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Daily Scripture

+ Ascension Thursday

There is no proof; there are only witnesses.

Readings: Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:14-23 Luke 24:46-53

You are witnesses of all these things. And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high. [Luke 24:50-51]

In an age of technology and scientific progress, we have an explanation for everything or at least the promise of the same. Yet, there are still truly human experiences – both positive and negative—that defy human explanation. Death is one such experience. Doctors know the medical reasons for death but an autopsy doesn’t tell the whole story. Conversely, who can explain the field of energy that binds lovers for life?

During his life on earth Jesus created a field of energy that changed the course of history and it did not cease at his death or even at his resurrection. It continues to this day – locally and globally. Or else how explain the heroism of the saints of yesterday and the saints of today? Women and men, energetic witnesses who have said ‘yes’ to unconditional love under any and all circumstances continue to change the course of history in the face of those who attempt to chain the Word of God. No, most of them are not formal preachers or even religious teachers per se, but people who live the message of the Gospel of Jesus day in and day out.

The gospel today is typical of the departure of a hero. We might even consider it the conclusion of a hero story. Jesus assures his disciples that he is not abandoning them. Not only that but he will send an advocate who will empower them to continue his mission. “You will be clothed with power from on high.” They will be clothed with the mantle of Christ just as the ancient Elijah was clothed in the mantle of Elias before Elias departed in his chariot to the heavens. It’s metaphor and allegory, of course but the underlying truth of Jesus mission will continue to be proclaimed as Good News for all.

But hang in there until Pentecost when the gifts of the Spirit will be renewed and we will be empowered once more to preach the Good News—using words only when necessary.

Feast of Epiphany

Sunday January 2, 2005

Looking for a God with Skin

It has been almost sixty years since Pope Pius XII who in his scholarly encyclical, Divino Afflante Spiritu, affirmed his full support for the use of literary and historical criticism in the interpretation of the Bible. This document has served as a Magna Carta for Catholic biblical studies up to the present time. In essence, Pope Pius said that the Sacred Scriptures were to be interpreted within the context of the events occurring at the time in which they were written and in light of the literary styles used by the inspired authors of the Bible. In effect, this brought Catholic biblical studies into the main stream of biblical scholarship and paved the way for the incredible renewal that has taken place among Catholics “in the pew” since Vatican II.

Despite this revolution of thought and the new direction of biblical studies, which ensued, there is still a strong tendency to treat the infancy narratives of Jesus birth as if they were journalistic accounts which in modern times could have appeared on the evening news.

Second only to the story of the birth of Jesus in the “stable” at Bethlehem, the narrative of the journey of the magi has captured the imagination of believers down through the ages to this very day. In fact, we have displayed in our sanctuary this weekend, three golden crowns, symbolizing the “three kings” as they arrived in Bethlehem in search of the child. “We have seen his star in the east and have come to adore him.”

I was completing my final year of theological studies at Darlington in 1961 when one of our esteemed professors dismissed the whole notion that there could be any other interpretation of the journey of the magi than the literal. His resistance was based on the fear that anything short of the literal acceptance of the star and the three kings would call into question the very truth of the inspired Word of God and even the divinity of Jesus.

In fact, biblical “literalism” continues to plague bible study groups and some commentaries even to this day. When you stop and think about it, such literalism detracts from the authenticity of the full biblical revelation in the same way as if we were to read the great poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins and others of his stature as a newspaper account instead of a reflection on the deepest mysteries of the soul.

This feast of Epiphany is not so much about three kings as it is about the search of all people of every age and rank for an experience of a God with skin; a God whom we can touch; a humble God who speaks our language; a God of our heart and soul; a God whose kingdom is in this world but not of this world.

The story of the Magi in pursuit of the star is not to be explained away by the new cosmology but to be enhanced with a new cosmology of the heart that enables us to find God incarnate once again in every man and every woman. Indeed this will require the wisdom of the magi and the humility of the three kings.

The Gospel writer had it mind to write down stories about the life of this man of God, Son of God, who would break down the barriers that had been established by the “religionists” and self-righteous legalists of those times.

Epiphany is a feast of inclusion not of exclusion. It is the manifestation of a God who is indiscriminate in his or her love. It’s about a God who will not rest until all hearts rest in God.

Matthew’s Gospel is a celebration of the enfleshment of God in Christ in whom there is no difference between Jew or Greek; male or female; black or white; Arab or African; Japanese or Guatemalan. All are one and when we finally come to the realization that our global village is precisely that, then perhaps we will come to terms of peace without weapons of war and open up our storehouse of food, sit down at table and break the bread and share the wisdom that enables us to see one another as brothers and sisters invested in the good of all humanity.

In the wake of this unbelievable tragedy in Southwest Asia, people of every race and nation are joining hands to help the helpless and bring hope to the hopeless. No one who brings food to the starving can be an enemy of God. All who open their hearts in generosity to those so utterly bereft and bereaved of life are like the dawn of a new day.

The biblical ‘star’ remains but it is not in the heavens. It is in the concrete words of the believer. The gifts we offer are not gold, frankincense and myrrh but our works of justice and charity.

When we have taken this feast to heart as individuals and as a Church, “wise men” will continue to come from afar in pursuit of the star and we will indeed be recognized as God with us, Emmanuel.