Day 101: Signs and Wonders

Today's readings: John 7-9 and Proverbs 5:15-23.

I. John 7 describes the growing controversy about Jesus during the Feast of the Tabernacles. First, family members urged Him to go to Judea and show His wonders there but oddly didn't believe themselves. Next, Jesus goes to Jerusalem privately and teaches at the Temple, where folks debate over who He is. The Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him, but they failed. There is more debate, and Nicodemus urges a fair hearing before judgment.

In the next chapter, the controversy over Jesus grows. The Pharisees try to trip Him up by bringing an adulterous woman and saying that under the Law she should be stoned. He brilliantly deflects the challenge and saves her life, telling her to "go, and do not sin again." He gives one of the great "I Am" statements, and those who reject Him die in their sin, much to the Pharisees' chagrin. He tells those who do believe, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Some in the crowd object that they are descendants of Abraham and not slaves, but Jesus explains that they are slaves to sin and only He can free them. The debate grows, and Jesus makes one of the clearest claims of divinity, "before Abraham was, I AM." They seek to stone Him for blasphemy, but He leaves unharmed.

John 9 begins with the healing of a blind man who was born blind. This occurred on the Sabbath, which really irked the Pharisees. They conduct an investigation to discredit Him, but, though pressed, the healed man stands firm, declaring, "one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." He is cast out. Jesus finds the healed man, who confesses his belief and worships Him.

II. Proverbs 5:15-23 finishes out this proverb. The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

Proverbs 5 gives advice to a son about the kind of woman he should marry. It is also general advice regarding the kind of people with whom we should associate. We should spend time with those who have depth of character. As we see in the final verse of Proverbs 5, a person can die due to lack of discipline. (p. 216)

That's all for today!

Day 100: This Is My Body

Today's readings: John 4-6 and Proverbs 5:7-14.

I. John 4 has a really good story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well and the healing of a government official's son in Capernaum.

In the next chapter, Jesus heals a paralytic man but is criticized for doing so on the Sabbath. He responds to them of His authority and witnesses to who He is.

John 6 has the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, Jesus walking on water, and the bread from heaven discourse (the Eucharist).

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this last one:

Jesus makes it clear in John 6:51 that he is the living bread that has come down from heaven and that anyone who eats of this bread will live forever. Here, Jesus makes a connection with the Lamb of God. When the people ate the flesh of the lamb, they were given freedom and life - and if they eat the bread of heaven, which is his flesh, they will have freedom and life... For more than 1,500 years, every Christian believed in the Eucharist as the true Body and Blood of Christ. If this teaching is wrong, then every Christian was guilty of idolatry, and Catholics and Orthodox Christians are guilty of idolatry today. Recall how quickly God put a stop to the worship of the golden calf on Mount Sinai. Would God have allowed Christians to idolatrously worship mere bread and wine since the beginning of the Church? (p. 214)

II. Proverbs 5:7-14 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

Involvement with a "loose woman" ultimately brings social disgrace, financial loss, and painful regret. However, fidelity to one's "wife" brings opportunity for lasting happiness and love. The chapter combines practical advice with a marked esteem for marital chastity (CCC 2339, 2349). (p. 967-68)

That's it for today!

Day 99: The Word Became Flesh

 Today's readings: John 1-3 and Proverbs 5:1-6.

I. In the unexpected switch to the New Testament, we begin with perhaps my favorite Gospel. John 1 is one of the most pivotal chapters of the Bible: the Logos is God, fulfilling Scripture when He "became flesh and dwelt among us." John the Baptist "bore witness to Him," baptized Christ, which gives us one of the first theophanies in the New Testament, and the first Apostles were called by Him. 

In the next chapter, Jesus performs His first public miracle at a wedding in Cana upon the urging of Mary. In this, He revealed something of His divine authority and glory. Then He cleanses the Temple, driving out the traders and money-changers, telling them that "you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade." In this, He showed His authority and zeal for proper worship. A sign is demanded from Him, which he replies, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (meaning His body). 

John 3 has one of the most important conversations in Scripture. Nicodemus visits Jesus at night and is told how a person enters the Kingdom of God. Probably the most famous verse from the New Testament is given:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (3:16)

John the Baptist notes about Jesus that "He must increase, but I must decrease."

The chapter ends by emphasizing that eternal life is found in Christ: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life."

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

In its opening words, John's Gospel establishes Jesus' identity... Jesus is not just another prophet, healer, or wise teacher. He is the Word made flesh - the divine Son of God... When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, he exclaims: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). To the Jews, a lamb is a sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb who will be sacrificed on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins. He offers himself up to the Father on our behalf for our salvation... When Moses lifts up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, the sign of the people's sin becomes a sign of hope. (See Numbers 21.) This foreshadows Jesus lifted up on the Cross. The sign of sin and death becomes the sign of hope for all who believe in him. (p. 212)

II. Proverbs 5:1-6, we only have the first part of this. We see that, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

The dangers of adultery are contrasted with the delights of married life. (p. 967)

That's all for today!

Messiah Checkpoint #1: The Gospel of John

There are no readings today, but there is an introductory video to the next material with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins. It seems rather odd to me that we are taking a break from the Old Testament narrative and jumping into the Fourth Gospel. Yet, that's the program, so I'm going with it and hopefully will understand this detour later.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, gives some good commentary on this "Messiah Checkpoint":

John shows that Jesus is the One who fulfills all of the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament. In Jesus, God "has a face" and dwells among his people. As Jesus says, "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). In the Old Testament, to see the face of God would result in death, but in his Son Jesus, God reveals himself completely and brings us into an intimate relationship with him. (p. 211)

That's all for today! 

Day 98: Israel Asks for a King

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 6-8 and Psalm 86.

I. 1 Samuel 6 recounts how the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant to Israel after suffering severe plagues while it was in their possession. They take two cows and a cart, putting the Ark atop it with a "guilt offering" to stave off the plagues that had ravaged them. They released the cows, who immediately headed back to Israel, specifically Beth Shemesh. The Israelites were overjoyed, of course, but unfortunately, some had "looked into the Ark" and were slain by the Lord for doing so.

In the next chapter, some men from Kiriath-Jearim took the Ark to Eleazar, who was consecrated to guard it. The Ark remained with him for 20 years. Samuel called Israel to repent of their wickedness, which they did. The Philistines, of course, saw this as an opportunity to attack, and they fell upon Israel. God, however, intervened, and Israel was victorious. After the battle, Samuel set up a memorial stone and assumed leadership as judge over the Israelites.

1 Samuel 8 describes how Samuel's sons were not like their father, engaging in sin. Israel called for a king to rule over them instead. That in itself wasn't a problem, but their motivation was "to be like other nations." Samuel was displeased and warned them of the problems of having a king, to no avail. He prayed to God, who granted the Israelites' request.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

We are told that Samuel is a good judge and prophet. His sons, though, turn out to be wicked. As Christians, we hear the expression that God has only children, not grandchildren. Every generation must choose to follow him as the Father... At the end of 1 Samuel, the people ask for a king. They want to be like other nations. God's plan was for him to be their King, yet they want a human king. (p. 208)

II. Psalm 86 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. It begins with petitions for God's help, continues with a hymn of praise to God's greatness, and ends with further petitions for God's help. The Psalmist cries out to be rescued from ruthless men who seek his life. His prayer is fueled by the conviction that God is good (= attends to prayer and personal needs), merciful (= moved to pity by suffering and ready to forgive faults), and powerful (= more than capable of saving his people from trouble). Psalm 86 is the only psalm attributed to David in Book III of the Psalter. (p. 904)

That's it for today!

Day 97: Samuel's Prophecy

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 3-5 and Psalm 150.

I. 1 Samuel 3 tells the story of God calling young Samuel while he was serving in the tabernacle under Eli the priest.

In the next chapter, it recounts Israel's defeat by the Philistines, the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, and the deaths of Eli and his sons as was foretold. It shows that God cannot be treated as a lucky charm, but service to Him requires more than religious objects and avails one nothing while living in disobedience.

1 Samuel 5 shows that even though the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, God was not defeated. Instead, He demonstrates His power over the pagan god Dagon and over the Philistines themselves. Everywhere the Ark was sent by the Philistines, it suffered from plague as punishment. Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron all paid the price for Philistine arrogance in challenging God.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

The people of Israel treat the Ark as a weapon rather than a presence of the Lord himself. God cannot be manipulated. The Israelites are defeated by the Philistines because they try to use the Lord's Ark rather than relying on the Lord... Almighty God can fight his own battles. The battle he fights today is for you and for me. He invites us into his presence like Samuel so that he can fight for us. God calls us to repentance. If Eli had changed and corrected his sons Hophni and Phinehas, the story could have turned out differently. (p. 206)

II. Psalm 150 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes: 

A psalm of praise. It brings the Psalter to a resounding crescendo by inviting Temple musicians to lead the whole of creation in a symphony of praise. String, wind, and percussion instruments are all represented. Psalm 150 serves as a final doxology that concludes Book 5 of the Psalter (Pss 107-50) as well as the book as a whole (Pss 1-150). (p. 957)

That's all for today!

Day 96: Hannah's Prayer

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 1-2 and Psalm 149.

I. 1 Samuel 1 begins with introducing Hannah, the second wife of Elkanah. She had been barren and repeatedly mocked for that fact by the other wife. Yet, God heard her prayers and blessed her with the birth of Samuel, who was dedicated to Him and later became His prophet.

In the next chapter, Hannah gives a beautiful prayer/song of thanksgiving to God, reminiscent of the Magnificat much later. Young Samuel went to serve the Lord under Eli at Shiloh. Poor Eli has "worthless sons," though, who sinfully abused their own priestly offices. Samuel remains faithful, doing his duties with diligence and care. His mother would visit, and she was also blessed with more children. Eli rebukes his sons to no avail. At the end of the chapter, a "man of God" visits and gives a prophecy of judgment: Eli's priestly line would suffer and die prematurely. His sons would both die on the same day, and God would raise up a faithful priest to serve Him. 

The BIY Companion, Vol I, gives some commentary on this:

We will hear much about Eli, whose actions are not always exemplary... Instead of following through in disciplining his sons for their bad behavior, Eli just rebukes them and lets them be. As a result of Eli's negligence, the blessing will pass away from his family, as we will see. (p. 204)

II. Psalm 149 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A psalm of praise that interweaves themes of worship and warfare. The faithful of Israel, called the "sons of Zion," sing praise to the Lord and express their readiness to serve the Lord, even by means of military action. (p. 957)

That's all for today!