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Thank you for visiting. I hope you will enjoy the variety of topics to enhance your spiritual life. You can read them below or download them and read at your leisure. I have also added my Sunday Homilies.
CURRENT TOPICS: Notes for Presentation on Mary + God Is Beautiful + Hosea, The Unwanted Prophet+
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Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – LUKE 2025
How fortunate we are to celebrate our Parish Picnic on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. I know that other parishes will probably process around their church with the Eucharist in a Monstrance under a canopy, but we will gather under a canopy or tent with the Eucharist in a Monstrance of living flesh as the Body of Christ.
For this wonderful Solemnity the readings today are powerful, once we understand them and their historical significance.
Melchisedek, the king of Salem or Jerusalem, was blessed by Abram, later called Abraham. The two had fought together, side by side successfully against their enemies. Melchisedek’ name means King of the Zedek tribe of Salem. The kings of many of the tribes were also the High Priests, as was Abraham. Melchizedek offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving for their victories. Notice that Sacrifice came before the Written Word which informs us that the sacrifice was Bread and Wine of Melchizedek, and later a ram for sacrifice by Abraham, or the flesh and blood of a one year old lamb by Moses at the Exodus.
The Sedek tribe of Melchizedek would eventually be incorporated into the tribe of Israel by King David who would share the office of the High Priest alongside the Jewish High Priest Abiathar. The Sadducees are the descendants of this hallowed tribe. Melchizedek is mentioned even in our canon of the Mass, “Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek.
It was during the reign of King David and Solomon, that the written Word of the sacred history of Israel was begun, and later finished by Ezra, the Levitical Priest over 500 years later. This written word would be as known as the Pentateuch. That means the Sacrifice came before the written Word of God. How blessed are we to continue this sacred tradition stretching back to Melchizedek with Bread and Wine now consecrated into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Without the Sacrifice of the Body and Blood at our Eucharist, the liturgy would be incomplete without this ancient action in our Liturgy, and therefore, only a Liturgy of the Word.
Today’s gospel story reminds us that the most massive meal that Jesus provided in his lifetime was for the 5000 in Galilee. We are given a few details. The tradition wants us to grasp how his disciples thought only of human resources for dealing with the situation. Jesus transformed what he found and produced more than sufficient food from a few loaves and fishes. The people were not fed singly but in groups of fifty, reminding us that we live in a community inspired by the Holy Spirit and move out into the world to spread the Good News.
If Genesis and Corinthians remind us that the Eucharist is a sacrifice, Luke’s account of the feeding of the crowds reminds us that it is also a meal. His gospel records many meals of Jesus. At these meals, Jesus enjoyed the company not only of his own but of those whom conventional society rejected. All are welcome. The climax of these meals was his Last Supper when, among his disciples as “one who serves,” he gave them his own body and blood.
The final scene in Luke’s gospel after the resurrection shows Jesus eating fish with his disciples. Which is ironic since the symbol for Jesus Christ is the “fish” which when spelt in Greek with the first letters from the title is “Jesus Christ Son of God Savior.” One could say they ate the flesh of Jesus Christ symbolically by eating fish.
The feeding of the 5000 is important because it anticipates the Eucharist in the Church. Jesus broke the bread before he gave it to the people. He will break bread again in Emmaus where he met the two disciples on the road. This was the moment when the two dispirited disciples recognized him in the breaking of the bread. And this is where we will recognize Christ in each other, under the tent as we celebrate as the Body (and Blood) of Christ after the “breaking of the bread.”
GOD IS BEAUTY – BEAUTY IS GOD
“Go Back To Where You Came From!”
“Go Back To Where You Came From!”
Amos, The Unwanted Prophet: Part Two
Amos alone among the prophets refers to Israel as “The House of Isaac.” He is also the only prophet who mentions the Yahweh shrine at Beersheba (to the South of Tekoa) which was founded by Isaac. Isaac was the father both of Jacob and Esau, forefather of the Edomites, and they in turn were semi-nomadic neighbors of the Tekoans to their immediate south. Amos may have had a special regard for these Edomite neighbors of his, perhaps even thinking of them as brothers. They were highly regarded in Old Testament times for their clan wisdom as were the Tekoans.
Seldom was a prophet so out of step with his times. Not since the days of King David had Israel been as powerful or prosperous as right then. King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel were the rulers at this time. More precisely, it was two years before a certain earthquake, which was dated to the year 760 on the basis of archaeological evidence from the north-Galilean city of Hazor. This would locate Amos in the middle years of the long, exceptionally prosperous reigns of these kings.
Miriam and Amos are again sitting in the shade at their favorite place in the cool of morning sun as it slowly lights up the view of the world below them. This is their favorite time of the day before any work begins to spend some time together if even for a few moments.
“I am sure you were too tired last night after your journey,” Miriam was anxious to ask, “but how was your trip?”
“It went well,” Amos began. “The only problem that each time I travel to Jerusalem, even for the celebrations, I come away angry at the haughty looks I get from the arrogant people that live there.”
“I am sure it is because those people don’t know what real work is like, except for the poor laborers that slave for them,” Miriam tried to soothe him, since he seemed more irritated this time.
“I have no problem with how I look, but I am sure my mannerisms and even my attitude causes me to stand out,” Amos said a little irritated. “But what always gets to me is their attitude, like Jerusalem is God’s chosen city and King David his special chosen dynasty!”
“Well, I can sympathize with you,” she said.
“But what really irks me is all those senseless sacrifice of animals!” he almost spit it out.
Now Miriam has realized what really bothers him. “I know what you mean, Amos,” Miriam again tries to consol him. “But my worry is how will they receive you when you get to Bethel in the Northern Kingdom and give them Yahweh’s warning?”
“It will not be with open arms of love,” Amos replied a little sarcastic. “But I do have a plan how to deliver the message. And once I am done then I can wash my hands of them and their abominable temples and sacrilegious practices.”
Miriam said a little worried, “Just take care of yourself, Amos. When are you planning on leaving?”
“Shortly,” Amos replied, “after I get some rest. I am thinking of taking Joshua with me.”
“He is old enough to travel and it would be a great experience for him,” she said. “Do you think it will be safe for you both?”
“Yes. Normally I would not be certain, except…” Amos paused, “Yahweh promised my safety!”
Miriam reflected for a moment, somewhat surprised. “Amos, I have the feeling that Yahweh really needs you to deliver his message.”
Amos only answers, “God does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. If they do not listen, then God acts.”
Miriam can only shudder what the Lord God Yahweh will do.
Go Back To Where You Came From pt 2
Go Back To Where You Came From pt 1