Scripture Reflections

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In today’s reading, Jesus tells his disciples, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." This is a powerful message. While Jesus preached and took on followers, the Pharisees became frustrated that this new prophet would dare attempt to undermine ancient Jewish law. Jesus’ response was to share his true intentions. The Son of God was not interested in breaking the ancient law, but rather affirming the spirit of the law. The Pharisees had become dogmatic and uncritical. Their application of the divine laws did not reflect God’s intent. Jesus was, far from a heretical figure, the harbinger of renewal that would reassert the importance of the law.  

This is an inspiring message. Falling into blind dogmatism is a sin that I myself have committed. It is easy to avow allegiance to a law, a community, or a state without thinking critically about how to make it better. Often, the ideals of a culture do not reflect its actions. Jesus reminds us that we can do better. While we may often fail, we should always ask ourselves whether our practices align with our values. Jesus died for this message. He sacrificed himself so that his flock might carry on his practice of adherence to true justice over the prevailing social order.  

Martin Luther King, Jr. also understood this message. The words ‘civil disobedience,’ which Dr. King himself popularized, imply the violation of written laws. Civil rights leaders organized the violation of laws when young black Americans sat in seats legally reserved for white people, and broke segregation policies meant to oppress African Americans. The Civil Rights Movement called to a higher law, the principle of inherent human dignity. On May 3 of 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, the police used high pressure fire hoses and attack dogs to crack down on peaceful protests. They were supposedly ‘the law,’ but were nonetheless unjust and cruel. In his 1967 Christmas sermon, Dr. King reminded us of what occurs when we recognize individual dignity: “When we truly believe in the sacredness of human personality, we won't exploit people, we won't trample over people with the iron feet of oppression, we won't kill anybody.” These words echo the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel today. We should not become stuck in asserting the regressive patterns of our written laws, but rather should be exploring whether we are reaching our highest ideals.  

Jesus’ words of renewal are vital to remain committed to “the sacredness of human personality” in our times. The authorities are not inherently bad, but they should not be venerated as indisputably right. Jesus frustrated the powerful in his society so much that he died at their hands, as did Martin Luther King, Jr. The Gospel shares the wisdom that to find justice is not to follow the strong, but to work toward compassion for all.  

Andru Zodrow, Class of 2024

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Today we remember Saint Barnabas, a leader in the early church, well known as a missionary companion to Saul (Paul).

Our readings today remind us that Barnabas and his fellow faith leaders were gifted at reading the signs of the times through the light of faith. Barnabas was sent on a mission by the church in Jerusalem to investigate what was happening in Antioch, where faith in Jesus was spreading beyond the Jewish community. In the context of persecution and dispersion, the early church in Jerusalem might have been suspicious of such an expansion beyond the familiar.

While the spreading of faith in Jesus to a non-Jewish community might have been beyond Barnabas’ imagination, we hear that he was able to recognize the community’s faith as “the grace of God,” which allowed him to respond by “rejoic[ing] and encourage[ing] them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart.” He then took action to invite Saul to assist the Antiochian faith community, investing deeply in the good work God was doing in Antioch.  Later, as the community grew, the leaders of the Antiochian community, through prayer and fasting, discerned a new call for Saul and Barnabas, to be missionaries beyond Antioch, beginning a series of journeys that would lead to the gospel being spread to many. Our reading tells us that it was through these efforts at Antioch that the church became know as Christian – a distinct emerging community of faith.  

As I consider the Word today, I am struck with gratitude for Barnabas’ openness to the Spirit working in the world. Over and over in today’s reading we find Barnabas responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to venture into new territory, both physically, and spiritually. He allows God’s grace to defy his expectations, and says yes to the mission he receives from God through the community of faith. Barnabas embodied Jesus' invitation to a life of discipleship that we encounter in our Gospel today. Barnabas was an encourager (instiller of hope, confidence, courage) for the early communities of faith, and his name was given to him by the early church because it meant "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). He approached newness and God's grace with an open heart, and was able to be a true partner with the Holy Spirit’s work in the world. Just like Barnabas, our baptism calls us to be disciples who are sent forth as bearers of good news (apostles). Are we open to the new ways of the Holy Spirit working in our world and our church today? Do we have the capacity to read the signs of the times, and respond to God’s promptings? Are we willing to be surprised by God's action in our world? 

Let us pray through the intercession of St. Barnabas, that we, as a church, may have the grace to be attentive to our current moment. That especially when God’s grace appears to be bearing fruit in ways beyond our imagination, inviting us into the unknown, that we may respond with joy and encouragement, courageously partnering with the work of the Holy Spirit in our world.

JoAnn Lopez, Campus Minister for Liturgy and Resident Minister  

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'During winter quarter last year in a class on leadership and spirituality, we read an interview with Father James Martin, S.J. that completely changed the way that I viewed Christianity and my faith. The gist of the interview was that we should not seek a life of happiness, but rather a life of joy. This statement shocked me: we live in a world that tells us that if we search for happiness, everything will be fine. But happiness is only an action, not a reality. Joy can be a reality.

In the first reading, we can see that Elijah and the people were not happy all the time, especially in times when it felt like the Lord was not answering their pleas at all. When are we like this? When are we not happy with God? When does it feel like nothing is going our way, like God is not answering our prayers?

After reading the interview I was then faced with the next question that would consume much of my studies at Seattle University: what is joy? For me, joy comes from being open to God, even when nothing is going our way. Just as Elijah did not give up on God in today's reading but rather persisted in faithfulness until God made God's self known, so, too, we are called to persist in our faith in a God of surprises who assures us that love has the final word. Living a life of joy requires first acknowledging that we are dependent on God, and trusting in God’s abiding presence, even in times it is difficult to perceive God. For many, admitting our dependency on God can be scary because where we are dependent, we are vulnerable. I'm afraid of being vulnerable, but I cannot be open to God without being vulnerable -- and it is from openness to God that I find my joy.

Even in difficult times, we can find joy in our openness to God’s presence. Let us join our prayer with the Psalmist today, who says to God with trust: “You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” When Jesus mentions in the Gospel reading that those who follow the commandments are the greatest in the Kingdom of God, it is not because they are doing everything right, but rather because they are open to God and God's influence on their life. This brings them joy. What brings you joy? How will you be open and with God today?

Mariah Nickerson, Class of 2020

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A problem with American culture today is the focus on individual rights: “I have a right to,” “I am entitled to.” Often this reduces to “I want, and I don’t care what happens to you.” Jesus’ vision begins not from rights but from duties. Our duty is to build community with outsiders.

This is the theme of the Sermon on the Mount, which began with the beatitudes in yesterday’s liturgy. There he gives the Christian virtues which lead to happiness.

To our right to wealth, Jesus commands poverty of spirit,

To our right to easy life, Jesus proposes mourning for the suffering;

For our narcissism, Jesus proposes a lack of entitlement;

For our insistence on our justice, Jesus suggests mercy for all;

For our violent war for our rights, Jesus asks for peacemaking.

Jesus’ disciples who live his way are the salt of the earth. They bring taste, enjoyment not only to those they serve, but also for themselves.

They shed light in the darkness of our mistaken rights and goals. Their actions are to be seen as motivated by a love of God which gives them joy and gives others peace. If they live this way they will give glory to the God who is outpouring love.

I draw three lessons from this teaching:

First, Jesus is primarily not asking about actions, but about virtues. Jesus does not bring a social program but an emphasis on interior conversion from the self-seeking ways of the world. (This is the way of Pope Francis: for those who want decrees prohibiting actions he asks them to contemplate the pastoral compassion of Jesus.) In the following part of the Sermon Jesus does get to actions, because it is in our actions that we know whether we have the virtues which he inculcates. Jesus calls our bluff: it is not those who say Jesus is our Lord who will be saved but those who do what he commands. If his teachings do not issue in social reforms, his disciples have not caught the urgency of his call to the virtues of the Reign of God.

Second, disciples who act as Jesus did will evoke wonder. They will manifest that their actions flow from God’s love and so will redound to His praise. Do others see in my actions a wonderful action of God?”

Thirdly, how do we catch these virtues? I tend to focus on the power of Jesus in the gospel---his healings, his courage in confronting the Pharisees. This gospel calls me to see Jesus as exemplifying the virtues he asks of us:

although he is rich, he comes among us as a poor man, a beggar;

although he knows the joy of God, he mourns for all those who suffer;

although he is a royal messiah, he denies any sense of entitlement;

although he can exercise the justice of God, he is compassionate mercy.

As disciples striving to live the Gospel today, we must hear Jesus say, ”Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”

Fr. John Topel, S.J.

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“I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me?”  This very first verse in our Psalm mirrors the cry of Black Americans today.  In fact, people around the world are wondering the same thing – from where will their help actually come?  And for God’s sake, when?  As a white American and a Christian person, I, too am asking these questions.  Looking at the centuries of suffering endured by Black people in this country, it feels difficult – even as a person of faith – to truly believe the Psalmist when he offers assurance of God’s protection for those who cry out for help.  When we see the lives of Black people snuffed out before our very eyes, it does not seem as if God is guarding the most vulnerable among us.  Adding insult to the literal injury of peaceful protestors, the word of God and gospel of Christ that we proclaim as ultimate Truth are sullied by those at the very highest levels of power in this country.  Where is God’s protection, we ask?  The gospel today has a lot to say about that and, not surprisingly, it points directly to how we live as Christians.

In Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reinterprets the Law of Moses for his disciples and in doing so, describes God’s promises to come.  Jesus’s disciples were, in effect, his students. They were learning from him the very heart of God – and so are we.  When I read the passage for the first time this week, this verse stood out to me differently than it had before, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  In first century Palestine, it was believed that the heart was the origin of thought and intention, as well as our moral compass.  It definitely made me ask myself, are my thoughts and intentions are “pure”?  I admit, with all that is going on in the world, I wasn’t feeling particularly well-intentioned in that moment!  This verse also begs the question of how we are remembering to orient ourselves on the side of those receiving God’s own preferential option – the poor (in spirit), the mourning, and the meek?  How are we ourselves seeking righteousness and peace as well as demonstrating mercy to all?

When I talk to Seattle University students who are taking part in these protests that affirm that Black Lives Matter, I learn more about how to stand quite literally on the side of the oppressed.  May that we all learn how to hunger and thirst for righteousness so that from every direction, we come to the aid of those who are crying out to God in our suffering and unjust world.

Erin Beary Andersen, Associate Director of Campus Ministry