Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - September 29, 2024

Sometimes we get carried away with a person’s status (or lack of status) when deciding if we support that person or not.  Other times, we might set the bar so high for others that we are unable to appreciate their best efforts because those efforts do not meet our expectations.  It seems to me that someone who puts in the time and effort and who achieves good results should be commended regardless of his or her status and even if those results were not perfect.

In this weekend’s readings from the Book of Numbers and from Mark’s Gospel, we are told about individuals who were doing excellent work on behalf of Moses and Jesus.  Yet, in the case of Moses, the two men were criticized because they had “missed the meeting” at which prophesy credentials were handed out.  In the case of Jesus, some men showed great faith in Jesus by performing mighty deeds in His name, but they had not officially signed on as followers of Jesus.  In both cases the followers of Moses and Jesus wanted these “imposters” to stop their work.  In both cases, Moses and Jesus said, “No.  Let them continue to do the good work that they are doing.”

Why would we ever want to stop someone from doing good work?  I sometimes encounter folks who carefully scrutinize what goes on at the parish and within the Church as a whole.  They are quick to point out rules and to disqualify those who are acting with good intentions, but who fail to meet their standards of perfection.  They criticize the hierarchy of the Church, the priests of the Church, and their fellow lay people.  In the Gospels, Jesus often encounters religious leaders who have this level of intolerance.  He demonstrates little patience for this approach.

In a homily about this passage from Mark’s Gospel, Pope Francis said, “The disciples were a little intolerant.”  They proudly relied on the fact that they ​​possessed the truth and they were convinced that “those who do not have the truth, cannot do good…This was wrong…Jesus broadens the horizon.” Pope Francis went on to say that, “The root of this possibility of doing good – that we all have – is in creation…We must meet one another doing good.”  Let’s approach one another with open minds and pure hearts.

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - September 22, 2024

James Earl Jones (Michigan, Class of ’55) died last week at the age of 93. Many knew him best as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars. Darth Vader was the personification of evil in the epic battle of survival between the noble Jedi Knights and the evil Empire. In fact, until the last moments of Episode 5, we are led to believe that there is absolutely no good in him whatsoever. Star Wars is just one of thousands of stories in which the forces of good and evil square off. Sadly, each day the battle between good and evil also continues to be fought in real life.

This week’s passage from the Book of Wisdom acknowledges the battle of good and evil. In it, the author attempts to explain the mentality of those who are evil. They condemn the “just one” because he challenges, criticizes, and tries to block their evil schemes and plans. They complain that the righteous man is “obnoxious” to them. Those who are evil are most irritated that the righteous claim: to know God; to be children of God; and, that God will protect them against evil. To the evildoers, these claims are arrogant and insulting. Therefore, they decide that the best course of action is to torture and kill the just men. If their arrogant claims are true, they will be protected. If not, they will get the treatment that they deserve.

During the Reformation, the Book of Wisdom was removed from the Old Testament because the reformers believed that it was not divinely inspired. Yet, this particular passage, like last week’s passage from the Prophet Isaiah, appears to be very clearly foretelling the life, suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the author instructs that the righteous one should suffer a shameful death and “God will take care of him.” It is strange to me that the Protestant Biblical scholars of the 16th century (who, before about 1520, were Catholic Biblical Scholars) would abandon such a prophetic book. In my mind, there is no doubt that this passage is pointing to Jesus Christ – the righteous man who died a shameful death at the hands of those who were evil. There is also no doubt that God did, in fact, “take care” of Him!

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - September 15, 2024

In last week’s homily, I explained that, although the book of the prophet Isaiah was written about 800 years prior to Jesus’ ministry, the prophet was very clearly pointing to the anticipated Messiah. In the passage last week, Isaiah foretold of the work of the Messiah and his opening of ears and tongues. Today’s passage points to the Messiah as the obedient servant. Later in Isaiah, he describes the trials of the “suffering servant” which graphically predicts Jesus’ passion.

Today’s passage begins with the servant acknowledging that the Lord God has taught him to speak and enabled him to hear. Thus, the Lord both enables and is the source of this prophetic calling, the servant’s obedience to the Lord God initiates his speech and hearing. The servant says that he is obedient even to the point of suffering at the hands of his enemies: “I have given my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.”

The servant actively chooses to accept the conflict that arises through his proclamation of the truth. The abuse that the servant’s enemies inflict upon him foretells the abuse suffered by Jesus as He obediently endured His passion and death. The passage concludes with the servant acknowledging that, despite the harsh trials that he endures, the Lord God is his help. Thus, the prophet suggests that, obedience to God is an important objective and that, with God’s help, suffering can be endured.

Often suffering is a source of shame for individuals and communities. Yet, in this passage, the Lord God vindicates the honor of the servant. Because of God’s help, the servant will “not be put to shame” and his enemies will not be able to “contend” against him or declare him guilty. God’s help is the source of the servant’s confidence and hope in the midst of suffering. Some 800 years later, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. Abuse and insults were heaped upon Him. His back was beaten, His face was hit, and He was spit upon. Yet, He was obedient to the Father unto death, and the Father vindicated Him by resurrecting Him. It is remarkable that the words that God presented through the Prophet Isaiah were so precisely reflected in the passion and death of Jesus Christ.