Scripture:
1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Luke 6:6-11
Reflection:
A Chandelier and a Flock of Sparrows
Kate DiCamillo is the author of several books for school-aged children. In ‘Ferris,’ her latest book, a large chandelier, is a centerpiece. Earlier in the book we hear a reference to ‘Bede’ (the venerable, I think), ‘a flock of sparrows fly into a great hall and fly out again’. Without revealing the plot, it can be said that there is an incredibly beautiful banquet scene in which the diverse characters gather to dine beneath the chandelier.
We are now in our first week of reading Luke, which will take us to Advent. Having read Mark and Matthew, we have heard the parallel stories of Jesus’ life. Now, we will listen to the uniqueness of Luke’s writing and storytelling. Jesus is a prophet, Luke will say, fulfilling longed-for hopes. As a prophet, he challenges the comfortable and calls us to care for the poor. He frequently reverses expectations and gives women a special place in the gospel. Luke gives us the Words of Good News – the seed that the sower plants is the Word of God; faith is hearing and responding to God’s word.
St. Irenaeus offers us a good image as we begin Luke’s gospel. He tells us to approach the Word of God as if we are going to a well. Drink to be refreshed, but don’t try to drink the well dry! Drink what is satisfying. The well replenishes itself. Return to drink again when you are thirsty.
Although we know the story of Jesus, we will hear from a different place in our lives as we continually change. Will our response be that of Mary, ‘How can this be?’. Or will we say the word of young Samuel, ‘Speak Lord, your servant is listening’? Or, will we be like Elijah, expecting to hear God’s voice in the strong wind, the fire, or the earthquake but hearing only a gentle whisper? Or will God speak to us as a strong wind, an earthquake or fire. We never know if we don’t listen.
In today’s gospel we meet men who do not listen, men of poor judgment. Jesus is aware. He does what is good despite opposition, but they leave, blind to the good. As this gospel is read at Mass I am thinking of the good so plainly in view. How the sharing of the Eucharist never ends unhappily but renews our hope and sends us to proclaim our oneness and the dignity of God’s creation with which we are gifted.
The chandelier in the DiCamillo story hung in the dining room over one hundred years unlit, just there. One evening it became the reason to gather family and friends. It was a quirky group who laughed, patiently cared for one another and genuinely loved, who gathered beneath the lit chandelier. Our gathering symbol is the banquet table, or altar or Jesus Himself – the symbols we use to express our reasons for gathering to share the Eucharist. While so rich is the living symbol that gathers us still we may not see how special it is. Or even the assembly that gathers around it, a symbol too with a treasure house of meaning. And Bede’s flock of sparrows? Like us, flying in and out, all of us. Yet on occasion we land together at the banquet table sensitive to mutual hungers, hungry to be filled with all the strength that a banquet gives us in spirit and joy, wanting to leave aside mistaken and small judgements, and to begin again to follow Jesus. Let us listen to Luke and continue to go forth with this Good News.
Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.