Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye. Malachi 3:2
[H]e had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. Hebrews 2:17-18
[A]nd Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in
Piety
Litany of Contradictory Things
Wheat and weeds: let them grow together.
Arabs and Jews in
Greeks and Turks of the Balkans: let them grow together
Catholics and Protestants of
Pros and Contras of Central America: let them grow together.
Documented and undocumented aliens: let them grow together.
Immigrants and Native Americans: let them grow together
Blacks and Whites of South Africa: let them grow together
Sikhs and Hindus of India: let them grow together
Revolutionaries and reactionaries: let them grow together.
Russians and Americans: let them grow together.
Religious leaders who lay and lighten burdens: let them grow together.
Disciples prone to boasts and betrayals: let them grow together.
People of God who wound and heal: let them grow together.
Rich and poor, humble and haughty: let them grow together.
Those whose thinking is similar and contrary: let them grow together.
Those whose feelings are transparent or concealed: let them grow together.
Days of sparseness and days of plenty: let them grow together.
Winter, spring, summer and fall: let them grow together.
All the seasons of one’s life: let them grow together.
Joys and sorrows; laughter, tears: let them grow together.
Strength and weakness: let them grow together.
Doubt and faith: let them grow together.
Denial and commitment: let them grow together.
Preoccupation and freedom: let them grow together.
Virtue and vice: let them grow together.
Contemplation and action: let them grow together.
Giving and receiving: let them grow together.
The helpful and the helpless: let them grow together.
Wisdom of the East and West: let them grow together.
All contrarieties of the Lord: let them grow together.
-- Michael Moynahan, SJ
(From Hearts on Fire: Praying with Jesuits, edited by Michael Harter, SJ.
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/020208.shtml
Contradiction. “Contradiction” is a word that is passed down to modern English from the Latin phrases “contra” (against) and “dicere” (to speak). So it literally means to speak against.
Simeon declares that Jesus will be a sign that is spoken against by the people of the world. Ultimately, Jesus faces the anger and retribution of the political, military and religious leaders. Jesus also is the target of hatred by the people of
The interpretation of this in the Navarre Bible, a Catholic bible commentary, is the following: “Jesus came to bring salvation to all men, yet he will be sign of contradiction because some people will obstinately reject him -- for this reason he will be their ruin. But for those who accept him with faith Jesus will be their salvation, freeing them from sin in this life and raising them up to eternal life.”
People who speak out against Jesus fulfill this prophecy. Those who are united with Christ fulfill this prophecy too. They will rise. Those who are opposed to Christ will fall. It almost leads us to believe that until and unless people speak out against Jesus, he is not the Lord.
Yet who will survive the coming of our Lord? Who will endure this baptism of fire? Malachi tells us that only those who remain faithful to the Lord will survive. For those who accept him with faith, Jesus will be their salvation.
Jesus can do this because he took our form. God becoming man…now that in itself is a contradiction. Because he was tested during his very human life on earth, Jesus is able to help us when we are tested.
Action
Have we made Jesus and Christianity too much a figure of popular culture and acceptance? The early church suffered persecutions. However, now we boast that this is a Judeo-Christian nation. Jesuits teach at
Sometimes, those who take and perform unpopular actions in public pay a price in their freedom just as Thoreau did in his famous act of civil disobedience. However, those who seemingly ignore the consequences of the Gospel move ahead.
What contradictions about the Gospel gnaw at your subconscious? Property and poverty? War and peace? Justice and Injustice? How can you resolve them?
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