faith and trust in the Lord!” (Meditation on Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24, n.d.)

Pope Francis in America Magazine shares that Joseph, who is a carpenter from Nazareth and who trusts in God’s plan for his young fiancée and for himself, reminds the Church to keep her eyes on what the world deliberately ignores.

“Do not look so much at the things that the world praises, look into the corners, look in the shadows, look at the peripheries, at what the world does not want.” He reminds each of us to consider important what others discard. In this sense he is truly a master of the essential: he reminds us that what truly matters does not attract our attention, but requires patient discernment to be discovered and appreciated. To discover what matters. Let us ask him to intercede so that the whole Church may recover this insight, this ability to discern, this capacity to evaluate what is essential. Let us start again from Bethlehem, let us start again from Nazareth. (Francis, 2021)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the prophecy of Nathan that reveals a change from a charismatically chosen leader to the dynasty initiated by David. The righteousness of Abraham, based on the Law, is contrasted by the definition of Paul to the Romans of righteousness in justification by faith and compassion. Friar Jude reminds us of Joseph's faith as he responded to God’s plan by rejecting the Law concerning his acceptance of Mary and her Child for his care.

Barbara Holmes continues to share her experiences with everyday mysticism. She looks for the Divine Presence in all of life. 

I hear mystery in drumming, in singing bowls, rattles, and in basic hymns, but that’s not the only place mysticism is found. Sacred texts of all faiths contain stories of wondrous happenings. In the Christian tradition we have virgin births, burning bushes not consumed, waters parting, healing, and prophetic leadership. Yet some Christians are nervous as to whether miracles are tied to faith! Miracles and mysteries can be extraordinary. They can be experienced by the entire community or as a vision or a dream for an individual. Today, we are not looking for colossal mysteries like the parting of the seas. We just want to tap into, or at least recognize, everyday mysticism. Our ancestors hosted this type of mysticism for ages, and we didn’t lose our connection to those many sources of wisdom until more recent generations when we decided that scientific verification and proof would be the only criteria by which we decide between reality and delusion. But we can make better decisions now. We can acknowledge the continued value of science as we explore our worlds and while we continue our dance with the mysteries of life. (Holmes, n.d.)

We ponder the message to us from people in Christian tradition, like Joseph, who accepted through faith, the mission to love and protect that contradicted culture and the Law.

References

Burke-Sullivan, E. (2009, June 3). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. YouTube: Home. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/031924.html 

Francis, P. (2021, November 17). Pope Francis: St. Joseph teaches us to love the people the world rejects. America Magazine. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/11/17/pope-francis-audience-saint-joseph-2 41858

Holmes, B. (n.d.). The Mystics Who Surround Us. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-mystics-who-surround-us/ 

Matthew, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/1? 

Meditation on Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/03/19/915834/ 

Psalms, PSALM 89 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89?2 

Romans, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/4?13 

Schwager, D. (2009, June 3). Joseph Did as the Angel Commanded Him. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=mar19a 

2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/7?4