January 31: Reflections On the Scripture Readings for This Sunday's Mass

[cheeto1]

Finally, for the Second Reading, here are some “Questions for Application” taken from The Ignatius Study Bible; The First and Second Letters of St. Paul to the Corinthians (Ignatius Press, 2004):

13:1-3. Who loses when works of great spiritual power are done with impure or uncharitible motives? In these three “if…then” statements, what happens to the “then” half? If you have ever done good acts for bad motives, what have been the consequences for you?

**13:5. **If love is not arrogant, what is it? If love is not rude, what is it? If love does not insist on it’s own way, how does it act toward the other person? If love is not irritable or resentful, what is it’s attitude?

13:7. What does it mean to bear, believe, hope and endure “all things”? How do you think love (charity) might respond to falsehoods, lies, and personal attacks on others? What does God ask when the going gets rough for you?

13:11. What are some of the “childish ways” that might characterize the response of people to charismatic expressions–whether they consider themselves charismatic or not? In the context of this chapter, what is a more adult way of viewing charismatic spirituality?

Most of the time when you ask these questions, I just don’t know the answers, but
I want to know what they are! But for 13:5, I will say, humble, polite, a good host,
tolerant. Hmm… now that I said “a good host” as the opposite of demanding your
own way, it reminds me that in science a host is what parasites feed off of! (it’s also
what we call the bread of our communion) And that reminds me of someone else who
said you have to be “soap” to people. Your object being to get all used up, like a bar
of soap, till there’s nothing left of you. When there’s a tiny scrap left at the end, it often
gets mashed onto another new bar of soap, that is used.

 

[cheeto1]

I think it’s interesting that the passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is commonly read at wedding Masses. Paul is speaking about a Godly love while the love that binds a man and a woman in the intsitution of marriage is more worldly.

Corinthians 13 is perfect advice for a marriage, and any relationship, but it’s more
important to the marriage because the marriage is set up to the world as an
example of love to follow. Take any friendship you have though and just do the
first 2 things on the list. Love is patient, love is kind. If you only did these 2 things,
you would already have a superior relationship, worthy of emulating. Love in a
marriage is hardly worldly, it is super-human! Do you ever see people married 50
years who say, “we owe it all to being athiests”?

 

[cheeto1]

[24] **No prophet is acceptable in his own country: **This was and still is a fairly universally accepted fact.

Didn’t know that. Wonder why that is? Weren’t most of the prophets called, and
not born that way? Oh well, if Jesus says so, then it’s so.

 

[cheeto1]

“The Plain of Meggido was the site of many an important ancient battle”
– really? were David and Goliath there? My computer is too slow to get your map
wonder what Jesus thought about, looking out over that ancient battlefield, while
He lived in a city overlooking it?

 

[cheeto1]

What is Jesus saying through the proverb (verse 23)? Through the Elijah and Elisha stories? How does this relate to the prophetic statements in Luke 2:14, 2:32, and 3:6? In what way do these words of Jesus to the villagers in Nazareth strike a cord in your own heart?

Why do Jesus’ words to them turn the people’s amazement (verse 22) into anger (verses 28-29)? What might your reaction be to his words if they were directed toward you?

Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-16) and Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-14) performed miracles for Gentiles at a time and in a culture where it was frowned upon. Who are the “Gentiles” God desires you to care for? How might you do it?

Jesus was set aside from all time (see the First Reading) to be the Messiah, the anointed One of God (see verse 4:18; the word Messiah means “the anointed one,” as does the Greek word “Christ”). How are we also set apart by God from all time and for what purpose are we set apart?

Jesus’ neighbors reject him because he grew up among them (verses 22-24). How have you fared with evangelizing your relatives (or being evangelized by them)? How do you deal with the reactions?

None of these questions strike me as something I can answer. Do you have an
answer for any of them? There are an awful lot of people reading this. I’m sure I’m
not the only one who would like some answers…

 

[Fidelis]

No I do not understand the people who were suddenly furious and wanted to throw Jesus off the cliff, and I don’t understand the people who wanted to kill Jeremiah. They either believe they are receiving the word of God or not; which is it? It can’t be both. It can’t be yes when it’s positive and no if it’s not favorable.

unfortunately, I think that’s exactly what it was: in both cases, they were welcome as a prophets as long as they said what people wanted to hear. Same as today, I guess.

 

[Fidelis]

Originally Posted by Fidelis
Here are some more questions for personal reflection on this reading:

1. How do you think “the word of the Lord” came to Jeremiah: (a) Voice from the clouds? (b) Human-sounding voice? (c) Inner voice?

I think a human-sounding voice, what do you think?

It’s funny, but the text doesn’t really give us much of a clue, does it?

I’m thinking like you: God’s word to Jeremiah seemed very clear, like an audible voice.

 

[Fidelis]

Originally Posted by **Fidelis **
[24] No prophet is acceptable in his own country: This was and still is a fairly universally accepted fact.

Didn’t know that. Wonder why that is? Weren’t most of the prophets called, and not born that way? Oh well, if Jesus says so, then it’s so.

The sense it that it’s usually the people that are closest to the prophet that seem to have the hardest time excepting him or her. This becomes clear in our own lives as we try to evangelize or just live a life of witness: sometimes it’s our friends and family that have the hardest time excepting or hearing it.

 

[Fidelis]

“The Plain of Meggido was the site of many an important ancient battle”
– really? were David and Goliath there? My computer is too slow to get your map . wonder what Jesus thought about, looking out over that ancient battlefield, while He lived in a city overlooking it?

The battle between David and Goliath would have taken place much further south, probably in the plains between the hill country of Judah, and the western cities of the Philistines, most likely Gath.

Yes, I’ve oftened wondered that about Jesus myself.

 

[Fidelis]

Originally Posted by **Fidelis **

What is Jesus saying through the proverb (verse 23)? Through the Elijah and Elisha stories? How does this relate to the prophetic statements in Luke 2:14, 2:32, and 3:6? In what way do these words of Jesus to the villagers in Nazareth strike a cord in your own heart?

Why do Jesus’ words to them turn the people’s amazement (verse 22) into anger (verses 28-29)? What might your reaction be to his words if they were directed toward you?

Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-16) and Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-14) performed miracles for Gentiles at a time and in a culture where it was frowned upon. Who are the “Gentiles” God desires you to care for? How might you do it?

Jesus was set aside from all time (see the First Reading) to be the Messiah, the anointed One of God (see verse 4:18; the word Messiah means “the anointed one,” as does the Greek word “Christ”). How are we also set apart by God from all time and for what purpose are we set apart?

Jesus’ neighbors reject him because he grew up among them (verses 22-24). How have you fared with evangelizing your relatives (or being evangelized by them)? How do you deal with the reactions?

None of these questions strike me as something I can answer. Do you have an
answer for any of them? There are an awful lot of people reading this. I’m sure I’m
not the only one who would like some answers…

I’d kind of like to let you and others take a crack at them before I jump in, since they’re designed to help us think through the implications of these passages of Scripture. If no one else steps up, I might put my :twocents: in.

 

[Reuben_J]

Here are some more questions for personal reflection on this reading:

1. How do you think “the word of the Lord” came to Jeremiah: (a) Voice from the clouds? (b) Human-sounding voice? (c) Inner voice?
2. How far back does God’s relationship with Jeremiah go (v. 5)? How involved was God in preparing Jeremiah?
3. Do you trust thaat God has a wonderful plan for your life? Or do you feel somewhat like Jeremiah–dubious and fearful?
4. How does the Lord communicate with you: Are his plans for you always clear or never clear? What role does Scripture and Church teaching play? What about advice, hunches, prayer, circumstances?
5. (From previous post) Comparing this passage with the Gospel from last week and this week, can you see any parallels between the call of Jeremiah and that of Jesus?

(Questions adapted from The Catholic Serendipity Bible for Personal and Small Group Study, New American Bible; Zondervan, 1999)

What does the word mean to you? Do you think it speaks to you and perhaps addresses some areas of your life? Are you inspired by any of the verses and do they apply to you personally? If so, what are your personal response to the word?

One of the things I like about the word is that it changes a person life - to make it relevant to a believer. It is like a double edge sword - to built and to convict. Once it stops speaking to me and becomes just another book for an academic purpose, it has lost its relevance. And that’s should let me thinking about the state of my relationship with the One who speaks it.

Just a thought.

God bless.

 

[Fidelis]

What does the word mean to you? Do you think it speaks to you and perhaps addresses some areas of your life? Are you inspired by any of the verses and do they apply to you personally? If so, what are your personal response to the word?

One of the things I like about the word is that it changes a person life - to make it relevant to a believer. It is like a double edge sword - to built and to convict. Once it stops speaking to me and becomes just another book for an academic purpose, it has lost its relevance. And that’s should let me thinking about the state of my relationship with the One who speaks it.

Just a thought.

God bless.

Good insights, Reuben J – and good questions!

 

[Fidelis]

Originally Posted by **Fidelis **
Here are some more questions for personal reflection on this reading:

1. How do you think “the word of the Lord” came to Jeremiah: (a) Voice from the clouds? (b) Human-sounding voice? (c) Inner voice?

2. How far back does God’s relationship with Jeremiah go (v. 5)? How involved was God in preparing Jeremiah?

1. Do you trust that God has a wonderful plan for your life? Or do you feel somewhat like Jeremiah–dubious and fearful?

1. How does the Lord communicate with you: Are his plans for you always clear or never clear? What role does Scripture and Church teaching play? What about advice, hunches, prayer, circumstances?

1. (From previous post) Comparing this passage with the Gospel from last week and this week, can you see any parallels between the call of Jeremiah and that of Jesus?

(Questions adapted from The Catholic Serendipity Bible for Personal and Small Group Study, New American Bible; Zondervan, 1999)

I gave my answer to question 1 above, so I’ll take a try at #2:

1. How far back does God’s relationship with Jeremiah go (v. 5)? How involved was God in preparing Jeremiah?

According to verse 5, God knew Jeremiah from the time that Jeremiah was in his mother’s womb. God didn’t just know about Jeremiah; he created him, formed him and had a relationship with him. It was a relationship in accord with Jeremiah’s capacity at that time, but God’s love for him and his involvement in his life was no less then than when Jeremiah was an adult. God not only knew Jeremiah would be the prophet he would become, but he formed him and set him on the track to become that prophet, always taking into account Jeremiah’s free will and developing maturity. God was with Jeremiah way before Jeremiah himself had an idea that God was calling him. God led Jeremiah to the places and through the experiences that would prepare him for his calling, just as he does us. All that’s lacking is our response.

 

[Fidelis]

Originally Posted by **Fidelis **
Here are some more questions for personal reflection on this reading:

1. How do you think “the word of the Lord” came to Jeremiah: (a) Voice from the clouds? (b) Human-sounding voice? (c) Inner voice?

1. How far back does God’s relationship with Jeremiah go (v. 5)? How involved was God in preparing Jeremiah?

1. Do you trust that God has a wonderful plan for your life? Or do you feel somewhat like Jeremiah–dubious and fearful?

1. How does the Lord communicate with you: Are his plans for you always clear or never clear? What role does Scripture and Church teaching play? What about advice, hunches, prayer, circumstances?

1. (From previous post) Comparing this passage with the Gospel from last week and this week, can you see any parallels between the call of Jeremiah and that of Jesus?

(Questions adapted from The Catholic Serendipity Bible for Personal and Small Group Study, New American Bible; Zondervan, 1999)

1. Do you trust that God has a wonderful plan for your life? Or do you feel somewhat like Jeremiah–dubious and fearful?

I do trust that God has a plan. Not anything big or flashy or with noteriety probably – but I sense that God’s plan for me is to serve him where I am: working my job, being the best husband and father I can be, and serving the Lord in whatever way he needs me. Sometimes I feel like an embodiment of the Book of Judges where God raised up men and women to stand in the breach as the need arose.

I feel like Jeremiah sometimes when God calls me out of my comfort zone into something new that I’m not used to. When I first started teaching at church and began to lead Bible studies and apologetics classes, you never would have convinced my that I would feel pretty comfortable in front of a room full of people. Now, even if I get butterflies and feel unqualified, when God calls, I trust him enough to serve.

 

[Reuben_J]

1. Do you trust that God has a wonderful plan for your life? Or do you feel somewhat like Jeremiah–dubious and fearful?

I do trust that God has a plan. Not anything big or flashy or with noteriety probably – but I sense that God’s plan for me is to serve him where I am: working my job, being the best husband and father I can be, and serving the Lord in whatever way he needs me. Sometimes I feel like an embodiment of the Book of Judges where God raised up men and women to stand in the breach as the need arose.

I feel like Jeremiah sometimes when God calls me out of my comfort zone into something new that I’m not used to. When I first started teaching at church and began to lead Bible studies and apologetics classes, you never would have convinced my that I would feel pretty comfortable in front of a room full of people. Now, even if I get butterflies and feel unqualified, when God calls, I trust him enough to serve.

Jeremiah is very inspiring for many of us who are uncertain and unworthy of God’s calling to serve Him. We can be sure that God would be there to help us to do His work as He did with Jeremiah.

Jer 1
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

I believe that God has a plan for each and every one of us. He uses us in places where we are, whether as members of a family, colleagues and business associates. There can never be any person or any place that is unworthy for the word of God to be heard and each one of us can be the one to do it.

Sure we can be like Jeremiah – fearful and uncertain. But we are privileged to live in an era where we have the word of God to tell us what God has done to his people which we can use as a mirror image of ourselves. And that’s comforting.

 

[Fidelis]

Jeremiah is very inspiring for many of us who are uncertain and unworthy of God’s calling to serve Him. We can be sure that God would be there to help us to do His work as He did with Jeremiah.

Jer 1
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

I believe that God has a plan for each and every one of us. He uses us in places where we are, whether as members of a family, colleagues and business associates. There can never be any person or any place that is unworthy for the word of God to be heard and each one of us can be the one to do it.

Sure we can be like Jeremiah – fearful and uncertain. But we are privileged to live in an era where we have the word of God to tell us what God has done to his people which we can use as a mirror image of ourselves. And that’s comforting.

Thanks for your insight, Ruben J.

 

[Big_Ro]

Corinthians 13 is perfect advice for a marriage, and any relationship, but it’s more
important to the marriage because the marriage is set up to the world as an
example of love to follow. Take any friendship you have though and just do the
first 2 things on the list. Love is patient, love is kind. If you only did these 2 things,
you would already have a superior relationship, worthy of emulating. Love in a
marriage is hardly worldly, it is super-human! Do you ever see people married 50
years who say, “we owe it all to being athiests”?

Well, I appreciate your comments and if you go back and read the entire post, I predicted this line of argument. And, I agree. A marriage is and should be an emulation of the Love that God has for us and the relationship between God and his people. I have described it as a set of concentric circles or those Russian dolls. The point I’m trying to make is that I don’t really think that most people upon hearing this passage at wedding mass really understand what you and I seem to understand. They take it as simply a reference to romantic or as I said worldly love. They understand it as excellent advice, but it lacks the depth of understanding. I think if more people understood the passage in context they would take their vows and responsiblities of marriage far more serious and more marriages would last. I also think there would be fewer marriages since people would get the true challenge of making a marriage work. I’m lucky, I have a great marriage and I think it’s because my wife and I went in to it understanding the essence of this passage. I do think that your last line was uncalled for, with all due respect. There are many marriages that last a very long time between people that profess to not have faith. I think though that if you were to analyze the relationship you could say that they actually do follow the advice from Corinthians. As a Christian, I would rather pray for those tht live a faithless life and ask God to come in to their hearts rather than cast aspersions. Let us have a heart of charity.

 

[cheeto1]

Fidelis, I was wondering if you are going to answer question 4.

Big Ro, sorry to offend you with my opinion, I haven’t seen the 50-year marriages
of athiests that you have. I don’t believe in calling an athiest “those that live a
faithless life”, because maybe they love someone, and love comes from God.

 

[Fidelis]

Fidelis, I was wondering if you are going to answer question 4.

Don’t wait for me! You (and anyone else) are welcome to answer any or all of the questions, cheeto! Question 4 is more of a personal application question than a technical one, so there’s no wrong answer!

 

[cheeto1]

Don’t wait for me! You (and anyone else) are welcome to answer any or all of the questions, cheeto! Question 4 is more of a personal application question than a technical one, so there’s no wrong answer!

I know it’s personal, that’s why it’s so hard!!

1. How does the Lord communicate with you: Are his plans for you always clear or never clear? What role does Scripture and Church teaching play? What about advice, hunches, prayer, circumstances?

I would say His plans for me are never clear, I always have to take a guess, and
scripture plays the biggest role in giving me messages. But one day about 6 months
ago, I’d have to say it was very clear. Years ago, I received enough messages to
have a set daily morning prayer time that I listened. It has been a regular practice
for many years, yet it tires me out a bit so sometimes I do other things first, that
require energy. This one morning I had 2 places to go, and I didn’t want to do my
prayers first, because I thought I wouldn’t go. So off I went to the special oil change
place that I had a coupon for, and found it closed. Oh well. Then I went to the next
place, where I had 2 items of business to take care of. Lo and behold, I was road
blocked on both of them. I went back home, and saw that I had wasted the amount
of time it would have taken me to say my prayers. To me, this was an obvious
message from God “see? just say your prayers, you already know I don’t want you
to do anything else first”. but again, I would have to take a guess to think this.
Then I saw the garbage cans, the trash man had already come, and I thought at
least I could do one useful thing by bringing them in. As I walked toward it, I said
“Lord, if you don’t want me to even take in the trash cans first, then punish me now”.
As I grabbed the handle, a big spider came crawling out quickly. He stood up, like
a person, and wiggled his legs at me!!" I didn’t even know a spider could stand up.
Some people God has to hit over the head with a sledgehammer before they listen.
Thanks, Lord! I left the garbage cans there, and when I got safely inside with the
Lord, I said, “what was that all about?” As usual, He was quiet. But I didn’t have
to guess!