Claire Smith

Scripture:

Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3
Matthew 5:13-16

Reflection:

We have all heard the derogatory term, “playing second fiddle.” As in: “I’m the star of this show, and I’m not playing second fiddle to anyone.” To play second fiddle means to play a secondary role in the shadow of someone else. called second fiddle means one is less important than someone else.

Now, consider Barnabas. He was an important leader in early Christianity’s mission work. He was top of mind, always first for his fellow Christians. And he was beloved among them. Why? Because he could see and believe in the goodness and potential in people.

Barnabas, for example, believed in Paul, even though Paul had once been a feared persecutor of Christians. But Paul insisted that on the road to Damascus a thunderous voice from heaven called him to become a follower of Christ. Nevertheless, no one believed him; they stayed away from him; refused to trust this Christian hater.

Not Barnabas. He saw something special in Paul. Barnabas was willing to stake his reputation on Paul. Barnabas invited Paul to work with him in mission.

Interestingly, the early chapters of Acts always spoke of “Barnabas and Paul.” Barnabas’ name always came first. Then in Acts 13, a subtle change occurred. Gradually, the Christian community began to respond to Paul’s mission to the Gentiles. Now, it was no longer “Barnabas and Paul.” Now it was “Paul and Barnabas.” Paul overshadowed Barnabas. Barnabas was relegated to playing second fiddle to the Apostle Paul. By the way, Barnabas was not his real name. Joseph was his name.

Barnabas was his nickname. They called him Barnabas because it best described the character of this man. The nickname Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement.” And so he was.

He encouraged Paul to join him in mission. And Paul became the great Apostle to the Gentiles and writer of many letters to the communities throughout the Roman World.

Barnabas encouraged his cousin Mark. Young John Mark joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. But after a time, Mark became homesick, tired, unable to continue the difficult journey. So he quit. He went home.

Years later, John Mark asked to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their next missionary journey. Paul said “no. No quitters on my team.” Barnabas said “yes. Give this young man a second chance.” As a consequence, Paul and Barnabas had a parting of the ways. Paul went his way on mission, and Barnabas, with Mark, took another route on their missionary journey.

And what became of Mark? He became an evangelist of the Church, the first to write the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus. Ironically, Barnabas would play second fiddle to his younger cousin.

The second fiddle. That term originated in the early days of orchestra. An orchestra has the first violinist who sits at a prominent chair and to the immediate left of the conductor. The first violinist is the lead violinist and plays the melody in a symphony.

Then there is the second violinist who leads the group of second violins.

They play a subordinate and supportive role to the first violinist.

This second group gradually came to be referred to as the second fiddles, a rather unflattering term for those who sit in the shadow of the first violin.

Leonard Bernstein, the late conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, was asked during an interview to name the most difficult instrument in an orchestra. Without hesitation, Bernstein replied: “The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play second fiddle with enthusiasm, that’s a problem. If we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.”

Barnabas, “the Son of Encouragement,” was the second fiddle who gave the early Church the harmony it needed in its nascent days.

The Church today is beset by polarization, division, and distrust. Barnabas nevertheless encourages us to become a Church where people of vastly different perspectives can build on a shared unity in Christ.

Barnabas invites us to join him with the second violins. Only then, will we second fiddles play the harmony of mystical music our Church sorely needs today.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:1-6
Matthew 5:1-12

Reflection:

Any business consultant will advise having a mission behind the company, a vision for where you’re going, and strategies to help make that happen. When you create that vision, mission, and strategic plan, you aren’t there yet. But you believe with all your heart that it’s possible and you’re dedicated to acting in whatever ways you can to get there, keeping your eyes on the end result and adjusting what you do along the way as you work toward it.

Jesus’ recitation of the Beatitudes seems totally unrealistic in today’s world. The meek are inheriting the land? Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are satisfied? The merciful are shown mercy? Peacemakers are called children of God? And on it goes. Sometimes people interpret the entirety of the beatitudes as referring to our “great reward” in heaven. Yet didn’t Jesus tell us that the reign of God is among us right now? Don’t we pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven? So what’s the deal?

Just as with business, perhaps this is a case of “already but not yet”. Jesus does indeed paint an ideal picture. But it isn’t simply an explanation of what heaven will be like. Instead, it’s our mission and vision statement, and we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who dedicated his life to doing everything possible to enact it in this world.

So just as in business, we have to pause and see how we’re doing. In what ways do I fall short of God’s vision and mission for me and for this world? When do I fail to notice and uphold the meek ones who can fade into the background otherwise? When do I allow myself to become so disheartened and discouraged in my thirst for righteousness that I give up or sink into apathy? When do I fail to show mercy to others? In what ways do I feed divisions and animosity or cling to my own position instead of truly listening to another in a quest to find common ground, compromise, and go forward for the good of all? And on it goes.

Make no mistake about it: This is a demanding vision, and it involves real costs. For Jesus, it cost him his life. Our call is not to water it down or interpret it as merely God’s ultimate reward to us in heaven after we die. Working individually and together as disciples of Christ, what steps can each of us take today or this week to bring God’s vision to fruition?  

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has partnered with the Passionists.  Visit Amy’s website: http://www.corgenius.com/.

Scripture:

Genesis 3:9-15
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35

Reflection:

Again, and Always, the Good News of Jesus

A priest working in Africa taught the Bible in secondary school. The school included Christian and Muslim students, so the Bible was taught as a work of literature. The priest spoke of a student in the class as brilliant, always 100 and perfectly done assignments. He was passing the village mosque on his way home from school and saw the imam who was a good friend. As they talked, he remembered a paper written by the girl that he had with him. At the bottom corner were a few words written small in her own language that he did not understand. He asked the imam what they said. The imam laughed, ‘I hope you won’t be offended, she wrote, Allah, please forgive my blasphemy.’

She was often told that the Bible was the sacred book of Christians and not for her to read, doing so was wrong. But she was a student and had no choice. She was between a rock and a hard place. She did not condemn her teacher or see others doing wrong to her. She does her best, trusting in God’s mercy. What humility and sensitivity!

The Scribes who came from Jerusalem to Nazareth to Jesus’ home, accuse him of working for Beelzebul. But Jesus is doing the Father’s will. They are condemning the good work that Jesus does in the Father’s name.

We could change this to a ‘happy’ gospel. After the Scribes make their announcement the following sentence says that Jesus calls ‘them’ to sit down. What if in this combative situation the Scribes join the crowd and a synodal type meeting follows: each sharing, all listening, no interruptions or judgments, and a humble prayer asking the Spirit to open hearts to hear what God is saying in the words of one another. Would some hear that what Jesus does is not the work of Satan? Satan counts us as his possessions and deprives us of God’s glory. Jesus enters the strong man’s house and stealing his treasure, reclaims us for himself. In so doing he will give the Father glory.

Mary does suffer. In Luke the townspeople reject Jesus, even threatening his life. How did Mary endure such neighbors? But Mary hears the best of complements today. Jesus says, ‘do the will of God and you can be may sister, brother and mother’. Did Jesus look at his mother when he said that. ‘Friends, you have a  neighbor, my mother, who always does the will of my Father’.

We can change the narrative of the gospel today hearing hope for the Scribes, a singular compliment for Mary. Like the Moslem girl let us trust in God’s mercy, do our best amidst fragility, ours and others, and hear the truth that can be found in the hearts of others. Oh, to be brothers and sisters of Jesus together.

Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.