April 21, 2013
Reflection on Lectoring
In today’s first reading, Paul’s reference to a passage
from Isaiah causes real consternation among many of the Jews of his time. It raises the life-or-death question of, “What
will become of us?”
In Isaiah chapter 49, verse 6, the Lord calls his servant
Israel with the words, “I will make you a
light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Paul believes his mission to the Gentiles is in
line with God’s call when he says to the people of Antioch, “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have
made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to
the ends of the earth’” (Acts 13:47).
From Paul’s perspective, his mission was a fulfillment of
the Scriptures. Many Jews, however, were
troubled by the implications of Paul’s interpretation of Isaiah. They found themselves forced to ask such
questions as, “Are we a light to the nations, or are we to become just one
small group of people lost in a very large, world-wide crowd?” “Will we succumb to inevitable assimilation,
suffering the loss of our individuality and identity?” The 2000-year history of the Jews was built
on their unique relationship with God. Their
future after Paul’s preaching could rest on their answer to very important questions
of faith and identity.
Fast forward 1,900 years.
The Pillar of Fire is an
autobiography by Karl Stern, a Catholic who converted from Orthodox Judaism. It was not easy. Writing about a time when he had rediscovered
the richness of his Jewish faith, Stern finds himself conflicted by the
possibility that Jesus really was the Messiah.
He writes, “Just when I had rediscovered Judaism, just when I had become
immensely proud of my spiritual heritage . . .
just when I had found something absolutely certain ,” he is faced with
the decision to “abandon what I had found.”
Karl Stern had an intimate and personal understanding of
the turmoil some of the Jews from Paul’s time must have felt.
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First Reading - Acts 13:44, 43-52
Paul Would Be Proud
This week’s Reflection on Lectoring describes some of the
human feelings and emotions aroused by Paul during his first visit to Antioch
in Pisidia. Some people were
enthusiastic, some were curious, some were jealous, and some demonstrated open
hostility.
Clearly something was happening that meant a great deal
to a lot of people for a lot of reasons.
Perhaps a successful proclamation of today’s first
reading begins with an understanding of why Paul’s message generated so much emotional
response. Perhaps, equally important is
an understanding of why that message is just as compelling and world-changing
today.
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Second Reading - Revelation 7:9, 14b-17
A Happy Ending
Happy endings give people a feeling of resolution,
hopefulness and confidence. These positive
feelings are made even stronger if the rest of the story contains struggle and
hardship. That is how apocalyptic
literature like the Book of Revelation works.
In John’s vision, we see that the promise of a happy
ending has already been realized in heaven by those “who have survived the time of great distress.” They are the faithful who stand before God’s
throne. We also see back on earth, although
there are still trials and hardships, we can, nevertheless, be absolutely
certain that Christ has won the final victory.
This is not some kind of abstract, cosmic victory that is
beyond the ability of flesh-and-blood people to understand. In a very concrete and comforting way, there
will be no more hunger or thirst. The
temperature will be just right (“Nor will
the sun or any heat strike them”).
There will be “springs of
life-giving water.” And there will
be no more pain or loss (“God will wipe
away every tear from their eyes’).
© George Fournier 2013
