A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy

 

 

BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 7, n. 42)

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – September 13, 2009 *

 

“The Works of Faithful Discipleship”

 

BIBLE READINGS

Is 50:4c-9a // Jas 2:14-18 // Mk 8:27-35

 

 

 

(N.B. Series 7 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 B from the perspective of the Second Reading. For other reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year B, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US and open Series 1 & 4.)

 

 

 

I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS

 

This Sunday’s Old Testament reading (Is 50:4c-9a) depicts an enigmatic character of obedience and faithfulness to the divine saving plan. This fascinating figure accepts the Lord’s call to be of service to him and his saving works. Even in the face of excruciating pain and intense trial, the Suffering Servant remains faithful to the Lord. The Lord God who called him gives him the strength to triumph and the courage to endure. The prophet Isaiah’s portrait of a faithful Suffering Servant is a fitting backdrop for today’s Gospel reading (Mk 8:27-35) where Jesus, who exemplifies and fulfills the saving destiny of the Suffering Servant, teaches that whoever comes after him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow him.

 

The liturgical scholar Adrian Nocent remarks: “The Servant thus becomes a model for those who want to follow Christ, take up their cross, and not seek to save their own  lives. Such a discipleship would be impossible if the Lord did not come to the aid of the person who surrenders his life in obedience. Here the prophecy waxes lyrical. The Lord helps his Servant, and the latter becomes invincible: setting his face like flint against his enemies. His strength is chiefly moral: that is, he knows he will not be put to shame, because the One who justifies him is at his side; it is the Lord himself who is his defender.”

 

Today’s liturgy calls us to imitate the faithful stance of the Suffering Servant, a figure of Jesus Christ. As a faith community, we are to respond to his invitation to follow him with all that it entails. We are to be “faithful” in our discipleship. God never deals with us in a disloyal manner. He is never fickle or feckless. However, the loving Lord demands a total commitment from us. He expects an integral response of mind, soul and body from those he calls. The Christian disciples, immersed into the blood bath of Christ’s paschal mystery, are called to participate in the divine saving plan “with works” flowing out from a living faith.

 

This Sunday’s Second Reading (Jas 2:14-18) underlines the exigency of faithful discipleship and reinforces the reality that true faith expresses itself by doing the will of God. Combating the superficiality and pretense of the so-called “faith” that was widespread in his days, James showed the intimate connection between faith and good works. “Faith” is the free acceptance of God’s saving revelation and “works” is the obedient implementation of God’s revealed will in every aspect of life. For James, true faith is practical and permeates the entire life for faith without works is “dead” and will not lead to salvation. His great concern is to show covenant faith to all, especially the disadvantaged members. Indeed, the way we live in conformity or in contradiction to our faith is of vital importance. It is the perspective to judge the value, or lack of it, of our religious commitment to God.

 

The following account is an example of a living faith that expresses itself in concrete acts of charity on behalf of God’s poor (cf. Frank Maurivich, “Feeding God’s People” in The Anthonian, Summer 2009, p. 2225). Faithful discipleship and authentic worship manifest its vitality in works of loving compassion for our needy brothers and sisters.

 

As the bell peals in the tower of St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City at precisely 7 a.m., a Franciscan friar enters the sanctuary to begin the celebration of Mass. At the same moment outside the church on West 31st Street of Midtown Manhattan, another brown-robed Franciscan friar leads three volunteers, one pulling a cart and the other dispensing hearty breakfast sandwiches to some 375 needy people. Two more volunteers pour cups of hot coffee to the homeless in what the Franciscans affectionately call the St. Francis Breadline.

 

Father Jerome Massimino, OFM, the pastor of the parish, sees an intimate connection between what is happening at the altar and on the sidewalk. “God’s chosen are being fed in both places”, he says. The scene outside the church began during the 1929 Depression when Brother Gabriel Mehler, OFM, established this ministry as a way to feed the hungry and the homeless. Since then, this scene has been repeated every morning for almost 80 years. Rain or shine, the friars will greet those who line up for coffee and food. “Alongside the ministry of reconciliation, the Breadline is the most beloved ministry of St. Francis Assisi Church”, the pastor says. Father Micahel Carnevale, OFM, who has served as coordinator of the Breadline ministry for the past three years, says, “We have only one rule: ‘No questions asked.’ We take the people as they are – brothers and sisters in Christ. If they want to approach us, that’s a different story.”

 

The Breadline is inclusive – it welcomes everyone in need. The majority are male with only a handful of women. All are poor, and many are homeless. Some have or have had problems with alcohol or drugs; a few are mentally challenged. “We seldom have any trouble”, says Fred Dumas, the tall, husky security man on the parish staff. “If an occasional fight breaks out, others on the line usually breaks it up.” Fr. Mike estimates that some 70 percent of the people on the line are regulars. “They know one another”, the friar says. “They help among themselves. They have a sense of community.” They also appreciate Fr. Mike’s initiative in improving and varying the menu. What were once cheese or baloney sandwiches on white bread are now changed every day from roast beef, chicken cutlet, turkey, ham and cheese on a hero roll. The breakfast bag also includes a box of Juicy-Juice. “We can do this”, Fr. Mike says, “because our people in the spirit of St. Francis generously support this effort for people who are less fortunate.” (…)

 

Tony Ruba, for example, comes on the subway from his apartment in the Bronx to Manhattan at 3:30 every morning to begin bagging the sandwiches which are made and delivered from Manganaro’s Hero Boy Deli. Tony, like three others of the six volunteers on duty this day, was once on the receiving end of the line. He was homeless for eight years, but, he says, “Fr. Mike helped me get my head on straight.” The other volunteers refer to Tony as “the boss”.

 

“I like to get up early”, says Berkley “Burke” Stokes, who used to sleep on the church steps. Now, he has a regular job and has been volunteering every morning for 16 years. He and white-haired, handlebar mustached Frank Wallace, another regular volunteer who has been on both sides of the Breadline, each handle two large urns to dispense coffee. Burke does his job quietly, while Frank does a running commentary with his clients.

 

:I like to help n any way I can”, says Paul Johnson, another volunteer with experience of receiving and now giving. Friendly and loquacious, Pual serves as the cleanup man, but before attacking the refuse, he doles out the ball scores and news commentary. “How did the Rangers do last night?” a man holding a steaming Styrofoam coffee cup asks. “They won. A great hockey game”, reports Paul. “How about the Sixers?” a Philadelphia basketball fan asks. “Sorry, Bill, they lost.” Then Paul and round-shouldered Jimmy start a lively conversation on whether the city’s health department is doing enough to control the flu epidemic.

 

Tall, thin Erwin Schaub and curly-haired Anita Mark both volunteered after seeing a notice in the church bulletin. “I have been coming once or twice a week for four years”, Erwin says. Anita, who is also a Eucharistic minister at the church, serves on the Breadline almost every morning, but after dispensing the sandwiches, she rushes up the church stairs. “I’ve got to go inside”, the lively Eucharistic minister says, “to feed the others”.

 

 

II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART

 

1.      How does the figure of the Suffering Servant impact you and your experience of life’s trials and suffering? In what ways are you like the Suffering Servant in your Christian discipleship? Do you endeavor to be like the Suffering Servant in his faithfulness to God?

 

2.      Why is Jesus Christ the fulfillment of the prophetic figure of the Suffering Servant? What role does suffering play in the messianic life of Jesus? What is your response to his exhortation: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”?

 

3.      Why is a living “faith” manifested in good “works” an expression of faithful discipleship? Do we try to be faithful and efficacious in our Christian discipleship?

 

 

III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD

 

Leader: Loving Father,

we thank you for Jesus Christ,

the ultimate Suffering Servant totally committed to your saving will.

We thank you for his courage and faithfulness to his messianic mission.

No violence could alter his nonviolence

for you were the source of his inner strength.

Today, he calls us to deny ourselves,

take up our cross

and follow him

on the road that leads through the cross to eternal life.

Give us the grace to be true Christian disciples.

May our living “faith” be manifested daily

in concrete works of charity,

especially to the poor, the marginalized and the needy.

May our compassionate works of love

for our vulnerable brothers and sisters

be a sign of your all-inclusive love and providence.

In Jesus’ name,

bless us with faithful discipleship,

now and forever.

 

Assembly: Amen.

 

 

 

IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD

 

The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.

 

“So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (Jas 2:17)

 

 

 

V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION

 

A.     ACTION PLAN: Pray that our living faith may continue to be expressed in good “works”. In concrete acts of charity to the poor and the needy, and to those experiencing the fears, insecurities and difficulties of the present economic crisis, manifest the comfort of Christian “faith” and the power of faithful discipleship.

 

B.     ACTION PLAN: To enable us to be true to our vocation of faithful discipleship, 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 B, vol. 5, n. 42).

 

 

 

Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang  PDDM

 

 

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