SOCL, Lent3B24

Sunday March 03, 2024

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up

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See

In the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox traditions, faith and reason are not in fundamental contradiction. At the same time, there is something radically irreducible and paradoxical in our faith. It was expressed a long time ago by Bishop Robinson, the scandalous particularity of the incarnation. And we may add, of the crucifixion. The Christian vision, for us, is indeed something wonderful. Nevertheless, let’s not forget that for many today, it is in a way too wonderful, too strange and actually unbelievable. That natural resistance can be part of our faith too!

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Listen

Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19 [18]; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25

Psalm 19, Lord, You Have The Words

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Reflect

(John 2:13-25)

-We all tend to confine God to received traditions (places, images, words) but we know that “God is greater than our conscience.” (1 John 3:20) How do I experience that “more” of God and keep it before my eyes?

-Jesus himself is the “locus” of God’s presence for us, a presence found in life, through others, in the Word of God and in the sacraments. What have been my own moments of encounter, with him who gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction?

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Pray

Holy God, the folly of the cross mocks our human wisdom and the weakness of the crucified puts worldly power to shame. Banish from our hearts every pretence of might and knowledge, that, by the power flowing from Christ’s resurrection, your people may be raised up from the death of sin and fashioned into a living temple of your glory. Grant this through Christ, our liberator from sin, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.

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Act

-Embrace Paradox: Recognize that life often presents paradoxes, just like the Christian faith. Seek to understand and accept these paradoxes rather than seeing them as obstacles.

-Cultivate Wonder: Practice gratitude and try to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This can help you deepen your faith and appreciation for life.

-Build Resilience: Understand that moments of doubt and resistance are a natural part of faith. Seek support when needed and remember that these moments can ultimately strengthen your faith.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024v, March 3). Third Sunday of lent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030324.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

The Word today, W3B24

January 22 - January 27, 2024

Monday 22 January

St Vincent, deacon and martyr

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10 This is a key reading for two reasons. David is “elected” as king and secondly he make Jerusalem his capital.

Mark 3:22-30 It can still shock that some of Jesus contemporaries proposed he was doing the work of the evil one. The thinking may have been like this: he is doing powerful deeds, but we do not believe he comes from God. Therefore…!

Tuesday 23 January

2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19 The ark represented the presence of God on the move with the people. The settling down, so to speak, of God’s presence in Jerusalem, even without a temple, was indeed a momentous choice.

Mark 3:31-35 Our reading can feel a little unsettling because it sounds like Jesus is dismissing his family, including his mother. However, it is really an affirmation of the essence of discipleship.

Wednesday 24 January

St Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor

2 Samuel 7:4-17 Today we read from one of a few absolutely central texts from the Old Testament. Earlier in the chapter, David made a proposal to build God a house. Through Nathan, God refuses David for the substantial reasons given. Nevertheless, a tremendous promise is made to David and his “house”, a mark of God’s love and faithfulness through time.

Mark 4:1-20 This long reading can be tricky. The original parable is given first, a parable from the lips of Jesus. The later explanation of the parable comes from church tradition, a kind of allegorical reading. The allegory narrows the original meaning of the parable. In between, the question of the disciples is difficult. It seems to be answering a later issue: how was that that most of Jesus’ fellow Jews did not recognise him as the Messiah?

Thursday 25 January

Conversion of St Paul

Acts 22:3-16 The conversion of St Paul had huge consequences for early Christianity. He was a man of terrific energy and physical courage, inspired by a deep desire to do God’s will. His encounter with Jesus placed his great gifts of intellect and spirit at the service of the Christian movement, to its lasting enrichment up to today. He himself tells of his conversion in his own words in Galatians 1.

Mark 16:15-18 Note: this passage comes from one of proposed endings to Mark, none of which comes from the head of the evangelist.

Our reading today is chosen for the very first words which capture something of the ministry of Paul, who went out to the whole known world of his time, that is, the Roman Empire around the eastern Mediterranean.

Friday 26 January

Sts Timothy and Titus

2 Timothy 1:1-8 The tone of encouragement is always needed and today, more than ever, we need the reminder to fan into a flame the gift of God.

Mark 4:26-34 A further few seed parables illuminate the Gospel. The parable of the farmer asleep is especially encouraging: just let things grow. Cf. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (1Corinthians 3:6)

Saturday 27 January

St Angela Merici, virgin.

2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17 Because of David’s adultery with the wife of Uriah and his subsequent murder, the prophet Nathan is sent by God to accuse David of his sins. The prophet begins by tricking the king into righteous anger and then very cleverly catching him out. The electric words are “You are the man.” David wasn’t the first or last person in the world to have been a hypocrite or to have acted inconsistently.

Mark 4:35-41 Already at the hands of Mark, the calming of the storm is to be read symbolically. The later church, under tremendous pressure during the Jewish War, questions the presence and even the concern of Jesus. The final question is one we need to ask again and again.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024j, January 21). Third Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012124.cfm

-unday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

The Word today, Advent4B23

December 25 - December 30, 2023

Monday 25 December

Isaiah 62:1-5 - For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem held by your God.    No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,” but you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the LORD delights in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you;    and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.

Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 - When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia and entered the synagogue, he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,  “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors 

and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it. Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,  has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am?  I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”

Tuesday 26 December

St Stephen, the first martyr

Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 As you listen, you may notice in the account of Stephen’s death many echoes of Jesus’ death in Luke’s Gospel, such as praying for his enemies.

Matthew 10:17-22 It is clear from Matthew’s Gospel that becoming and being a Christian sometimes caused tremendous family upheaval. But the message is reassuring: in the moment of testing, the Holy Spirit will be with you.

Wednesday 27 December

St John, apostle and evangelist

There is a consensus in critical biblical suites that the apostle and the evangelist are two different persons. For some, this may be news and perhaps a shock. For others, it means we celebrate twice!

1 John 1:1-4 This passage from the first letter of John is very poetic and uplifting. It reminds us a little of the prologue of the Gospel of John.

John 20:2-8 Readers will notice the start contrast between the reactions of Peter and that of the Beloved Disciple. The Beloved Disciples is symbolic, showing that the “charismatic” arrives more quickly at the truth

Thursday 28 December

Holy Innocents

1 John 1:5-2:2 Our reading today is both highly spiritual—God is light—and immensely practical—we all do sin.

Matthew 2:13-18 The tragic note struck by this story in Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that Christmas is also about the cross. The writer echoes the birth of Moses as well as the history of the Exile in Babylon.

Friday 29 December

St Thomas à Beckett

1 John 2:3-11 How old and how new is the Gospel? The command to love is hardly new as such—see Deut 6:4-6. But it is newly possible in the light of Jesus’ resurrection and the gift of the Spirit.

Luke 2:22-35 Today we hear a delightful vignette of the best of Jewish piety. Simeon—one of the few old people in the New Testament—is a model of piety and faith.

Saturday 30 December

1 John 2:12-17 The reading addresses the hearers directly but needs careful handling. The “world” does not mean creation as such but whoever in creation is opposed to God.

Luke 2:36-40 Matching the story of Simeon, we hear the story of Anna, daughter of Phanuel. She too is a model of Jewish piety and trust in God. As a prophetess, she proclaims Jesus to all who long for deliverance.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2023b, December 24). Fourth Sunday of Advent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122423.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-b). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/