Respond to the Changing World

 

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the nature of the preformation that opens us to respond to Jesus' call in this changing world.

Time moves on

 

The reading from the Book of Jonah describes the surprise conversion of Nineveh.

* [3:7–8] Fasting and wearing sackcloth are signs of human repentance; here they are legislated even for the animals—a humorous touch, perhaps anticipating 4:11.1

 

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.2 

The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians expresses his concern that the present form of this world is passing away.

* [7:29–31] The world…is passing away: Paul advises Christians to go about the ordinary activities of life in a manner different from those who are totally immersed in them and unaware of their transitoriness.3

 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus begins the Galilean Ministry and calls the First Disciples.

* [1:14–15] After John had been arrested: in the plan of God, Jesus was not to proclaim the good news of salvation prior to the termination of the Baptist’s active mission. Galilee: in the Marcan account, scene of the major part of Jesus’ public ministry before his arrest and condemnation. The gospel of God: not only the good news from God but about God at work in Jesus Christ. This is the time of fulfillment: i.e., of God’s promises. The kingdom of God…Repent: see note on Mt 3:2.4 

Gladyce Janky notes that Saint. Ignatius Loyola  would call Simon, Andrew, James, and John's immediate choice an election of the first kind. "When God our Lord so moves and attracts the will that without doubting or being able to doubt, such a dedicated soul follows what is shown, just as St. Paul and St. Matthew did when they followed Christ the Lord" (Sp. Ex. No. 175).  An election of the first kind looks spontaneous, but without some prior event(s) to stir an awakening of the soul; we cannot hear our call.  What had prepared the future disciples to respond?

God invites us to move into a deeper relationship that includes the promise that God will never abandon us.  The invitation does not end the uncertainty or hardships of life, but as our trust grows, so does our ability to see God in all things and accept the world as it is – we become more of our true selves.  We grow into a person that is ready to set the world on fire.  How might we prepare for God’s invitation? Invitation:  Sit quietly with God, plumb the depths of our soul, and lift to God our deep longings. How does God respond? "Your ways, O Lord, make known to me, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior" (Psalm 25: 4-5)5 

Don Schwager quotes “Common people on an uncommon mission,” by Eusebius of Caesarea (260/263-340 AD).

"Reflect on the nature and grandeur of the one Almighty God who could associate himself with the poor of the lowly fisherman's class. To use them to carry out God's mission baffles all rationality. For having conceived the intention, which no one ever before had done, of spreading his own commands and teachings to all nations, and of revealing himself as the teacher of the religion of the one Almighty God to all humanity, he thought good to use the most unsophisticated and common people as ministers of his own design. Maybe God just wanted to work in the most unlikely way. For how could inarticulate folk be made able to teach, even if they were appointed teachers to only one person, much less to a multitude? How should those who were themselves without education instruct the nations?... When he had thus called them as his followers, he breathed into them his divine power, and filled them with strength and courage. As God himself he spoke God's true word to them in his own way, enabling them to do great wonders, and made them pursuers of rational and thinking souls, by empowering them to come after him, saying: 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people' (Mark 1:17, Matthew 4:19). With this empowerment God sent them forth to be workers and teachers of holiness to all the nations, declaring them heralds of his own teaching." (excerpt from PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 3.7)6 

Friar Jude Winkler shares the desire of Jonah that God punish Nineveh for cruelty to the tribes of Israel. Paul seems almost frantic about the imminent end of the earth. Friar Jude reminds us that God transforms our talents and weaknesses for service in the Kingdom.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that just as the body needs food, so the soul needs meaning, and the spirit needs ultimate meaning. Often that meaning is communicated through story. The function of all mythologies, religion, and even family lore is to help us situate ourselves inside of a safe and meaningful universe.

 

The image used  by Fr. Richard in numerous books, and first learned from Joseph Chilton Pearce (1926‒2016), to describe this “Cosmic Egg” is that of three overlapping domes.7

 

Fr Richard concludes that we have to listen to our own experience, to our own failures, to our own sin, to our own gifts and calls. Plus, we have to recognize that we’re a part of history, a part of a culture, a religious group, a nationality, a gender, for good and for bad. When all three domes of meaning are deemed worthy of love and attention, we probably have a rather mature spiritual person. The preparation for our response and transformation is already done. Let us be open to the call for change.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Jonah, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jonah/3
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25
3	(n.d.). 1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/7
4	(n.d.). Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1
5	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online .... Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012421.html
6	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=jan24
7	(n.d.). The Three Domes — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://cac.org/the-three-domes-2021-01-24/

 

 

By Divine Authority

 

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate our action and response to authority in our lives.

Acting with authority

 

The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews concerns the theology of exaltation through abasement.

* [2:5–18] The humanity and the suffering of Jesus do not constitute a valid reason for relinquishing the Christian faith. Ps 8:5–6 is also applied to Jesus in 1 Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22; and probably 1 Pt 3:22. This christological interpretation, therefore, probably reflects a common early Christian tradition, which may have originated in the expression the son of man (Heb 2:6). The psalm contrasts God’s greatness with man’s relative insignificance but also stresses the superiority of man to the rest of creation, of which he is lord. Hebrews applies this christologically: Jesus lived a truly human existence, lower than the angels, in the days of his earthly life, particularly in his suffering and death; now, crowned with glory and honor, he is raised above all creation. The author considers all things as already subject to him because of his exaltation (Heb 2:8–9), though we do not see this yet. The reference to Jesus as leader (Heb 2:10) sounds the first note of an important leitmotif in Hebrews: the journey of the people of God to the sabbath rest (Heb 4:9), the heavenly sanctuary, following Jesus, their “forerunner” (Heb 6:20). It was fitting that God should make him perfect through suffering, consecrated by obedient suffering. Because he is perfected as high priest, Jesus is then able to consecrate his people (Heb 2:11); access to God is made possible by each of these two consecrations. If Jesus is able to help human beings, it is because he has become one of us; we are his “brothers.”1 

Psalm 8 praises Divine Majesty and human dignity.

* [Psalm 8] While marvelling at the limitless grandeur of God (Ps 8:2–3), the psalmist is struck first by the smallness of human beings in creation (Ps 8:4–5), and then by the royal dignity and power that God has graciously bestowed upon them (Ps 8:6–9).2

 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus frees the man with an unclean spirit.

* [1:24–25] The Holy One of God: not a confession but an attempt to ward off Jesus’ power, reflecting the notion that use of the precise name of an opposing spirit would guarantee mastery over him. Jesus silenced the cry of the unclean spirit and drove him out of the man.3 

Amy Hoover reflects that for someone/something to have authority in our lives, we have to give it to them.  Many times when we give others authority, when we trust them or elect them or look to them, they abuse the authority or trust.  They take advantage. Jesus did just the opposite.

We are invited into relationship with the Divine through Jesus.  I believe Jesus is showing us that the relationship is not one of giving all our authority to him, but the encouragement to maintain our own authority and power and work with him.  For example,  I hear myself praying, “just tell me what you want.” The response I hear now is “What do you want?  I will work with you.”  In my spiritual direction practice, I often hear people pondering/praying/asking what God wants of them, what is “God’s will” for them.  I hear an invitation from Jesus in today’s reading and many others in the gospels to ask instead, what is the heart’s desire/will.  Jesus is encouraging us to claim and live from our own interior authority.4

 

Don Schwager quotes “Knowing without loving,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Those words show clearly that the demons had much knowledge, but entirely lacked love. They dreaded receiving their punishment from him. They did not love the righteousness that was in him. He made himself known to them to the extent he willed; and he willed to be made known to the extent that was fitting. But he was not made known to them as he is known to the holy angels, who enjoy participation in his eternity, in that he is the Word of God. To the demons he is known as he had to be made known, by striking terror into them, for his purpose was to free from their tyrannical power all who were predestined for his kingdom and glory, which is eternally true and truly eternal. Therefore, he did not make himself known to the demons as the life eternal, and the unchangeable light which illuminates his true worshipers, whose hearts are purified by faith in him so that they see that light. He was known to the demons through certain temporal effects of his power, the signs of his hidden presence, which could be more evident to their senses, even those of malignant spirits, than to the weak perception of human beings. (excerpt from CITY OF GOD 9.21)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 1:21-28 comments that the more we get to know Jesus and the love he has for us, the more convinced we are that he offers us exactly what we need—every day.

Not only do we come to believe that he has the power to heal our hurts, but we also trust that he can give us the wisdom and grace we need to live a holy life. We become convinced that staying close to him and following his commandments is the best way to avoid even getting sick in the first place—at least spiritually. So how can we get into the habit of seeking Jesus? By seeking Jesus! If you take time to turn to him at different points in the day, you’ll eventually start to hear him prompting you and guiding you. You’ll feel prompted to stop and pray. To avoid a particular path of sin. To follow a path you’ve never tried before.6 

Friar Jude Winkler discusses how the author of Hebrews connects Jesus' superiority over the angels to Psalm 8. Jesus is both the victim and the One who offers the victim. Friar Jude reminds us to be aware of the everyday miracles that surround us.

 

Fr Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes Karen Armstrong from “A Short History of Myth” and comments that nearly two decades ago, Brian McLaren began urging Christians to embrace a more healing, compassionate story by which to live.

Around the margins, another narrative has been taking shape during these most recent moments of . . . history. In this narrative, humans envision learning to live in harmony with one another and with the boundary conditions (or laws) of nature. We imagine seeing all our fellow humans—and all living things—as part of one family of relations, sharing in the same unfolding story or song of creation. We imagine ourselves creating conditions in which peace and well-being are not only possible but normal, and in which inevitable conflicts can be resolved through justice, kindness, wisdom, and love. . . . As the amazing 13.8 billion-year story of the cosmos continues to unfold, in this little corner of the universe, we hope to tell a story of justice and joy, love and peace, for the benefit of future generations who will be born into the story that there is no [us and] them at all. [2] This is a cosmic and inclusive story that demands healing more than punishment.7 

Our relationship with Jesus through the Spirit brings us authority to act in love to heal and transform our society.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Hebrews, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/2
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 8 | USCCB. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/8
3	(n.d.). Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - Online Ministries .... Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011221.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=jan12
6	(2021, January 11). 1st Week in Ordinary Time - The Word Among Us. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/01/12/180557/
7	(2021, January 12). A Hopeful Story — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://cac.org/a-hopeful-story-2021-01-12/

 

Called to Begin Again

 

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the nature of our response to the call to begin again in our work as disciples of Christ as a new year begins.

 

Begin again

The reading from Hebrews asserts that God Has spoken by His Son.

* [1:1–4] The letter opens with an introduction consisting of a reflection on the climax of God’s revelation to the human race in his Son. The divine communication was initiated and maintained during Old Testament times in fragmentary and varied ways through the prophets (Heb 1:1), including Abraham, Moses, and all through whom God spoke. But now in these last days (Heb 1:2) the final age, God’s revelation of his saving purpose is achieved through a son, i.e., one who is Son, whose role is redeemer and mediator of creation. He was made heir of all things through his death and exaltation to glory, yet he existed before he appeared as man; through him God created the universe. Heb 1:3–4, which may be based upon a liturgical hymn, assimilate the Son to the personified Wisdom of the Old Testament as refulgence of God’s glory and imprint of his being (Heb 1:3; cf. Wis 7:26). These same terms are used of the Logos in Philo. The author now turns from the cosmological role of the preexistent Son to the redemptive work of Jesus: he brought about purification from sins and has been exalted to the right hand of God (see Ps 110:1). The once-humiliated and crucified Jesus has been declared God’s Son, and this name shows his superiority to the angels. The reason for the author’s insistence on that superiority is, among other things, that in some Jewish traditions angels were mediators of the old covenant (see Acts 7:53; Gal 3:19). Finally, Jesus’ superiority to the angels emphasizes the superiority of the new covenant to the old because of the heavenly priesthood of Jesus.1 

Psalm 97 praises the Glory of God’s Reign.

* [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (Ps 97:1–6); cf. Ps 18:8–16; Mi 1:3–4; Heb 3:3–15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (Ps 97:7–9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (Ps 97:10–12).2

 

The Gospel of Mark describes the beginning of the Galilean ministry as Jesus calls the First Disciples.

* [1:14–15] After John had been arrested: in the plan of God, Jesus was not to proclaim the good news of salvation prior to the termination of the Baptist’s active mission. Galilee: in the Marcan account, scene of the major part of Jesus’ public ministry before his arrest and condemnation. The gospel of God: not only the good news from God but about God at work in Jesus Christ. This is the time of fulfillment: i.e., of God’s promises. The kingdom of God…Repent: see note on Mt 3:2.3 

Chas Kestermeier, S.J. notes today is the first day of “ordinary time” after Advent, the birth of Christ, and all the subsequent feasts, and with Christ we now enter the world of everyday.  Jesus here calls some men to accompany Him more closely, to eventually become His “disciples” (students) and even His “apostles” (envoys), and He similarly calls each and every one of us to be just those people, at least as His companions and hopefully as those who learn from Him as disciples.

God is very much here with us in our daily routines and the people we meet every day; let us pray that we accompany Christ faithfully as He Himself works with all of that.4

 

Don Schwager quotes “Common people on an uncommon mission,” by Eusebius of Caesarea (260/263-340 AD).

"Reflect on the nature and grandeur of the one Almighty God who could associate himself with the poor of the lowly fisherman's class. To use them to carry out God's mission baffles all rationality. For having conceived the intention, which no one ever before had done, of spreading his own commands and teachings to all nations, and of revealing himself as the teacher of the religion of the one Almighty God to all humanity, he thought good to use the most unsophisticated and common people as ministers of his own design. Maybe God just wanted to work in the most unlikely way. For how could inarticulate folk be made able to teach, even if they were appointed teachers to only one person, much less to a multitude? How should those who were themselves without education instruct the nations?... When he had thus called them as his followers, he breathed into them his divine power, and filled them with strength and courage. As God himself he spoke God's true word to them in his own way, enabling them to do great wonders, and made them pursuers of rational and thinking souls, by empowering them to come after him, saying: 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people' (Mark 1:17, Matthew 4:19). With this empowerment God sent them forth to be workers and teachers of holiness to all the nations, declaring them heralds of his own teaching." (excerpt from PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 3.7)5

 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 1:14-20 suggests there is one thing we can assume: these four fishermen had no idea what was in store for them. There would be many amazing revelations. But there would also be rejection, misunderstanding, and sacrifice. If they had known all this at the beginning, they might well have stayed in their fishing boats.

Thank God they didn’t have the big picture yet! Can you imagine a Church without St. Peter? Or the message that God is love without the story of St. John? It’s a good thing that the cost of discipleship unfolded gradually for them and never overshadowed the excitement and joy they first experienced. Jesus is calling you too. Every day he reaches out to you through your prayer and Scripture reading and through your encounters with people. When you hear that call—especially if it’s challenging—remember these four apostles. Remember their faith-filled response.6

 

Friar Jude Winkler connects the author of Hebrews to Greek philosophy and rabbinic teaching technique. In the language of Plato, Jesus is the form and the earlier Scriptures were representations of the form. Friar Jude reminds that God transforms our gifts and our weaknesses to service in His mission.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reviews ideas in Thomas Kuhn’s book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions that popularized the term “paradigm shift.” [1] A paradigm is a set of beliefs, images, concepts, and structures that govern the way we think about something. Kuhn (1922–1996) said that paradigm change becomes necessary when the previous paradigm becomes so full of holes and patchwork “fixes” that a complete overhaul is necessary. Brian McLaren uses the language of a “framing story” to describe the same phenomenon Kuhn observed.

If it [our framing story] tells us that the purpose of life is for individuals or nations to accumulate an abundance of possessions and to experience the maximum amount of pleasure during the maximum number of minutes of our short lives, then we will have little reason to manage our consumption. If our framing story tells us that we are in life-and-death competition with each other . . . then we will have little reason to seek reconciliation and collaboration and nonviolent resolutions to our conflicts. . . . But if our framing story tells us that we are free and responsible creatures in a creation made by a good, wise, and loving God, and that our Creator wants us to pursue virtue, collaboration, peace, and mutual care for one another and all living creatures, and that our lives can have profound meaning if we align ourselves with God’s wisdom, character, and dreams for us . . . then our society will take a radically different direction, and our world will become a very different place. [4]7

 

Our opportunity to undergo a paradigm shift as the Spirit transforms our gifts and weakness coincides with the beginning of a new calendar year.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Hebrews, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/1
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 97 | USCCB. Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/97
3	(n.d.). Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - Online Ministries .... Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011121.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=jan11
6	(n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/01/11/180554/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives — Center for Action and .... Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/