Open to Being Reformed

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess our journey with openness to accept the need for some modification of our path to better shape our faith, hope, and love.

Shaped by the Potter

The Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah presents The Potter’s Vessel.

* [18:1–12] The lesson of the potter is that God has the power to destroy or restore, changing his plans accordingly as these nations disobey him or fulfill his will. Cf. Jon 3:10. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 146 declares there is no other source of strength except the merciful God.

* [Psalm 146] A hymn of someone who has learned there is no other source of strength except the merciful God. Only God, not mortal human beings (Ps 146:3–4), can help vulnerable and oppressed people (Ps 146:5–9). The first of the five hymns that conclude the Psalter. (Psalms, PSALM 146 |USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus offers More Parables that assess Treasures New and Old.

* [13:51] Matthew typically speaks of the understanding of the disciples.

* [13:52] Since Matthew tends to identify the disciples and the Twelve (see note on Mt 10:1), this saying about the Christian scribe cannot be taken as applicable to all who accept the message of Jesus. While the Twelve are in many ways representative of all who believe in him, they are also distinguished from them in certain respects. The church of Matthew has leaders among whom are a group designated as “scribes” (Mt 23:34). Like the scribes of Israel, they are teachers. It is the Twelve and these their later counterparts to whom this verse applies. The scribe…instructed in the kingdom of heaven knows both the teaching of Jesus (the new) and the law and prophets (the old) and provides in his own teaching both the new and the old as interpreted and fulfilled by the new. On the translation head of a household (for the same Greek word translated householder in Mt 13:27), see note on Mt 24:45–51. (Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tamora Whitney comments that, in the Gospel, Jesus says at the end times the good will be separated from the bad.

There is no salvation in trusting in princes. Men cannot give salvation, and bad men will lead others astray. Faith and hope in the Lord is the road to salvation. The bad fish are cast aside like the bad pots, and the bad people will be cast into hell. But the good fish are kept like the good pots and the good people will see the wonders of heaven. “Put not your trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation…Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD, his God.”

The world seems like a mess now, like a mixed pile of fish from the net, but it will all be sorted out in the end, good and bad in the next world. (Whitney, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes "A scribe who is trained for the kingdom of heaven,” by Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD).

"A scribe is one who, through continual reading of the Old and New Testaments, has laid up for himself a storehouse of knowledge. Thus Christ blesses those who have gathered in themselves the education both of the law and of the gospel, so as to 'bring forth from their treasure things both new and old.' And Christ compares such people with a scribe, just as in another place he says, 'I will send you wise men and scribes' (Matthew 23:34) (excerpt from Fragment 172) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects that Jeremiah uses a symbolic action at the house of the potter where the pots are smashed and reformed if they are not turning out to the satisfaction of the potter. God is a Potter. Those who turn out poorly will be smashed. In the Gospel of Matthew, one of the parables of the Kingdom presents the idea that trash fish are thrown out and good fish kept. God is very merciful, but Matthew asserts the reality of a final accounting. Friar Jude urges us to use whatever is useful and learn from other religious communities about mission and hospitality in related faiths. We can learn from both old and new and use almost anything for the sake of the Kingdom.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 18:1-6 comments that through Jeremiah, God tells us that he has both the power and the desire to shape us according to his will. Whether through situations in our lives or through the voice of our consciences, he is constantly working to take whatever is misshapen in us and form it into something new and beautiful.

So today, imagine yourself as soft clay. Let God stretch you and shape you. Trust the hands that hold you. The potter is patient, and his vision for your life is more beautiful than anything you could form alone.

“Lord, help me to keep my heart soft so that it can become something beautiful in your hands.” (Meditation on Jeremiah 18:1-6, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Indigenous theologian Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley who considers Jesus’s criticism of certain religious leaders in his day and how they interpreted Scripture. Anytime we use our sacred writings to justify acts of exclusion, rejection, and hegemony we are neglecting justice, mercy, and love. By doing so, we deploy our holy scriptures to do more harm than good, causing us to fall into the same hypocrisy that Jesus condemned….

I understand the dilemma well. Growing up evangelical, I was indoctrinated to accept every single word of the Bible as literal truth, no matter how troubling or contradictory it seemed…. What strikes me as deeply ironic is that most Jewish communities—the very people whose ancestors wrote much of these texts—don’t embrace this rigid fundamentalism that many Christians do. In Jewish tradition, questioning and wrestling with multiple interpretations through midrash isn’t just permitted—it’s essential. They understand what many Christians miss, that sacred texts demand thoughtful engagement, not naïve acceptance. (Rohr, n.d.)

The reforming of our lives by the fire of the Love of the Spirit is our invitation to be more fully alive in our environment as living vessels of faith, hope, and love for all.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/18? 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?47 

Meditation on Jeremiah 18:1-6. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/30/1635280/ 

Psalms, PSALM 146 |USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/146?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Reading for Justice, Mercy, and Love. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/reading-for-justice-mercy-and-love/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Trained for the Kingdom of Heaven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Whitney, T. (2026, July 30). Daily Reflection July 30, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-30-2026 

Priest and Bridegroom

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to respond to the relationship we have with Jesus as Priest and Bridegroom.

Baptism and Priesthood

In the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, Jesus is proclaimed a Priest Forever.

* [5:1–10] The true humanity of Jesus (see note on Heb 2:5–18) makes him a more rather than a less effective high priest to the Christian community. In Old Testament tradition, the high priest was identified with the people, guilty of personal sin just as they were (Heb 5:1–3). Even so, the office was of divine appointment (Heb 5:4), as was also the case with the sinless Christ (Heb 5:5). For Heb 5:6, see note on Ps 110:4. Although Jesus was Son of God, he was destined as a human being to learn obedience by accepting the suffering he had to endure (Heb 5:8). Because of his perfection through this experience of human suffering, he is the cause of salvation for all (Heb 5:9), a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:10; cf. Heb 5:6 and Heb 7:3). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 110 proclaims Assurance of Victory for God’s Priest-King.

* [Psalm 110] A royal Psalm in which a court singer recites three oracles in which God assures the king that his enemies are conquered (Ps 110:1–2), makes the king “son” in traditional adoption language (Ps 110:3), gives priestly status to the king and promises to be with him in future military ventures (Ps 110:4–7). (Psalms, PSALM 110 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus addresses the Question about Fasting.

* [2:18–22] This conflict over the question of fasting has the same pattern as Mk 2:16–17; see notes on Mt 9:15; 9:16–17.

* [2:19] Can the wedding guests fast?: the bridal metaphor expresses a new relationship of love between God and his people in the person and mission of Jesus to his disciples. It is the inauguration of the new and joyful messianic time of fulfillment and the passing of the old. Any attempt at assimilating the Pharisaic practice of fasting, or of extending the preparatory discipline of John’s disciples beyond the arrival of the bridegroom, would be as futile as sewing a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak or pouring new wine into old wineskins with the resulting destruction of both cloth and wine (Mk 2:21–22). Fasting is rendered superfluous during the earthly ministry of Jesus; cf. Mk 2:20. (Mark, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Jay Carney comments that in imagery similar to Mark’s passion, the Jesus of Hebrews 5 “offers prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears.” This Jesus is not calmly in control of everything, surveying the world from 10,000 feet. No, this Jesus is deeply immersed in the pain, suffering, and messiness of a world groaning for redemption, even as it crucifies him.

In sum, to get Jesus, we need a conversion of heart in how we see him. We need new wineskins. Whether or not we envision Jesus in golden-fleece diapers, let us never forget that the mystery of the Word Made Flesh challenges easy categorizations. For this God-man is both baby and divinely begotten Son, both obedient supplicant and eternal priest, both suffering Servant and source of eternal salvation. (Carney, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The presence of the Bridegroom,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.

"From the time that the incarnation of our Savior was first promised to the patriarchs, it was always awaited by many upright souls with tears and mourning - until he came. From that time when, after his resurrection, he ascended to heaven, all the hope of the saints hangs upon his return. It was at the time when he was keeping company with humanity that his presence was to be celebrated. Then it would have been unfitting to weep and mourn. For like the bride, she had him with her bodily whom she loved spiritually. Therefore the bridegroom is Christ, the bride is the church, and the friends of the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15, Luke 5:34) and of the marriage are each and every one of his faithful companions. The time of his marriage is that time when, through the mystery of the incarnation, he is joining the holy church to himself (Revelation 19:7). Thus it was not by chance, but for the sake of a certain mystical meaning that he came to a marriage ceremony on earth in the customary fleshly way (John 2:1-12), since he descended from heaven to earth in order to wed the church to himself in spiritual love. His nuptial chamber was the womb of his virgin mother. There God was conjoined with human nature. From there he came forth like a bridegroom to join the church to himself."(excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.14) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 2:18-22 comments that Jesus reframed their question to not only give information but to make transformation possible in their hearts. His answer—“New wine is poured into fresh wineskins”

Jesus wants to help you. He wants to soften your heart so that you are flexible enough to receive his new wine. Turn to him today and tell him about the areas of your life that are difficult for you. Then ask him to give you his heart and his perspective. Trust him to fill you afresh with his power, his love, and his peace. He is faithful, and he will do it!

“Thank you, Jesus, for making me flexible to receive all that you have for me!” (Meditation on Mark 2:18-22, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler distinguishes the priesthood of Melchizedek from the order of Aaron of the tribe of Levi. Hebrews proclaims Christ as both the offering and the priest. Friar Jude reminds us of the reasons for fasting and the importance of non-mixing in Jewish tradition.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how loving our enemies is a practice of “integrating the negative,” accepting what we find unacceptable within ourselves. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) modeled how to “integrate the negative” by facing the realities of racism, poverty, and war, while insisting that we follow Jesus’ command to love our enemies. 

There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. When we look beneath the surface, beneath the impulsive evil deed, we see within our enemy-neighbor a measure of goodness and know that the viciousness and evilness of their acts are not quite representative of all that they are. We see them in a new light. We recognize that their hate grows out of fear, pride, ignorance, prejudice, and misunderstanding, but in spite of this, we know God’s image is ineffably etched in their being. Then we love our enemies by realizing that they are not totally bad and that they are not beyond the reach of God’s redemptive love. [2] 

We ponder the role of Priest and invite the Spirit to empower our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in the Company of the Bridegroom.

References

Carney, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012025.html 

Hebrews, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/5?1 

Mark, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/2?18 

Meditation on Mark 2:18-22. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/20/1183507/ 

Psalms, PSALM 110 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/110?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan20 

Bread of Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to accept the invitation of the Spirit to live fully in the greater reality of Presence with us that offers a journey in relationship with God.

Family of Life

In the reading from Exodus, God provides The Quail and the Manna.

 

* [16:4] Bread from heaven: as a gift from God, the manna is said to come down from the sky. Cf. Ps 78:24–25; Wis 16:20. Perhaps it was similar to a natural substance that is still found in small quantities on the Sinai peninsula—probably the honey-like resin from the tamarisk tree—but here it is, at least in part, clearly an extraordinary sign of God’s providence. With reference to Jn 6:32, 49–52, the Christian tradition has regarded the manna as a type of the Eucharist. Test: as the text stands, it seems to leave open the question whether the test concerns trusting in God to provide them with the daily gift of food or observing the sabbath instructions.

* [16:15] What is this: the Hebrew man hu is thus rendered by the ancient versions, which understood the phrase as a popular etymology of the Hebrew word man, “manna”; but some render man hu, “This is manna.” (Exodus, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 78 contrasts 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. There are two distinct narratives of approximately equal length: the wilderness events (Ps 78:12–39) and the movement from Egypt to Canaan (Ps 78:40–72). (Psalms, PSALM 78 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the Book of Ephesians contrasts the Old Life and the New.

* [4:17–24] Paul begins to indicate how the new life in Christ contrasts with the Gentiles’ old way of existence. Literally, the old self (Eph 4:22) and the new self (Eph 4:24) are “the old man” and “the new man” (anthrōpos, person), as at Eph 2:15; cf. note on Eph 4:13.

* [4:24] Put on: in baptism. See note on Gal 3:27. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus begins the Bread of Life Discourse.

* [6:22–71] Discourse on the bread of life; replacement of the manna. Jn 6:22–34 serve as an introduction, Jn 6:35–59 constitute the discourse proper, Jn 6:60–71 portray the reaction of the disciples and Peter’s confession.

* [6:23] Possibly a later interpolation, to explain how the crowd got to Capernaum.

* [6:27] The food that endures for eternal life: cf. Jn 4:14, on water “springing up to eternal life.”

* [6:31] Bread from heaven: cf. Ex 16:4, 15, 32–34 and the notes there; Ps 78:24. The manna, thought to have been hidden by Jeremiah (2 Mc 2:5–8), was expected to reappear miraculously at Passover, in the last days. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Barbara Dilly asks what does it mean to live in the futility of our own minds? Most of us already know the answer to this question. It means being left to our own devices based on untruths and too little or unclear information about the circumstances in our lives.

All the lessons today speak to me of the hope that the Lord will help us in challenging times with the wisdom and truth of his word. Moses taught the Israelites to trust God to provide more than just food in their unfamiliar circumstances. They learned to follow God’s instructions, to do as they were taught. The Psalm refers to this story when it declares the strength of the Lord that gives us what we need in the form of heavenly bread. Matthew reminds us again that we live not by bread a lone, but by God’s word. And Jesus could not be clearer when he refers to the same wilderness story. Jesus is the bread of God that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. This is how we learn of Christ. This is how he teaches us. We are to be renewed by the bread of life, which is the truth in Jesus. That still does not give us any clear answers for complicated questions, but it gives us clear directions about how to ask them and to be open to being transformed by the answers. That gives me hope that in these times of great uncertainty and a great many falsehoods, we can navigate life in righteousness and holiness of truth if we listen closely to the truth that is in Jesus. (Dilly, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “God is our landlord,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Our wish, you see, is to attain to eternal life. We wish to reach the place where nobody dies, but if possible we do not want to get there via death. We would like to be whisked away there while we are still alive and see our bodies changed, while we are alive, into that spiritual form into which they are to be changed when we rise again. Who wouldn't like that? Isn't it what everybody wants? But while that is what you want, you are told, Quit. Remember what you have sung in the psalm: 'A lodger am I on earth.' If you are a lodger, you are staying in someone else's house; if you are staying in someone else's house, you quit when the landlord bids you. And the landlord is bound to tell you to quit sooner or later, and he has not guaranteed you a long stay. After all, he did not sign a contract with you. Seeing that you are lodging with him for nothing, you quit when he tells you to. And this, too, has to be put up with, and for this, too, patience is very necessary." (excerpt from Sermon 359A,8) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 comments that it can be a challenge to recognize how God is providing for us, especially if our prayers aren’t answered in the way we desire. Or when our hearts are set on one thing, but God gives us something different. And when God provides for us in ways we don’t expect, we might ask, “What is this?”

Nowhere is this more clear than when we receive the Eucharist at Mass. What might look like simple bread and wine is actually Jesus himself, who heals, forgives, and brings life. We might come to Mass looking for one thing, only to find that Jesus offers us something deeper. We want answers, but he gives us his very self. We want a way out of a problem, but he gives us his grace to walk through it. In this unlikely form of bread and wine, we find the One who is the answer to all of our needs!

So let’s trust that God knows the sustenance we need. He hears the cries of our hearts and he provides for us in ways we could never imagine. Let’s open our hearts to receive the Bread of Life that he gives us today!

“Jesus, help me to receive what you provide for me.” (Meditation on Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for today.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers the presence of so many evils in the world and God’s solidarity with suffering. Theodicy is a branch of theology that has developed many arguments on how there can be a good God, or a just God in the presence of so much evil in the world—about which “God” appears to do nothing. 

The evidence is overwhelming that God fully allows and does not stop genocides, child abuse, brutal wars, unspeakable human and animal suffering, the imprisonment of the innocent, sexual assaults and enslavement, the death of whole species and civilizations, and the tragic lives of addicts and their codependents. Further, God seems to at least “allow” the “natural” disasters of drought, flood, hurricane, tornado, tsunami, plague, famine, and painful diseases of every kind, many of which we call “acts of God,” and all of which have made much of human life “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” [1] What are we to do with this?   

For me, there is a workable and loving way through this. If God is somehow in the suffering, also participating as a suffering object, in full solidarity with the world that God created, then I can make some possible and initial sense of God and this creation. Only if we’re joining God, and God is joining us, in something greater than the sum of all its parts, can we find a way through all of this. Trust in the crucified—and resurrected—Jesus has indeed “saved” many. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Spirit to open our minds and hearts to the greater reality of the mystical Presence of God on our journey through which we live the fullness of life.

References

Dilly, B. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/080424.html 

Ephesians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/4 

Exodus, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/16 

John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6 

Meditation on Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/04/1041224/ 

Psalms, PSALM 78 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/78 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Surviving with Jesus. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/surviving-with-jesus/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 4, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug4