Promise and Mercy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the promise we maintain in our faith in the love and mercy of God.

Called to Mercy

The reading from Genesis describes Sarah’s death and burial and the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah.

* [24:1–67] The story of Abraham and Sarah is drawing to a close. The promises of progeny (21:1–7) and land (chap. 23) have been fulfilled and Sarah has died (23:1–2). Abraham’s last duty is to ensure that his son Isaac shares in the promises. Isaac must take a wife from his own people (vv. 3–7), so the promises may be fulfilled. The extraordinary length of this story and its development of a single theme contrast strikingly with the spare style of the preceding Abraham and Sarah stories. It points ahead to the Jacob and Joseph stories. (Genesis, CHAPTER 24, n.d.)

Psalm 106 is a confession of Israel’s Sins.

* [Psalm 106] Israel is invited to praise the God whose mercy has always tempered judgment of Israel (Ps 106:1–3). The speaker, on behalf of all, seeks solidarity with the people, who can always count on God’s fidelity despite their sin (Ps 106:4–5). (Psalms, PSALM 106, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew describes the calling of Matthew.

* [9:9] A man named Matthew: Mark names this tax collector Levi (Mk 2:14). No such name appears in the four lists of the twelve who were the closest companions of Jesus (Mt 10:2–4; Mk 3:16–19; Lk 6:14–16; Acts 1:13 [eleven, because of the defection of Judas Iscariot]), whereas all four list a Matthew, designated in Mt 10:3 as “the tax collector.” The evangelist may have changed the “Levi” of his source to Matthew so that this man, whose call is given special notice, like that of the first four disciples (Mt 4:18–22), might be included among the twelve. Another reason for the change may be that the disciple Matthew was the source of traditions peculiar to the church for which the evangelist was writing.

* [9:10] His house: it is not clear whether his refers to Jesus or Matthew. Tax collectors: see note on Mt 5:46. Table association with such persons would cause ritual impurity.

* [9:11] Teacher: see note on Mt 8:19.

* [9:12] See note on Mk 2:17.

* [9:13] Go and learn…not sacrifice: Matthew adds the prophetic statement of Hos 6:6 to the Marcan account (see also Mt 12:7). If mercy is superior to the temple sacrifices, how much more to the laws of ritual impurity. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)

Barbara Dilly comments that the Gospel today reminds us that getting closer to Jesus does not mean joining a club of the sanctimonious righteous. It means sitting down with sinners.

And it means more than just sitting there.  To follow in the healing work of Jesus with our fellow sinners, Jesus tells us we need to learn the meaning of the words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”  To sacrifice is to offer something meaningful to God.  That is not necessarily a bad thing to do.  It is a way of setting priorities in our relationship with God.  But Jesus wants us to also set priorities in our relationships with others.  Jesus calls us to show compassion, kindness, and forgiveness to others, just as he does for us. That is a big challenge. It can be a lot of work and often a real burden.  It surely helps me to remember the words Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Dilly, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Matthew did not delay when called by Jesus,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"The Lord, about to give salvation to all sinners believing in him, willingly chose Matthew the former publican. The gift of his esteem for Matthew stands as an example for our salvation. Every sinner must be chosen by God and can receive the grace of eternal salvation if one is not without a religious mind and a devout heart. So Matthew was chosen willingly by God. And though he is immersed in worldly affairs, because of his sincere religious devotion he is judged worthy to be called forth by the Lord ("Follow me"), who by virtue of his divine nature knows the hidden recesses of the heart. From what follows, we know that Matthew was accepted by the Lord not by reason of his status but of his faith and devotion. As soon as the Lord says to him, "Follow me," he does not linger or delay, but thereupon "he arose and followed him." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 45.1)

[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."](Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 comments that as he did with Abraham, God has made promises to us. He promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). He promises us forgiveness of our sins (John 20:23). And he promises eternal life to all who believe (5:24). As we look back over our lives, we are sure to see signs of God’s faithfulness to these promises. Maybe it was an unexpected sense of peace in the midst of a trying time. Maybe it was a sense of freedom after you confessed your sin. Or maybe it was a sudden feeling of eager expectation for heaven. All these are proofs that God is watching over us and blessing us.

God is faithful. Let that truth help you, like Abraham, respond to him with your own faithfulness. Let it convince you that you can count on his provision for you and your family long into the future.

“Father, thank you for your promises. Help me to look back on your faithfulness and move forward with hope!” (Meditation on Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler relates an ancient legend about the details of the death of Sarah. The only part of the Promised Land owned by Abraham is the burial plot for Sarah and Isaac is not married and the descendants of Abraham are not yet visible. Friar Jude notes how we maintain the Pharisee’s sense of the contagion of evil in some of our family practices.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Episcopal priest and author Adam Bucko, who reminds us of the Gospel call to solidarity with the poor, who reveal Christ.

The Christian spiritual tradition is very clear about how we are to relate to those who are fragile, who have been rejected and forgotten, and who are standing on the bread lines waiting for food. We are to see them as Christ and approach them with the same kind of reverence and willingness to say yes. This identification of Christ with the poor is such that an old Anglo-Catholic saying, often cited in the context of the slum priest movement of the 1920s, tells us that unless we are willing and able to see Christ on the highways and byways of our cities in those who are rejected, homeless, and poor, we have no business talking about meeting him in the Eucharist. Our faith cannot be complete unless we have connected the two. As one theologian said, “The real presence of Christ, which is hidden in the bread and wine, is visibly manifested in his social presence in the poor who are the sign and image of his ongoing passion in the world.” [1]

We are prompted by the Spirit to be merciful and kind to people who we encounter who may be among the forgotten and neglected in our society.

References

Dilly, B. (2023, July 7). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070723.htm 

Genesis, CHAPTER 24. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/24 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9? 

Meditation on Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/07/728791/ 

Psalms, PSALM 106. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Real and Holy Presence. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-real-and-holy-presence-2023-07-07/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Desire Mercy - Not Sacrifice. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul7 

Fulfilling the Promise

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our generosity toward others and our openness to Jesus’ call to join in His mission.

Follow Me

 

The reading from the Book of Genesis describes Sarah’s death, burial, and the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah.

 

* [23:1–20] The occasion for purchasing the land is the need for a burial site for Sarah, for it would be unthinkable to bury Sarah outside of the promised land. One of the two great promises to Abraham, that of progeny, has been fulfilled (21:1–7). And now the promise of land is to be fulfilled, through a kind of down payment on the full possession that will take place only with the conquest under Joshua and during the reign of David. This purchase has been prepared for by Abimelech’s recognition of Abraham’s claim to the well at Beer-sheba (21:22–34). Among the ancestral stories this narrative is one of two that are entirely from the P source (chap. 17 being the other). The Priestly writers may have intended to encourage the generation of the exile to a renewed hope of repossessing their land. * [24:58] Marriages arranged by the woman’s father did not require the woman’s consent, but marriages arranged by the woman’s brother did. Laban is the brother and Rebekah is therefore free to give her consent or not.1

Psalm 106 is a confession of Israel’s sins.

 

* [Psalm 106] Israel is invited to praise the God whose mercy has always tempered judgment of Israel (Ps 106:1–3). The speaker, on behalf of all, seeks solidarity with the people, who can always count on God’s fidelity despite their sin (Ps 106:4–5). Confident of God’s mercy, the speaker invites national repentance (Ps 106:6) by reciting from Israel’s history eight instances of sin, judgment, and forgiveness.2

The Gospel of Matthew describes Jesus calling the tax collector, Matthew.

 

* [9:13] Go and learn…not sacrifice: Matthew adds the prophetic statement of Hos 6:6 to the Marcan account (see also Mt 12:7). If mercy is superior to the temple sacrifices, how much more to the laws of ritual impurity.3

Carol Zuegner comments that Jesus reached out to the tax collectors and sinners. He and his disciples ate with them, causing the Pharisees to question the disciples. Life must have been seemingly easier for the Pharisees to be so ready to judge who is a sinner.

 

None of us is without sin. So it is comforting to hear Jesus’s words: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” He came to call the sinners, all of us. He will always choose us and we have to take the step to follow. The path is not an easy one. My own path is full of detours and stops and starts. But Jesus will continue to say: Follow me. I know I am flawed and a sinner, but Jesus sees me, sees the good in me. When I heed that call, I know I can do better and be better.4

Don Schwager quotes “Matthew did not delay when called by Jesus”, by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

 "The Lord, about to give salvation to all sinners believing in him, willingly chose Matthew the former publican. The gift of his esteem for Matthew stands as an example for our salvation. Every sinner must be chosen by God and can receive the grace of eternal salvation if one is not without a religious mind and a devout heart. So Matthew was chosen willingly by God. And though he is immersed in worldly affairs, because of his sincere religious devotion he is judged worthy to be called forth by the Lord ("Follow me"), who by virtue of his divine nature knows the hidden recesses of the heart. From what follows, we know that Matthew was accepted by the Lord not by reason of his status but of his faith and devotion. As soon as the Lord says to him, "Follow me," he does not linger or delay, but thereupon "he arose and followed him." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 45.1)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:9-13 imagines the response of a tax collector to Jesus' presence with them.

 

Jesus was willing to be present in an unlikely place so that the light of his presence would shine. He was willing to bring the good news wherever he went. You can do the same thing, whether you are at a party, at work or school, or at the laundromat. If you are present—attentive, loving, and ready—you can bring the gospel no matter where you go. Who knows what God might do? “Jesus, I want to bring the good news with me wherever I am.”6

Friar Jude Winkler discusses how Abraham comes to possess his only land, a burial place for Sarah. Rebekah, matriarch of Israel, is a very generous woman. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' example of addressing the needs of people with mercy.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that we cannot begin the journey on a negative or problem-solving note like “sin management.” It all begins with an experience of chosenness, just as in marriage and friendship.

 

The paradox is that God’s chosenness is for the sake of communicating chosenness to everybody else! As in the Jonah story, this often takes people a long time to learn. Here is the principle: We can only transform people to the degree that we have been transformed. We can only lead others as far as we ourselves have gone. We have no ability to affirm or to communicate to another person that they are good or special until we know it strongly ourselves. Once we get our own “narcissistic fix,” as I call it, then we can stop worrying about being center stage. We then have plenty of time and energy to promote other people’s empowerment and specialness. Only beloved people can pass on belovedness.7

We meditate on our chosenness as we practice mercy and generosity to others.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Genesis, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/23
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106
3	(n.d.). Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070221.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=jul2
6	(n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/07/02/190147/
7	(n.d.). You Are Loved — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 2, 2021, from https://cac.org/god-is-always-choosing-people-2021-07-02/

 

 

Navigating a sea change

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our reaction to change and our contribution to action to support desirable changes.

New wine

In the passage from the Book of Genesis, Rebekah organizes Jacob’s deception of Isaac to obtain the blessing normally extended to the first born.

 * [27:1–45] The chapter, a literary masterpiece, is the third and climatic wresting away of the blessing of Esau. Rebekah manages the entire affair, using perhaps her privileged information about Jacob’s status (25:23); Jacob’s only qualm is that if his father discovers the ruse, he will receive a curse instead of a blessing (vv. 11–12). Isaac is passive as he was in chaps. 22 and 24. The deception is effected through clothing (Jacob wears Esau’s clothing), which points ahead to a similar deception of a patriarch by means of clothing in the Joseph story (37:21–33). Such recurrent acts and scenes let the reader know a divine purpose is moving the story forward even though the human characters are unaware of it.1

Psalm 135 is an invitation to praise God.

* [Psalm 135] The hymn begins and ends with an invitation to praise God (Ps 135:1–3, 19–20) for the great act of choosing Israel (Ps 135:4).2 

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus introduces new ideas about the place of fasting.

* [9:15] Fasting is a sign of mourning and would be as inappropriate at this time of joy, when Jesus is proclaiming the kingdom, as it would be at a marriage feast. Yet the saying looks forward to the time when Jesus will no longer be with the disciples visibly, the time of Matthew’s church. Then they will fast: see Didache 8:1.3 

George Butterfield believes Jesus wants his followers to be united. (the reflection appears to connect with a different set of readings).

Don Schwager observes that just as there is a right place and a right time for fasting and for feasting, so there is a right place for the old as well as the new.

Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old (Matthew 13:52). How impoverished we would be if we only had the Old Testament or the New Testament books of the Bible, rather than both. The Lord gives us wisdom so we can make the best use of both the old and the new. He doesn't want us to hold rigidly to the past and to be resistant to the new work of his Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants our minds and hearts to be like new wineskins - open and ready to receive the new wine of the Holy Spirit.4 

He also quotes “No need to fast in the presence of the Bridegroom,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"The Pharisees and John's disciples were fasting, and the apostles were not. But Jesus answered them in a spiritual way and indicated to John's disciples that he was a bridegroom. John taught that all hope in life lay in Christ. While he was still preaching, however, his disciples could not be received by the Lord. Up until the time of John, the law and the prophets prevailed, and unless the law came to an end, none of them would subscribe to faith in the gospel. The fact that he said there was no need for his disciples to fast as long as the bridegroom is with them illustrates the joy of his presence and the sacrament of the holy food, which no one need be without while he is present, that is, bearing Christ in the light of the mind. But once he is gone, Jesus says that they will fast, for all those who do not believe that Christ has risen will not have the food of life. By faith in the resurrection, the sacrament of the heavenly bread is received. Whoever is without Christ will be forsaken, fasting from the food of life." (excerpt from the commentary ON MATTHEW 9.3)4 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29 notes that, according to ancient tradition, Jacob saw his material possessions as a blessing from God. He realized over time that his greatest blessing was the family God had given him. It was not a perfect family, to be sure. It had its fair share of favoritism, resentment, and anger. But in the end, Jacob’s actions showed that those relationships, even if flawed, were more precious than any of the material possessions he had gained by deceiving his own father and brother.

 We can all relate to the kind of change of heart Jacob experienced. Haven’t we all learned, in one way or another, to value people more than things? Maybe in our later years, we realize that the things we sought after in our younger days aren’t as important as we thought. We discover that the “abundance” we once pursued, whether career, possessions, or wealth, doesn’t really have as much value as our closest relationships. And on top of that, we might begin to see how precious our relationship with Jesus is.5

Friar Jude Winkler explores the etymology of Jacob’s name as “one who grasps” or “the deceiver”. There are many purposes for fasting in Christian tradition. Friar Jude extends the Jewish sense of not mixing to our choice of behaviour when with others.

I am struck, unlike Friar Jude, with the connection of the two sayings at the end of the Gospel passage that advise caution when mixing old and new. The “new”, in my experience, “rocks the boat”. I have often sensed great opposition to change when I moved forward with ideas and actions that require a change of attitude or behaviour in the people that I have worked with in industry, education, and religious catechetics. The birthright passing to Jacob was a sea change from leadership by the force of might to the gentler means. Jesus assessment of the fasting ritual offered a challenge to two religious camps of His time. I remain stubborn that “rocking the boat” is a healthy and necessary precursor to finding a new and better stability on the journey.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares, in Franciscan theology, love comes before knowledge. We truly know only that which we love. When we stand back analyzing and coolly calculating, we will never really know anything at a deep level. It is only by stepping out and becoming vulnerable with someone that we come to know them. Love precedes understanding. Fr. Richard offers a contemplative discipline to help take that leap of faith in love that allows God to speak to you.

Prayer of the Heart is a contemplative practice that engages our openness to experiencing this leap of faith and love. The following is adapted from Teresa Blythe’s book 50 Ways to Pray. [1]
Begin in a seated position and take five relaxed breaths.Ask yourself, “What is my longing?” or “What is it that I seek from God?”Name the response that arises with a word or short phrase, for example: freedom, love, inner balance, healing, or joy.Consider your preferred name for the Divine: God, Jesus, Wisdom, Father, Mother, Mystery, Spirit.Combine your name for God with your longing; for example, “Freedom in Christ” or “Spirit of joy.”Repeat these words aloud or silently, perhaps in rhythm with your breath: “Freedom” on the in-breath, “in Christ” on the out-breath. Breathe naturally, without trying to control the body’s natural pace.After several minutes, stop the repetition and rest, abiding in contemplative silence.6 

The mixing of love and the disruption that comes with change is an ongoing challenge on our journey.

References

1	(n.d.). Genesis, chapter 27 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 6, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/27
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 135 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 6, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/135
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 9 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 6, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9
4	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 6, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
5	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved July 6, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/07/06/
6	(n.d.). Prophets: Part One: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and .... Retrieved July 6, 2019, from https://cac.org/prophets-part-one-weekly-summary-2019-07-06/