The Roman Catholic Lectionary today brings us texts which
explore how we understand the nature of the New Creature we are invited to be
through our relationship with Jesus. The letter of Paul to the Corinthians reveals
the transformation of understanding which Paul experienced in his
reconciliation with Jesus. His eyes were opened to see that the gift of reconciliation
and acceptance by God is for all peoples. Friar Jude Winkler comments that our
example of how to view others is as precious creatures of God with great dignity.
In contemplation of this revelation, we stand with the psalmist in praise of
the steadfast love, mercy and slowness to anger of God. The Gospel from Matthew,
which continues the Sermon on the Mount, is Jesus exhortation to keep it simple
in our presentation of our lives to God and others. We seek the comfort of
keeping our brokenness and selfish motives secret by nuanced expressions of our
position. In front of God, the New Creature stands naked with all imperfection
visible and God smiles to welcome us.
The view of our relationship to others changes
in many aspects of our life as we experience the perspective shared by Paul.
When we enter married life, we are drawn together by that Love which simply
knows that our spouse is and calls from us some experience of the New Creature
with a view of the precious nature of people. The challenge as we grow in a married
relationship is to grow that view in the face of life in a world culture which
offers counter claims that the most important person is you and your career,
satisfaction and prestige are necessary and deserved for this marriage to
succeed. If we only did things my way, we could make a success of this. The
bigger picture we strive to accomplish may actually be a smaller picture of the
world with our passion and privilege at the centre. The transformation of Paul
through intimate contact with Jesus is the model for transformation of self
centered living to selflessness of Divine Love. Perhaps our times of stress and
struggle with the expectations of the world offer the opportunity to pause and
let the message of Love re-enter through the steadfast presence of our spouse,
the simple openness of our children or giving without consideration of
repayment by members of our community. These are calls to transformation. The
stage of committed married life presents many opportunities to seek the grace
of God to return to Love as the motive for our lives, or our day, or for this
morning. Our Trust in a Truth greater that our human eyes can see but which, through
the Divine Spirit, we incarnate by our “yes” to selfless Love is the Full Life
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