MEDITATIONS

Word Among Us, Jun 2005

JUNE 1-4

1 Wednesday, June 1

Mark 12:18-27

The Sadducees were comprised primarily of wealthy, sophisticated Jews who made the temple their primary interest. Though small in number, they were very influential. Because they accepted only the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures) as authoritative, they rejected the rabbinic oral tradition, which was more open to the possibility of resurrection from the dead.

In this context, the Sadducees' puzzle about the much-married widow was both legalistic and cynical. Using an example taken from the Book of Deuteronomy (25:5-10), they sought to reduce to absurdity any belief in the resurrection, and thus humiliate Jesus.

Meeting the Sadducees on their own terms, Jesus explained how the resurrection is foreshadowed even in the Pentateuch. Yahweh revealed himself to Moses as the God of his ancestors (Exodus 3:6,15-16), not just the God of those who were alive at Moses' time. So if he is the God of the living, then Abraham and all those who came before must be alive in some way or other. So there must be an afterlife!

The Sadducees had created an intellectual and spiritual elitism that blinded them to the full spectrum of God's ways. Perceiving their arrogance and self-confidence, Jesus sought to show them that God is too big and his word is too expansive for anyone to believe that he or she can understand it all. Throughout his entire ministry, in fact, Jesus proved that God often moves in ways that seem new or unexpected to us because of our limited grasp of how wide and high and deep his love is. The resurrection is our greatest hope and joy, yet the Sadducees, with their limited view of God and his word, risked missing this wonderful promise. May we never narrow our horizons!

"Father, you are the God of the living who sent your Son to ransom us from death. By your grace, draw us ever closer to Jesus. Through your word, continue to nourish us with the revelation of your glorious designs for us."

Tobit 3:1-11,16-17; Psalm 25:2-9

2 Thursday, June 2 Mark 12:28-34

Is anything in life more important than the call to love? No. Jesus makes that abundantly clear in today's gospel. Love is the heart and foundation of our lives as disciples. It is God's call to all people. And that's why Jesus' words about love found a home in this scribe's heart. Jesus could see that because he grasped the centrality of love in God's plan, this man was very close to the kingdom of God.

As Christians, we have heard Jesus' command to love many times. How are we doing? To what degree are we loving in deed and truth and not just talking about it (1 John 3:18)? True love costs. At times it is very difficult to love, especially our enemies. Jesus, however, can enlarge our hearts; his Spirit can help us love beyond our limited capacity.

But this passage presents us with another question: How do we view those who are not followers of Jesus and yet are making attempts to love? Do we look with compassion and even admiration on them, even if they may not be committed Christians? Those who do not share our beliefs about God, even those who have some very mistaken views of God, may nevertheless find a place in their hearts for Jesus' teaching. Like the scribe, they may not be far from the kingdom of God.

Loving God and loving others are the most important things we can do. As St. John of the Cross once said, "At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love." Jesus wants our lives to be marked by a love that seeks the good of other people and is willing to take a humble position of service. Day after day, Jesus gives us opportunities to love, along with the grace to seize these opportunities. As we love with his love, we have no idea of the ways we may influence the people around us. Who knows? Maybe our efforts to love will spur someone else to take steps that will bring them more fully into God's kingdom. Let us pray for everyone who is striving to love in deed and truth.

"Jesus, please give me a greater capacity jor love. Help me to love as you love. Help those who are not far from your kingdom to respond ever more fully to your call to love."

Happy are they who fear the LORD."

-Psalm 128:1

Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1,9-17; 8:4-9; Psalm 128:1-5

3 Friday, June 3

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Matthew 11:25-30

Father, you have loved us as your own children. From age to age you have shown us compassion and mercy, and in the fullness of time you acted to take away our burdens and meet all our needs. All praise to you, Father, that from your heart of love, you give us the sacred heart of your Son Jesus.

From all eternity, your heart beat with love for each one of us. Though we have sinned against you again and again, you would not treat us as our sins deserved. All praise to you, Father, that you allowed the heart of your precious Son to be pierced for us. Because of him, we are free!

Jesus, your sacred heart is the source and ocean of infinite mercy. All praise to you, Lord, that even in our sinfulness, we can be washed clean in this limitless ocean. Because you were obedient, even unto death, your heart was bruised for our offenses and pierced for our iniquities. All praise to you, Lord, for your heart is the salvation of all who trust in you.