Year B

Jan 27 2025

Scripture Study for

The books of Kings contain several stories of the prophets Elijah and Elisha providing for the destitute. During a drought, Elijah ensures that a widow’s jars of flour and oil will not go empty until the drought ends (1 Kings 17:9–16). Elisha performs a similar miracle for another widow, filling all of her vessels with olive oil for her to sell (2 Kings 4:1–7). Here we have a multiplication of barley loaves. All of these stories point to the providence of God, particularly for the needy. The role of the prophets is necessary, however, for it is through them that God provides for “the widow and the orphan,” a care that God insists throughout scripture is the job of all Israel.

In last’s week reading, Paul spoke of the reconciling action of Christ, who reconciled Jew to Gentile and both to God, creating “in himself one new person” and bringing peace. Paul now returns to the theme of unity and peace. The church does not exist for itself but has a mission to announce God’s plan of salvation in Christ, which requires that Christians reflect the unifying and reconciling work of Christ by their behavior toward one another. Others must be able to see that the church, though made up of very different people, is “one body” (not a collection of individuals), animated by one Spirit, motivated by one shared hope in the one God and the one Lord, Jesus Christ.

For the next few weeks, the Lectionary departs from Mark in favor of John’s account of the feeding of the five thousand and the Bread of Life discourse. As Jesus heals the sick, he attracts a huge crowd, whom he intends to feed. Whereas Philip had noted that they would never have been able to buy enough to feed all the people, Jesus feeds them so well that there is plenty of food left over. The people rightly understand at least one implication of what Jesus has done, which is that he is no ordinary wonder worker, but “the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world” (see John 1:9). He will soon explain to them an even more astounding—and difficult— truth about who he is.

Jan 27 2025

Exhausted—Just as Jesus Was

Exhaustion. Jesus understands it. When he heals, power pours out of him. When he sits down to rest, someone shows up to talk. After he preaches all day, crowds clamor after him until night. At night, he stays up to pray. Jesus knows how draining ministry can be. The exhaustion of helping others is very real.

In the work I do with clergy, I also see exhaustion. One pastor manages eight properties (including two schools) in Manhattan, in addition to meeting the everyday needs of several thousand people. Another pastor walks the streets of his inner-city parish where the blood of shootings is regularly splattered on his church door. A staff chaplain serves four thousand employees on a college campus. Servant leadership is exhausting. Deep fatigue permeates daily life.

For parents of young children, social workers, nurses and doctors, police, ministers and teachers, burnout is an occupational hazard. Researchers have found that burnout can creep up on any of us, no matter the occupation. We work harder but produce less; we become cynical toward the people we used to enjoy helping; we awake with a feeling of dread, already emotionally drained.

In today’s Gospel, the Twelve come back both exhilarated and exhausted. These are their early days, so they are not yet burned out. But Jesus knows that they are tired. He takes them away to a deserted place to recover.

But nobody rests for long. The crowds find them. Jesus’ heart is moved with pity. Can you feel Jesus’ urgency? So many people need help. That urgency keeps us going, too. The twinned graces of duty and compassion propel us to help, even long after we’d like to stop. The mission goes on. But Jesus knows that we also need to be refreshed.

Consider/Discuss

How refreshing it is when someone offers to help lighten our load! That accompaniment gives courage to life. Love comes from the graces of compassion and duty that show up in tiny ways—a guest helps with the dishes, a grandparent takes the kids for the day, a parishioner brings a meal, a businessman volunteers to do the books. How can the Holy Spirit– inspired impulses of duty and compassion move us to help someone carry his or her load today? How can duty and compassion toward ourselves spur us to ask for help today?
Jesus knows our weariness. Some surveys suggest that fatigue is a hidden but perhaps deadly epidemic in modern life. One out of five fatal car accidents is attributed to a drowsy driver. Work productivity is impaired by a lack of sleep. We are tired. (You might even be nodding off while you read this!) The graces of duty and compassion keep us going. Yet how can we allow the Holy Spirit to inspire us to take steps toward restorative rest?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord, you said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Thank you for knowing what I am going through. Thank you for recognizing my need. Thank you for your compassion. This moment as I pray, I am falling asleep. Hold me now, tender Lord. Soothe my soul, blessed Savior. Let me rest in your calm for a moment. Then I’ll get up and get to work. Or maybe not. Good night, sweet Jesus.

Jan 27 2025

Scripture Study for

Today’s passage from Jeremiah occurs in a section of oracles from the very last days of Jerusalem. The prophet’s strongest criticisms are reserved for the Davidic kings, who are charged with maintaining justice and ensuring covenant fidelity. Yet these “shepherds” have failed to uphold justice and correct worship of God. Because of their negligence, Israel is now under judgment, which will include exile (the scattering of the sheep). Yet God insists that this judgment is not the end of the story. After a time, God will gather the sheep and return them to the land, placing over them a righteous Davidic king who will lead the people as God expects them to be led.

Paul reminds the Ephesians that before they became Christians, they were dead in their transgressions, but have now been brought to life in Christ, a completely unmerited gift (2:1–7). The Gentile Ephesians have thus been brought into the household of the God of Israel through the blood of Christ, who has erased the boundary that separated Jews from Gentiles. What was once two people is now one people. Not only has the estrangement between Jew and Gentile been overcome, but the estrangement of both from God has been healed in the very body of Christ, both the body of Christ on the cross and now in the body of Christ that is the church (the “one new person”).

The apostles Jesus sent out last week have returned. The work of proclaiming the Kingdom is exhausting, and so they are invited to rest. But the work is never actually over; the more the kingdom is proclaimed, the more the people clamor to receive its gifts. Jesus knows, however, that the apostles must be rested and fed so that they can continue their ministry. Yet the people keep coming, looking for Jesus. Not only is this a sign of the faith that Jesus admires and praises so much, but it is also a sign of the needs of the people. It is in response to both the faith and the need that Jesus begins to teach the crowd.

Jan 27 2025

Making a Difference

A preschooler reaches up and beams, “I love you, Mommy.” A young father stops the homilist and says, “Your preaching has helped me to trust God more.” A cashier looks at the hospital chaplain with tears in her eyes and murmurs, “Thank you for your kind words on the day that my husband died.”

There are few things so rewarding as making a difference in someone’s life. To touch people’s lives warms the giver’s heart. The elation of helping others is very real.

Today, Jesus sends the apostles out two by two. Imagine the excitement to be given the authority to do the “mighty deeds” of the Teacher! The delight at seeing demons fall, the euphoria of healing the sick, and the conversion of the broken-hearted—can you picture it? That had to be exhilarating.

The prophet Amos was sent from taking care of his sheep to prophesy to the people of Israel. To be on a mission is motivating. Fire burns within and propels us forward: “Come on! Let’s go!”

Those moments of elation keep us giving. The satisfaction of helping others keeps us going. Yet Jesus provided the Twelve with nothing for the journey. They were not permitted to be self-sufficient. They had to work in solidarity with one another. Why? Perhaps Jesus knew the temptations to grow proud and to get puffed up, to feel heroic. The human emotion of being on a mission is just part of the story. God is the Hero of heroes. St. Paul says that we are chosen for a purpose, God’s purpose. We serve for the praise of God’s glory.

It is the living God who wants to be at work through us. That is the supreme cause for rejoicing. Imagine that joy!

Consider/Discuss

Over and over again, we are free to choose whether to serve others or serve ourselves, whether to give glory to God or to ourselves, whether to follow God’s purpose or our own. Within one lifetime, those daily choices form who we are and what we become. What would you like to do today?
Tell stories of grace. How has someone warmed your life? Whose mission has gladdened the way you see the world? How has God been at work through others to hearten and heal and encourage you?

Living and Praying with the Word

Holy Spirit, you have poured love into our hearts. You are the strength and the power beneath our acts of kindness and compassion. We do nothing without your grace. Jesus, you look upon our bravery; you look upon our meager efforts to serve you; you look upon our “mighty deeds,” and you smile a thousand smiles. For you love us. You know that it is serving others that makes life worth living. Heavenly Father, you have created us that way, and so you give us those opportunities to make a difference for each other. Thank you, Holy Trinity, for your grace. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your kindness.

Jan 27 2025

Scripture Study for

Amos has been preaching in Bethel, an important cultic site that featured a golden calf, set up by Jeroboam as a rival cult to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:26–31), and thus “the king’s sanctuary.” Amaziah addresses Amos as if he were a “professional” prophet whose earns his bread by prophesying. Such prophets were often suspect, since their “prophecies” could be geared to favor whoever paid them. Amos insists that he is not a professional prophet; he had a job from which he was taken away by God to perform the dangerous task of preaching in places like Bethel. The rhetorical point is to affirm that Amos is a genuine, because reluctant, prophet, not one seeking to profit from his task.

Paul begins his letter the Ephesians by bringing into focus the divine plan, which the church has been formed to announce. The language of being “chosen” and called to be “holy and without blemish” recalls God’s creation of Israel. In the case of both Israel and the church, God has redeemed and forgiven because God is rich in grace, but also for a larger purpose, “the mystery of his will,” which is now revealed to be to “sum up all things in Christ.” The church, then, is not a collection of individuals, but a people called forth by God for a purpose, which, when fully known, will lead to the “praise of the glory of his grace.”

Despite the faithlessness he has recently encountered, Jesus now sends the Twelve out with the authority to do the “mighty deeds” he has been able to do for those who have faith. They are taking almost nothing with them, which is both an expression of trust in God’s providence and a sign that they are not seeking profit from their work. This is also why they are told to stay in the same house that welcomes them, rather than to accept any offers they may receive for nicer accommodations—another sign they would be looking out for themselves rather than the Kingdom and the people to whom it is proclaimed.