Faith

A model of intercessory prayer.- Thursday, 5th week in ordinary time – Mark 7:24-30

This series of Gospel reflections are written as a resource for personal reflection and points for prayer. If you want to get a deeper Biblical insight into the text, click this link https://www.pottypadre.com/right-from-the-start/

In the previous parable Jesus made it clear that food can’t defile a person. Now he wants to challenge another old age belief; that race also cannot defile us. The next three miracle stories will take place deep in Gentile territory. Jesus will move from Tyre on the Mediterranean coast to Sidon, and then eastwards by way of the Sea of Galilee to the area known as Decapolis (Greek for ten cities). All of these places were dominated by Gentiles.

The people of the region of Tyre and Sidon were the traditional enemies of the Jews. This was once the home of Jezebel, Elijah’s enemy (1 Kings 16:31). Tyre and Sidon inspired the ire of the prophets (Ezekiel 26:15-17; Zechariah 9:3). It is remarkable then that Jesus would visit such a place, except that he was not here on a staycation but he came with a specific purpose; to break down the barriers that divide people, to save people not to exclude them.

It is here, that he is recognized once again and this time he is approached by a Syro-Phoenician woman. Phoenicia is the coastal plain of modern-day Lebanon. “Syrophoenician” links this woman with Syria and Phoenicia.

No self-respecting Jew would be found dead in Gentile land, yet here is Our Lord ministering where civil society of his time would not be found dead in their tracks. He is approached by a Gentile woman of another race. While most of us have trained our eyes to pick up what divides us, Christ sees an opportunity to draw people to himself. Yet this narration is hard to swallow for Jesus seems to be so harsh with his woman.

I want to focus on the woman, not on the seemingly harsh words of Jesus to the woman; which by the way has a perfectly good explanation. (see https://www.pottypadre.com/right-from-the-start/ ) While no self-respecting Jew would be found mingling with a Gentile, no self-respecting Gentile would have wanted to ask a Jew for anything, much less beg. And here she is begging not for herself but for her daughter; she has bowed down at his feet; her desperation is evident.

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Faith

Can Christians eat pork? Wednesday, 5th Week in ordinary time – Mark 7:14-23

Read also another article on this Gospel by clicking this link https://www.pottypadre.com/not-what-your-eating-but-whats-eating-you/

Of all the titles that I have chosen to begin my teachings with, this to me is the oddest and yet I felt compelled to entitle this article thus so that we can move beyond this discussion and settle on what Christ truly intended to teach us.

It is my stated opinion that by and large the university of WhatsApp offers you the worst advice. It is written by the uninformed and disillusioned that have mastered the art of selective text or video edits, backed with sensational headlines like the one I have entitled today; headlines that feed the insatiable curiosity of our world. Their mission is clear; spread hate, misinformation or their brand of whatever they call truth. Their mission is to disturb and sow doubt not to comfort or bring truth. Many Catholics are active members of this WhatsApp university that requires no admission fee or attendance of any class. You just need Whatapp and a very fidgety finger that feels compelled to forward uninformed or half-baked teachings.

One such uninformed message floating around these days relates to Catholics eating pork. These devious followers of their version of home baked Catholicism will strongly pull out more than several dozen scripture lines from the Old Testament (only) and PROVE to you the foundations of their truth; pork was not intended by God to be consumed. The Gospel of today exposes their lies and even more exposes the hankering of some, who focus on external actions without a personal reflection on their interior attitudes.

At the heart of today’s Gospel is a public declaration of Jesus to the crowds when he says, “LISTEN TO ME, all of you and understand.” Christ wants us to listen to him not to the WhatsApp university; understanding comes from listening to Christ. Jesus too had to battle with his version of the WhatsApp university, they were called the scribes and the Pharisees. Remember that for four hundred years before Christ, the prophetic voice was silent and in these years of no prophets, the Jewish religious establishment emerged as the ‘guardians of the faith.’ By the time of Christ, they had distorted the written teaching with their oral traditions and several times, Christ, in Matthew Chapter five, is compelled to declare, “you have heard it said to you but I say to you.” Once again, he asks us to listen and understand.

What was the controversy at hand? Diet is a subject of taboo in many religions, and both Judaism and Islam have strict laws about lawful and prohibited foods. Abrahamic religions like Judaism, Islam fall back on texts taken from the Old Testament that forbid the consumption of animals that do not have divided hooves and that do not chew their cud. (Leviticus 11:3 and Deuteronomy 14:8.) For them such food is considered kashrut or haram

During the persecutions of Antiochus IV that forms the background to the Hanukkah story in the book of Maccabees, Jews accepted martyrdom rather than eating pork in public, since they understood this action as a public renunciation of their faith.

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Art/ Heritage

SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS -The Betrayal of Christ –  Anthony Van Dyck, 1620, Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The painting illustrates the betrayal of Christ amidst the darkness of Gethsemane. Christ is depicted off-center, yet we are drawn to His stillness in the thick of a frenzied crowd. The red mantle is a sign of His bloody passion. Notice Judas as he approaches his Master and gingerly leans forward to deliver the historic kiss.The gnarled tree reminds us of Judas’s forfeited soul and imminent suicide. The mob around them is closing in with spears and lanterns. The guards are impatient to arrestChrist. Two raised hands hold a rope right above Christ’s head. The moment is tense. In the right foreground of the painting, we see Peter cutting off Malchus’s ear. As the official shrieks in pain – his gleaming eyes gaze at Christ. Christ sees, heals, and restores him. The stench of betrayal is replaced with the fragrance of love.

Archdiocesan Heritage Museum

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Art/ Heritage

SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS -The Grotto of the Agony,James Tissot, 1886-1894,Brooklyn Museum

The painting recounts Christ’s inner turmoil in the Garden of Gethsemane. Upon the uneven ground lies the fragile Christ. His body is twisted and his feet, unstable. Surrounding him are a host of brilliantly illuminated angels. They seem helpless as they solemnly unfold the brutal passion awaiting Christ. While the first angel holds the chalice of suffering, the others present globes with scenes of the Passion, including Veronica’s veil, the Crucifixion and the lamentation of the Blessed Virgin. Notice that Christ attempts to look upwards but appears too faint. This resounds the Scriptures –‘The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak’. As Christ firmly joins His hands in prayer, He once again whispers to His Father – ‘Not My will but Yours be done.’

– Archdiocesan Heritage Museum

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Art/ Heritage

SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS -The Last Supper-Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1486, San Marco, Florence

The painting depicts the Apostles seated around a long C-shaped mensa. White cloth andFlorentine cutlery are spread across the table. Christ sits at the center while the youngest apostleJohn leans towards Him. To Christ’s right sits Peter, the imminent First Pope. Notice that Judas sits on the other side, facing Christ.

The painting is highly symbolic. On the table, together with bread and wine, are placed cherries symbolizing the blood of Christ. The lunettes in the background depict a Tuscan Garden with fruit trees and cypresses (symbolizing redemption). At our right is perched a peacock. It represents resurrection and is supported by the immortal lark. However, the most engaging symbol is the cat. Seated behind Judas, it announces deceit and thus serves as a precursor of the events to follow.

– Archdiocesan Heritage Museum

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