A Challenge for Rational Thought

A challenge for this age is to move beyond the purely rational mind in our attempts to put together the mystery of life. The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary put this challenge before us both directly and indirectly. The Presence of the Divine in our lives was recently compared, using an allegory from CS Lewis to a lion in the room. The lion who represents the Divine Presence exhibits power, majesty and does not eat us. The figure of the Lion contains mystery and evokes caution. The salvation history cited in the reading from the letter to the Hebrews relates a struggle for humanity to understand and relate to the Divine. The psalmist declares praise and thanksgiving for the relationship with God which has saved him in times of stress feeling far from the Peace, yet he reminds that the Lord God is a jealous God who deals with those who claim a status beyond their place. The episode of Jesus encounter with the demoniac in the Gentile regions contains much upon which to ponder. The actions of the evil spirits in possession of this man are extremely powerful and aware of the battle between good and evil raged in the spirit realm. The details of the exorcism and the instructions to the man after his release are important lights to peer into the mystery of Divine Providence and human mission. This is an invitation to pause and meditate.