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“FIRST
IMPRESSIONS”
29th SUNDAY (B)
October 20, 2024
Isaiah 53:
10-11; Psalm 33;
Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45
by Jude Siciliano, OP |
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Dear
Preachers:
I have lost my taste
for war movies, or movies depicting any kind of violence. When we were kids, we
never missed the latest war film. “Sergeant York,” “Run Silent, Run Deep, and
“Stalag 17.” I don’t mean to sound ancient. More recent films include, “War
Horse,“ “Napoleon,” ‘Da 5 Bloods,” etc., Besides the vivid depictions of
conflict, what often moved us kids was a scene of personal sacrifice. For
example, a soldier who throws himself on a live grenade to save others from the
blast, but dies in the effort.
But this is not about movies. What moves people to make personal sacrifices,
with no material reward, for the sake of others? Pondering that mystery will
help us enter today’s scriptures.
The reading from Isaiah opens with a harsh statement. “The Lord was pleased to
crush him in infirmity.“ It sounds like what some people conclude when
catastrophe befalls them. “Why is God punishing me?“ “God is testing my faith.“
Do we really need a God who presses down on us to test us? What’s even worse: do
we need a God who is “pleased“ to inflict pain on us? Who would want to serve
such a God?
Today’s text from Isaiah is taken from the fourth “Servant Song.” These “songs”
present an innocent servant who willingly suffers to do God’s will; not in weak
resignation, but as a freely chosen way to break the power of evil over
humankind. Isaiah tells of a servant who takes on the consequences of sin to set
others free. The servant is not defeated by death, but his suffering shall
“justify many.”
Early Christian writers saw in Isaiah‘s humble self-sacrificing servant, a clear
portrait of Jesus and his example of humble service, forgiveness and death for
the well-being of others. And more. As today’s gospel tells us, we disciples who
follow Jesus must be ready to pay the price of the discipleship for the sake of
others. The cost is great and difficult, as we join in our “Responsorial Psalm”
praying, “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”
The Letter to the Hebrews takes up Isaiah’s message. Jesus is presented as our
“high priest,” who made a once-for all sacrifice on our behalf. In our gospel,
James and John ask, “Grant that in your glory, we may sit one at your right and
the other at your left.” Hebrews reverses that narrative. Jesus, “who has passed
through the heavens“ has made a self-sacrifice for us. Thus, in reverse of James
and John’s request, by becoming one of us, Jesus has sat with us, on our right
and left. As a result, he is able “to sympathize with our weakness.” For the
Jews, whom the Letter to the Hebrews addresses, God was completely separate from
our human experience; and completely other. Hebrews states that Jesus breached
the separation and became one with humankind, even to the point of suffering and
dying for us.
We are quickly approaching election day here in America. The national and local
candidates have been spelling out their agendas and how, they say, they are best
qualified to see them to fulfillment. The disciples, James and John, sound a lot
like modern politicians seeking high office. They tell Jesus that when he comes
into glory, they want seats in high places, at his right and left side.
The disciples were children of their age. They anticipated that when Jesus
entered Jerusalem, he would assume messianic reign and would raise Israel to
world prominence. But that was not what Jesus wanted as the conclusion of his
public ministry. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus has had to clarify his servant role to
his disciples. If they wanted to follow him, they must accept the suffering
aspect of his mission. They envision drinking the cup of success (Ps 23:5;
116:13), rather than the cup of suffering Isaiah described. How would they
receive glory and honor? By following Christ through suffering and death.
Our history as God’ people is filled with stories of those who offered their
lives, accepting suffering to follow Jesus’ way. We call these models of faith
“saints”; some officially named so by an arduous process of ecclesiastical
investigation. But these are just a few of the countless disciples who have
taken Jesus’ words to heart and acted on them. The preacher and those in the
pew, may call other exemplary disciples to mind and offer thanks for the
examples they are for us. They have fulfilled Jesus’ words, “Rather, whoever
wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first
among you will be slave of all.”
Today, for example, I call to mind lay missionary Jean Donovan, Ursuline Sister
Dorothy Kazel, Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke. 40 years ago, they
were martyred during El Salvador’s civil war that caused widespread bloodshed,
especially among poor and rural Catholic communities. Father Manuel Acosta spoke
of the women “They left their culture, they left their comfort, and they came
here to live the daily life of the poor.”
Isn’t that what Jesus meant about drinking his cup and being baptized with the
baptism he was to endure? (For a fuller narrative about the martyred women go
to: maryknollmagazine.org)
Click here for a
link to this Sunday’s readings:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102024.cfm
JUSTICE BULLETIN BOARD
 The Lord loves justice and right; of the kindness of the
Lord the earth is full.
Psalm 33:5
As we approach
Election Day, it is good to examine what the Church considers a responsibility
of every Catholic, and that is, informed conscience. As stated in the Catechism
of the Catholic Church, “Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human
person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to
perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed. In all he
says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and
right” (no. 1778). Pope John XXIII said so in Pacem in Terris when he wrote,
“The Creator of the World has imprinted in man’s heart an order which his
conscience reveals to him and enjoins him to obey.” The connection between
conscience and heart has a biblical foundation.
Though the term, conscience, does not appear in Jewish scriptures, the writings
do say a lot about heart. The heart in Jewish understanding is the core of the
human being in which each person is most uniquely oneself and face to face with
God. The Gospels continue this understanding where the Semitic term “heart” is
synonymous with conscience.
Conscience calls on a person to discern and to be authentic, especially to
his/her deepest instincts for the good. Here we find interior motivation, not
someone or something telling you what to do. To come and see with your heart the
wider world and those suffering in it in order to discern God’s will; to reflect
on the movement of one’s heart toward justice and right.
Let us pray this abbreviated prayer from the Association of the Miraculous
Medal:
Lord God as the election approaches, we seek to better understand the issues and
concerns that confront our city, state, and country, and how the Gospel compels
us to respond as faithful citizens in our community. We ask for eyes that are
free from blindness so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters, one
and equal in dignity. . .
We pray for discernment so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word, live
your love, and keep in the ways of your truth. . .and guide us to your kingdom
of justice and peace. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, and
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Be sure to vote.
Barbara
Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director,
Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral,
Raleigh, NC
FAITH BOOK
Mini-reflections on the Sunday
scripture readings designed for persons on the run. “Faith Book” is also
brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home.
From today’s Gospel reading:
Jesus said to his
disciples,
“Whoever wishes to be great among you,
will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be the first among you
will be the slave of all.”
Reflection:
Being a disciple is
not about power and prestige. It’s not about the first places at table. It’s
about following Jesus’ path of service, even if it means suffering and death.
That’s a difficult teaching, no wonder the disciples were deaf to it. In the
Lord’s Prayer we ask for “daily bread,” to sustain us in our life of service in
Jesus’ name.
So
we ask ourselves:
In what way does
following Jesus require me to be a servant?
Where do I receive
strength for that role?
POSTCARDS TO DEATH ROW INMATES
“One has to strongly
affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that
humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out." ---Pope
Francis
Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each
week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite
you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have
not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever
personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you
might consider becoming pen pals.
Please write to:
-
Jamie Smith
#0376917 (On death row since 5/10/1996)
-
Robbie Locklear
#0246185 (5/14/1996)
-
Archie Billings
#0471315 (6/5/1996)
----Central
Prison, P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security
purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above
address in Maryland.
For more information
on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing
Network:
http://catholicsmobilizing.org/resources/cacp/
On this page you can
sign “The National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty.” Also, check the
interfaith page for People of Faith Against the Death Penalty:
http://www.pfadp.org/
DONATIONS
“First Impressions” is a service to
preachers and those wishing to prepare for Sunday worship. It is sponsored by
the Dominican Friars. If you would like “First Impressions” sent weekly
to a friend, send a note to Fr. John Boll, OP at
jboll@opsouth.org.
If you would like to support this ministry,
please send tax deductible contributions to Fr. Jude Siciliano,
O.P.:
St. Albert
Priory
3150 Vince Hagan Drive
Irving, Texas 75062-4736
Make checks payable to: Dominican Friars.
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