Blessing and Woe

The reality and hope of Christians is expressed in the letter of Paul to the Corinthians from the texts of the Roman CatholicLectionary today. He concludes the message today with the advice and observation that the present form of the world is passing away. Friar JudeWinkler explains that Paul’s conviction that the end of the world was imminent is based on the evidence of Jesus resurrection, a sign of the end, which fired Paul’s missionary activity and advice to prepare the world with the Good News. The form of the world which is hoped will pass away is that which Luke observes in the Beatitude presentation from the Gospel in which hatred, rejection, poverty and hunger will be eliminated for the  anawim (Hebrew for “the poor of Yahweh”). The author of the Ficino Cafe cites Richard Rohr OFM who writes of those who know they cannot do it alone and rely on the blessings of God. Friar Jude reminds us of our broken state which is the opportunity for our personal experience of poverty of spirit and need for the blessings declared by Luke for those who hunger, thirst and persevere for that time of grace when the world, in its present form passes away. The Ficino Cafe uses the image of Mary to remind us of the changes which can happen in societies when the Spirit of Jesus is given opportunity to move in the lives of people. Fr. Robert Barron describes his reaction to first seeing the image ofOur Lady of Guadalupe, and reflects on the power that image has had through the years. We understand that the great change is perhaps very close and we need to be Pauline in our desire to bring many to this gracious event.