Intimacy provokes change

The author of the Book of Wisdom and the psalmist in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary agree on the nature of the Divine as abounding in steadfast love (for all creation). The Prayer of Paul for and to the Thessalonians speaks of being worthy of the call of God. Luke tells the story of jesus encounter with the tax collector Zacchaeus. He was despised by his community for collecting taxes and getting rich working for the Roman occupiers. Jesus calls this apparently unworthy person and invites him to the intimacy of a visit to his house. Fr Larry Gillick SJ reminds us that intimacy with Jesus brings change. The tax collector repents and makes restitution for his sins. The feast of All Saints, the eve of which is observed as Halloween, is the day where we reflect on the lives of the Saints who dropped their masks and disguises as they became intimate with the Divine through Jesus.

Service and Humility

The texts of the Roman Catholic lectionary today share two attitudes that are characteristic of those who are on the journey to greater intimacy with the Divine. The joy of Paul, expressed in his letter to the Philippians, that his life is the life with Christ and as long as he is in service to Christ, that life may be now in the time or it may be after death in the eternity. Death has no power over Paul. Jesus indicates again in Luke’s Gospel that the blessed are humble.

Gratitude generosity and graciousness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are full of praise for the actions which reveal the glory and compassion of God. Paul expresses the “attitude of gratitude” for the relationship he has experienced with the people of Philippi. He expresses thanksgiving and confidence that their love will be evidence of the righteousness of the Way they are following to intimacy with the Divine. The psalmist observes how the glory of the Divine is revealed in the generosity and graciousness to the people. The response is to praise God. Luke continues to present Jesus taking action to be the compassion of God only to have the authorities criticize him for going beyond what is permitted by the Law. Jesus hints that “going beyond the Law” is not so uncommon among his critics. The issue that traps many humans in the relationship with the Divine is control. We have a very strong desire to maintain it. There is an obstacle to our growth.

Special Tasks to Serve the Body

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today illustrate the nature of the human organization of the followers of Christ. Paul has instructed the Ephesians in their role as the living body of Christ. This living structure which is infused with the indwelling sprit of its members rests on the foundation of the prophets and apostles. Luke documents Jesus selection of twelve disciples who would become the Apostles. In prayer ,Jesus comes to the selection as the action of the Trinity, inspiration of the Spirit, will of the Father and action of the Son come together to call the twelve to special roles. The special role is to support and serve the structure which at best works to implement the will of the Father, inspired by the Spirit and reconciled through the Son. The mission and movement of this group is possible at its best without personal agenda, pride and power. The last shall be first operates as a direction and a consequence of this group

The Happiness from Reverence and Respect

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today describe the qualities and evidence of the fruit of life in Christian households. Paul exhorts the Ephesians to “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ”. The concept of being subject is not easily understood in Western experience. The decision to be a disciple of Christ and a member of the living Body of Christ is a decision to accept the Way of Christ for our lives. The intimacy of the relationship with the Divine, through Christ is the awe and power and the source of our knowledge of our unworthiness. Our position is to be subject to the unbalanced love of this union of creature and Creator. The comprehension that the experience of the Divine by the individual is not only the experience to which all individuals are invited, but the Body formed by those individuals as a sacred community is the Body of Christ. The reverence accorded to Christ is to be extended to all members of the Body. The fruit of living in this understanding is proclaimed by the psalmist as the “Happy Home of the Faithful”. The small seed of being subject to others brings to life the full size plant as servant to others. The small of leaven of respect and reverence for others makes a great deal of difference in a community or family.

Direction of Distraction

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary present messages similar to the psalmist today “do not follow the advice of the wicked”. It is a frequent temptation to listen to and act on the apparently rational and often legal advice of the people who scorn, scoff and dismiss the Life which is led by intimacy of the indwelling Spirit with the Spirit of the Divine. In the conscience informed by the intimacy with God is the spiritual resource to see the Way and to bypass the distractions fuelled by our pride, ego, lust, idolatry and self gratification. Paul reminds the Ephesians about the obvious truth that unity with the Body of Christ is not found in the direction of distraction. Luke’s Gospel reveals how Jesus ignores the advice of the legal authorities concerning healing on the Sabbath to do the will of the Father.

Adult Decisions and Spriitual Growth

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are encouraging believers to move to mature levels in their lives in the Body of Christ. Paul reminds the Ephesians and us that we have been gifted by the Spirit for service to the Body of Christ. The adult exercise of this gift is the path to deeper understanding of the mystery that is our relationship with the Divine. Luke’s Gospel, through Jesus examples and the parable of the barren fig points out to us that we should not delay in our movement toward holiness. We are spared the circumstances of living which may seriously threaten our growth. Jesus, the gardener, will continue to offer us the nourishment we require for growth.

Unity and Tension

The advice in the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today seems to be wide ranging. The pattern which runs through it is that we sometimes fail to use the senses and ability we have to process and act on the obvious. We question the simple action not because we don’t understand it but because the simple straight forward approach may be a set back to our pride and ego which perhaps expected a tougher policy or paradigm would apply to a stronger better person. The simple truth is simple. The gifts of the Spirit are to maintain the unity of the Body of Christ.  Empowered by the Spirit the many diverse “Christians” can maintain a “tension of diversity” which keeps the many forms and possibilities of the intimacy with the Divine available to all. The signs of the time often point in a direction which involves our acceptance of living in awareness of others. This path will help us to seek the “clean hands and pure hearts” which according to the psalmist are necessary to enter the Temple of God.

Come to bring fire

The text today from Luke’s Gospel in the Roman Catholic Lectionary initially seems to be a contradiction of Jesus message of peace and love. Looking around at the conflict which surrounds the battle between secularism and spirituality and the debates between fundamentalist and atheist there  is truth in the observation that division results from the consideration of the Good News of an intimate relationship with the Divine. The text points to these divisions occurring within the family unit. When the debate is distant, in the media, it can be treated as “news’. The discussion within families can be divisive and ironically the efforts to maintain the dialogue can be seen as “Christian action”. Richard Rohr, the Franciscan theologian, might see the necessary tension between concepts as the only path to move forward in understanding. The other point of view is never won over by argument or force. The opening of the mind to possibilities is the first step in conflict resolution. The possibilities of the life in communion with the Divine are expressed eloquently in Paul’s prayer from the letter to the Ephesians which is the first text for today.

The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate the gift of an intimate relationship with the Divine. Paul praise God that he is the servant of the Word and Will of God bringing Good News of the inclusion of all in the family of God to all he can contact. Isaiah praises the source of life he knows in the intimate relationship with the” Holy One of God in our midst”. In the Gospel from Luke, we hear the caution that the experience of the intimacy with the Master make us knowledgeable of the Will of the Master. Our decision to act contrary to this Will is serious betrayal.

Watch for the Opportunity

Paul addresses the Ephesians in one text from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. He tells them that they are a great living structure. He presents the image of a building containing God with Jesus at the cornerstone. The Body of Christ is the community of indwelling Spirit that serves to be Divine presence. Luke exhorts the servants of Christ to be watchful for the return of the intense understanding of Jesus presence and to be prepared to enter into that experience. The idea that there are watchful slaves who will be able to enter into the delight of the Master predicts that there are less watchful people who will likely miss the occasion or pass through it without experiencing the intensity of Divine Presence in that event. The knock will come to the door. Will we hear it?

Hanging in There

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contain a theme of “hanging in there”. The “personal instructions” in Paul’s second letter to Timothy indicate that Paul has been abandoned by quite a few friends. Luke is still with him. The work of the “labourers in the field” often involves “hanging in there”. Tradition has it that Paul was a difficult person to live with. The tendency to “move on” when the difficulties set in is not the approach that Jesus is directing his workers to follow in Luke’s Gospel. The worker stays in one place and receives the gifts of the community. The adoption of the attitude to “hang in” opens the door to new understanding of our call to intimacy in the Body of Christ.

Brother Andre’, the Millennium Generation and practice of faith

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today features texts with surprising twists. The Book of Exodus tells of Israel’s success over an enemy army by the apparently unrelated act of Moses holding up his arms as he sought the intervention of God. The letter of Paul to Timothy exhorts him to use Scripture for teaching and to be persistent rather than being caught up in scheduling, strategizing and planning. Persist in the action is the message in Luke’s Gospel as the persistent widow finally gets justice for the corrupt judge. Jesus comments on the relationship of this persistence to faith. Faithfulness is evidenced in persistence. Who “practices the faith”? The faithful grow in faith and understanding through persistent practice. The amazing story of Brother Andre, the door keeper of St Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, who today is canonized as St Andre Besette, sought to enter studies with the religious order at St. Joseph’s Oratory and they “showed him the door”. From this place at the door, he brought healing, compassion and love to thousands. The great diversity, openness and social ability of the Millennium Generation as they move through their education to the work force generates hope that the problems of the world will fall to capable hands. The model of Brother Andre will offer the patience and faithfulness to complement the energy of youth.

Prayer of Paul

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today begin with the prayer of Paul for the Ephesians that the spirit of God would continue to give them the wisdom and the revelation to know the glorious inheritance to which they are called. The movement of the Spirit invites us to come to know. This growth is ongoing. Great movement may be experienced or steady change may be the pattern. The openness to this change is the key. Luke’s Gospel echoes the power of the Spirit to bring strength to the faithful when required. The power of the movement of the Spirit in our relationship with God, places abuse of that power in the category of a serious blaspheme.

Knowing Our Place

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today point to one of the tensions in the pursuit of the journey to intimacy with the Divine. Paul reassures us that we have the inheritance of kinship with Jesus and the life with the Holy Spirit becoming living praise to God. At the same time as the psalmist tells us of the love of God for the righteous and just and that evidence of the love of God is everywhere in the world, the writer reminds us of the distance between heaven and humanity. The Gospel of Luke contains warnings against hypocrisy. The righteousness we may flaunt through practice of piety needs to be based in the knowledge that even though “all have sinned” and “all have fallen short”, God is faithful to the relationship and Jesus exhorts us to fearlessness in the living of our relationship to the Divine.

Not under our control

The Gospel of Luke in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today describes the building hostility of the Pharisees and lawyers to Jesus as He points to the hypocrisy and devious ways in which they have controlled others and have given surface attention to the tradition and the Covenant with the Divine. The psalmist has the spirit of awe and joy in the understanding of the richness to the people of maintaining faithfully the relationship with God. Paul explains to the Ephesians that the life of the Spirit which they are experiencing has been the will of the Divine for them for all time. The controls and conditions which humanity attempts to put on the infinite and eternal are futile acts of fear. The intimacy of children of God is the position in which the Spirit will resonate with the Divine.

The Fruit of the Spirit

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law (Galatians 5:18)

The texts in the Roman Catholic lectionary today challenge us to be in touch with the indwelling Spirit which informs our conscience and our behaviour. The intimate relationship to which we are invited with the Divine offers the “Law” that is written in our being. When we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we are moving towards holy and wholly existence. The legalism of our time, and as Luke shows, of Jesus time, so often offers the surface of propriety but can be a shield to avoid compassion, forgiveness, peace, solidarity and love because it is not required “by the Law”.

Looking around thankfully

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today speak to the freedom that Paul proclaims as one of the gifts of the intimate relationship with the Divine. The son of Abraham, Isaac, who was Sarah’s son, is the son of the free woman. The birth of Isaac, when Sarah was very old, was one path through which the promise to Abraham of many descendents would be fulfilled. Tradition suggests that this special birth was not difficult but free from distress. The psalmist proclaims that the Lord God is to be praised for His help to the needy. He frees the poor and needy. Luke tells of the insistence of the religious authorities for a sign of Jesus divinity. The power of God acting through Jonah to restore Ninevah and the discovery of the “Queen of the South” of the Divine inspiration of Solomon in his wisdom were the signs that Jesus invited his questioners to “see” through reflection on his forgiving and teaching ministry. The “signs” can often be right before our eyes. We can practice “Thanksgiving” and when we look up we will see many signs of the relationship with Divine love already present to us.

Compassion Gratitude and the Rules

A commentary on the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today suggests that Luke’s Gospel contains two stories about Good Samaritans. Today Luke tells us that Jesus healed ten lepers and the only one to return and express gratitude to God was the Samaritan. The commentator suggests that both this act of a “good” person and the actions of the more widely known “Good Samaritan” were enabled for the one outside Jewish culture and tradition because the laws about avoiding the unclean and adhering to “Temple practice” did not encumber him. The priest, Levite and Jewish lepers perhaps placed the observance of the Law before compassion and gratitude. The psalmist reminds us of the love and faithfulness of God throughout the ages. What is the proper response to this love and faithfulness? Paul advises Timothy that living the life of Christ has been his life giving response to the faithful love of the Divine. Action speaks louder than words.

There is no longer Jew or Greek

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort the freedom from the Law that being baptized in Christ meant to Paul. The exhortation of Paul is that all are members of the Body of Christ and that the difference between Greek and Jew, slave and free, male and female have been removed. Some observations of Christianity may suggest that this lack of difference has yet to be realized in areas such as ordained ministry within the Roman Catholic Church. The call to ordained ministry has gone out to females in the other Christian Churches. This invitation of the Spirit to minister is a sacred and Divinely blessed vocation. Luke’s Gospel proclaims that the mother of Jesus was truly blessed in the uniquely female actions which only she could share with Him. This is true. Jesus expands the understanding of blessedness to those who hear the Word and act on it. There is great agreement among Christians in the understanding of Divine Presence in the lives of humanity. For the central community action of Christians, the Celebration of the Eucharist, there is not uniform agreement around Divine Presence. The hands of the priest in the Roman understanding are the instruments of God’s action in being Present in the form of bread and wine. The call to this mystical priestly service of the Body of Christ may be the difference. Acting on the Word and the mission to sanctify the world is the call to all Christians. All Christians are invited to the freedom proclaimed by Paul. All are members of the living Body of Christ.

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today push us to accept that we are spiritual beings. We are living in the present yet our ancestors and our grandparents influence our attitudes and customs. Paul reminds the Galatians that the patriarch Abraham is influencing their relationship with God as the mission of the presentation of the Promise to the Gentiles was being fulfilled in their reception of the Good News. Humanity lives on a time line. Our existence is finite. The Eternal Divine is without time line. Past, present and future are meaningless. The intimacy with the Divine to which we are invited is a contact with timelessness. In thanksgiving, the psalmist proclaims “He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.” In the Gospel from Luke we are presented with the contradiction that the evil spirit which is driven from our lives as we contact with the Divine may return with a vengeance as the temporal and finite nature of our being longs for the creature comfort we have rejected.

Intimacy with the Divine

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today offers reminders that the status quo is not the goal and the next step in the journey may seem highly unlikely as we approach it but on reflection may be recognized as a response to an invitation to growth. Paul explains to the Galatians the highly unlikely situation that brought him to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles” from the position of great persecutor of the Way. The psalmist reflects that the very mystery of our being and the marvellous construction of our body is testimony to a plan and a direction beyond our human ability to comprehend which nevertheless is as intimate to us as our heart beat. How do you behave when the opportunity for intimacy with the Divine is sensed? The traditional tasks may be best set aside.  The transcendent God offers the opportunity to sit “at His feet”. Our response is neither predictable nor ordinary!

Not of this world

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the faith of Christians is not of this world. The perfection of God is praised by the psalmist. It is not the usual situation that the precepts which we hold are from the Divine. This is the Gospel. The Good News of forgiveness and compassion from the inspiration of the indwelling Spirit in relationship with the Divine. Paul indentifies the contact with the Divine as a revelation rooted in his relationship with Jesus. The legalism of the religious rulers of Jesus time demanded a clear definition of “neighbour”. Richard Rohr might suggest that they were trying to trap Jesus in duo mode thinking. This is right. This is wrong. However Jesus tells the parable of the Samaritan, sinner by the rules of heritage and culture, who proves to be the “neighbour” who the Law commands to love and be loved. It is not what we expect. It is not what we a comfortable with. It is not of this world!

How do we live in faith?

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ask the question about how we live. What are our expectations? What is our response to the fulfillment or the apparent failure to realize the expectations? The events in life may have biased our response to this question. We have almost always realized expectations or perhaps we have often been disappointed. The Prophet Habakkuk is advised to wait on God. The proud will be impatient. The misunderstanding of our place in the scheme of things may cause us to attribute more importance to our desires and will than it is best for our growth in the intimate relationship with the Divine. The ancients try to tell us that this is not a relationship between equals. It is a relationship initiated and maintained by God. It is the gift of delight in His creature. It is a journey to fulfillment of God’s will for us which faith in the unseen and faith beyond the limits of our senses is required. The full vision is not likely to be ours as it is far beyond the limits to which we can usually surrender our human nature but the vision and the promise of kinship with the Divine are revealed in the lives of those we encounter and within which we recognize the action of the Divine. Fr Larry Gillick picks up on the theme in Luke’s Gospel that entering the Kingdom will be a violent attack on our ego. Jesus delivers the faith we will need to surrender ego and be prepared to be “washed in the blood of the Lamb” not as heroes earning recognition and glory but as servants doing the will of the Master.

Faith and the Angels

The Texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today give us some insights from Scripture on the nature of angels. The task of leading the faithful in the path desired by God is given to an angel. The believers are advised to listen attentively to the instructions of the angel. The psalmist celebrates the protection of those undergoing trials by the angel of God. The faith of the humble is a gift through which the care of God for humanity is known. The passage from Matthew’s Gospel is assurance of the value of the least to thr Divine.

Job knows Immanence and Transcendence

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today cause reflection on both the immanence and transcendence of the Divine. Job has experience of the transcendent God who creates and changes the face of the earth and the immanent God who speaks personally to his faithful child. The psalmist praises the inescapable nature of the Divine. It is difficult to think of events and situations where the Divine Presence cannot be sensed or appreciated if only through the exercise of “breath awareness”. We resonate with Job that understanding of both our insignificance in the eternal infinite universe and personal intimacy with the Divine through the indwelling Spirit. Luke describes the consequences likely to befall those who rejected the evidence as Jesus made His journey to Jerusalem.