A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings
Note: The book of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus is considered to be the largest wisdom book from antiquity to have survived. It is accepted as part of the canon by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and most Oriental Orthodox Christians. The Anglican tradition considers Sirach among the apocryphal books, and read them but do not yet apply them to establish any doctrine.
This passage describes what the rule of an intelligent leader looks like, and also warns us about what will happen to cities that are under corrupted leadership. A wise leader is one who educates his people and whose rule is well ordered. He is accepted as the people's judge and welcomed as a ruler of all its inhabitants. He makes his city fit to live because of his understanding. In contrast, an undisciplined king ruins his people. The greatest leader is the Lord who governs the earth. It is the Lord who raises up the right leader for the time. Human success is in the hand of the Lord, and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver. The passage warns us not to get angry with our neighbor when we are injured. We must not resort to acts of insolence. We should not be arrogant or perpetuate injustice. Destroying one another is never the solution for how can dust and ashes be proud? Even in life our human body decays. A long illness baffles the physician; the king of today will die tomorrow. Do we not realize that when we are dead we inherit maggots and vermin and worms? The truth is that the beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord; the heart which has withdrawn from its Maker is doomed. The beginning of pride is sin, and the one who clings to it pours out abominations. The Lord brings unheard-of calamities upon unjust societies, and completely destroys oppressive communities. The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers, and enthrones the lowly in their place. The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations, and plants the humble in their place. The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations, and destroys them to the foundations of the earth. He removes some of them and destroys them, and erases the memory of them from the earth. Pride was not created for human beings, or violent anger for those born of women.
Who are the intelligent leaders of our time? Who are the corrupted leaders of our time?
What personal leadership style describes us best?
Is there such a thing as just war? Explain why you believe the way you do.
Do you believe in the separation of church and state? What does this really mean?
Does the church play a role in bringing about a better society? If yes, then what role does it play? If no, then why not?
Note: The Book of Revelation is the only apocalyptic book in the New Testament canon. It occupies a central place in Christian eschatology. Much of the book contains obscure and extravagant imagery that has led to a wide variety of Chrisitan interpretations. Ultimately, it speaks to the struggle between good and evil. The terms ‘apocalyptic’ and ‘eschatological’ refer to visions of the end times as revealed by an angel or other heavenly messenger.
In this passage a star (angel) had fallen from heaven to earth. Seeing this, the fifth angel blows his trumpet. We are told that the fallen angel was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. From the shaft arose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given authority like the authority of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to damage the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torture them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them. In appearance the locusts were like horses equipped for battle. On their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth; they had scales like iron breastplates, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails like scorpions, with stingers, and in their tails is their power to harm people for five months. They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. The first woe has passed. There are still two woes to come.
Who do you think the fallen angel is and why?
Is the angel of the bottomless pit and the fallen angel the same or different? Explain.
Who ultimately controls the locusts and scorpions that tortured people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads? What might this mean for us?
Do you like apocalyptic/eschatological literature? Why or why not?
In this passage, a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
The lawyer tested Jesus. How do we test Jesus? Is it permissible to test Jesus? Why or why not?
When does eternal life begin? Explain.
Can we assume that Jesus knew the law even before the lawyer approached him? If so, then why did Jesus ask the lawyer what was written in the law? If not, then why not?
What does it mean to love God? In what ways have we loved God?
What does it mean to love your neighbor? In what ways have we loved our neighbor?
Is it possible to love God without loving our neighbor?
We are told that the lawyer wanted to justify himself. What was the lawyer trying to justify?
Who is your neighbor?
Detail a time when you felt robbed of what rightfully belonged to you, stripped of your dignity, beaten down emotionally, and left without hope. What feelings came over you in that period of your life?
In the parable Jesus shared, there were three people who came across the man who had been robbed: priest, levite, and Samaritan. Describe an incident from your life in which you experienced someone playing the role of priest, the role of Levite, and the role of Samaritan in your life. What role do you tend to play in the life of those around you?
The Samaritan told the innkeeper to take care of the victim and that he would repay the innkeeper whatever was spent on the victim’s care. Was this a frugal decision on the part of the Samaritan? Could you see yourself taking on such unknown costs and debt? Why or why not?
What risks are involved with being a good neighbor?
To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Thomas+
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