Br. John R. Barker, OFM

Feb 11 2025

Visions of the End

The reading from the book of Daniel contains the only clear Old Testament reference to resurrection. The passage is situated in a section that focuses on the persecutions and sufferings of the faithful during the period of Greek rule. In standard apocalyptic language, the oracle foresees the day when God’s armies—led by the angel Michael—will come to the aid of God’s people. Those who have been faithful to God will escape the “unsurpassed distress” that will ensue when God comes to set things right. Those faithful, the “wise,” who have died will awake to live “like the stars forever” (perhaps referring to the heavenly host of angels). The unfaithful, however, will endure the everlasting disgrace merited by their wickedness.

Having established that Christ’s priesthood is perfect and that this priesthood now makes the older system unnecessary, Hebrews goes on to discuss the implications of this for believers. Christ’s sacrifice makes possible not only the forgiveness of sins, but actual salvation. The older sacrifices could atone for sins, but they could not take them away, as Christ’s does. This leaves the believers fundamentally changed, and now they are (potentially, at least) “made perfect forever.” Christ himself is now in the presence of God, not only as intercessor, but as heir and conqueror of all the forces that oppose him, including sin itself.

The Gospel reading is sometimes called the Markan apocalypse, featuring as it does several standard tropes from Jewish apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic thought looked forward to the day when God or God’s Messiah would defeat the evil forces that currently inhabit and corrupt the world. History and the world as we know them will come to an end, a new age will begin, and God’s sovereignty will be recognized by all. The Son of Man, an image derived from Daniel, represents the messianic figure who will bring judgment on the wicked and vindicate the righteous during the final days. The cosmic catastrophe at the beginning of the reading is the sign that the time has arrived, that the world is coming to an end, and a new era is beginning.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

The scene from Daniel draws on ancient motifs to depict the final triumph of God’s power over hostile, chaotic forces. The time of persecution comes to an end when God (“the Ancient of Days”) sets up thrones of judgment against those who have brought chaos to the earth (Daniel 7:1–12). At this time, a figure “like a Son of man,” that is, with human features, appears on a chariot of clouds. From God this figure receives dominion over the whole earth. As the Jewish tradition developed, this image came to be associated with an expected Messiah who would establish and rule over the kingdom of God on earth. It was in this sense that “the Son of Man” was understood by many in the first century.

The book of Revelation was intended to inspire faith in the final victory of God and the Anointed One—the Christ—over the forces of evil that had been persecuting Christians. Thus, the book begins with a vision of Christ as the victorious and supreme sovereign, whose power extends through space and time. Key themes of the book are sounded here. Jesus is the “faithful witness” who was obedient to God even to death. Resurrected, he is the first of many who will be raised. The work of Christ is a work of love, which seeks to free those whom he loves from all bondage, beginning with sin. As God’s Christ, he is forming a people to give glory to God. The final section, which draws on the vision in Daniel, connects Christ to Jewish messianic expectations.

Pontius Pilate and the Romans were concerned about Jesus and his actions only because they believed them to be connected with political insurrection against the Empire. Was Jesus claiming to be the king of the Jews in an attempt to establish a Jewish state? Pilate wants to know what Jesus’ intentions are. Jesus affirms he has a kingdom, albeit one not of this world, and so in a sense no threat to the Romans. But he is strangely reluctant to affirm explicitly that he is a king (perhaps because it is a title that can be misunderstood), focusing instead on the question of truth. Those who belong to the truth know who and what Jesus is. Pilate can call him whatever he wants.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

At God’s order, the prophet Elijah has called down a drought, and now is sent to a widow in Zarephath whom God has commanded to feed the prophet (1 Kings 17:1–9). Clearly the widow is not aware of this command, and when asked for some bread, she responds that she has none, and in any case, she expects to die soon for lack of food. But Elijah’s assurance that she will have enough flour and oil to feed him, as well has herself and her son, until the drought ends is a sign of God’s care for those who depend on the Lord in times of trouble.

The author of Hebrews has been explaining how Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal High Priest. Christ’s priesthood is superior to the former priesthood on several counts. Whereas that older priesthood was conducted in tabernacles and temples made by human hands, Christ’s priesthood is exercised in the original, heavenly sanctuary in the unmediated presence of God. Whereas previous priests offered the blood of animals, Christ offered his own blood, and because of this he only had to do it one time. Whereas the earlier priests could only offer sacrifice to atone for sin, Christ not only takes away sin by his sacrifice, but is able “to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him,” something no previous priest could do.

The Old Testament is full of admonitions to treat widows fairly and not take advantage of their economic vulnerability. Jesus’ reference to the scribes “devouring” the houses of widows, while reminiscent of prophetic denunciations of the rich and powerful, is difficult to understand. Some have suggested that scribes may have acted as guardians for widows without male relatives, but the reference to prayers suggests a religious context, and it may be that they were implicated in the same accusation Jesus makes earlier in the Gospel about qorban (animal sacrifice, 7:8–13). In any case, Jesus’ next remarks about the widow’s contribution serve to highlight the contrast between the rapaciousness of the scribes (and others who are privileged) with the generosity of the poor widow.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

As the Lamb breaks open the seals on the scroll, the world enters a prelude to the final divine judgment, in which those who have been faithful to God will receive their reward. In preparation for that judgment, an angel comes forth to sign and protect the saved from the impending disaster. The number 144,000 (twelve squared times one thousand) is symbolic of the saved of Israel, which is joined by a vast multitude from all the nations. The focus in Revelation is on those who have suffered for their faith, thus the imagery of white robes and palms that has become associated with martyrs. Those who have been saved offer eternal worship to the God and the Lamb who have saved them.

The central theme of the First Letter of John is the reciprocal love of God for humans, love of humans for God, and love of humans for one another. The love of God, which is primary, has been made manifest in Christ. Those who accept this love will love in return through obedience to God and care for neighbor. This love is what allows us to abide in God and in Christ, which in turn perfects us and makes us children of God. This is the unimaginable promise of what is to come. But, in addition to abiding in Christ, believers must also be wary of the “world,” that social reality that is hostile to God and which constantly seeks to draw us away from God.

Near the beginning of his ministry, Jesus presents the fundamental themes of his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Portrayed as the “new Moses” in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus stands as the definitive interpreter of the Law and of God’s will. The Beatitudes are a classic wisdom form, in which the ways of the righteous are laid out for those who would be “blessed” (or “happy”). Jesus’ version of this wisdom theme signals that his teaching and his ministry will focus less on perfection of religious observance (which one might mistakenly consider the equivalent of being “righteous”), and more on qualities associated with humility, vulnerability, and openness to God’s will and action in their lives.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

This passage from Deuteronomy ends with the famous Shema (“Hear!”), in which Moses exhorts the people to loyalty to God alone. In the context of the covenant relationship, to “love” means this fidelity, as expressed in obedience to God’s will in the commandments. Relationship with God leads to happiness and a good life. This “love” of God, however, should not be construed in a legalistic sense, in which the commandments are simply obeyed. Rather, what God wants is wholehearted, single-minded, and total commitment—not to the commandments, but to God. Just as God has been completely committed to Israel, so Israel is called to be completely committed to God. The focus here is not on laws, but on relationship.

The author of Hebrews has been expanding on the identity of Jesus as the eternal High Priest, who replaces the older system of Aaronic (or levitical) high priests. These priests “were many” for the obvious reason that they grew old and died. But because Jesus lives forever, he is able to fulfill this office perpetually, always there to intercede for the believer. The quality of his intercession also cannot be diminished: he is not a sinner who needs to offer sacrifice for himself. Nevertheless, he has offered one perfect sacrifice of himself for those who do need it. He is thus the perpetual and perfect High Priest and intercessor for humanity.

We know from many sources that the question of how to sum up the Law, the “greatest commandment,” was widely discussed in Jewish circles in the first century. In response to the scribe’s question today, Jesus gives what would have been a well-accepted response, combining two commandments into one, indicating that it is impossible to observe one without the other. The scribe develops what Jesus says, adding that love of God is more important that even animal sacrifices to God. Loving God is the highest priority; one cannot substitute animal sacrifices or other religious behaviors (such as fasting or ritual washing). These are less than worthless if one does not love God and neighbor.