Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 348

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look.

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly….

Much of the New Testament, if not all, is written as exhortation. The authors address people who have been baptized and are firmly bound to the community by Eucharist and Confirmation. Embracing a religion that is suspicious to Roman authorities and heretical to Jews, they are distressed by many challenges.  They experience ostracism, harassment and occasional persecution from others, and betrayal within their own ranks. First century Christians, to whom the New Testament was addressed, needed acknowledgement of their suffering and sacrifices, encouragement to keep the faith, and further instruction in the Christian doctrine.

In this letter ascribed to Saint Peter, the author reminds his people of the privilege they have been given. They know explicitly what the great prophets of the past had only suspected. He says of the prophets, “they were not serving themselves but you” as they wrote of the salvation to come. This salvation “has now been announced to you,” so “gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly” and so forth.

Moderns, once we realize that our ancestors were not blithering idiots not to know what we know, declare we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Although our learning has surpassed that of Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Darwin and Einstein we would not be where we are without the brilliance of those courageous and original thinkers.

Spiritually too, we stand on the shoulders of giants. Saint Peter reminds his people of this extraordinary tradition, though he uses a different expression. Our patrimony at that time included patriarchs, prophets and sages, almost two millennia of Jewish history. We can add: apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, the Queen of Saints and her most beloved son, Jesus Christ; not to mention our own parents, catechists and pastors.

winter growth,
lichens

When we feel challenged today it helps to remember this patrimony, the gift of our ancestors in the faith. We can find constant inspiration in the lives of saints and martyrs.

Invariably opponents of faith will disparage our spiritual ancestors suggesting that we – or at least they -- have attained a cleverness the ancients never knew. There is little we can do against hubris. As the philosopher John Wayne said, “There’s no cure for stupid.”

But we can “gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”


Enjoy your Mardi Gras!
Laissez les bons temps rouler