The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to explore the relationships through which we encounter Love that is self emptying and nourished by the Spirit.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians explains his boasting In Christ.
* [1:19–25] Paul earnestly debates his prospects of martyrdom or continued missionary labor. While he may long to depart this life and thus be with Christ (Phil 1:23), his overall and final expectation is that he will be delivered from this imprisonment and continue in the service of the Philippians and of others (Phil 1:19, 25; Phil 2:24). In either case, Christ is central (Phil 1:20–21); if to live means Christ for Paul, death means to be united with Christ in a deeper sense. (Philippians, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Psalm 42 expresses longing for God and His Help in distress.
* [Psalms 42–43] Ps 42–43 form a single lament of three sections, each section ending in an identical refrain (Ps 42:6, 12; 43:5). The psalmist is far from Jerusalem, and longs for the divine presence that Israel experienced in the Temple liturgy. Despite sadness, the psalmist hopes once again to join the worshiping crowds. (Psalms, PSALM 42, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus heals the man with dropsy and teaches about humility and hospitality.
* [14:7–14] The banquet scene found only in Luke provides the opportunity for these teachings of Jesus on humility and presents a setting to display Luke’s interest in Jesus’ attitude toward the rich and the poor (see notes on Lk 4:18; 6:20–26; 12:13–34). (Luke, CHAPTER 14, n.d.)
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Don Schwager quotes “Jesus calls us to be humble, modest, and praiseworthy,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"'When,' he says, 'a man more honorable than you comes, he that invited you and him will say, 'Give this man place.' Oh, what great shame is there in having to do this! It is like a theft, so to speak, and the restitution of the stolen goods. He must restore what he has seized because he had no right to take it. The modest and praiseworthy person, who without fear of blame might have claimed the dignity of sitting among the foremost, does not seek it. He yields to others what might be called his own, that he may not even seem to be overcome by empty pride. Such a one shall receive honor as his due. He says, 'He shall hear him who invited him say, "Come up here."... If any one among you wants to be set above others, let him win it by the decree of heaven and be crowned by those honors that God bestows. Let him surpass the many by having the testimony of glorious virtues. The rule of virtue is a lowly mind that does not love boasting. It is humility. The blessed Paul also counted this worthy of all esteem. He writes to those who eagerly desire saintly pursuits, 'Love humility.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 101.5) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Philippians 1:18-26 comments that Paul had learned that God’s love stretches far beyond the horizon of our troubles. When we experience his presence with us, our eyes are opened, and we begin to see life through the lens of his faithful love. Then we can find peace and even joy amid our challenges. We will know that however they turn out, God’s love remains unshaken.
God offers you himself today. He is present in the middle of whatever is going on in your life, whether great joys or great pains, whether decisive events or a tedious rut. You no doubt have earnest requests to bring to him—for healing, for clarity, for a solution. And you should bring them; Jesus taught us to pray this way. But when you have done this, you can also say, “Even more than any solution or answered prayer, Jesus, I want you.”
“My soul is thirsting for you, my God.” (Meditation on Philippians 1:18-26, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the intimacy of the letter of Paul to the Philippians. The holiness that may come with suffering presents the path of living or dying as attending to the Will of God. The tremendous but precarious gift of life informs our preparation to meet the Lord. Friar Jude reminds us of how we present ourselves in the places we choose in community gatherings.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Franciscan peacemakers Rosemary Lynch and Alain Richard who have identified ten “commandments” for those seeking to live a spiritual life of nonviolence. They call it “The Decalogue for a Spirituality of Nonviolence”.
To learn to recognize and respect “the sacred” in every person, including in ourselves, and in every piece of Creation. . . .
To accept oneself deeply, “who I am” with all my gifts and richness, with all my limitations, errors, failings and weaknesses, and to realize that I am accepted by God. . . .
To recognize that what I resent, and perhaps even detest, in another, comes from my difficulty in admitting that this same reality lives also in me. . . .
To renounce dualism, the “we-they” mentality (Manicheism). This divides us into “good people/bad people” and allows us to demonize the adversary. It is the root of authoritarian and exclusivist behavior. It generates racism and makes possible conflicts and wars.
To face fear and to deal with it not mainly with courage but with love.
To understand and accept that the New Creation, the building up of the Beloved Community is always carried forward with others. It is never a “solo act.” . . .
To see ourselves as a part of the whole creation to which we foster a relationship of love, not of mastery, remembering that the destruction of our planet is a profoundly spiritual problem, not simply a scientific or technological one. We are one.
To be ready to suffer, perhaps even with joy, if we believe this will help liberate the Divine in others. This includes the acceptance of our place and moment in history with its trauma, with its ambiguities.
To be capable of celebration, of joy, when the presence of God has been accepted, and when it has not been to help discover and recognize this fact.
To slow down, to be patient, planting the seeds of love and forgiveness in our own hearts and in the hearts of those around us. Slowly we will grow in love, compassion and the capacity to forgive. (Rohr, n.d.)
We are humbled by the gratitude we experience for our journey in love as we respond to the nudges of the Holy Spirit.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 14. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/14?1
Meditation on Philippians 1:18-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/29/522423/
Philippians, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/1?18
Psalms, PSALM 42. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/42?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/nonviolence-weekly-summary-2022-10-29/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct29
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