Sunday 6^thNovember 2022 (’01) 32^nd. Sunday in Ordinary Time C

1. 2Macc7 1-2, 9-14 (Such a reading of that inspiring story!)

• Read 6 1-7:42! Suffering of Jews for fidelity to their AncestralObservance!
• In 35 words, what is TheLaw or Creed that I would unconditionally uphold?
• How do I understand the credal-phrase ‘Resurrection –of-the Body?
• In what ways is my local church enduring persecution for ‘true faith?’
• How are mothers being deepened in their role of nourishing ‘true faith?’

2. THE PSALM : 16 1, 5-6, 8, 15 (Wa-wa! Another officious prashock!)

• Read 16(17) 1-15! How to discern&name&withstand one’s persecutors?
• ‘Deceit!’ Shouting one-priority in prayer, & quite-another in behaviour.
• What&who is helping me in the struggle to align easy rhetoric & hard action?
• Will I parallel pleas-to-Yahweh with strenuous endeavours of my own?
• Name 20 Personal&ImpersonalFactors I weakly allow to trample my freedom?
• Can I trust Yahweh (or anyone) to guard&hide me, while I go all limp?
• What’s my best ritual&discipline&resource&role-model for my-becoming-adult?

3. 2THESS 2 16-3:5

• Nowadays, who is at-home to the language&circumstances of 2THESS?

Will the Lord’sMessage be rather low on the list of priorities?

Will it spread quickly, be received with honour, & uninterfered with?

Will ‘TheEvilOne’ be properly identified, not merely sensationalised?

Will those who ‘exhort’ adultChristians also provide dynamic resource?

Will the decrepit state of ‘traditional Christianity’ be acknowledged?

4. LK20 27-38

• In 25 words, my understanding of ‘resurrection’ as used in this excerpt?
• ‘LevirateMarriage!’ A brother had to marry his deceased brother’s widow, if the brother died without fathering a son! (Read DT25:5-10, Gen38!)
• Is TheSadducees’ problem with ‘leviratemarriage’ or with ‘resurrection?’
• Are there any analogous controversies in my local church? (SshhSShh!)
• How coherent or convincing is the tissue of ‘arguments’ given by Jesus?

5. The Presence &action of TheBlessedOne, is it like this?

Confidential memorandum to TheMostExcellentHighPriest Caiaphas!

Dispatched by trusted messenger from BarShemaya’, Stalker of TheNazarene!

Greetings! May Heaven’sBlessings adorn YourExcellency!

Your Excellency! It is with very strong sentiments of outrage that I write this secret

memo! The contumacious deportment of TheNazarene is now exceeding all bounds of decency&moderation! Not content with fomenting disaffection against TheHolyTraditions, now, without any training or familial, he is taking on himself the twin offices of teaching-the-truth & interpreting-the inestimable-scriptures! Excellency, I invoke TheWrath-of Moses-the Meek, peace-be-upon-Him, to destroy the upstart Northerner! Only this afternoon, in response to a lightweight&fatuous

test-case proposed by one of TheSadducees (him from Abu Ghosh! Let me not write further, but speak later in person!) concerning the serious question of TheResurrection! What occurred? The Nazarene’s words tumbled forth as plentiful & as valueless as sea froth! But posturing as if he were an ordained teacher! Excellency, let us prepare to purge TheHolyLand of this filth! Fare you well!!

6. RIDDLE: Resurrection! A statement of hope in the midst of persecution&death?

A mythical rendering of ‘The-Return-of-Spring?’

A joyful realisation of the synergy of ‘Love’ & ‘Death?’

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie

Sunday 30th October 2022 (’01) 31st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C

1. WISDOM 11:22 – 12:2

• Read 10:1 – 12:2! Wisdom’s&Yahweh’s ‘salvational accompaniments
• To what extent does this excerpt mirror my own view of TheWorld?
• How is writer (‘Solomon’) able to speak like this about&to ‘Yahweh’?
• Can I glimpse here some roots of what later became ‘Christian Apologetics’?
• How different is this integrated ‘Wisdom ‘Yahweh from the moody ‘prophetic Yahweh’?
• The ‘persona’ Yahweh is here endowed with, where is it available in my Church?

2. THE PSALM : 144.1-2, 8-11, 13-14

(Why the considerable omissions?)

• Read 144 (145) 1-21! Favourable&largely-unnuanced portrait of ‘Lord Yahweh’!
• Given the excerpts in this Eucharist, why so much Fear&Guilt in ‘religion’’?
• ‘Name!’: How wondrous the power to be restrained&compassionate&friendly!
• ‘Yahweh’: Again, it must be asked, Which Yahweh and where in the Bible?’!
• Would this psalm, as distinct from belligerent narratives, support ‘peace’?
• But, is any People-of-the-Bible’ utterly free from paranoia &chauvinism?
• Which is preferable? A devotional, or a critical approach to this excerpt?

3. 2THESS 1:11-2:2

• Read 1:1 – 3:18! In the context of an imminent ‘Day-of-The-Lord’, &of persecution by The LawlessOne’, Paul encourages this ‘church’ to keep faith!
• How is this ‘reassuring’ letter relevant to our contemporary experience?
• Day-of-the-Lord!’ Based in OT imagining of ‘Yahweh’sVictory-as-WarGod’!
• What of the re-iterated claims that ‘Christianity is foundering in Resurgent Paganism’?
• ‘PredictionRumourLetter!’ Is anyone reading ‘TheSignsofTheTimes?
• ‘FaithGloryGrace!’: Is this biblical language rubbed-away-&clichéd from over-use?

4. Lk19:1-10

• What interpretations have I received for this over-familiar story?
• ‘Jesus!’. Surely a reminder of Joshua/Jesus! Read JOSH 6:1-27 (with shame).
• Tax collector’s-Curiosity-about-Jesus. What’s the equivalent in my local church?
• ‘Sycamore!’: Reminder of Amos another disturber! (Read AMOS 7:1-17).
• The interaction between Jesus, Zacchaeus, &TheBystanders’. Familiar surely!
• Zacchaeus’ undertaking to TheLord! What precipitated such drastic change?
• If Zacchaeus was a recidivist Jew, is this a broad hint to ‘wealthy disciples’

5. The presence&action of the Blessed One, is it like this?

God’s-truth, Gertie, it was serious above this morning..’ ‘Oh, Cissie, not another letter from Pope Jonpaul? About y’know what?’ ‘No way, Gertie! A’ve come t’terms with that crack long since! No, this was, let’s say, nearer td th’juggler!’ ‘Y’ mean’’ I mean, y’r man readin’ th’ gospel wasn’t’ th’ usual shovellin’ out th’ silage til th’ duffers!’ ‘Oh’ ‘Some fella in th’ revenue commissioners, I gather…..’’ ‘Aw shush! my fella….’ ‘called Sick-Ace, ’s far as I could…’ ‘Sounds a weirdo t’ me!’ ‘Well, I have t’hand it t’ him’ Y’r man read it very very good, more nor usual! I could really f’r once see in me mind the whole scene’ Th’ wee codger up th’ tree, scootin’ down, stannin’ there, takin it on the chin..’. ‘Fightin’, were they? An’ them supposed t’be in the presence of OurDivineLord?’ ‘But listen, Gertie! Y’r man readin’ it, like who’s that recites ‘is pomes at night! In th’ middle, there was a catch in ‘is voice, an’ he couldn’t finish it!’ ‘Begod Cissie, whatdja do!’ ‘Nothin! I jus’ said t’ myself, “Good on ya, son! Y’re real f’r once!’’’ …’

6. RIDDLE Which God? One who maintains friendship no matter what?

One who unflinchingly exacts the last euro?

One who changes tack with each new papacy?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie

Sunday 23rd October 2022 (’01): 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. C

1. SIR/ECCLUS 35:15-17, 20-22

• Read 35:1-26 ‘Special pleading for TheTempleSystem of ‘offerings’? Or ‘Wishful Thinking’ that must be strenuously called-in-question by our experience of ‘Yahweh’
• But what if ‘YahwehHimself is ‘The Poor’, rather than this grandiose construct of ‘impartial justice’, that may only represent ‘temple interests’?
• But who will be imaginative enuff to rescue ‘Yahweh’ from theological entrapments?
• Where are ‘temple interests’ resolutely incarnated in TheChristianChurches?
• ‘No respecter’: But read carefully Gen3:14-19 (The Woman); NUM 12:1-16 (Miriam)’

2. THE PSALM. 33:2-3, 17-19,23

• READ 33(34)1-22(23) A strongly-structure programmatic&catechetical formulation!
• But is a pious&hopefully-fruitfull ‘reading’ if TheTotalBible compatible with the sort of alert ironic listening that questions ‘vested interests’ & ‘current relevance’
• In this neat and tidy excerpt, where is my local church mirrored? or threatened?
• “The Lord” In which church-ministries is this ‘icon’ especially embodied&tangible?
• In what ways is this emblematic psalm ‘being tried-out’ in Northern Ireland?
• Will men&women, ‘Catholic’&’Protestant’, rich&poor, hear it differently?

3. 2Tim4:6-8, 16-18

• Why is the first (though not the second) half of this excerpt regularly quoted?
• Can I name 10 disciples in my local church whom this excerpt would mirror?
• ‘Libation’: In honour of which divinity is this writer’s ‘life being poured out’?
• Where in my world is part of a ‘drink’ poured-out ‘in honour’?
• ‘That day’ HisAppearing!’ The writer’s Death?An imminentReturn? TheLastDay?
• ‘TheLordStoodByMe!’: What 10Resources are available to me as ‘AdultDisciple’!
• Have I the visceral hotness&steadiness, myself&others, to seize ‘ThePower’?

Not ‘pagans’, forsooth, but is ‘TheWholeMessage welcome to ‘Christians’ themselves!

4. Luke 18:9-14

• Can I express in 35words the essence of Pharisaism, &its contemporary relevance?
• What is the equivalent of ‘Pharisee’ & ‘Tax Collector? in my local church?
• How has this story been ‘interpreted’&’applied for me, as I struggled into adulthood?
• ‘AtrightswithGod!’: how can we be sure, merely by eavesdropping on someone?
• Which man is more ‘sympathetically’ outlined? &Why is this?
• ‘Humbled/Exalted!’: Why is this ‘value’ inculcated? In what way is it heeded now?
• What of the claim that Irish Catholics’ are exceedingly xenophobic&homophobic?

5. The Presence&action of the BlessedOne, is it like this

I’m rather surprised that you have the temerity to put you foot inside TheHolyPlace at all’ never mind ‘Yes I saw you there too! but then you’re accustomed to praying out like that.’ ‘But not really happy about it’ I heard the prophet from TheNorth recently, speaking harshly about Pharisess! their public shows of piety….’ One of my colleagues told me about it! I’m not sure I like his attitudes to authority, &speaking out against ‘ ‘But praying there just now, falling into the usuall self-importance, I was actually sneering at you, how words re-echoed like a pang inside me, I thought i’d faint, I barely….’ ‘Don’t be like that! pray, be self-important as suits you’ as behoves you’ &let that prophet be quiet!’ ‘But your own prayer was so edifying!’ ‘Not at all! it suited the moment’ Remember! always seize the moment to fit your own needs! no one else’s…..’!’

6. RIDDLE

Virtue’ SustainTheTemplel? Become Yahweh?

BeHumble? NeverBePutDown?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie

Sunday 16 October 2022 (’01) : 29thSUNmORDINARY TIME. C

1 EXOD17:8-13

• ‘Amalekites!’· Read lSAMl5:1-35! The ‘BloodFeud’ between Israel&Amalek demanded the totalextinctionoftheenemy’ Howcanwestillcondonethis?
• Isn’t the pious violence of this excerpt not an outrage to thestrugglefor‘TruePeace’? Specifically the collusion of ReligiousLeader&God&Prayer&Slaughter’
• ‘ArmsRaised!’ Why does this symbolic gesture seem to offer amilitary advantage?
• To what extent are ‘religious leaders’ still expected to ‘bless’violence?
• What is ‘TheEnemy‘ of my local church? &How is it perceived&dealt-with?
• What factors are frustrating my endeavors to grasp‘my-own-freedom’?

2. THE PSALM· 120·1-8

• Can I explore-into this song of ‘Yahweh’sVersatileProtection’?
• What are The15’ImplacableDangers‘ threatening my local church?
• Which of these are being taken seriously? Which are being poohpoohed?
• But will the vaguely–hopefulrhetoric of the ‘response’ (vv3-8) change anything?
• Is this psalm actually a spell to ‘protect’ TheKing’sBodyguard?
• What is effectively preserving TheIrishChurches from wandering intotheswamp?

3. 2TIM3·14 – 4:2

• The gripes&imagings&hopes&ideals&trials of an early Christian missionary!
• Can I summarise in 60words the marrow of my ‘ChristianInstruction’?
  • Who were Thel0’Teachers‘ who encouraged&formed me as an ¹adultChnstian’?
  • In my local church, how is ThcTotalBible KnownAcknowlcdgedReceivedOffcred- OutInterpretedPick’N’MixSupprcssedLa-Di-Da’dTriialisedDistortcdAppeascd?
  • Whichis morevalued? TheTotalBible, TheCatechism, TheDabitur, AdultConscience?
  • What of the opinion that ‘TheBible’son’yfrProdestance!’?
  • For anadultChristian’, what confers ‘authority’ on ‘Church Teachers’?
• ‘PrayContinually!’: An alert Jesus-way of Living&beingAwake-in-ThePresent‘
• ‘NeverLoseHeart!’: What is actually nourishingthisadaptive-power?
• What 20Aspects-of-IrishSociety are subverting my adult-resolve? &Is my local church itself ready to succumb to the many allures of modernity?
• “What about the judge’s three reasons for heeding the widow’s urgent plea?
• How can God both ‘delay to help’, &’see Justice done speedily’?
• ‘AnyFaithOnEarth!’: Even more–fraught question, in a ‘totallyChristianMilieu’

5. The presence&action of the BlessedOne, is it like this?

‘Wha’ happened? didja go at all this morning? was it cancelled .?’ ‘It might as well a’ been! aw, lea’ me alone!’ ‘Here’s y’r pint! stick y’r head in that t’ cool y’ off!’ ‘Well, he was hoppin’ back an’ forth between this widda, an’ Moses with ‘is hands up in th’ air.. ‘ ‘Wha’ ..’ ‘Seems, th’ sohjers-o’-God ‘d kill all round them, as long as he kept them up’ sounds sorta bull t’ me… ‘ ‘It’s worst nor bull’ remember th’ oul’ Canon .’ ‘Aw, no bull there…’ ‘…”Comrades! No resort t’ violence! That’s how y’ II always know-th’ man­ above’s with ya! No violence on no one, never!'” ..’ ‘Aw, I love t’ hear it over an’ over!’ ‘But not head-a-wit above! goin’ on forever about God enablin’ ‘is own crowd in th’ strife! an’ th’ other bless-me-father with ‘is hands up like th’ lone ranger” ‘An’ what about th’ widda?’ ‘A’m not sure! anyhow, she didn’t figure much in th’ end! jus’ them boys killn’ rings round them! for God, begod! aw, lea’ me alone…!’

5. RIDDLE Prayer? WordFormula? PotentSpell?

NowPresence? SuperstitiousCredulity?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie

Sunday 9 Oct 2022 (’01) • 28thSUNinORDINARY TIME : C

1. 2K5·14-17

• Read 5·1-27!

What biblical&personal stories are evoked by this rich narrative?

Which other ‘leaders‘ (political etc) interrelate like the two kings?

Who is the most pivotal&significant character in the story?

How are Offices&Concerns&Persons ofmylocalchurch in all this?

Elisha&Gehazi! Typical eye-for-eye? Or twoaspectsoftheone person?

2. THE PSALM. 97·1-4

• Read 97(98).1-9! But what are Yahweh’s’Wonders‘ that all-earth praises?
• Make a ‘new song‘ for ‘Yahweh’sWonders’ (what?) in this local church!
• Why are 97(98):5-9 omitted? Surely not a bit ‘pagan’? Or ‘over the top’?
• ‘WondersSalvationJusticeTruthLove!’: Are these anything more than familiar chiches?
• ‘RightHand&HolyArm!’: Extending Blessing, Sword, Bread&Wine, Keys or Rod?
• How will a song inthe‘TempleLiturgy‘ become a dynamicreality in society?

2. 2TIM2 8-13

• ‘JesusChristRisenFromTheDead! SprungFromTheRaceOfDavid!’: In what ways is this ‘Jesus/MessanicGoodNews‘ relevant or important or powerful for me?
• But” who or what, in Church&Society, may actually be ‘ChainingUpGod’sNews’?
• ‘TheSaving’‘ What is reliable, or comprehensible, or even ‘Christian’, about this?

In what ways that make a difference, haveI ‘died-with–Him’?

What’s the affect of the claim, that I’m ‘HisOwnSelf’?

LKl 7 11-19

• Where is theemphasis as I listen carefully to this story? TheBorder TheLepers TheTen ThePriests TheCure TheThanks TheSchismatic TheFaith? Or something else… ?
• Are ‘cradleCathohics’ (lay&clerical) not incrediblyblaséabout‘ThcFaith’? Say, that it’s unquestionable invulnerable innocuous incomparable & the-real-thing?
• ‘TheBorder!’ Where in society, &in my life, is the boundary between ‘acceptable’ &‘unacceptable’religion? say, taboos about ‘otherChurches’, or ‘otherFaiths’?
• Would it have been OK if ‘TheNine’ had ‘PraisedGod’ inTheTemple or atTheRiver?
• Is it arguable that ‘ourfaith’isn’tuptomuch, with so much illness&mayhem&distress?

3. The presence&action of the BlessedOne, is it like this?

‘Gran, a lepper?’ ‘Yes, Effie! Sounds like Sam an’ Boysie were havin’ another dance!’ ‘No, Gran’ Even Mam, she always laffs, an’ pushes Sam’s rolypoly! but yesterday she made a few gulps ‘ ‘Another shoutin’, was it?’ ‘Gran, we were all sittin’, watchin’ the thing, an’ suddenly Boysie said a word to Sam…’ ‘Oh, such people to be…’ ‘ .. an’ Sam stood up and threw her mobile at him, “Y’ve some badger’s snout on yerself, y’ scorlesslepper?’ Gran, lepper?’Well, luveen, what’ll we say…’ ‘Boysie fell back with his mouth open like a bag ‘ ‘is it somethin’ empty then, or sorta worn out .’ ‘Gran, it’s comm’ t’ me!leppen!’ he’s leppin’ about like an empty bag’ but that makes me feel really gurbly…’ ‘There’s a special sorta lepper, Effie, that’s like an empty bag, all worn out, made everyone feel awful gurbly ..’ ‘Except Jesus! He never feels gurbly! even at leppers.. ‘ ‘An’ never call, them scorless ..’ ‘Poor Boysie! I don’t feel gurbly about him…’ ‘Cos Jesus loves Boysie ‘ ‘Oh Gran, let’s say a wee prayer…’ ‘…that Sam ‘ll stop feelin’ gurbly about Boysie’ ‘an’ really love him, like Jesus does! great, great!”

6 RIDDLE Who as more valued in TheLocalChurch? BishopPriestMotherLawyerPhysicianInfant SchoolteachcrPoliceCrippleVandal?

Refections and comments can be emailed to adbi@chokmah.ie