Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.

Jan 14 2025

Scripture Study for

Samuel’s choice of David as king was determined by direct command of God. The anointing was a solemn and sacred action that ceremonially sealed his election by God. Following the ritual, “the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.” This spirit was understood as a principle of dynamic divine action, a force that had unique effects in human history. Those seized by the spirit were empowered to act within the community in a unique fashion determined by the particular needs of the community. The spirit took hold of judges (Judges 3:10) and prophets (Isaiah 61:1). This story recounts how it took hold of a future king.

The move from darkness to light is the principal metaphor used by the author of Ephesians to describe the radical change that takes place in the lives of those who commit themselves to Christ. Three qualities produced by the light—goodness, righteousness, truth—are symbolic of the complete transformation that this light can effect. Three phrases describe the transition from a state of inertia to one of vibrancy: from sleep to wakefulness, from death to new life, and from darkness to illumination. Christians have entered into a new state of being, and it will require of them a new way of living.

Jesus’ cure of the man born blind suggests a new creation. The struggle here is between darkness and light, between blindness and sight. Jesus underscores the urgency of his ministry. He and his disciples must do God’s work while it is yet day, for the night will come when such work will have to cease. Jesus identifies himself as the light of the world. The man, who is gradually brought from physical blindness to sight, also progressively moves from spiritual blindness to religious insight. This is not true of the Pharisees. They prided themselves on being disciples of Moses, but they were blind to the truth that the newly cured man saw so clearly. The one who was blind sees, and those who can see are really blind.

Jan 14 2025

Scripture Study for

The murmuring of the people in the wilderness lays bare their resistance to the leadership of Moses, and the shallowness of their trust in God. Still, just as God delivered the people from the bondage of Egypt through the leadership of Moses, so now, again through the actions of Moses, God gives them the water they demand. One wonders how a people who were the beneficiaries of God’s abiding concern and miraculous protection could be so faithless and lacking in trust. After all that God has done, they still put God to the test. This is but another example of God’s boundless and compassionate love for sinners.

Paul’s teaching on justification is quite clear. It is based on the righteousness that originates in God, a righteousness that gives and sustains life, security, and well being. Human beings are righteous when they respect and enhance that life, security, and well being. They can only do this if they are in right relationship with God and, through this relationship, share in God’s righteousness. According to Paul, we have no right to this relationship with God. It has been given to us, won for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, we have never deserved it. Yet, out of love, God gives it to us.

Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for water when in fact he is the one who will give her “living water.” His knowledge of her marital situation prompts her to call him a prophet and to engage him in a discussion about the proper place to worship God. Jesus moves this conversation from a discussion of the place of worship to one that characterizes the manner of worship. Jesus’ discussion with the woman is curious. She is a questionable member (a sinner) of a subordinate group (a woman) of a despised people (a Samaritan). Yet she is the one whom Jesus approaches; she is the one to whom he reveals himself as Messiah; and she is the one who heralds this good news to the people in the town.

Jan 14 2025

Scripture Study for

The reading from Genesis expressly states that Abram is directed by God to travel from the land of his kinsfolk to one that is foreign to him. God then promises a fivefold blessing: Abram will be a great nation; he will be blessed; his name will be great; those who bless him will be blessed; those who curse him will be cursed. The directives from God require profound faith on Abram’s part. They determine his identity (his past), his place in society (his present), and his legacy (his future). God is asking him to start anew. No questions are asked, no long period of preparation is suggested. God directs and Abram responds.

Paul exhorts his disciple Timothy to suffer with him the misfortunes that come from fidelity to the gospel and accompany righteous living. The Christian hymn that follows outlines what God has done for us and what Christ has done on our behalf. There is no question in Paul’s mind that the wondrous blessings are all God’s doing. Neither salvation nor the call to holiness is the fruit of any deed that we might have performed. They are not rewards for good behavior; they come to us freely out of the goodness of God.

Jesus is transformed before Peter, James, and John, the apparent inner circle of the apostles. Most scholars maintain that this account is not a vision of the future glorification of Jesus but an insight into the identity that was his during his public life. Jesus converses with Moses and Elijah, the representatives of the law and the prophets. Jesus’ teaching is authenticated by the words that are spoken from the cloud: “listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). The apostles want to prolong Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus will not hear of it. Then, identifying himself as the mysterious Son of Man, he directs the three to remain silent about this experience until after his resurrection.

Jan 14 2025

Scripture Study for

The reading from Genesis is the first account of sin. The sin itself was disobedience, but the inclination that gave rise to it was a form of hubris—the desire to be like gods. The cunning serpent should not be confused with the devil who appears much later in the biblical tradition. This mysterious creature has been used by the writer to point out how vulnerable to temptation humans are. The tree of knowledge plays no role except that it was very enticing, yet forbidden. The subtlety of temptation is obvious. It is admirable to want to be like God, but it is hubris to take things into one’s own hands and make decisions contrary to God’s will.

Paul speaks of the incomparable nature of God’s salvific grace. He compares the universal effects of sin and death with the all-encompassing power of forgiveness and life. He then contrasts Adam, “the type of the one who was to come,” to Christ, his unrivaled counterpart (Romans 5:14). Sin entered the world through Adam. The evidence of this is the universal reign of death. All die, therefore all must have sinned. As universal death entered the world through the sin of one— Adam—so grace was won for all through the gift of one—Christ. However, grace is much more powerful than sin.

The place of Jesus’ testing is the desert, traditionally believed to be the abode of evil spirits. Reminiscent of Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights. The devil challenges Jesus’ identity as Son of God, urging him to turn stones into bread. The devil then proposes that Jesus test God’s promise of protection by throwing himself from the pinnacle of the temple. Finally, the devil offers Jesus dominion over the world. Jesus’ responses outline a very different approach. He will allow the word of God to direct his actions, he will rely on God’s providence, and he will remain faithful to God. Jesus is steadfast in the face of temptation.

Jan 14 2025

Scripture Study for

Today Moses directs the people to commit themselves totally to God. The blessings promised for fidelity include numerous progeny and a good name, abundant crops and a multitude of flocks, peace and security from enemies. Curses include childlessness and premature death, family illness and diseased flocks, pestilence and drought, defeat by another nation and devastation of the land. The words Moses delivers are to be bound on their wrists and displayed as a pendant on their foreheads. This custom identified them as observant members of the covenant community and reminded them of their responsibility to commit themselves mind and heart to the covenant.

Contrary to what some have contended, Paul does not pit righteousness against the law. He insists that the Romans must conform to certain Christian principles. Nonetheless, he argues that adherence to the law does not produce righteousness. Only faith yields righteousness. According to Paul, all have sinned, and so all are in need of redemption. However, redemption and justification are received, not earned, and they are received precisely while one is a sinner. Furthermore, justification is given gratuitously, freely, without cause. God accomplishes this through the blood of Christ. Thus, by its very name, grace is an undeserved gift.

Jesus teaches that the disciples’ service must be grounded in solid commitment to him. Not signs of respect, forms of religiosity, or spectacular deeds, but adherence to his words is essential for entrance into the reign of heaven. Discipleship requires a life of righteousness, not merely charismatic activities. In order to illustrate this point, Jesus contrasts the way of the wise with the way of the foolish. The wise build the house on the solid ground of Jesus’ words, while the fool’s house is constructed on sand. The implications of Jesus’ words are quite clear. In order to be his disciples, people must follow Jesus’ instructions carefully and faithfully. Those who do will be invited into the reign of God. Those who do not will be denied entry.