Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

teaching

Rich Fool Parable

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Teaching is not what Jesus did; it’s who he was

This Gospel sets us pondering what is important in our lives.  The man in the incident Luke describes holds a world view that is fairly exclusive, doesn’t he?  It’s just him and HIS things.  Now he’s shocked to learn that he is about to lose his life.  What good are his possessions going to be to him now?  Jesus makes his opinion quite plain.  “You fool!  This very night your life will be taken away.  To whom will everything belong then?!”

As the story goes, the man is disgruntled over a long-standing disagreement with his brother.  And it sounds like he thinks he is justified in his complaint.  So, he figures he will follow the customary practice of taking his dispute to the rabbi.  (Expecting the rabbi, of course, take his part and set his brother right.)  He further thinks maybe this new rabbi, the one he’s heard everyone talking about, won’t know about his reputation for pettiness.  Surely he will get a favorable settlement for the row against his brother.  But, surprise!  Jesus refuses to take the case.  Instead, Jesus gives the squabbling brothers a parable to “mull over”.

And, what’s the point of Jesus’ story?  It’s not even remotely related to the problem that the two brothers are having.  It features a wealthy landowner that doesn’t describe either of the siblings.  Then Jesus lumps the boys in the same pot as the landowner.  He calls them all “fools”.

Better take fair warning, Boys.  And all you other listeners, too.  There is danger in thinking this parable applies only to “those rich people.”  To put the matter more pointedly, thinking of those rich fools enables me NOT to think of myself as a “rich fool.”

This a lesson about covetousness and jealousy.  Envy is related but perhaps less “green.”  You’ve heard the expression “green with envy.”  Envy, like jealousy, is a desire to have what the other has but it’s maybe a little less “green”.  It’s a desire to ALSO have what the other has.  But not like jealousy wanting to have it INSTEAD of the other.  Envy says: “I wish I could go too.”  “I wish I could be as gentle and kind as she is.”  Envy does begrudge the gifts of the other.  It’s a prompt to imitate the others’ Christian example.

In this little parable Jesus probes our hearts.  “Where is your treasure?” he asks.  Don’t make the mistake that this farmer made.  Examine my story.   Just what is the farmer’s error.  He wasn’t wicked.  He didn’t gain his wealth illegally or by taking advantage of others.  He’s not particularly greedy.  So, what’s wrong with building larger barns, renting a storage unit, getting a POD in the back yard to store away some of today’s bounty for a leaner tomorrow?  This kind of thinking can lead us to ask: Is there anything wrong with hanging on to clothing we’ve outgrown but might wear again someday?  Or stockpiling furniture that serves only as a “catch all” because it’s just too nice to give away.  What about requesting more allowance than we actually need?  But, never finding a charity other than ourselves.  Or accepting, or worse asking for money gifts or gift cards from lay people giving them the impression that our community does not take care of our needs.  We might answer that none of this sounds so terribly wrong compared to the horrors of violence … except for two things.

Notice what the farmer’s consistent focus is.  “What should I do?  I have no place to store my crops?”  “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.”  It’s his relentless use of “I” and “my” that betray a preoccupation with self.  He’s fallen prey to worshiping the most popular of gods: the Unholy Trinity of “me, myself, and I.”  He gives no thought to using the abundance to help others.  This most likely is what leads to a second mistake: foolishness in thinking that making provision for the future; will secure one’s future.

Jesus used the opportunity as a “teachable moment.”  Life, he impresses upon us, does not consist in things; not even in having MANY things.  The farmer in the parable is a rich man, who fears that is not rich enough.  Jesus didn’t judge him; He did teach.  He was teaching all of us how to live.  To paraphrase President Joe Biden’s words in his speech at the Democratic convention, when he referred to his wife who was a teacher: “Teaching is not what Jesus did; it’s who he was.”

~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

First Reading  Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23        Second Reading Colossians 3:1-5,9-11
Gospel Reading  Luke 12:13-21

 

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Catholic Schools Week

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Catholic Schools Week is celebrated every year beginning the last Sunday in January through the following Friday – January 30th – February 5th this year.  For those of us fortunate to have been educated in a Catholic school, we know the difference a valued-based education can make.

The Benedictine Sisters of Florida, as you may know, have a long history of teaching and leadership in schools across Florida and a few towns in Texas and Louisiana.  While their mission has varied in recent years depending on community needs, the Sisters continue to be involved in children’s education.  Their extensive experience in leadership, teaching and as board members is sought after by charitable organizations focused on providing a quality classroom experience for students.

A grateful applause goes to those who taught us and to

Catholic school teachers everywhere who ARE making a significant difference every day!

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That’s What Were Supposed To Do

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Jesus teaches his disciples that the greatest are those who serve all.

Today the disciples are uncharacteristically silent, afraid and ashamed, seemingly unaware that Jesus had overheard their arguing.  A small child, like an eager puppy, has managed to squirm his way through the crowd and is waiting for Jesus to notice him.  Jesus lifts him up and the child settles comfortably onto his lap.  The child unknowingly becomes the lesson.

Now, don’t fail to understand the significance of this action.  You see, in first-century Palestine, children were without status or power, possessing no legal rights whatsoever.  They were totally subject to the authority of others.  Most often, when children are mentioned in the Scripture, they’re lumped together with the others considered lowest on the food chain: women, cattle and foreigners.

Using the child as an example, Jesus is teaching us that when we serve the least ones among us, we serve Jesus himself.  Who are the people today without power or status in our society that Jesus is calling us to serve?  Do we do so willingly?  Does our hospitality extend to the people Jesus would choose?  This is the criteria upon which we will be judged.

Jesus says: “See, the greatest people in the kingdom of God are not the rich and powerful.  They are the weak and powerless; not the ones with the most servants, but the ones who serve others the most.  The “greatest” are the servants of others … wash the dishes, do the laundry, sweep the floor, pull the weeds, visit the sick, sign up to read, take non-drivers shopping – you know the list … it goes on and on filled with everyday tasks that help make community life run smoothly.

What is the one human quality that was underlying the argument among the disciples?  The quality that drives us to success while causing all sorts of problems at the same time?  Ambition.  Ambition is one of the driving forces in our lives.  It propels us to excel in our jobs.  It pushes us to reach our goals.  It can give us a reason for living.  Ambition is one of the tools that the world uses to measure success.  But, it is only one tool.

If we measure success the way the world does, we will overlook some ordinary people who did extraordinary things.  They probably did not realize what a role they played in the “Greatest Story Ever Told” until perhaps they looked back on history form God’s heavenly perspective.

Just to name a few, let’s look at a some of the Scriptural figures we know – what do we remember them for?  Noah built; Abraham moved; Moses led; Josiah restored; David conquered; Nehemiah repaired; Ruth stayed; Jeremiah preached; Mary said “yes”; Joseph accepted; the poor widow gave; the Apostles went; the early church persevered.

An everyday example presented itself recently in a back-page news story about a couple of school children.  One had gotten into some minor trouble and was going to have to walk a few laps instead of playing at recess.  She wasn’t taking the news very well.  Another student, a by-stander who wasn’t even a close friend stepped up quietly to offer encouragement.  She whispered to her peer that she wouldn’t have to walk alone; she’d walk with her to cheer her on.  When the teacher remarked what a wonderful thing she had done, the student shrugged and replied, “It’s no big deal.  It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Can you image our world if everyone had the same attitude?  It’s those kinds of thinkers who are changing the world.  Those who forgive, love, go the extra mile, and live righteously, not out of a sense of obligation, not to be seen and applauded by others, but simply because “that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
First Reading  Wisdom 2:12,17-20               Second Reading  James 3:16—4:3
Gospel  Mark 9:30-37
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Rarely One “Right Way”

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In this Gospel, Mark provides a significant amount of information about the Jewish observance of ritual-purity laws.  Most Scripture scholars believe that Mark’s purpose was to educate the Gentile Christians in his audience since they would have had little or no experience of these laws.

Jesus first criticizes the Pharisees for putting human tradition above God’s Law – for making the tradition of ritual purity equal to and as binding as the Law of Moses.

Next, Jesus comments on the meaning behind the Pharisees’ language of holiness – clean and unclean.  He teaches that a person is not defiled by the food that enters our bodies, but rather by the sin that emerges from our words or actions.  In this teaching, Jesus unmasks a deeper question behind the one posed to him by the Pharisees.  The real issue is holiness, which is not found in external acts alone.  Holiness comes from within and is evidenced in the actions and attitudes that emerge from a person’s life.

If we read today’s Gospel carefully, we will see a pattern in Jesus’ teaching method that will be repeated in the liturgical weeks ahead.  Jesus’ first teaching is directed to the Pharisees who questioned him.  Then He directs his words to the whole crowd, teaching that a person is defiled by their own words and actions – remember it’s not the food we take in but the words we spout out.  In the verses omitted in today’s reading, we learn that Jesus returned home with his disciples, who in turn quizzed him about what he had taught.  The words at the conclusion of today’s Gospel are addressed specifically to His disciples and challenge us as well.  In our desire to show that we are holy, we might also give too much credence to externals, following rules without thinking about the intention behind them.

Here’s where we need to really perk up and listen to the message in this Gospel: “Hear me, all of you, and understand.  You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition.”  It seems to me Jesus’ underlying message to us, in this day and age and community, is that line about “teaching human precepts as divine doctrine.”  It’s a great temptation for many of us to elevate our wishes to the “right way” of doing things.  There is rarely only one RIGHT WAY in everyday matters.  Even Emily Post changed her mind about the “right way” to eat fried chicken. 

Jesus reminds us that we do not make ourselves holy by our actions.   Rather, we become holy when we allow God’s Spirit to transform us. Our actions should be an expression of the conversion of our hearts.

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, Prioress, OSB
First Reading  Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8            Second Reading  James 1:17-18,21b-22,27
Gospel Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23
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