Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 3:1-10.19-20; Mark 1:29-39)

The first reading today takes place in the period of the judges of Israel.  It is a time of frustration because the Israeli nation cannot get control of the land.  Local peoples always threaten to take it back.  The reading tells of Samuel, the judge and prophet, who will eventually anoint David king of all Israel.  David will consolidate the land in the name of Israel and its God.

David’s reign over Israel will serve as a model for Jesus’ proclaiming the kingdom of God throughout the world.   Jesus shows both the power and the will of God by curing diseases and casting out demons.  In today’s gospel, still early in the story, Jesus expresses his intention to preach throughout Galilee.  In time he will bring the message of the kingdom to Judea.  After his death, his apostles will proclaim it throughout the earth.  It is a kingdom of justice and peace or, better, eternal happiness.

The kingdom of God is not political.  It does not vie with men and women to govern the commercial affairs of the people.  Its rule runs deeper than that.  The kingdom of God engages human freedom reorienting it from selfish concerns to love of God and neighbor.  We freely submit to it because it will lead us from frustration to eternal happiness.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 1:9-20; Mark 1:21-28)

God makes a great concession to Moses when He tells him his name.  Now Moses may call on God whenever he desires a favor.  It is like being in a crowd and grabbing the attention of a personality because you call him by a private name.  The unclean spirit in today’s gospel attempts to use the name card on Jesus but without success.

After Jesus teaches “with authority,” he demonstrates the extent of his power.  When he notices a man possessed by the devil, he orders it to leave.  The devil, aware of whom Jesus is, calls him by name.  Of course, everyone knows Jesus’ name.  The unclean spirit, however, knows Jesus by a private name, “the Holy One of God.”  The ploy fails, however, because the kingdom of God has broken in.  The power of evil has been vanquished.  Jesus has effectively shut the evil spirit up.

Jesus has come to reestablish a personal relationship between God and humans.  We will now be heard when we call upon the Father by name.  Or we might call upon Jesus by name to the same effect.  The kingdom that has taken over creates an atmosphere of trust.  God will assist us when we call upon Him with sincerity of heart.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 1:1-8; Mark 1:14-20)

We may wonder how Elkanah, obviously a pious Israelite, could have two wives.  The Mosaic covenant allowed divorce, but it insisted on one wife at a time.  One commentator reasons that at this early stage of Israel’s history, marriage regulation was downplayed.  It was like our Catholic precept of attending mass on holydays of obligation.  Many pastors don’t even announce upcoming days of obligation and provide only one mass.  The commentator further suggests that Elkanah took a second wife in order to assure descendants.

Today’s gospel indicates a contrary dynamic to the concern about descendants.  James and John on hearing Jesus’ call leave their father behind to follow Jesus.  They renounce family for the sake of the kingdom.  Mark’s gospel, as the others, relate the in-breaking of the kingdom with Jesus, the Son of God.  Some may call this development a “big thing.”  That term, however, makes the coming of the kingdom just one important event among others.  The gospel writers are saying, on the other end, that this is the event to end events.  The coming of the kingdom of God represents the end of history.  It merits the abandoning of family concerns.

So we are left to wonder again.  How can history continue if it ended with Jesus’ dying and rising from the dead?  As incredible as it may sound, we live in an “in-between” time waiting for Jesus to return for the ultimate ending.  This is a time for preaching his Lordship so that all human beings may experience his salvation.  It is time for us to prepare for his coming with works of mercy.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Friday after the Epiphany

(I John 5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16)

Why believe in Jesus as the Son of God who gives eternal life?  The first reading from the First Letter of John purports to answer this question.  It calls upon three witnesses.  The first witness is “water.”  Jesus was born of a woman who carried him in her body sack of water.  In other words, he became human.  As human, he possessed God’s favor which allowed him to heal people as seen in today’s gospel.

The second witness is Jesus’ blood shed on the cross.  Jesus showed himself to be God’s Son by dying as a spotless sacrifice for sinners.  St. Paul expresses this truth most clearly when he writes to the Romans: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  His sacrifice made up for human sins.  It allowed those who side with him to become members of God’s family worthy of eternal life.

Finally, the Holy Spirit gives testimony to Jesus.  He spoke through the prophets who foretold Jesus’ coming.  The Spirit also acts in our hearts to resist egoistic tendencies and to practice Jesus’ love for God and neighbor.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Christmas Weekday

 

(I John 4:19-5:4; Luke 4:14-22)

 

Fifty-seven years ago John Kennedy inspired the world in his inaugural address.  “The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans,” the young president said, “born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage....”   Similar cadence and purpose may be noted in Jesus’ “inaugural address” in the gospel today.

 

Jesus has returned to his hometown to give his first discourse.  He enters the synagogue, takes the scroll with a passage from Isaiah, and reads. “’The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,'" he says, "'because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor…to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind…”   Then he declares, “’…this prophecy is fulfilled in your hearing.’”  The world can sigh in relief.  Like President Kennedy, Jesus has youth and capability to carry out his project.  More than the thirty-fifth President, his undivided heart will assure its accomplishment.

 

Kennedy was not a great man because he was Catholic.  However, his faith contributed to his concern for the oppressed, his need to confront evil, and to his loyalty to tradition.  History has shown that he was not perfect.  Nevertheless, to the extent that he pursued gospel renewal, we should aspire to be like him.