|
25th SUNDAY |
|
|
Dear Preachers:
The letter of James, with its emphasis on works, has often been interpreted as a contrast to Paul’s emphasis on faith (For example, see last week’s reading from James 2:14-18). But today what emerges from James is not about works, but wisdom. In daily life we might name a person “wise” because they have been successful in their life choices: they have a good job; secure homes; and maintain their health. This wisdom focuses on the self.
But James poses another kind of wisdom, it is “from above.” It is a wisdom that sees through the false promises life puts before us. But the Christian longs for true wisdom that has its source in God and enables us to live our lives in light of God’s will with mastery over our actions. It is wisdom “from above,” James says, which produces visible fruit that marks the Christian’s daily life.
James, like Paul, confronted his congregation for its internal conflicts. Both asked their communities to turn to God for help to live together peaceably. As in their time, our church faces internal warring factions, each claiming wisdom to know God’s will. James asks, “where do… the conflicts among you come from?” He is not so much interested in the opinions and ideas of the members of his church as he is with their living good and peace-loving lives. He reminds his members that earthly wisdom (“wisdom from below”) produces division and strife; but “wisdom from above” recognizes and responds to the call to “cultivate peace.”
What do you see in the outside world and the internal world of your congregation that exhibits the vices James enumerates? The wisdom he speaks of does not reside in the head, but in our daily behavior. James calls us to live by the “wisdom from above” which is God’s gift to us, as individuals and as communities.
Turn your glance to your faith community. Does it exhibit “the wisdom from above” in its leadership; liturgical life; generosity towards the needs of others; prayers that voice concern for the world; social justice ministries and works to resolve conflicts?
Who is “in” and who is “out” in today’s gospel? It’s not clear why Jesus would not want anyone but his disciples to know about his future sufferings. Who else, but a disciple, would be able to understand this teaching? They are the “in” group of the story. But the irony is that even those closest to Jesus do not understand what he is saying. This non-understanding is a theme in Mark, it is “the scandal of the cross.”
The disciples have their “eye on the prize” and, judging from previous accounts, that means they are hoping for glory by following Jesus. But they have no clue what he means about his coming suffering and death. Human knowledge cannot grasp this mystery, but God can enable us to hear and accept it. It would seem that Christ is quite clear about what is going to happen to him. But trying to see the mysterious ways of God by our own wisdom only leads to darkness, the absence of light. We need what James spelled out for us today, “wisdom from above.”
Jesus sounds like a benevolent uncle when he takes a child, puts his arms around it and says, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me….” Of course, Jesus loved children and was gentle towards them. But he was stressing the core of his teaching and is asking for total love and trust from his disciples. We are called to be servants of all, even to receiving the ones in society who have no authority, or established position.
We ask then, who are the authentic leaders in our Christian community? Jesus would point us to the humble servant leaders who may have no official office, but who are following his lessons about service to the least. His teaching is radical: while he is the long-awaited Messiah yet, by following him, we must desire not to be first, but to be last and the servant of all.
The disciples do not understand this teaching. Not because it is too technical, theological, or the grammar not clear; but because it speaks of a way of living they cannot accept, at this moment of their discipleship – the necessity of Jesus’ suffering and death. His passion and death must happen so that they, through faith, can share in his new, resurrected life. Then they will understand and believe in this difficult teaching.
The disciples were not exempt from being infected by the world in which they lived. Competition, prestige and power permeated the Roman-dominated world of the disciples. Those same worldly “virtues” also dominate our modern world as well. In their lives a servant was the one who waited on tables and served the wishes of their masters and mistresses. On their own they had no honor. Jesus told his disciples they must be “the last of all and the servant of all.” He also asked that they receive a child in his name. The child had no material value, or social standing in the household, or community. They could not improve their status on their own. So what would the benefit be for a disciple to offer hospitality to a child, or pay them any respect at all?
There would be no material gain. But those who received a child in his name would be receiving Jesus and, he says, “not me but the One who sent me.” As we celebrate the “true presence” of Jesus in today’s Eucharist, we might consider where in the world we also discover his true presence. We could begin looking in the direction he points today, to the least. “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.”
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092224.cfm
Retreats for Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests
Patricia Bruno, OP and Jude Siciliano, OP have designed scriptural retreats which include contemplative prayer, poetry and ritual. We have openings in the new year.
If interested contact: Sr. Patricia: 510-295-8262 (bruno2017@Gmail.com) Or Fr. Jude: 917-656-4767 (frjude@judeop.org)
O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. Psalm 54:4
At a Wake County book sale, I picked up the final book of a trilogy, Engaging the Powers (Fortress, 1992), by Walter Wink. It is an absolute must-read for anyone wishing to understand the domination system prevalent in our world today; what the Bible calls "principalities and powers.”
Wink also devotes a chapter to the power of intercessory prayer. He states, “The message is clear: history belongs to the intercessors, who believe the future into being. . .This is the politics of hope. . .Even a small number of people, firmly committed to the new inevitability on which they have fixed their imaginations, can decisively affect the shape the future takes. These shapers of the future are the intercessors, who call out of the future the longed-for new present. In the New Testament, the name and texture and aura of that future is God’s domination-free order, the reign of God” (299). This quote reminded me of a wonderful image that Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, verbalizes: “The Holy Spirit does not fly backward” (Madonnas of Color , McGrath, Clear Faith, 2022, xiiii). God goes forward.
Wink goes on to say that we are not demanding enough in our prayer, that “Biblical prayer is impertinent, persistent, shameless, indecorous. It is more like haggling in an oriental bazaar. . .” He describes Abraham haggling with God to save Sodom in Genesis 18. Even the Lord’s Prayer is full of commands to God. He writes, “We are required by God to haggle with God for the sake of the sick, the obsessed, the weak, and to conform our lives to our intercessions.” I find myself thinking about my own prayer life-- How often have my prayers been indifferent, polite monologues? Could I focus more on the way of praying that Wink suggests? I must admit that conversational prayer with God, for me, is more engaging and listening tends to be more active.
Once a month, a group of parishioners called Just Prayers, who are committed to acts of charity and justice, meet to listen to Thomas Merton and other wisdom voices and pray for various issues that affect us individually and as a community. Another prayer group called The Reflecting Pool, immerses their prayer in the issue of racial justice. We also have a weekly Lectio Divina prayer group. If you would like to join any of these prayer small communities, contact socialconcern@hnojnc.org
Live Lightly Upon the Land
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC
Mini-reflections on the Sunday scripture readings designed for persons on the run. “Faith Book” is also brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home. From today’s Gospel reading:
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arm around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.”
Reflection:
As we celebrate the “true presence” of Jesus in today’s Eucharist, we might consider where in the world we also discover his true presence. We could begin looking in the direction he points today, to the least. “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.”
So, we ask ourselves:
POSTCARDS TO DEATH ROW INMATES
“One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out.” ---Pope Francis
Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.
Please write to:
----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.
For more information on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org/resources/cacp/ - On this page you can sign “The National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty.” Also, check the interfaith page for People of Faith Against the Death Penalty: http://www.pfadp.org/
“First Impressions” is a service to preachers and those wishing to prepare for Sunday worship. It is sponsored by the Dominican Friars. If you would like “First Impressions” sent weekly to a friend, send a note to Fr. John Boll, OP at jboll@opsouth.org.
If you would like to support this ministry, please send tax deductible contributions to fr. Jude Siciliano, O.P.: St. Albert Priory 3150 Vince Hagan Drive Irving, Texas 75062-4736
Make checks payable to: Dominican Friars.
Or go to our webpage to make an online donation: https://www.PreacherExchange.com/donations.htm
ORDERING OUR CDs:
We have compiled Four CDs for sale: Individual CDs for each Liturgical Year, A, B or C. One combined CD for “Liturgical Years A, B and C.
If you are a preacher, lead a Lectionary-based scripture group, or are a member of a liturgical team, these CDs will be helpful in your preparation process. Individual worshipers report they also use these reflections as they prepare for Sunday liturgy.
You can order the CDs by going to our webpage: https://www.PreacherExchange.com and clicking on the “First Impressions” CD link on the left.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY EMAIL:
1. "HOMILÍAS DOMINICALES" ---These Spanish reflections on the Sunday and daily scriptures are written by Dominican sisters and friars. If you or a friend would like to receive these reflections drop a note to “Fr. John J. Boll, O.P.” preacherexchange@att.net 2. "VOLUME 2" is an opportunity for you to hear from the readers of First Impressions. To subscribe or Send your own reflections: Send them to "Fr. John J. Boll, O.P." <preacherexchange@att.net > Your contributions to Volume 2 are welcome.
OUR WEBSITE: https://www.PreacherExchange.com - Where you will find Preachers Exchange, which includes "First Impressions," "Homilías Dominicales," and "Volume 2" as well as articles, book reviews, daily homilies and other material pertinent to preaching and Scripture reflection.
FOR EMAIL HELP OR TO UNSUBSCRIBE, SUBSCRIBE, OR CHANGE: Email “Fr. John J. Boll, O.P.” preacherexchange@att.net
(The latest are always listed first.)
• |
|
