The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer support
and a plan for those times when it is necessary to concentrate to continue to
put one foot in front of the other. Fr Robin Gibbons picks up the tension we
experience between a society which seems to offer our entitlement to “15
minutes of fame” and the frequent affirmation of our good works with the traditional
expectation that we have work to do as part of our membership in communities
and our efforts are expected for the greater good of the family or community.
Father Larry Gillick SJ recalls working at chores in his family. The response
of his parents seemed to be pleasure in his decision to do what was expected of
the oldest son in the family. Father Gibbons asks us to put the description of
the duties of the slave to his master described in the Gospel of Luke in the
context of the message of the Evangelist to reveal aspects of the Kingdom
including the need for disciples to be free from the influence of power, wealth
and pride. The heads down performance of our chores while we are extremely thankful
for the grace of being a worker in His vineyard is the Spirit of love and self
discipline which Timothy is reminded come to those in the service of God. The
prayer of the psalmist that we do not harden our hearts in expectation of
affirmation and praise will carry us through the difficulties which we may feel
weight us down as the Prophet Habakkuk declares to God are troubling him as he
views the attack on his people by foreign armies. Father Larry notes that often
the seeds of destruction of the troublesome opponent are contained in the
action they take. God reminds Habakkuk to “Look at the proud! Their spirit is
not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith”( Habakkuk2.4).
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