The closing of the distance between people and the
Divine is the spark for thanksgiving in the texts today from the Roman CatholicLectionary. The psalmist proclaims trust in the steadfast love of God. It is
the love of God for those who are becoming holy in Colossae through the action
of the Spirit which prompts the thanksgiving of Paul as he opens his first
letter to the Colossians. The writing of some Calvinist commentators
resonates with some observations of Friar Jude Winkler. The faith of the
inhabitants of this community has produced the fruit of love. This love is not
of the romantic flavour of weak knees and fluttering heart but it is a deep
motivation to pursue the highest good of another. Christian love, as noted
frequently by Friar Jude, has a vertical and horizontal dimension. The vertical
Love of God is the essential transformation of our lives in holiness. We have
faith that all the action of God in our lives is for our “highest good”. The
horizontal dimension which Paul witnessed in Colossae and which Jesus shows as
he journeys to Jerusalem in the account in the Gospel of Luke is about putting the
highest good of the other before our selfish passions, pride and pursuit of
power and privilege. The Presence of Jesus in the actions of the Gospel of Luke
heals and drives out the demons which attempt to root self centered motivation
in our being. We note that like the people, Luke mentions, who pursued Jesus
into the desert, we often try to hold those people, preaching, and liturgies
which resonate with our Spirit for ourselves. The establishment of communities who
are faithful to the mission of Jesus includes the openness to a mission which
includes the inhabitants of other “spiritual cities”. The children of God are in
all communities of people. Catholic, Calvinist, Jew, Muslim and all are called
to be examples of Love.
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