Friday, January 12, 2024

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 8:4-7.10-22a; Mark 2:1-12)

Jesus’ enigmatic question, “Which is easier…?” may be applied to today’s first reading as well as the gospel.  Is it easier for God to create a conquering nation or a holy people? Many will respond unreflectively, “a holy people.”  However, the simple truth seems to be that it is much easier to make a nation of conquerors than to make a holy people.  Yet the latter is precisely Jesus’ purpose.

Jesus builds on already present faith.  The reading says, “Jesus saw their faith.” It may be referring to the faith of all present, not just to that of the paralytic’s porters. That is, Jesus may be responding to the faith of all who are coming to believe in him as God’s “favored one.”  Through Jesus’ teaching they begin to see that a nation’s true greatness consists not in having a victorious army but in being a people dedicated to holiness and justice.  The people’s care will extend especially to those most in need – paralytics and the poor.

Pope Francis is making every effort to extend this concept of greatness through compassion.  He is sometimes criticized for insufficient concern about orthodoxy.  By all means, preserving the apostolic faith is one of the prime responsibilities of the Bishop of Rome.  For this reason Francis continually asks prayers that he does not fail in his duties.  It might be added, however, that the pope is above all the head of apostles.  His primary task is to carry out Jesus’ mission of forming a holy people who will practice God’s love for all.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

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

The first reading and the gospel today converge to give an important lesson for the spiritual life.  The reading from the I Samuel shows the Israelis using the Ark of the covenant as a weapon to defeat the Philistines.  It is a fool’s strategy.  Not holy things but holiness incarnate in people will reap great rewards.

The gospel tells Jesus curing a leper.  He specifically tells the man not to say anything about his healing. But the man does not obey.  Jesus demands silence so that people will not think that he came simply to cure their illnesses.  He wants people to know that he came to call them to repentance and trust in God’s mercy.  His death on the cross will indicate the kind of self-surrender that Jesus expects of his followers.

We should expect good things to happen when we give ourselves over to Jesus.  But we should not be so presumptuous as to name what those good things will be.  Rather we want to follow Jesus amidst our trials and look forward to the mystery of his resurrection.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

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

Today’s first reading presents a classic Old Testament text.  It will again be heard in Sunday’s Eucharist.  The story provides a template for how the Lord calls people to work in His service.

Two features stand out in this reading.  First, the child Samuel is made aware that he is being called.  He hears a voice. Whether the voice comes in a dream or is external to Samuel the reading does not say.  Anyway, Samuel is made conscious that someone wants something from him.  Second, Samuel consults his master, the priest Eli, about what he hears.  Indeed, at first he thinks that Eli might have called him.  Eli knows the ways of God so that he could help Samuel discern what the voice is asking from Samuel.

We should understand the story as the way God may be calling us.  In our time, as it was in Eli’s and Samuel’s, a revelation of the Lord seems uncommon.  Nevertheless, God may use a dream or an intuitive sense that He wants us to do something for Him.  We might, like Samuel, confer with a person known for holiness to help us discern what we are being called to do.  When we figure out what God wants, again with the assistance of a wise person, we should readily embrace the mission.  We need not worry.  God is like a father who always wants what is best for his children.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

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

Three characteristics mark today’s gospel which might be entitled “the beginning of ä typical day in the life of Jesus.”  First, it’s Saturday when Jews go to the synagogue.  Jesus, who never exempts himself from Jewish law, also is found in the synagogue.  Second, Jesus speaks with “authority.”  This word, from the Latin “auctoritas,” means influence over others, both legally and practically.  Paraphrasing an old television commercial, when Jesus speaks, people listen. 

Finally, Jesus admonishes the evil spirit to be quiet when they call him “the Holy One of God.” This characteristic, known as the “Messianic secret,“ refers to Jesus’ not wanting others to know of his divine Sonship.  This sounds odd, but there is a reason behind the secrecy.  Jesus wants people to see how he has to suffer to fulfill his divine mission.  Only then will the people be able to understand that divine Sonship requires sacrificial suffering for others.

Our days might not be as busy as Jesus’, and we may not have his charismatic authority.  But we can follow Jesus by being faithful to our Catholic customs and laws.  Even more importantly, we can sacrifice our own comfort for the good of others to share in his divine Sonship.

Monday, January 8, 2024

The Baptism of the Lord

(Isaiah 42:1-4.6-7; Mark 1:7-11)

In the Gospel of Mark only Jesus hears the voice from heaven at his Baptism.  In Matthew’s gospel this is a moment of epiphany or manifestation to all.  But in the reading today the audience is limited to Jesus.  He is personally being made aware that he is God’s Son and has pleased His Father greatly.

This is meant as a revelation to Jesus.  As St. Paul indicates in the Letter to the Philippians, at the incarnation the Son emptied himself of divinity.  This emptying includes, presumedly, divine knowledge. Now, after formation in Nazareth and with John in the desert, Jesus is told of his status.  But there is more to the revelation than that.  The Spirit’s descent over Jesus is an anointing.  Jesus is blessed and protected for the mission of reestablishing his Father’s kingdom in the world.  He will preach, heal, and call others to follow his example.

The form and substance of Jesus’ baptism prefigure our own.  We too have become God’s “beloved” as we enter Christ’s body, the Church.  We too have been prepared and commissioned to bring the world in line with the love of God, our Father.