Ordinary Time

Jan 30 2025

All’s Well That Ends Well

The end of the church year directs our attention to what scripture says about the end of time. Two of the words used to describe these texts are not part of our ordinary vocabulary: apocalyptic, which refers to receiving a “revelation” in a vision of something concealed up until now, and eschatological, which points to events of the endtime or final age (the eschaton), when the evil powers make their final struggle with God and are defeated.

These readings have one important point to make: that all will be well. God is in charge, even when it seems that everything is coming to a catastrophic end. As we hear in the first reading today, God has designated the angelic guardian Michael to watch over the people. Such a time will prove that how one lives life has consequences. The book of Daniel offers a word of consolation to the wise and those leaders who championed God’s justice.

In the Gospel Mark’s Jesus speaks of the coming of the Son of Man in great power and glory. While Jesus indicates in Mark’s Gospel that this would happen soon, such was not the case. We continue to wait on the Lord.

When we pray the Our Father we always say, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Someone asked recently why we pray that God not lead us into temptation, finding it strange to think of God doing such a thing. What we pray for is that God not let us fail in the final testing that everyone has to undergo.

Consider/Discuss

Does the idea of an “endtime” have meaning for you?
Do you find comfort in the message of these texts or do they evoke another response?

Responding to the Word

Loving God, you created all that is in the heavens and on the earth; we know our future is in your hands. Help us to entrust ourselves to your mercy and care. Do not allow temptation to overwhelm us, but send your Spirit to lead us into your kingdom, where your Son reigns forever and ever.

Jan 30 2025

Scripture Study for

Today’s apocalyptic scene is part of the revelation granted to the prophet Daniel. It depicts the final struggle at the end of time and the subsequent resurrection to a life of horror or one of glorification. The distress is probably that final tribulation that will come to pass before the appearance of the final reign of God. Known as the “birth pangs of the messiah,” the agony preceded the birth of the reign of God. Daniel is told that those whose names appear in the book (the Book of the Righteous) will be spared. They may have to endure the agony of the endtime, but they will escape ultimate destruction.

This explanation of the unique sacrifice of Christ re-interprets an understanding of the Jewish practice of sin offering. The singular status of Jesus the priest and the inestimable value of Jesus the victim set his sacrifice apart from all others. Total and complete expiation has been accomplished through him. There is no need for Jesus to stand and offer another sacrifice. Therefore, he takes his seat next to God in glory. Jesus has decisively expiated all sin and conquered all evil. He has been able to accomplish what the sacrificial system of Israel, despite its preeminence, has been unable to achieve.

Mark describes the character and appearance of the end of time through allusions to earlier apocalyptic traditions. Chief among them are the reference to the tribulations that precede the advent of the new age and the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds. Cosmic occurrences will accompany the distress that will take hold of the world. The coming of the Son of Man in the clouds, an allusion to the mysterious figure found in the book of Daniel (7:13), heralds the advent of the new age. The exact time of the coming of the new age is shrouded in mystery. The lesson to be learned from all this: Be prepared!

Jan 30 2025

A Window on Widows

My earliest memory of a widow was Aunt Lizzie: white-haired, seemingly very old, but kindly. (I was four, so she was probably in her sixties then—how one’s perspective on age changes with time!) She lived with my godmother and uncle, having contributed some of her savings to help them buy a house. My second memory was of Lana Turner playing The Merry Widow in the 1952 movie of the same name. Both were light years away, historically and culturally, from the widows in today’s readings.

The widows in biblical times were imperiled. If they did not have sons who would care for them, their very lives could be endangered. The widow in the first reading has a young son; she is collecting sticks to build a fire to prepare the last of her flour so they can eat and die. When Elijah asks her to prepare a cake for him, she generously does so—which proves to be her salvation. Later he even restores her son to life.

Jesus watches a widow put in her last—literally—two cents in the temple’s coffers. He has previously warned about the scribes who “devour the houses of widows” while reciting lengthy prayers. Some say Jesus is lamenting the foolishness of this widow, like the prophets of the past who railed against the neglect of widows and orphans. But most think he is praising her generosity in giving “all she had, her whole livelihood.” Like her, Jesus will soon put all his trust in the Father.

Consider/Discuss

Do you see the widow in the Gospel as foolish, generous, or in another way?
What would it cost you to put all your trust in the Lord?

Responding to the Word

God of all, you have called to your people from the time of Moses and through your prophets past and present, but most especially through your Son, Jesus, to care for your little ones, for the poor, and the stranger. Help us today to be attentive and active doers of your word.

Jan 30 2025

Scripture Study for

The woman in the first reading is in a perilous situation. As a widow in a patriarchal society, she has no male protector and very few resources to call upon. She is in such dire straits because God withheld the rain, and her reserve of water and flour and oil is depleted. The prophet’s request is not selfishly insensitive. Rather, it becomes the avenue through which God provides for the woman and her son. She follows the word of the prophet, and God’s word spoken through the prophet comes to pass. Her miraculous supply of flour and oil lasts for a year.

The second reading contrasts the temple in Jerusalem with the heavenly temple. While the high priests performed their sacrificial duties in the earthly temple, the exalted Jesus entered the true sanctuary. The former cultic system enabled the people to participate in cosmic events by reenacting them. However, it was only able to actualize these events for a short period of time. This explains why the Day of Atonement ritual was reenacted year after year. In contrast to this, Jesus offered himself once for all. His sacrifice, like all cosmic acts, was unrepeatable. Earthly ritual may reenact his sacrifice, but there is no need for Jesus himself to repeat it.

Jesus condemned the ostentatious piety of the scribes. He further accused them of exploiting widows. This condemnation was called down on them because they had deprived the widows in the name of religion. Sitting in the temple, Jesus then contrasted donations of the wealthy with that of a poor woman. The wealthy loudly donated from their surplus; they gave what they did not need. The woman quietly donated the little that she had; she gave what she needed. Her wholehearted generosity demonstrated her absolute trust in God. The passage that opened with a condemnation of the false piety of the unscrupulous closes with praise of the genuine piety of the simple.

Jan 30 2025

Hear the Law of the Lord

As a boy I learned the Ten Commandments, the six precepts of the Church, the seven sacraments, the seven gifts and twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit. Having memorized these, I felt a sense of accomplishment. But can you imagine having to memorize the 613 laws found in the Torah? The Torah was the foundation of the covenant God made with the people of Israel.

If you go on line and do a search for “613 commandments,” you will find them listed, along with a reference to the particular biblical book where each can be found. Some listings place the laws under various categories, such as God, Prayers and Blessings, Love and Brotherhood, the Poor and Unfortunate. The largest list relates to Sacrifices and Offerings—over one hundred of them.

When the scribe asked Jesus what was the first of all the commandments, he was asking a question most important to any devout Jew. Jesus looked within his own heart before giving his answer: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:4–5) and love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18).

His answer came from his heart, recognized in the Jewish tradition as the center of the human person, the seat of all thought, choice, value, and feeling. Moses’ words to the people in today’s first reading still stand: “Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today” (Deuteronomy 6:1).

Consider/Discuss

What is the value of having a law to live by?
Take time to read the 613 commandments, and consider how love is at the heart of the law of the first covenant. Then, read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) for the same lesson.

Responding to the Word

Loving God, we thank you for the gift of your law that has been revealed in the teachings of Moses and of Jesus Christ. It offers us guidance and light for our lives. Your Holy Spirit continues to enlighten our way. May we be attentive to the direction that is offered.