Weekly Reflection 092808AD

Sunday, September 28, 2008AD

26^th Sunday in Greentime

“In Christ Jesus” Means More Than We Think --Meet St Paul XVI

“In Christ Jesus” is a term which St Paul uses over 150 times (twice this weekend) in his letters. What exactly does the term mean to St Paul and his adult audience who heard his letters proclaimed in house churches in the 1st century as well as here in Armonk now?

Humble folks realize that the more we know, the more we know that we don’t know. This is known as the medieval doctrine of ignorantia docta , viz., “learned ignorance”. (Oriental traditions call the concept “Beginner’s Wisdom”.) When someone tells you that he or she has cracked the language about the Infinite or our relationship with the Infinite, be careful! All language about the Mystery of God is ultimately inadequate. Humble folks know that liberating truth.

Quoting St Paul, Pope Benedict writes that Jesus is the Exemplar of Humanity, the Last Adam. As a result, the blueprint of Jesus exists in each person. Members of the Jesus Movement are called to lives of inclusive election, by which we proclaim the permeation of Creation by Christ Jesus to all and in all whom we meet.

Maybe, this is what St Paul means so frequently when he tells his Jesus Movement communities that they exist in Christ Jesus. Maybe, this is what the Christian Church means when we use the triad expression, “Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ.”

In the week ahead, the Church salutes St Francis, who, in the opinion of many, caught the vibrational field of Christ Jesus proclaiming it so authentically that even after 800 years, the man from Assisi’s prophetic attitude still evolves.

During the Middle Ages, apparently enough people joined the Third Order of St Francis, a lay community that lived in the world that evolving city-states had to take into account that large numbers of their citizenry were sharing an alternate worldview, the vision of the Kingdom of God, proclaimed by Jesus and updated by the Franciscan Movement.

In the 21^st century, each of us has all it takes (with God’s Help) to be Honorary Franciscans as well. Recently, Dr Gerard Vanderhaar, one of the founding members of Pax Christi USA, suggested ways in which we can all practice Christian non-violence by adapting with God’s Help some behavior modification in mundane areas. For example, we can adopt non-violent dialogue with one another. “Non-violent dialogue avoids hurting others, through shouting angrily and insultingly. …So does avoiding obscene language, deserved to shock…In addition, there is the use of language that comes from a world in which damage and hurt are taken as tools of conversation, when in reality they come from a context of violence and hurt. Such expressions include the following: Sometimes, people say “fire away”, when they are to be questioned. If they do not give the correct answer, they are “blown away” or “shot down.” Advertisers “target” a specific audience. An editor “kills” a story. (The editor could say, “don’t print it!”) Also, we should be increasingly sensitive to sexist, racist, ethnically disparaging remarks.”

Let us hope that most Catholics really do want to live peacefully and non-violently with one another, never returning injury for injury. Let us hope that most Catholics really want economic justice for one another and that we don’t blame the poor for being poor. Let us hope that most Catholics really want to live with all men and women as brothers and sisters, not as stratified societies based on status, class, wealth, race, or ethnicity. Finally, let us hope that most Catholics really want to do something about the fact that the ocean is slowly heating up around us and that more hurricanes and thinner ozone layers in the future might be caused by global warming.

Catholic ranks are already filled with people like this. We are all already “Honorary Franciscans”, Third Order Members even now.

St Francis caught the vibrational field in Christ Jesus through and with and in Whom we all live. We can catch Jesus’ vibes as well by paying attention more to the implications of the adult message that Jesus proclaims and the mediation of that message by people like St Paul and St Francis. As a simple sign of our intention, join those in our parish who pray the Prayer of St Francis at least 5x a day. Work now for the “Great Convergence, viz., when a critical mass of humanity realize that whether one becomes a Christian or not, he or she comes to see that the Vision of Jesus of Nazareth is the one that corresponds to reality as it should be. You might not change the world; you might change your own!! Quantum physicists and quantum theologians, indeed, agree with Jesus and St Francis that everything is related. God lives in reality; reality lives in God. Catch the Spirit! Feel the Vibes of Jesus! With God’s Help, go for the Big Picture! 092808AD jfq

Weekly Reflection 092108AD

Sunday, September 21, 2008AD

25^th Sunday in Greentime

Women of Philippi – Meet St Paul XV

When you have the opportunity, read over St Paul’s Letter to the Philippians at one sitting. It is only 4 chapters long and it is beautifully written. We will be hearing excerpts as part of our second reading these autumnal Sundays. St Paul is easy to follow in this brief letter; the time and effort is worth it, anytime, particularly during this Pauline Year.

We know a great deal about the city of Philippi. It was the scene of a battle in which Mark Antony and Octavian Caesar defeated Brutus and Cassius in 40BC, after the assassination of Julius Caesar. The climate there was good, and the victors encouraged veterans in the Roman Army to settle there. (It would be comparable to San Diego, California today.)

St Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles (Peter and Paul) that St Paul visited Philippi and went to the banks of a nearby river on a Sabbath where he meets a group of God-fearers (Gentiles who were attracted to Judaism, but never became Jewish themselves). In his discussion with the women in the group, St Paul attracted the enthusiasm of a woman named Lydia, who received the gift of faith at that time. Lydia was a business woman from the town of Thyatira, who dealt in purple goods (which only affluent folks could afford). She invited St Paul and his travelling companion to come and stay at her house after her entire household was baptized. St Luke tells us, therefore, that the Church of Philippi first was assembled in the house church of Lydia. (Acts 16. 11-15)

Also, St Paul, in his “behavior modification” section at the end of the Letter to the Philippians encourages two women of the community to “make nice”. The two, Euodia and Synthche, had a disagreement about something and St Paul encourages them to come to a mutual understanding in the Lord. He entreats the Philippians to help them settle their differences, for they have struggled at my side in promoting the Gospel. The very fact that two of the prominent women in the Jesus Movement in Philippi were at loggerheads is a red flag that St Paul was heeding.

We know from other places in the letters of St Paul that women, from the very beginning, were very influential in the house churches that he addressed. In Rom 16, which is the farewell section of the mighty Letter to the Romans, from which we have heard excerpts all summer this year, St Paul sends his greetings to various people he had met somewhere in the past and hoped to meet again if and when he got to Rome. Commentators have long reflected on this list. About 25 years ago, a sociologist of religion, Wayne Meeks, at Yale University wrote a book entitled, The First Urban Christians, in which he did a detail study of the names that St Paul mentioned in his letters. His conclusion is that, indeed, the Pauline strategy of building Christian house churches was showing the unity of the Gospel message that transcends barriers of nationality, religious traditions or racial status. One might add the clear influence of women in the Pauline methodology. In addition to the three prominent ladies mentioned in the Philippian context, St Paul addresses several women who were leaders in the Roman house churches as well. Names include Phoebe, a deacon (ess?) from the Corinthian milieu who apparently was traveling to Rome. In addition, St Paul greets Prisca and Aquila, who are mentioned throughout the Christian Scriptures. The interesting thing to note here is that Prisca (Priscilla) is usually mentioned first, before her husband. Other women whom he mentions include Mary, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, Julia and Olympas and Junia.

We should note the important name Junia, St Paul describes her a Jewish woman who are prominent among the Apostles and they were in Christ before (him) me. St Paul became a member of the Jesus Movement very early, some think, maybe five years after the death and Resurrection of the Lord. Junia was a Jewish Christian who was in the Jesus Movement as an Apostle even before St Paul!! What’s up with that? (Fr Raymond Brown offered the caveat many years ago that we are never told in the Christian Scriptures who presided over the Saturday night gatherings for the Lord’s Supper in the various house churches.)

The mention of the several ladies prominent in both the Philippian and Roman house churches remind us that the role of women has been pivotal in the Jesus Movement from the very beginning. These women whom St Paul mentioned would certainly have all been familiar with the baptismal hymn that St Paul quotes in Gal 3.28. For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. What does that mean these days? 092108AD jfq

Weekly Reflection 091408AD

Sunday, September 14, 2008AD

Holy Cross

Carmen Christi –Meet St Paul XIV

No, it is not necessarily a woman’s name, but it could be. Actually, it refers to our second reading this weekend as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross.

According to legend, St Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, who legalized Christianity in 312 AD discovered the true Cross on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. On September 14, 612 AD, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross, seized by Persians.

Recently, Constantine is named in the novel, Da Vinci Code as the one who legislated the divinity of Jesus Christ at the Council of Nicea in 325!! Evidently, the author of the book forgot (at best) several biblical quotations which belie the storyline of his novel. Our 2nd reading today, the “Carmen Christi”, viz., the Song of Christ” was one thing that he omitted or distorted somehow in his story.

Biblical scholars comment on the lofty terminology that is used by St Paul in the letter to the Philippians, whence it is excerpted, written around 55 AD. Paul is quoting a hymn that they had already learned! (c. 50 AD??) Not on the radio or Internet, either.

Now, Jesus relinquished the “form of God”. Is this a reference to Adam who was tempted to be like God? Jesus empties Himself to take the “form of a servant or slave”. Is this a reference to either the Suffering Servant (from Isaiah) or merely the human condition (whether we admit it or not, we are not our own masters.)

Jesus submitted to the humiliation of death on the cross and is exalted by YHWH, given the Name (Kyrios) “Lord” above every name and all proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.” St Paul jumped the gun on Dan Brown by 270 years!!

In the Carmen Christi, we are called to live in Christ Jesus with the same attitude. St Paul says that Christians should be humble and obedient, as was Jesus Christ, in Whom we are now baptized.

The word “humility” is derived from the Latin word, humus , earth, soil. Humility reminds us that, indeed, “we are dust and unto dust we shall return”. If that doesn’t humble you, what could? St Paul does not want us to be morbid, but honest and realistic.

The word “obedience”, derived from the Latin words ob , “because of”, & audire ,” to listen”, reminds us to hear the Word of God Incarnate, our Lord Jesus Christ. St Paul wants us to behave in a Christian , (viz., totally human) fashion. With God’s Help, how are we doing?

Difficulties abound within a cultural collective subconscious that directly challenges what Christ did through His Self-emptying, His acceptance of our human existence as well as His obedience to God. How does His death and Exaltation affect us here and now?

In our first reading, where Moses prays to YHWH for a respite from the plague of serpents, YHWH tells Moses to raise up a bronze image of the deadly serpent on a pole (a tree). All who look upon the bronze serpent will be healed. The symbol of death becomes the symbol of healing.

The Tree of the Life was the center of the Garden of Eden and its violation by our first parents in the story of the Fall of our First Parents involved disobedience about the tree. Not for nothing, but for Christians, the cross on which our Savior, God’s Son made human and our older brother at the same time, was made of the wood of a tree. In biblical faith, Adam’s tree, on the one hand, was the source of our defeat; on the other hand, Christ’s tree is the source of our victory. The paradox speaks beyond words.

In a contemporary world, still male dominated, despite strides by feminists, is a culture that has difficulty bearing its pains. It has been said that most men, in general, are bred in a success-oriented milieu, that many men are incapable of dealing immediately with defeat, loss, depth, failure because of the mystique of male bravado. A wise theologian said, some time ago, that all religion ultimately has to do with learning how to bear the unavoidable pains of life. Many men have been programmed by the culture to fix and understand and control reality, but eventually, the shadow side of life sets in, the days that are not so good. Because culture encourages a rugged individualism, (witness commercials on Sunday afternoon football games!), many cannot cope with the times when we need to reach out to others (including God). As a result, when a culture is male dominated and males are dominated by a desire to control, understand and fix things, push comes to shove when men (and their culture) cannot fix, understand and control everything. The illusion of autonomy is burst and men wonder what happens next?

God is in control, not we. God is a God of Life and of Love, but of Mystery as well. We do not always get the answers that we demand. We learn that God runs the show, not we. In humility, in obedience and in pouring ourselves out for one another, we learn that God is more on top of every situation than we are. The Paschal Mystery of descent and transformation, described in the Carmen Christi, triumphs within us on good days as well as not so good, if we live our lives daily in Christ Jesus. 091408AD jfq

Weekly Reflection 090708AD

Sunday, September 7, 2008AD

23^rd Sunday in Greentime

Now What Do We Do?

Part Thirteen

That Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead changes everything. Everything in your life and mine rises and falls with the cross of Christ Jesus. The thing that ultimately counts in your life and mine is that Christ Jesus rose from the dead. We live the effects of the Paschal Mystery even now, not yet. What St Paul tells the Roman house churches (and the Armonk house churches) can take that to the bank.

Now what? How do we respond to what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. The bottom line, according to St Paul, is to live each moment, 168 hours a week, in Christ Jesus, with lives of obedient faith, of thanksgiving (Eucharist).

According to St Paul and other New Testament writers, a response in faith is a life of ethical monotheism. St Paul tells Roman Christians (and us), “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law”. (Rom 12.8) St Mark tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mk 12.30-31) St John tells us, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn 15.12) St James tells us, “If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.” (Jas 2.8)

What did that mean for a Jewish Christian in Roma in 55AD? What did it mean for God-fearers in Roma (Gentiles who were attracted to the high principles and ethics of Judaism, but never became Jews)? What does it mean for us?

Some Jewish Christians felt that one still had to abide by the Torah with regard to religious rituals, such as Torah, Kosher and circumcision. St Paul’s response was,” If you want to do so, knock yourself out! However, don’t think that this will put you in better stead with God. Christ Jesus makes the difference for you, not your putative fulfillment of a performance principle.”

St Paul felt that the problem was solved for Gentile Christians (including us).

Although, at times, we think we earn points by the performance principle, spiritual capitalism, salvation by works, it should be easier for us to see our need for Christ Jesus.

Salvation was won for us by Christ Jesus and we share in Christ Jesus’ Paschal victory through baptism into Him. Catholics take the reality of the Deep Incarnation seriously. Christ Jesus lives in us; we live in Christ Jesus. Our lives, hopefully, in Christ Jesus will be ongoing lives of Christification, viz., Christ in us enables us to Gospel living 168 hours a week.

As the New Testament calls the love of neighbor commandment the royal law, how do we live it today? A great starting point would be a serious commitment to the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” A variation of the Golden Rule appears in every major religious system, East and West. Some call the Golden Rule a global ethic. Christians push the Golden Rule forward a notch with the “win-win proviso”, viz., not only treat others as we would be treated, but try to create a scenario in which everyone clearly wins. It may not be possible always, but in Christ Jesus, may Catholics give it a shot.

St Paul saw his Roman house churches in the mid-fifties of the first century as beachhead communities in which the Jesus Movement would mutually support one another with a sharing of an alternative view of reality, viz., Jesus is Lord (Nobody and nothing else is!!) He felt his small communities could change the world as the leaven of the Gospel permeated the Eternal City back then. His timeframe was off; his methodology was not. In Christ Jesus, may the effects of the leaven continue to permeate the dough. In, with and through Christ Jesus, may Armonk Catholics do our share. 090708AD jfq