Mission and Martyrs

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, in Canada, are those from the Feast of the Martyrs St. Jean DeBrebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, among eight Jesuit martyrs of North America in the 17th Century. The reflections from the USCCB Readings for today connect fairly well with the CCCB readings for the feast, by encouraging our reflection and recommission to our vocation as brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Culture Conflict and Christ

The CCCB reading from the Book of Revelation declares the Triumph of the Elect.

* [7:1–17] An interlude of two visions precedes the breaking of the seventh seal, just as two more will separate the sixth and seventh trumpets (Rev 10). In the first vision (Rev 7:1–8), the elect receive the seal of the living God as protection against the coming cataclysm; cf. Rev 14:1; Ez 9:4–6; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30. The second vision (Rev 7:9–17) portrays the faithful Christians before God’s throne to encourage those on earth to persevere to the end, even to death. (Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

The CCCB Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims the Paradox of the Ministry.

* [4:7–5:10] Paul now confronts the difficulty that his present existence does not appear glorious at all; it is marked instead by suffering and death. He deals with this by developing the topic already announced in 2 Cor 3:3, 6, asserting his faith in the presence and ultimate triumph of life, in his own and every Christian existence, despite the experience of death. (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

The CCCB offers the Gospel of Luke to reveal the Conditions of Discipleship

* [9:23] Daily: this is a Lucan addition to a saying of Jesus, removing the saying from a context that envisioned the imminent suffering and death of the disciple of Jesus (as does the saying in Mk 8:34–35) to one that focuses on the demands of daily Christian existence. (Luke, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)

The Gospel of John explores the Coming of Jesus’ Hour in the CCCB reading today.

* [12:24] This verse implies that through his death Jesus will be accessible to all. It remains just a grain of wheat: this saying is found in the synoptic triple and double traditions (Mk 8:35; Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24; Mt 10:39; Lk 17:33). John adds the phrases (Jn 12:25) in this world and for eternal life.

* [12:25] His life: the Greek word psychē refers to a person’s natural life. It does not mean “soul,” for Hebrew anthropology did not postulate body/soul dualism in the way that is familiar to us. (John, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Greg Dyche ponders not so much which path he is choosing but how he chooses to travel on any path.

Maybe like Jesus says in Mark 10:45 “to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”? While my journey doesn’t lead to the cross, it does lead to helping others, to serve. How I serve matters. I don’t want to focus on fixing people. I want to focus on adoring people, seeing them as God sees them. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

I don’t really understand yet, but I like Mother Teresa’s idea of seeing “Jesus in His most distressing disguise.” She’s a saint, and I am not, so I do get discouraged. I recall the advice from Haggai, “have courage, work, and fear not.” (Dyche, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Peter confesses that Jesus is God's Anointed Son and Savior of all,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"You see the skillfulness of the question. He [Jesus] did not at once say, 'Who do you say that I am?' He refers to the rumor of those that were outside their company. Then, having rejected it and shown it unsound, he might bring them back to the true opinion. It happened that way. When the disciples had said, 'Some, John the Baptist, and others, Elijah, and others, that some prophet of those in old time has risen up,' he said to them, 'But you, who do you say that I am?' Oh! how full of meaning is that word you! He separates them from all others, that they may also avoid the opinions of others. In this way, they will not conceive an unworthy idea about him or entertain confused and wavering thoughts. Then they will not also imagine that John had risen again, or one of the prophets. 'You,' he says, 'who have been chosen,' who by my decree have been called to the apostleship, who are the witnesses of my miracles. Who do you say that I am?'"(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 49) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes the role of the ruling Jew in Israel on the work on the Temple This effort is not in vain but it is not the Temple of David that was destroyed but they are making room for the glory of God on the Earth. In Luke, Jesus asks “Who do the people say I am” “The Christ of God” . Jesus as “The Son of Man” predicts His mission using a title from Daniel and vocabulary from Second Isaiah, about the Suffering Servant, who is killed, buried and raised on the third day. Friar Jude reminds us how Jesus defines His ministry in these references.

Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowning of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces longtime nonviolent activist Father John Dear who describes his own awakening to the connection between violence in the world and violence against the earth.

One day, while sitting in my house studying the Sermon on the Mount, I saw it right there in front of me. “Blessed are the meek,” Jesus says in the Beatitudes. Thomas Merton wrote that “meekness” is the biblical word for nonviolence. “Blessed are the nonviolent,” Jesus is saying, as if he were an ancient Gandhi, an ancient Dorothy Day, an ancient Martin Luther King Jr. “They will inherit the earth.” There it is. Blessed are the meek, the gentle, the nonviolent—they will inherit the earth. A life of nonviolence leads to oneness with creation and her creatures.  

A life of violence, of course, leads to an abrupt discord with creation. In a time of permanent warfare, nuclear weapons, and catastrophic climate change, the message couldn’t be clearer. The God of peace, the nonviolent Jesus, and his Holy Spirit call us to practice nonviolence. In that way, we’ll renounce and stop our environmental destruction, tend our Garden of Eden together, and restore creation to its rightful peace…. (Rohr, n.d.)

The role of the disciples of Christ to act on their Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader may be rejected or misunderstood, challenging us to seek consolation and support from the Prince of Peace through our mystical connection with the Holy Spirit.

References

Dyche, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 26, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-26-2025 

John, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/12 

Luke, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9 

Revelation, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/7 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Making Peace with the Earth. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 26, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/making-peace-with-the-earth/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Do You Say That Jesus Is? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 26, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep26 

2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/4 

Mission Betrayal Denial

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to focus on our Mission as disciples of Christ even as we struggle to accept surrender, forgiveness, and Love as the path of our journey.

Faithful to our Mission

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah proclaims the Servant’s Mission.

* [49:1–7] The second of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4).

* [49:1] Gave me my name: designated me for a special task or mission (cf. Jer 1:5).

* [49:3] Israel: the servant is identified with the people of Israel as their ideal representative; however, vv. 5–6 seem to distinguish the servant from Israel.

* [49:6] The servant’s vocation extends beyond the restoration of Israel in order to bring the knowledge of Israel’s God to the rest of the earth; cf. Lk 2:32. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 49, n.d.)

Psalm 71 is a prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help.

* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise. (Psalms, PSALM 71, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus foretells His Betrayal and Peter’s Denial.

* [13:31–17:26] Two farewell discourses and a prayer. These seem to be Johannine compositions, including sayings of Jesus at the Last Supper and on other occasions, modeled on similar farewell discourses in Greek literature and the Old Testament (of Moses, Joshua, David).

* [13:31–38] Introduction: departure and return. Terms of coming and going predominate. These verses form an introduction to the last discourse of Jesus, which extends through Jn 14–17. In it John has collected Jesus’ words to his own (Jn 13:1). There are indications that several speeches have been fused together, e.g., in Jn 14:31 and Jn 17:1. (John, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Nancy Shirley comments that we are all beloved children of Christ yet none among us are without sin/betrayal.  So many times the ways of the world tempt us into a betrayal of our beliefs. Our true remorse and asking for forgiveness is heard over and over again.  Our prayers are answered although not always in the way that we want or expect.

What is our purpose and how do we live it?  What hope is there for us in this blighted world?

PRAY!  Our greatest weapon against evil is prayer. Our humble acknowledgement of our own shortcomings and prayers for strength and understanding are key.  The following quote has been attributed to St Augustine and sums it up nicely:

       Pray as though everything depended on God.  

       Work as though everything depended on you (Shirley, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Fight sin and put up with trials,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 59,5) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 13:21-33, 36-38 asks “What could possibly be glorious about a tale of betrayal, rejection, suffering, and death?”

The glory that Jesus talked about at the Last Supper is not limited to the glory that awaits us in heaven. It was made manifest when his scattered disciples returned and received the Holy Spirit. It shone forth as they became bold, powerful witnesses to his death and resurrection. It was evident as the very people who had rejected Jesus received the grace of redemption and found their way back to the Lord. It radiated beyond Jerusalem as the Gentiles received the good news of salvation and became full members of the body of Christ.

Isn’t it amazing that all this happened because of the suffering and death of the Son of God? May we never forget that the glory of God is always shining—even in the times that look the bleakest.

“All praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!” (Meditation on John 13:21-33, 36-38, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler introduces the second song of the Suffering Servant in Deutero-Isaiah as a chosen one of God with the forceful weapon of love bringing glory for all the nations, the Gentiles. The one who betrays Jesus is less ambiguous in John’s Gospel as He hands the morsel of food to Judas who has chosen darkness over light as he leaves at night. Friar Jude notes that Jesus' hour of glory in the Gospel of John is marked by the outpouring of Love on the Cross.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Episcopal priest and CAC faculty emeritus Cynthia Bourgeault describes how we can follow the path of descent Jesus models. She observes that in Jesus everything hangs together around a single center of gravity…. In Greek the verb kenosein means “to let go,” or “to empty oneself,” and this is the word Paul chooses at the key moment in his celebrated teaching in Philippians 2:5–11 in order to describe what “the mind of Christ” is all about.

Thus he came and thus he went, giving himself fully into life and death, losing himself, squandering himself, “gambling away every gift God bestows.” It was not love stored up but love utterly poured out that opened the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven.  

Over and over, Jesus lays this path before us. There is nothing to be renounced or resisted. Everything can be embraced, but the catch is to cling to nothing. You let it go. You go through life like a knife goes through a done cake, picking up nothing, clinging to nothing, sticking to nothing. And grounded in that fundamental chastity of your being, you can then throw yourself out, pour yourself out, being able to give it all back, even giving back life itself. That’s the kenotic path in a nutshell. Very, very simple. It only costs everything. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the events of Jesus' Passover in Jerusalem and seek the support of the Spirit as we participate in the “re-presenting” of the love, passion, and glory of Christ in surrender to the Will of the Father.

References

Isaiah, CHAPTER 49. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?1 

John, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?21 

Meditation on John 13:21-33, 36-38. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/15/1248000/ 

Psalms, PSALM 71. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/71?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Surrendering All. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/surrendering-all/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Betrayal and Faltering Loyalty to Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr15 

Shirley, N. (2025, April 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 15, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041525.html