This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. William Lane offers an interesting distinction in the way to consider the idea of “authority.” Continue reading
Something Prophetic and New
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Being Family
The gospel today is one that was a central part of St. Francis of Assisi’s way of following Christ. Those who would follow this way of following Christ needed to understand that there was a clear demarcation between the former way of sin and that of “leaving the world.” In his writing known as the Earlier Exhortation, Francis divides the world of people into two categories: “Those Who Do Penance” and “Those Who Do Not Do Penance.” In medieval writing “penance” does not refer primarily to sacramental confession, but to a life directed to conversion to Christ. Continue reading
The One Gift
From the Rule for Monks by St. Basil the Great:
What words can adequately describe God’s gifts? They are so numerous that they defy enumeration. They are so great that any one of the demands our total gratitude in response. Yet even though we cannot speak of it worthily, there is one gift that no thoughtful man can pass over in silence. God fashioned man in his own image and likeness; he gave him knowledge of himself; he endowed him with the ability to think which raised him above all living creatures; he permitted him to delight in the unimaginable beauties of paradise, and gave him dominion over everything upon earth.
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Teaching and Authority
This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mark concentrates upon a single Sabbath when Jesus’ synagogue teaching provoked a reaction from the people present. The two words that describe the people’s reactions are: ekplessomai (v. 22) and thambeo (v. 27) – “astounded” and “amazed.” The first term, more literally means “be besides oneself” – or in the slang, “to be blown away!” It comes from something that is so incomprehensible that one’s mind can’t fathom what has been experienced. These are not terms of faith. In Mark’s gospel we will come to learn that miracles never produce proper faith. Continue reading
And so it begins
This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time in Lectionary Cycle B. The first major section of Mark’s Gospel extends from 1:14 to 3:6, and describes the initial phase of the Galilean ministry. Within this section the evangelist records the calling of the first disciples , Jesus’ ministry in and around Capernaum, and a series of controversies which are climaxed by the decision to seek Jesus’ death. Continue reading
Sunday of the Word of God
Today the Church Universal celebrates Sunday of the Word of God, a celebration established by Pope Francis in 2019. It is a celebration that is close to my heart. I have taught Bible Studies in parishes since 1986 and have more that 2,500 posts on my blog FriarMusings that have something to do with the Word of God. I just think the Bible is awesome, amazing, and from the Old Testament to the end of the New Testament is filled with things you need to know – and more importantly you need to be able to share. Continue reading
St. Sebastian
Today’s liturgical possibilities include an optional memorial for St. Sebastian who is the patron saint of athletes. Relatively little is known about St. Sebastian, a Christian martyr of the 3rd century. It is believed that he was an officer in the imperial bodyguard and Christian, but not openly so. When his faith was discovered the Diocletian, the Roman emperor, sentenced him to death. Sebastian was tied to a tree, executed by archers and left for dead. However, he had not died. He was found alive and nursed back to health. When at last he was able, he publicly announced his faith, denounced Diocletian for his persecution of Christians, and for this was martyred as he was beaten to death by the emperor’s guard. It is his virtues and gifts of strength, stamina, perseverance, courage and justice in the face of adversity and a superior opponent – and yet he gave his all.
The readings from today’s Mass include optional readings in celebration of the saint. The first reading is from the first letter of St. Peter and includes the following admonition:
Always be ready to give an explanation
to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
but do it with gentleness and reverence (1 Pt 3:15)
Are you ready?
Fishers of Men
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. 16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. As the first act of the Galilean mission Mark reports the calling of Simon and Andrew to be fishers of men. Jesus found these brothers working as fishermen on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, elsewhere designated the Lake of Gennesaret or the Sea of Tiberias. The inland sea, which was twelve miles in length and six miles across at its widest point, provided a point of access between Galilee and Perea. There were many towns and fishing villages especially on the western and northern shores. The waters teemed with life, and when Jesus summoned the brothers they were casting their nets into the sea. Continue reading
About Wickedness
The first reading today is the story of King Saul of Israel, jealous of David’s rising popularity and fame, is trying to hunt down the young David and kill him, lest David become the king by popular demand. In the realm of power politics, David has his chance there in the cave to resolve the conflict, become king and turn the page of this story of intrigue. His followers are telling him to make the best of the opportunity that God has clearly laid at his feet! But David reminds himself: “The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’” Clearly David is someone steeped in the Word of God and would be aware of the history of wickedness. Continue reading
Certitude or Trust
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Douglas John Hall (Bound and Free: A Theologian’s Journey) writes about the necessity of “our becoming and being a thinking faith.” I think it relates to these two commands to repent and believe.
There is a problem today that is found not only in Christianity but in most of the religions, as well as in many nonreligious ideologies. I will call this the problem of certitude. Its corrective is the importance of Christianity’s being a thinking faith – and, more specifically, the importance of doubt in the life of faith. Continue reading
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