Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - September 22, 2024

James Earl Jones (Michigan, Class of ’55) died last week at the age of 93. Many knew him best as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars. Darth Vader was the personification of evil in the epic battle of survival between the noble Jedi Knights and the evil Empire. In fact, until the last moments of Episode 5, we are led to believe that there is absolutely no good in him whatsoever. Star Wars is just one of thousands of stories in which the forces of good and evil square off. Sadly, each day the battle between good and evil also continues to be fought in real life.

This week’s passage from the Book of Wisdom acknowledges the battle of good and evil. In it, the author attempts to explain the mentality of those who are evil. They condemn the “just one” because he challenges, criticizes, and tries to block their evil schemes and plans. They complain that the righteous man is “obnoxious” to them. Those who are evil are most irritated that the righteous claim: to know God; to be children of God; and, that God will protect them against evil. To the evildoers, these claims are arrogant and insulting. Therefore, they decide that the best course of action is to torture and kill the just men. If their arrogant claims are true, they will be protected. If not, they will get the treatment that they deserve.

During the Reformation, the Book of Wisdom was removed from the Old Testament because the reformers believed that it was not divinely inspired. Yet, this particular passage, like last week’s passage from the Prophet Isaiah, appears to be very clearly foretelling the life, suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the author instructs that the righteous one should suffer a shameful death and “God will take care of him.” It is strange to me that the Protestant Biblical scholars of the 16th century (who, before about 1520, were Catholic Biblical Scholars) would abandon such a prophetic book. In my mind, there is no doubt that this passage is pointing to Jesus Christ – the righteous man who died a shameful death at the hands of those who were evil. There is also no doubt that God did, in fact, “take care” of Him!

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - September 15, 2024

In last week’s homily, I explained that, although the book of the prophet Isaiah was written about 800 years prior to Jesus’ ministry, the prophet was very clearly pointing to the anticipated Messiah. In the passage last week, Isaiah foretold of the work of the Messiah and his opening of ears and tongues. Today’s passage points to the Messiah as the obedient servant. Later in Isaiah, he describes the trials of the “suffering servant” which graphically predicts Jesus’ passion.

Today’s passage begins with the servant acknowledging that the Lord God has taught him to speak and enabled him to hear. Thus, the Lord both enables and is the source of this prophetic calling, the servant’s obedience to the Lord God initiates his speech and hearing. The servant says that he is obedient even to the point of suffering at the hands of his enemies: “I have given my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.”

The servant actively chooses to accept the conflict that arises through his proclamation of the truth. The abuse that the servant’s enemies inflict upon him foretells the abuse suffered by Jesus as He obediently endured His passion and death. The passage concludes with the servant acknowledging that, despite the harsh trials that he endures, the Lord God is his help. Thus, the prophet suggests that, obedience to God is an important objective and that, with God’s help, suffering can be endured.

Often suffering is a source of shame for individuals and communities. Yet, in this passage, the Lord God vindicates the honor of the servant. Because of God’s help, the servant will “not be put to shame” and his enemies will not be able to “contend” against him or declare him guilty. God’s help is the source of the servant’s confidence and hope in the midst of suffering. Some 800 years later, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. Abuse and insults were heaped upon Him. His back was beaten, His face was hit, and He was spit upon. Yet, He was obedient to the Father unto death, and the Father vindicated Him by resurrecting Him. It is remarkable that the words that God presented through the Prophet Isaiah were so precisely reflected in the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - September 8, 2024

Last week, Jesus appeared to be a bit frustrated with the scribes and pharisees calling them “hypocrites” who acted holy, but who’s hearts were “far from Him.” We might think that, after this rather angry outburst, Jesus would quickly return to His loving, empathetic, and understanding self. However, in the very next passage of Mark’s Gospel, which the Lectionary skips, we read about an encounter between Jesus and a Greek woman who needs His help:

A woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said, “For saying this…The demon has gone out of your daughter.”

This Greek woman sought Him out and “fell at his feet” because she had faith in His greatness even though most of the “children” of Israel did not. Her faith is all the more remarkable because even His disciples have been a bit slow in recognizing and believing in Jesus.

This woman recognizes Him as having authority to wield power over evil. In response, He insults her by saying that she and her daughter had the same status as “dogs.” Instead of walking away muttering obscenities at Jesus (as some of us might have done), the woman is not deterred. She shows complete and total humility by accepting the status of a dog and by claiming that even the dog enjoys crumbs from the table. Because of her great humility, she was able to withstand the sharp remark and to persist in achieving her goal. Because of her great faith, she succeeded.

Jesus praises the faith in this woman’s heart. He is moved by her certainty that even a crumb from Him has power enough to save her daughter. The encounter with the Greek woman reminds us that God is constantly entering new territory and breaking boundaries. God is in the unsettling business of meeting outsiders and granting them not just a crumb, but a place at the table. He asks us to do the same.