18th Week, Monday, Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica
Jeremiah 28:1-17 / Matthew 14:13-21
Two prophets: One was false; the other, true.
Years ago, a Russian pianist gave a concert in New York. The next morning the music critic for the New York Times called the concert “disconnected” and “disappointing.” The music critic for the New York Herald Tribune, however, called the concert “blazing” and “electrifying.”
Two professional critics heard the same concert but judged it totally differently. In today’s reading, two prophets viewed the same situation but judged it totally differently. Hananiah viewed it and judged it from his human perspective; Jeremiah viewed it and judged it from God’s perspective.
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How do we tend to view and judge situations— from God’s all-knowing perspective, or from our own limited human perspective? “We see things not as they are, but as we are.” H. M. Tomlinson
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The phrase "stand up" is incorrect because it has a double emphasis and hence the second word is redundant and incorrect in the usage. But the phrase "to stand up" is often used in everyday language for a particular emphasis.
To stand up means to be counted, and that sounds rather heroic, but it also means that it is certainly not comfortable. When everyone wants to be seated and feel safe, do we want to stand up and look like a sore thumb, and even feel like a sore thumb.
In the 1st reading, the yoke that the prophet Jeremiah wore was a symbol that the people should submit to Babylon. That would have enabled them to have some respite from the threat of being annihilated and also to slowly rethink their relationship with God and to repent. But that was an uncomfortable message, a humiliating message, but the prophet Jeremiah had to stand up for it. But the prophet Hananiah broke the yoke and gave the people a more comfortable and acceptable message, and that eventually led to disaster.
The history of Christianity is peppered with people who stood up and spoke the hard truth rather than sit quietly and remain comfortable. But if all Christians were to stand up and speak the truth, especially the hard truth, the rest of the world will slowly get up on its feet.
We are all prophets by virtue of our baptism. We need to ask the Lord for the wisdom to know the truth and to courage to proclaim it with love.
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WALKING ON WATER
Introduction
The true prophet is he who says what God inspires him to say, however challenging or unpleasant his word. The false prophet is he who says what people want to hear. He compromises with the truth and with himself. Some talk to an oracle to please themselves, to hear their own voice. And those who do not live as they preach also belong somehow among the false prophets. The symbolism of the Gospel: narrative is very strong. Water is evil, which swallows up. Jesus, the Lord, is mightier. He invites the disciple and the whole Church to take the risk of faith of following him. Faith is insecure by itself; we have to pass through the storms of life between faith and fear. But the Lord is there, unseen: It is I, I am with you. Do not be afraid.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, there is a constant tension in us between fear and faith as we are battling with the winds and the waves that threaten our faithfulness to the Gospel. Make us accept Lord, that faith is never secure or acquired once and for all. Make it grow in us day after day, that we may not be faint-hearted but resolutely follow your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Commentary
Hananiah was a prophet who told the people what they wanted to hear. A quick end to exile, an imminent return to their homeland, restoration of the temple property. Jeremiah upbraids him and predicts his death for misleading the people. The length of time for the Hebrews to bear the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, remains undetermined. To minister in the name of the Lord remains a very sacred call. In Matthew’s account of the miraculous provision of food, there is an interesting note. After blessing and breaking the bread, Jesus gives it to the disciples to distribute. It is Matthew who shows special deference to the disciples and highlights their ministerial role. Jesus appears to them in Galilee after his resurrection and commissions them to carry his message to the world. In today’s church, new forms of ministry have appeared, with the laity accorded new roles. These come to the fore in every Sunday Mass we attend. This is as it should be but carries with it its own responsibilities. A coherent Christian life, a reverence for the sacred, and a deep sense of faith. Ministers are commissioned by Christ in what must always be seen as a sacred trust.
Points to Ponder
The prophecy that pleases
Ministers of the Eucharist
Willingness to respond to the Church’s call
Intercessions
– For the Church, when it has to pass through difficult moments of persecution, ridicule or inner conflict, that it may keep trusting in the Lord, we pray:
– For Christians beset by doubts or facing hard decisions of conscience, that they may see the hand that Jesus extends to them, we pray:
– For people, who have to do dangerous work, that the Lord may protect them we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
You wish to reassure us, Lord our God, how much you are with us through him who is our food and drink, your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him, give us the power to walk the stormy road of faith and to take the risks of love, that we may overcome our fears and make his reassuring word the foundation of our life and work now and till the end of time.
Prayer after Communion
Our all-powerful God, you invite us through Jesus, your Son, to leave our timid security and to come across the water with him in commitment to you and to our neighbor. Even though, we do not see his hand put out to us and holding us, give us enough faith to be certain that with him, we shall overcome and build up your future in our human world, until he leads us across to you, our God, forever and ever.
Blessing
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid,” says Jesus. He is with us in our struggles, for he will never desert us. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
The Story of the Dedication of Saint Mary Major Basilica
St. Mary Major is one of the four Roman basilicas known as patriarchal churches in memory of the first centers of the Church. St. John Lateran represents Rome, the See of Peter; St. Paul Outside the Walls, the See of Alexandria, allegedly the see presided over by Mark; St. Peter’s, the See of Constantinople; and St. Mary’s, the See of Antioch, where Mary is supposed to have spent most of her later life.
One legend, unreported before the year 1000, gives another name to this feast: Our Lady of the Snows. According to that story, a wealthy Roman couple pledged their fortune to the Mother of God. In affirmation, she produced a miraculous summer snowfall and told them to build a church on the site. The legend was long celebrated by releasing a shower of white rose petals from the basilica’s dome every August 5.
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Reflection
Theological debate over Christ’s nature as God and man reached fever pitch in Constantinople in the early fifth century. The chaplain of Bishop Nestorius began preaching against the title Theotokos, “Mother of God,” insisting that the Virgin was mother only of the human Jesus. Nestorius agreed, decreeing that Mary would henceforth be named “Mother of Christ” in his see. The people of Constantinople virtually revolted against their bishop’s refutation of a cherished belief. When the Council of Ephesus refuted Nestorius, believers took to the streets, enthusiastically chanting, “Theotokos! Theotokos!”
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When you hear the word church, what do you think of? Do you think of the priests and people of your own parish? Do you think of a Sunday morning when families of the parish gather to celebrate the Eucharistic liturgy? Do you picture a stately building with a round dome, pointed towers, and stained glass windows? The word church has a variety of meanings.
Today’s feast focuses our attention on a church building, a basilica called St. Mary Major. Tradition says that in August 352 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a wealthy nobleman in Rome. She asked that a church be built on the spot where he would find snow. On that summer day, snow did mysteriously appear and a church was built on the spot and dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows.
Apart from the story, however, we know that a church was built on that spot in the fourth century and was rebuilt in 434. The church was also rededicated to Mary, the Mother of God. This title of Mary was protected by the ecumenical council of Ephesus. Today St. Mary Major is the largest church in the world dedicated to Our Lady. This church is called a patriarchal church, one where the pope officiates on certain occasions. There is a special altar in this church used by the Holy Father and by others with special permission. On a deeper level, this feast reminds us that Mary has been reverenced throughout the history of the Church as our Mother. As she foretold in her prayer, the Magnificat, “All generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).
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When the Jews celebrated the jubilee year every fiftieth year, slaves were supposed to be set free, land alienated through debts, to be returned to its original owner. The idea was to allow for a radically new beginning, with respect for human rights and dignity. It was an attempt to bring about a more equitable distribution of goods within the people of God. The Christian Holy Year takes its inspiration from the Jewish Jubilee Year. For us, then, should the jubilee year not mean to create more justice within the Church, with a new start to be made, new chances offered to start from scratch? Is this not the image of the Christian life? A clean slate to start with, new reconciliation?
