Grace and Service

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of St. James, remind us of the Grace that empowers our service to others in the name of Christ.

Grace and Service

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

* [4:7] This treasure: the glory that he preaches and into which they are being transformed. In earthen vessels: the instruments God uses are human and fragile; some imagine small terracotta lamps in which light is carried.

* [4:8–9] A catalogue of his apostolic trials and afflictions. Yet in these the negative never completely prevails; there is always some experience of rescue, of salvation.

* [4:10–11] Both the negative and the positive sides of the experience are grounded christologically. The logic is similar to that of 2 Cor 1:3–11. His sufferings are connected with Christ’s, and his deliverance is a sign that he is to share in Jesus’ resurrection.

* [4:12–15] His experience does not terminate in himself, but in others (12, 15; cf. 2 Cor 1:4–5). Ultimately, everything is ordered even beyond the community, toward God (2 Cor 4:15; cf. 2 Cor 1:11).

* [4:13–14] Like the Psalmist, Paul clearly proclaims his faith, affirming life within himself despite death (2 Cor 4:10–11) and the life-giving effect of his experience upon the church (2 Cor 4:12, 14–15). And place us with you in his presence: Paul imagines God presenting him and them to Jesus at the parousia and the judgment; cf. 2 Cor 11:2; Rom 14:10. (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 126 declares a Harvest of Joy.

* [Psalm 126] A lament probably sung shortly after Israel’s return from exile. The people rejoice that they are in Zion (Ps 126:1–3) but mere presence in the holy city is not enough; they must pray for the prosperity and the fertility of the land (Ps 126:4). The last verses are probably an oracle of promise: the painful work of sowing will be crowned with life (Ps 126:5–6).

* [126:4] Like the dry stream beds of the Negeb: the psalmist prays for rain in such abundance that the dry riverbeds will run. (Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the response of Jesus to the Request of the Mother of James and John.

* [20:20–28] Cf. Mk 10:35–45. The request of the sons of Zebedee, made through their mother, for the highest places of honor in the kingdom, and the indignation of the other ten disciples at this request, show that neither the two brothers nor the others have understood that what makes for greatness in the kingdom is not lordly power but humble service. Jesus gives the example, and his ministry of service will reach its highest point when he gives his life for the deliverance of the human race from sin.

* [20:20–21] The reason for Matthew’s making the mother the petitioner (cf. Mk 10:35) is not clear. Possibly he intends an allusion to Bathsheba’s seeking the kingdom for Solomon; see 1 Kgs 1:11–21. Your kingdom: see note on Mt 16:28.

* [20:22] You do not know what you are asking: the Greek verbs are plural and, with the rest of the verse, indicate that the answer is addressed not to the woman but to her sons. Drink the cup: see note on Mk 10:38–40. Matthew omits the Marcan “or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized” (Mk 10:38).

* [20:28] Ransom: this noun, which occurs in the New Testament only here and in the Marcan parallel (Mk 10:45), does not necessarily express the idea of liberation by payment of some price. The cognate verb is used frequently in the LXX of God’s liberating Israel from Egypt or from Babylonia after the Exile; see Ex 6:6; 15:13; Ps 77:16 (76 LXX); Is 43:1; 44:22. The liberation brought by Jesus’ death will be for many; cf. Is 53:12. Many does not mean that some are excluded, but is a Semitism designating the collectivity who benefit from the service of the one, and is equivalent to “all.” While there are few verbal contacts between this saying and the fourth Servant Song (Is 52:13–53:12), the ideas of that passage are reflected here. (Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mirielle Mason comments that our Lord had a good lesson for them- those who wish to be great will be humbled, and He reminded them that we are on this earth to serve God, just as Jesus came to give his life for us.

This passage led me to examine ways in which I seek power in my life. How often do I seek intellectual superiority because I have a strong desire to be right? Why do I find myself keeping tabs on all the tasks I’ve done in a day so I can “win” the invisible race of who has done more around the house? Do I seek higher paying jobs for the prestige? There are so many ways we may seek power or control in our daily lives, and the more I examined my personal life, I realized how much the pursuit of power can hurt my mental well-being and my relationships. What if, instead, I took on the mind set of servitude? If I found joy in serving those at work, in my home, and in public? This is what I think Jesus is calling us to in the end of this passage. Serving others is how we bring Christ to them.  In a power-hungry world, what would it look like if we chose to serve one another instead of chase power? (Mason, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Not to be served but to serve,” by John Chrysostom (344-407 AD).

"[Jesus] says, 'The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.' It is as if he were saying, 'I willed not even to stop at death but even in death gave my life as a ransom. For whom? For enemies. For you. If you are abused, my life is given for you. It is for you. Me for you.' So you need not be too picky if you suffer the loss of your honor. No matter how much it is lowered, you will not be descending as far as your Lord descended. And yet the deep descent of one has become the ascent of all. His glory shines forth from these very depths. For before he was made man, he was known among the angels only. But after he was made man and was crucified, so far from lessening that glory, he acquired further glory besides, even that from his personal knowledge of the world."

"So fear not then, as though your honor were put down. Rather, be ready to abase yourself. For in this way your glory is exalted even more, and in this way it becomes greater. This is the door of the kingdom. Let us not then go the opposite way. Let us not war against ourselves. For if we desire to appear great, we shall not be great but even the most dishonored of all. Do you see how everywhere Jesus encourages them by turning things upside down? He gives them what they desire but in ways they did not expect. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 65.4.25) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 comments that James returned to Jerusalem and joined the other leaders there in caring for the new converts during a time of persecution by King Herod. A few years later, he was captured by Herod’s men and beheaded (Acts 12:1-2). Because James’ heart had always been with the people of Hispania, some of his disciples took his body back there for burial in what is now the city of Compostella. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel the winding Camino de Santiago, which ends at the Cathedral of St. James in that city. There, in fulfillment of Mary’s promise, they thank this brave, faithful follower of Jesus for his prayers and heavenly help.

If you are facing affliction, perplexity, or even persecution, don’t give up! Remember St. James and all the apostles. No matter what they endured, Jesus never abandoned them. He won’t abandon you, either!

“Lord, give me your grace so that I can remain faithful to you, just as St. James was.” (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the honour expressed by Paul in being able to share in the Cross of Christ as he carried out his ministry. In the Gospel, the petition of the Mother of the Sons of Thunder is an ask for an inheritance. Friar Jude reminds us that following Jesus is not to think in terms of power, but in dying to self in service to others.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, connects prayer and meditation to a deepening acceptance of the will of God. 

The Twelve Step Program was deeply inspired in recognizing that we need forms of prayer and meditation that would lead us to “conscious contact with God.” Prayer and meditation can bring us to real inner “knowledge of God’s will for us” and the “power to carry it out” (actual inner empowerment and new motivation from a deeper Source).  

People’s willingness to find God in their own struggle with life—and let it change them—is their deepest and truest obedience to God’s eternal will. Remember, always remember, that the heartfelt desire to do the will of God is, in fact, the truest will of God. At that point, God has won, the ego has lost, and our prayers have already been answered. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)

Our inheritance as brothers and sisters of Jesus is service of the Will of God in love, compassion, and mercy towards all the people we encounter on our journey.

References

Mason, M. (2024, July 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072524.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20?20 

Meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/25/1032355/ 

Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/126?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. A Prayer That Transforms. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-prayer-that-transforms/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Not to Be Served but to Serve. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul25a 

2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/4?7 

Inheritance and Hypocrisy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today proclaim our relationship with Christ in the Spirit through which we are children of the Father.

Community Spirit

The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians declares our inheritance through the Spirit.

A triadic structure is discernible in Eph 1:3–14: God the Father (Eph 1:3–6, 8, 11), Christ (Eph 1:3, 5, 7–10, 12), and the Spirit (Eph 1:13–14). The spiritual blessings Christians have received through Christ (Eph 1:3) are gratefully enumerated: the call to holiness (Eph 1:4; cf. Col 1:22); the gift of divine adoption establishing a unique spiritual relationship with God the Father through Christ (Eph 1:5; cf. Gal 4:5); liberation from sin through Christ’s sacrificial death (Eph 1:7); revelation of God’s plan of salvation in Christ (Eph 1:9; cf. Eph 3:3–4; Rom 16:25); the gift of election and faith in Christ bestowed upon Jewish Christians (see note on Eph 1:12, we who first hoped in Christ); and finally, the same gift granted to Gentiles (Eph 1:13, you also). In the Christ-centered faith and existence of the Christian communities the apostle sees the predetermined plan of God to bring all creation under the final rule of Christ (Eph 1:4–5, 9–10) being made known (Eph 1:9) and carried through, to God’s glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)

Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.

* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke urges courage under persecution, a warning against hypocrisy, and an exhortation to fearless confession.

* [12:2–9] Luke presents a collection of sayings of Jesus exhorting his followers to acknowledge him and his mission fearlessly and assuring them of God’s protection even in times of persecution. They are paralleled in Mt 10:26–33. (Luke, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)

Technical difficulties prevented receiving the comments from The Online Ministries of Creighton University today.

Don Schwager quotes “Comfort for those who doubt God's providence in Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"To bestow yet another means of comfort on our minds, he forcibly added that five sparrows are scarcely perhaps worth a penny, and yet God does not forget even one of them. He also said that the separate hairs of your head are all numbered. Consider how great care he takes of those that love him. The Preserver of the universe extends his aid to things so worthless and descends to the smallest animals. How can he forget those who love him, especially when he takes so great care of them? He condescends to visit them, to know exactly each particular of their state, and even how many are the hairs of their heads... Let us not doubt that with a rich hand he will give his grace to those who love him. He will not permit us to fall into temptation. If, by his wise purpose he permits us to be taken in the snare in order that we may gain glory by suffering, he will most assuredly grant us the power to bear it." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 87) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:1-7 asks how do we make sense of this progression from a warning to fear God to a warm assurance of God’s tender love?

So should we be afraid of God? Not if we understand what Jesus has done for us through his death and resurrection. Because we are fallen human beings, we will sin, and perhaps even act hypocritically at times as some of the Pharisees did (Luke 12:1). But through Jesus, our Father has offered us the gift of salvation. When we recognize our sin and turn to him in repentance, he floods us with his mercy. This is how much God loves us and longs to be close to us—both now and forever!...

God doesn’t want to lose you—or anyone else, for that matter. He treasures you too much. With such a loving Father, you have nothing to fear!

“Thank you, Jesus, for showing me how precious I am to my Father in heaven.” (Meditation on Luke 12:1-7, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler shares how we hear about being chosen by Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit as a first down payment. We already experience heaven when we live in God’s Love. Friar Jude reminds us of our gift of sensing anger or goodness in the people around us.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the True Self is who you are because of divine indwelling, the Holy Spirit within you (Romans 8:9). We are all tabernacles of God, says Paul (1 Corinthians 3:16). True religion leads us to an experience of our True Self and undermines our false self. 

Putting the human and the divine together is what it means to be “the Christ” (Colossians 1:17–20), and what it means for us to be “the new Adam and Eve” (1 Corinthians 15:45–49). Ephesians could not make it much clearer: “You too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit that was promised—this is the pledge of your inheritance” (1:13–14). Few Christians have ever been seriously taught about their inherent union with God and will find all kinds of self-hating reasons to deny it. Only the True Self can dare to believe the gospel’s Good News.

The false self, or smaller self, is characterized by separateness. Jewish and Christian traditions call this state of disconnectedness “sin.” When we’re separated from our deepest Being, we are in the state of sin. When we are disconnected from our True Self in God, we look for various false and addictive ways to fill our emptiness. The small or false self is who we think we are, but our thinking does not make it so. It is our identity created through culture, education, class, race, friends, gender, clothes, and money. (Rohr, n.d.)

We journey in the tension between cultural values and the Way that seeks truth, love, and fullness of life.

References

Ephesians, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1? 

Luke, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?1 

Meditation on Luke 12:1-7. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/14/511815/ 

Psalms, PSALM 33. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/true-religion-and-the-true-self-2022-10-14/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Fear Those Who Kill the Body. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct14