BIBLE STUDY
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
March 4, 2012
READING 1
GENESIS 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18
God put Abraham to the test.
He called to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am!" he replied.
Then God said:
"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah.
There you shall offer him up as a holocaust
on a height that I will point out to you."
When they came to the place of which God had told him,
Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.
Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven,
"Abraham, Abraham!"
"Here I am!" he answered.
"Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger.
"Do not do the least thing to him.
I know now how devoted you are to God,
since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."
As Abraham looked about,
he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.
So he went and took the ram
and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.
Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:
"I swear by myself, declares the LORD,
that because you acted as you did
in not withholding from me your beloved son,
I will bless you abundantly
and make your descendants as countless
as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;
your descendants shall take possession
of the gates of their enemies,
and in your descendants all the nations of the earth
shall find blessing-
all this because you obeyed my command."
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
ROMANS 8:31B-34
Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?
Christ Jesus it is who died-or, rather, was raised-
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARK 9:2-10
Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Peter, James, and John form the inner circle for Jesus. They were the first ones called (1:16); they were with Jesus at the important parts of his ministry (such as bringing the daughter of Jairus back to life in 5:37); and in the Agony in the Garden, Jesus told the disciples to sit there while he prayed, but he took Peter, James, and John with him to pray.
Mark’s Gospel never says why Jesus brought them up to the mountain; Luke’s Gospel says “to pray” (9:28). In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus prays before every important event of his ministry.
Going up on a mountain is significant. A mountain is where God is revealed and where God communicates to us. Three other important mountains in scripture are Mount Moriah (where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac), Mount Sinai (The Ten Commandments given to Moses by God) and Jerusalem (the city of David which is on a mountain). The place of transfiguration has been said to be on Mount Hermon, or Mount Hebron, or Mount Tabor (the traditional place since the 4th century).
Jesus is then transfigured into the glory he will receive after he rises from the dead. This transformation shows the end result of his dying which he just predicted for the first time a few verses before this event. Death is not the end. If we believe in Jesus, if we are baptized into his death, we will also rise with him to newness of life. Our bodies will be transformed after death just as Jesus’ body was transfigured, to radiate the glory of God. His dazzling white garments reflect the glory of the one who wears them.
Elijah represents the Prophets, and Moses represents the Law. These two ancient figures being with Jesus are also prophetic figures who suffered for their faith, like Jesus will in the near future. Their presence at the transfiguration indicates that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises in the Old Testament; Jesus is the final and definitive revelation of God’s will. In the future, Jesus is the one to listen too for God’s will; he is the one with authority. In fact, God says, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." This statement reminds us of Jesus’ baptism. We are told again that Jesus is God’s son, and we will hear it again from the centurion Calvary (15:39).
Peter calls Jesus ‘Rabbi’ which was not yet a title for teacher, but a mark of respect (it will mean teacher in the near future, as we see in the gospels of Matthew and Luke who use the word rabbi to mean teacher). Peter says it is good to be there, but does not specify why. It is speculated that it could be a foolish thing to say on Peter’s part (he never really understands until Pentecost, nor do the other disciples), or it could be because the experience was pleasurable, or because it gave Peter the chance to serve Jesus and his visitors. Personally, I think it was a benchmark, a high point, and a milestone in the lives of Peter, James and John, something they can look back on and draw courage and hope from in difficult times.
The idea of building 3 tents refers to the feast of Sukhoth celebrated in the fall. People would build tents in remembrance of their journey to the Promised Land and live in them for this entire harvest festival. The Messiah was supposed to come during this festival (see Zechariah 14:16-19), so they are stating a belief in Jesus identity, Jesus as the Messiah.
The three of them were terrified (some translations use the work awestruck). Their fear really means awe and respect at the mighty works of God, not fear or terror of something bad happening. The same idea of awe and respect comes again at the empty tomb and resurrection (16:8).
Jesus wants Peter, James, and John not to tell anyone about the transfiguration because this event must be understood in context with Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is called the Messianic Secret.
I think Peter, James, and John were given a great gift. How encouraging this gift must have been after Pentecost when they were undergoing trials and tribulations in their efforts to spread the Word. How much hope must they have received from this memory. Notice that Jesus left the mountain and continued his ministry among the highways and byways, amongst people, in the normal course of life. For us, it’s nice to have these spiritual highs and mystical experiences, to be on the mountain, but that’s not what faith is about. Our salvation comes and our mission lies in the everydayness, the simplicity, and the boring parts of life. We are called to the mountain for prayer and sacraments, to be renewed. I close mass by saying, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord in the living of our lives.” In other words, love God by seeing Christ in others and being Christ for others.
In today’s first reading, we see God testing Abraham. He and his wife were childless. In chapter 17, God promised Abraham, who was 99 years old at the time that he would be the father of many nations, and that Sarah would bear a son in her old age (she was 90 at the time). Sure enough, Sarah became pregnant and bore a son whom they named Isaac. When Isaac was still a boy, God told Abraham to take Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer his son up as a holocaust. Abraham never questioned God. He took his son to the land of Moriah to the place God showed him, bound his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood that had been arranged for a fire. Abraham took out his knife and prepared to slaughter his son when God stopped him. Notice that Abraham never questioned God. As much as he loved his son and as much as he believed in God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations, he was ready to sacrifice his only son. How were God’s promises to come true if he lost his son? Imagine trying to explain all this to his wife: “Well, you see, it’s like this….” God stopped Abraham and put him to the test of his devotion, and he passed with flying colors. I am really impressed with Abraham’s love and devotion to God. I wish I could be more like that. Are we willing to do what Abraham did and make God first in our lives? Are we ready, willing, and able to sacrifice all for the love of God? In this day and age of anti-Catholicism (the last acceptable prejudice), are we willing to promote and defend our faith?
In the second reading from Paul to the Romans, Paul is telling us that God has sent his Son to suffer and die for our salvation, and every obstacle to salvation has been overcome. We are saved because we are God’s chosen ones, made so by our baptism. Through Christ, all sin and temptation can be overcome, as well as all afflictions and trials.
Fr. Phil
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
BIBLE STUDY #78
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
February 26, 2012
READING 1
GENESIS 9:8-15
God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed
by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth."
God added:
"This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made
between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood
to destroy all mortal beings."
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
1 PETER 3:18-22
Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah
during the building of the ark,
in which a few persons, eight in all,
were saved through water.
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It is not a removal of dirt from the body
but an appeal to God for a clear conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven
and is at the right hand of God,
with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARK 1:12-15
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Mark’s Gospel begins with the preaching of John the Baptist which we heard in Advent (prepare the way of the Lord); then there is the Baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan (God tells us Jesus is his beloved Son and he is pleased with him); today’s Gospel is contains the next two sections, the Temptation of Jesus and the beginning of his Galilean ministry.
Jesus’ temptation is only two verses long and contains none of the details of his temptation as do Matthew and Luke’s Gospels. Jesus is driven out into the desert for forty days by the same Spirit that appeared at his baptism.
While Jesus is in the desert, he meets up with Satan who tries to frustrate God’s plan by tempting Jesus away from his God given mission. While the temptations are not described here, they are in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Jesus remains true to his mission and refuses Satan’s temptation. It’s the same all the way through the gospel: Jesus cannot be swayed or diverted from his mission.
The appearance of wild beasts in the desert may indicate that the desert is a dangerous place since the desert was regards as the abode of demons. In today’s spirituality, we talk about a desert experience as a time to confront our own demons, our own faults and failings, which can seem as scary and as hurtful as any wild animal. When we go through the desert, we can be tested, but we are called to be single minded in God’s service and he will give us what we need to resist evil and temptation and to grow in our faith and to be the best disciples possible. Jesus faces evil and temptation in the desert and shows us the way.
The presence of ministering angels recalls the angel who led Israel in the desert after the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14:19) and the angel who gave food to Elijah in the wilderness (1Kings 19:5-7). This reminds us that our Christian faith is rooted in the Jewish scriptures
Jesus doesn’t begin his own ministry until John the Baptist’s is over. Jesus doesn’t go too proclaim the gospel until John is arrested. In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), Jesus picks up where John left off, except he doesn’t baptize. Although in John’s gospel, it indicates that Jesus does baptize (see John 3:22).
The next verse (15) is considered a summary statement. These statements (and there are several in the gospel) give an overview, or summary, or certain events in Jesus ministry, and can be a bridge between one section and another, as in this case, it is a bridge between the prologue (the beginning) of the gospel and Jesus ministry.
In Mark’s gospel, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee where the major part of his ministry happens before his arrest.
Jesus comes to preach the gospel, or good news, of God; not only the good news from God, but also about God at work in Jesus Christ.
The time of fulfillment; all of God’s promises to Israel concerning a savior come true in Jesus. He is the one they have been waiting for, the messiah promised by God.
The Kingdom of God is hard to define. In Matthew’s gospel, it is known as the Kingdom of Heaven, since devout Jews avoided using the name “God”. It means God’s rule over the people. In the fullness of the Kingdom there is human obedience to God’s Word, and the triumph of God over physical evils, especially death. In Jewish apocalyptic theology, the Kingdom is ushered in by a judgment in which sinners would be condemned and die, which was shared by John the Baptist. In Christian theology, the kingdom is established in stages, culminating with Jesus second coming, or parousia, where the whole universe will be transformed. We talk about living in the kingdom, about feeling God’s grace, peace, and love as brought to us by the resurrected Jesus; we have one foot in heaven and one on earth until Jesus comes again. We feel the Kingdom partially, but not fully.
It’s interesting that the first action Jesus asks us to do is to repent. To repent means that we acknowledge that we are sinners, ask God’s forgiveness, and have a change of heart and conduct. We are to turn our lives from rebellion to obedience towards the will of God. It’s not enough to be sorry and to be forgiven; we must work earnestly to change our lives.
It’s always amazing to me that few people think they need to be forgiven. If I asked a group of 100 people if they were perfect, most, if not all, would say that they’re imperfect. But if I asked these same people when was the last time they went to confession, many haven’t gone in years, and many don’t see the need, either. If I asked them if the other 99 people in this group were sinners and needed confession, they would all probably say yes. This is mind boggling to me.
It’s easy to point out the faults and sins of others and, therefore, the need for others to be forgiven, but it’s hard to point the finger at ourselves. To recognize our need to repent is to recognize our need to change, and both are very hard to do. There is no shortcut to a life of sanctity. The road to heaven begins at repentance.
We all need to go to confession from time to time. This sacrament requires us to look at our lives and specifically name the sins we have committed, and then to tell them to a priest. This is a little different than just asking God to forgive my sins, and is more humbling if we are honest with ourselves. If we are honest, we know that we have several ways in which we need to change, and we know specifically what they are. God’s grace and our efforts will pay off in helping us truly repent.
The Gospel, or Good News, is not only about what God tells us through Jesus, but is about the person of Jesus and who he really is. Believing in the good news is believing in what Jesus taught, such as being a prayerful person, and always forgiving, being generous, sacrificing, caring, and loving others (being a person of virtue). It is also believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who came to lay down his life to conquer sin and death
Another facet of this gospel that I find interesting is that Jesus ties in repentance with believing in the gospel. To me, it indicates that repentance is required to believe in the good news. Or, to put it another way, if we believe in the good news, we believe in the need to repent. Repenting and believing go hand in hand.
Today’s first reading from the book of Genesis is part of the story of Noah and the great flood (chapters 6-9). This story also appears in the religious traditions of several cultures in the Mesopotamia area that predate Israel. Scholars believe that there was a flood which each culture interpreted to fit its own needs.
The Israelites came to the conclusion that God used the flood to punish sinful humanity. It was a way to purify the human race. Unfortunately, humans continued to sin after the flood. Hope for the future cannot depend on humanity, but on God. God promised, as evidenced in the rainbow, that he wouldn’t destroy the earth by flood, and is committed to the human race. Despite our weakness, God will sustain the world. God made a covenant with Noah and man’s sin would not break that covenant.
The second reading is from the first book of Peter which was written around the year 100 in Peter’s name, perhaps Sylvanus. This letter was probably intended for the believers in Asia Minor who were undergoing a persecution, not from Rome, but from local hostility to Christians who spoke badly of Jesus’ followers (2:12), defamed their conduct (3:16) and vilified and insulted them for their beliefs (4:4).
To bolster their faith, this letter reminds its readers of the sufferings of Christ and to join their sufferings with his. They were reminded of their baptism in Christ that would strengthen them. Since they died with Christ in baptism, they will surely rise with him. They are encouraged to live out their faith every day to protect what was given in baptism. Frequent self examination of conscience and repentance are necessary.
All three reading seem appropriate and a propos as we begin the season of Lent.
Fr. Phil
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
February 26, 2012
READING 1
GENESIS 9:8-15
God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed
by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth."
God added:
"This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made
between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood
to destroy all mortal beings."
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
1 PETER 3:18-22
Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once,
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh,
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah
during the building of the ark,
in which a few persons, eight in all,
were saved through water.
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It is not a removal of dirt from the body
but an appeal to God for a clear conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven
and is at the right hand of God,
with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARK 1:12-15
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Mark’s Gospel begins with the preaching of John the Baptist which we heard in Advent (prepare the way of the Lord); then there is the Baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan (God tells us Jesus is his beloved Son and he is pleased with him); today’s Gospel is contains the next two sections, the Temptation of Jesus and the beginning of his Galilean ministry.
Jesus’ temptation is only two verses long and contains none of the details of his temptation as do Matthew and Luke’s Gospels. Jesus is driven out into the desert for forty days by the same Spirit that appeared at his baptism.
While Jesus is in the desert, he meets up with Satan who tries to frustrate God’s plan by tempting Jesus away from his God given mission. While the temptations are not described here, they are in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Jesus remains true to his mission and refuses Satan’s temptation. It’s the same all the way through the gospel: Jesus cannot be swayed or diverted from his mission.
The appearance of wild beasts in the desert may indicate that the desert is a dangerous place since the desert was regards as the abode of demons. In today’s spirituality, we talk about a desert experience as a time to confront our own demons, our own faults and failings, which can seem as scary and as hurtful as any wild animal. When we go through the desert, we can be tested, but we are called to be single minded in God’s service and he will give us what we need to resist evil and temptation and to grow in our faith and to be the best disciples possible. Jesus faces evil and temptation in the desert and shows us the way.
The presence of ministering angels recalls the angel who led Israel in the desert after the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14:19) and the angel who gave food to Elijah in the wilderness (1Kings 19:5-7). This reminds us that our Christian faith is rooted in the Jewish scriptures
Jesus doesn’t begin his own ministry until John the Baptist’s is over. Jesus doesn’t go too proclaim the gospel until John is arrested. In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), Jesus picks up where John left off, except he doesn’t baptize. Although in John’s gospel, it indicates that Jesus does baptize (see John 3:22).
The next verse (15) is considered a summary statement. These statements (and there are several in the gospel) give an overview, or summary, or certain events in Jesus ministry, and can be a bridge between one section and another, as in this case, it is a bridge between the prologue (the beginning) of the gospel and Jesus ministry.
In Mark’s gospel, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee where the major part of his ministry happens before his arrest.
Jesus comes to preach the gospel, or good news, of God; not only the good news from God, but also about God at work in Jesus Christ.
The time of fulfillment; all of God’s promises to Israel concerning a savior come true in Jesus. He is the one they have been waiting for, the messiah promised by God.
The Kingdom of God is hard to define. In Matthew’s gospel, it is known as the Kingdom of Heaven, since devout Jews avoided using the name “God”. It means God’s rule over the people. In the fullness of the Kingdom there is human obedience to God’s Word, and the triumph of God over physical evils, especially death. In Jewish apocalyptic theology, the Kingdom is ushered in by a judgment in which sinners would be condemned and die, which was shared by John the Baptist. In Christian theology, the kingdom is established in stages, culminating with Jesus second coming, or parousia, where the whole universe will be transformed. We talk about living in the kingdom, about feeling God’s grace, peace, and love as brought to us by the resurrected Jesus; we have one foot in heaven and one on earth until Jesus comes again. We feel the Kingdom partially, but not fully.
It’s interesting that the first action Jesus asks us to do is to repent. To repent means that we acknowledge that we are sinners, ask God’s forgiveness, and have a change of heart and conduct. We are to turn our lives from rebellion to obedience towards the will of God. It’s not enough to be sorry and to be forgiven; we must work earnestly to change our lives.
It’s always amazing to me that few people think they need to be forgiven. If I asked a group of 100 people if they were perfect, most, if not all, would say that they’re imperfect. But if I asked these same people when was the last time they went to confession, many haven’t gone in years, and many don’t see the need, either. If I asked them if the other 99 people in this group were sinners and needed confession, they would all probably say yes. This is mind boggling to me.
It’s easy to point out the faults and sins of others and, therefore, the need for others to be forgiven, but it’s hard to point the finger at ourselves. To recognize our need to repent is to recognize our need to change, and both are very hard to do. There is no shortcut to a life of sanctity. The road to heaven begins at repentance.
We all need to go to confession from time to time. This sacrament requires us to look at our lives and specifically name the sins we have committed, and then to tell them to a priest. This is a little different than just asking God to forgive my sins, and is more humbling if we are honest with ourselves. If we are honest, we know that we have several ways in which we need to change, and we know specifically what they are. God’s grace and our efforts will pay off in helping us truly repent.
The Gospel, or Good News, is not only about what God tells us through Jesus, but is about the person of Jesus and who he really is. Believing in the good news is believing in what Jesus taught, such as being a prayerful person, and always forgiving, being generous, sacrificing, caring, and loving others (being a person of virtue). It is also believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who came to lay down his life to conquer sin and death
Another facet of this gospel that I find interesting is that Jesus ties in repentance with believing in the gospel. To me, it indicates that repentance is required to believe in the good news. Or, to put it another way, if we believe in the good news, we believe in the need to repent. Repenting and believing go hand in hand.
Today’s first reading from the book of Genesis is part of the story of Noah and the great flood (chapters 6-9). This story also appears in the religious traditions of several cultures in the Mesopotamia area that predate Israel. Scholars believe that there was a flood which each culture interpreted to fit its own needs.
The Israelites came to the conclusion that God used the flood to punish sinful humanity. It was a way to purify the human race. Unfortunately, humans continued to sin after the flood. Hope for the future cannot depend on humanity, but on God. God promised, as evidenced in the rainbow, that he wouldn’t destroy the earth by flood, and is committed to the human race. Despite our weakness, God will sustain the world. God made a covenant with Noah and man’s sin would not break that covenant.
The second reading is from the first book of Peter which was written around the year 100 in Peter’s name, perhaps Sylvanus. This letter was probably intended for the believers in Asia Minor who were undergoing a persecution, not from Rome, but from local hostility to Christians who spoke badly of Jesus’ followers (2:12), defamed their conduct (3:16) and vilified and insulted them for their beliefs (4:4).
To bolster their faith, this letter reminds its readers of the sufferings of Christ and to join their sufferings with his. They were reminded of their baptism in Christ that would strengthen them. Since they died with Christ in baptism, they will surely rise with him. They are encouraged to live out their faith every day to protect what was given in baptism. Frequent self examination of conscience and repentance are necessary.
All three reading seem appropriate and a propos as we begin the season of Lent.
Fr. Phil
Thursday, February 16, 2012
BIBLE STUDY #77
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
February 19, 2012
READING 1
ISAIAH 43:18-19, 21-22, 24B-25
Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
The people I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob,
for you grew weary of me, O Israel.
You burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out,
for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
2 CORINTHIANS 1:18-22
Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful,
our word to you is not "yes" and "no."
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me,
was not "yes" and "no, " but "yes" has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
and who anointed us is God;
he has also put his seal upon us
and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL MARK 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
-he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
The house Jesus enters is the house of Simon and Andrew (see 1:31, where Jesus cures Simon’s mother-in-law). This house is the center for teaching and healing in this part of the Gospel.
Jesus was preaching the gospel, the good news: “This is the time of fulfillment The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel (1:15).” In Mark’s Gospel, “The Word” not only refers to the message, but to the messenger, such as in 8:29 when Peter says to Jesus, “You are the Messiah.” There are so many people that there is not enough room for everyone, which emphasizes Jesus’ magnetism and power.
A paralytic was brought in by 4 men. This is the only time in Mark’s Gospel that paralysis is mentioned, but it is mentioned twice on Matthew’s Gospel: 4:24 and 8:6. It was thought at the time that sin caused illnesses such as paralysis. Mark is saying that sin causes us spiritual paralysis. Just as this man was incapacitated physically by this paralysis, we are incapacitated spiritually by sin.
The term “paralytic” is not used in the Old Testament, but it is similar to a word that is used, namely lameness, which constitutes a form of impurity, which would exclude the lame from full participation in the community. In Isaiah, the lame will receive the blessings of the restoration, and in the New Testament, the lame are the beneficiaries of the blessings of the kingdom.
Since they were not able to get near Jesus, the 4 litter bearers “opened up the roof”, that is, they rolled back the mud and thatch. Matthew’s gospel omits the method of entry into the house, while Luke’s gospel speaks of tile roofs that would be more familiar to Greek speaking audiences. The paralytic’s mat was a common bed that was used by poor people that could be carried around by day or it could be used as a place to sit while begging.
When Jesus said that he “saw their faith”, he is referring to the 4 litter bearers, not the paralyzed man. In this context, faith refers to trust and hope in God, and also as a relationship of loyalty, that is, faith as fidelity to God. I’ve always thought that these 4 men must have loved and cared for this man tremendously to do what they did for him. It certainly is a great example of Christian love.
Normally, Jesus doesn’t perform any miracles when there is no faith. But notice here that it is not the faith of the paralytic, but the faith of the 4 litter bearers that is the impetus for Jesus to heal.
Jesus does something surprising. We would expect Jesus to heal this man’s paralysis, but in response to his 4 friend’s faith, he forgives the sins of the paralytic: this is a far more serious problem then paralysis. The scribes were shocked. They think he is blaspheming. The sacred texts say that only God can forgive sins (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Samuel 12:3, Isaiah 43:25; and Psalm 51). Mark is saying that since Jesus forgives sins, and only God can forgives sins, then Jesus is God. Jesus himself is the agent of forgiveness. He is not asking God to forgive, but he offers forgiveness himself. This blasphemy charge may also have been leveled at Mark’s community.
We see another aspect of Jesus’ divinity when he reads the minds of the scribes. Since this is a “God” quality, Jesus must be God.
Jesus then says, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'” The question is rhetorical, and goes to silence the scribes, since this is a new teaching with power (see 1:27).
This question also poses a dilemma to the scribes. It does seem easier to say ‘your sins are forgiven’ than to heal because the healing is immediately verifiable. But they don’t want to say forgiving is easier, because that is an ‘insult’ to God, akin to the blasphemy charge leveled at Jesus. To pick healing is too recognize Jesus as miracle worker; the restoration of the lame is a sign of divine activity (see Isaiah 35:6, Micah 4:6,7, and Zephaniah 3:19). The scribes don’t like either option and they are silenced. But it is really a moot point because Jesus can both forgive and heal.
If sin causes illness, which was commonly assumed, and Jesus heals the body, therefore the sin is forgiven; healing is a sign of forgiveness; therefore Jesus says, “that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth
-he said to the paralytic, I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
While we don’t believe that sin causes illness, we do believe that sin can be more devastating than illness. Sin is what blocks the avenues of God’s grace, until all avenues are clogged and grace is totally blocked. Unforgiven sin is what can keep us from eternal life. Forgiveness is like being healed; how many people have been forgiven and have felt like they were healed? Many, I think.
Instead of going home like Jesus told him to do, he “went away in the sight of everyone,” meaning he went to where all could see him; in other words, he was proclaiming Jesus power over sin and illness. This is not uncommon, such as the leper that was healed and who “began to publicize the whole event” (1:45).
The people were “astounded,” and who wouldn’t be to see something like that? They glorified God, knowing and seeing that God was in their midst. As Lent approaches, we are reminded of God’s love for us and his desire to heal us and bring us home. Like the paralytic, we too need to be healed and need to proclaim God’s love and goodness to all.
The first reading is from Isaiah, and it is at a time when people are in exile in Babylon. Isaiah tries to inspire the people, telling them that God has not forgotten them. He has forgiven them, and something new shall happen. Eventually they will be released from bondage and the path home will be made straight and true. They are suffering now because of their sins and their turning away from God, but God will forgive their sins and bring them home.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians, Paul is defending himself to the people of Corinth because he was supposed to stay with them but his plans changed, and they were understandably upset. Even tough his plans changed, he is still reliable because he us following God’s plan for him in his life. He is always faithful and true to what God wants of him. He says he is like God, and says yes when he means yes, and no when he means no.
Fr. Phil
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
February 19, 2012
READING 1
ISAIAH 43:18-19, 21-22, 24B-25
Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
The people I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob,
for you grew weary of me, O Israel.
You burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out,
for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
2 CORINTHIANS 1:18-22
Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful,
our word to you is not "yes" and "no."
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me,
was not "yes" and "no, " but "yes" has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
and who anointed us is God;
he has also put his seal upon us
and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL MARK 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
-he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
The house Jesus enters is the house of Simon and Andrew (see 1:31, where Jesus cures Simon’s mother-in-law). This house is the center for teaching and healing in this part of the Gospel.
Jesus was preaching the gospel, the good news: “This is the time of fulfillment The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel (1:15).” In Mark’s Gospel, “The Word” not only refers to the message, but to the messenger, such as in 8:29 when Peter says to Jesus, “You are the Messiah.” There are so many people that there is not enough room for everyone, which emphasizes Jesus’ magnetism and power.
A paralytic was brought in by 4 men. This is the only time in Mark’s Gospel that paralysis is mentioned, but it is mentioned twice on Matthew’s Gospel: 4:24 and 8:6. It was thought at the time that sin caused illnesses such as paralysis. Mark is saying that sin causes us spiritual paralysis. Just as this man was incapacitated physically by this paralysis, we are incapacitated spiritually by sin.
The term “paralytic” is not used in the Old Testament, but it is similar to a word that is used, namely lameness, which constitutes a form of impurity, which would exclude the lame from full participation in the community. In Isaiah, the lame will receive the blessings of the restoration, and in the New Testament, the lame are the beneficiaries of the blessings of the kingdom.
Since they were not able to get near Jesus, the 4 litter bearers “opened up the roof”, that is, they rolled back the mud and thatch. Matthew’s gospel omits the method of entry into the house, while Luke’s gospel speaks of tile roofs that would be more familiar to Greek speaking audiences. The paralytic’s mat was a common bed that was used by poor people that could be carried around by day or it could be used as a place to sit while begging.
When Jesus said that he “saw their faith”, he is referring to the 4 litter bearers, not the paralyzed man. In this context, faith refers to trust and hope in God, and also as a relationship of loyalty, that is, faith as fidelity to God. I’ve always thought that these 4 men must have loved and cared for this man tremendously to do what they did for him. It certainly is a great example of Christian love.
Normally, Jesus doesn’t perform any miracles when there is no faith. But notice here that it is not the faith of the paralytic, but the faith of the 4 litter bearers that is the impetus for Jesus to heal.
Jesus does something surprising. We would expect Jesus to heal this man’s paralysis, but in response to his 4 friend’s faith, he forgives the sins of the paralytic: this is a far more serious problem then paralysis. The scribes were shocked. They think he is blaspheming. The sacred texts say that only God can forgive sins (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Samuel 12:3, Isaiah 43:25; and Psalm 51). Mark is saying that since Jesus forgives sins, and only God can forgives sins, then Jesus is God. Jesus himself is the agent of forgiveness. He is not asking God to forgive, but he offers forgiveness himself. This blasphemy charge may also have been leveled at Mark’s community.
We see another aspect of Jesus’ divinity when he reads the minds of the scribes. Since this is a “God” quality, Jesus must be God.
Jesus then says, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'” The question is rhetorical, and goes to silence the scribes, since this is a new teaching with power (see 1:27).
This question also poses a dilemma to the scribes. It does seem easier to say ‘your sins are forgiven’ than to heal because the healing is immediately verifiable. But they don’t want to say forgiving is easier, because that is an ‘insult’ to God, akin to the blasphemy charge leveled at Jesus. To pick healing is too recognize Jesus as miracle worker; the restoration of the lame is a sign of divine activity (see Isaiah 35:6, Micah 4:6,7, and Zephaniah 3:19). The scribes don’t like either option and they are silenced. But it is really a moot point because Jesus can both forgive and heal.
If sin causes illness, which was commonly assumed, and Jesus heals the body, therefore the sin is forgiven; healing is a sign of forgiveness; therefore Jesus says, “that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth
-he said to the paralytic, I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
While we don’t believe that sin causes illness, we do believe that sin can be more devastating than illness. Sin is what blocks the avenues of God’s grace, until all avenues are clogged and grace is totally blocked. Unforgiven sin is what can keep us from eternal life. Forgiveness is like being healed; how many people have been forgiven and have felt like they were healed? Many, I think.
Instead of going home like Jesus told him to do, he “went away in the sight of everyone,” meaning he went to where all could see him; in other words, he was proclaiming Jesus power over sin and illness. This is not uncommon, such as the leper that was healed and who “began to publicize the whole event” (1:45).
The people were “astounded,” and who wouldn’t be to see something like that? They glorified God, knowing and seeing that God was in their midst. As Lent approaches, we are reminded of God’s love for us and his desire to heal us and bring us home. Like the paralytic, we too need to be healed and need to proclaim God’s love and goodness to all.
The first reading is from Isaiah, and it is at a time when people are in exile in Babylon. Isaiah tries to inspire the people, telling them that God has not forgotten them. He has forgiven them, and something new shall happen. Eventually they will be released from bondage and the path home will be made straight and true. They are suffering now because of their sins and their turning away from God, but God will forgive their sins and bring them home.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians, Paul is defending himself to the people of Corinth because he was supposed to stay with them but his plans changed, and they were understandably upset. Even tough his plans changed, he is still reliable because he us following God’s plan for him in his life. He is always faithful and true to what God wants of him. He says he is like God, and says yes when he means yes, and no when he means no.
Fr. Phil
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)