Readings for Wednesday January 9[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 John 4:11-18
We continue St. John’s first letter following the profession of God’s love yesterday. “The testimony of the Spirit and that of faith join the testimony of love to confirm our knowledge of God. Our love is grounded in the confession of Jesus as the Son of God and the example of God's love for us. Christian life is founded on the knowledge of God as love and on his continuing presence that relieves us from fear of judgment.” (NAB Footnote)
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Psalm 72 is a royal psalm, to be sung by the king. While the song recounts the tribute brought by adjoining kingdoms (as tribute to his just rule) we see this as a reminder of the gifts brought by the Magi to the young Savior. This is reinforced in the final strophe as the song stresses care for the poor and afflicted.
Gospel Mark 6:45-52
The Gospel of St. Mark provides us with a second proof of the identity of Jesus. Following the feed of the five thousand, he now calms the sea and walks upon the waters as a demonstration of the authority of the Messiah. Used in this passage is a formula utterance attributed to God “It is I, do not be afraid!” Translated literally the identity is “I am”. The disciples are not ready to accept the meaning of these signs “there hearts were hardened”. They resisted the leap of faith.
Reflection:
We thank God for the gift of St. Mark’s portrayal of the Disciples of Jesus. This is primarily because he describes them as being so human, so slow to understand the nature of God’s involvement in their lives.
The picture painted today immediately follows the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. The disciples have gone on ahead of Jesus. We are told he “…made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida”. The Lord then dismissed the crowd and went up to pray (What would the Lord pray about after feed the multitudes? What would he say to his Father who had just provided a massive spectacle that proclaimed Jesus as God’s only Son?)
In the mean time, the Disciples were in trouble. The Sea of Galilee is not very deep and when the wind blows, the waves become large very quickly. We are told that the boat containing the Disciples was far out to sea and was being tossed about. Most of the Disciples were seafaring men. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen and consequently capable sailors. They knew they were in trouble. Then the Lord came to them, walking on the sea. Given their lack of faith, they must have been thoroughly terrified to see the Lord were he could not be.
This story omits St. Luke’s description of St. Peter trying to walk out to Christ. Instead we hear a remarkable statement from the Lord; “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" Translated from the original language that “it is I” comes out “I am” – guess who else uses that name? While the disciples still don’t get it, we do. The Lord demonstrates his authority over creation and tells them in no uncertain terms that he is God!
St. Mark allowed his audience to hear the story and say “Don’t they see it yet? Jesus just told them who he was.” St. Mark’s predominately Jewish readership would have seen the significance immediately. We do as well, but then we already have seen the rest of the story haven’t we?
And were does this scripture take us during the afterglow of Christmas and Epiphany? We first thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the in-dwelling gift about which St. John speaks in his first letter. Without that Spirit of Wisdom we might be as dull about the identity of the Lord as the Disciples in St. Mark’s story. Second, we see in the disciples’ lack of understanding our own failures. How often have we been exposed to miraculous signs from God and missed them totally? Daily do we look about and not see the wonder of what God has created? With each encounter, do we see in the eyes of the stranger our Lord gazing back at us?
We thank God for St. Mark’s presentation of the disciples who would later become the instruments of God’s work. If they, who walked with the Lord, were at times unable to understand the Father’s call to them, we take heart that His work may yet be accomplished in us as we strive to follow in their footsteps.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “Storm on the Sea of Galilee” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1645
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 John 4:11-18
We continue St. John’s first letter following the profession of God’s love yesterday. “The testimony of the Spirit and that of faith join the testimony of love to confirm our knowledge of God. Our love is grounded in the confession of Jesus as the Son of God and the example of God's love for us. Christian life is founded on the knowledge of God as love and on his continuing presence that relieves us from fear of judgment.” (NAB Footnote)
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Psalm 72 is a royal psalm, to be sung by the king. While the song recounts the tribute brought by adjoining kingdoms (as tribute to his just rule) we see this as a reminder of the gifts brought by the Magi to the young Savior. This is reinforced in the final strophe as the song stresses care for the poor and afflicted.
Gospel Mark 6:45-52
The Gospel of St. Mark provides us with a second proof of the identity of Jesus. Following the feed of the five thousand, he now calms the sea and walks upon the waters as a demonstration of the authority of the Messiah. Used in this passage is a formula utterance attributed to God “It is I, do not be afraid!” Translated literally the identity is “I am”. The disciples are not ready to accept the meaning of these signs “there hearts were hardened”. They resisted the leap of faith.
Reflection:
We thank God for the gift of St. Mark’s portrayal of the Disciples of Jesus. This is primarily because he describes them as being so human, so slow to understand the nature of God’s involvement in their lives.
The picture painted today immediately follows the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. The disciples have gone on ahead of Jesus. We are told he “…made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida”. The Lord then dismissed the crowd and went up to pray (What would the Lord pray about after feed the multitudes? What would he say to his Father who had just provided a massive spectacle that proclaimed Jesus as God’s only Son?)
In the mean time, the Disciples were in trouble. The Sea of Galilee is not very deep and when the wind blows, the waves become large very quickly. We are told that the boat containing the Disciples was far out to sea and was being tossed about. Most of the Disciples were seafaring men. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen and consequently capable sailors. They knew they were in trouble. Then the Lord came to them, walking on the sea. Given their lack of faith, they must have been thoroughly terrified to see the Lord were he could not be.
This story omits St. Luke’s description of St. Peter trying to walk out to Christ. Instead we hear a remarkable statement from the Lord; “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" Translated from the original language that “it is I” comes out “I am” – guess who else uses that name? While the disciples still don’t get it, we do. The Lord demonstrates his authority over creation and tells them in no uncertain terms that he is God!
St. Mark allowed his audience to hear the story and say “Don’t they see it yet? Jesus just told them who he was.” St. Mark’s predominately Jewish readership would have seen the significance immediately. We do as well, but then we already have seen the rest of the story haven’t we?
And were does this scripture take us during the afterglow of Christmas and Epiphany? We first thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the in-dwelling gift about which St. John speaks in his first letter. Without that Spirit of Wisdom we might be as dull about the identity of the Lord as the Disciples in St. Mark’s story. Second, we see in the disciples’ lack of understanding our own failures. How often have we been exposed to miraculous signs from God and missed them totally? Daily do we look about and not see the wonder of what God has created? With each encounter, do we see in the eyes of the stranger our Lord gazing back at us?
We thank God for St. Mark’s presentation of the disciples who would later become the instruments of God’s work. If they, who walked with the Lord, were at times unable to understand the Father’s call to them, we take heart that His work may yet be accomplished in us as we strive to follow in their footsteps.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “Storm on the Sea of Galilee” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1645
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