Forbearance and Greatness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to humble faith that presents itself in our compassion and care for the people who may be neglected in our environment.

Greatness and Humility

The reading from the Book of Wisdom celebrates forbearance in persecution.

* [2:1–20] In this speech the wicked deny survival after death and indeed invite death by their evil deeds.

* [2:12–5:23] From 2:12 to 5:23 the author draws heavily on Is 52–62, setting forth his teaching in a series of characters or types taken from Isaiah and embellished with additional details from other texts. The description of the “righteous one” in 2:12–20 seems to undergird the New Testament passion narrative. (Wisdom, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 54 is a prayer for Vindication.

* [Psalm 54] A lament in which the person under attack calls directly upon God for help (Ps 54:3–5). Refusing to despair, the psalmist hopes in God, who is active in history and just (Ps 54:6–7). The Psalm ends with a serene promise to return thanks (Ps 54:8–9). (Psalms, PSALM 54 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the Book of James cautions friendship with the World citing causes of division.

* [3:13–18] This discussion of true wisdom is related to the previous reflection on the role of the teacher as one who is in control of his speech. The qualities of the wise man endowed from above are detailed (Jas 3:17–18; cf. Gal 5:22–23), in contrast to the qualities of earthbound wisdom (Jas 3:14–16; cf. 2 Cor 12:20).(James, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [4:1–3] Passions: the Greek word here (literally, “pleasures”) does not indicate that pleasure is evil. Rather, as the text points out (Jas 4:2–3), it is the manner in which one deals with needs and desires that determines good or bad. The motivation for any action can be wrong, especially if one does not pray properly but seeks only selfish enjoyment (Jas 4:3). (James, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus again foretells His Death and Resurrection and demonstrates who is the greatest.

* [9:33–37] Mark probably intends this incident and the sayings that follow as commentary on the disciples’ lack of understanding (Mk 9:32). Their role in Jesus’ work is one of service, especially to the poor and lowly. Children were the symbol Jesus used for the anawim, the poor in spirit, the lowly in the Christian community. (Mark, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Ronald Fussell comments that today’s Gospel reading challenges us to reject a way of thinking.  We are reminded that our greatness is not a quantitative achievement that can be tracked on a spreadsheet or posted on a scoreboard, but rather is reflected in how we elevate others in society, especially those who are most in need, to build up the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Being a servant leader who cultivates peace (James 3:18) in a societal context is rarely easy, especially for people like me who are predisposed to measure success in wins and losses.  Indeed, we read in Wisdom 2:17 that the wicked say, let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.  Encountering others with a servant’s heart requires grace and courage, because the world around us so often puts us to the test - wanting desperately to see the trials in store for us when we speak the truth.  It is all too easy to deny the truth of what Jesus teaches about greatness in favor of a more misguided approach that prioritizes self over others.  So, my prayer is that we can be inspired by Jesus’s selfless service, and that we can grow closer to Him in how we elevate those around us who need it most.  For it is our response to those in need that shapes our character and prepares us for life with Christ. (Fussell, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Downward roots enable upward growth,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Observe a tree, how it first tends downwards, that it may then shoot forth upwards. It fastens its root low in the ground, that it may send forth its top towards heaven. Is it not from humility that it endeavors to rise? But without humility it will not attain to higher things (Proverbs 18:12). You are wanting to grow up into the air without a root. Such is not growth, but a collapse." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, SERMON 38.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 9:30-37 comments that if Jesus walked through our front door today, we would immediately get busy addressing his needs. “Come in, Jesus; sit down, Jesus. You look hungry; I’ll make you anything you want to eat.” We would be so quick to serve him that we just might overwhelm him with our kindness! But when we see a brother or sister in need, we often, either explicitly or implicitly, weigh our options: Does this fit in my schedule? How much will this cost me? What will I get out of this in return?

God is calling us out of any selfish regard for ourselves and into a selfless love for others. Today, ask for the eyes to see other people the way God the Father sees them: as another Christ. This will paint everyday situations in a new light. Christ is the lonely parishioner who is looking for a friend; he is the sick neighbor who needs a meal. When you are serving such people, you are serving the Lord himself!

“Lord Jesus, teach me to imitate you, the King who came to serve and not to be served.” (Meditation on Mark 9:30-37, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that the passage from Wisdom presents a plot of evil against the just man. The Letter of James exhorts the good person to live with compassion and love. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' connection to the Song of the Suffering Servant and Daniel 7 as He uses a child to remind us that true greatest is in our care of the anawim. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on how contemplation is much more than a set of practices. The definition of Christian contemplation up until recent times has come from the early monastic and desert traditions, but the field is far bigger than that.

Parker Palmer writes, “The function of contemplation in all its forms is to penetrate illusion and help us to touch reality.” [1] I think he’s right and I would add that great love and great suffering are the normal paths of transformation. There’s an important place for practices of contemplation. I’m not throwing them out, but any practice of contemplation is for the sake of helping us sustain what we temporarily learn through great love or great suffering, whether it’s on a honeymoon or the day after a parent dies. When we’re in the middle of great grief or great love, we become a nondual thinker for a few days, weeks, or months, but we all know it doesn’t last. It doesn’t last—unless we put it into practice. 

We ponder our experience of great love and great suffering and express gratitude for the wisdom of the Spirit that illuminates our forbearance and declares our greatness in humble service of others.

References

Fussell, R. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/092224.html 

James, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/james/3 

James, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/james/4 

Mark, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/9?30 

Meditation on Mark 9:30-37. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/09/22/1078052/ 

Psalms, PSALM 54 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/54?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Purpose of Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-purpose-of-contemplation/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Is the Greatest in God's Kingdom? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=sep22 

Wisdom, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/2?12 

Gospel and Observance

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the balance between religious observance and action in serving others on our journey.

Living the Gospel

The reading from the Letter to the Colossians presents Paul as a servant of the Gospel.

* [1:21–23] Paul, in applying this hymn to the Colossians, reminds them that they have experienced the reconciling effect of Christ’s death. He sees the effects of the cross in the redemption of human beings, not of cosmic powers such as those referred to in Col 1:16, 20 (all things). Paul also urges adherence to Christ in faith and begins to point to his own role as minister (Col 1:23), sufferer (Col 1:24), and proclaimer (Col 1:27–28) of this gospel. (Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 54 is a prayer for Vindication.

* [Psalm 54] A lament in which the person under attack calls directly upon God for help (Ps 54:3–5). Refusing to despair, the psalmist hopes in God, who is active in history and just (Ps 54:6–7). The Psalm ends with a serene promise to return thanks (Ps 54:8–9). (Psalms, PSALM 54 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus addresses a question about the Sabbath.

* [6:1–11] The two episodes recounted here deal with gathering grain and healing, both of which were forbidden on the sabbath. In his defense of his disciples’ conduct and his own charitable deed, Jesus argues that satisfying human needs such as hunger and performing works of mercy take precedence even over the sacred sabbath rest. See also notes on Mt 12:1–14 and Mk 2:25–26. (Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Steve Scholer references Luke 5:1-11 in his commentary and the post from Thursday, September 7, 2023 Living as Disciples. A question raised today can be asked at any time “.How can we demonstrate that Christ is the center of our lives?”

Our gifts to support the church are worthy; but our active participation in the lived Gospel is the real work of the church that Jesus wants and needs us to do. Maybe we need to remind ourselves of the old adage, “Walking with Christ means walking like Christ.” (Scholer, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Withered hands - withered minds,” by Athanasius of Alexandria (295-373 AD).

"In the synagogue of the Jews was a man who had a withered hand. If he was withered in his hand, the ones who stood by were withered in their minds. And they were not looking at the crippled man nor were they expecting the miraculous deed of the one who was about to work. But before doing the work, the Savior ploughed up their minds with words. For knowing the evil of the mind and its bitter depth, he first softened them up in advance with words so as to tame the wildness of their understanding, asking: 'Is it permitted to do good on the sabbath or to do evil; to save a life or to destroy one?' For if he had said to them, 'Is it permitted to work?' immediately they would have said, 'You are speaking contrary to the law.'

"Then he told them what was intended by the law, for he spoke as the One who established the laws concerning the sabbath, adding, 'except this: that which will be done for the sake of a life.' Again if a person falls into a hole on a sabbath, Jews are permitted to pull the person out (Matthew 12:11). This not only applies to a person, but also an ox or a donkey. In this way the law agrees that things relating to preservation may be done, hence Jews prepare meals on the sabbath. Then he asked them about a point on which they could hardly disagree: 'Is it permitted to do good? (Matthew 3:4, Luke 6:9) But they did not even so much as say, 'Yes,' because by then they were not in a good temper." (excerpt from HOMILIES 28) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Colossians 1:21-23 comments that “Thank God” that heaven doesn’t depend on our merits! Out of pure love, his Son willingly gave up his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through his cross and resurrection, Jesus has purified us. Now anyone baptized into Christ is washed clean of sin and “reconciled” with God (Colossians 1:22). No wonder the gospel is called good news!

Today in prayer, praise the Lord for the amazing gift he has given you: forgiveness of your sins and the hope of life eternal. Then tell him that you want to be “holy, without blemish, and irreproachable” (Colossians 1:22).

“All praise and glory to you, Jesus, my Redeemer and my Savior!” (Meditation on Colossians 1:21-23, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes how the passage from Colossians underlines that the Gentiles who were once alienated from God are now made holy and are urged to remain stable in their faith. The fence the Pharisees placed around the Law made plucking a few heads of grain an offence when harvesting was intended to be prohibited. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' proclamation as Son of God and interpreters of the Law.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Father Dan Riley who presents a Franciscan way of practicing Lectio Divina.

Francis was reading and learning about God everywhere, beyond the church or the classroom, and responding to the Word as it was alive in everything…. Word and world—indeed this is our home, and we are finding ways to choose to live here together with one another. We need to pick up the Bible and at the same time our world, holding them and letting them hold us, tenderly and gently opening and beginning to page through them, but only as they offer themselves to us. We need to look everyone and everything in the face and be amazed at the face of God looking back at us. (Rohr, 2023)

We are led by the Spirit in our mission of serving the Gospel in the encounters we have with our environment every day.

References

Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1? 

Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?1 

Meditation on Colossians 1:21-23. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/09/778235/ 

Psalms, PSALM 54 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/54?3 

Rohr, R. (2023, September 9). The Franciscan Way: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-franciscan-way-weekly-summary-2023-09-09/ 

Scholer, S. (2023, September 9). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/090923.html 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep9