Gospel of Matthew: When Life Takes Unexpected Turns

The Flight into Egypt by Giotto di Bondone

Matthew 2:13-18

It's easy to think of Joseph being serene and simply floating along in his role as Mary's husband and Jesus' father. Of course, only a second's thought shows that is highly inadequate. The poor man must have been wracked with doubts otherwise God wouldn't have needed to send him dreams of direction. If he had been floating serenely then God might have sent down a congratulatory "Good show!" but no more would have been necessary. I especially like the way that George Martin points out what Matthew does and does not show us.

Joseph and his family can be looked upon as patron saints for today's political refugees. Yet Matthew does not dwell on the hardships they might have experienced. Matthew portrays Joseph as a man living an upright life that periodically takes sudden turns. Joseph is betrothed to Mary--but discovers she is pregnant, and learns from an angel that it is through the Holy Spirit. In due course her child is born—then magi arrive, quickly followed by angelic instructions to flee to Egypt. We might think of Joseph as a patron saint for those whose lives take unexpected turns as they try to remain faithful to God.

For reflection: What unexpected turns has my life taken? What can I learn from the example of Joseph?

Quote is from Bringing the Gospel of Matthew to Life. This series first ran in 2008. I'm refreshing it as I go.

A Waffle Making Dad

Darwin Catholic makes waffles for the family and muses about fatherhood and ... of course ... waffle making. Being Darwin, he gets to some interesting places. Here's some:

I've read compelling writing by women writers about the emotional labor they do to keep a family going. I wouldn't claim that for my tribe, we waffle making dads. We're not particularly emotional. But we try to do our labor. We make weekend breakfasts and dinner once or twice a week when we're around in time do to the prep. We do the "you'll have to talk to your father when he gets home" conversations, and the careful diffusing conversations with daughters entering their teens who at times decide that their mothers don't understand them at all and Dad is the only person they will listen to. We mow the lawn and take the trash out and get the oil changed more or less on time. We pay the bills and track the finances and deal with a host of practical issues while having the unfortunate tendency to assume that everything is okay in people's emotional lives unless they actually tell us otherwise.

The waffle making dad can seem like a pretty out-dated archetype these days. The up to the moment guy is a sensitive feminist ally who admires kick-ass women and decries male privilege ...

I'm not sure how to address that whole set of ideals and concerns, the people who snappily say that women are giving up a lot to teach a young man to make waffles, so I'll just leave that to one side. My words are to the young men of the world. And I'll say: being a waffle making dad is not a bad aspiration. In a world that can't seem to make up its mind what, if anything, it wants from masculinity, many of the archetypes available out there are not great. ...

Now go read the whole thing!

A Capacity to Receive

After all, you must have a capacity to receive, or even omnipotence can’t give. Perhaps your own passion temporarily destroys the capacity.

For all sorts of mistakes are possible when you are dealing with Him. Long ago, before we were married, H. was haunted all one morning as she went about her work with the obscure sense of God (so to speak) ‘at her elbow,’ demanding her attention. And of course, not being a perfected saint, she had the feeling that it would be a question, as it usually is, of some unrepented sin or tedious duty. At last she gave in—I know how one puts it off—and faced Him. But the message was, ‘I want to give you something’ and instantly she entered into joy.

C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

That's what happens when you think you know it all. Ahem - which would never happen to me! Of course not!

I wish I didn't identify so well with H's putting it off.

The End to Our Double Boxer Era — Goodbye to Wash

On Thursday, our gentle 11-year-old giant Wash suddenly went down. On Friday morning we had him put to sleep. Of all the dogs I've known in my lifetime I now realize that he was "my dog" more than any of them. He was embedded in my routine in a dozen tiny ways I never thought about.

As Tom said on Facebook, Wash was the opposite of Zoe, our other Boxer who died a few months ago. He was happy, curious, and playful as a Boxer should be. His soulful eyes added greatly to the Boxer look of "concerned curiosity" and he took that look seriously, he had to sniff every package or mail that came into the house.

Wash always was more aware of the television than other dogs we've had.
He particularly responded to dogs, sometimes without even hearing barking —
in the instance above the animated dog hadn't made a sound. Wash will bound over to
the television and brace himself on the console so he can bark back "in person."
When the dog disappeared mysteriously, he'd look for the interloper behind the TV
and then around the house.

We took it as a good omen that he died on the feast day of St. Francis. I am really glad that right before everything went downhill he went on a walk where he warned the other dogs that this was his street (by aggressively eating a mouthful of grass, an intellectual connection that the other dogs totally missed every time), drank from sprinklers, and checked out all the Halloween decorations in yards. In other words, he got to enjoy his life to the fullest to the very end.

He was a good dog and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

In the meantime, Kaylee is doing her best to fill the void. As Tom says, "Even though we lost a pair of Boxers this year, we still have a half pair of briefs. (Sorry for the pun)"

Here are a couple of memories from the "double boxer" years.

The early years, Wash and Zoe

More grown up and tired out from "watching" football with the family.

First Friday Fast - for the Church and Our Priests

Bread and Water by Duane Keiser

Dear friends, your pastors are full of faults and imperfections. But despising them is no thte way to build Church unity. Do not be afraid to demand of them the Catholic faith, the sacraments of divine life. ... If you think that your priests and bishops are not saints, then be one for them. Do penance, fast to make reparation for their defects and their cowardice. That is the only way that anyone can bear another's burden.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, The Day is Now Far Spent

Since soon after the reports about Cardinal McCarrick's heinous behavior came out, as well as the horrifying reports about how many highly placed Church officials overlooked his actions, I have been observing a fast on the first Friday of each month. I offer it up for purification and support of the Church and our priests.

I didn't mention it, thinking of Jesus' direction to not bring attention to one's own fasting and prayer. Cardinal Sarah's words gave me new resolve in what had become a somewhat perfunctory observance. It also made me think that I needed to go public, recommend the practice, and ask you to join in unity, observing what penance seems good to you. So join me!

Stunning Moments of Forgiveness and Mercy in the Name of Christ

I was stunned when I saw the extraordinary Christlike behavior of murder victim Botham Jean's brother toward Amber Guyger, the former Dallas police officer convicted of murder in Jean’s 2018 shooting death.

I've noticed that a lot of news sources are reporting the hug, but not the strong Christian message that was key to Brandt Jean's message, as well as to the judge's follow up (below). So I'm sharing the videos here.

This was Brandt Jean’s chance to tell Guyger exactly what he thought of the former Dallas officer after she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for murdering his brother last year when she mistook his apartment for hers....

Instead, Jean told Guyger that he wanted what Botham would have wanted.

"I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want for you," he told her. "I love you as a person, and I don't wish anything bad on you."

He told Guyger that he didn't even want her to go to prison.

"Can I give her a hug, please?" Brandt asked. "Please."

Dallas Morning News

See it all below.




Equally extraordinary was the moment of grace extended by the judge. After speaking to the family, she spoke with Guyger and then ...

The judge appeared to be overcome in the moment, and left the courtroom. She returned a moment later, a small Bible in her hand.

“You can have mine,” the judge said to Guyger. “I have three or four at home.”

She then began to counsel Guyger. The pair were talking low, barely audible, just the two of them. “This is your job,” the judge said, opening the book.

The judge mentioned John 3:16, saying this will strengthen her. Guyger nodded her head.

“You just need a tiny mustard seed of faith,” the judge said. “You start with this.”

WFAA News

See the news report below which contains much more.

Gospel of Matthew: Follow That Star!

Edward Burne-Jones, Star of Bethlehem

Matthew 2:1-12

One of the favorite things I learned recently when reading up on the pagan prophet Balaam is that he prophesied the star of Bethlehem. We see this time and again. God uses everyone and anyone in order to work for the good of us all and our salvation. Even a pagan prophet who doesn't know enough to listen to his talking ass! (Numbers 22-24)

I always figured that star was a bonus, tied into ancient expectations about the symbols which accompanied a king. And that is also true. But to see it tied into Balaam's prophecy is really wonderful. Then looking at how that story foreshadows the events of Jesus' birth, as we're shown below ... well it just keeps getting better and better.

The account of the magi following a star and searching for a king underscores Jesus' kingship by recalling the prophecy of Balaam in Nm 24. In this episode the Moabite king, Balak, called upon a seer named Balaam to pronounce a curse on Israel. However, each time Balaam tried to curse Israel God took control of his speech and words of blessing came out of his mouth instead. In his last attempt to curse Israel, the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied about a future king arising out of Israel. According to this oracle, a star would be the sign of the great king's arrival (Num 24:17).

All this foreshadows the events associated with Herod, the magi, and the birth of Jesus. Just as Balak sought to use the pagan seer Balaam to destroy Israel, so Herod seeks to use the pagan magi to destroy the Christ child. And just as Balaam failed to cooperate with the king's plan, uttering blessings instead of curses, so the magi fail to assist Herod in his plot to destroy Jesus, paying the child homage instead of reporting his location to Herod.

Quote is from Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. This series first ran in 2008. I'm refreshing it as I go. 

Tiffany Pitcher

Tiffany and Company Pitcher, New York City, 1878
Public domain, courtesy of The Art Institute of Chicago

An asymmetrical water scene, realized through a combination of hammering, engraving, and applied metal elements, wraps around the body of this pitcher. The vignette was almost certainly inspired by the work of Katsushika Hokusai, a Japanese artist known for his dynamic woodblock prints of the natural world. Tiffany and Company’s design library included three volumes of Hokusai’s work, many featuring the same graceful irises, enlivened dragonflies, and splashing carp visible on this pitcher.

A Great Beginning to a Catholic History Series: The Church and the Roman Empire by Mike Aquilina

The Church and the Roman Empire (301–490)

Constantine, Councils, and the Fall of Rome

by Mike Aquilina

This brand new history series is just what I've been wanting — truthful Catholic history that's easy to read and that busts some of the ubiquitous myths about Catholicism. Author Mike Aquilina keeps the history easy to understand while adding depth to the bits that I already knew ... or thought I knew.

Occasional "Up Close and Personal" boxes showcase different personalities or aspects of Christianity from that time, such as looking at the Catholic bishop before Patrick or listing five who chucked everything for a life of solitude. "You Be the Judge" boxes examine common questions and set the record straight on topics like "Didn't Christianity harm the status of women?" or "Do Christians exaggerate the persecutions?"

One of Aquilina's strengths is the way that he makes the scenes come alive. Here's a bit from the Council of Nicaea.

It was a grand spectacle to see so many bishops at once, and the general public filled the spectators' areas to listen to some of the preliminary debates. Even pagan philosophers joined the fun—some out of genuine curiosity, others to make fun of the Christians. People from town came just to see the parade of bishops of all nations. Even Scythia, exotic land of barbarian cowboys, and Persia, traditional enemy of Rome for generations, were represented. ...

And of course everyone wanted a glimpse of the two men who had started the whole uproar, Arius and Alexander. Alexander, a frail old man who needed help to get around, was a bit of a disappointment, although his young archdeacon and assistant Athanasius looked like a man to watch. But Arius was a rock star. he was tall, a good speaker, and a very thoughtful-looking man. Fangirls followed him wherever he went. He must have something to say.

It really makes me feel the excitement in the air. Very much not the way I usually think of the Council of Nicaea!

Highly recommended. I can't wait for the other books in the series to be published.

Gospel of Matthew: Jesus' Family Tree

Having recently been focusing on the prophets, for a book that will be coming out next year, it seemed natural to look at Matthew mostly because he is so good at quoting the Old Testament and reminding us to ponder the whole Bible. So I'm gonna take you along for the ride. This won't be any sort of comprehensive study. Just some of the interesting things I find on the way.

Rose window in Basilica of Saint-Denis, France,
depicting the ancestors of Jesus from Jesse onwards

Matthew 1:1-17
Ah yes, that interminable genealogy at the beginning of Matthew. Like me, you may have come across various explanations as to why particular people are included, their significance to Jesus' message to us, and why the thing is so darned long.

The ancient Jews loved genealogies. Every name called a story to mind and pointed to a particular part of salvation history. It has a theological content but also shows that these were real people and that Jesus broke into real time and history. So if you're telling the story of the Son of God coming to earth, wouldn't you start with where he fits in salvation history?

Two names in particular stand out from the very beginning. Jesus is called the "son of David" which reminds us of the promise God made that the Messiah would come from the line of David and establish a kingdom that would endure forever. Jesus is also called the "son of Abraham" which reminds us of God's promise that Abraham's descendants would become a great nation and that all nations would find blessing through his family. In Jesus these promises are fulfilled, Matthew is telling us.

Most interesting to me is the inclusion of four women in the genealogy — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. It isn't unprecedented, but it is unusual. Especially when you consider that they are all Gentiles and three of them are associated with sexual immorality. Yet, they are specifically called out for our attention among Jesus' ancestry.

Matthew thus selects three of the most prominent Gentile women in the ancestral line of David along with the most famous of David's wives to highlight how Gentile blood flowed into the royal line of David. This underscores God's concern for Gentiles, demonstrating that he brought them into the story of Israel even in the Old Testament. It also lays a foundation for the universal mission of Jesus' kingdom, which will gather Gentiles into God's covenant family ...

All that in one genealogy! Which I'd have skipped without the commentary to show me what I was missing by not paying attention.

---------

Quote is from Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: Gospel of Matthew. This series first ran in 2008. I'm refreshing it as I go.

This Just In: The Day is Now Far Spent by Cardinal Robert Sarah

Christians are trembling, wavering, doubting. I want this book to be for them To tell them: do not doubt! Hold fast to doctrine! Hold fast to prayer! I want this book to strengthen faithful Christians and priests.

I ordered this book as soon as I heard about it. I liked Cardinal Sarah's previous books, especially God or Nothing. This one looked like the shot of inspiration and support that I have been craving in the midst of the Church's crisis. I've only read the introduction but am already heartened.

The whole intro is available as a sample from Amazon and I urge you to read it.

Sources for Gospel of Matthew Bible Study

The last time we looked at the Gospel of Matthew together it was 2008!

So we're way past time to take a second look at some of the things that bring Matthew alive for me. Here are my favorite resources. I may not quote all of these, but I'll have looked through them and over the years they have added to my overall knowledge.

Simone Cantarini , St. Matthew and the Angel

The Navarre Bible: Matthew
The Navarre commentaries are consistently excellent and have a lot of thoughts from Church Fathers, Popes, saints, and the Catechism. They add wisdom from the 2,000 years of Church contemplation on scripture since Jesus.

Life Application Study Bible: New International Version
This Protestant Bible is an interesting resource. The footnotes are fresh, interesting, and a good resource for historical questions such as how threshing was done when Ruth met Boaz for example. They also have maps and occasional one page essays about main figures of the Bible. There is a tendency to ask questions at the end of commentary such as, "Do you listen to God like this person, etc.?" which I find rather annoying but they may not strike everyone that way. I would advise the NIV version as I have been told that translation is more accurate than the New Living Translation.

Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: The Gospel of Matthew
The structure is such that you are generally covering just a little scripture at a time. Each reading is followed with cross references to the Old Testament, New Testament, Catechism, and Liturgy. These are followed by the commentary, in which words from the scripture reading are bold whenever they are used. Although I saw some people complaining about that practice, I found it useful. Sometimes a bold word would make me suddenly pay attention and go back to the scripture, thinking, "Did it really say that? Why haven't I ever noticed before?"

There are also a few maps, occasional photos when they'd be helpful, and sidebar boxes with Biblical background and living tradition (Catechism, Fathers of the Church, saints) information that enriches understanding.

In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez
A daily devotional that follows the daily Mass readings. Topics range from the sacraments and virtues to family interaction and friendship. The sensible and down-to-earth writing is enhanced by quotes from saints, Church Fathers, popes, cross-references with other scripture than in the day's readings, Church documents, etc. I've been using this for 20 years off and on.  Full review here.

The Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels
From the Word on Fire ministries headed by Bishop Robert Barron, this is a commentary bible loaded with observations from the Church Fathers, newer Catholic writers like Fulton Sheen and G.K. Chesterton, and Bishop Barron himself. The primary purpose is evangelization of those not affiliated with organization or Christianity and poses the question throughout of "Who is God? and "Who is Jesus Christ?"

Opening the Scripture series: Bringing the Gospel of Matthew to Life
This is the one that I used for my first Gospel of Matthew series of posts, way back in 2008. It's still good. Read my full review here.

Ignatius Matthew Study Bible
This has since been gathered into the Ignatius Study New Testament by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. I already had it in this individual little book. The commentary is excellent, as one would expect.

Word Among Us
Available in print or digital format, this monthly magazine has the daily Mass readings with a little commentary. There are also a few articles covering the monthly theme.

The Daily Study Bible Series — The Gospel of Matthew, Revised Edition
I'm a real fan of William Barclay's commentaries on the New Testament books. Barclay's strengths are his phenomenal knowledge of the Greek language, the Jewish culture and religion, and the Roman occupation during the New Testament era. He is wonderful at conveying this knowledge in a way that simple and easily understandable. He puts it in context so that you can understand what events meant to the people to whom Jesus spoke to 2,000 years ago.

However, I have to always include this caveat when mentioning William Barclay ... his theology can be very wonky if you are Catholic. For example, his commentary on the gospels with nativity stories include a number of reasons Jesus' virgin birth didn't necessarily have to be virgin. Sorry. That's really nonnegotiable. He also often includes pointed commentary about why Roman Catholic teachings are wrong. So there's that ...

But if one reads with a knowledgeable eye, Barclay's work is really wonderful.

NOTE: the recently revised versions (1990s and beyond) have been heavily edited to be more politically correct. I'm not sure what that has done to Barclay's original work so I just go with the second revision, done under Barclay's eye. I'm not so thin skinned that I can't stand a little old fashionedness.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

The simple view is that medicine exists to fight death and disease, and that is, of course, its most basic task. Death is the enemy. But the enemy has superior forces. Eventually, it wins. And in a war you cannot win, you dn't want a general who fights to the point of total annihilation. You don't want a Custer. You want Robert E. Lee, someone who knows how to fight for territory that can be won and how to surrender it when it can't, someone who understands that the damage is greatest if all you do is battle to the bitter end.

This is about the conversation no one wants to have — as we grow older and frailer or face incurable disease (no matter our age) — how do we cope? What should we ask our doctors and our loved ones in order to try to ensure the best outcome, under circumstances in which "complete cure" may not be possible? This book looks at all sorts of situations, from the person in a senior care home who needs a sense of purpose to a young mother with terminal cancer.

I read this at the urging of my daughter whose book club had discussed it. As other reviewers have noted it can be depressing. However, so are some of the circumstances in which we may find ourselves by the end of our lives. It is worth pushing through to the end because author Atul Gawande works through the physical difficulties of aging and disease to look at what makes us have our best days. I especially appreciated the questions he asks to help people identify what's most important to them when their world has narrowed because they are on their way out of it. How do we finish our story in the way that is most meaningful to us?

At the end I was in tears, but they were good tears. This is a thoughtful and honest book which I wholeheartedly recommend.

Camille Monet and a Child

Camille Monet and a Child in the Artist’s Garden in Argenteuil
Claude Monet, 1875
via WikiPaintings

There is a lot of information about the painting at the link, but nothing about what I love most in this painting — the child's rapt concentration on the book. That is so lifelike, so what I know from being around little ones and I love the way Monet is able to evoke it.

Aliens and working at a fevered pitch

What you need to know before reading this: Gwedif is an alien. The narrator is human.

Gwedif pulled up to me as we walked. "I wish we had more time," he said. "This happened with Carl too. Barely time for introductions, and then off to decide the fate of our peoples. If nothing else, we've learned that you humans thrive on crisis."

"Anything worth doing is worth doing at a fevered pitch," I said.

"I don't know about that," Gwedif said. "I think the first place I'll go when I visit your planet—really visit your planet, I mean, not that little trip I took earlier—I think I'll go visit a monastery. Those people seem to have the right idea. Slow meditative spiritual contemplation."

"I think most of the monasteries these days are either making chant CDs or boutique wines," I said.

"Really?" Gwedif said. "Well, hell. What is it with you people?"

John Scalzi, Agent to the Stars

Garden at Sainte-Adresse

Garden at Sainte-Adresse ("Jardin à Sainte-Adresse"), 1867, Claude Monet

Christ’s Baptism by John by Woonbo Kim Ki-chang

“Christ’s Baptism by John”  by Woonbo Kim Ki-chang, via J.R.'s Art Place

I really love the portrayal of Jesus in different cultures. Also, check out those angels! Simply wonderful. The common elements and the cultural adaptations show the universality and personal connection of Christ with the world and each of us. And it pulls me closer too.

Check the Korea Times article for info about the artist and his work. See many more of his paintings, including portrayals of Christ at artnet.

The Abyss and the Bridge to God

To confess your sins to God is not to tell him anything he doesn't already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the bridge.

Frederick Buechner

So perfectly worded.

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff

I was drawn to this book because I have sensed the lessening of feeling in observing the anniversary of September 11 as the years have gone on. This is natural, as I know from my own lack of interest in Pearl Harbor Day which was so long before I was born. However, 9/11 wasn't quite 20 years ago and I still feel vivid remembrance every year. So I was really interested when I read a review in the paper, featuring excerpts of the people's oral stories which make up the text.

By presenting people's experiences in chronological order, with no other commentary other than that needed to place a context for orientation, this is that unusual creation - an unbiased history. They are grouped in logical sequences so that a section from people evacuating the North Tower will be followed by a section from firefighters gearing up and then one from air traffic controllers struggling to understand what just happened. In this way, the sequence of events unfolds so that the day begins to make sense in a way it didn't when events were unfolding before our eyes.

I was fascinated by the parts behind the scenes such as on Air Force One or the air traffic controllers or inside reporters thoughts, which were new to me. But the entire thing was gripping and conveyed the reality of just what an act of war that terrorist attack was - in a way that I couldn't take in when I was one of those watching in confused horror on that fateful day, struggling to come to grips with what was happening.

This book brought back my familiar feelings from that time while stitching together events and giving me the broader understanding through which I could both understand better and honor more fully the incredible losses and heroism we experienced. All through using only these oral testimonies. Extraordinary.

ALSO: My daughter Rose commented that the description sounded like the style used in World War Z by Max Brooks. That hadn't occurred to me but she's right, it is very similar.

Matthew Bible Study - Index

MATTHEW

• Sources
• 1:1-17 - Jesus' Family Tree
• 2:1-12 - Follow That Star
• 2:13-18 - When Life Takes Unexpected Turns
• 3:13-17 - Allow It Now
• 3:1-2 - Come to the desert to be baptized in the Jordan
• 4:1-11 - Being Tempted Through Our Gifts
• 4:1-11 - Each Temptation Building on the Previous One
• 5:15 - A Lamp in the Hand of God and Stained Glass
• 5:17-18 - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets"
• 5:20-21 - No Room for Righteous Anger
• 7:24-29 - Building on Rock
• 8:5-13 - Jesus Was Amazed
• 8:21-22 - Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead
• 8:23-27 - Keeping Our Faith During the Storm
• Matthew's Resume
• 8:28-34 - Why Jesus' Exorcisms Were Unique
• 9:1-8 - Struck with Awe
• 9:9-13 - Sharing a Meal with Sinners
• 9:36 — Gut-Wrenching Compassion
• 10:26-33 - Everyone Who Acknowledges Me
• 12:14 - The Irony of the Pharisees' Decision
• 13:9-11, 15-22: The Cockle of False Doctrine
• 14:22-33 - Rowing into a Headwind in the Darkness
• 16:13-18 - Who Do You Say That I Am?
• 16:20-23 - Get behind me, Satan!
• 16:20-23 - Get behind me, Satan! Continued.
• 17:1-8 - Transfiguration: The Cloud
• 17:1-8 - Transfiguration: Parallel to the Execution 
• 25:1-13 - Oil for Our Lamps
• 25:14-30 - Self-Protective Lovelessness
• 26: 20-25 - Love's Last Appeal to Judas
• 26:57-58, 69-75 - Peter's Staggering Honesty and Heroic Courage
• 28:16-20 - Back in the Beginning, A Very Good Place to Start