Catechism Links[1]
CCC 436, 1241, 1546: Christ as prophet
CCC 904-907: our participation in Christ’s prophetic office
CCC 103-104: faith, the beginning of eternal life
CCC 1822-1829: charity
CCC 772-773, 953: communion in the Church
CCC 314, 1023, 2519: those in heaven behold God face to face
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| “Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1630 |
Commentary:
Reading I: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Commentary on Jer 1:4-5, 17-19
This is the beginning of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. It is clear that the author sees the call of the prophet from before his birth (See Isaiah 49:1, 5; Luke 1:15; Galatians 1:15-16. I knew you: I loved you and chose you. I dedicated you: I set you apart to be a prophet.)
The prophet is commanded to proclaim the Lord to the nations. He is given the protection of the Lord who will overcome all obstacles. (“They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”)
CCC: Jer 1:5 2270
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17
R. (cf. 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
Commentary on Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17
Psalm 71 is an individual lament. In this section we hear a profession of faith in the saving power of God. In the third strophe we also find a link to the call of Jeremiah before his birth. In both cases the servant is known by God and prepared for his service from the womb.
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Reading II
Longer Form:
Commentary on 1 Cor 12:31—13:13
St. Paul shifts his focus from the diversity of the different functions within the Body of Christ (which is the Church), to the gifts common to those enlightened by Christ. First among these gifts is love which informs all reason, directing the Christian to the love of Christ.
“In speaking of love, Paul is led by spontaneous association to mention faith and hope as well. They are already a well-known triad (cf 1 Thessalonians 1:3), three interrelated features of Christian life, more fundamental than any particular charism. The greatest . . . is love: love is operative even within the other members of the triad, so that it has a certain primacy among them. Or, if the perspective is temporal, love will remain (cf "never fails,") even when faith has yielded to sight and hope to possession.”[5]
CCC: 1 Cor 12 1988, 2003; 1 Cor 13 735, 800; 1 Cor 13:1-4 1826; 1 Cor 13:4-7 1825; 1 Cor 13:5 953; 1 Cor 13:8 773; 1 Cor 13:12 163, 164, 314, 1023, 1720, 2519; 1 Cor 13:13 1813, 1826, 1841
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Or
Shorter Form: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13
Commentary on 1 Cor 13:4-13
This shorter version of St. Paul’s discourse on the characteristics of Christian love (faith and hope) omits the beginning verses, but retains focus on the unselfish and selfless nature of the relationship between members of the community, imitating Christ’s love for the Church.
CCC: 1 Cor 13 735, 800; 1 Cor 13:1-4 1826; 1 Cor 13:4-7 1825; 1 Cor 13:5 953; 1 Cor 13:8 773; 1 Cor 13:12 163, 164, 314, 1023, 1720, 2519; 1 Cor 13:13 1813, 1826, 1841
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Gospel: Luke 4:21-30
Commentary on Lk 4:21-30
This Gospel passage places Jesus at his home town speaking in the synagogue. Some of those present, presumably those less familiar with Jesus’ local origins, praised him. Others there were questioning his authority, since they knew him as a child and knew his family. This selection is his response to their questioning his status and authority.
We understand why the people were upset when we consider that, in his analogy explaining why he could accomplish no works from God, he used Elijah going to a widow in Sidon (not Israel) and Elisha curing Naaman (a Syrian not an Israelite). This would have placed Jesus on a par with the great Prophets, blasphemy in the eyes of his old neighbors. Perhaps even more upsetting to the people would have been that their God would not reveal himself to them because of their lack of faith.
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Homily:
I don’t know how many of those present are familiar with the Star Wars movies, but there is an analogy I hope to draw from them today, so bear with me as I explain the part of this science fiction saga to which I am referring. It takes place in the second of the seven films released (The Empire Strikes Back), which was made back in 1980 (which seems incredible to me). The hero, Luke Skywalker is sent to complete his training with a Jedi master named Yoda who, with Pennsylvania Dutch syntax, speaks he does.
Luke is supposedly learning to control the “force,” and is trying to telepathically lift his space craft out of a swamp into which it sank upon his arrival. He is attempting to levitate the ship. But when his rational mind sees how big it is, he loses faith in his ability and fails. The ship, which had started to rise as he applied himself, sinks back into the swamp.
There are other examples of a person’s rational mind stepping in and taking over, confounding faith. We use this one because it is well known in popular fiction but rings true. Those of you who are old enough, may remember learning to ride a bicycle for the first time. Do you recall that you got started those first times you attempted to ride with a parent or an older sibling pushing you and running alongside to get you started? Then when they let go for the first time, your rational mind took over and you realized that balancing on those two skinny tires was impossible and you fell; right?
The Gospel story tells of Jesus home coming once he has taken up his public ministry. Rumors would have reached Nazareth about his miraculous cures and the other miracles he performed in Capernaum. So, there were great expectations among the people. As the Gospel began in today’s selection, Jesus has just finished reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. It is one of the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. Did you notice, he concluded by saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” In saying those words, Jesus told those present that he was the Messiah! We notice their immediate response was one of amazement. The Holy Spirit, no doubt, proclaimed inwardly that this was truth!
Then, their rational minds took hold of them. They questioned the thought that had first occurred. The asked “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” (According to tradition, Joseph would have died some years earlier, before Jesus was baptized by John.) They knew this boy, now a man and prophet. How could he be the Messiah? Jesus immediately sees their disbelief and realizes he will not be able to bring faith to those closest to him.
Instead of just letting it pass, the Lord, seeing their expectation tries to explain why he will not give them any signs. He points first to the Prophet Elijah and the miracle of the bottomless oil and flour jars (1 Kings 17:10-16): How Elijah did not go to a Hebrew widow, but to a widow of Sidon where God’s power was manifested through him. This would have set the local Jewish congregation on edge. Then he followed with another example, this time it’s Elijah’s protégé, Elisha, who cures a Syrian, Naaman, of Leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-11); again, not a Hebrew, a Syrian. These two examples enraged the congregation to a point where they wanted to kill Jesus.
Ask yourselves, why did they get so angry? Was it because they thought Jesus would not perform miracles for them? Or was it because he reminded them how many times throughout history God had offered himself to them in the form of the Law and the Prophets, yet they had rejected God’s offer? Was it not because, by Jesus reminding them of this just after he had told them he was the Messiah and been rejected, they saw the truth and hated him for it? They had looked back and realized it was impossible to balance on a bike. It was impossible for the foster son of Joseph to be God as well as man.
How important this story is for us! We come to Mass today with the promise of a miracle taking place, don’t we? Perhaps it has been promised so often, we sort of expect failure. When we come forward later, after seeing the bread and wine transubstantiated through our prayers, changed into the essence of Christ’s Body and Blood, can we see the truth of that event? Does not our heart leap, at least for a moment and then, does our rational mind set in saying: “This is just a wafer of bread. Didn’t we see it put into the vessels to be distributed?” Does our faith allow us to recognize the gift of life we are being offered? Or have we looked back and realized it is impossible to balance our bike on two small wheels?
When Jesus came back to Nazareth, where he grew up and where he had been known his whole life, he could not show them signs. The faith of the people was not able to allow it. It is a warning to us. When we come to this familiar place and hear the familiar words, do we tune out? Do we go on autopilot, saying the words without listening to their meaning? It is a trap we all face, and one we must all work diligently to avoid.
Lent is fast approaching. Let us make a special effort this coming season to revitalize our faith. Let us embrace the truth of the Eucharist and once more marvel at the gift God’s Only Begotten Son has left for us.
Pax
In other years on this date: Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[3] The picture is “Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem ” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1630
[5] See NAB footnote on 1 Corinthians 13:13
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