BIBLE STUDY #112
THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 28, 2012
READING 1
JEREMIAH 31:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them back
from the land of the north;
I will gather them from the ends of the world,
with the blind and the lame in their midst,
the mothers and those with child;
they shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
Ephraim is my first-born.
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
HEBREWS 5:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARKK 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
We are at the conclusion of Mark’s journey narrative. The next passage is Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He will die within the week.
This story is more than a miracle story, it is a story of faith. The name “Bartimaeus” isn’t really a name. It means “Son of Timaeus.” It is a story of how he was healed both spiritually and physically and brought to faith. This story also tells us about Jesus’ identity.
Bartimaeus, the man without a real name, is sitting by the road begging. This was the only way to aid in the support of his family, who would have seen him as a drain on family resources. Unfortunately, there were a number of beggars, and they didn’t always do well.
He hears that Jesus is approaching, and calls out to him, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus fame has spread so far now that even a blind beggar has heard of him. The title “Son of David” is a messianic title referring to the one that was expected to be sent from God to be the Messiah that would save Israel.
In the Gospels, when someone applies a messianic title to Jesus, he tells them to be quiet and not to tell anyone. This is known as the ‘messianic secret’. We can’t understand Jesus until we take his whole life, death, and resurrection into context. Here, Jesus doesn’t do this. Ironically, it is the crowds who try to silence Bartimaeus, who don’t understand who Jesus is. We are to finds out shortly in the Passion Narratives. By being quiet, Jesus is assenting to this messianic title.
Bartimaeus is insistent, ignoring the crowd trying to silence him, and keeps calling out to Jesus. This continued calling shows his faith in Jesus abilities to heal and bestow God’s mercy. Notice that this blind beggar is not asking for alms, but for healing.
He is also being called by Jesus, indicating that he is being called to follow Jesus in faith, just as we are all called by our baptism to follow Jesus in faith. The crowds encourage him in this call, and we should all encourage each other in our own discipleship.
He threw aside his cloak (maybe the only possession he owns - he is giving up everything to follow Jesus), sprang up (he wastes no time in following Jesus), and went to Jesus.
Jesus asks him a seemingly strange question, since the beggar is blind. "What do you want me to do for you?" But it isn’t really that strange when you think about it. It seems that Bartimaeus has his priorities straight. He is like Solomon, when told to ask for anything he wants and it will be granted, asks for wisdom. Bartimaeus could have asked for physical sight, for riches or power, but he says to Jesus, "Master, I want to see." He wants to see with the eyes of faith.
Jesus tells him that his faith has saved him. The word translated as saved can refer to both physical and spiritual healing. The healing is instantaneous, complete, and involves no physical contact or healing word. He gets up and follows Jesus, meaning he becomes a disciple and follows Jesus, but he is not heard from again.
Bartimaeus has no real name because he represents all of us. We are all blind in some way, broken by sin and unable to do anything about it; our own journey on the spiritual path is halted because of this. We sit on the side of the spiritual road unable to go towards God on our own. Our trip resumes when we acknowledge our plight and turn to Jesus for help. Like Bartimaeus, we should ask to be healed of our sins, of anything that keeps us from God, to be people of faith, for the grace to be the best disciples we can be. We should ask for spiritual healing to see with the eyes of faith so we can bring His light to others.
This idea of healing and salvation refers to living in the kingdom of God in the here and now. God gives us a better way to live, a way of grace, peace, and love, and we should be experiencing these kingdom values now.
In the first reading, Jeremiah promises that one day, God will save his people. He will bring them out of slavery, even from the ends of the earth. He is not referring to an afterlife, since there isn’t any concept of heaven or hell in Jeremiah’s day. One day, God will bring all of his people back from where ever they are, make the trip easy, and settle them in the Promised Land.
The second letter from Hebrews talks about the priesthood. Priests are to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (sacraments). They are to be patient with people while leading them on their own faith journey. They are to acknowledge that they are beset by weakness and ask for forgiveness. They do it because they are called, and not for any honor for themselves. It is God who glorifies priests, so all honor, praise, and credit should go to God. This is some good advice for all us priests.
Fr. Phil
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
BIBLE STUDY #111
TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 21, 2012
READING 1
ISAIAH 53:10-11
The LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.
If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.
Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
HEBREWS 4:14-16
Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARK 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?"
They answered him, "Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
They said to him, "We can."
Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
James and John, along with Peter, form Jesus’ inner circle (see 5:37, 9:2, 14:33). This is the only time that James and John act on their own. It seems that in Matthew’s Gospel, he finds this request so offensive he attributes it to the “mother of the sons of Zebedee” (Matt 20:20-21).
The disciples want Jesus to give them anything they want, like writing a blank check. To clarify, Jesus asks a polite question, "What do you wish me to do for you?" And they respond, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
This request is self centered and shows their failure to grasp Jesus message contained in his passion prediction, like Peter in 8:32-33 and the other disciples in 9:33-34. James and John are seeking special places of prominence at Jesus second coming and in the fullness of the Kingdom.
Then Jesus says, “Can you drink the cup that I drink” refers to the cup of suffering Jesus undergoes during his passion (see 14:36).
When Jesus asks them if they can be “baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?, " he is not referring to baptism as we know it, but dying and rising, as in his passion, death and resurrection. It does remind us that, as St. Paul says, we are baptized into the death of Christ (Romans 6:3-4).
The disciples say that they can, but it is a foolish although confident remark that shows the depth of their misunderstanding of Jesus and ironically prepares us for their cowardice when Jesus is arrested (14:50).
It’s a mystery why the apostles weren’t arrested with Jesus and executed. It is tradition that most of them were eventually martyred. Jesus doesn’t say specifically that James and John will be martyred, but it does say that they will be persecuted on account of their ties to Jesus and in that sense they share his baptism and cup.
This is one of a couple instances where certain powers or functions are left to God the Father (see Mark 13:32 and 10:40). It is not certain who is to sit on God’s left and right.
The other 10 apostles became indignant at James and John. Were they jealous that these 2 asked first? This gives Jesus an opportunity to teach about true leadership and service.
The apostles would have already been familiar with the way people ruled: great ones made their authority felt and lorded it over those under them. Those ruled would have been subject to unlimited and overwhelming power.
I’d bet that the Apostles were surprised by Jesus next comment: “But it shall not be so among you.” I’d bet they expected that when Jesus came into his kingdom that he would be like all other rulers of the day. Is that why they wanted prominent places? Was it for power and control over others?
Jesus description of the way people should rule is the opposite of everyone else: “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” The word for servant is “diakonos” which is used in the New Testament letters to mean deacon. In this more generic context, it means servant. This idea of a servant leader also appears in Mark 1:13, 1:31, 10:45, and 14:47. A slave is usually thought of as serving one master and doing the bidding of that master. Being the slave of all underlies Jesus universal service toward all other people.
If it wasn’t clear enough, Jesus expounds further on his idea of leadership: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.” Jesus isn’t interested in manipulating or controlling others, but to make the lives of others better. To me, serving indicates that someone is willing to do whatever is necessary to aid and assist another in whatever ways are necessary to improve someone’s life. Being a slave tells me that Jesus will do anything to that end. He is not interested in what we can do for him, but what he can do for us.
And how does Jesus serve us? He gave “his life as a ransom for many." Ransom refers to the price necessary to release a slave from captivity. We were held ransom by our sins, and there was no way we could atone for our sins. Jesus paid the price (ransomed us) for our sins through his death and resurrection, which freed us from the captivity of sin.
The best example of Jesus’ concept of servant leadership is in the Servant Songs of Isaiah, part of which we have in today’s first reading. We look on these Servant Songs as telling us that Jesus suffering, death and resurrection is a sacrifice for, and expiation of, our sins.
When I think of a servant leader, I always think of someone who leads by example; someone who practices what they preach; someone who is confident enough in themselves and what they believe not to be offended by differing opinions; someone who is humble enough to realize that they make mistakes and need to change; someone who is ready to accept the talents and abilities of others, even if it means they must be in the background; someone who has ideas based on their experience that is grounded in prayer, and blessed by the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray that God sends more of these servant leaders to our Church.
Fr. Phil
TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 21, 2012
READING 1
ISAIAH 53:10-11
The LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.
If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.
Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
HEBREWS 4:14-16
Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARK 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?"
They answered him, "Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
They said to him, "We can."
Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
James and John, along with Peter, form Jesus’ inner circle (see 5:37, 9:2, 14:33). This is the only time that James and John act on their own. It seems that in Matthew’s Gospel, he finds this request so offensive he attributes it to the “mother of the sons of Zebedee” (Matt 20:20-21).
The disciples want Jesus to give them anything they want, like writing a blank check. To clarify, Jesus asks a polite question, "What do you wish me to do for you?" And they respond, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
This request is self centered and shows their failure to grasp Jesus message contained in his passion prediction, like Peter in 8:32-33 and the other disciples in 9:33-34. James and John are seeking special places of prominence at Jesus second coming and in the fullness of the Kingdom.
Then Jesus says, “Can you drink the cup that I drink” refers to the cup of suffering Jesus undergoes during his passion (see 14:36).
When Jesus asks them if they can be “baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?, " he is not referring to baptism as we know it, but dying and rising, as in his passion, death and resurrection. It does remind us that, as St. Paul says, we are baptized into the death of Christ (Romans 6:3-4).
The disciples say that they can, but it is a foolish although confident remark that shows the depth of their misunderstanding of Jesus and ironically prepares us for their cowardice when Jesus is arrested (14:50).
It’s a mystery why the apostles weren’t arrested with Jesus and executed. It is tradition that most of them were eventually martyred. Jesus doesn’t say specifically that James and John will be martyred, but it does say that they will be persecuted on account of their ties to Jesus and in that sense they share his baptism and cup.
This is one of a couple instances where certain powers or functions are left to God the Father (see Mark 13:32 and 10:40). It is not certain who is to sit on God’s left and right.
The other 10 apostles became indignant at James and John. Were they jealous that these 2 asked first? This gives Jesus an opportunity to teach about true leadership and service.
The apostles would have already been familiar with the way people ruled: great ones made their authority felt and lorded it over those under them. Those ruled would have been subject to unlimited and overwhelming power.
I’d bet that the Apostles were surprised by Jesus next comment: “But it shall not be so among you.” I’d bet they expected that when Jesus came into his kingdom that he would be like all other rulers of the day. Is that why they wanted prominent places? Was it for power and control over others?
Jesus description of the way people should rule is the opposite of everyone else: “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” The word for servant is “diakonos” which is used in the New Testament letters to mean deacon. In this more generic context, it means servant. This idea of a servant leader also appears in Mark 1:13, 1:31, 10:45, and 14:47. A slave is usually thought of as serving one master and doing the bidding of that master. Being the slave of all underlies Jesus universal service toward all other people.
If it wasn’t clear enough, Jesus expounds further on his idea of leadership: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.” Jesus isn’t interested in manipulating or controlling others, but to make the lives of others better. To me, serving indicates that someone is willing to do whatever is necessary to aid and assist another in whatever ways are necessary to improve someone’s life. Being a slave tells me that Jesus will do anything to that end. He is not interested in what we can do for him, but what he can do for us.
And how does Jesus serve us? He gave “his life as a ransom for many." Ransom refers to the price necessary to release a slave from captivity. We were held ransom by our sins, and there was no way we could atone for our sins. Jesus paid the price (ransomed us) for our sins through his death and resurrection, which freed us from the captivity of sin.
The best example of Jesus’ concept of servant leadership is in the Servant Songs of Isaiah, part of which we have in today’s first reading. We look on these Servant Songs as telling us that Jesus suffering, death and resurrection is a sacrifice for, and expiation of, our sins.
When I think of a servant leader, I always think of someone who leads by example; someone who practices what they preach; someone who is confident enough in themselves and what they believe not to be offended by differing opinions; someone who is humble enough to realize that they make mistakes and need to change; someone who is ready to accept the talents and abilities of others, even if it means they must be in the background; someone who has ideas based on their experience that is grounded in prayer, and blessed by the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray that God sends more of these servant leaders to our Church.
Fr. Phil
Monday, October 8, 2012
BIBLE STUDY #110
TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 14, 2012
Reading 1
Wisdom 7:7-11
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
The Word of the Lord
Reading 2
Hebrews 4:12-13
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel
Mark 10:17-30
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Mark keeps the journey motif here – Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will undergo his passion and death. During the journey, a man knelt before him and asked him an important question, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" This man seems to be sincere in his wanting to know. He seems like a lot of religious people who speak to a person they consider holy to get their ideas concerning salvation. We do it, also. He seems interested in learning so he can be saved.
Jesus gets upset at being called good. Does he consider it insincere flattery? Or is he just deflecting all praise to his Father?
Jesus response to the man’s question is to say to him, “You know the commandments,” and then lists some of them, assuming that this man knows and keeps the commandments. These commandments come from the second part of the Decalogue concerning our relationship with others.
I’d bet that this man thought that was all he needed to do and probably responded to Jesus with anticipation and joy, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus has a big surprise for him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." He invites this rich man to put away all worldly things so he won’t be distracted from his mission to spread the Good News and to follow him. Lacking material possessions, he will be free to devote himself to the Gospel.
This rich man was so attached to all his many possessions that he just walked away. Why didn’t he ask Jesus what he meant by that? Jesus didn’t ask everyone to give up everything; in the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), Zacchaeus was a rich man who promised to give half of his money to the poor, “and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it 4 times over ( Luke 19:8). Jesus’ response? “Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9). Jesus is not against possessions, he is against greed and attachment to worldly goods; he is against those who won’t share with those in need.
It is hard for those with wealth to enter the Kingdom. The accumulation and retention of wealth can become more important than making God’s kingdom the focus of our lives. Worldly goods become more important than heavenly treasures. We always find time for what is important in our lives. If God is important, we will find time, even if we work long hours or 2 jobs to support our families. We can always find time for God if we want to.
Do you remember the movie “The Mission?” Robert DeNiro is one of the stars of this movie set in Brazil in the 17th century (I think, I don’t remember exactly). He is a soldier who converts to Catholicism and joins the Jesuit community, but he finds it hard to completely give up his old ways. There is a very poignant scene where we see DeNiro (I forget the name of his character) trying to climb a steep and high hill carrying a large canvas bag that contains all of his soldierly equipment (rifle, sword, armor, and the like). Every time he nears the peak of the hill, he inadvertently drops the bag and has to climb down to get it and then climb back up. Eventually, someone cuts the cord on the bag and it falls all the way down and that person helps DeNiro to the top.
There are things that keep us from the kingdom but we don’t want to let them go. It could be money, possessions, power, prestige, past hurts (both done to us and things we’ve done to others), regrets, reluctance to forgive, or things for which we won’t forgive ourselves, for example. They drag us down. Like the rich man, we turn away from the kingdom because we won’t let these things go. We need to pray for God’s grace to drop these things and get over the top.
The word translated as camel is kamelos. Some scholars suggest that the phrase “a camel to pass through the eye of a needle” refers to the architecture of the walls surrounding Jerusalem. There were several gates in these walls, and some were so small that to get a camel through, one would have to unload everything off the wall and the camel would have to slowly shimmy through, and it still wasn’t guaranteed to make it through.
Other scholars suggest that kamelos is an error in the manuscript and it should be kamilos, a rope or cable. It would indeed be difficult to thread a cable through the eye of a needle. Either way, it illustrates how hard it is for rich person to enter the kingdom. But, all is not lost: "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." That is our hope. Not just for the rich, but for all of us. All things are possible with God.
To me, the rich man asked the wrong question. To answer his question directly, there is nothing you can do to earn eternal life. No matter how many masses we attend, how many prayers we say, how much money we give away, how much we do for each other, none of these things earn us the right to eternal life. Salvation is a free gift of God. We can’t earn it, we don’t merit it, but God gives it to us because he loves us.
But like any gift, we can misuse it or even throw it away. Salvation, thought a gift, is not guaranteed. Our response to God’s great gift of salvation is what we do with our lives. It is how we build our relationship with God through prayer and sacraments, and how we treat one another. It is being virtuous and witnessing to the kingdom. With God’s grace, we can cut the cord on the bag of our past life; we can get the camel through the gate; and we can thread a cable through the eye of a needle. With God all things are possible. It is through God’s grace that we accomplish our God given mission in life.
And the great thing is, we don’t have to wait until some time in the future to be blessed by God. He promises us a hundred times more now in the present age for following him as well as eternal life. Anyone who has been touched by the grace of conversion of who has been touched by the Spirit in anyway can attest to that.
The first reading is similar in nature to the Gospel. The Book of Wisdom has been attributed to King Solomon, seen to be the wisest ruler of the people. God promises Solomon that he could ask for anything and it would be granted. What did he ask for? He asked for Wisdom, which he values over scepter and throne, over riches, over gold, over anything earthly. Wisdom was regarded as God’s own Spirit, as the creative Word of God in which all truth is revealed.
The second reading from Hebrews is challenging a group of Jewish Christians who are getting weary to remain steadfast in their faith. They are undergoing some type of persecution and may have thought that it would be easier to give up their Christian faith. They are told to believe in the Word of God because it is life giving and transformative. The people are also reminded that some day they will have to make an account of their lives before God.
Fr. Phil
TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 14, 2012
Reading 1
Wisdom 7:7-11
I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.
The Word of the Lord
Reading 2
Hebrews 4:12-13
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel
Mark 10:17-30
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Mark keeps the journey motif here – Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will undergo his passion and death. During the journey, a man knelt before him and asked him an important question, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" This man seems to be sincere in his wanting to know. He seems like a lot of religious people who speak to a person they consider holy to get their ideas concerning salvation. We do it, also. He seems interested in learning so he can be saved.
Jesus gets upset at being called good. Does he consider it insincere flattery? Or is he just deflecting all praise to his Father?
Jesus response to the man’s question is to say to him, “You know the commandments,” and then lists some of them, assuming that this man knows and keeps the commandments. These commandments come from the second part of the Decalogue concerning our relationship with others.
I’d bet that this man thought that was all he needed to do and probably responded to Jesus with anticipation and joy, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus has a big surprise for him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." He invites this rich man to put away all worldly things so he won’t be distracted from his mission to spread the Good News and to follow him. Lacking material possessions, he will be free to devote himself to the Gospel.
This rich man was so attached to all his many possessions that he just walked away. Why didn’t he ask Jesus what he meant by that? Jesus didn’t ask everyone to give up everything; in the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), Zacchaeus was a rich man who promised to give half of his money to the poor, “and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it 4 times over ( Luke 19:8). Jesus’ response? “Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9). Jesus is not against possessions, he is against greed and attachment to worldly goods; he is against those who won’t share with those in need.
It is hard for those with wealth to enter the Kingdom. The accumulation and retention of wealth can become more important than making God’s kingdom the focus of our lives. Worldly goods become more important than heavenly treasures. We always find time for what is important in our lives. If God is important, we will find time, even if we work long hours or 2 jobs to support our families. We can always find time for God if we want to.
Do you remember the movie “The Mission?” Robert DeNiro is one of the stars of this movie set in Brazil in the 17th century (I think, I don’t remember exactly). He is a soldier who converts to Catholicism and joins the Jesuit community, but he finds it hard to completely give up his old ways. There is a very poignant scene where we see DeNiro (I forget the name of his character) trying to climb a steep and high hill carrying a large canvas bag that contains all of his soldierly equipment (rifle, sword, armor, and the like). Every time he nears the peak of the hill, he inadvertently drops the bag and has to climb down to get it and then climb back up. Eventually, someone cuts the cord on the bag and it falls all the way down and that person helps DeNiro to the top.
There are things that keep us from the kingdom but we don’t want to let them go. It could be money, possessions, power, prestige, past hurts (both done to us and things we’ve done to others), regrets, reluctance to forgive, or things for which we won’t forgive ourselves, for example. They drag us down. Like the rich man, we turn away from the kingdom because we won’t let these things go. We need to pray for God’s grace to drop these things and get over the top.
The word translated as camel is kamelos. Some scholars suggest that the phrase “a camel to pass through the eye of a needle” refers to the architecture of the walls surrounding Jerusalem. There were several gates in these walls, and some were so small that to get a camel through, one would have to unload everything off the wall and the camel would have to slowly shimmy through, and it still wasn’t guaranteed to make it through.
Other scholars suggest that kamelos is an error in the manuscript and it should be kamilos, a rope or cable. It would indeed be difficult to thread a cable through the eye of a needle. Either way, it illustrates how hard it is for rich person to enter the kingdom. But, all is not lost: "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." That is our hope. Not just for the rich, but for all of us. All things are possible with God.
To me, the rich man asked the wrong question. To answer his question directly, there is nothing you can do to earn eternal life. No matter how many masses we attend, how many prayers we say, how much money we give away, how much we do for each other, none of these things earn us the right to eternal life. Salvation is a free gift of God. We can’t earn it, we don’t merit it, but God gives it to us because he loves us.
But like any gift, we can misuse it or even throw it away. Salvation, thought a gift, is not guaranteed. Our response to God’s great gift of salvation is what we do with our lives. It is how we build our relationship with God through prayer and sacraments, and how we treat one another. It is being virtuous and witnessing to the kingdom. With God’s grace, we can cut the cord on the bag of our past life; we can get the camel through the gate; and we can thread a cable through the eye of a needle. With God all things are possible. It is through God’s grace that we accomplish our God given mission in life.
And the great thing is, we don’t have to wait until some time in the future to be blessed by God. He promises us a hundred times more now in the present age for following him as well as eternal life. Anyone who has been touched by the grace of conversion of who has been touched by the Spirit in anyway can attest to that.
The first reading is similar in nature to the Gospel. The Book of Wisdom has been attributed to King Solomon, seen to be the wisest ruler of the people. God promises Solomon that he could ask for anything and it would be granted. What did he ask for? He asked for Wisdom, which he values over scepter and throne, over riches, over gold, over anything earthly. Wisdom was regarded as God’s own Spirit, as the creative Word of God in which all truth is revealed.
The second reading from Hebrews is challenging a group of Jewish Christians who are getting weary to remain steadfast in their faith. They are undergoing some type of persecution and may have thought that it would be easier to give up their Christian faith. They are told to believe in the Word of God because it is life giving and transformative. The people are also reminded that some day they will have to make an account of their lives before God.
Fr. Phil
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
BIBLE STUDY #109
TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 7, 2012
READING 1
GENESIS 2:18-24
The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a suitable partner for him."
So the LORD God formed out of the ground
various wild animals and various birds of the air,
and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;
whatever the man called each of them would be its name.
The man gave names to all the cattle,
all the birds of the air, and all wild animals;
but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,
and while he was asleep,
he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib
that he had taken from the man.
When he brought her to the man, the man said:
"This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called 'woman, '
for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."
That is why a man leaves his father and mother
and clings to his wife,
and the two of them become one flesh.
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
HEBREWS 2:9-11
Brothers and sisters:
He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, "
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated
all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them 'brothers.'
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARK 10:2-16
The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,
"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?"
They replied,
"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her."
But Jesus told them,
"Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate."
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery."
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced them and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
This week we have Jesus teaching on marriage and divorce. He is approached by the Pharisees who are trying to trap him by bringing him into clear conflict with Scripture.
Divorce was permitted; in fact, it was not uncommon. Moses allowed husbands to write a bill of divorce. But there were two schools of thought concerning the grounds for divorce. Rabbi Hillel, a contemporary of Jesus, interpreted Deuteronomy 24:1-4 to mean that a husband could divorce his wife for almost any reason, like spoiling a dish, or complaining about her in laws in public.
Rabbi Shammai, also a contemporary of Jesus, took a harder stand. He interpreted the same passage to mean that divorce is only allowed for adultery. In either case, only a man was allowed to divorce his wife; a wife could not divorce her husband. But as we see later in this passage, Mark follows the Roman custom which allows women to divorce their husbands.
Jesus would not be caught up in the controversy between these 2 well known rabbis. In fact, his teaching was radical and much stricter than either of these Rabbis.
Jesus said that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. Jesus said that this teaching was not a law, but a dispensation from the law because of this hardness of heart.
Jesus goes to the heart of the matter and quotes God speaking from Genesis 2:24: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” He interprets that to mean: “Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." This is God’s original plan for marriage. Therefore, divorce is not permitted. Men and women were created for one another and are complementary beings.
There are other New Testament passages that reiterate this no divorce teaching: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; Luke 16:18; Matthew 5:32; and Matthew 19:1-12.
The early Christians (at least some of them, anyway) did have trouble with this no divorce teaching. In 1 Corinthians 7:12-16, Paul allows divorce if a spouse who is an unbeliever wishes to separate. The believer may not initiate a divorce, but the unbeliever can. In Matthew 5:32 there is what’s called the exceptive clause. Divorce is allowed when the marriage in unlawful (i.e. a marriage between persons of certain blood and/or legal relationships).
In our own day, a divorce is never granted or recognized by the Catholic church in the case of a sacramental and consummated marriage between 2 baptized persons. Other marriages, though theoretically indissoluble, can receive what’s called a separation of the spouses (the church never uses the term divorce) with the dissolution of the bond (that is, freedom to marry). Here are 2 examples: 1) if the marriage has not been consummated; and 2) if 2 non-baptized persons are married, one converts to Christianity, and the unbeliever refuses to live with the believer.
The Church also grants annulments, which is a declaration by the appropriate ecclesiastical authority that a marriage contract was null and void from the beginning. This is different from a divorce. A divorce states that a marriage existed and is now dissolved. An annulment states that a marriage never existed at all (if the priest knew about the circumstances making this marriage invalid, he would have refused to do the marriage). There are 3 sources of invalidity: 1) one of the parties to the marriage has an impediment not cleared by competent authority (there are 12 in canon law); 2) the internal consent of one or both parties is missing (i.e. a substantial misapprehension about marriage, a disturbed psyche, or an incapacity to carry out the marital obligations); 3) the canonical form of marriage was not observed (catholics are required to be married by a priest in front of two witnesses in a church). These last 2 paragraphs are not exhaustive of this topic. If you have specific questions, contact your local priest.
Jesus takes the opportunity to teach his disciples about the kingdom of God by using the example of children. The kingdom is transcendent (not a product or achievement of humans) and eschatological (its fullness is in the future). No human can bring it about or have a claim on it. Only those who recognize if as God’s kingdom can enter. It is a pure gift and should be received as such. We need to be like children, open and trusting, with innocence and simplicity. We need to have these attributes to accept and live in the kingdom.
Fr. Phil
TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 7, 2012
READING 1
GENESIS 2:18-24
The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a suitable partner for him."
So the LORD God formed out of the ground
various wild animals and various birds of the air,
and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;
whatever the man called each of them would be its name.
The man gave names to all the cattle,
all the birds of the air, and all wild animals;
but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,
and while he was asleep,
he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib
that he had taken from the man.
When he brought her to the man, the man said:
"This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called 'woman, '
for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."
That is why a man leaves his father and mother
and clings to his wife,
and the two of them become one flesh.
The Word of the Lord
READING 2
HEBREWS 2:9-11
Brothers and sisters:
He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, "
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated
all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them 'brothers.'
The Word of the Lord
GOSPEL
MARK 10:2-16
The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,
"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?"
They replied,
"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her."
But Jesus told them,
"Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate."
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery."
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced them and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
This week we have Jesus teaching on marriage and divorce. He is approached by the Pharisees who are trying to trap him by bringing him into clear conflict with Scripture.
Divorce was permitted; in fact, it was not uncommon. Moses allowed husbands to write a bill of divorce. But there were two schools of thought concerning the grounds for divorce. Rabbi Hillel, a contemporary of Jesus, interpreted Deuteronomy 24:1-4 to mean that a husband could divorce his wife for almost any reason, like spoiling a dish, or complaining about her in laws in public.
Rabbi Shammai, also a contemporary of Jesus, took a harder stand. He interpreted the same passage to mean that divorce is only allowed for adultery. In either case, only a man was allowed to divorce his wife; a wife could not divorce her husband. But as we see later in this passage, Mark follows the Roman custom which allows women to divorce their husbands.
Jesus would not be caught up in the controversy between these 2 well known rabbis. In fact, his teaching was radical and much stricter than either of these Rabbis.
Jesus said that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. Jesus said that this teaching was not a law, but a dispensation from the law because of this hardness of heart.
Jesus goes to the heart of the matter and quotes God speaking from Genesis 2:24: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” He interprets that to mean: “Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." This is God’s original plan for marriage. Therefore, divorce is not permitted. Men and women were created for one another and are complementary beings.
There are other New Testament passages that reiterate this no divorce teaching: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; Luke 16:18; Matthew 5:32; and Matthew 19:1-12.
The early Christians (at least some of them, anyway) did have trouble with this no divorce teaching. In 1 Corinthians 7:12-16, Paul allows divorce if a spouse who is an unbeliever wishes to separate. The believer may not initiate a divorce, but the unbeliever can. In Matthew 5:32 there is what’s called the exceptive clause. Divorce is allowed when the marriage in unlawful (i.e. a marriage between persons of certain blood and/or legal relationships).
In our own day, a divorce is never granted or recognized by the Catholic church in the case of a sacramental and consummated marriage between 2 baptized persons. Other marriages, though theoretically indissoluble, can receive what’s called a separation of the spouses (the church never uses the term divorce) with the dissolution of the bond (that is, freedom to marry). Here are 2 examples: 1) if the marriage has not been consummated; and 2) if 2 non-baptized persons are married, one converts to Christianity, and the unbeliever refuses to live with the believer.
The Church also grants annulments, which is a declaration by the appropriate ecclesiastical authority that a marriage contract was null and void from the beginning. This is different from a divorce. A divorce states that a marriage existed and is now dissolved. An annulment states that a marriage never existed at all (if the priest knew about the circumstances making this marriage invalid, he would have refused to do the marriage). There are 3 sources of invalidity: 1) one of the parties to the marriage has an impediment not cleared by competent authority (there are 12 in canon law); 2) the internal consent of one or both parties is missing (i.e. a substantial misapprehension about marriage, a disturbed psyche, or an incapacity to carry out the marital obligations); 3) the canonical form of marriage was not observed (catholics are required to be married by a priest in front of two witnesses in a church). These last 2 paragraphs are not exhaustive of this topic. If you have specific questions, contact your local priest.
Jesus takes the opportunity to teach his disciples about the kingdom of God by using the example of children. The kingdom is transcendent (not a product or achievement of humans) and eschatological (its fullness is in the future). No human can bring it about or have a claim on it. Only those who recognize if as God’s kingdom can enter. It is a pure gift and should be received as such. We need to be like children, open and trusting, with innocence and simplicity. We need to have these attributes to accept and live in the kingdom.
Fr. Phil
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