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Posts Tagged ‘Scribes’
Download Reflection 32nd Sunday Yr B
Reflection Questions
- Behind the scenes of the first reading is a show of strength by God (Yahweh) over the worshippers of Baal (the god of fertility, rain, nature). Ahaz, the King of Israel, married Jezebel, allowed her to import her Baal priests and eventually she attempted to convert everyone to Baal worship. Elijah showed Gods strength by killing the priests of Baal and then proclaiming a drought as punishment on the land and teaching them that Yahweh is more powerful than Baal. Elijah himself has become hungry and thirsty. God tells him to go to Zarephath. This town was ‘enemy’ territory as it was the home of Jezebel’s Father! He would be met by a woman who would help him. A widow is on her last meal and desperate for survival. Open to God and showing hospitality she responds to Elijah. Her response is blessed by God…. ‘she was able to eat for a year…..’ Imagine this scene. Reflect on the obedience and trust of both Elijah and the Widow. Do you trust God? How could you show it?
- The Letter to the Hebrews paints a picture of the special Feast of Atonement described in Lev 16. The Priest would take blood into the Tent (Holy of Holies) and cover the mercy seat with blood to represent forgiveness of sins. The Priest would then appear at the entrance to the tent and announce forgiveness. Jesus has entered not a ‘tent’ but ‘heaven’ and his own blood has been offered as a ‘sacrifice to take away sin’. He will return – not to take away sin – but to welcome all those who eagerly await him. Do you look forward to Jesus’ second coming? Does Sunday Mass give you an experience of ‘salvation’ ‘at-one-ment’ where the Priest is holding up the gift of our reconciliation and communion with God?
- Scribes were experts at knowing and interpreting the religious laws of the Jewish People. When a Husband died, a widow was vulnerable and often without support if a ‘brother in law’ did not choose to marry her. With few legal rights, scribes at times became care-takers of widows property. They were supposed to protect the vulnerable but often ‘devoured’ the house and property of widows charging a commission for their services. At the same time they pretended to be ‘holy’ and continued to wear their temple garb into the streets to attract attention. Jesus does not condemn the role of someone interpreting the laws but invites authenticity. Who today is a modern ‘widow’ – vulnerable and in need of care? In what ways would Jesus’ words challenge the Church, Priests, Theologians, Lawyers, Politicians?
- The ‘treasury’ was 13 trumpet shaped containers that collected the coins, tithes and contributions of people at the Temple. A poor widow places all she has, in contrast to rich people giving to God something of their surplus. Love of God and Love of Neighbour will actually look like something. Is God honored by laws, lengthy prayers, long robes, large sums…. or the complete total trust and surrender of the poor widow with her 2 cents?
- Jesus now leaves the Temple and walks toward the event of his total and complete self-giving to the Father for the salvation of the world. Like the widows in the readings today he will ‘hold nothing back’ from God. How could you make a further step to give all that you are and have to God?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
Download Reflection Document: 31st Sunday Yr B
Reflection Questions
- The Book of Deuteronomy (second law) is a summary of God’s teachings to help guide God’s people as they leave the desert and enter their new and promised home-land Israel). Moses reminds them they have been looked after and loved so beautifully that the only proper response to God is to return love. ‘Love your God with all your heart’. Have you ‘taken into your heart’ God’s love and care for you?
- Jewish people still treasure this ‘command’ to hear and remember. Devout Jews wear this prayer in little prayer containers (phylacteries) on their wrist and forehead, pray it morning and evening, and have a container at the doorway of their home which they touch to remind them to love God who loved them. How could you be reminded of God’s love each day? Where could you put a crucifix so that it is a daily visible and touchable reminder as you ‘come and go’ in and out of your home?
- The Letter to the Hebrews is written for Jewish christians who are struggling and tempted to return to the practices of the temple, the laws, the sacrifices. Jesus is shown to be the true and perfect high-priest who will never die and whose sacrifice on the cross forgives ‘once and for all’. Do you ever think something else needs to be done to forgive you? Make you acceptable? Do you find yourself holding God’s love at arms length until you become perfect by your own actions? What practices or traditions do you long for that used to make you feel well?
- Jesus is now in Jerusalem. He has chased out money changers from the Temple, had arguments with Pharisees and Scribes. Today a frequent faith question is discussed. Jews believed that 613 laws were developed from the 10 commandments. Living all these laws put one in right relationship with God. Scribes who were teachers of the laws especially to the younger generation were often asked: Make it simple? Which is the greatest? Jesus quotes from Dt 6, 4 (1st Reading) but also adds Lev 19,18 – care of the poor (check out Lev 19.9-17). 613 becomes 2. How do you move from love of God on Sunday to love of God on Monday? Do you find it easy to separate love of God from love of neighbour? How do you see this in your life? In the Church?
- The Prophets of the Old Testament constantly pointed out the ease at which people worshipped in the temple with ‘burnt offerings and sacrifices’ but did not love their ‘neighbour’ shown by helping others in need. Love of God draws me into a relationship with all whom God loves. God painfully wishes our love to be extended to lift up the lowest and forgotten in society. Imagine entering a home for dinner and saying nice words at the table. Upon leaving the house kicking the children and scratching the hosts car. What is going on?
- The scribe agrees with Jesus. But Jesus says things are still incomplete: ‘you are not far from the Kingdom of God’. Close but not there yet! Your head is ‘on board’ but is your life going to truly show direct ‘action’ linking God AND Neighbour? The crowd stayed silent. Why? What would it involve to actually live and love neighbour as your own flesh and blood?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
Download 7th Sunday Yr B
Reflection Questions
- God makes a promise through Isaiah to do ‘something new’. God will lead them out of captivity in Babylon and back ‘home’ to their promised land. A path will be clear, rivers for water in times of thirst will be provided. Are you able to ‘perceive’ God helping you with a ‘path’ and ‘water’ today? How?
- God reminds them of sin, lack of praise, lack of prayer, crimes. But joyfully lets them know these have been ‘wiped away’. Sin and the past is not being ‘remembered’. Do you play over in your head and heart past ‘sins’? Do you live more in ‘sin’ than ‘forgiveness’? What conversation would you like to have with God….. with a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation?
- St Paul has had difficulties with the community at Corinth. He promised he would visit them and then instead sent Titus (hoping he may have more success!) People accused Paul of being ‘yes’ and ‘no’. He says one thing but does another. Has this criticism been made of you? Do you keep promises made by your words and fulfill them with action? Paul explains himself and points to Jesus as being utterly faithful and the complete ‘Yes’ of all God’s promises.
- Mark chapter 2 begins a series of conflicts with religious authorities. Scribes (religious lawyers) who contained God – taught what God was like and laws that were to be kept – are upset that Jesus makes a claim to ‘act in the name and with the power of God’. They charge him with blasphemy – pretending to be God! How do you understand Jesus’ words and power to heal and forgive? Is Jesus the predicted ‘Son of Man’ (Book of Daniel)? Is he truly who he claims to be?
- The loyalty of the friends of the paralysed man attracts Jesus’ attention. Imagine going to the extreme lengths of ripping open a roof so that your friend could be restored to life. Do you and your friends know someone in need of help. What would opening up the roof for them involve? Will you do it?
- The Gospel today reveals two typical responses to Jesus (christians, Church): critical or captivated. A theological question of ‘who’ Jesus is refuses to be open to suprise. An acceptance of what he does leads to astonishment. Who is this person Jesus and where does he get his power from are questions beneath the surface of this gospel story. We are drawn personally into this question. What is your response?
- As Jesus cures and heals so many people in the gospel of Mark, we can feel left out and unable to ‘follow’ him in his words and deeds of power. It is significant to realise there are physical (cures) and social (healing) elements. We are not always able to ‘cure’ but we can frequently enable healing – the reintegration of a person back into families, society, worship. Like the helpers today, how could you ‘heal’?
- What is one action that you will do to ‘livetheword’ this week?
Download 31st Sunday Yr A
Reflection Questions
- The prophet Malachi was writing to his community. They had been allowed to return home from exile. They had even received financial help to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem. And yet religious practice and faithfulness was at an ‘all-time-low’. He turns his attention to the Priests. They were responsible for the spiritual leadership of the community and were not ‘listening’ or keeping the laws ‘in their heart’, ‘not instructing people properly in ‘the way’. In the final verse Malachi also turns to those who ‘intermarried’. He interpreted this as weakening God’s family and introducing other God’s into the family – a breaking of the ‘covenant’. What would you suggest today is the source of decline in ‘religious practice’?
- St Paul, while traveling far and wide as a missionary, continued his trade as a ‘Tent maker’. He worked ‘night and day’ so as not to burden anyone. While they missed him, Paul pointed to the true source of their growth ‘the word of God at work in you’. How could you spend more time with the ‘Word of God’. Who could help you?
- The word ‘Pharisee’ means ‘set apart’ or ‘separate’. They were lay men (not priests who worked in the Temple or scribes who were ‘scripture scholars’ and experts in the law). In Jesus’ time the Pharisees believed the ‘laws’ were not being lived perfectly and the temple priests and Religious Leaders were too comfortable with Roman authorities. When Matthew’s Gospel was written, the Jerusalem Temple had been destroyed. Pharisees were now more public in their leadership – even being referred to as ‘Rabbi’ – teacher. Jesus continues his critique of religious leaders being ‘hypocritical’. Literally ‘two faces – actor’. Preaching and practice must go together. Is there any areas of your life where you are ‘acting’? Wearing ‘two faces’?
- Jesus reminds his disciples and the Church today to not follow the Pharisees or scribes. Be an example to follow. Interpret laws sensitively so as not to load heavy burdens. Be alongside to shoulder the weight of discipleship. Do not seek glory or status. Point toward God (not self) as the true teacher. What aspect of Jesus’ leadership challenge speaks personally to you?
- ‘Father’ was a term of special respect given to ‘elders’ and special deceased persons. To call no one on earth your ‘Father’ or ‘Master’ is Jesus telling the community – and its leaders – not to ‘chase’ titles and public recognition. Service and humility are to be the trademarks of the Christian community. Is there an attitude of ‘seeking’ rather than ‘service’ in your ministry? How could you show respect to leaders and also develop a culture of equality and expectation of ‘leading by example’ in your community? Is a humble word of correction to a leader friend needed?
- What is one action that you will do to ‘livetheword’ this week?