Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

The first reading is an account of the covenant that God entered into after the flood. It was made with Noah, with his descendants, with all the living creatures that were in the ark, and with the earth itself. The covenant was promissory, God pledging that never again would unruly waters destroy the world and its inhabitants. The bow in the sky may well be a reference to the weapon of the divine warrior who was victorious over the forces of primordial chaos. Just as God rested after creation (see Genesis 2:2–3), hanging up the bow is a sign that order has been established in the universe.

The author of First Peter speaks of the efficacy of Christ’s death. It was a sin offering, like the sacrifices of expiation offered daily in the temple, with the blood of the victim sprinkled on the altar. However, Christ’s sacrifice was effective for all time and for all people. It was also vicarious, endured for others. Like the servant in Isaiah (Isaiah 53:4–6), Jesus was the innocent man who bore the guilt of the unrighteous. Christ did this so that we might be brought to God and have access to God’s saving grace. Finally, after ascending into heaven, Christ occupies the place of honor at the right hand of God.

The account of Jesus’ temptation is charged with meaning. The wilderness was the place of trial. Forty days held special meaning. Moses fasted that long as he inscribed the commandments (Exodus 34:28); Elijah fasted for the same length of time as he walked to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). It was in this same tradition that Jesus fasted. The announcement of his ministry summarizes the content of his preaching. In eschatological thought, the advent of the reign of God called for a change of mind and heart. Since Jesus’ interpretation of God’s will did not correspond to the predominant understanding of his day, his announcement of such a ministry was fraught with danger.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

Israel’s faith was based on the liberating events of the past. So Isaiah’s words, “Remember not . . . consider not,” must have been unsettling. The prophet was probably calling the people away from inordinate dependence on the past, a dependence that prevented them from seeing the astonishing new thing that God was accomplishing before their very eyes. Faithful reverence for tradition is one thing, but insistent absorption in it is quite another. While the new way that stretched out before them was truly astounding, most amazing was the transformation that took place within them. Though sinners, the merciful God wiped away their guilt, and once forgiven, they were recreated.

Paul is forced to defend the merit of his apostolic ministry. He does so by basing his defense on the trustworthiness of God. He argues strenuously that his ministry never demonstrated such inconsistency. He offers three examples of God’s faithfulness. First, Christ is the center of his preaching. Since there is no inconsistency in Christ, there is no inconsistency in his preaching. Second, all of God’s past promises have been fulfilled in Christ. And third, those baptized have been sealed with the Spirit of God. This presentation of God’s plan serves as an argument in defense of Paul’s ministry.

Jesus’ forgiveness of the man who came to him to be healed sets up the conflict between Jesus and the scribes who were present in the witnessing crowd. While they are correct in believing that only God can forgive, they are blind in not recognizing the power of divine forgiveness active in the person of Jesus. Knowing what the incredulous scribes are thinking, Jesus challenges their silent condemnation of him. He points out that forgiving sin is more difficult than healing, so the healing is merely an external sign of internal transformation. The man is sent home forgiven and healed; the crowds are astounded and give glory to God. Only the scribes remain unbelieving.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

Leprosy included a wide variety of chronic skin diseases. Those with skin ailments were deemed unclean and were banished from the community. The real tragedy of leprosy was less the physical discomfort than the social estrangement and the religious alienation that resulted. Probably because such social and religious alienation was so severe, it was believed that the condition was brought on by some kind of sin. When the conditions that made a person unclean no longer held, it was necessary for the person to undergo some rite of purification before being readmitted into the community. This explains why a priest was involved.

Paul argues that the gospel is demanding enough; people do not need to be burdened with obligations that are extraneous to its message. He insists that neither food laws nor the assertion of one’s freedom should be the governing principle in the lives of Christians. The glory of God and sensitivity to others should be the driving force. “Avoid giving offense” is the policy he advocates. The passage ends with a final admonition: Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Paul indeed adapted himself to the needs of others, and he did this after the example of Christ. The Corinthians are exhorted to follow Paul, who followed Christ.

The man in the Gospel story was suffering from the kind of skin ailment referred to in the first reading. Despite his condition, he boldly approached Jesus and begged to be made clean. Jesus was moved with pity. He knew that if he touched an unclean man he would become ritually unclean as well. However, his touch actually healed the man and restored him to the state of ritual purity. Jesus then sent him off to the priest for verification of the healing. Once again, the news of his marvelous power causes him to choose the seclusion of solitary places rather than the press of the crowd and their misunderstanding of his mission.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

Crushed by the torment of his own situation, Job bemoans the harshness of life itself. It is like hard military service, or like the life of a hireling who has nothing to say about the conditions of work, or like the situation of a slave who is totally dependent upon the slaveholder. These metaphors both describe the tribulations of life and express the helplessness that is experienced in it. Job has nowhere to turn. Life seems to be armed against him and there is neither defense nor escape. So many circumstances are beyond human control, and Job feels helpless in the face of it. It is no wonder that he cries out.

Preaching was the reason Paul was called to follow Christ. In his eyes, he deserved no special credit for this, and therefore he had no grounds for boasting. The issue was not if Paul preached, but how he preached. There were times when he waived his right to financial support and he preached free of charge. He seems to have preferred preaching at no cost, for then he would be beholden to no one and would be able to preach the gospel without being concerned about offending his audience. Still, Paul was willing to conform himself to others without compromising the gospel.

The Gospel reading recounts Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus exercises unique authority over the powers of death. The person released from this power then goes about ministering to others. Other healings and exorcisms follow. These two works are connected. The principal message of Jesus’ preach

ing is the long-awaited establishment of the reign of God. However, before God’s reign can take firm root and thrive, the reign of evil must be dislodged and cast out. Jesus’ fame so spreads that he is compelled to flee to a solitary place to pray. The reading ends with a statement that condenses the entire ministry of Jesus into preaching and driving out demons.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

Moses is not normally thought of as a prophet, but today’s reading clearly states that he is. In fact, he is considered the prophet par excellence. He received the word of the Lord in the form of the Law, and he acted as God’s voice, prom ulgating this Law to the community. He promised that God would not leave the people without a mediator. Rather, just as God chose him to be a prophet, so another will be raised up. This promise of a future prophet led people down through the centuries to wonder whether or not particular individuals might in fact be this promised prophet.

Some today maintain that Paul is opposed to marriage. Though here he seems to prefer the unmarried state, it is because he believes that the endtime is fast approaching, and he wants the Corinthians to be free from the kind of anxieties that accompany marriage. The real contrast that he draws is between commitment to the Lord and over-involvement in the things of this world. Paul knew that those involved in the things of the world can be very committed to the Lord, and those committed to the Lord can possess a very shallow spirituality. He is more concerned with the quality of commitment than with the particular state of life.

The man in the synagogue had an unclean spirit that caused him severe physical suffering. The people of the time believed that evil spirits roamed the world and caused havoc whenever and wherever they could. Such an afflicted person should have been removed from a holy place like a synagogue. However, Jesus does not dismiss the man; instead, he casts out the evil spirit. Just as the people were astonished by the teaching of Jesus, so they are amazed at his power over the evil spirit. Jesus may have been able to silence the spirit, but his fame as a teacher and an exorcist spread throughout Galilee.