Ordinary Time

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

Biblical wisdom literature, as here in Sirach, often talks about the choice between two paths: wisdom or foolishness, life or death. The point of traditional wisdom literature is to make this choice clear and to argue for the way of wisdom and of life. The commands of God are intended also to point toward the way of life. God’s commands are not impossible to fulfill, otherwise they would be unjust. Humans must learn to trust that what God commands is, in fact, the truly good. Sin, in this reading, is failure to trust God and so choose the wrong path.

Although Paul declared that he did not come to the Corinthians speaking wisdom (2:1–5), he now concedes that, in fact, he did come speaking wisdom. But it was not the “wisdom of this age.” Instead, he spoke God’s wisdom, which only those who are “mature” can understand. God’s wisdom is not likely to be persuasive to those who think with the mind of the age rather than with the mind of God (see Romans 12:2). This wisdom is only accessible through the power and gift of the Spirit, who alone comprehends the “mysterious, hidden” plan of God. Paul will go on to insist that it is this same Spirit that the Corinthians have received, so that they may “judge spiritually,” and not according to the wisdom of the world (2:11–15).

Jesus insists to his disciples that he has not come to abrogate a single divine command or prophetic exhortation. Instead, he insists that the law exists not merely to be “observed,” but to be lived. It is intended to point toward and inculcate those dispositions and virtues that together comprise “righteousness.” The way to the kingdom of heaven is not merely to follow the rules, as if they in themselves were the point. Rather it is to become formed into people whose wills reflect the values embodied by the law (which of course does not excuse one from keeping the commandments).

Jan 08 2025

Team “Light for the World!”

My husband and I are season ticket holders for Notre Dame women’s basketball. What we really like to watch is how the players work together as a team. Because women are generally shorter than men, they cannot just run down the court solo and slam the ball into the hoop. They have to work together. Women’s basketball is a team sport.

In today’s reading, Jesus is talking to a team. In the passages “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world,” the “you” is plural. It might be more accurately translated with a southern accent as “y’all are the light of the world.” We are to be a team. We are not tall enough to knock the lights out of “darkness” by ourselves. We have to work together. The Christian life is a team endeavor.

In the readings for the last several weeks, St. Paul has been berating the Corinthians for their lack of solidarity: You fight over privilege and power! You fight over food! You look first to your own interests! Is this Christian team behavior? He can’t change them through persuasive arguments. He points them to the cross of Christ who models for “y’all” a new way to live.

We are called to be a team. How do we conquer the darkness together? Isaiah says, share food with the hungry. Clothe the naked. Satisfy the needs of the wretched. Then, when we (plural) call for help, “the Lord will answer, ‘Here I am’.” Then our light will rise like dawn out of darkness. Our fans in the stands, the saints of heaven who have played this game before us, will cheer as the lights come up; they will “give praise to our Father” and shout out to us, “Go team!”

Consider/Discuss

Sometimes the darkness feels too great. We cannot overcome it by ourselves. Do you ever get discouraged? Where might the Lord be leading you to become a part of a team that makes a difference in this world?
We are to be a team that is light for the world. On any team, some sit on the sidelines and others actively contribute. Are you willing to train hard enough to get into the game? What spiritual exercises do you need to take up to be stronger?

Living and Praying with the Word

Angels and saints in heaven, pray for our solidarity. Even in the Church, we struggle to play and pray together. But in the battle against the darkness, we need each other, all players on the field. Father, Son, and Spirit, you are one. Strengthen us so that we look past our differences and learn to work together to be one as you are one. Help us be light for the world and salt of the earth, to your glory and praise. St. Paul, pray for us as you prayed for the Corinthian community.

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

This post-exilic Isaiah passage reflects a time when the full restoration of God’s people in the land had yet to materialize. Agricultural and economic conditions led to a general failure to thrive. The people have complained that, although they have fasted and prayed, God has not responded (58:3). Thus, God’s retort: This is the fast I want—to take care of one another, to remove oppression and injustice from among you. Only when God’s people have attended to these traditional, well-known covenantal expectations will they experience full restoration, when God answers and quickly heals their “wound.” This is God’s desire and final intention.

Paul has been arguing that God’s wisdom, God’s way of acting in the world, makes no sense from the perspective of “human wisdom” (1:18–31). Thus it was that when Paul came proclaiming God’s plan of salvation through the cross of Christ (“the mystery of God”), he did not rely on persuasive arguments or “sublimity of words.” Rather, he simply proclaimed what God had done, relying on God— through the Spirit and power—to persuade that Paul spoke the truth. Ultimately for Paul, the Christian message cannot be demonstrated using human logic; its truth can only be shown and believed through the power of God.

Jesus exhorts his disciples that they are charged not just to follow and learn from him, but to manifest the glory of God through their lives. Salt is only useful when it seasons food. Likewise, discipleship is not just for the good of the individual but for others as well; disciples must therefore make sure that they are faithful followers of Christ. Light provides illumination, and is thus a prominent biblical metaphor for the attractive power of God’s teaching and actions for others (for example, Isaiah 2:2–5; 42:6). Just as salt must be salty or it stops being salt, and light that does not illuminate cannot really be light, so Christians in whom others cannot see the glory of God are not really (good) disciples.

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

The Isaian passage refers to the devastation wrought by the Assyrians around the year 732 B.C., when the northernmost tribal areas of Zebulun and Naphtali were annexed by the empire (2 Kings 15:29). This area, which included several non-Israelites, was referred to as the Galilee (District) of the Gentiles. The full oracle, which continues beyond the Lectionary reading, announces that the degradation of that event has come to an end with the birth of a new Davidic king (8:5–6). This king will surely take back for Israel the northern lands, just as Gideon rescued these northern tribes from the hands of the Midianites back in the days of the Judges (Judges 6–7).

Paul this week attends to divisions that have arisen within the church at Corinth. These reflect a fundamental misunderstanding about the nature of the church as a whole. Whereas in the larger society, it was customary to “belong” to a particular teacher or political or social group, distinct from others who belonged to other groups, the church of Christ is formed around Christ alone, and it is he who unites all Christians in “the same mind and in the same purpose.” To divide the church along factional lines is, for Paul, to deny its special nature, which is not meant to mirror the larger society.

Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth lies to the southwest of the Sea of Galilee, whereas Capernaum is situated to the north, in the middle of the former area of Naphtali. The Evangelist’s citation of the Isaiah passage points to Jesus’ identity as the long-expected Davidic king who has brought salvation not only to Israel but also to the Gentiles. Jesus begins his public ministry by preaching repentance and the reign of God—the former part of the acceptance of the latter. Jesus’ first act is to call together his coworkers who, having learned from him, will help him cast as wide a net as possible for the proclamation of the kingdom of heaven.

Jan 08 2025

Called to Follow, No Matter the Cost

Imagine you are Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. How do you confront him when he tells you about this call of Jesus. “What? You’re leaving fishing? You love fishing! You love being on the water! You’re going to follow who? A carpenter’s son from Nazareth? Nazareth! Really?” But you’ve never seen Peter’s bearded face so radiant, at least not since the day he married your daughter. Since her death, inescapable gloom has engulfed him. Despondency has surrounded him like a dark cloud on the Sea of Galilee. He is such a passionate man. He’s been really difficult to live with.

Now? Something has changed. Joy floods his eyes. Love fills his words. Something new overflows from his heart. This Jesus hasn’t asked him to leave fishing, he exclaims, but tells him that he’ll be fishing for “men”! What in the world does “fishing for men” mean? How can he ask that much from Simon? Does he know how broken he is inside or does he only see those strong muscles? Does this Jesus understand that the big fisherman really doesn’t handle loss very well?

You try to get Andrew to change his brother’s mind. Andrew is the more level-headed one. But he says that he’s going , too. He says that we can trust this Jesus. Then he sings, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” As he turns to go, he shouts, “He might be the one! He could be the Messiah that we have been waiting for!” Then he skips down the path. Andrew, sensible Andrew, skips! You’ve heard of mountains skipping like rams, but—Andrew?

And yet worry seizes you—Simon is leaving all? How will we eat? Who will run the business? You’ve got so much fear. So much anxiety. It just might make you sick.

Consider/Discuss

The call of Jesus is an unrelenting call to leave everything behind. What worries do we have about that? In what ways is it hard to trust, for our own life or for that of others? How can that anxiety make us sick?
In the middle of Isaiah’s oracle of gloom and doom, the prophet suddenly describes a new radiance that will dawn. When you have been in a deep darkness, what does it feel like to see a great light? Do you ever feel so much joy that you feel like skipping?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, you have come to the shore of our lives. You have called us by name. Thank you for the honor of following you. On our own, we’ve got nothing. With you, all is possible. Help us to trust that where you lead will be abundant and rich. Hold our worries in your hands and deliver us from all anxiety, for your call is our call, your path is our path. Let us never be separated from you.