The Word Among Us

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the practice at year end to recall the events that shaped our journey and refresh our resolution to live as disciples of Christ in the New Year.

Word and Life

The reading from the First Letter of John is a warning against Antichrists.

* [2:18] It is the last hour: literally, “a last hour,” the period between the death and resurrection of Christ and his second coming. The antichrist: opponent or adversary of Christ; the term appears only in 1 John–2 John, but “pseudochrists” (translated “false messiahs”) in Mt 24:24 and Mk 13:22, and Paul’s “lawless one” in 2 Thes 2:3, are similar figures. Many antichrists: Matthew, Mark, and Revelation seem to indicate a collectivity of persons, here related to the false teachers.

* [2:19] Not really of our number: the apostate teachers only proved their lack of faith by leaving the community.

* [2:20] The anointing that comes from the holy one: this anointing is in the Old Testament sense of receiving the Spirit of God. The holy one probably refers to Christ. True knowledge is the gift of the Spirit (cf. Is 11:2), and the function of the Spirit is to lead Christians to the truth (Jn 14:17, 26; 16:13). (1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 offers praise to God Who Comes in Judgement.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John proclaims the Word Became Flesh.

* [1:1–18] The prologue states the main themes of the gospel: life, light, truth, the world, testimony, and the preexistence of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Logos, who reveals God the Father. In origin, it was probably an early Christian hymn. Its closest parallel is in other christological hymns, Col 1:15–20 and Phil 2:6–11. Its core (Jn 1:1–5, 10–11, 14) is poetic in structure, with short phrases linked by “staircase parallelism,” in which the last word of one phrase becomes the first word of the next. Prose inserts (at least Jn 1:6–8, 15) deal with John the Baptist. (John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Thomas Quinn comments that there will not be one “antichrist” but many. These may include: false prophets, blasphemers, corrupt leaders, those that love power and greed more than God. The list, unfortunately, may be endless.  It has even been used by Christians to defame and vilify other Christians.  Love one another. Jesus did make that clear.

St. Ignatius, in the spiritual exercises, asks us to choose a standard or side. Do you choose evil or good? Like St. John, St. Ignatius believed in the power that evil can have over us. We too need to be vigilant in this regard. If we cling to the standard of Christ, goodness and holiness will follow.  We will be spiritually stronger than any evil entity or idea. St. John also reminds us, in the Gospel today, that “The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.” We know the way to spiritual security and joy. We have been given the law through Moses, and grace and truth through Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Let the eternal and true light of the world shine upon us. Live our lives in this new year by more closely following Jesus’ example; be joyful and love one another. (Quinn, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “The first-fruits of the Gospels,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"I think that John's Gospel, which you have enjoined us to examine to the best of our ability, is the first-fruits of the Gospels. It speaks of him whose descent is traced and begins from him who is without a genealogy... The greater and more perfect expressions concerning Jesus are reserved for the one who leaned on Jesus' breast. For none of the other Gospels manifested his divinity as fully as John when he presented him saying, 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:42), 'I am the way and the truth and the life' (John 14:6), 'I am the resurrection' (John 11:25), 'I am the door' (John 10:9), 'I am the good shepherd' (John 10:11)... We might dare say then that the Gospels are the first-fruits of all Scripture but that the first-fruits of the Gospels is that according to John whose meaning no one can understand who has not leaned on Jesus' breast or received Mary from Jesus to be his mother also." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1.21-23) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 John 2:18-21 comments that John encourages us not to be afraid. Why? Because we know the truth. Because we have received “the anointing that comes from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). And that Holy One is “the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Even though we don’t know what the coming year might hold, we can cling to this truth, and that can prepare our hearts for whatever happens.

It’s true that we don’t know what this new year will hold. But it’s equally true that we know the One who holds the new year in his hands. He is in our corner, and we can trust in his love and fidelity.

So lift up your heart and walk boldly into the new year.

“Thank you, Jesus, that I can trust you completely.” (Meditation on 1 John 2:18-21, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the impact of docetism, a form of Gnosticism, that dismissed the divinity of Christ and valued the spiritual over the material. The Word, wisdom, sarx, and Christ are differentiated in the poetry and prose of the Prologue of the Gospel of John. We have seen the grace and truth, hesed and emet, from the Hebrew Testament. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' mission to reveal who the Father is and what He wants of us.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces spiritual writer Debie Thomas who considers the significance of salt to Jesus’ first listeners.

Salt poured out without discretion leaves a burnt, bitter sensation in its wake. It ruins what it tries to enhance. It repels.  

This, unfortunately, is the reputation Christianity has these days. We are known as the salt that exacerbates wounds, irritates souls, and ruins goodness. We are considered arrogant, domineering, obnoxious, and uninterested in enhancing anything but ourselves. We are known for hoarding our power, not for giving it away. We are known for shaming, not blessing. We are known for using our words to burn, not heal.  

This is not what Jesus intends when he calls us the salt of the earth…. Salt at its best sustains and enriches life. It pours itself out with discretion so that God’s kingdom might be known on the earth—a kingdom of spice and zest, a kingdom of health and wholeness, a kingdom of varied depth, flavor, and complexity.  

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes concrete the work of love, compassion, healing, and justice. It’s not enough to believe. It’s not enough to bask in our blessedness while creation burns. To be blessed, to be salt, to be followers of Jesus, is to take seriously what our identity signifies. (Rohr, n.d.) 

In the time of reflection on the past year, we ponder the connection of Word becoming flesh to our experience and plans as followers of Christ.

References

John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?1 

Meditation on 1 John 2:18-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/12/31/1169162/ 

1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?18 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1 

Quinn, T. (2024, December 31). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/123124.html 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Why Does Salt Matter? Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/why-does-salt-matter/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt among Us. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 31, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=dec31 

Anointing and Lord

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to ponder the anointing we have received to be leaders and lovers on our journey.

Anointing for the Journey

In the reading from the First Letter of Samuel, Samuel Anoints David.

* [16:1] David is anointed two more times after Saul’s death (2 Sm 2:4; 5:3). In 17:28, his brother Eliab is not aware of David’s selection. These repetitions and inconsistencies reflect the final editor’s use of multiple sources. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)

Psalm 89 praises God’s Covenant with David.

* [89:18, 25] Horn: a concrete noun for an abstract quality; horn is a symbol of strength.

* [89:26] The sea…the rivers: geographically the limits of the Davidic empire (the Mediterranean and the Euphrates); mythologically, the traditional forces of chaos. See note on Ps 89:11.

* [89:28] Most High: a divine title, which is here extended to David as God’s own king, cf. Ps 2:7–9; Is 9:5. As God rules over the members of the heavenly council (Ps 89:6–9), so David, God’s surrogate, rules over earthly kings. (Psalms, PSALM 89, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark is Jesus' pronouncement about the Sabbath.

* [2:23–28] This conflict regarding the sabbath follows the same pattern as in Mk 2:18–22.

* [2:25–26] Have you never read what David did?: Jesus defends the action of his disciples on the basis of 1 Sm 21:2–7 in which an exception is made to the regulation of Lv 24:9 because of the extreme hunger of David and his men. According to 1 Samuel, the priest who gave the bread to David was Ahimelech, father of Abiathar.

* [2:27] The sabbath was made for man: a reaffirmation of the divine intent of the sabbath to benefit Israel as contrasted with the restrictive Pharisaic tradition added to the law.

* [2:28] The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath: Mark’s comment on the theological meaning of the incident is to benefit his Christian readers; see note on Mk 2:10. (Mark, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)

Tom Quinn comments that good will come of our actions if we are champions and servants for God and His creation.

The alleluia today provides a beautiful summary of the first reading: “may the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.”... Honoring God, the Lord, is the spirit of the Sabbath. Rest and reflect; God genuinely wants the serenity and happiness that we have on the Sabbath to endure throughout our lives. (Quinn, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “The Lord of the Sabbath,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.

"Doubtless he speaks of himself when he mentions the 'Lord of the sabbath' (Mark 2:28, Matthew 12:8, Luke 6:5). Mark relates a complementary saying about our common human nature, that "the sabbath was made for humans, not humans for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Why then should someone who gathered sticks on the sabbath be censured? The law that was established earlier could not be scorned without jeopardizing the law to be given later.

"The sabbath did confer many benefits, great blessings in the earlier dispensation. It made people more gentle toward those close to them. It guided them toward being more sympathetic. It located them temporally within God's creation and providence, as Ezekiel knew (Ezekiel 20:19-20). The sabbath trained Israel by degrees to abstain from evil and disposed them to listen to the things of the Spirit.

"They would have stretched the law out of shape if, when he was giving the law of the sabbath, Jesus had said, 'You can work on the sabbath, but just do good works, do nothing evil.' This would have brought out the worst in them. So he restrained them from doing any works at all on the sabbath. And even this stricter prohibition did not keep them in line. But he himself, in the very act of giving the law of the sabbath, gave them a veiled sign of things to come. For by saying, 'You must do no work, except what shall be done for your life' (Exodus 12:16), he indicated that the intent of the law was to have them refrain from evil works only, not all works. Even in the temple, much went on during the sabbath, and with great diligence and double toil. Thus even by this very shadowy saying Jesus was secretly opening the truth to them. Did Christ then attempt to repeal a law so beneficial as the sabbath law? Far from it. Rather, he greatly magnified the sabbath. For with Christ came the time for everyone to be trained by a higher requirement."(excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 39.3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Samuel 16:1-13 comments that God anointed David because his heart was ablaze with love for him and because he recognized his dependence on God, even when he strayed and sinned against him (Psalm 51).

David can also bring you hope in your battle against sin. You may be struggling with a persistent weakness or bad habit, and you just can’t seem to overcome it. Your repeated attempts to break the cycle can make you feel that God is disappointed with you. But the Lord still sees you, even when you fail, and he still loves you. His approval does not depend on your perfect triumph in this life. His love is constant, and it remains fixed on every heart that comes to him in humility.

Our vision is so limited. But God sees everything and loves us always. Let’s thank and praise him today!

“Thank you, Lord, for seeing me even when I can’t see myself.” (Meditation on 1 Samuel 16:1-13, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the rejection of Saul as king and the anointing of the shepherd David as God sees what is in the heart of the anointed. The Pharisees interpretation of the Law in the widest way is rejected by Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath. Friar Jude reflects on the error in Mark about the actual priest who distributed the Show Bread to David and his men.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Debie Thomas who considers the paradox of Jesus’ parable of the weeds and wheat.

But Jesus says no. “No” and “wait.” Jesus insists on patience, humility, and restraint when it comes to patrolling the borders of the field. He asks us, even as we acknowledge the pernicious reality of evil, to accept his timing instead of ours when it comes to destroying it. Why? Because there is no way we can police the wheat field without damaging the wheat. There is no way we can rid ourselves of everything bad without distorting everything good. When we rush ahead of God and start yanking weeds … we do harm to ourselves and to the field. Our sincerity devolves into arrogance. Our love devolves into judgment. Our holiness devolves into hypocrisy. The field suffers. (Thomas, 2024)

Our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader underlines the trust that God offers for our freedom to choose the Way of full life.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/2?23 

Meditation on 1 Samuel 16:1-13. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/16/876155/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/16?1 

Psalms, PSALM 89. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89? 

Quinn, T. (2024, January 16). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011624.html 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Son of Man Is Lord of the Sabbath. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan16 

Thomas, D. (2024, January 16). Paradox Holds Us — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/paradox-holds-us/