In the first reading, we hear the end of the story of Naaman, a Syrian general, who has just been cured of his leprosy. When Naaman comes to Israel he encounters the prophet Elisha. Naaman has come bearing all manner of riches and gifts, but Elisha wants none of it. He simply instructs Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Pretty simple and ordinary, yes? Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Lent in Lectionary Cycle B. Our gospel selection is akin to walking into the middle of a conversation – and indeed it is. Although Nicodemus has faded from the scene, at least by mention and name, this gospel is part of that dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, one of the leaders of the Jews. John 3:1-21 is often taken as a single pericope by scholars, that is, studied and considered together. Continue reading
During Lent, as you might expect, we have more and more folks coming to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many folks carried with them one of the various Examinations of Conscience, most are based on the 10 Commandments – something we heard about in the first reading today. I wonder if our gospel might be a better model for examining our lives especially in this Lenten season. Continue reading
This series of posts has attempted to give an overview of the history and place of the practices of reservation, adoration, exposition, and benediction as associated with the Holy Eucharist. In part, the genesis of the series was the occasional question asked on “the sidewalk of the church” whether our church offers Eucharistic Adoration. What they are really asking is whether the parish has Eucharistic Exposition ending with Eucharistic Benediction. Continue reading
The scholar Gail R. O’Day provides us with a final thought [John in the New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 9, ed. Leander E. Keck (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996) p.545]
John 2:13–22 is popularly interpreted as an example of Jesus’ anger and hence his humanity. Jesus’ actions of taking the whip, herding out the animals, and overturning the tables are pointed to as evidence that Jesus could get angry. Such attempts to amass evidence to prove Jesus’ humanity actually undercut the power of the incarnation, however. To focus on isolated attributes or emotions as proof of Jesus’ humanity is in effect to seek after signs, to base one’s faith on the surface evidence without perceiving the deeper reality. The underlying reality of the Fourth Gospel narrative is that “the Word became flesh” (1:14). Jesus’ humanity thus pervades everything he says and does in his ministry. The scandal of John 2:13–22 is not Jesus’ anger as proof of his humanity, but the authority this human being claims for himself through his words and actions. Continue reading
Today some churches are able to have a chapel where perpetual adoration (latria) is available to the faithful. In the liturgical regulation “perpetual” does not necessarily mean 24-hours per day, but there are parishes where that is a possibility. The one inviolable requirement is that the exposed Eucharist not be left alone. Thus, some parishes have extended periods, e.g. 12 hours per day, when the Eucharist is in exposition. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. Continue reading
There has been reservation and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament since the early days of the Church. But it was only in the 13th century that instructions and norms for tabernacles were established. But with the 16th century Council of Trent, a new era began in the devotion of the faithful to Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. 18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” The cleansing of the Temple was a startling act. It had its implications not only for the condemnation of the Temple traders, but also for the Person of Jesus. It was a messianic action. The Jewish leaders demanded that Jesus authenticate his implied claim by producing a “sign” (sēmeion). Interestingly they did not dispute the rightness of his action. They were not so much defending the Temple traffic as questioning Jesus’ implied status. Continue reading
I am a bit troubled by today’s readings. The gospel is this uncomfortable sequence in which Jesus, for the third time, has told his disciples “Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified.” At least this time Jesus lets them know he will be raised from the dead… not that they understand what he is telling them – or maybe they weren’t really listening. Continue reading
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