Action and Prayer

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the necessity of prayer and reflection to guide our actions as workers in the vineyard of Christ.

Acting in Prayer

The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews declares Jesus to be like his brothers and sisters in every way.

The fear of death (Heb 2:15) is a religious fear based on the false conception that death marks the end of a person’s relations with God (cf. Ps 115:17–18; Is 38:18). Jesus deliberately allied himself with the descendants of Abraham (Heb 2:16) in order to be a merciful and faithful high priest. This is the first appearance of the central theme of Hebrews, Jesus the great high priest expiating the sins of the people (Heb 2:17), as one who experienced the same tests as they (Heb 2:18). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 50 praises the Acceptable Sacrifice.

* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark proclaims the Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law and Other Healings.

* [1:21–45] The account of a single day’s ministry of Jesus on a sabbath in and outside the synagogue of Capernaum (Mk 1:21–31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39). The cleansing in Mk 1:40–45 stands as an isolated story. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Elvin Cardoso, S.J. reminds us that we cannot pour from an empty cup.

Jesus shows us that ministry is not about doing everything, everywhere, for everyone. It is about knowing when to give, but also when to step back and receive. Only in receiving from God can we continue to give effectively, and only by being replenished in His presence can we truly serve others with a heart full of love and compassion. May we learn from Jesus the sacred rhythm of giving and receiving, allowing our ministry to be rooted in both action and prayer. (Cardoso, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The habit of prayer,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"Jesus prayed and did not pray in vain, since he received what he asked for in prayer when he might have done so without prayer. If so, who among us would neglect to pray? Mark says that 'in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed' (Mark 1:35). And Luke says, 'He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,"' (Luke 11:1) and elsewhere, 'And all night he continued in prayer to God' (Luke 6:12). And John records his prayer, saying, 'When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you"' (John 17:1). The same Evangelist writes that the Lord said that he knew 'you hear me always' (John 11:42). All this shows that the one who prays always is always heard." (excerpt from ON PRAYER 13.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 2:14-18 comments that the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus has fulfilled the role of the high priest completely because he offered God a perfect spotless sacrifice. He chose to “become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:17).

As you contemplate Jesus, your merciful and faithful high priest, let today’s reading lift your heart. Jesus shares all your joys and sorrows. He stands before God the Father on your behalf eternally. Even now, at this moment, he is praying for you!

“Lord Jesus, thank you for your mercy and faithfulness!” (Meditation on Hebrews 2:14-18, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage from Hebrews emphasizes the share of Christ in our flesh and blood. The offering of Jesus, the High Priest, is One who can identify with our weakness. Friar Jude reminds us that the healing and preaching of Jesus is not restricted in time and place but is universal.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces religion scholar Kerry Walters who writes of the transformative life of Archbishop Óscar Romero. In a homily given in 1978, Archbishop Romero urged communities and individuals to recognize how their actions had the power to convert and transform the world.

A Christian community is evangelized in order to evangelize. A light is turned on in order to give light. “People do not light a candle and put it under a basket,” said Christ. “They light it and put it up high so that it gives light” (Matthew 5:15). That is true community. A community is a group of women and men who have found the truth in Christ and in his Gospel and join together to follow the way of truth more resolutely. It is not just a matter of individual conversion but of community conversion. A community is a family that believes; it is a group where each member accepts God and feels strengthened by the others. In their moments of weakness, they help one another and love one another; they shed the light of their faith as an example for others. When that happens, the preachers no longer need to preach because there are Christians whose very lives have become a form of preaching.  

I said once before and I repeat today, sisters and brothers, that if some sad day they silence our radio and stop us from writing in our newspaper, then all of you who believe must become microphones, radio stations, and loudspeakers—not by talking but by living the faith. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the pattern of prayer and action lived by Jesus and implore the Spirit to guide us in the footsteps of Christ.

References

Cardoso, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011525.html 

Hebrews, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/2?14 

Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?29 

Meditation on Hebrews 2:14-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/15/1180556/ 

Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Óscar Romero: Preacher of Love and Justice. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/oscar-romero-preacher-of-love-and-justice/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Healed Many Who Were Sick. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan15 

Struggle and Treasure

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today parallel the quest in the visit of Pope Francis to the Indigenous People of Canada in presenting the struggle that accompanies the finding the true riches in our relationship with one another in the Body of Christ.

Relationship and Riches

In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, he complains again and is reassured.

If you utter what is precious and not what is worthless,

you shall be my mouth. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)

Psalm 59 is a prayer for deliverance from enemies.

* [Psalm 59] A lament in two parts (Ps 59:2–9, 11b–17), each ending in a refrain (Ps 59:10, 18). Both parts alternate prayer for vindication (Ps 59:2–3, 4b–5, 11b–14) with vivid depictions of the psalmist’s enemies (Ps 59:4–5a, 7–8, 15–16). The near curse in Ps 59:12–13 is not a crude desire for revenge but a wish that God’s just rule over human affairs be recognized now. (Psalms, PSALM 59, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus offers more parables.

* [13:44–50] The first two of the last three parables of the discourse have the same point. The person who finds a buried treasure and the merchant who finds a pearl of great price sell all that they have to acquire these finds; similarly, the one who understands the supreme value of the kingdom gives up whatever he must to obtain it. The joy with which this is done is made explicit in the first parable, but it may be presumed in the second also. (Matthew, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)

Tom Purcell asks what if, instead of focusing on heaven as something that we will experience in the future, we think of it as a process we can experience and help create now, the result of our planting little mustard seeds with our daily lives?  His earlier thoughts about being detached and letting go of what binds us to our current life reminds us of the difficulty in following Jesus, but if we think of the consequences of what we do in each moment, we can perhaps see a positive forward movement not just for ourselves but for our sisters and brothers.

So, what are the mustard seeds that we can put into action – obviously we do the important ones Jesus calls out – feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, consoling the grieving, burying the dead.  But we also plant seeds when we act with others using simple common courtesy (good manners), such as opening a door, saying thank you sincerely, listening before talking, making eye contact.  We plant mustard seeds when do not judge the actions of someone else (either with our words or our silent thoughts).  We scatter mustard seeds when we refuse to pass along the latest office gossip or neighborhood scandal.  We plant seeds for our children and grandchildren by living a simpler, more sustainable life.  We probably store up big points in St. Peter’s ledger if we generously allow someone to merge into traffic in front of us, and do not grumble (or worse!) or share fun little gestures with someone who speeds up in the hope they will be allowed to enter the lane farther up the road. (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Finding the pearl of great price,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"Now among the words of all kinds that profess to announce truth, and among those who report them, he seeks pearls. Think of the prophets as, so to speak, the pearls that receive the dew of heaven and become pregnant with the word of truth from heaven. They are goodly pearls that, according to the phrase here set forth, the merchant seeks. And the chief of the pearls, on the finding of which the rest are found with it, is the very costly pearl, the Christ of God, the Word that is superior to the precious letters and thoughts in the law and the prophets. When one finds this pearl all the rest are easily released. Suppose, then, that one is not a disciple of Christ. He possesses no pearls at all, much less the very costly pearl, as distinguished from those that are cloudy or darkened." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 18.8) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 13:44-46 asks how do we get to the point of selling all that we have for Jesus? The truth is, even though we love the Lord, we can depend too much on the “toys” that capture our attention. We can get attached to our earthly possessions and pleasures and become distracted from the most beautiful and compelling “possession” there is: Jesus and his love for us.

The remedy for this isn’t necessarily found in getting rid of all your possessions or in saying no to everything in the world. It’s found in saying yes to Jesus. And that yes starts every day in your prayer time. It starts as you encounter him in the quiet of your heart. It starts as you see his mercy toward you and the love that led him to die for you. It grows as you envision his heavenly kingdom where he has prepared a place for you. In short, you recognize how utterly compelling and desirable he is.

So fix your eyes on Jesus! As you realize how much of a treasure he is, everything else will pale in comparison. As you come to understand how deeply he treasures you, you will treasure him all the more. Your affection for him will grow, and you will find that you aren’t as focused on material things. You’ll start seeing them for what they are—as blessings meant to help bring you closer to him.

“Jesus, you are the pearl of great price, and I want nothing more than to have you in my life!” (Meditation on Matthew 13:44-46, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler explains the dialogue between God and Jeremiah known as the “Confessions of Jeremiah” and the consequence of the “Deuteronomic reform” on the family of Jeremiah. In Matthew,two quick sayings reference the “Kingdom of Heaven”. Friar Jude reminds us of the signs of a Pharisee who was a second editor of the Gospel of Matthew.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Kay Lindahl, an author and founder of The Listening Center, who writes of the inherently sacred nature of reflective listening. Over the years Fr Richard has discovered that there is a basic context that nurtures and develops the practice of listening as a sacred art. Three qualities that are essential to this deep listening context are silence, reflection, and presence.

• Silence creates the space for listening to God. It provides time to explore our relationship to Source. The practice of being in this silence nurtures our capacity to listen to others.

• Reflection gives us access to listening for our inner voice. The practice of taking a few breaths before responding to a situation, question, or comment gives time for your true wisdom to reveal itself. It’s a slowing down, waiting, practicing patience.

• Presence is the awareness of listening to another, of connecting at the heart level. The practice of taking a mundane, ordinary activity and giving it your full attention, for example, washing your hands or brushing your teeth, trains your concentration and your ability to be in the present moment with another. . . . (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our journey to uncover in our relationships with each other and God the pearl of infinite value.

References

Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072722.html 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/15?10 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?44 

Meditation on Matthew 13:44-46. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/27/449750/ 

Psalms, PSALM 59. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/59?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Gift of Deep Listening. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-gift-of-deep-listening-2022-07-27/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Joy in Finding Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul27