A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 9, n. 40)
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – August 28, 2011 *
“Do Not Conform … Be Transformed!”
BIBLE READINGS
Jer 20:7-9 // Rom 12:1-2 // Mt 16:21-27
(N.B. Series 9 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year A from the perspective of the Second Reading. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year A based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 3. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 6.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
The Sunday liturgy continues to shape us in the inscrutable ways of the all-knowing compassionate God. Today’s readings confront the community of believers with the exigencies of prophetic vocation and the demands of Christian discipleship.
In the Old Testament reading (Jer 20:7-9), Jeremiah expressed his pain and frustration at having been “duped” by God into accepting a very difficult mission. The reluctant prophet had been commissioned by God to speak a “word” of warning to Judah - to an idolatrous people on the brink of destruction – which he needed to call to conversion. The unfaithful nation was being encroached by the superpower Babylon that would eventually overrun it. The hapless Jeremiah was ridiculed. The leaders in Judah scorned him for shouting, “Violence! Destruction!” In momentary despair, Jeremiah tried to forget the Lord. He resolved no longer to speak in his name. But the word of the Lord was a fire burning within. Jeremiah wanted to resist, but could not. His initial complaint became capitulation, his searing lament a personal surrender. His private venting over, the prophet Jeremiah was ready to suffer for the word of the Lord, a word of judgment and salvation for God’s chosen people.
Jesus, in this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Mt 16:21-27), is molding Peter in the ineffable ways of God. Earlier called a “rock” for his confession of faith, Peter is now described as a “tempter” for his refusal to accept the prediction of Christ’s passion and death. Mary Ehle comments: “Those who follow Jesus must accept that he will suffer and die. To think this way, disciples must try to think as God does and must not allow worldly attachments and fears to infiltrate their thoughts so that they become a stumbling block to Jesus (…) Disciples must not make themselves the center of their lives … Based on their faith in Jesus, they will be ready to give up their lives as they know it in exchange for life in him. The Son of Man will repay disciples according to their desire to take up the cross and follow him.”
In the Second Reading (Rom 12:1-2), Saint Paul exhorts the Christians to offer their lives in self- denial as a “living sacrifice” to God. The model of self-denial for the sake of doing God’s will is Christ himself. The liturgical scholar Adrian Nocent explains: “The same love that led the Son to give himself as a fragrant sacrifice to God should lead God’s adoptive sons to the same kind of self-surrender … Our age is rediscovering the prophetic stature and quality of the Christian … The Christian is sometimes forced to speak for there are silences that amount to surrender and compromise. (…) The period in which we live needs Christians who are prophetic, but prophecy must be inseparable from the attitude of the servant who gives his life. Without fanfare or ostentation, this servant lives a life that is grounded in truth and wholly given to God.”
To be truly given to God as a “living sacrifice” implies that Christians are not to conform themselves to the standards of this world, but rather allow God to transform them inwardly through the renewal of their mind. The ongoing conversion and renewal enable them to perceive the will of God – what is good and pleasing to him - what is perfect. Aware of the deception of today’s world, the Christians are called to decry the anomalies of our age. According to Harold Buetow, it is “an age in which the romance has been taken out of love, the commitment out of marriage, the responsibility out of parenthood, togetherness out of family, learning out of education, civility out of behavior, patience and tolerance out of relationships.”
Like a burning fire within, the irresistible word of the Lord compels us to resist evil. It strengthens us to speak for the reign of God. The following high-impact story circulated through the Internet illustrates the challenges for today’s Christians as well as the appeal of Saint Paul “not to conform … but be transformed”.
“Tennessee Football”: This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roanne County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school principal Jody McLeod.
It has always been the custom of Roanne County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and country. Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it “an alternate life style”, and if someone is offended, that’s OK. I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, “safe sex”. If someone is offended, that’s OK. I can use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a “viable means of birth control”. If someone is offended, no problem … I can designate a school day as “Earth Day” and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess “Mother Earth” and call it “ecology”. I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as “simple minded” and “ignorant” and call it “enlightenment” … However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.
This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS commandments.
Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical … I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression. For this reason, I shall “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s” and refrain from praying this time.
However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that’s not against the law – yet.
One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer’s Box.
The only place they didn’t pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America – the Seat of “Justice” in the “one nation, under GOD”.
Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee remembered what so many have forgotten … We are given the freedom OF religions, not the freedom FROM religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains! JESUS said, “If you are ashamed before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Are there moments in our life when, like the prophet Jeremiah, faithfulness to the word of the Lord brings us derision? How do we respond to that situation?
Did we ever resist sharing in the paschal destiny of Christ who suffered, died and rose to new life? Are we now willing to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Christ?
Are we ready to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, our spiritual worship? Do we fight against conforming to the false values of this age, but rather endeavor to be transformed by the renewal of our mind?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Leader: Almighty God, we thank you for the limpid quality of your beloved prophet Jeremiah. He was brutally honest about the painful character of his prophetic vocation. And yet, he was irresistibly committed to you. He obeyed the power of your word and continued to speak on your behalf - for the sake of your erring people. Inspire us with Jeremiah’s prophetic courage and faithfulness. Let your searing word burn us from within.
Father, we thank you for the apostle Peter, even in his signature impetuosity and in his sincere but misguided love. We are like Saint Peter in many ways, especially in our weakness and mistakes. Help us in our life of Christian discipleship. Give us the grace not to escape from the paschal destiny of Christ, which is our saving destiny too. Help us to deny ourselves daily, to take up our cross and follow Christ that we may have new life in him.
Loving Lord, we thank you for Saint Paul, for calling us to offer our bodies as a “living sacrifice” to you and as “spiritual worship”. Trusting in your mercy, we pray for conversion and the renewal of our mind. Let us perceive your gracious will – what is good, pleasing and perfect. Do not allow us to foolishly conform ourselves to the false standards of this age. Make us your courageous prophets in a world that is increasingly hostile to signs of your love and presence. Let us be holy. Help us for we are your loving servants. We adore and praise you; we glorify you, now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (cf. Rom 12:2a)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
ACTION PLAN: Pray for the ministers of the Word that they may be faithful to their prophetic ministry. By your life of integrity and faithfulness to truth, enable the Church of today to be truly prophetic – able to offer a “living sacrifice”, holy and acceptable to God.
ACTION PLAN: That we may be truly transformed by the renewal of our mind, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year A, vol. 7, # 40).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US