4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 29, 2023

The values of The Kingdom

Matthew 5: 1–12

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.

Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.

Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognized as children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

Music Meditations

• Wonderful, Merciful Savior
• Blessed Are They
• Come to the Water
• You Are My Hiding Place
• Don’t Be Afraid, My Love Is Stronger
• Lead Me, Guide Me—CCAS choir livestreamed

Opening Prayer

Dear Jesus, how hard it is to remember, that beatitudes are a call of hope for me and a challenge to see the world a you see it.

Give me the insight and the courage to look at my life, imperfect as it is, and those around me, flawed as they are, and the world we all inhabit, crazy as it seems, and try to mirror your compassion for a person on the margins, even if that person on the margins is me.

Companions for the Journey

From Good Enough, by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie:

We live in a culture of blessing. We live in a culture of #Blessed.

Partially nude bikini shot? #Blessed. Christmas card professional photo shoot where everyone is looking directly at the camera wearing matching chambray tops? #Blessed.

As Christians, we cross-stitch our blessings on pillows, hand letter them in whimsical fonts and tattoo them on our bodies, forgetting perhaps, that Jesus turned the idea of what makes us blessed upside down. His blessings would leave some people wide-eyed, and others with tears of relief running down their cheeks. (p122)

That having been said, sometimes we read those gospel beatitudes in Matthew and think that most of those don’t really apply to our everyday lives. So I am attempting here, without great theological explanation, to “translate” those beatitudes into everyday language. Here are the eight Matthew refers to in everyday language:

1. Blessed are those who are dispirited, who have lost confidence in themselves, in the world, maybe even in God, and press on anyway, hoping that by simply hanging in there, they can make a difference. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
2. Blessed are those who mourn lost friendships, lost opportunities, lost moments they will never get back and refuse to give in to despair. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
3. Blessed are those who don’t always think of themselves first, who let others’ issues take precedence, and work for harmony and peace and do not always have to be “right”. Theirs is the kingdom of God.
4. Blessed are those whom justice and fairness and left behind, leaving them powerless in the face of the cruelty or ignorance of others, and continue to work for a better situation, a better relationship, or a better world. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
5. Blessed are those who are merciful, even to themselves, who know that we are all imperfect and do not judge others, and rely on the justice and mercy of God for themselves and others. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
6. Blessed are those who know their imperfections, who know their own venal, self-serving little hearts, and work against self-serving behaviors. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
7. Blessed are those who work to heal divisions in their family, in the world, in themselves, and extend the hand of forgiveness to even the most undeserving. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
8. Blessed are those who stick their necks out in the boardroom or the classroom, in the kitchen or in the bedroom, who are laughed at, mocked or attacked for their naivete or their fervor, and get up and stand up for what is right.

Ok, folks, I am on a roll! Here are some extensions of those basic eight, (and there are many more you could add) which sometimes is where “Gum-chewing Christians” like myself meet our God:

1. Blessed are those who are weary, the worn out-—those at the end of their tether. They discover that God’s arms are strong enough to hold them.
2. Blessed are those who find contentment in what they have, who find joy in the ordinary, who do not covet what they cannot have. They will know that God is enough.
3. Blessed are those who struggle the best they can with the negative events in their lives. They know God sees their effort.
4. Blessed are those who do not judge or ignore those who do not seem able to cope with life, who realize that others’ problems are real, whether they exist in their minds or in reality. They have hope that God’s mercy will be theirs.
5. Blessed are those who struggle to understand that they are loveable, not because of what they do, not because of that they look like, and sometimes in spite of the kind of persons they are. They will know God’s love.
6. Blessed are those who show the wounds of living—crow’s feet from aging, lines from worry, body dysmorphia of any kind, eyes strained with fatigue, nervousness from anxiety, physical and mental disorders of any kind, those who remember we often fall short. They are beautiful in God’s eyes.
7. Blessed are those who face giving up what they love: life they have known, a family, a relationship, a career, their youth, a dream. They will know God’s comfort;
8. Blessed are the lonely. They, too, will know God’s comfort.
9. Blessed are those who try to live the here-and-now, who treasure joyous and poignant memories, and the small charms of the everyday, who look forward to living every day, even if life is imperfect. They will experience God’s true joy.
10. Blessed are they who ask for spiritual help, who are willing to trust in another. They will find help.
11. Blessed are those who are willing to start over. They will find courage.
12. Blessed are those who don’t always feel “blessed”, with curated images and postings on Instagram, who feel like they are in the back of the “favors-from-God” line, who feel like misfits, who feel afraid to speak for fear of being criticized or ridiculed, who feel forgotten and left out. They are children of God.

Luke wrote his own set of beatitudes—four blessings and four woes. Why don’t you get a little creative and write your own?

Weekly Memorization

Pick your favorite beatitude and memorize it

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

Do I see these beatitudes as a “warning” to behave better, or as a comfort to those who have suffered from lack of fairness? Would that make a difference in how you interpret these sayings of Jesus in is Sermon on the Mount? Does poverty of spirit mean feeling sympathy for those with less? Does poverty of spirit mean feeling worthless by the world’s standards? Does poverty of spirit mean feeling worthless before God? Do any of these definitions reflect how I have felt at times? Does poverty of spirit have anything to do with utter reliance on God? To what extent do I rely on myself, my friends, my financial security, luck or talent to navigate the world? What do you hope for? Where does fullness of life with God stand on your list? What losses in your life have you experienced, but did not fully mourn those losses? Do you know anyone right now who is suffering from sadness due to loss of someone or something? What can you do to reach out? What does it mean to be meek? When is it a good trait and when is it not a good trait in someone? Have you ever stood up for some who was too meek to fight for themselves? What individuals or groups of people are disadvantaged by the world/culture they live in? Can you think of one person in your life who has been treated unfairly? By whom or what? Was there anything you could do to help? Think of someone in your life who could have been vindictive or at least suggested punishment for something you did, but instead, showed you forgiveness and understanding. How did it make you feel? Have you done the same for anyone else? Or do you hold grudges? What does it mean to be clean of heart? In what areas of your life are your motives a little “dirty”, or at least a bit self-serving? In what areas of your life have you been a victim of other’s bad intentions and actions? Is a peacemaker, in your mind, one who gives in on principles in order to avoid conflict? Is a peacemaker, in your mind, someone who listens carefully and tries not to exacerbate the situation? In what ways is it counter-cultural in our society to be a peacemaker? Have you ever suffered the consequences of speaking up for a person, or a moral value? What were they? Would you do so again? Has your Catholicism ever been a liability in your workplace or in your relationships? How did you deal with it? How might the Beatitudes serve as a good entry point for your observance of Lent? Which of the phrases in Matthew’s beatitudes appeals to you the most? Which offers the greatest challenge? How do these phrases compare with the "American Dream"? In what way is Matthew outlining the ideal community? Is this vision the same as yours? How is it different? Do I ever reflect on where I am truly blessed?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

Many of the famous sayings of Jesus have been arranged according to topic and grouped together in what has come to us as the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. The opening words of the discourse of Jesus are considered so important, so pivotal, that scholars and spiritual leaders have spent centuries discussing their meaning and their application. There are over 8000 books available on Amazon.com alone! The beatitudes comprise sort of a keynote address, and the very first lines set the tone for the entire selection.

What if Jesus had taken his first lines from a business journal which is supposed to be a showing us how things are in the “real” world?

Those “beatitudes” might go something like this: Blessed are the rich and famous, for they shall have what they want. Blessed are they who cut their losses, and get rid of the losers, they will live to win another day Blessed are the and powerful, they will inherit the earth Blessed are the white and well educated, the world is theirs Blessed are they who cry for vengeance, they will be seen as protectors of society Blessed are they who cultivate the right people, they will go far Blessed are they who tailor their morals to meet the marketplace, they will be rewarded. Blessed are Americans for they shall have the earth's riches at their beck and call. (adapted from Siciliano)

These cynical “beatitudes” may make us wince, but they are what a lot of people in the world value and call “blessings”. I would suggest that we have been encouraged to live by them, in one way or another, since we were young. These values may have passed on to us by our parents, or in school, but for sure all the sights and sounds we see on TV ads present these worldly beatitudes by showing us the successful, young and powerful who seem to lack for nothing. But these worldly beatitudes don’t speak to our faith vision; they aren’t the ones Jesus spoke to those gathered around him. (Siciliano) And they are a reminder and a comfort for those of us who live our daily lives doing our best not to be swayed by the allure of the surrounding world we meet at school, work and even at home. We are tempted to lessen our hold on our faith, to coast along, little by little adopting and living by the standards of our world: ---To admire and strive after wealth and position ---To value the "haves" more than the "have nots" ---To seek the company of those who make us look good ---To cling to "eternal youth" ---To out-spend our neighbors on clothes and entertainment ---To fit in with the majority opinion and be silent when a word of justice is required ---To fudge truth for personal gain and convenience

The beatitudes celebrate those who “show up” each day and put their lives on the line in many small and sometimes in very big ways, for their faith. Jesus isn’t calling us to be wimps, to lie down and let the world run over us in its pursuit to pleasure and ease. He wants us challenge by our values and ways of living what the world takes for granted and calls “blessings.” We are, according to the beatitudes, people who practice unlimited forgiveness, peacemaking and patient loving, in the ways Jesus taught us by his living and dying. (Siciliano, FI 5th Sunday A)

So our questions are: First: Where am I in my present relationship with God? Are my successes, my possessions, seen as gifts from God, or do they distract me from recognizing my radical dependence on God alone? What do I hunger and thirst for? Love? Power? Comfort? Justice? Peace? Which are God’s values? Which are mine?

A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:

Many of the Jewish psalms, are psalms of lament, reflecting the agony and separation of an oppressed and suffering people, and also capturing their collective trust in God. Like the beatitudes of Jesus, these psalms of lament are a reflection of a firm belief in God’s care for those who have suffered at the hands of the powerful. As you read Psalm 10, reflect on all the ways you have felt beleaguered in your life, and then reflect on all the ways in which Jesus has been present in your pain and sorrow. At the end, write a short 4 line psalm of your own, reflecting your hope in times of stress.

Psalm 10

O LORD, why do you stand afar off, and hide yourself in times of distress? The poor are devoured by the pride of the wicked; they are caught in the schemes that others have made. For the wicked boasts of his soulʼs desires; the covetous blasphemes and spurns the LORD. The wicked says in his pride, “God will not punish. There is no God.” Such are his thoughts. His path is ever untroubled; your judgments are on high, far removed. All those who oppose him, he derides. In his heart he thinks, “Never shall I falter; never shall misfortune be my lot.” His mouth is full of cursing, guile, oppression; under his tongue are deceit and evil. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hidden places, he murders the innocent The eyes of the wicked keep watch for the helpless. He lurks in hiding like a lion in his lair; he lurks in hiding to seize the poor; he seizes the poor one and drags him away. He crouches, preparing to spring, and the helpless fall prey to his strength. He says in his heart, “God forgets, he hides his face, never will he see.” Arise, O LORD; lift up your hand, O God! Do not forget the poor! Why should the wicked spurn God, saying in his heart, “You will not call to account”? But you have seen the trouble and sorrow. You note it; you take it in your hands. The helpless one relies on you, for you are the helper of the orphan. Break the arm of the wicked and the sinner! Pursue their wickedness till nothing remains! The LORD is king forever and ever. The nations shall perish from his land. O LORD, you have heard the desire of the poor. You strengthen their hearts; you turn your ear to give right judgment for the orphan and oppressed, so that no one on earth may strike terror again.

Poetic Reflection:

I offer you a little poem from the writer Fr. Michael Kennedy, S.J., which reflects on the difference between passive assent and true belief:

When he calls Disciples to be poor in Spirit and in many other ways On his list of things to do or to Be the reaction from the first Members he called and even Our response today is likely to Be a polite assent but no belief For like those called many years Ago we are convinced that we Live in the real world not in Some fantasy one However pious *** And yes once again We have forgotten our Experience of the Lord in A spouse or a child or a truly Welcoming community or in the Simple and uncluttered wisdom Which fills an old friend or even When we help others mourn Then finally when we do Remember our Jesus

Closing Prayer

From Sacred Space, a Service of the Irish Jesuits:

We have no portrait of you, Lord, but in the Beatitudes you show us your interior landscape, the source of your joy. This is not a set of regulations, but a vision of where true happiness lies. Let me taste the joy you promise through the Beatitudes.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 22, 2023

We are each called to be disciple

Matthew 4: 12–23

Hearing that John had been arrested he withdrew to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, beside the lake, on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea beyond Jordan. Galilee of the nations! The people that lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who lived in a country of shadow dark as death a light has dawned. From then onwards Jesus began his proclamation with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’

As he was walking by the Lake of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast into the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Come after me and I will make you fishers of people.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. And at once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and illness among the people.

[Zebulun and Naphtali were the territories of the northernmost tribes of Israel, which the Assyrians invaded and destroyed in 721BCE, effectively wiping out the Northern Kingdom of Israel.]

Music Meditations

• The Summons—John Bell
• In Christ Alone—strongbow27
• Be Thou My Vision—Nathan Pacheco
• Jesus—Chris Tomlin

Opening Prayer

Jesus, you are calling me to change some aspects of my life that need changing, here and now. Please help me to see where I am in need of change, where I am in need of help, and where I need healing. Give me the openness to the needs of others, ignoring where THEY need to Change—and the openness to acknowledge that their changes are theirs to make. Help me to understand that my mission is to bring the good news of your love to others. This is my call. Give me the determination to follow through on answering that call.

Companions for the Journey

From Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., Professor of New Testament at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA, writing in America magazine, a Jesuit publication:

“The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light”(Mt 4:16)

Why did Peter and Andrew, James and John follow Jesus? According to Matthew’s narrative (and Mark’s), these four fishermen had no prior knowledge of Jesus. While they were at work in Capernaum one day, Jesus came along and said, “Follow me,” and they did. Answering Jesus’ call meant leaving behind their families and businesses for very uncertain futures. Why did they do it?

One answer appeals to the literary skill of the Evangelists or their sources. The utter simplicity of the narrative—Jesus calls, and the disciples follow—serves to highlight Jesus’ personal attractiveness and persuasiveness. It leads the reader to imagine how wonderful Jesus must have been to inspire such an immediate and total response on the disciples’ part. While there is much to be said for this interpretation, there may be more to the disciples’ action than that.

Today’s reading from Matthew 4 places Jesus’ call of his first disciples in a wider context. It suggests that the first disciples followed Jesus out of hope. Their hope was rooted in the past, looked forward to the future and was based in the present.

Matthew prefaces the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry with a quotation from Isaiah: “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.” This prophecy was first uttered some 700 years before the time of Jesus. It expressed the hope of a people threatened by powerful political neighbors, looking for some kind of salvation. Isaiah’s prophecy also expressed well the political situation of Israel in Jesus’ time—caught between capitulation to the Romans (and their local supporters) and the promises of greatness made to God’s people. How could these be reconciled? To Jesus’ contemporaries like the four fishermen and to early Christians like Matthew, Jesus seemed to be a light shining in the darkness. They saw Isaiah’s hope being fulfilled before their eyes, a hope rooted in Israel’s past.

Before recounting the call of the first disciples, Matthew provides a summary of Jesus’ preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The kingdom of heaven refers to the future fullness of God’s rule and its acknowledgment by all creation. It is what we pray for when we say, “Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This was the central theme of Jesus’ preaching and activity. The first disciples looked forward to experiencing and being part of that glorious future kingdom.

Matthew follows the call of the first disciples with a summary of Jesus’ activities: teaching, preaching and healing. In the Gospels these are the ways in which Jesus manifests the presence of God’s kingdom among us. Jesus showed the first disciples how to live in their present with the hope of experiencing the future fullness of God’s kingdom. Their hope was based on the person of Jesus as their light shining in the darkness, their light of hope.

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• Is there anybody in our time or in the history of the world whose charismatic qualities caused people immediately and unquestioningly follow him or her?
  Is this good or bad?
• Do I consider myself invited to work with Jesus?
  Is my response immediate, or do I lollygag and offer excuses for my slow response, or do I not really respond at all?
• Who, in our time, who are fishers of men?
• What makes Church ministry successful, effective, rewarding?
  What makes it difficult, disappointing, or stressful?
• Have I ever been invited to join someone in an enterprise which was not very well sketched out? How did I respond?
• Do we need a lot of details/reassurances, back-up plans, safety nets, etc., before we commit to an enterprise?
  Was it different for Peter and Andrew?
• What part does hope play in the decisions of the first four disciples?
  What part does hope play in my decisions?
• Does it help to have companions when you are completing a mission or task?
• What of God’s “good news” do you bring to others?
• What darkness do I perceive in this world?
  In what ways has Jesus been a light in the world’s darkness?
  In my personal darkness?
• Do I bring the light and love of Christ to my little corner of the world?
  Do I see myself as called to bring light to the darkness?
• What are my gifts (teaching, hospitality, wisdom, knowledge, empathy, healing, kindness, helping, sharing, for example)?
  Do I employ them very often?
  Do I consider that a form of preaching the “good news”?
  Why or why not?
• What are some cop-outs we employ to avoid taking a risk on Jesus and the kingdom: “not good enough, not smart enough, not brave enough, not charismatic enough, just an ordinary person with no gifts, no talent for this kind of work?”
  Do you employ any?
• What are some obstacles in my life which keep me from following Jesus?
• What does it mean: The Kingdom of God is at hand?
• The command to “repent” means to change your mind, to change your attitude, to change your life, because the kingdom of God is at hand. What do you need to change in your life to be more a part of The Kingdom?
• Describe a time when you were called to change something in your life?
  What was the impetus?
  How did you respond?
  Was it difficult?
• Do you follow Jesus?
  Why?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

Each of us, through our baptism, is called to announce Jesus’ presence in the world. At our baptism we were called “prophets.” What does that mean for you? Have there been experiences in your life through which the Spirit was speaking to you? Did you listen? How do you expect to hear the Lord’s voice? It is a question worth asking at this Eucharist, “How and where am I called to announce ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand?’” We may not do it from pulpits or at public gatherings, but in one way or another, each of us must bring light to people who “sit in gloom” and are “overshadowed by death.” We are to be signs of reassurance to people who may feel forgotten. As that person in the scripture group put it, through us, people will know that God has seen their need and come to help them.

The disciples heard the call and immediately left things behind. What must we leave as we respond to Jesus’ invitation to announce the presence of God’s kingdom?—old ways of thinking? Possessions? Plans? Familiar surroundings? Security? Even if we never pack up and take to the road, as the first disciples did, we still must make changes, if we have heard and accepted Jesus’ call. Once again, we need to ask Christ to show us what changes we must make so that, like the first disciples, we can follow him and be his instruments of proclamation. Yes, we already are his followers, nevertheless, we need to hear afresh and respond again to his call. Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

So, how shall we preach “the kingdom of heaven is near” this week? As co-workers and students we could be less competitive and more cooperative; as friends or family members we could be more willing to listen to what others are saying; we could respond to people’s request for help; we could treat all people, regardless of race, gender, economic status and education with acceptance and dignity. The bottom line, in light of today’s scriptures might be: In a world where there is gloom, how can I, with Jesus’ help, be “a light to the nations?”

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

Inspired by Walter Burghardt, S.J.:

Wouldn’t you have loved to be the fly on the wall when Peter went home and told his wife that he was going to stop fishing for fish and going to start fishing for people? “YOU’RE GOING TO WHAT?????” Imagine that you are the wife of Peter, who depends on his earnings as a fisherman to keep the household going financially. Are you afraid? Angry? Sad? Try also to imagine what was going through the minds and hearts of each of these four disciples as they considered the invitation from Jesus. Then put yourself in the actual event as each one told his loved ones that he was leaving—or did not do so. As romantic as this gospel story seems, it can’t have been easy for the disciples and their loved ones to give up their old way of life embrace this new enterprise. The fact that they did so is an indication of their openness to God’s call and their willingness to change.

They had the generosity of spirit to enter into this enterprise with all their hearts, with all their energy, with all their love. Christian living is not a part time job—there is no cutting corners in this enterprise. It is not enough merely to stay out of mortal sin, to keep our noses clean. If we are content with the minimum then we are part-time Christians. A full-time Christian listens to the promptings of the Spirit who speaks within our hearts, within the events of our personal histories, inviting us to make our little world a little bit better here and now—our families, our dorms and classes, our workplace. These promptings of the spirit inspire you and me to ask what God wants for our lives. Am I afraid of what the answer might be? What am I willing to give up to answer God’s call?

Poetic Reflection:

I ask myself the following, then read the following poem written by an unknown woman religious:
What was I called to yesterday? Did I respond?
What am I being called to today? Do I hear?

In the beginning was the Word. A Word who must be spoken. A Word spoken into skies. and called into hills. Spoken into rivers and fields A Word Spoken into life in flowers in birds and in every kind of animal. A Word spoken with love and breathed into the heart of man and woman that they might be ready to hear. And when the time came that all was in readiness, The Word was spoken into flesh, spoken to call his own out of the darkness and into the light. To those who would know this Word, he beckoned and still is beckoning—now—to you. Come, see where I live; spend your time with me Be my own, Be disciple. Is the question of the first who followed your question still: Teacher, where do you live in my world? The answer they heard is the same, which, in silence you will know: Come, I will take you there. I live within your heart. Your heart that I have seen, Your heart that I have known I live there, calling you beyond yourself Calling you into my own life, Calling you to the vision of my Father Calling you to be fishers of people. Calling you to be disciple.

Closing Prayer

Please help me to open myself to the light of your love and your goodness. Help me, Lord to see the dark little corners of another’s life where I might bring some light and hope. Help me to be non-judgmental, not to offer unwarranted advice or slick solutions to some very complex issues that people are facing. Help me to be kind, understanding and PRESENT to the needs of this world and those around me.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 15, 2023

We are each called to testify to the importance of Jesus in our lives

John 1: 29–34

The next day, he saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

‘It was of him that I said, “Behind me comes one who has passed ahead of me because he existed before me.” I did not know him myself, and yet my purpose in coming to baptize with water was so that he might be revealed to Israel.’

And John declared, ‘I saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven and rest on him.

‘I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptize with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

‘I have seen and I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’

Music Meditations

• “Come to the Water”—OCP
• “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”—mddragon1801
• “The Ground”—Ola Gjeilo
• “Wade in the Water”

Opening Prayer

Sometimes, Lord, I am puzzled by the direction my life has taken and I do not always respond as fully as I could. Just what are you calling me to in this very moment of my life? Help me to recognize you when you show up in my daily life, unannounced, and help me to see your presence in my day to day life. Help me to see you in the needs of those around me. Help me to recognize opportunities for growth, grace, and service in the most mundane corners of my lie, and in the ordinary people I meet.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions 2023”, a service of the Southern Dominican Province:

The gospel today makes a shift. Until now we have been focusing on John, Jesus’ precursor. Now the gospel, through the Baptist’s testimony, passes us from John to Jesus. But before we make that move, let’s linger a moment longer with John. Imagine what John the Baptist had to go through in his ministry. It started when he received a call to announce the one coming after him who would be greater than he; one John names today as, “the Lamb of God.” This was the one who would take away the “sin of the world.” At first, John didn’t know who this one coming would be. He had to wait for a further revelation, as he testifies today, “At first, I did not know him….”

In fact, twice John admits, “I did not know him.” John had to wait to see the Spirit descend “like a dove” and remain on Jesus. When that happened, then John would finally know the one he had been expecting and preparing the people to receive – the one who would “baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

John had to work blind for a while. He received his initial call, then had to wait. But his waiting didn’t mean he sat down and did nothing. He got busy and acted on his call, trusting that when the moment came to see the fulfillment of his ministry God would show him what to do next. John reminds us of the Magi. They received a message when they first saw the star in the night sky. They responded, leaving home, to follow the message of the star. But they, like John, had to go a while before they arrived at their goal and recognized Jesus.

As the baptized, we are all involved in ministry. Some of us have official positions within the church, others respond privately to the needs around us. Each of us has heard a call to ministry. Our lives are marked by these ministries and by the people who need us. But, in many ways, like John and the Magi, we work in the dark. Not only the in darkness of our world, but also in the darkness of our call. We invest ourselves in what we know we must do, but we have questions along the way: How much longer shall I continue to minister in this way? Am I in the right ministry for my talents? Why doesn’t what I do in service receive more official recognition? I thought after these years of ministry I would have made more of an impact. Looking back, did I receive a call at all, or was it my imagination or vanity? I don’t think some of these questions were foreign to the Baptist. He did have a keen sense of having been called. But then, he had to work until he got the next sign; the one indicating Jesus’ identity. Like the Magi, and like some of us, he journeyed without knowing the end results of his labors. But he anticipated that God would not leave him, but would be there for him, at the appropriate time, to reveal the next step to take.

There is an end awaiting us; a time when we will see God face to face and there will be no more darkness. On this, we place all our hope. Until then, we continue our service in the Lord’s name. We stay committed to our faith community, especially when we gather in Eucharistic celebration. We also seek the Lord in regular times of prayer.

If we are to make significant changes, like the Magi’s packing up to begin a search or, like John’s fulfilling his mission, we will need guidance in our ministry. Then, we shall place ourselves in a more intensive listening mode through quiet prayer; reflective reading and even seeking the counsel of a wise person who can help us identify the call of the Lord in our lives. I am grateful to such people who helped me notice the descent of the Spirit at important and transitional moments of my life. Thankfully, someone was there to help me say, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove….” Who are those people for you? Let us give thanks.

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• If I had one sin that needed to be taken away, what would I choose?
• What would you say is the “sin of the world”? Think of some examples of how this plays out in human behavior, personal relationships, politics, the world stage, the health of the planet….
• What choices do we make as humans that emanate from this atmosphere of sin that pervades the world?
  What means do we use to distract ourselves from a hopeless contemplation of the state of the world and ourselves?
• John is a powerful witness to the presence and mission of Jesus the anointed of God. We are all anointed at our baptism, but have we been powerful witness of God’s presence in the world?
  Do we assume this is reserved to the ordained?
• Am I shy about discussing my faith with others? Why?
• What does it mean to really “see” someone?
  What do you think John “saw” in Jesus?
  What do you “see” in Jesus?
• Andrew and Peter come to Jesus as a result of the testimony of John. Has anyone come to Jesus through your living testimony?
• Psalm 40 says “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”.
  What do you think God’s will for you is?
  What signs do you look for to confirm that you are doing God’s will?
• Has there ever been anyone in your experience that you have recognized as “special”?
  In what way were they special?
  How did they influence your life, if at all?
• From Daniel J Harrington, S.J.:
  How do you respond to the image of Jesus as the Lamb of God?
  How is the gift of the Holy Spirit related to Jesus?
  Do you ever think of Jesus as your brother?
• From Father Paul Gallagher, OFM:
  Twice in the text John admits, “I did not know him.” Do you think John is saying that he did not know his own cousin?
  What does that say to you about the kind of person Jesus was?
  What does this say to you about where you might find the face of Jesus present around you?
• How difficult do you think it was for the Baptist to admit and accept the fact that his cousin, Jesus, was a much more important and significant person?
  Have there been times in your own journey when you had to admit that you were not as important as others, or you yourself, once thought? What were some of the things that helped you through that transition?
• How is the journey of self-discovery before God taking place in your life now? Does this gospel shed any light on that journey?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

Let us for a moment pause and reflect on the world into which Jesus entered so many years ago. What economic, spiritual and societal challenges existed in Palestine so long ago? In his brief life, what changes did Jesus effect? Then consider the economic, spiritual and societal challenges we all face in life today. What are you called to bring to those challenges? What does Jesus’ life offer as an example for you?

A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:

Read Psalm 40 from the Sunday readings.

Psalm 40

I waited, I waited for the LORD, and he stooped down to me; he heard my cry. He drew me from the deadly pit, from the miry clay. He set my feet upon a rock, made my footsteps firm. He put a new song into my mouth, praise of our God. Many shall see and fear and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the LORD, and has not gone over to the proud who follow false gods. How many, O LORD my God, are the wonders and designs that you have worked for us; you have no equal. Should I wish to proclaim or speak of them, they would be more than I can tell! You delight not in sacrifice and offerings, but in an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Then I said, “See, I have come.” In the scroll of the book it stands written of me: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your instruction lies deep within me.” Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O LORD. Your saving help I have not hidden in my heart; of your faithfulness and salvation I have spoken. I made no secret of your merciful love and your faithfulness to the great assembly. O LORD, you will not withhold your compassion from me. Your merciful love and your faithfulness will always guard me. For I am beset with evils too many to be counted. My iniquities have overtaken me, till I can see no more. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart is sinking. Be pleased, O LORD, to rescue me; LORD, make haste to help me. O let there be shame and confusion on those who seek my life. O let them turn back in confusion who delight in my harm. Let them be appalled because of their shame, those who jeer and mock me. O let there be rejoicing and gladness for all who seek you. Let them ever say, “The LORD is great,” who long for your salvation. Wretched and poor though I am, the Lord is mindful of me. You are my rescuer, my help; O my God, do not delay.

Reword the third-person verses this psalm as if you were speaking to God directly. Then spend some time examining which verses speak for you and capture your innermost feelings. Examine also those phrases of the psalm which call upon God to punish those who have wronged you. Is this how you feel sometimes? How can a reflection of the life and mission of Jesus help you cope with the many issues in your life? How can a reflection of the life and mission of Jesus help you to discern your own mission? Write your own psalm, being sure to include your commitment to the unique mission God has set out for you.

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

Read John 1: 19–28. In this section John is identified as a witness to the person, mission and real identity of Jesus. Imagine being at a religious gathering that is somewhat public—say an appearance of our Pope at the Vatican—and Jesus shows up at the event. Would he look different than the others there? Would the Pope recognize him? Would we all see the Holy Spirit descend on him? How do you think you would react? In our actual time and space, we are still called upon to witness to Jesus. What sort of witness to the identity of Jesus are you and I called upon to make? How do we talk about Jesus as expression of God’s love for us, Jesus as our hope, and most difficult, Jesus as mystery? Pray for the grace to recognize Jesus in our world, for the courage to witness to his presence, and for the wisdom to do so in a way which draws others and does not judge.

Poetic Reflection:

In the following quirky poem, e.e. cummings seems to look at the experience of John the Baptist which we read about in John 29-34 in a different sort of way. How close does it come to your thoughts on Jesus and John?

no time ago or else a life walking in the dark i met christ jesus)my heart flopped over and lay still while he passed(as close as i’m to you yes closer made of nothing except loneliness.

Closing Prayer

From Sacred Space:

Jesus, Lamb of God, we will never exhaust our knowledge of you. Let me grow steadily in that knowledge, making my picture of you even richer. Help me find the balance between being occupied in your service without letting my occupations overwhelm me.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2022

Do not be afraid, God has a plan for each of us

Matthew 1: 18–24

“This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: Look! The virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call Immanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’. When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.”

Music Meditations

• Joseph’s Song—Michael Card
• Night of Silence/Silent Night—Marty Haugen (Daniel Kantor and Franz Gruber, composers)
• Come O Lord and Set Us Free—the Dameans
• People Look East—Marty Haugen

Opening Prayer

God of surprises, keep us open to your plans for us, keep us remembering that you hold us close to your heart. Teach us resilience and patience as we live out the lives you have planned for us.

Companions for the Journey

By Fr. Paul Gallagher, from “First Impressions” 2004:

The understanding of marriage in Mathew’s community is much different than that of most people of western cultures. In the Mediterranean culture of Jesus’ day, marriages were arranged in an effort to strengthen the bonds between families. Both sets of parents hoped that the marriage would enhance the political and economic situation of the family. They understood marriage as a bringing together of families, not individuals. Also, betrothal was not like engagement. It was the first step in the families’ accepting the marriage contract. The contract was completed when the man took the woman into his house. Even though a couple was betrothed they had very little contact with each other. To terminate the relationship required a formal decree of divorce.

This gospel text relates the events of Mary’s pregnancy from Joseph’s view. He is portrayed as a man of great compassion who desires to do the right thing. In the first verse Matthew tells his audience that Mary is pregnant through the work of the Holy Spirit, a fact that Joseph learns through a dream. Because Mary is pregnant, and Joseph is not the father, Joseph and his family are publicly embarrassed. Mary is presumed to have committed adultery and should be stoned to death. Even if Joseph would want to avoid public embarrassment for his and Mary’s family, and proceed with the proposed marriage, he cannot. A child is considered the property of the father. He cannot, in good conscience, receive/take the property of another and make it his own. The law required Joseph to return Mary to her father and expose her to death. By divorcing her quietly, he creates the possibility of the father of the child to come forward, accept the child, and marry Mary. It may help to remember that Joseph would have very little personal relationship with Mary at this point and is likely making his decisions void of the opportunity of significant communication with Mary. His decisions are extraordinary expressions of both compassion for Mary and trust in God.

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid.

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• The following are from Father Paul Gallagher, following his commentary on the readings for 4 Advent A, 2004:
1. Can you recall times in your life when you have been seriously disappointed in another person?
   Can you remember how you were feeling toward that other person?
   How did the situation affect your relationship with that person?
2. Have you known people who seem to be aware of God “calling” or “giving direction” to their life?
   Do you have a sense of how God seemed to be speaking to that person?
   How would you describe the quality of their life?
3. Joseph seems to have been asked to act in a way that was outside of what was expected of him as a faithful follower of his tradition. What kind of person would Joseph have been to be open to the course of action that God was asking of him?
4. Do you think that this story reveals a “one-time experience” of how God chose to come into our world or a “pattern” of how God chooses to break into our world?
5. Have you ever thought God was calling you to respond to a situation in ways that stretched you beyond what you thought were reasonable?
   How did you become conscious of God’s call to you?
6. Do you think that your response to God’s call in your life is as important to God as Joseph’s?
• What leap of faith that you might take actually causes you some fear? (new job, new school, new relationship, new career, actually staying in any other the above situations)
• Is it wrong to feel afraid?
• What events/situations in our contemporary culture or my personal situation are a cause of legitimate fear?
• Was Jesus ever afraid, do you think?
  What does Jesus’ life/death tell us about courage in the face of fear?
• Am I afraid of God? Why or why not?
• What does Jesus’ birth tell us about God’s concern for humanity?
• The name Emmanu-el is Hebrew for “God-with-us.” How did Jesus demonstrate this truth of his “name”?
• Harking back to this bible passage, which is told from Joseph’s point of view, what do you think about Joseph’s fears concerning this whole enterprise?
  Were they legitimate?
  Did Joseph know something we wouldn’t in the same circumstances, and if not, what does that tell you about his quiet courage?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

The references to Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, in the Gospels, is to say the least, underwhelming. In the gospel of Matthew, he shows up in chapter one, and is gone in chapter 2, never to appear by name in this gospel again. However, the bulk of today’s story focuses on Joseph, and the story of Jesus’ conception from his point of view. Using our imagination, let us put ourselves in Joseph’s shoes as this dramatic story is playing out:

What is your profession; is it a lucrative one? Do you already have a home? How old are you? How religiously observant are you? Ae you quiet or somewhat dynamic as a person? Are you a local person and did you know Mary and her family before this betrothal? What did you think of her? Is she mature for her age? Beautiful? Quiet or lively? Assertive or meek? What made you decide to marry her—or was it a family decision? Where and how will you live as a family? Do you want children? How did you find out that Mary was already pregnant and you knew the baby was definitely not yours? Did she tell you? Did her father? Her mother? Town gossip? Were you angry? Sad? Confused? All of the above? Did you decide not to stay betrothed to her? Why? What did you think would be the best solution for all concerned? Why, in fact, were you concerned about her in the first place? What would her fate be if you repudiated her and her baby? Then imagine the dream…..How real did you think the angel was, or was it merely an overactive and anxious brain? Construct the dialogue between yourself and this “dream messenger”. In any event, what convinced you that God’s will was for you to take Mary into your home and treat her as your wife permanently? Did you think there will be repercussions (This is a very traditional and strict society, and people can count, can’t they?) Now imagine the very awkward conversation with Mary as you let her know what you decided to do (Obviously, Mary did not get a vote in the final decision). Were you afraid of the consequences of this decision? How does your trust in God’s plan keep you strong, or does it?

What we learn is that “God is with us,” is no guarantee of easy sailing, even for the saints. Their faith/trust wavered at times, just like ours does. Think of a situation in which you have been called upon to risk your reputation, your security or your happiness because God might be calling you to take a leap of faith. Pray for courage in the face of fear, wisdom in the face of anxiety, and trust in the face of uncertainty.

Poetic Reflection:

A final Advent Poem:

“Advent” (On A Theme by Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Look how long the weary world waited, locked in its lonely cell, guilty as a prisoner. As you can imagine, it sang and whistled in the dark. It hoped. It paced and puttered about, tidying its little piles of inconsequence. It wept from the weight of ennui, draped like shackles on its wrists. It raged and wailed against the walls of its own plight. But there was nothing the world could do to find its own freedom. The door was shut tight. It could only be opened from the outside. Who could believe the latch would be turned by a pink flower  —the tiny hand of a newborn baby?

—Pamela Cranston

Poetic Reflection:

Just enjoy this lovely poem:

“On the Mystery of the Incarnation”

It's when we face for a moment the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know the taint in our own selves, that awe cracks the mind's shell and enters the heart: not to a flower, not to a dolphin, to no innocent form but to this creature vainly sure it and no other is god-like, God (out of compassion for our ugly failure to evolve) entrusts, as guest, as brother, the Word.

—Denise Levertov

Poetic Reflections:

Because this is the last set of reflections until the new year, here are two Christmas poems based on the Gospel of Matthew, which is the only infancy narrative which includes Herod and the Wise Men. The poets are Ranier Marie Rilke and Wiliam Everson (a Dominican lay brother also known as Brother Antoninus):

“Legend”

Once long ago when at the desert’s edge a Lord’s hand spread open – as if a fruit should deep in summer proclaim its seed – there was a miracle: across vast distances a constellation formed out of three kings and a star. Three kings from On-the-Way and the star Everywhere, who all pushed on (just think !)) to the right a Rex and the left a Rex toward a silent stall. What was there that they didn’t bring to the stall of Bethlehem! Each step clanked out ahead of them, as the one who rode the sable horse sat plush and velvet-snug. And the one who walked upon his right was like some man of gold, and the one who sauntered on his left with sling and swing and jang and jing from a round silver thing that hung swaying inside rings, began to smoke deep blue. Then the star Everywhere laughed so strangely over them, and ran ahead and found the stall and said to Mary: I am bringing here an errantry made up of many strangers. Three kings with ancient might heavy with gold and topaz and dark, dim, and heathenish, - but don’t you be afraid. They have all three at home twelve daughters, not one son, so they’ll ask for the use of yours as sunshine for their heaven’s blue and comfort for their throne. Yet don’t straightaway believe: merely some sparkle-prince and heathen-sheik is to be your young son’s lot. Consider: the road is long. They’ve wandered far, like herdsmen, and meanwhile their ripe empire falls into the lap of Lord knows whom. and while here, warmly like westwind, the ox snorts into their ear, they are perhaps already destitute and headless, for all they know. So with your smile cast light on that confusion which they are, and turn your countenance toward dawning with your child: there in blue lines lies what each one left for you: Emeralda and Rubinien and the Valley of Turquoise.

—Rainer Maria Rilke

“The Wise”

Miles across the turbulent kingdoms They came for it, but that was nothing, That was the least.  Drunk with vision, Rain stringing in the ragged beards, When a beast lamed, they caught up another And goaded west. For the time was on them. Once, as it may, in the life of a man, Once, as it was, in the life of mankind, All is corrected.  And their years of pursuit, Raw-eyed reading the wrong texts, Charting the doubtful calculations, Those nights knotted with thought, When dawn held off, and the rooster Rattled the leaves with his blind assertion--- All that, they regarded, under the Sign, No longer as search but as preparation. For when the mark was made, they saw it. Nor stopped to reckon the fallible years, But rejoiced and followed, And are called "wise", who learned that Truth, When sought and at last seen, Is never found.  It is given. And they brought their camels Breakneck into that village, And flung themselves down in the dung and dirt of that place, And kissed that ground, and the tears Ran on their faces, where the rain had.

—William Everson (aka Brother Antoninus, O.P.)

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, during this Christmas season, especially, be with those who are lonely, sad, ill, or who are dealing with circumstances beyond their control. Give them the comfort inspired by a little baby, born so long ago, who brought the love of God into this world and hope for all who face uncertainty.

Third Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2022

What kind of Messiah are you waiting for?

Matthew 11: 2–11

Now John had heard in prison what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin-diseases are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the good news is proclaimed to the poor; and blessed is anyone who does not find me a cause of falling.’ As the men were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John, ‘What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the one of whom scripture says: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you to prepare your way before you. ‘In truth I tell you, of all the children born to women, there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.”

Music Meditations

• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus—Chris Tomlin
• People Look East-Marty Haugen
• Come thou Font of Every Blessing— with lyrics by Chris Rice or by Elenyi Music
• O Come O Come Emanuel—Enya
• The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns

Opening Prayer

Jesus, we talk of your coming, of your coming again. But you have never really gone away. You have been with humanity since the beginning of time, have been with us throughout history, and are with us now and forever. Help us to remember that and live in the “now” of your presence, and help us to live truly in your presence, modeling our very lives after the humility and selflessness, the forgiveness and compassion which was your true self.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions” a preaching service of the Southern Dominican Province:

Boy, a lot has changed in the life of John the Baptist since last Sunday’s gospel! He has been center stage for us these two middle weeks of Advent. Last week he was out in the desert, the fiery preacher and precursor for Jesus. Remember his warning about “the one who is coming” after him, the one who would have a winnowing fan in his hand to clear out all the chaff from the threshing floor and burn it in unquenchable fire? Well, that was then, in chapter 3—this is now—in chapter 11. A lot has happened since John’s earlier preaching. Jesus has taken up his ministry of preaching and healing and John has been arrested for speaking out against Herod’s marrying Herodias, the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother.

Now John is in prison and he sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” What happened to that sure-fired preacher we met earlier? He seemed pretty sure he knew what God had in mind and what the one to come would be like. Initially John was quite taken by Jesus and when Jesus came to him to be baptized in the Jordan, John demurred, “I should be baptized by you, yet you come to me!” (Mt. 3: 14) We sense, in the question John sends through his disciples to Jesus, that John is disappointed or confused in how his successor Jesus is following the game plan John initiated. Why was it taking Jesus so long to purge the world? Where was the judgement on the world and the fire for the chaff John promised in last Sunday’s gospel? Why didn’t the religious leaders embrace Jesus? Others would have been disappointed as well. Jesus wasn’t pulling the country together along nationalistic lines, wasn’t organizing the people to fight for their freedom from the Romans.

Sometimes when people go through a life-changing religious experience and they come to a deeper and more personal experience of Jesus in their lives, the initial moments are quite rosy. (Many people, when they recall their childhood faith, also have similar memories of a time when they felt they had stronger faith because they questioned less.) After a major faith awakening there is a sense of illumination, daily life takes on new meaning and having a sense of Jesus ready and present to their prayers gives a great feeling of companionship. But as life goes on, that sense of immediacy often fades, especially in the harsh light of the daily grind or at moments when we are jarred out of our routine by the harsh realities of life. Where, we ask, is Jesus now that we need him? Why isn’t he helping us solve our current problem? Isn’t our faith in him supposed to protect us from the difficulties we are now facing? Were we wrong to have put so much trust in him at the start? Faith doesn’t take the shape we think it should—or rather, if today’s gospel is any indication–Jesus doesn’t always fit our preconceptions. Besides the personal issues Christians face there are larger ones we face as a community of believers. Where is Jesus’ power in the world these days when we are experiencing so many manifestations of darker powers? What difference are we making to bring about a world of peace? Do our individual and communal efforts at reconciliation make any difference? So, we may find ourselves asking at worship today the question John raises, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?” Are we being asked to trust this Advent that God is really at work in our lives, though in often less obvious or “impressive” ways? “Lead us not into temptation...” we will pray today before we receive the eucharist. Is our temptation to be disappointed in God’s pace, timing and manner of response to our urgent prayers?

What answer will Jesus send back to allay John’s doubts and reinforce his faith in prison? Jesus doesn’t impatiently dismiss the emissaries from John—and that was good news for John and comforting to us as well. We are not ignored in our faith struggles to understand who Jesus is for us at this stage of our journey. Jesus does respond to the question John sends, though at first, it seems indirect. Wouldn’t a simple “yes” or “no” have been appropriate to such an urgent question? Instead Jesus refers to Isaiah 35: 5-6 (“Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing.”) and 61: 1 (“God has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken hearted.”)

John would certainly be familiar with the prophet Isaiah’s description of the one God would send. Guided by the Jesus’ Isaiah reference, John would also have learned that Jesus was going to put aside the more militaristic messianic anticipations some of the people had and was going to be the kind of gentle messiah the prophet Isaiah had anticipated. However, Jesus did not give a thundering response to John’s question, did not draw down lighting or cause the Jordan to stop flowing to reassure John’s doubts. That would have coerced faith. Instead, John like us, was invited to draw his own conclusions and then decide whether to put faith in Jesus. John was urged to see God at work in Jesus’ reaching out to those in most need, bringing healing to the sick, forgiveness to sinners and preaching good news to all who had come to hear him. Jesus was God’s sure sign that God had heard the cry of the people and had come to address them definitively!

Let’s not overly spiritualize Jesus’ statements to John’s disciples about the blind, lame, lepers, deaf and poor. They are very real among us, their numbers grow daily in the economic downturn our world is experiencing and the loss of jobs due to the terrorists’ attacks. (“Food for Survival,” one of New York City’s major food pantries just made a report that one million people, one out of eight New Yorkers rely on the city’s food pantries to help them fight hunger. NY Times, December 2, 2001) Jesus really did help the forgotten and those in need. His actions on their behalf were a proof to John that God was working through him, for they were the ones God has always shown concern for and considered precious. Though forgotten by a world distracted by war, possessions, fashion, glamor and high tech, the poor are noticed by God. Jesus is the undeniable proof.

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

What did you go out to the desert to see?

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

What do you think is meant by the coming of Jesus into our lives? What changes will happen? Will you like those changes, or are you happy with the world as it is for you personally right now? By my words and actions do people around me experience Jesus in their lives? When have I recognized Jesus in someone who needed my help? Am I proclaiming “good news” to the poor? Do I encounter the poor in my life? Do I even see the poor in my life? In this gospel passage, John’s plans have changed and his life has taken a turn for the worse; still he has hope… For what do I hope, right here, right now? Am I waiting for Jesus to make the blind see, the lame walk, those suffering from diseases cured, the deaf hear, the dead raised to life, and to bring good news to the poor? Just who are the blind, the deaf, the lame, the suffering in my life? What help or even comfort am I bringing to them? John expected a “fire and brimstone” Jesus; instead he got a Jesus of compassion and forgiveness. What kind of Jesus is our culture looking for? What kind of Jesus am I looking for? Advent is really not about waiting for the Baby Jesus to be born; the historical Jesus has come and gone. So what are we waiting for? Are we sitting back and waiting for God to fix the messy world we inhabit? If not God, who? Advent clashes with the Christmas shopping season; how can we be more true to Advent with a better use of our resources, both personal and environmental? Do we really believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan? Does this give us hope or cause a shiver of apprehension? The world of John the Baptist and of Jesus was a mess, especially for the Jewish people. The rich were few but powerful, and exploited the poor. Poverty was rife, as were disease and problems caused by that poverty. The Romans were constantly rattling their sabers at the Jewish people, threatening their sovereignty and their very existence as a people. What messes are we facing as a people or individually in our own lives at this time? Where do we find hope? Jesus tells his disciples to go and see John in prison and tell him what they have heard and seen about Him (Jesus). Are there peoples whom we need to tell about Jesus? What are some of their particular prisons? What do we say about Jesus to these peoples? What brings the presence of Christ to us today?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

Imagine that you are John the Baptist, the prophet who convinced people to change their hearts in advance of the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. Now you are in prison, put there by Herod who feared your popularity among the Jewish people, (After all HE is king, and any popular figure is seen as a threat) Look around you: what is this prison like? Is it hot and stuffy or cold and damp? Is it clean or filthy? What do they feed you? How do the guards treat you? Sitting in your cell, you look back on your life, trying to piece together how you got here in the first place. So you reminisce: What was your childhood like? When did you realize that you had a special calling from God? Why did you go out into the desert and live as you did? What was with the clothes and the locusts and wild honey? Remember what it was like at the river Jordan when people came in droves to hear you preach and to be baptized? Try to imagine the arrival of the Pharisees and Sadducees on the scene. How did they react when you called them out for assuming they were special because they were descended from Abraham? Do you remember when you called them a brood of vipers? Did you seek out confrontation, or did confrontation seek you out? Jesus was all grown up and just beginning His ministry when he approached you that day by the River Jordan. When you hesitated to baptize Jesus, and when He insisted that you do so because it was what “uprightness” demanded, were you still a little reluctant to do so? Did you hear the voice from heaven calling Jesus God’s beloved, or was it only Jesus who heard? If you heard the voice of God, why, now that you are in prison, do you have such concern about what people told you that Jesus was doing and saying that you send some of you own disciples to talk to Jesus himself? Was it frustrating to be locked up and away from any ability to interact with Jesus directly? Specifically, does His message seem a little too “soft” on repentance and a little long on compassion for your taste? Do you ever hear back from your disciples? If so, what do you think about what they told you upon their return? Do you agree with what Jesus said about you? Just how DO you view Jesus?

Now project yourself into our time and place where we can only know about Jesus from what others have told us. Does what I have heard give me hope? In what way am I called to advance the message of Jesus as John did? What sacrifices might Ï be called upon to make to advance the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Poetic Reflection:

The late Stanford poet Denise Levertov ponders two approaches to the coming of the kingdom. Which do you prefer?

“Sparks”

In today’s mail a poem quotes from Ecclesiastes: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. A letter with it discloses, in its words and between them, a life opening, fearful, fearless, thousand-eyed, a field of sparks that move swiftly in darkness, to and from a center. He is beginning to live. The threat of world’s end is the old threat. “Prepare for the world to come as thou shouldst die tomorrow” says the Book of Delight, and: “Prepare for this world as thou shouldst live forever.”

Poetic Reflection:

Is the poet speaking of the first coming or the second coming?

“Advent Calendar”

He will come like last leaf's fall. One night when the November wind has flayed the trees to bone, and earth wakes choking on the mould, the soft shroud's folding. He will come like the frost. One morning when the shrinking earth opens on mist, to find itself arrested in the net of alien, sword-set beauty. He will come like dark. One evening when the bursting red December sun draws up the sheet and penny-masks its eye to yield the star-snowed fields of sky. He will come, will come will come like crying in the night, like blood, like breaking, as the earth writhes to toss him free. He will come like child.

—Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

Poetic Reflection:

What is my part in creating a “new Eden”?

And then all that has divided us will merge And then compassion will be wedded to power And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind And then both men and women will be gentle And then no person will be subject to another’s will And then all will be rich and free and varied And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many And then all will share equally in the Earth’s abundance And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old And then all will nourish the young And then all will cherish life’s creatures And then all will live in harmony with each other and the Earth And then everywhere will be called Eden once again.

—Judy Chicago

Closing Prayer

From Karl Rahner:

Behold, you come. And your coming is neither past nor future, but the present, which has only to reach its fulfillment. Now it is the one single hour of your Advent, at the end of which we too shall have found out that you have really come. O God who is to come, grant me the grace to live, now, in the hour of your Advent, in such a way that I may merit to live in you forever, in the blissful hour of your eternity.