January 23rd 2011 - Matthew 4:12-23

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January 23rd 2011

“The people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light”

Matthew 4:12-23

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Background:

Galilee was the "wild west" of Palestine, a rough, unruly place with bandits and revolutionaries wandering about and a population which was considered by the religious elites in Jerusalem to be uncouth and semi-literate religiously and infected by the paganism of the area. It was called the "Galilee of the Gentiles" because there was a large population of Hellenistic pagans mixed in with the Jews who had only recently begun to resettle a land which had been devastated by earlier wars.

A rough parallel to what Jesus did when he walked along the lakeside and summoned his disciples would be if he had walked down the pain street of Tombstone Arizona and selected the odd cowboy and merchant and drifter for his band. He certainly did not search for the best and the brightest of his time, though he probably knew of what the men would be capable in years ahead. There are, perhaps, more potentially great men (in the world) than humankind recognizes.

Fr. Greeley's Last Book: Chicago Catholics and the Struggle with Their Church

Story:

This is a story for those who cannot understand why Jesus didn’t use better taste
in choosing those who would represent him in the world, especially his priests.

One upon a time a group of boys in their late teens swarmed out on the basketball court on a Sunday in January when the temperature had risen to fifty degrees, warm enough to play basketball, right? In t shirts, right? Anyway the outcome of their games was often determined by the flip of the coin which decided who would have first chance of choosing sides. The one who lost got the second and third choice and so on. It was supposed to be fair but it was also BORING. So this particular day, the kid that had the first choice picked the worst player in the crowd. Of course his opponent choose the two best players.

Then our hero choose the second and third worst until he had chosen the four worst players. These guys think they’re hot stuff (not his exact word!) he send to his bedraggled team mates. They think they’re going to mop up the court with us. Lets teach them a lesson. Well, the other guys were so over confident that they missed their shots and the poor team beat them 21-10. See, the winning captain whispered to the losing captain, I am so good I can win with inferior players. So there too. Did Jesus do the same thing?

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Psalm 27:1-4,13-14

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD!

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Chicago Catholics and the Struggle with Their Church
The survey of the archdiocese, which Father Greeley describes as "a very complicated place" demographically, asks some difficult questions, and finds some interesting truths.

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Falling into Grace is a study of Andrew Greeley's fiction and the message behind his words, revealing many timeless political and theological ideas. Professor R.W. Carstens shares the findings of his deep exploration into Greeley's novels as evidence of a set of ancient values and key political ideas that are needed today more than ever
Falling into Grace is a study of Andrew Greeley's fiction and the message behind his words, revealing many timeless political and theological ideas. Professor R.W. Carstens shares the findings of his deep exploration into Greeley's novels as evidence of a set of ancient values and key political ideas that are needed today more than ever.
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