Deeper than what we see

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are food for thinking about the difference between outward appearance and the life which is underneath in our sense of self. Our expression of our religious faith is often through liturgy. Not all liturgy occurs in church as Susan Tinley comments about the physical exercise of being part of a group carrying a cross through Jerusalem along the path walked by Jesus. She notes that the profound inner experience of this liturgy might be contrasted with the ho-hum reaction of the people and merchants of the city who see it everyday. The Prophet Isaiah writes about the liturgy of the people of Jerusalem in his time (about 735 BCE). Friar Jude Winkler notes that Isaiah exhorted the people to let the liturgical practices change their hearts and their attitudes to the disadvantaged and marginalized, collectively known as widows and orphans. The tragedy of the collapse of Judah is related to the failure of the people to seek the Will of God though their relationship in prayer with God. Psalm 50 is the basis of a commentary by Ray Stedman which looks at Evangelical Churches today with the same question about the depth of the transformation in lives who worship yet “hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you” (Psalm 50:17). The Gospel from Matthew speaks strong words about the consequences to believers of living the transformed life. Friar Jude comments that the transformed cannot sit on the fence. The decision to be the Good News to others brings ridicule and rejection. This disruption of the peace is not meant to burden the disciples who have Jesus and the efforts of many supporters who Susan Tingley credits with helping us carry the cross and who Jesus reminds us in the Gospel will receive the prophet’s reward as they welcome Jesus when they welcome and support those who act as His disciples.