Threats to our openess

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of three attitudes; turning our back, hardness of heart, and creating division, with which we may find ourselves separating from others.

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Jeremiah found the rulers of Judah did not obey God but looked backwards rather than forward.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus point to the lack of logic in the attempts of the religious authorities to discredit Him.

* [11:19] Your own people: the Greek reads “your sons.” Other Jewish exorcists (see Acts 19:13–20), who recognize that the power of God is active in the exorcism, would themselves convict the accusers of Jesus. See also note on Mt 12:27.

Andy Alexander, S.J. suggests how we might be more attuned to the everyday threats to our openness to God's liberating grace.

If I were the Evil Spirit, that's exactly what I would do. This is so effective. In the presence of anything that is truly blessed by Jesus' liberating love, there's nothing better the Evil Spirit can do than to create a diversion by saying the Healer himself is evil. It's the signature, the calling card, of the Prince of confusion.
If the Evil Spirit can get people to demonize each other, the work of Jesus will be frustrated. If suspicion and distrust can be sown, what room could there be for compassion and love? Hard hearts find it very difficult to be moved by devotion, to be filled with gratitude, or to seek the path of peace and reconciliation.

Don Schwager offers a prayer and the wisdom of Augustine in how to avoid conflict that divides.

"O Lord, our God, grant us, we beseech you, patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all our spiritual foes. Grant us sorrow for our sins, thankfulness for your benefits, fear of your judgment, love of your mercies, and mindfulness of your presence; now and forever."  (Prayer by John Cosin)

 "When we transform our old life and give our spirit a new image, we find it very hard and tiring to turn back from the darkness of earthly passions to the serene calm of the divine light. We must ask God to help us that a complete conversion may be brought about in us." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 6,5)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the prophecy of Jeremiah that Judah would be punished for turning their backs on God. A kingdom divided against itself will not stand. Luke declares that we must choose Jesus or the evil one.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, writes that when we are connected, in right relationship, there is the life of God flowing freely, there is the authentic image or body of God revealed. This body is more a living organism than any formal organization, denomination, or church group.

As St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179, also a Doctor of the Church) writes:
Human beings alone are capable of disobeying God’s laws, because they try to be wiser than God. . . . Other creatures fulfill the commandments of God; they honor [God’s] laws. . . . But human beings rebel against those laws, defying them in word and action. And in doing so they inflict terrible cruelty on the rest of God’s creation.

Father Rohr reminds us that Jesus taught that if we would “first seek God’s Reign” (Matthew 6:33), and obey his command to “love God and love one another” (Matthew 22:37-40), all the rest would take care of itself. We would no longer defy the laws of nature but seek to live in harmony and sustainability with Earth and all her creatures.

References


(n.d.). Jeremiah, chapter 7 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 8, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/7:23

(n.d.). Luke, chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 8, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/lk/11:3636

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 8, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 8, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/