Journey toward selflessness

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary are strongly associated with rabbinic themes. The Prophet Ezekiel acts after the death of his wife to be a sign to the people about how to respond to the capture of Jerusalem and the exile of the people to Babylon. Friar Jude Winkler notes that he does not act in accord with the prescribed mourning rituals so that he will draw attention to the need to be calm and composed when the punishment due Jerusalem for falling away from the exclusive loyalty to God which the response to the canticle from Deuteronomy reminds us is the relationship of the Covenant proclaimed by Moses. Steve Scholer reflects in this text on how we are called to practice patience and forgiveness in our relationships as God is patient with our wandering on the journey towards holiness. Friar Jude notes that Jesus gives a rabbinic reply to the young man who seeks to know the good in the passage from the Gospel of Matthew. The transformation which Jesus invites the young rich man to undertake is a bridge too far for him at this time. We are aware in the Gospel and through ancient tradition that God is our one focus and as we journey we are invited to surrender more and more of the distractions which are directed to our power, privilege and pleasure rather than the needs of our neighbours and attention to the Will of God. We continue to develop our relationship through Jesus patience with our humanity.