Spiritual Wrestling

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today set the scene for contemplation of the change in direction that may be involved in our wrestling with the role of our spiritual experience in guiding our daily life.

Contemplate the path

In the reading from Genesis, Jacob receives a new name after a night of spiritual wrestling.

* [32:23–33] As Jacob crosses over to the land promised him, worried about the impending meeting with Esau, he encounters a mysterious adversary in the night with whom he wrestles until morning. The cunning Jacob manages to wrest a blessing from the night stranger before he departs. There are folkloric elements in the tale—e.g., the trial of the hero before he can return home, the nocturnal demon’s loss of strength at sunrise, the demon protecting its river, the power gained by knowledge of an opponent’s name—but these have been worked into a coherent though elliptical narrative. The point of the tale seems to be that the ever-striving, ever-grasping Jacob must eventually strive with God to attain full possession of the blessing.1 

Psalm 17 is a lament of an individual unjustly attacked.

* [Psalm 17] A lament of an individual unjustly attacked. Confident of being found innocent, the psalmist cries out for God’s just judgment (Ps 17:1–5) and requests divine help against enemies (Ps 17:6–9a).2 

In the Gospel from Matthew Jesus heals a mute person and gives example of compassion.

* [9:37–38] This Q saying (see Lk 10:2) is only imperfectly related to this context. It presupposes that only God (the master of the harvest) can take the initiative in sending out preachers of the gospel, whereas in Matthew’s setting it leads into Mt 10 where Jesus does so.3 

Barbara Dilly comments that we read today in Genesis and Psalm 17 that God comes to us just as he came to Jacob, reminding us that we must contend seriously with the demons in our lives, and we must not ignore the spiritual challenge that represents to us.

We can’t pretend that evil does not exist inside ourselves as much as in the hearts of others.  We all have our demons that need to be driven out of our lives. But the good news of the Gospel is that we don’t have to do that alone.  We have a savior whose presence is always with us.
That brings to my mind the 23rd Psalm.  “The Lord is my shepherd” and “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me” are comforting words.  In our readings for today, Jesus comforts us again with the words, “I am the good shepherd.” He sees us in the throes of evil as sheep without a shepherd and takes pity on us. But he doesn’t just rescue us from harm to live untroubled lives.  Jesus saves us for something bigger -- to labor in the harvest of righteousness.4 

Don Schwager reminds us, in prayer, that the Lord invites us to pray that the work of the Gospel may spread throughout the world, so that all may find true joy and freedom in Jesus Christ.

 "Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come to all who are oppressed and in darkness. Fill my heart with compassion for all who suffer mentally and physically. Use me to bring the good news of your saving grace and mercy to those around me who need your healing love and forgiveness.”5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 32:23-33 asks if we ever feel as if we are in a similar wrestling match? And with God, no less?

 If that’s the case, don’t give up. Keep wrestling! Thank the Lord for all the ways in which he has cared for you in the past. Tell him about your current fears and hesitations. Trust that he is in the situation and will not abandon you to figure things out on your own. He may be answering you with silence so that you come to the answer yourself. Or he may answer you with another question. One way or another, however, he will show you a way forward.
In every situation, behind every burden or question, you have this assurance: God loves you and is committed to you. In his own time, he will bring to light what seems hidden in the darkness.6

Friar Jude Winkler explains the etiology of the hip muscle in Jewish tradition. Rabbinic comment is that God laughs when one of his children wins an argument. Friar Jude observes that the Pharisees will not accept Jesus. When the king or priests are not acting as shepherds, Ezekiel says God himself will shepherd the people.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that Prophets, by their very nature, cannot be at the center of any social structure. Rather, they are “on the edge of the inside.” They cannot be full insiders, but they cannot throw rocks from outside either. A true prophet must be educated inside the system, knowing and living the rules, before they can critique what is non-essential or not so important. Jesus did this masterfully (see Matthew 5:17-48).

My spiritual father, St. Francis of Assisi, saw this problem in the thirteenth century and called people to live on the edge—of the Church, of the dominant economy which always protects the top, of patriarchy, of the “system”—through universal solidarity and chosen simplicity. Pope Francis is evoking the same Gospel spirit, and I pray for his success and protection. What a surprise that the ultimate establishment figure took the name of such a radical saint. It shocked the world because we do not expect prophecy from popes. There is hope!7 

Critiquing the system is an essential role. Our spiritual wrestling is an essential step in discerning where the Spirit is directing us in leadership.

References

1	(n.d.). Genesis, chapter 32 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/32
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 17 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/17
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 9 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved July 9, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/07/09/
7	(2017, September 12). The Edge of the Inside — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from https://cac.org/the-edge-of-the-inside-2017-09-12/