Catholic Faith and Reflections

The Office of Readings for the start of Ordinary Time begins with the book of Sirach, and Sirach begins with a discourse on Wisdom. Most of us have read and heard this before, but it is worth reading and hearing again.

Sirach emphasizes the importance of “fear of the Lord”, which some translate as “awe and wonder of God”. He says that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the fullness of wisdom, the crown of wisdom and the root of wisdom. Wisdom was created “in the maternal womb”, he says; an interesting comment and perhaps an allusion to Jesus and the womb of Mary.  He says wisdom is intoxicating for those devoted to her.  From wisdom comes peace, health and greatness.  Wisdom’s roots give rise to a long life.

All these blessings, all of wisdom, are identified with “fear of the Lord”.  What this means is that all the blessings and gifts of God come only to a humble heart, a heart that knows itself only in relation to the wonder and awe of God himself.  Greatness comes from humility.  Wisdom comes from acknowledging the truth of ourselves.  Wisdom is given to those who practice true humility; not self-depreciation but rather true humility in which we see ourselves as God sees us.

I was struck by the reading for Morning Prayer today. Tomorrow ends our Christmas season, and today, the second to the last day, our scripture from Lauds is taken from the book of Wisdom.  It reads:

“Wisdom is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness.  And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring, and passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets.” Wisdom 7: 26-27

I find that to be so poetic and beautiful.  It speaks of the Holy Spirit. The Jewish people a few hundred years before Christ almost personified Wisdom. I realize how close they came to understanding the Trinity right before Jesus was born.  They certainly knew of the Father; they anticipated the Son in their waiting for the Messiah; and here in the Wisdom literature they were coming to understand the Holy Spirit.

In our own lives, how often do we ask for wisdom, as did Solomon of old? How often do we reflect on the spirit of our parents, of the generations that preceded us, and find wisdom?  If what today’s reading speaks is true, how can we not ask for such a gift?  

“(She) pass(es) into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets.”

May we all be spotless mirrors of the power of God.  May the Holy Spirit renew us and all of creation. Amen.

If you haven’t already discovered it, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops provides a daily video reflection on the Mass readings. 

Today’s reflection is about John the Baptist knowing who he is and who he isn’t, and how we need to know ourselves well if we are to be effective instruments in God’s hands.

Take a look:   www.usccb.org/video/reflections.shtml

I was lector at the 6:30 AM Mass this morning, so I proclaimed the reading from the beginning of the book of Revelation.  John wrote that the one who reads and proclaims these words is blessed and those who listen to the prophetic message are indeed blessed.  Blessings flow from the proclamation and hearing of the Word of God.  Isn’t that true!  Do we remain conscious of this as we proclaim and hear, that blessings are being given?  The Word of God spoken and heard convey Jesus Christ, who blesses us all. 

The reading went on to acknowledge the church in Ephesus as strong in the faith and discerning true teachers of the faith, but John reprimands Ephesus for its lack of love, and asks them to consider how far they have fallen because of this.  A good reminder for us who may be clear in our doctrines but clouded in our loving.  Love surpasses all.  Will love for God be in our hearts when we face Jesus in our particular judgment after death?  That is what will count, not our knowledge of specific doctrine as important as that may be.  I am reminded of St. Thomas Aquinas, who no one could accuse of being ignorant of the doctrines of faith, who said at the end of his life that all he had written was “straw” in light of the love of God in Christ Jesus his Lord.

May love rule in our hearts for ever.  May a discerning spirit live in us.  May we listen and proclaim boldly Jesus.  To him be glory forever!

The Office of Readings, as it typically does, has an interesting reflection this morning in the second reading.  An anonymous author from the 2nd Century in a homily wrote (my translation from the Italian):  

“Fasting is worth more than prayer, but almsgiving counts more than both prayer and fasting:  ‘Love covers a multitude of of sins (1Peter 4, 8).  Prayer, prayed with a pure heart, frees from death, but blessed is he who is found perfect through almsgiving.  This truly frees from sin.” 

Today’s first reading at Mass from the Second Letter of  St. John reminded us of the very same thing.  He tells us that the new commandment is to love one another, and he tells us to remain true to that command of God.  He also warned against those who are so “progressive” as to deny that Jesus the Son of God came in the flesh.  What did he mean by that?  I think he was saying, as was the author of the homily cited above, that giving of oneself lovingly is of utmost importance.  Those who are so “progressive” as to deny Jesus in the flesh, may attempt to do good,  but fail to recognize Jesus in the lives of those who suffer and stand in need.  They fail to recognize Christ in the flesh of the poor. They take God out of the equation in their “almsgiving” to the needy.  If Jesus is incarnate, then to love is to give to Jesus in the very real circumstances and lives of the poor, disenfranchised, forgotten, marginalized, handicapped, unborn, and abused of our world.