Greetings on this the Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c; PS 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14; Mt 17:22-27
Adrift
Last night watched a movie, Aniara, a sci-fi movie. Disclaimer: the movie contains objectionable scenes for the moralist among us. Taken in context it was at most a distraction to the theme of existential meaning of life.
Review here: https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/review-swedish-sci-fi-flick-aniara-an-existential-drift-through-space
Related topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism
Each person on the ship must come to terms with the reality that they are on a spaceship that will never arrive to Mars, Instead they must find meaning on this artificial planet. Instinctively they know memory is the binding reality. What we share in common in our memory is the REAL of all that is real (it exists, it is our substance). The Mima machine allows for a deep dive into the memory. The breakdown of the machine brings certain and intense anguish. Oh, to loose the essential of our memories! Even still the aliveness of memory, new, current, integrated, is an area where those in charge fail miserably. The ship wasn’t built to make memories, common memories, that bind us. Spaceship Earth is very much a memory machine. Fully current (past, present, future) as one reality.
Memory is not a fly in amber. Memory is the representation of historical events into the Now as if (and is actually) there is no history but only the now.
Summary
In our first reading today, Ezekiel shares his memory of the thorne and the personhood of God. Revealing the divine in sight imagery of person and place. He shares that which is offered to us all. This transcendence of the divine to the human is a visual of the majesty of God.
In our gospel portion today, we gain another insight, a memory. Jesus is to become the sacrifice and the resurrection hope. Stricken with grief (our only hope is describing what we can barely understand) they apostles are inconsolate. Until the tax dialog.
“Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said.
Perhaps you believe this is about the temple tax? Yes, for the purpose of transcendence, but, no, for the purpose of the divine message.
Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”
Consider death. The universality of death. We can reframe this into the existential meaning of life.
“Does not your teacher die like the rest of us?” “Yes,” he said.
Our Common Destiny
The divine shares with us the same journey. Life-to-death-to-life-again.
It is our common memory. And so is the place of the Throne and the one who sits upon it.
Reflection
Give full honor to the memory. Do not exclude the future. Do not exclude the divine. All is yours in memory.
Sacred Readings
Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081224.cfm
First Reading
Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man. Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with splendor. Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him.
Looked like a human being: the God who transcends the powers of the human imagination is pictured here in the likeness of an enthroned human king (USCCB Commentary on Ezekiel 1:26).
Responsorial
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Gospel Acclamation
God has called you through the Gospel To possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry