Ingratitude and Authority

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today nudge us to avoid complacency and implore the Spirit for gratitude and courage as we deal with difficulty on our journey.

Gratitude and Courage

The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the Rest That God Promised.

Psalm 78 praises God’s Goodness and Israel’s Ingratitude

* [Psalm 78] A recital of history to show that past generations did not respond to God’s gracious deeds and were punished by God making the gift into a punishment. Will Israel fail to appreciate God’s act—the choosing of Zion and of David? The tripartite introduction invites Israel to learn the lessons hidden in its traditions (Ps 78:1–4, 5–7, 8–11); each section ends with the mention of God’s acts. (Psalms, PSALM 78 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus Heals a Paralytic.

* [2:1–2] He was at home: to the crowds that gathered in and outside the house Jesus preached the word, i.e., the gospel concerning the nearness of the kingdom and the necessity of repentance and faith (Mk 1:14).

* [2:5] It was the faith of the paralytic and those who carried him that moved Jesus to heal the sick man. Accounts of other miracles of Jesus reveal more and more his emphasis on faith as the requisite for exercising his healing powers (Mk 5:34; 9:23–24; 10:52).

* [2:6] Scribes: trained in oral interpretation of the written law; in Mark’s gospel, adversaries of Jesus, with one exception (Mk 12:28, 34).

* [2:7] He is blaspheming: an accusation made here and repeated during the trial of Jesus (Mk 14:60–64).

* [2:10] But that you may know that the Son of Man…on earth: although Mk 2:8–9 are addressed to the scribes, the sudden interruption of thought and structure in Mk 2:10 seems not addressed to them nor to the paralytic. Moreover, the early public use of the designation “Son of Man” to unbelieving scribes is most unlikely. The most probable explanation is that Mark’s insertion of Mk 2:10 is a commentary addressed to Christians for whom he recalls this miracle and who already accept in faith that Jesus is Messiah and Son of God. (Mark, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Gladyce Janky presents a midrash that explores one alternative for how Jonathan (the name of the paralytic in this story) decides to live after picking up his mat.

I will praise God daily for restoring my body and do as the rabbi instructed.  I will tell everyone who has not heard about my healing, the anointed One of God who gave me back my life. (Janky, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Reverse your relation with sickness,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).

"Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you. Change places, so that what was the proof of your sickness may now give testimony to your soundness. Your bed of pain becomes the sign of healing, its very weight the measure of the strength that has been restored to you." (excerpt from HOMILY 50.6)

[Peter Chrysologus was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 2:1-12 comments that their persistence paid off. “When Jesus saw their faith,” he didn’t just heal their friend’s paralysis; he forgave his sins as well (Mark 2:5). Jesus made him new inside and out!

But don’t stop there! Think about your loved ones. Is there anyone you need to bring to the Lord? What sort of obstacles must you break through in order to intercede for them? Maybe you’ve begun to believe that your pleas have gone nowhere so far, so you might as well give up. Maybe you’re feeling that your friend’s situation is too dire to take any action. Whatever it is, remember the persistence and creativity of the friends in today’s Gospel. Let their example give you courage to keep asking Jesus for his healing and mercy! 

“Jesus, I believe that nothing is beyond your ability to heal and forgive!” (Meditation on Mark 2:1-12, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the concept of rest as experienced by the delay for the Israelites to enter the promised land and our entry into the rest of eternal life. The pattern of healing; situation, appeal, action, and reaction breaks down as the Scribes claim blasphemy in reacting to Jesus. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' understanding that it is easier to heal a broken limb than a broken heart.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces activist Sandhya Jha who describes the powerful example of a group of Muslim and Jewish women in the United States. Relationship building has emerged through the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, originally a group of 12 women in New Jersey that now has local chapters all over the country.

The local Kansas City chapter’s social action was to step in and provide meals at a local cancer treatment center during Christmas so that the Christian volunteers could spend the holiday with their families, creating another relational bridge in the process. [SOSS board member Amber Khan] also said there was something really powerful in the fact that in order to deal with anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, the women needed to confront the “isms” they had internalized about each other in order to be in true relationship with each other, and that has been some of the most powerful work she has witnessed.  

What Amber values is that the women of the local chapters “are not professional organizers; they’re women who said, ‘my community needs healing and I want to be a part of that.’” When white nationalists desecrated mosques, the Jewish community showed up in force, sometimes even sharing worship spaces.   

“I think there’s more of a sense of urgency,” says Aftab at the Sisterhood. “We’ve heard from people all over the country, even all over the world, saying, ‘I need to reach out and do something constructive rather than be affected by this fear in a negative way.’”  (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to enliven our gift of courage so that we may demonstrate truth, faith, and love in visible ways in our environment.

References

Janky, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved January 17, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011725.html 

Mark, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 17, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/2?1 

Meditation on Mark 2:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 17, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/17/1181752/ 

Psalms, PSALM 78 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved January 17, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/78?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Power of Sisterhood. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 17, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-power-of-sisterhood/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 17, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan17 

Reversal of Fortune

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to the action required to bring about the reversal of fortune that our contemplation of Jesus Way shows us to be necessary for fullness of life in our society.

Reversal of Fortune

The reading from the Prophet Ezekiel is a taunt song proclamation against the King of Tyre.

* [28:1–10] Ezekiel mocks the arrogance of Tyre’s leader, who mistakes the city’s commercial success for evidence of his divinity. At the hands of a foreign army, commissioned by the only God worthy of the name, this leader dies a humiliating, unceremonious death.

* [28:3] Wiser than Daniel: see note on 14:14. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB, n.d.)

The response from Deuteronomy is a poetic sermon about Israel’s ingratitude and idolatry.

* [32:1–43] The whole song is a poetic sermon, having for its theme the Lord’s benefits to Israel (vv. 1–14) and Israel’s ingratitude and idolatry in turning to the gods of the nations; these sins will be punished by the nations themselves (vv. 15–29); in turn, the foolish pride of the nations will be punished, and the Lord’s honor will be vindicated (vv. 30–43). (Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew declares how riches are an obstacle.

* [19:23–24] Riches are an obstacle to entering the kingdom that cannot be overcome by human power. The comparison with the impossibility of a camel’s passing through the eye of a needle should not be mitigated by such suppositions as that the eye of a needle means a low or narrow gate. The kingdom of God: as in Mt 12:28; 21:31, 43 instead of Matthew’s usual kingdom of heaven.

* [19:25–26] See note on Mk 10:23–27.

* [19:28] This saying, directed to the Twelve, is from Q; see Lk 22:29–30. The new age: the Greek word here translated “new age” occurs in the New Testament only here and in Ti 3:5. Literally, it means “rebirth” or “regeneration,” and is used in Titus of spiritual rebirth through baptism. Here it means the “rebirth” effected by the coming of the kingdom. Since that coming has various stages (see notes on Mt 3:2; 4:17), the new age could be taken as referring to the time after the resurrection when the Twelve will govern the true Israel, i.e., the church of Jesus. (For “judge” in the sense of “govern,” cf. Jgs 12:8, 9, 11; 15:20; 16:31; Ps 2:10). But since it is connected here with the time when the Son of Man will be seated on his throne of glory, language that Matthew uses in Mt 25:31 for the time of final judgment, it is more likely that what the Twelve are promised is that they will be joined with Jesus then in judging the people of Israel.

* [19:30] Different interpretations have been given to this saying, which comes from Mk 10:31. In view of Matthew’s associating it with the following parable (Mt 20:1–15) and substantially repeating it (in reverse order) at the end of that parable (Mt 20:16), it may be that his meaning is that all who respond to the call of Jesus, at whatever time (first or last), will be the same in respect to inheriting the benefits of the kingdom, which is the gift of God. (Matthew, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

Matthew Walsh, S.J. comments that The Meditation on the Three Classes of Person is given during the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises, “…to aid one toward embracing what is better.” (SE 149). All three “Classes” can see that they need to make an important decision to aid in doing what is “better”. The person typical of the First Class simply never makes the decision or change that is necessary. The person typical of the Second Class is willing to make a change, but according to what seems better to him or her. The person typical of the Third Class lives with a holy indifference that guides decision-making; this “Third Class” of person is a master of discernment, making decisions not by affect or reason or experience alone, but by cultivating a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

This Meditation has been very helpful for me as I work and pray to be a person of discernment, attending to the movements of the Good Spirit throughout the day. It has also helped me to understand why Jesus deals differently with different people. The way that each individual is called is unique. Just as the call for Zacchaeus was different from the call of the Apostles, so, too, each individual is called in a unique way. While it is important to work for a holy indifference to possessions, it is most important to follow the promptings of the Good Spirit in dealing with possessions…and in all we do. (Walsh, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Who can enter the kingdom of heaven?” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.

"What then did Christ say? 'How difficult it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.' He was not criticizing money itself but the wills of those who are taken captive by it. If it will be difficult for the rich, how much more so for the avaricious! For if stinginess with one's own wealth is an impediment to gaining the kingdom, think how much fire is amassed for taking someone else's. But why does he say that it is hard for the rich man to enter the kingdom, to the disciples, who were poor and had nothing? He teaches them not to be ashamed of their poverty and, as it were, gives the reason why he did not allow them to possess anything. After saying it is hard, he also shows them that it is impossible, and not simply impossible but even in an exaggerated way impossible. He shows this from the comparison of the camel and the needle: 'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' Hence Christ demonstrates that there is a significant reward for the wealthy who can practice self-denial. He also said that this had to be the work of God, that he might show that great grace is needed for anyone who is going to achieve it." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 63.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30 comments that when it comes to calculating the cost of following the Lord, Jesus asks us to count the cost in a very different way. In his kingdom, whatever we give up in order to follow him is promised back to us “a hundred times more” plus the greatest reward of all: eternal life with God in heaven (Matthew 19:29)! So the more we “spend” on Jesus, the more we will receive back.

This cost/benefit analysis can be a stretch for us to wrap our heads around when we are used to thinking in terms of our limited resources! Yet God’s love and generosity far exceed what we can calculate or imagine.

Sometimes when God calls us to a new path—perhaps to start a new business or to move to a new city—we only see what we are giving up. We can’t see what awaits us on the other side, and it can be hard to trust him as we move forward. But when God asks us to give up a plan or even a relationship that we hold close, he promises to give back to us even more generously—a hundred times more.

So yes, calculate your grocery budget. But don’t calculate your commitment to follow Jesus. He is worth all that you have.

“Lord, you are so generous! I want to spend everything on you.” (Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Ezekiel offers a taunt song, a powerful feature of Hebrew spirituality, that warns of the destruction of the rich and powerful by pagan nations. This taunt song resonates with the pattern used against Rome in Revelations. Friar Jude warns against interpretation of the passage from Matthew as the “Gospel of Wealth” as Jesus is promising everlasting life but not without crosses that call Christians to give all that we have.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author and spiritual director Lerita Coleman Brown who comments on Howard Thurman’s (1899–1981) gift of mentoring others.

Who are you? How does the sound of the genuine come through to you?… Don’t be deceived and thrown off by all the noises that are a part even of your dreams, your ambitions… that you don’t hear the sound of the genuine in you because that is the only true guide that you will ever have and if you don’t have that you don’t have a thing. You may be famous, you may be whatever the other ideals are which are a part of this generation but you know you don’t have the foggiest notion of who you are, where you are going, what you want. Cultivate the discipline of listening to the sound of the genuine in yourself. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We witness the misapplication of power and wealth in our society even as we are reluctant to seek the guidance of the Spirit to guide our action in the reversal of fortune for the victims of the selfish philosophies that dominate our culture.

References

Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/32? 

Ezekiel, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/28?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19? 

Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/20/1055229/ 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Listen for the Sound of the Genuine. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/listen-for-the-sound-of-the-genuine/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug20 

Walsh, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/082024.html