Prepare for Beyond Dualism

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to vigilance and a virtuous life that ironically is most loving in contrast to dualism.

Way Beyond Dualism

The Reading from the Second Letter of Peter is an Exhortation to Preparedness.

* [3:11–16] The second coming of Christ and the judgment of the world are the doctrinal bases for the moral exhortation to readiness through vigilance and a virtuous life; cf. Mt 24:42, 50–51; Lk 12:40; 1 Thes 5:1–11; Jude 20–21.

* [3:12] Flames…fire: although this is the only New Testament passage about a final conflagration, the idea was common in apocalyptic and Greco-Roman thought. Hastening: eschatology is here used to motivate ethics (2 Pt 3:11), as elsewhere in the New Testament. Jewish sources and Acts 3:19–20 assume that proper ethical conduct can help bring the promised day of the Lord; cf. 2 Pt 3:9. Some render the phrase, however, “desiring it earnestly.”

* [3:13] New heavens and a new earth: cf. Is 65:17; 66:22. The divine promises will be fulfilled after the day of judgment will have passed. The universe will be transformed by the reign of God’s righteousness or justice; cf. Is 65:17–18; Acts 3:21; Rom 8:18–25; Rev 21:1. (2 Peter, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 90 contrasts God’s eternity with the brevity of human life.

 

* [Psalm 90] A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Ps 90:1), the Psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Ps 90:2–6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Ps 90:7–12). The Psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Ps 90:13–17). (Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus addresses Paying Taxes to the Emperor.

* [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).

* [12:13–17] See note on Mt 22:15–22. (Mark, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mary Lee Brock hears Jesus remind her to “give to God what belongs to God.”  Like a trusted friend at a reunion, Jesus helps her reorient her attention to what truly matters and empowers her to continue to strive for justice and dignity for all.

In the first reading, Peter reinforces this resolve as we read: be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him, be glory now and to the day of eternity.  The phrase the error of the unprincipled is a reminder to stay true to our faith and the guiding principles of Catholic Social Teaching. What can feel so overwhelming can become so clear when we focus on what is good and true.

Today I pray for the grace to be curious about the stories people tell. How can I support people sharing what is truly important to them? When I find myself being seduced by malicious gossip, I pray for the strength to redirect the conversation to a more productive place. I pray to feel compassion for those laying traps and those falling for the traps. And I ask Jesus to support me every day to give to God what belongs to God

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. (Brock, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Put off the earthly image and put on the heavenly one,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"Some people think that the Savior spoke on a single level when he said, 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar' - that is, 'pay the tax that you owe.' Who among us disagrees about paying taxes to Caesar? The passage therefore has a mystical and secret meaning. There are two images in humanity. One he received from God when he was made, in the beginning, as Scripture says in the book of Genesis, 'according to the image and likeness of God' (Genesis 1:27). The other image is of the earth (1 Corinthians 15:49). Man received this second image later. He was expelled from Paradise because of disobedience and sin after the 'prince of this world' (John 12:31) had tempted him with his enticements. Just as the coin, or denarius, has an image of the emperor of this world, so he who does the works of 'the ruler of the darkness' (Ephesians 6:12) bears the image of him whose works he does. Jesus commanded that that image should be handed over and thrown away from our face. He wills us to take on that image, according to which we were made from the beginning, according to God's likeness. It then happens that we give 'to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what is God's.' Jesus said, 'Show me a coin.' For 'coin,' Matthew wrote 'denarius' ( Matthew 22:19). When Jesus had taken it, he said, 'Whose inscription does it have?' They answered and said, 'Caesar's.' And he said to them in turn, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'" (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 39.4-6) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Peter 3:12-15, 17-18 comments that the call to discipleship is a call both to “wait” patiently for the Lord and to “hasten” his “day” by actively sharing the gospel, praying for the coming of the kingdom, and caring for the people he has placed in our lives (2 Peter 3:12). It’s a call to stand firm in faith no matter the storms that come to us.

So “be on your guard” (2 Peter 3:17). Let your hope in Christ become the anchor that steadies you and helps preserve your peace. Place your trust in him, and he will help you find safe passage.

“Lord, help me to be always on my guard as I both wait for and hasten the day of your coming!” (Meditation on 2 Peter 3:12-15, 17-18, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 2 Peter the passage has an apocalyptic theme presenting the idea of a new heaven and a new earth that will be purified and transformed. We will live to give witness to our faith being consistent with our commitment to the Kingdom. In the Gospel of Mark Jesus is called to address the question of paying taxes to Caesar. He sees this as an obvious trap trying to present Him either as a good Jew or as collaborator with the conquering empire. He calls for a Roman coin to be brought out and Jesus uses the denarius, ironically that true Jews would not carry, to differentiate between what we give to Caesar and what we owe to God.  Christian texts very clearly assert legitimate government authority is given by God. Friar Jude notes some more ambiguous treatment of the Emperor here not to be made into a God and in Revelations the Roman Empire is cast as treacherous and evil.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rt. Rev. Michael Curry who considers how God is always leading us beyond what we think we know. Curry was elected bishop in the Episcopal Church as the church wrestled with questions about the full inclusion and equality of LGBTQ persons in the church.

As a bishop, I made a solemn vow to “guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church.” I had also vowed to “be merciful to all, show compassion to the poor and strangers, and defend those who have no helper.” I was beginning to see that obedience to the letter and the spirit of both of those vows was leading me to a real contradiction….

I was growing, and my own beliefs had evolved. But another way to say it is that I was becoming more and more open to letting the spirit of God breathe through me and make me new. Therein is the source of real personal change, evolution, and transformation, and it’s never ending….

The late [lay theologian] Verna Dozier … was a real mentor, teacher, and soul friend to me. In her book The Dream of God, she offered this wisdom: “We always see through a glass darkly, and that is what faith is about. I will live by the best I can discern today. Tomorrow I may find out I was wrong. Since I do not live by being right, I am not destroyed by being wrong.” (Rohr, n.d.)

We pray for the insight of the Spirit as we ponder the paradox of choosing the Way of Jesus while continuing to love and assist fellow pilgrims who choose to render preferentially unto Caesar. 

References

Brock, M. L. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-2-2026 

Mark, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/12 

Meditation on 2 Peter 3:12-15, 17-18. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/06/02/1583989/ 

Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/90 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Spirit Reworks Us. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-spirit-reworks-us/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Give to God What Belongs to God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Peter, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2peter/3 

Shepherd for Modern Society

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of our role as disciples of the stone rejected by the builders.

Western Christianity from these ruins

In the rejection of Peter described in the Acts of the Apostles, the “Rock” is inspired by the Spirit to proclaim that deliverance comes through Jesus.

* [4:12] In the Roman world of Luke’s day, salvation was often attributed to the emperor who was hailed as “savior” and “god.” Luke, in the words of Peter, denies that deliverance comes through anyone other than Jesus.

In the First Letter of John, Christians living in Christ are exhorted to live virtuous lives to prepare for ultimately attaining true knowledge of God.

* [3:1–3] The greatest sign of God’s love is the gift of his Son (Jn 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.

The Gospel from John, contrasts the Good Shepherd with the hireling who works only for self interest.

* [10:1–21] The good shepherd discourse continues the theme of attack on the Pharisees that ends Jn 9. The figure is allegorical: the hired hands are the Pharisees who excommunicated the cured blind man. It serves as a commentary on Jn 9. For the shepherd motif, used of Yahweh in the Old Testament, cf. Ex 34; Gn 48:15; 49:24; Mi 7:14; Ps 23:1–4; 80:1.

Steve Scholer asks what we do when someone singles us out and praises us for a job well done. This situation is one where we may be tempted to put self interest first.

Do we take all the credit for ourselves, or do we give the praise and glory to our Lord and Savior? The best course of action is the latter, to not let pride come between us and God. We need to humble ourselves and give the praise and glory to God. Besides being right, it helps reinforce his constant presence in our lives and that his guiding hand is always on our shoulder, and that the good we are trying to do each and every day in this world is not for our personal gain, but for the greater glory of his kingdom.  Truth be told, we may just be the stones that were rejected by the builders; but, by our unselfish actions we can become the cornerstones of God’s church here on earth.

The greater glory of the Kingdom of God may have been an underlying theme of Western Christianity in the account of history as described by blogger Tribunus.

Western culture is, above all else, Roman - and Christian Roman at that. This is so because it has been shaped and defined by Roman Catholicism, ruled by a Roman Emperor, guided by a Roman Pontiff and blessed by Roman rites in a Roman language.

One of our modern challenges is to assess current leadership in society in the Light of the model of Jesus as Good Shepherd.

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D, on the nature of green pastures and still waters to which we are led by the Good Shepherd.

"The pastures that this good shepherd has prepared for you, in which he has settled you for you to take your fill, are not various kinds of grasses and green things, among which some are sweet to the taste, some extremely bitter, which as the seasons succeed one another are sometimes there and sometimes not. Your pastures are the words of God and his commandments, and they have all been sown as sweet grasses. These pastures had been tasted by that man who said to God, 'How sweet are your words to my palate, more so than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth!'" (excerpt from Sermon 366,3,1)

Friar Jude Winkler ties the description of the stone rejected to the rock in which Jesus Cross was supported on the Cross. He understands the journey of the faithful is ultimately to be no longer restricted by time and space. The Good Shepherd is characterized as One who lays down his Life for the sheep. The goal of One flock and One Shepherd requires a desire to welcome all people.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, declares that Jesus is by no definition a classic patriarch. He notes that throughout the Bible, both feminine and masculine images are used to illustrate the divine.

Jesus is by no definition a classic patriarch. The Divine is often called “Sophia” or Holy Wisdom in the Hebrew Scriptures; and God is variously described as a compassionate mother, a hen protecting her chicks, and even “The Breasted One” or El Shaddai (Genesis 17:1, Exodus 6:2).

One of the dualisms that challenges believers today is the tension between building a fortress to protect our Christian heritage from modern hired hands in world leadership and being yeast to infuse a selfish world with social justice that gathers the sheep in His fold.

References


(n.d.). CHAPTER 4 1 While they were still speaking to the people, the priests .... Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/acts4.htm

(n.d.). 1 John, chapter 3 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1john/3

(n.d.). John, chapter 10 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john10:46

(n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(2011, May 10). ROMAN CHRISTENDOM: Good Shepherd Sunday. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://romanchristendom.blogspot.com/2011/05/good-shepherd-sunday.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/