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February 28, 2010
Lectionary Reflection
Second Sunday of Lent |
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Greetings!
The readings for this Sunday offer us the challenging message of hoping against hope. Through the examples of Abraham, Paul and the early Apostles we will be reflecting on the faith and hope that these people had on an unlikely promise that God has made with them. We will consider this reflection along the backdrop of our own social challenges and with help from the pastoral message on hope that Pope Benedict XVI offers us in the encyclical Spe Savli. I invite you to visit the Lectionary Reflection Blog and take part in the discussion over this reflection.
 I invite you to also visit the action-links at the bottom and the Passion for Justice Blogs to engage in social actions that the Catholic Church and the Passionist community are engaging in. The Passion for Justice blog has an update on the situation of Fr. Rick Frechette, CP in Haiti and a Lenten program that is developed by our Passionist Earth and Spirit Center.
Peace,
John
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Lectionary Readings:
- Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18. By a covenant God renewed the promise to Abram (Abraham) of many descendants and their own land.
- Philippians 3:17-4:1. We eagerly await the coming of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will then give a new form to our lowly body.
- Luke 9:28-36. At Jesus' transformation, Moses and Elijah appear and speak with him of his "exodus".
Calendar:
March is Women's History Month
February 27: St. Gabriel, CP
March 4: Purim / Feast of Lots [Jewish]
March 8: International Women's Day
Quotes: From Spe Salvi By Pope Benedict XVI
Christianity did not bring a message of social revolution like that of the ill-fated Spartacus, whose struggle led to so much bloodshed. Jesus was not Spartacus, he was not engaged in a fight for political liberation like Barabbas or Bar- Kochba. Jesus, who himself died on the Cross, brought something totally different: an encounter with the Lord of all lords, an encounter with the living God and thus an encounter with a hope stronger than the sufferings of slavery, a hope which therefore transformed life and the world from within. - #4
A first essential setting for learning hope is prayer. When no one listens to me any more, God still listens to me. When I can no longer talk to anyone or call upon anyone, I can always talk to God. When there is no longer anyone to help me deal with a need or expectation that goes beyond the human capacity for hope, he can help me. -#32
The true measure of humanity is essentially determined in relationship to suffering and to the sufferer. This holds true both for the individual and for society. A society unable to accept its suffering members and incapable of helping to share their suffering and to bear it inwardly through "com-passion" is a cruel and inhuman society. -#38
To suffer with the other and for others; to suffer for the sake of truth and justice; to suffer out of love and in order to become a person who truly loves-these are fundamental elements of humanity, and to abandon them would destroy man himself. -#39
Man is worth so much to God that he himself became man in order to suffer with man in an utterly real way-in flesh and blood-as is revealed to us in the account of Jesus's Passion. Hence in all human suffering we are joined by one who experiences and carries that suffering with us; hence con-solatio is present in all suffering, the consolation of God's compassionate love-and so the star of hope rises. -#39
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Thoughts for your consideration: By John Gonzalez
In the fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans St. Paul offers a wonderful perspective on the faith and hope that Abraham had when God made his covenant with him:
He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was, "Thus shall your descendants be."
The readings today reflect the Christian spirituality of hoping against hope. In Genesis, Abraham accepts this promise that God makes with him in faith and he does so until his dying day since even then his only son, Isaac, never possesses the Promised Land as his own. In the second reading Paul, who at this time is mindful of his own impending death, instructs the early Christian community to place their hopes not in the tangible goods of this world whose "God is their stomach and their glory is in their "shame."" Instead Paul tells them to place their hope in their "citizenship" in heaven and in Jesus Christ who "will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body."
And then we finally come to the Gospel passage where immediately sandwiched between the first and second affirmation of His own passion and death Jesus is transfigured with Moses and Elijah in the presence of the apostolic pillars of the early church. In this instance Peter, James and John are shown the transfigured glory and they placed their hope and faith in this new covenant even though they could neither comprehend it nor easily accept that negative social ramifications that is accompanied with following the transfigured Christ.
Like Abraham, Paul, and the first Apostles we too are called to hope against hope. We are called to place our hope not in the tangible and social dimensions of our reality but in a mystical and unseen purpose that transcends these social dimensions. This message from Scripture is all the more vital for us who are living in these difficult times. We have placed our hopes in economic and political ideologies that have unraveled. Here in the United States and throughout the western world we have become complacent with a certain lifestyle that is no longer sustainable. Even now, as we are struggling with the economic and social challenges of our time, are solutions are still based in the hope of bringing back a social model that was comfortable for many of us. But this is not the hope that Scripture is offering us.
Our hope is in a cosmological vision that transcends our reality but which also dictates our reality. The reason our former lifestyle is no longer feasible is because it was never sustainable. The principles of Catholic social teachings are calling us to envision a hope of a transfigured world where the love of God is visibly expressed through the deepening of our relationship and concern for one another and for the dignity of creation itself. In the Encyclical Spe Salvi Pope Benedict XVI tells us that: "Our hope is always essentially also hope for others; only thus is it truly hope for me too."
 Let us take some time to reflect on the readings and to consider the Christian message of hoping against hope in relationship to shared concern for all living things and in light of the social, economic and environmental situation we are facing. I also encourage any Catholic who would like to deepen their understanding of Christian hope to download or purchase the Encyclical Spe Salvi and to meditate on the pastoral message that Pope Benedict XVI is offering us in this encyclical letter.
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Actions - Links:
- Healthcare Reform
Network, the Catholic Social Justice Lobby, continues to urge people to contact congress about healthcare reform. Please click here to visit the link where you can send an email to your representative to push for Healthcare Reform
- Justice for immigrant Postcards
March 21 will be a march for immigrant rights and March 22 will be an ecumenical advocacy day on immigration. In preparation for these events please visit the Justice for Immigrant site and take part in the postcard campaign.
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 Often remember that our soul is the temple of the Living God. Keep that noble temple well decorated with virtue, as the occasion offers; keep the lamps of faith, hope and charity lit in this temple. Carry on your heart a corsage of the pains of Jesus, and love this great God in grand style and with true humility of heart. "He who has begun this work will complete it." - St. Paul of the Cross |
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