Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Wednesday, 11 June 2014Meditations: Matthew 5:17 “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter[a] or one tiny pen stroke[b] shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:18 literally, iota
b. Matthew 5:18 or, serif
Matthew 10:7 As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,[a] and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. 9 Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. 10 Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. 11 Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on. 12 As you enter into the household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 10:8 TR adds “raise the dead,”
Saint Barnabas, Apostle
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)
The film Stand and Deliver is based on the story of Jaime Escalante, a math teacher in the troubled Los Angeles, California, public school system. While most don’t believe in the students’ abilities, Escalante does. Using innovative techniques, he teaches his students more than just math basics. He challenges them to excel, and they do: they pass California’s Advanced Placement Calculus exam—difficult for students of any age!
Jesus also spoke about having high expectations. He told his disciples, “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19). What’s more, pairing today’s Gospel reading with the story of St. Barnabas’ extreme generosity only adds to the impression that Jesus has set impossibly high goals for us.
Nothing could be further from the truth! Remember, it was Jesus who pointed out the hypocrisy of those scribes and Pharisees who set too-high standards for everyone but didn’t try to measure up themselves. Jesus is not trying to make it impossible for us to enter his kingdom. He’s telling us that we really are capable of heroic holiness!
Yes, God does expect great things of us. But that’s because he sees great things within us. He sees his image and likeness. He sees his own Holy Spirit. He even sees the faith and love in our hearts that we haven’t found yet! He knows we can do better than just “qualify” for eternal life—because he has poured so much grace into us.
Do you see your potential today—not just to be good but to be great? Try taking a “spiritual inventory” today in prayer. Make a list of all the good qualities God has placed in you. Make a list, too, of your dreams and hopes. Tell yourself that you can be a hero of the faith. Tell yourself that no sin is too great, no fear too daunting, to keep you back. You can become a saint like Barnabas—if you stay close to the Lord and follow him one step at a time. Together with Jesus, you can pass any test of faith!
“Lord, free my heart to follow you with abandonment. I want to fulfill your plans for my life!” Amen.
25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
13:1 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Psalm 98: A Psalm.
1 Sing to Yahweh a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him.
2 Yahweh has made known his salvation.
He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth!
Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp,
with the harp and the voice of melody.
6 With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn,
make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh.
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Biography: Jaime Escalante
Educator (1930–2010)
Jaime Escalante became famous for his work with troubled, "unteachable" high school math students. His story was told in the 1988 film Stand and Deliver.
Synopsis
Jaime Escalante was born December 31, 1930 in La Paz, Bolivia. He came to the United States in the 1960s to seek a better life. He began teaching math to troubled students in a violent Los Angeles school and became famous for leading many of them to pass the advanced placement calculus test. He was played by Edward James Olmos in the film Stand and Deliver. He died of cancer on March 30, 2010.
Early Life
Educator Jamie Escalante was born on December 31, 1930 in La Paz, Bolivia. The child of two teachers, Escalante became one of the most famous educators in America during the 1980s and 1990s. He left Bolivia in 1960s to seek a better life in the United States. An educator back at home, he had to work many odd jobs, teach himself English and earn another college degree before he could return to the classroom.
Professional Career
In 1974, Escalante took a job at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, California. He found himself in a challenging situation: teaching math to troubled students in a rundown school known for violence and drugs. While some had dismissed the students as "unteachable," Escalante strove to reach his students and to get them to live up to their potential. He started an advanced mathematics program with a handful of students.
In 1982, his largest class of students took and passed an advanced placement test in Calculus. Some of the students' test scores were invalidated by the testing company because it believed that the students had cheated. Escalante protested, saying that the students had been disqualified because they were Hispanic and from a poor school. A few months later many of the students retook the test and passed, proving that they knew the material and that the company was wrong.
Escalante's classroom challenges and successes were the topic of much public discussion in 1988. That year his story was the subject of a book entitled Jaime Escalante: The Best Teacher in America and a film called Stand and Deliver starring Edward James Olmos. Both educators and students have found Escalante's work at Garfield inspiring.
Later Years
After Garfield, Escalante taught at another high school in Sacramento. He did not seem to find the same level of success he had at his previous post. Escalante also received some criticism for lobbying against bilingual education in California schools. He retired from teaching in 1998.
Escalante has received many awards for his contributions to the field of education, including the Presidential Medal for Excellence and was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 1999.
Escalante died in March 2010 after a long struggle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Fabiola, and their two sons.
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QUICK FACTS
NAME
Jaime Escalante
OCCUPATION
Educator
BIRTH DATE
December 31, 1930
DEATH DATE
March 30, 2010
EDUCATION
Garfield High School
PLACE OF BIRTH
La Paz, Bolivia
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Stand and Deliver
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