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.

Being sent

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The story of Job is the well-known biblical account in which a person’s life goes from prosperity and security, from joy to despair. He has lost his family, his possessions, his security – and Job is the one who asks aloud what some of us only whisper – where is God in all of this? Job watches while his life unravels losing prosperity, family and feeling that the entirety of his life under assault. He has looked into his life to see if he is being punished for sin. But he finds none. And the assault doesn’t stop. He grows sick and covered with sores.  No wonder he laments: “My days … come to an end without hope. …. I shall not see happiness again.”

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Preparing the heart for Lent

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Back in the day when I was working in the world and spending way too much time on airplanes accumulating way too many frequent-flyer miles, it seemed to me business travelers did three things on longer flights: sleep, work, or read Stephen’ Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” The book argues that one should align universal and timeless principles with one’s values. Covey sees principles as external natural laws, while values remain internal and subjective. Covey asserts that values govern people’s behavior, but principles ultimately determine the consequences. If sales volume is a measure of the usefulness of this self-help book, then 25+ million copies sold says something. Maybe there are some possibilities for a parallel book about the best practices and habits for Catholics. Might be a Lenten best seller! “The 7 Habits of a Clean Heart.”

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The struggling veteran

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In the previous article we had left Francis in the spring of 1205, in his early 20’s, just released from a year as a prisoner of war, suffering severe physical effects and psychological burdens, that to the modern mind fit the description of PTSD. He returned with compromised health, face drawn and sallow, digestion impaired, and was plagued with bouts of recurring fever. When he was out of bed he was listless and kept to the house.  A biography written within two years of Francis’ death (by Thomas of Celano, 1C) records Francis’ convalescence from his imprisonment in Perugia as follows: “When he had recovered a little, he began to walk about through the house with the support of a cane… [and] one day, he went outside and began to gaze upon the surrounding countryside. But the beauty of the fields, the delight of the vineyards and whatever else was beautiful to see, could offer him no delight at all [and he] considered those who loved these things quite foolish.” (1C4) Continue reading →

Virginia and the death penalty

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Today, Bishop Michael Burbidge (Arlington) and Bishop Barry Knestout (Richmond) issued the following joint statement on the abolition of the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia:
“We welcome today’s vote by the Virginia House of Delegates to abolish the death penalty, as well as the vote by the Virginia Senate to do so earlier this week.
“We offer – and affirm the utmost need for – prayerful support for the families of victims of horrific crimes. We also affirm, with clarity and conviction, the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: ‘[T]he death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person’ (no. 2267).

“The same paragraph of the Catechism also notes, ‘[T]here is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes.’ We see this increasing awareness at work in the many voices that joined together to advocate for this legislation, and ultimately in the votes by the Senate and House in favor of ending the death penalty in Virginia, which has executed more people than any other state.

“In the words of Pope Francis, ‘Indeed, nowadays the death penalty is unacceptable, however grave the crime of the convicted person. It is an offence to the inviolability of life and to the dignity of the human person; it likewise contradicts God’s plan for individuals and society, and his merciful justice’ (Remarks to 6th World Congress against the Death Penalty, June 2016). As Pope Francis, his predecessors and the U.S. Catholic bishops have consistently noted, we have other ways to provide punishment and protect society, without resorting to executions. We too have been consistently clear in our stand on the abolition legislation this year and on similar legislation in years past, and in our direct interventions before executions occurred in Virginia and at the federal level.”

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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