Mon.-Tue. Lectionary # 329 and 330
Mark 6:53-56:
Beginnings are important and fascinating. This is true of each beginning of
a book, an epistle, or a historical narrative in the Bible. Today we start
anew with an often read part of the Scriptures, chapters one and two of
Genesis. Here we see the Providence of God over all of creation and
everything is good. That is an important point of view that Jews and
Christians should have about the world, the universe, and the people within
it. A positive attitude is fostered by the opening verses of Genesis and
we learn from the beginning that God is absolute goodness. We are to
erradicate any of the presuppostions we may have heard about God being a
God of wrath; a severe judge, etc. Older Catholics have a great hurdle to
break through on reading the Old Testament because of the faulty biblical
training they were exposed to. Now with the knowledge explosion we are able
to know so much more about the Bible and how to read it.
Bonum diffusivum sibi. The goodness in creation is diffusive of itself.
God is absolute generosity in the scenes that unfold before us in Genesis.
And the inspired writer is not unfamiliar with human traditions that went
before his inspired writing as we learn from a comparison with several
ancient epics written before Genesis.The skill of the divine author is his
ability to use these traditions and give us a theology of God's creative
love and of our own tendency sometimes to waver and reject that love as we
will see in chapter three of Genesis.
We realize that the language is not technical language; it is the language
of the ancient Near East and a language of metaphors, symbols, and
primitive theology. It is God-language written in the language of the
persons of that time--seventh century before the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Torah has taken this opening chapter from the priestly tradition which
centers on worship of God and reverence for the Sabbath. It is language
that extols the union of man and woman on equal terms: God created them in
God's image and likeness, male and female he created them. These are among
the most sublime verses in the Bible and show us our human dignity and
equality since both male and female are made in the image and likeness of
God. Irenaeus, the ancient bishop of Lyons, realized this and said, "The
glory of God is humankind fully alive." Vatican II, the latest ecumenical
council of the Church (1962-1965) also speaks of our dignity and beauty as
well as our call to holiness both in its document on the Church called
Lumen Gentium (Light for the Nations) and Gaudium and Spes (Joy and Hope)
in the pastoral application of the Council's Constitution on the Church.
Genesis is part of the background for these more modern statements.
We are to respond daily to the gift of life God has given us and to thank
God for it. Our readings should challenge us to see the unity, beauty, and
goodness of God in the inspired beginning chapters of the Torah--God's
teaching and revelation for all of us.
The Gospel of Mark shows us the compassion of Jesus for the crowds
therefore he feeds the hungry and heals those who are ill. He wants all to
enjoy the fullness of life as decreed in Genesis. We are to respond to
this message of God by allowing ourselves to become fully alive in
goodness, beauty, and truth. Peace which is brought about by unity among
us will be more readily achieved if we are attentive to the message of
Genesis. Amen.
Scripture: Feb. 8. Lectionary # 330: Genesis 1:20-2:4. Psalm 8:4-5.6-7.8-9.
Mark 7:1-13:
Genesis gives us the ending of the first tradition in the story of
creation. It consists of chapter one and goes up to the fourth verse of
chapter two. By reading this narrative in the perspective of the priestly
and the levites point of view we are closer to the interpretation they
wished to give it and which was divinely inspired. Both their natural
talent of telling the narrative and the spirit-inspired influence of God
shows us that the Bible is a work of God and humans; of nature and grace.
After all, we have heard that grace builds on nature.
The liturgical background of the first chapter is seen in the contrasts of
light and darkness and the influence of the priests and levites who
appreciated God's presence in the Temple and composed writings to glorify
the Lord both in the psalms, songs, and here in the creation account. Since
they owned no land, they were the writers and hymnologists of the Temple
and its worship services on the feasts. All of these services are
adumbrated in Genesis 1:1-2:4.
We will continue to see a change as we approach another tradition handed
down to us in chapter two after verse four. It is called the Yahwist
tradtion and is more ancient, more simple in its theology, and very human
centered. Here we will see differences in the creation story of the man
and woman compared with the deeper insight of the priestly tradition in
verses 26 and 27 of chapter one. Differences are important in our learning
about God's revelation to us. There is an ongoing development in the
library of the Bible. We would do well as Christians to read a Jewish
interpretation of the Genesis. (cf. of the Jewish Study Bible, Oxford
Press, New York, 2004, pages 8-18). We learn that Scripture is not
fundamental literalism but an erudite and literary masterpiece good for the
mind, the heart, and the soul.
We are fortunate to listen to both tradtions and to the contrast in the
retelling of certain events in the life of Abram and Sarai once they are
introduced after chapter twelve. We must read the Bible not only
spirtually but also with all the skills we have learned in knowing how to
distinguish poetry from prose, metaphor from simple statements, and styles
seen from the different authors and composers. The library of the Bible is
thus a treasure for study and spirituality for a lifetime. We cannot race
through it or speed read it.
By appreciating the narratives set before us we can see that God's Word is
a key to our union with God and God with us. It is God's love-story
written for us by those who have experienced God in the different events of
history whether in good times or bad times. We learn much about ourselves
in the Bible since it is a mirror of who we are. And when we are at our
best we appreciate God telling us that we are made in God's image and
likeness. Gandhi's words are correct, "Honest differences are often a sign
of progress." Amen.
posted by Fr. Bert SM at 9:51 AM
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