Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.

Jan 30 2025

Scripture Study for

The search for the new king and the choice and anointing of David open a new chapter in the story of the Israel. Each step of the way is determined by God, making this a history of salvation. God decided from which family the kings would come, and even which son would be chosen from that family. No one in Jesse’s family even considered David as a viable candidate, but God did. It seems that God often chooses the least likely to accomplish great deeds. Once David was anointed king, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, confirming the choice of him to rule the people.

The binary opposition of light/darkness is a very significant theme. The Ephesians are told that before they knew Christ, they were so much a part of darkness that they were actually identified with it. Having accepted Christ, they are now identified with the light that comes from the Lord. They are told that they must now live as children of that light. There is a play on the difference between virtuous behavior that can be plainly seen, because it is done in the light, and shameful behavior that is hidden in the secret of darkness. The Ephesians are to hold fast to the new life that has been given to them and live in the light.

The account of the healing of the man born blind is filled with the symbolism of darkness/light, blindness/sight. The man was born blind and so he lived his life in darkness. However, his ultimate insight into the identity of Jesus was rewarded with the gift of sight. In a very real sense, the man is now a new creation, both physically with sight and spiritually with faith. The Pharisees, on the other hand, enjoyed the power of sight, but they were blind to the great powers exercised by Jesus. Furthermore, when given the opportunity to move into the light of faith, they chose the darkness of disbelief.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

The first reading is quite poignant as it describes how, despite the sinfulness of the people, God was moved to compassion. Again and again prophets were sent to this corrupt nation, but to no avail. Not only did the people ignore the prophets, they actively derided them. Because of this callous contempt, the avenging anger of God was unleashed. The demise of the monarchy, the collapse of the temple system of worship, and the deportation of the people were the inevitable consequences of this hardhearted obstinacy. The reading ends on a note of hope. The people are told to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

The image of God that is sketched in the first verses of the reading from Ephesians is very dynamic. God is rich in mercy; has great love for us; has brought us to life, raised us up, and seated us with Christ in glory. Unable to save our selves, we receive our salvation as a pure gift from God. The contrast between the graciousness of God and human inadequacy is drawn in bold strokes. When we were dead in sin, God made us alive in Christ. Why? Not because we deserved it, but because God is rich in mercy, because God loves us.

Jesus declares that just as healing came to those who looked on the bronze serpent that Moses raised up (Numbers 21:8–9), so life eternal comes to those who believe in the Son of Man, who was raised up in both ignominy and exaltation. Although the world was created good, it often stands in opposition to God and consequently is in need of being saved. God’s love for the world is so deep that nothing is spared for its salvation, not even God’s only Son. This Son, Jesus Christ, is the true light, and those who choose him live in that light, or live in the truth; those who do not believe are in darkness.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

God responds to the people’s murmuring with the miracle of water from the rock. These were the very people whom God had miraculously delivered out of Egyptian bondage. Yet they suggest that their rescue was done, not out of God’s loving-kindness, but so that they will die of thirst in the wilderness. In their insolence they cry out their challenge: “Is the Lord in our midst or not?” (Exodus 17:7). Since the people did not recognize God’s reassurance in the signs and wonders of the past, God performs yet another one. Why does God endure such thanklessness, rebellion, and audacity? Because God is kind and merciful. Paul tells the Christians in Rome that they have not justified themselves. Any righteousness they might possess originates in God. In fact, they were sinners, alienated from God, when Christ died for them and gained access for them to the grace that placed them in right relationship with God. Through his sacrifice, Jesus opened the way for them to approach God. They may have been brought by Jesus to the threshold of God’s presence, but they themselves must take the step over that threshold. They do this by faith. With this step of faith they no longer stand in enmity; they now stand in grace, in peace with God. This is true righteousness. The story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman includes the discourse on living water. He asks for water when in fact he is the one who will give water. “Living water” refers to divine bounty, suggesting that this living water seems to have a very special character. The living water metaphor itself has a long and rich history in the religious tradition of Israel. It was a gift from God when the people were thirsting in the wilderness (Exodus 17:3–7). The prophets employed it to refer to the spiritual refreshment that flowed from the temple (Ezekiel 47:1; Zechariah 14:80). In each of these instances, living water is a principle of spiritual life.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

The Ten Commandments are considered the foundation of Israelite law. They include the basic conditions for covenant membership. They begin with a self proclamation by the God who has already acted on behalf of the people. The stipulations are absolute and applicable in any situation; sanctions for violation of them are severe. These commandments were really meant to be observed by all. Basically, they provided a sketch of the God with whom the people were in covenant, and they outlined how these covenanted people were to revere their God and live with each other.

In the short reading from First Corinthians, Paul accomplishes several things. He argues that neither the signs and wonders cherished by the Jews nor the philosophy acclaimed by the Greeks is an adequate standard for evaluation. He insists that the crucified Christ is the standard against which everything is judged. The customary wisdom of these two cultures would reject a crucified Christ. However, God’s ways frequently reverse human standards. Paul insists that the ridiculed and despised Christ is actually the wisdom of God. What the Jews and the Greeks rejected as foolishness was indeed authentic wisdom, and what they cherished as wisdom was really misguided folly.

Jesus’ actions in the temple are acted-out prophecy and his words are prophetic proclamation. He accuses the merchants of making the temple a market place. But a part of it was a marketplace. The explanation of his behavior is found both in an allusion to a passage from the prophet Zechariah (14:21), who said that at the endtime there would be no need for merchants in the house of the Lord, and in a psalm text that states that zeal for God’s house makes the psalmist vulnerable to the scorn and abuse of others (Psalm 69:9). By driving the merchants out of the temple precincts, Jesus announces the approach of the time of fulfillment. By identifying God as his Father, Jesus affirms his right to make such a claim and to act in accord with it.

Jan 29 2025

Scripture Study for

The story known as “The Sacrifice of Isaac” might be better called “The Testing of Abraham.” The story itself states; “God put Abraham to the test.” Furthermore, Isaac is never really sacrificed. Abraham, the “father of a multitude” (see Genesis 7:15), is being put to the test. From a human point of view, Abraham’s response to God’s demand is terrifying, yet demonstrates his unquestioned obedience. Abraham relinquishes his natural claim on the child of promise, and he is blessed with a promise of more children than he can count. God is not outdone in generosity.

Paul wonders who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones, who will condemn them, and who will justify them. He identifies God as this judge. Paul argues that if the sovereign God is on our side, then regardless of what can be mustered against us, it is nothing in comparison to God’s power. If God is willing to sacrifice a beloved Son for our sake, it is impossible that God would deny us whatever other trivial things we might need. Finally, if Jesus has willingly died for us, he would certainly not turn around and condemn us. Besides, he is now interceding for us.

The transfiguration of Jesus knits together traditions of Israel’s past, insights into Jesus’ own identity, and a glimpse into eschatological fulfillment. Moses and Elijah represent the basis of Israel’s tradition, the law and the prophets respectively. Furthermore, both prefigure the prophetic dimension of the messianic era. The voice from the cloud identifies Jesus as the beloved Son, reminiscent of Isaac, who was also a beloved son. The connection with Isaac and Jesus suggests that the voice is referring to Jesus’ teaching about his death. It may be that the Transfiguration was intended to prepare the inner circle of disciples for Jesus’ unthinkable suffering and death in order to strengthen them in advance.