Category Archives: Musings

Way back when

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Between yesterday and today, our first reading covered the story of Creation from Genesis 1. It is a familiar story, a story told in children’s book, a story we have heard countless times over the years. It is a story that I think we are so familiar with that we no longer bring that same wonder and imagination when we first heard the account as children. And yet it is perhaps the fundamental account of the Power of God’s word – working toward good – working toward very good. Which is not a bad description of what we hope God’s word is creating in us: a movement from good to very good.

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In the beginning…

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Yesterday I invited you to take 8 minutes or so of your day and watch the Bible Project’s video on the literary design of Genesis 1, the creation story. One of the voices on that video belongs to Tim Mackie. On the Bible Project website, he is introduced as follows: “Tim Mackie is a writer and creative director for BibleProject. He has a PhD in Semitic Languages and Biblical Studies. He wrote his dissertation on the manuscript history of the book of Ezekiel, with a focus on the Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls. What a total nerd! He is a professor at Western Seminary and served as a teaching pastor for many years.”

Tim is one of the founders of The Bible Project and does amazing work. Today I offer you a chance to take about 45 minutes of the day and listen/watch Tim in his role as a teaching pastor presenting on Genesis 1.

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Riches of the deep end

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The first reading from the 5th Monday in Ordinary Time, Year B as well as the 5th Tuesday, cover the opening verses from the Book of Genesis. It is the account of the creation story. There are all manner of commentaries available that richly and in great detail describe and analyze the text and all its nuances. At one point in my life, I would dive into the “deep end of that pool” to soak it all in. And then turn to the folks in my Bible Study and start to share the discovered riches…and watch their eyes glaze over. Not because of the nature of the riches, but because of the narrator … me. Along the way I got better. I hope. At least the eyes were not noticeably glazed. But I think the masters of offering a mixture of the big picture and the detailed riches are the folks at the Bible Project.

So, I invite you to take about 8 minutes of your day and watch their video about the literary design of Genesis 1.  It will give you a deeper understanding of Genesis and probably lead you to want to dip your toes in the “deep end!”

As I always note, the Bible Project is an amazing not-for-profit group that I think worthy of our support for their great work of evangelization.

A tough read

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Many folks and friends have told me over the years that they “started to read the Bible… beginning with Genesis.” I always want to ask what happened when they reached the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Scriptures following after Genesis and Exodus. These first two books are largely narratives with protagonists, antagonists, plots, crises, and resolutions. They are forms of writing quite familiar to us. But  Leviticus? It is described as “The book mainly treats cultic matters (i.e., sacrifices and offerings, purity and holiness, the priesthood, the operation of the sanctuary, and feast days) but is also interested in various behavioral, ethical, and economic issues (e.g., sexual practices, idolatrous worship, treatment of others, the sale of land, slavery). The goal of the laws is not merely legislative.” Not exactly a page turner. It is a tough read.

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The Kingdom of enough

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In today’s gospel, Jesus sends the disciples out on their first mission. In the fast paced Markan gospel, the disciples had seen Jesus working for the kingdom and had been helped to reflect on the meaning of his activity and his message.  They had seen his commitment and the how his service to the Kingdom came as a priority to his own needs.  When tracked down after finding a quiet place to pray, when told of the need to minister to the people, Jesus responded: “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” (Mk 1:38)

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Dismissed

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In today’s gospel, on the sabbath day Jesus attended the synagogue and was given the opportunity to speak about the reading from the sacred scrolls. The entire congregation was astonished at his teaching, which prompted questions concerning the source of his doctrine and wisdom and of the power which had been exhibited elsewhere in miracles of healing and exorcism.

Jesus had not been schooled in rabbinic fashion but had been trained as a manual laborer. His immediate family were well known to the villagers, who judged that there was nothing extraordinary about them that would have led them to expect something unusual from Jesus. What was the source of his wisdom, and who had empowered him to speak and act with such authority?

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Your Last Words

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In today’s Gospel on this Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, we hear last words. We have always placed a special emphasis on last words. There are websites dedicated to recording the last words of famous people. Some are profound, some hilarious, and some ironic. Movies highlight the last words of the dying. I guess it is that we believe that for the person, this is their last shot at figuring things out, summing things up. We assume that at death’s doorway there is no need nor desire for pretense or fabrication, but only moments of deep, abiding truth and wisdom – and we hang on the edge of our seats.

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Paying Attention

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The second, longest, and most complex of this Gospel’s narrated exorcisms, Mark 5:1-20 is a tale of terror. Jesus encounters a demoniac who horrifies his neighbors by howling among tombs commandeered by diabolical powers that provoke him to appalling self-abuse. The man is impossible to restrain.

To the original hearers of the account, the story screams religious impurity because of its contact with corpses. The original hears probably heard the echo of Isaiah (65:4) describing the rebellious, stubborn nation of Israel as people who inhabit tombs and eat swine’s flesh. And then there is the demonic possession. Which in itself is bad, but again, the original listeners, when they hear the name “Legion” (Mark 5:9), pile on their revulsion at the memory of their suffering and trauma at the hands of imperial soldiers.  The man is menaced and menacing. Who could come near? What cure is possible?

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Useless Catholic Trivia

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My Franciscan brother, Fr. Casey Cole OFM, is a prolific producer of videos, blogs, podcasts, and all manner of digital evangelization. He has a YouTube channel, his long-time blog “Breaking in the Habit“, a podcast (Everyday Liminality), Facebook page, and more – he even has a wikipedia page!

This morning, I came across one of his new videos that I wanted to share with you – as Fr. Casey says – make sure you have 18 minutes of your life that you will never get back! If you like trivia – this video is for you. Enjoy.

Fr. Casey serves the parishioners of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Macon, GA