Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 17:32-33.37.40-51; Mark 3:1-6)

The biblical story of little David defeating the mighty Goliath is so well-known that we could call any contest between unevenly regarded opponents as a “David vs. Goliath rematch.”  However, the biblical story conveys much more than underdog grit outperforming seasoned excellence.

Essential to David’s victory is God’s presence to him.  As Goliath has a shield bearer going before him, David is preceded by the Lord represented, perhaps, by the shepherd’s staff in his hand.  Like a staff reining in errant sheep, the Lord keeps David from becoming either fearful or overconfident in battle.  God assists David in the slaying of Goliath just as surely as He saved Israel from the clutches of Pharaoh during the Exodus.

We often see ourselves as small like David compared to the giant challenges of life.  We may witness a thug beating up someone and wonder what to do.  Or we may be facing a cancerous condition that leaves us shaking.  At such times we do well to pray that God act on our behalf in the struggle.  He is there to help us.

Tuesday, January 19, 2015

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28)

To appreciate today’s gospel requires a proper understanding of the Jewish notion of Sabbath.  It was certainly more than a long weekend as it has become in contemporary times.  Rather it was a gift from God to escape the drudgery of work.  Indeed, observing the Sabbath by desisting from all work imitated God’s own action after completing the work of creation.  In Jesus’ time Sabbath observance was indicative of one’s faithfulness to the Covenant which God contracted with the people of Israel.

The Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples for two reasons.  They see them working on the Sabbath by picking grain to eat.  Their complaint includes as well that the disciples are walking farther than was allowed as a restriction of one’s physical effort.

Jesus responds to the Pharisees by referring to the story of David sharing consecrated bread with his hungry companions.  His disciples may have been similarly hungry, but that is not the main issue here.  What is more important is that Jesus assumes the authority of David, God’s anointed.  As the Messiah, Jesus is claiming the right to dispense Sabbath obligations.

We want to follow Jesus by first worshipping him on Sunday, the new Sabbath.  We also follow Jesus by using Sunday as a time to recuperate our energy spent in work during the week.  Finally, we follow Jesus by being slow to criticize others who don’t seem to comply with ever law and social custom.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 15:16-23; Mark 2:18-22)

Martin Luther King, Jr., was by background, training, and profession a Christian preacher.  But he did more than preach about Jesus Christ.  Like the master himself in today’s gospel, Rev. King radicalized the message.  He made it a catalyst to bring peoples of all races closer together.  If Washington is the father of the country and Lincoln, its savior, then Martin Luther King is its spirit of justice, peace and self-sacrificing love.

In the gospel Jesus reveals radical intention.  He has not come to promote pious traditions like fasting.  Rather he intends to usher a whole new way of living.  He will form his followers into a community of mutual love.  He will even allow himself to be martyred to put this love in motion. 

We give Martin Luther King fitting honor by remembering him here at this Eucharist.  We know that he was not Messiah.  But we also recognize in him a man like Jesus.  We heard King’s words and witnessed his actions that redirected the nation to freedom.  We are grateful to God for him. 

Friday, January 15, 2016

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 84-7.10-22a; Mark 2:1-12)

One hundred years ago the world was at war.  By the end of the trial over seventeen million people lost their lives.  The immediate cause of the “great war” was the assassination of the heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne.  It was hardly the first time that national pride represented by royalty brought disaster to myriads of people.  In today’s first reading the prophet Samuel warns the people of Israel of the likelihood.

The people want a king like other nations.  They are not satisfied with God ruling them.  They refuse to listen to Samuel who tells them what to expect: higher taxes, the appropriation of property, and – most of all – their sons being conscripted for foreign wars. In the end their insistence carries the argument.  They receive a king and will soon suffer the loss of life and limb from having a rancorous monarch.

Jesus too comes as a king but in a decidedly un-kingly way.  He claims no throne but serves the people to the point of exhaustion.  In today’s gospel he is surrounded by the people hungering to hear his words.  He holds up a model for all to follow.  He shows us how dominate our will to power by giving of ourselves for the good of others.

Thursday, January14, 2016

Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 4:1-11; Mark 1:40-45)

Being seriously sick creates a series of difficulties.  The sick person is not sure that she will ever feel well again.  She also likely worries about resources – will she have enough money to pay doctors, purchase medicines, keep up with house and car payments, buy food, etcetera?  Consideration of the question of death cannot be far from the person’s attention either.  And then the sick person feels isolated, cut off from friends and neighbors.  Such challenges are felt by the leper today as he meets Jesus in the wilderness.

The leper recognizes that he is in a sorry state.  This is an important realization as one goes before the Lord.  No one is perfect.  Before God imperfections are magnified like those of weekend runners before Olympic marathoners.  The leper also has the right words to say: “’If you wish, you can make me clean.’”  God has the power to help him if God judges that a cure is in order.  Jesus, of course, does wish him well and heals the leper of his disease.  His worries are over, he is free now to rejoin society.

We may not be sick today.  But we have debilities, worries, and responsibilities that seem greater than our capacity.  We too are wise to go humbly to the Lord in our need.  Our prayer need not be more involved than the one-liner of the leper: “Lord, if you wish, you can help me.”  We should find God more than ready to come to our assistance.