Transcendence transcends text

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the 2nd Sunday of Lent draw attention to the nature of the relationship that is developed in the spiritual journey. This relationship is with the Divine, Creator and Lord of the Universe! Both the intimacy and the awe of this relationship are shown to co-exist. It is only by experiencing the transcendence from our reality that Abraham could have believed the promise of God. The experience of the intimacy of the Divine calls the psalmist to proclaim his trust in continuing to know the Goodness as part of life. Paul proclaims to the Philippians how the transforming power of the indwelling Spirit will dispel any humiliation which the world attempts to heap upon those who are the bodily presence of Divine in the world. The transcendent experience of Peter, John and James in the Presence of Jesus and the voice of the Father is put in text by Luke. The recall of this experience necessarily relies on an attempt by the Evangelist to capture that which is not to be captured. The description of Love is a shadow of the love experience. Transcendence transcends text.

Called to go beyond human boundaries

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhorts us to go beyond the “letter of the law” to the Law that is written on our heart. That “law” is discerned through the indwelling Spirit. Through the observance of the promptings of the Spirit, we come to the wisdom which calls us to exercise the Love of the Divine. This love is the basis for the quality of love which extends to enemies. It is also the source of the transcendent power to exceed human boundaries. The earthquake in Chile early this morning will call on people again to transcend the usual boundaries in action, prayer and selflessness. We join together in prayer to activate our indwelling Spirit.

What is the Law on this?

The tendency of people to want to have the rules of our relationship with the Divine spelled out in detail is a theme of the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. Ezekiel proclaims that the fate of the righteous person who, knowing the nature of the relationship with the Divine, decides to move away from that intimacy is serious. The family understanding of the Divine relationship is more relevant than a ‘legal ‘interpretation. Members of the family understand that loyalty, faithfulness compassion and love factor into decisions about behavior. Matthew tells of Jesus expansion on the Law concerning the judgment of murderers. The consequence of anger is the concern. The decision to be angry and unforgiving is the seed of the capital crime. The turning away from the guidance of the indwelling Spirit occurs when the status of a brother or sister is de valued in our mind. The Divine Redemption which the psalmist seeks today is the restoration of the indwelling Spirit as guide to our actions.

Asking for Golden Empowerment

Perhaps the “Golden Rule” as presented by Matthew from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today is an obvious moral rule. Experience might suggest that Divine power is necessary to really live it. Transcendence is the consequence of living the possibilities of the indwelling Spirit. The ability to go beyond is visible in the athletics and courage of the Olympians. The psalmist realizes the source of the deliverance he experiences from fear and loss. Ester recognizes both the awesome aspect of being empowered to transcend our human boundaries with Divine support and the experience of the glance of the Lord as full of kindness. Matthew reminds us that the experience of being empowered to serve beyond our boundaries is a gift available for the asking.

Worthiness not the Issue

The text from Psalm 51 in the Roman Catholic Lectionary is the proclamation of one who has known Divine mercy and forgiveness for the separation chosen the by the human from God. The story of Jonah and his mission to exhort the ancient city of Nineveh to return to lives in harmony with God’s will is a story of the message being delivered without the complete conviction of the messenger. This is counter intuitive but it makes the point that the action of the Word is not dependent on the consent or quality of participation of the messenger. In planning and acting on evangelistic ventures, the role of the evangelist is to reduce ego and increase service and authenticity. The conviction of the forgiven will attract those in search of that peace, but the mission accomplished by the Word is far greater than can be contained in the person of people.

Words with Power

The tendency that we sometimes have to “heap up words” is addressed through the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. In the beginning God made heaven and earth. We can appeal to God “Just say the word and I will be healed”. Isaiah declares the power of the few words of the Divine to accomplish God’s intent. The psalmist reveals the understanding that God hears the words of the poor and distressed who are unable by circumstance to be obscure and verbose in prayer. Misdeeds and evil intent can seek concealment in many words. Matthew relates Jesus instruction in prayer form. He demonstrates simple words to open the channel for the action of the Word to take hold as our indwelling Spirit is resonant with the Divine Presence through prayer.

Leading by the Shepherd's example

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today recognizes the Chair of Saint Peter. Peter was chosen by Jesus to shepherd the “flock” of believers after Jesus death. Matthew writes of Peter’s bold profession of faith to Jesus as they journeyed to Jerusalem to encounter Jesus destiny. Deep trust rings in peter’s proclamation and Jesus echoes this trust declaration by entrusting the direction of the believers to Peter. The part of the letter of Peter in the Lectionary reveals that the advice that Peter gives others who shepherd is to be as God, the loving Father, in exercising authority with enthusiasm, using example to permit the flock to freely choose the direction of the shepherd. The 23rd psalm is the expression of the leadership of God through our indwelling Spirit to those who trust faithfully.

Tempted to do it our way

One aspect of the humanity of Jesus which Jean-Marc Laporte, S.J. shared with attendees of an 8 hour seminar, the Human Jesus, was the event from Luke’s gospel in the Roman Catholic Lectionary entitled the Temptation of Jesus. The choice offered by this temptation episode is to move away from the patterns outlined in the other texts. Deuteronomy calls the reader to recall the “mighty hand and outstretched arm” of God which delivered the Israelite people from oppression and slavery in Egypt. The psalmist implores God to “rescue me when I am in trouble”. Paul exhorts the Romans to remember that the Lord is generous to all and the power of the indwelling Spirit “on the lips” is to bring Divine assistance to all. With the spiritual experience and advice offered in the first texts as background, we see the Human Jesus being enticed to “do it yourself”. My plan and my way and the satisfaction of my ego are the human temptations shared by humans and Jesus. The response of Jesus is also our response to the temptation to put “our way” first. The will of the Divine, as understood by the indwelling Spirit, is the guide. That guidance is toward serving others as liberator, rescuer and giver as we are “moved by the Spirit”.

Reaching out to Restore

In the Roman Catholic Lectionary today the text from Isaiah reminds us again of the true fast that frees people and is restorative. Restoring damaged relationships is a theme the psalmist and the evangelist Luke as he relates Jesus action to call the tax collector, Levi, to follow Him and to spend time engaging the other ritually unclean tax collectors by eating and drinking with them at Levi’s house. The barriers that we put in place to avoid engaging those who are not like us include creating enemies. The prayer of the psalmist of “Supplication for Help against Enemies” may not be necessary if we work with the desire of our indwelling Spirit to include and heal.

Fast track on fasting

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the traditional practices of Lent. The Roman Catholic Lectionary today presents texts from Isaiah and Matthew to open our minds to think about the best way to approach fasting. The denial of excessive food to oneself is a fast. The practice of “giving up for Lent” is a fast. The texts challenge us to ask whether our fasting behavior is addressing the situation in which we live or is it an escape from the “now” where we can use our own sense of deprivation to console ourselves with our holy act? The eyes of Wisdom, as evidenced in Isaiah’s texts, see the needs for the fasting from oppression, injustice absence of compassion and charity which continues to be so visible in our society. The resonance of the indwelling Spirit with the Divine presence is a time to be open to receive and fill ourselves with the trust in the loving approach to our environment as we store up spiritual power and insight to be the compassion and charity that is so needed.

It is our choice

The Thursday after Ash Wednesday in the Roman Catholic Lectionary presents texts which encourage us to choose. The understanding of the importance of choice in our relationship with the Divine is too often treated lightly. Genesis presents choice as the human attribute. The text today from Deuteronomy encourages the Israelites to choose their relationship with God over a self reliant path. It is presented as a life or death choice. The psalmist advocates a path of daily meditation on the law of the Lord. The psalmist praises the wisdom of this choice and the fruit of this relationship. Luke relates Jesus presentation of the consequence of his mission. His choice would lead to great suffering and rejection. Those who chose to follow Him would also have to deny themselves and through this denial they would end up choosing the Life that is presented in the Garden of Eden, during the Exodus in the desert, at daily meditation and through self denial. It is our choice.

'Ash' me about our relationship

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today has the texts for Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. This season of preparation for Easter is a time for reevaluation of our relationship with the Divine. The Prophet Joel encourages us to return to intimacy with God. Our ego can distort our understanding of this relationship. The traditional Lenten practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving are opportunities to take the focus off our self. Matthew’s gospel offers Jesus advice that we look inward in these practices and make them as actions that are based in our personal relationship with the indwelling Spirit. Like the outward sign of the beginning of Lenten practices, ash of palm leaves marked on the forehead, the society should ‘see’ the effect of our fasting, prayer and almsgiving in the way we interact with our brothers and sisters.

Our will be done

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today, Shrove Tuesday, has texts which remind us of our weakness and our tendency to move away from the fully engaged life to other modes which deny our indwelling Spirit and relationship with the Divine. James letter names our inner desire, perhaps our ego, as the force that yields to temptation and takes control of the disaster of putting distance between our life and the life of the Spirit. The psalmist implores God to be discipline and consolation to him as he feels “his foot slipping”. Mark reveals Jesus questioning of His disciples understanding of their witness of Providence working perfectly (7 baskets) in His action as their personal fears surface about how they would eat and live. The season of Lent, which begins tomorrow, offers the opportunity to grow in our understanding of the closeness of the Divine to our lives. Traditionally, this is a time of prayer, less focus on self (fasting) and being a better servant (almsgiving)

Endurance wisdom and faith

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today presents some texts on the struggle for believers. James letter contains practical action for believers. Struggle offers the opportunity to be raised up. The believer with endurance will experience wisdom and increase in faith. So much depends on trusting the indwelling Spirit. Mark relates the apparent impatience of the Pharisees for a sign from heaven. The external evidence sought by the Pharisees is a block to that internal search for the “sign”.

Directions for Growth

The texts from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, in the Roman Catholic Lectionary, at first glance, may seem to be suggesting the dual thinking that Richard Rohr warns can only stunt spiritual development. In fact, the tension between the blessing of poorness in spirit and attachment to material things, ego and status is the space we find ourselves in. The abandonment of direction from the indwelling Spirit and the failure to ponder the ancient theme and mystery of reconciliation of Creature and Creator will leave us spiritually impoverished. The texts declare some of the benchmarks in our relationship with the Divine. We can sense where we are and the nature of the goals we seek.

Manipulation for Self Interest

Satisfying hunger is a theme of the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The Book of Kings relates how the desire of the people to worship God is manipulated by Jeroboam to keep power and control in his hands after the fall of the reign of Solomon. The motivation of leaders to this day sometimes continues to be self serving. Mark relates the compassion of Jesus that motivates Him to care for their needs for material and spiritual food. Serving self is the direction which can lead to the manipulation of others.

Two directions in the Relationship

The Roman Catholic lectionary shows two contrasting scenarios. The text from 1 Kings relates the break up of Solomon’s Kingdom as the Israelites moved away from relying on God for their direction and social health. Mark relates Jesus encounter with a deaf man, who is healed as his inner indwelling Spirit responses to Jesus invitation to wholeness.

Choosing and Intuition

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are about moving away and moving towards intimacy with the Divine, Solomon at the beginning of his reign lived in intimate contact with the Wisdom of the indwelling Spirit. The manifestation of this relationship was in the sweetness of his rule and the flourishing of the people under his direction. As he moved away from this contact with the Divine things changed for him and for the destiny of his subjects. The impact of decisions we make today may be seen for generations. The indwelling Spirit of the Syrophoenician Woman resonated in the presence of Jesus. Her intimacy with the Divine prepared her to know that the Spirit was active in the person of Jesus. Her certainty that the power to drive evil from her daughter was present saw her engage Jesus in a significant discussion. This ‘boldness’ came from the already present conviction that she would be satisfied in this transaction. The ‘spiritual intuition’ which is beyond understanding and is full of trust is operating here. The dialogue is a ‘teaching commentary’ for us and those who were not linked into the ‘mystical’ relationship which was unfolding.

Approval and surrender are not always our choice

The visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon is related in the text from 1 Kings in the Roman Catholic lectionary for today. The apparent “stamp of approval” of Solomon by a foreign (perhaps North Africa) ruler seems unusual. The collection of people who Jesus has with Him to accomplish His mission is also very unusual. The selection of our companions and those who ‘judge us’ is often not ours to make. The path for those are trying to be attentive to the indwelling Spirit may be as marvelous and unpredictable as the nature of Divine Spirit. It promises and invites the trust in Providence evidenced in the life of Solomon and essential in the disciples of Jesus, even though the path may include our hard headedness or the hard headedness of our companions as Mark shows today.

Cannot be contained or controlled

The psalmist in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today proclaims the great joy in being in the house of the Lord. This image is fruit for thought. Solomon’s prayer recognizes that even though we try to arrange to place the Divine in our spaces, the universe itself cannot contain the Lord. The “holy place” though is something that people experience. Celtic tradition referred to these places as “thin”. Heaven and earth were “close” in these places. Mark reveals Jesus proclamation against the hypocrisy which can become part of our attempt to control the relationship with the Divine or to use our religious obligation or rules of observance to block the loving action which would be the fruit of a true realization of the indwelling Spirit, present in the humble house of our being.

Sacred Touch

The “Divine Touch” comes to mind as a result of reading the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today. The sense of the Divine Presence by people has been compared by some like Richard Rohr to resonance. This is the phenomena in nature where systems oscillate with a heightened response when a particular frequency is present. Natural resonance changes the behavior of the physical system. It may sustain higher voltages or currents during resonance. At the level of the substance of the system, it is changed. The recognition of the real change in nature in contact with the Divine is the scenario related in the Dedication of the Temple. Jesus Presence in His public ministry changed lives. The Divine Contact is given a response by nature.

Beyond Normal Experience? No excuses!

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today takes us to events which are beyond normal human experience. Isaiah is present in heaven where the Lord King approaches him with a request. Paul recalls his experience with the Risen Jesus as well as recording the experiences of the other apostles. Jesus speaks to the people at the lakeshore during His public ministry. Peter acts on Jesus suggestion to return to fishing even though they had not caught anything all night. The over abundance of the resulting catch astounds Peter. Jesus asks Peter to follow Him as a ‘fisher of people’. The extra human experience is often the opportunity to hear a call or request from the Divine. Larry Gillick S.J., of Creighton University's Online Ministries (http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020710.html) writes that these experiences also have engendered “excuses” from the participants as to why they cannot respond to the Divine request. Isaiah had unclean lips. Peter was a sinful man. These excuses are also true. It is the unclean and sinful that the Divine often chooses.

Wisdom to obey the Call for Compassion

And Solomon said, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind…” (1 Kings 3). How can young people keep their way pure? These texts about youth and the way to may our way on the journey are as ancient as King Solomon and as new as today. The gift of wisdom sought by Solomon and the search for purity or “wholiness” are not the sole concern of the young. After presenting these texts, the Roman Catholic Lectionary has Mark tell of the strategy of Jesus and His disciples to fortify themselves for the journey. Jesus takes them away to a deserted place to pray. In Jesus time, the Essenes lived in the desert and used the solitude to experience contact with the indwelling Spirit. Scholars have written that Jesus demonstrated practices which were common in the Essenes. The text from Mark also shows that even our “holy plans” to sit in the Divine Presence are to be modified by compassion for those who need and who we see as “sheep without a shepherd”. The journey is aided by wisdom and obedience to the commandments but compassion and love must trump all other attributes of the “holy person”.

Two Rulers Trusting and Confused

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today bring us some surprise. The book of Sirach recounts the episodes of glorious victory of David with the empowerment of the Lord. Through these conquests, he became the great King of Israel. The psalmist praises the power of God to deliver David from the hands of Saul. The relationship of David to the Divine provides insight to our journey in the power of the indwelling Spirit to support and supercharge our life. Herod is curious about the mystical prophet John. The scenario which leads to John’s execution by Herod demonstrates how the strategies to protect ego and control can result in consequences which give us more uncertainty and confusion. This is contrasted with the ability of David to trust completely in Divine Providence.

Catalyst for Change?

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today brings the story of the Death of David. The Life of David is a wonderful recounting of the great heights and great depths of human experience in relationship with God. At the end this unlikely hero, the shepherd king of a great, yet corrupt Israel, who was involved in adultery and murder gives praise to his constant relationship with the Divine. Great inspiration!

Consequences for social sins?

Today the Roman Catholic Lectionary brings us to the penance of David for his sins against the people of Israel. The concept of consequences for sin is one with which we do not spend time with in modern times. The sins of economic exploitation can result in dire consequences for the poor and marginalized in our world. The investors and the business class seem to walk away with relatively minor loss when natural disaster, like hurricane, earthquake or flood hits. Mark shows Jesus identification with the oppressed through His proclamation that the verses of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61) were being fulfilled in His person. Mark records that the people in Jesus synagogue rejected His mission and were unable to move from their understanding of Him as the carpenter of Nazareth. Blindness is often the consequence of the acceptance of the status-quo.

Living up to the predictions? Not so much?

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is the theme of the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The prophet, Malachi, expresses the sense of the “coming messenger” as the purifying presence of the Divine. The Hebrew understanding of the majesty and power of the Divine necessarily meant that all defiled by sin would be annihilated in a purification action. The impossibility of good and evil to coexist is the exhortation of Malachi. The strong arm and mighty hand of the Lord are at the basis for the praise of the King of Glory by the psalmist. Luke relates the experience of Mary and Joseph as they present their very human son in the Temple as the Jewish tradition required. Simeon, a prophet in the Temple* blessed them and said thanked God that he had seen the arrival of the “messenger”. 36 Anna* the daughter of Phanuel, was also a prophet who spoke of Jesus as the redemption of Jerusalem. The One who comes to save is pictured quite differently by the Malachi and Luke. This is the seed of a great reflection on the humanity and divinity of Jesus. We probably have a preference for “our” Saviour. The point is that the contemplation of this humanity and divinity nature is where the spiritual richness lies. The “journey” is to work at keeping the mystery in tension as it reveals more and more about both aspects of the Divine “messenger”.

Detect evil and respect curses

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today brings texts in which evil is encountered by David and Jesus. Shimei, an angry man of the family of Saul curses King David as he encounters him being pursued by his son Absalom. The King is urged to order Shimei’s head cut off. David reflects that the Lord may be trying to communicate with him through the curses of this man. David’s awareness of the communication with the Divine and how it has shaped his life and how it may be part of the most difficult experiences reveals a deep relationship between person and God. Jesus encounter with the demoniac suggests that the deep relationship with the Divine is a quality that is detectable by the spiritually conscious. The evil possessing the demoniac detects the spiritual relation of Jesus with the Father. The repulsion of evil from good is the consequence of this encounter.