Sunday reflections

The widely acclaimed Jesuit Scripture scholar, Nicholas King, has produced a wonderful translation of the scriptures, striving to present the message in a form of colloquial English, designed to reflect the way the authors would have spoken in their own time.

Much like today, different gods and life philosophies were plentiful in the ancient Roman world. They were like different pearls, available for people to pick and choose which they liked and wanted to keep.

Jesus is a strange and disconcerting figure. His words are biting and odd. They are elusive and obscure. At the same time, they command attention and demand a response. His actions are similar. He’s not what is expected. He’s dangerous. He’s impossible to ignore. The religious and political leaders of his day understood this. That’s why they crucified him.

It is often said that Australians have elevated the art of waiting into something approaching a national discipline. We queue with philosophical calm for our morning flat whites. We endure the seemingly endless roller-coaster ride of the season’s footy matches with the resigned optimism of people who have been disappointed before and fully expect to be disappointed again.

A yoke is a wooden beam used to connect two oxen who pull a heavy load, in which an older well-trained ox is yoked with a younger untrained ox. The older animal takes the greater load and effectively teaches the younger how to work.

More than being just a moral teacher or guide, Jesus came to establish a complete transformation of what it means to be human and to live a fully human life.

In this week’s gospel, Jesus is teaching his disciples about their mission. He warns them of the persecutions and trials that they will face. Just as he, Jesus, faced opposition and rejection; so, will they. So too did the prophets, including Jeremiah, of whom we read in today’s first reading.

Who is Jesus Christ for us? An older woman called Jesus her mate. A priest once said, ’When the chips are down, there’s only Jesus and me. He’s my rock.’

The Eucharist not only keeps alive the memory of what Christ has done by giving his life for us. More profoundly, the Eucharist manifests the ever-present experience of what Christ and the Spirit continue to do for us throughout our lives.

The feast of the Holy Trinity is a wonderful celebration of the three persons of the Trinity. Indeed, St Therese of Lisieux saw the Trinity as the essence of God’s divine loving presence which draws us into life with God.