Contrasting Contemplation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer two contrasting views of the relationship between humanity and the Divine. Moses instructs the people to follow the mighty hand of the Lord across the Jordan into the promised land where "He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them". The psalmist praises the essential justice of God who apportions the boundaries of the nations among the peoples. The Gospel of Matthew has Jesus instruct the disciples and us that the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the most humble. The example of the little child is set out as the humility required of people. This is not the child of modern western culture who receives much attention from parents and adults. This is the child who is seen and not heard as he learns his position in the family structure. The Gospel presents Jesus example of the good shepherd who searches after one lost sheep even though there are 99 others and who rejoices when the lost is found. This contrasts greatly with the "minimize your losses" attitudes today. It is not easy to reconcile these different views. The invitation is to contemplate the texts and seek the insight of which we may become aware in the process