It's a dog's life
Commentary
Object:
Pope Francis was selected as Time magazine's "Person of the Year." Regarding his selection, Nancy Gibbs, the magazine's managing editor, said, "He really stood out to us as someone who has changed the tone and the perception and the focus of one the world's largest institutions in an extraordinary way." All three lectionary readings speak of change. And it is a change that violates those seven deadly words of the church: "We've never done it that way before."
Pope Francis certainly is in violation of that established creed. He removed the fleet of Vatican luxury cars and replaced them with affordable midsize models. He has removed the title of monsignor from the hierarchy of the priesthood. He has selected cardinals from predominately third-world countries. His vestments, though white, are plain and simple. The tailor-made red leather loafers that accentuated the status of the pope are an attire of the past, as simple black loafers will suffice. Then of course, he no longer resides in the Vatican palace but in the nearby guest hotel.
It is humility and self-effacing service that the three readings call us to. Micah wants us "to walk humbly with our God." Paul desires us to "consider our call" and "boast only of the Lord." Jesus instructs that "blessed are the meek... the merciful... the pure in heart... the peacemakers." These passages reflect a recurring message in the scriptures, personified when Hosea said, "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
This is the liturgical season of Epiphany. The word epiphany means "manifestation" or "revelation" During the Sundays of Epiphany we acknowledge three aspects of Jesus' life and ministry. There is the visitation by the magi, whose gifts not only declare the sovereignty of Jesus (gold), but also his humility (frankincense), and his sacrifice (myrrh). There is Jesus' baptism by John, where the symbolic dove of peace alights on his shoulder. There is Jesus' first miracle at the wedding feast, when legalistic practices are replaced by the new wine of grace.
The lectionary readings report a systematic message throughout the scriptures; that is, God desires humility and sacrificial service, not ornaments.
Micah 6:1-8
Micah offers a summons to the Israelites to recall and remember their Exodus experience. They are to understand that this was a pivotal point in their history when God reaffirmed the protection of the covenant and his unfailing love. The Exodus did not create a liturgical creed, but more of a sacred story of deliverance. Now, when confronted by the Moabite King Balal, the Israelites are once again to find assurance in their sacred story of deliverance from the bondage of the Egyptians. When the Israelites found safety and security at the foot of Mount Sinai, there was no place for a golden calf, only commandments chiseled upon tablets of stone. Once again, with deliverance, God does not seek a burnt offering of rams and goats and sheep; God desires the offering of one's self, that is, "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Paul asks us to "consider our call" into ministry. In so doing we are not to think of ourselves as wise, such as the Greeks do, nor are we to look for signs as the Jews do. Instead, we are to view ourselves as foolish. This is not a call for self-deprecation but an acknowledgment of the superiority of God. It is the confession that all of our spiritual gifts come from God alone. This is why, unlike the haughtiness of the Roman priests and Jewish Pharisees, we humbly acknowledge "let the one who boasts, boast only in the Lord."
Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes describe the eight blessings in the Sermon on the Mount. Each is a proverb-like proclamation. Each one of the Beatitudes consists of two phrases: the condition and the result. In almost every case the condition is from a familiar Old Testament context, but Jesus teaches a new interpretation. The Beatitudes present a new set of Christian ideals that focus on a spirit of love and humility. They echo the highest ideals of the teachings of Jesus on mercy, spirituality, and compassion. The Beatitudes acknowledge that the sacrifice Jesus seeks is not one of burnt offerings or pious displays, but is to be located in self-effacing humility of service. It is an attitude that emanates from the gratitude that we are a part of the sacred story of the Exodus and Crucifixion.
Application
To follow Jesus is to have an understanding of what we are called to do. First and foremost, it is to be aware of the needs of others.
Did you ever wonder why your dog is so attentive to your body language and voice modulations? It has recently been determined that a dog has the same recognition capacity as a one-year-old infant. As an infant follows a parent across the room with his eyes, so does a dog recognize the subtleties of body motion. As an infant recognizes the voice modulations of a parent, so does a dog recognize the voice commands of his devoted houseparent. Dogs are the only animals to have this ability that came from generations of domestication.
Dr. Adam Miklosi, a behavioral biologist who conducted a study on this, said, "Being in a human family gives a dog the ability to interact in a human way." When we decide to follow Jesus, let us be sensitive to the needs of those who are a part of our global human family.
Each of the three lectionary readings establishes the concept of a being a part of a human family. Each of the three readings helps define how we are to participate as members of that family. They each in part, or combined, can be summarized as having "the ability to interact in a human way."
An Alternative Application
To facilitate the process of education in the home and church, Martin Luther published two catechisms in 1529. Issuing the catechisms Luther implored: "I therefore beg of you for God's sake, my beloved brethren who are pastors and teachers, that you take the duties of your office seriously, that you have pity on the people who are entrusted to your care, and that you help me teach the catechism to the people, especially those who are young." This declaration authenticated Luther's didactic of individual freedom of thought in spiritual matters.
Both books focused on the same five premises: the Ten Commandments are a mirror of sin; the Apostles' Creed is a proclamation of forgiveness; the Lord's Prayer is an acceptance of mercy; the two sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are channels of grace.
Our three lectionary readings implore us to be mirrors of God by following his commandments accompanied with humility of service.
Pope Francis certainly is in violation of that established creed. He removed the fleet of Vatican luxury cars and replaced them with affordable midsize models. He has removed the title of monsignor from the hierarchy of the priesthood. He has selected cardinals from predominately third-world countries. His vestments, though white, are plain and simple. The tailor-made red leather loafers that accentuated the status of the pope are an attire of the past, as simple black loafers will suffice. Then of course, he no longer resides in the Vatican palace but in the nearby guest hotel.
It is humility and self-effacing service that the three readings call us to. Micah wants us "to walk humbly with our God." Paul desires us to "consider our call" and "boast only of the Lord." Jesus instructs that "blessed are the meek... the merciful... the pure in heart... the peacemakers." These passages reflect a recurring message in the scriptures, personified when Hosea said, "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
This is the liturgical season of Epiphany. The word epiphany means "manifestation" or "revelation" During the Sundays of Epiphany we acknowledge three aspects of Jesus' life and ministry. There is the visitation by the magi, whose gifts not only declare the sovereignty of Jesus (gold), but also his humility (frankincense), and his sacrifice (myrrh). There is Jesus' baptism by John, where the symbolic dove of peace alights on his shoulder. There is Jesus' first miracle at the wedding feast, when legalistic practices are replaced by the new wine of grace.
The lectionary readings report a systematic message throughout the scriptures; that is, God desires humility and sacrificial service, not ornaments.
Micah 6:1-8
Micah offers a summons to the Israelites to recall and remember their Exodus experience. They are to understand that this was a pivotal point in their history when God reaffirmed the protection of the covenant and his unfailing love. The Exodus did not create a liturgical creed, but more of a sacred story of deliverance. Now, when confronted by the Moabite King Balal, the Israelites are once again to find assurance in their sacred story of deliverance from the bondage of the Egyptians. When the Israelites found safety and security at the foot of Mount Sinai, there was no place for a golden calf, only commandments chiseled upon tablets of stone. Once again, with deliverance, God does not seek a burnt offering of rams and goats and sheep; God desires the offering of one's self, that is, "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Paul asks us to "consider our call" into ministry. In so doing we are not to think of ourselves as wise, such as the Greeks do, nor are we to look for signs as the Jews do. Instead, we are to view ourselves as foolish. This is not a call for self-deprecation but an acknowledgment of the superiority of God. It is the confession that all of our spiritual gifts come from God alone. This is why, unlike the haughtiness of the Roman priests and Jewish Pharisees, we humbly acknowledge "let the one who boasts, boast only in the Lord."
Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes describe the eight blessings in the Sermon on the Mount. Each is a proverb-like proclamation. Each one of the Beatitudes consists of two phrases: the condition and the result. In almost every case the condition is from a familiar Old Testament context, but Jesus teaches a new interpretation. The Beatitudes present a new set of Christian ideals that focus on a spirit of love and humility. They echo the highest ideals of the teachings of Jesus on mercy, spirituality, and compassion. The Beatitudes acknowledge that the sacrifice Jesus seeks is not one of burnt offerings or pious displays, but is to be located in self-effacing humility of service. It is an attitude that emanates from the gratitude that we are a part of the sacred story of the Exodus and Crucifixion.
Application
To follow Jesus is to have an understanding of what we are called to do. First and foremost, it is to be aware of the needs of others.
Did you ever wonder why your dog is so attentive to your body language and voice modulations? It has recently been determined that a dog has the same recognition capacity as a one-year-old infant. As an infant follows a parent across the room with his eyes, so does a dog recognize the subtleties of body motion. As an infant recognizes the voice modulations of a parent, so does a dog recognize the voice commands of his devoted houseparent. Dogs are the only animals to have this ability that came from generations of domestication.
Dr. Adam Miklosi, a behavioral biologist who conducted a study on this, said, "Being in a human family gives a dog the ability to interact in a human way." When we decide to follow Jesus, let us be sensitive to the needs of those who are a part of our global human family.
Each of the three lectionary readings establishes the concept of a being a part of a human family. Each of the three readings helps define how we are to participate as members of that family. They each in part, or combined, can be summarized as having "the ability to interact in a human way."
An Alternative Application
To facilitate the process of education in the home and church, Martin Luther published two catechisms in 1529. Issuing the catechisms Luther implored: "I therefore beg of you for God's sake, my beloved brethren who are pastors and teachers, that you take the duties of your office seriously, that you have pity on the people who are entrusted to your care, and that you help me teach the catechism to the people, especially those who are young." This declaration authenticated Luther's didactic of individual freedom of thought in spiritual matters.
Both books focused on the same five premises: the Ten Commandments are a mirror of sin; the Apostles' Creed is a proclamation of forgiveness; the Lord's Prayer is an acceptance of mercy; the two sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are channels of grace.
Our three lectionary readings implore us to be mirrors of God by following his commandments accompanied with humility of service.
