PRAYER
Q: What are meant by these wisdom quotes about prayer?
1. When you ask God for something, his answer is either Yes, not now, or I have something better in mind. But it is never deafness. God hears all prayers. Assuming your prayers are not selfish or harmful to others, God responds to them, but based on what we need, not necessarily what we want. Sometimes the response is not all about the prayer, but about what you learn while waiting for the answer.
2. God can't drive a parked car.
We have to do our part.
Mass
Two weeks ago, we discussed the meaning of Transubstantiation (vs transformation) and the meaning of emphasizing THIS in "This is my body," "This is my blood," and Do THIS in remembrance of me." THIS is the transubstantiated bread and wine.
Now let’s talk about the word remembrance.
“Remembrance” seems to suggest that we just remember something special. Or to repeat something in loving memory of someone. That’s fine, but let’s look at the Greek word used for this: “anamnesis.”
Like many other words in Greek, anamnesis does not have an exact translation into Latin or English, although remembrance is close. Commemoration is also close. This happens often because Greek is a far more opulent and expressive language than Latin. In any event, anamnesis actually means to perceive something again as you perceived it before, by means of some association and likeness. What is important about this distinction, according to Aquinas, is that what you perceive again may also exist again in the present; in which case only your memory if it is in the past.
For example (I apologize for using a sports comparison but I am a guy and therefore limited in my creativity): Let’s say Tiger Woods has mastered the perfect swing to hit the golf ball and sink a hole in one. It’s utterly amazing but he can do it every time. Then Tiger agrees to show Greg how to do it. He says to Greg, "This is how you hold the club, and this is how you swing. If you do this just as I have shown you, you will have the same experience and result as me."
Later, Greg recalls and does exactly what Tiger showed him, and it works – he sinks a hole in one! It is true that Greg recalled/remembered/re-created what Tiger showed him in the past, but it is also true that it was real when Greg did it.
Yes, it was real in the memory AND it was also real in the present. This is the meaning of anamnesis. In English, we say "remembrance" but that doesn’t really do it justice.
Q: So, when Greg repeats exactly what Tiger showed him and hits a hole in one, is it a reality happening in the present?
Yes. Only his memory of it is in the past.
Q: Do you see how his anamnesis makes his past memory a present reality?
Yes, of course! Anamnesis is experiencing in the present something we also experienced in the past.
SHAVUOT
Speaking of Mass/liturgy, there is a Jewish holiday coming up, and many of them are preparing for it. You know they had the Passover when we had Easter. Their Passover celebrated the night they ate the unblemished lamb, put its blood on their doorposts, and escaped both death and slavery in the early morning.
They are now getting ready to celebrate Shavuot. The celebrate it 49 days after the Passover.
Q: Who knows what Shavuot is?
The celebration of the most important event in Jewish history. Also called the Feast of Weeks. Because it is 7 weeks.
Q: What happened 7 weeks after they escaped Egypt
They arrived at Mt. Sinai. The 50th Day Moses went up to get the Ten Commandments.
Q: After Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples after his Resurrection, he told them to wait in Jerusalem for how long, for what?
For the Holy Spirit.
Q: What’s another name for Shavuot? What are we preparing for?
Pentecost (Greek for fiftieth day).
Context for the Good Shepherd discussion in John– in the Temple area 7:40-8:00
The shepherd reference is found throughout OT scripture, both to bad shepherds (priests and kings) who are like hirelings who have failed lead on God’s behalf, and to the Good Shepherd, which alludes to God the Father at times and other times the coming Messiah. This is particularly pronounced in Ezekiel 34, when God tells him to prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.
“Woe to you, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep? … The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the crippled you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Behold, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. Ii will rescue them from all the places they were scattered; I will bind up the crippled, strengthen the weak, and feed them in justice.” Ezekiel 34:1-16 (I only quoted 5 of the 16 verses)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd John 10:11-18
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”
Q: Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd and compares himself to hired shepherds. Who are the hired shepherds?
The hired shepherds are those who fit the description: They enrich themselves while they lay heavy burdens upon the people; and they do lift a finger to help the poor or downtrodden. How is that God-like?
This description fit the current Sadducees, Pharisees and King Herod.
Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.”
Q: Jesus says they sheep are HIS and that they know him like he knows God the Father. Why does he say this?
They are his because, as John says in 1:2, Jesus “was in the beginning with God and all things were made through him.” What could be more intimate than Creator to the created? When people hear Jesus, they want to follow him. It’s like they know his voice, but it’s the voice of love and forgiveness.
Jesus is trying to use the sheep analogy to paint a bigger picture. He doesn’t just want to save us, he wants to dwell in us.
Notice he says that he will lay down his life for his sheep. Aside from predicting his forthcoming death, the reality is also that no shepherd truly leaves the 99 alone and goes in search of the 1 sheep while the wolf is still around. Wolves hunt in packs. What Jesus is pointing to is the near-absurd level of God’s love for every one of us.
Q: Jesus says he has other sheep that are not of this fold. Who is he talking about?
The rest of the world. Jesus makes it clear he is departing from Ezekiel’s message, which was directed to Israel.
Q: Then Jesus adds, “and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” What is the importance of this?
Jesus is again painting a bigger picture. It is why, in the Creed, we say, “One, holy, apostolic Church...” and is the reason why the Church seeks to be reunited with the rest of the non-Catholic Christians. Unity.
We know that God is Love and that the name “Trinity” has “Unity” at its center.
In fact, the highest love IS the Unity of the Trinity. The Father and the Son are bound by a symphony of Love we call the Holy Spirit.
And now you know why the Holy Spirit was sent to us.
Q: What do free will beings do by default since the Fall? Think of what happened with Adam and Eve in Gen3.
The opposite of unity – divide. Maybe that’s why we’re called individuals.
Finally… Jesus says, “I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.”
Q: What things of significance do you see in Jesus’ statement?
Three previous times, Jesus resurrected someone from the dead (the son of the widow of Nain, Jarius’ daughter, and Lazarus). However, here Jesus says he will raise himself up. Nothing else speaks to his position in the Trinity like this does.
Comment: It is appropriate to read Psalm 21, attributed to King David 1000 years prior to Christ:
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
He prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: He anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Closing Prayer - Unity
Lord, we fervently pray for the healing of humanity’s broken relationship with itself, the building blocks of which are You, our families, our workplaces, our communities, our countries, and the world.
Forgive us the damage or the divisions we cause, starting in our own lives – especially as every division affects the whole human race.
Heal us, one by one, family by family, community by community, and country by country, as only you can do.
Help us with our own efforts to un-divide, beginning within ourselves and amongst ourselves – for this is how your kingdom is built. It is our raison d'etre.
Glory Be...
AMEN!
Feel free to send questions!
I have already been asked to provide support from Scripture that God answers all prayers. Here you go:
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. - Matthew 7:8
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” - Matthew 21:22
“Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.” (Mt 7:9-11)
"Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he [will] give it to you. – John 15:16
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” - John 16:24
"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" - Luke 11:9-13
CCC 2610 “Just as Jesus prays to the Father and gives thanks before receiving his gifts, so he teaches us filial boldness: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.” Such is the power of prayer and of faith that does not doubt: “all things are possible to him who believes.”
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