During the last weeks of her daughter’s life, Patty slept with her in her bed.

Dorothy, in her early 50s, had been terminally ill for a year, and she finally gave up medical treatment when it became pointless and the side effects unreasonable. With pain medication, though, she sometimes writhed in her sleep.

“I was afraid she was going to fall out of bed,” Patty explained.

One night, Dorothy woke up and was surprised to find her mother next to her.

“What are you doing?” the daughter asked.

“You move around so much, I just wanted to keep you from falling,” Patty answered.

Her daughter smiled. “Why? What’s the worst that can happen?”

Patty realized the irony, but she couldn’t help her natural desire to protect her loved one from suffering. However, she recalled later, Dorothy was at peace with the life she’d lived and with the promise of the one to come.

In this weekend’s Gospel reading, Peter demonstrates that same desire to prevent hardship from coming to his Master. But Jesus reminds him that he’s thinking as human beings think, not with the mind of God, who knows that suffering in this world is a necessary sacrifice for finding peace in the real, lasting world of God’s kingdom.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul explains further that we human beings must transform our habits of thinking. Instead of conforming ourselves to this age, we must renew our minds to be able to discern the will of God.

My friend Patty told me that Dorothy had indeed given her life to serving people in need. Even though it meant a low salary for the single mother of three, Dorothy was committed to her work as a social services caseworker.

“She was always so compassionate and made such an impact in the lives of the people who came to her,” Patty said.

Dorothy had long ago understood the will of God; her life was conformed to it. She accepted the sacrifices and hardship that life involved, knowing the salvation to come.

The example of Dorothy’s life, which was lived well, brought peace and understanding of the reign of God to her mother and children as well.

Question:

In your thinking, what are the obstacles to being able to discern the will of God? What must you do to “lose” your world-bound life for the sake of Jesus’ Gospel?

Jeremiah laments and bemoans his fate.  He preached a message of foreboding and warning from God to the people of the Kingdom of Judah.  It was the end of the Seventh Century or the beginning of the Sixth Century BC.  The northern Kingdom of Israel had disappeared from history about 722 BC, when it was absorbed into the Assyrian Empire.  It would be less than a generation after Jeremiah delivered his prophecy that the southern kingdom would be overrun by the Babylonians, the successors to the Assyrians.  The warning of Jeremiah was not accepted by the leaders of the nation.  It was thought to be treasonous, since it called upon them to rely on the power of God and not on political alliances.

In the following verses, though, Jeremiah affirms his trust in God, who will deliver him.  His enemies will fall into disgrace, and the truth of his message, the Word that he received from God, will be upheld.  Some later Jewish writings expected him to reappear before the judgment day of the Lord.

SECOND READING: Romans 12:1-2

Paul insists that the message, which he brings from God, is meant to be demonstrated in the daily lives of believers.  It is not just an esoteric idea or even a manual of good behavior.  It is much deeper than that.  It is a call to obedience and reliance upon God.  The gospel that Paul preached is not just based in ethics.  It is the result of faith in God.  Paul has already built up to this point in the arguments he presented earlier in the letter.

Paul uses cultic language, associating ethical behavior with worship.  The body is more than just the flesh.  It is all that one is, thus the offering is complete and total.  It includes all one’s relationships.  Paul does not promote a flight from the world of his time.  But the transformation that comes about in life by discerning the will of God will bring about guidance in the decisions that must be made.

The “mind” is the rationality of mankind.  It is oriented toward God.  It seeks the Law of God that brings order and defines boundaries.  As Paul develops this section of the letter, he will point to the corporate nature of living in faith by being “one body in Christ” (Rm 12:5).

GOSPEL: Matthew 16:21-27

This is the first of three predictions of the Passion by Jesus to His disciples.  The other predictions are found in Mt 17:22-23, 20:17-19.  Some scholars point out that the Gospel of Matthew has a unique fourth prediction at the beginning of the Passion Narrative in Mt 26:1-2.  This first prediction comes after the profession of Peter about Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  The role of the disciple follows immediately after this prediction, a role that will include complete dedication, even to one’s death.  The disciples had to be witnesses to the full Gospel, including the death and resurrection of Jesus at the hands of those, whom He came to save.  The disciples also had to experience their own weaknesses in order to discover the power of God.  It is not their failures, which will define their discipleship.  It is their perseverance and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Peter is rebuked.  He is called Satan, a Hebrew word which means “adversary.”  In the Book of Job, Satan is presented as a prosecuting attorney in the court of God.  He is an accuser in the testing of Job.  In the post-biblical Jewish texts and in the New Testament, the word becomes synonymous with “the devil.”  Peter is not told to “get away,” as was Satan during the temptation of Jesus at the beginning of His public life in Mt 4:10.  Peter is told to find his proper place as a disciple “behind Me.”  He is reminded of his place in the presence of Jesus.

In the course of my pastoral work, I have been tempted to assume the high, moral ground and call down the wrath of God upon an offender.  An “offender” is someone who has questioned my decision to do something.  Whenever I have done this in public, it has never had good consequences!  I berated a Director of Religious Education in one parish. . .right at the altar!  I was vested and ready to begin the evening Mass, and she had not removed the children from the sanctuary, who were practicing for a later event.  Years later in another parish, not having learned my lesson, I tore into a parishioner, whom I thought had deceived me in asking a favor.  After serious reflection in both cases, I had to apologize to them.  I grossly overreacted without thinking about my “place” in life.  I will always remember those events, and I am not proud of them.

Those weren’t the only times that I regretted exerting my clerical authority.  Luckily, in at least those two cases, I didn’t lose the people.  They contributed a great deal to the pastoral work of their parish.  The community would have been greatly affected – for the worse! – if I had simply told them to go away and not return, or if I had failed to speak to them later in a far different tone.  Jesus has a way of pulling us back into line, when we have overstepped the authority that He has given us.  We have to remember our place. . .behind Him!

This my final article in the Michigan Catholic.  I have greatly enjoyed writing this column, humbly following in the footsteps of my professor, Fr. Jack Castelot.  I am most grateful for the many years that I have been able to share some insights into the Word of God.  I have had many encouraging. . .and sometimes challenging!. . .comments from the readers of this column.  The staff of the Michigan Catholic has been very patient and helpful in accommodating my schedule, which did not always mesh with theirs.  I appreciate their kindness to me.

My personal stories were attempts to encourage you to recognize your own revelations, which God shows you each day.  He continues to reveal the path to the Kingdom of Heaven in the parables of our lives.  I leave you with the words of St. Paul: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).  Thank you, and may God bless every one of you!

This is my final submission of an article to appear in the pages of The Michigan Catholic. I have greatly enjoyed writing this column, humbly following in the footsteps of my professor, Fr. Jack Castelot. I am most grateful for the many years that I have been able to share some insights into the Word of God. I have received many encouraging, and sometimes challenging, comments from the readers of this column. The staff of The Michigan Catholic has been very patient and helpful in adapting to my schedule, which did not always mesh with theirs. I appreciate their kindness to me. My personal stories were attempts to encourage you to recognize your own revelations, which God shows you each day. I leave you with the words of St. Paul: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). Thank you, and may God bless every one of you!

FIRST READING: Isaiah 22:19-23

Shebna and Eliakim appear in 2 Kings 18:18, during the reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah.  They were sent as emissaries with a third member to meet the leaders of the invading Assyrian army in 701 BC.  Shebna was the only name without family identification (“son of. . .”).  In the preceding verses, Shebna is condemned by the Lord for creating an exalted tomb for himself.  He also opposed the political position of Isaiah and supported an anti-Assyrian alliance with Egypt.

Keys were signs of trust.  They still are!  To whom would you entrust the keys to your home, while you are away?  This was an important office in the palace of the king.  He had direct access to the absolute ruler of the nation.  Eliakim is also described as a “peg in a sure spot,” like the tent peg that keeps the dwelling and those inside secure against the weather.  He will not shift with the sands of time or opportunity.  The image describes his fidelity and trustworthiness.  His investiture is described as carefully as a royal enthronement.

Interestingly, though, in the following verse 23, Eliakim is described as a peg on the kitchen wall that “shall give way, break off and fall,” and all of his family hangers-on will fall from favor and power with him.  This is probably a blending of two interpretations of Eliakim, a practice that was used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe the positive and negative elements in establishing the monarchy in Israel.  Power over others often led to abuses.

SECOND READING: Romans 11:33-36

Paul praises the work of the Creator in a very biblical, Jewish style.  The passage includes several triads.  They tend to intensify and emphasize their meaning.  He appeals to the Old Testament in order to demonstrate the consistency of the plan of God in the history of His people.  This passage quotes Is 40:13 and echoes themes from the end of Job, such as Job 41:3.

These verses conclude a section of the letter (chapters 9-11), where the mysterious plan of God and the power of God has been revealed.  In the next verse, Paul begins a new section that emphasizes the role and duties of the members of the Church.

GOSPEL: Matthew 16:13-20

There is a huge rock face in Caesarea Philippi, which is located in northern Israel.  It begins the foothills of Mt. Hermon, which is in Syria.  The melting snows of Mt. Hermon emerge as a stream from the base of the rock.  It is one of the sources of the Jordan River.  Verdant, lush vegetation lines the shores of the stream that winds through barren territory, as it makes its way south to the Sea of Galilee.  Excavations in the area have revealed the remains of temples that have preceded and succeeded the presence of Israel there.  It was a place that was noted for the presence of the divine.

Jesus asks His disciples to recognize Him – not just His physical presence as their teacher, but as Someone far greater for all people.  The confession of faith of Peter is the basic faith of the successors of the apostles and disciples of Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  When faced with the turmoil and troubles that come in life, that profession of faith becomes the center from which all other events are measured and evaluated.  But that lesson for Peter was not complete, and so Jesus “ordered His disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.”  They had the key to entering the Kingdom that Jesus taught them through parables and miracles.  But the final lesson would come through the Passion and Resurrection.  That would prove how solid was that identity of Jesus as the Christ, the anointed king and priest of God.  It was the key to understanding the success of the Church in the age to come.

Buildings always seem to be on the move.  When my father had a new office built, the construction was not even completed when a huge crack appeared in the back wall.  The ground beneath the building was not stable.  There was a lot of clay and sand in St. Clair Shores, as well as a very high water table.  The earth was constantly shifting.  The contractor pulled down the wall and rebuilt it.  But there was always a problem with the windows cracking, even years later.  The building was not placed upon a solid foundation.

My aunt and uncle, however, built a house near Buffalo that was on rock – literally!  It was the same rock strata that upheld Niagara Falls and allowed the skyscrapers to stand on Manhattan Island.  It didn’t budge.  The builder had to use dynamite to put in a basement.  That house never moved!  There was no settling of the walls, crack in the floor or movement of any kind for all the years that they lived there.  The construction was firmly set on an immovable foundation.

Jesus offers us the opportunity to build upon a firm foundation that will stand against all the storms that may buffet our lives.  Change is inevitable in the appearance and style of living.  But a strong foundation of faith will help guide our rebuilding of God’s house on earth and what we do in own life, too.

These verses begin a third part of the Book of Isaiah, which some scholars refer to as Trito-Isaiah.  They are the last eleven chapters of this prophetic work.  It was probably addressed to the returnees from the Babylonian Exile.  The Lord God of Israel is recognized as the Lord of all people and nations.  During their separation from their nation and the formal Temple rituals, the people learned that God still was with them.  He restored them and renewed His promise to be in their midst.  That was a powerful lesson that would sustain them as a people of God, when they will lose their land and Temple again.

“Observe what is right” reflects on the personal commitment that each person must have.  There is an individual responsibility to be obedient to the Lord.  But there is more.  We are also to “do what is just.”  The word “justice” often appears in the prophetic literature.  It refers to an active practice in society to protect and respond to the needs of the marginalized, especially widows and orphans, those who have little economic or political standing.  It is also a quality of God, who equates “my justice” with His work of salvation.

SECOND READING: Romans 11:13-15,29-32

This is the last of eight excerpts from the Letter to the Romans.  After addressing “my kin,” his fellow Jews, Paul turns to the new members in the Church, the Gentiles.  Paul left the confines of Palestine to bring the Gospel to a much wider audience.  “You” are the Gentiles.  “Their rejection. . .their disobedience” refers to the Jews.

Paul sees the disobedience and lack of faith of the Jews as the means by which the “gifts and call of God” are extended to all others.  It is not worthiness, but the mercy of God that brings Jew and Gentile together as brothers and sisters in faith.

For every mention of the word “disobey,” four times, on the part of Jew and Gentile, Paul also uses the word “mercy” from God.”  The number four symbolizes universalism in the Scriptures.  Disobedience brings about the inclusion of the Gentiles into a relationship with God.

GOSPEL: Matthew 15:21-28

The seaside cities of Tyre and Sidon were north of the lands of Israel.  They were in ancient Phoenicia, now southern Lebanon.  The focus of this miracle is on the faith of the Canaanite woman, a person who is outside the boundaries of Israel – both in location and in religion.  She receives three rejections to her request for her daughter to be free from a tormenting demon.  Her faith overcomes the obstacles and rejection of her requests, so that “the woman’s daughter was healed” without any further display or proof of her faith.

Some scholars have seen an example of humility or faith – or both! – in the actions of this foreign woman.  She begins by acknowledging that Jesus was “Son of David.”  It expressed His mission to the “house of Israel.”  But then she twice uses the title that translated the name of Yahweh in the Old Testament, “Lord.”  Her unconditional trust in Jesus leads to healing for another, her daughter.  The consequences of faith extended beyond individual human boundaries.

The feeding of the four thousand follows this passage.  Jesus will give the bread to the disciples to feed the crowds, who experienced the healing presence of Jesus.  They will take the bread that He gave them to feed others.              It is the presence of the Lord in the midst of His disciples, whether in or out of the land of Israel, that will bring healing to the needy.

I marvel at the number of adults that enter the Church each year at the Easter Vigil.  Many have become active members and leaders in the parish.  Over the years, I have worked with two Directors of Religious Education, a pastoral associate and many catechists that have entered the Church as adults.  One of my classmates, now a pastor in the suburbs, entered the Church, when he was in college.  Some of our dedicated lectors, Special Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers and committee members joined the Church as adults.  In one of my assignments, I met very active and involved parishioners, whose grandfathers burned crosses on the lawns of Catholics in earlier years.

What would we have lost, if we just ignored them or, even worse, scorned them as unbelievers?  There are many members in the Church, baptized as Catholics, who have experienced some deep hurt in their life that needs the healing presence of the Lord.  They may be the “lost sheep” that Jesus came to save.  There have been times when I have felt like the disciples of Jesus.  I wanted to say, “Send her/him away!”  The patience of God is much greater than mine.

The Scriptures do not tell us whatever happened to that unnamed woman of humility and faith.  But we know that the example of Jesus foreshadowed what the disciples of Jesus would and are doing now in showing people the way to Him.   Our parishes must become an invitation and “house of prayer for all peoples,” who seek to become servants and handmaidens of the Lord.

Horeb may refer to Mt. Sinai, or it could be the region in which the mountain was located.  There are many details in this story to recall the appearance of God to Moses in this same locale.  Moses, too, was placed “in the hollow of the rock” and God covered Moses with His hand (Ex 33:22), just as Elijah “came to a cave” and “hid his face in his cloak” on the same mountain of God. 

Elijah escaped from the wrath of Jezebel, the queen of the northern kingdom of Israel.  Reminiscent of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness to escape the wrath of the Pharaoh, it took Elijah forty days and nights to arrive.  Forty (days or years) signified preparation for a divine mission that affected the salvation of God’s people.  Elijah will be given three tasks to complete in the following verses.  The encounter with God on this same mountain sent the people of the Exodus and Elijah back to the land, which had been given to them.  Wind, earthquake and fire are signs of nature that indicated divine presence in the Scriptures.  The word for “sound” is the same as that for “voice” in Hebrew.  Both Moses and Elijah heard the voice of the Lord.  The Hebrew name Elijah means “my god is Yahweh,” the Name that was revealed to Moses.

Second reading:
Romans 9:1-5

These verses begin a new section in the Letter to the Romans.  Paul uses the same vocabulary to describe his response to the rejection of Christ by Israel as the prophets did about the rejection of God by Israel, “sorrow” and “anguish” (see Is 35:10, 51:11).  He lists seven things that belong to the Jews: adoption, glory, covenants, the Law, worship, the promises (of God) and the Patriarchs.  Covenants is in the plural to emphasize the effort of God to saty in touch with His people throughout their history of infidelity and rejection of Him.  Paul’s wish to be “accursed and cut off from Christ” for the sake of the people recalls the image of Moses and the Servant of the Lord in Deutero-Isaiah. 

Gospel : Matthew 14:22-33

The story of creation begins with the deep waters of chaos.  It is the presence and command of God that puts everything in its proper relationship and place.  Jesus stays in communion with God the Father.  He goes to “the mountain by Himself to pray.”  It was the place where Moses and Elijah heard the voice of God to continue their mission to the people. 

Peter is invited to share the same divine prerogative over nature – to walk on water.  We still use it today as an idiom of doing something impossible.  The Old Testament speaks of the dominance of God over the waters in many places.  Peter obeys the command of Jesus to leave the boat, just as he was invited to “come after me” in Mt 4:19.  He renews the invitation of discipleship.  But the storms of life and doubt still surrounded Peter.  It is the presence of the Lord that saves Peter from being lost in the turmoil that threatens and distracts him from the vision and faith in Jesus.  Jesus helps him even in his weakness.  In fact, that is the point of the evangelist telling this story.  Jesus saves us despite our inadequate faith! 

The combination of “do not fear” and “it is I” is used in the Old Testament as a divine introduction (e.g., Gn 15:1, 46:3; Is 41:13, 43:1,3).  Jesus demonstrates dominance over the forces of nature and the chaos that still threatens others.  His presence provides the invitation to

The passage closes with the profession of faith that identifies a member of the Church: “Truly, your are the Son of God.”  It is that profession of faith and recognition of Jesus as more than just a great teacher in ancient times that has inspired the lives of our martyrs and saints throughout history.  They were people, who left the safety of their homes and families to lead us to that same profession of faith. 

Being in stormy seas can make you a really prayerful person!  I was out in five and six footers across Lake Erie.  Absolutely everything in the cabin of the boat ended up on the floor.  You cannot be distracted by the flurry of activity in your own little space, when you are facing a much greater threat.  High seas will help put things in order of importance.  There will be time later to put back everything in the drawers and shelves.  I was very grateful after a long time being tossed about on the water to arrive at my destination in the harbor inside the breakwater.  I think that I may have kissed the ground, when I finally secured the boat and walked on the good earth again! 

Jesus doesn’t end all the storms of life, when He appears.  He even sends us across the troubled seas, where He will come to meet us.  Things get tossed about in life, and everything that we have carefully put in place gets jostled about or even broken.  But if we continue to stay focused on His presence, we will reach our destination safely with a new appreciation of the lasting values in life and not be distracted and confined to the smaller world of our own making.