Suffering thanksgiving and woes

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today recognize that our spiritual journey will involve suffering.

Mystery of suffering

Our response, based in our faith in the grace of God, is to recall all for which we express thanksgiving even as we may be distracted by those who wish to distort our understanding.

The Second Letter to the Thessalonians is an encouragement for those who have endured suffering as disciples of Jesus.

* [1:3–12] On the thanksgiving, see note on Rom 1:8 and cf. 1 Thes 1:2–10. Paul’s gratitude to God for the faith and love of the Thessalonians (2 Thes 1:3) and his Christian pride in their faithful endurance (2 Thes 1:4–5) contrast with the condemnation announced for those who afflict them, a judgment to be carried out at the parousia (2 Thes 1:6–10), which is described in vivid language drawn from Old Testament apocalyptic. A prayer for the fulfillment of God’s purpose in the Thessalonians (2 Thes 1:11–12) completes the section, as is customary in a Pauline letter (cf. 1 Thes 1:2–3).

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus declares a denunciation of the actions of the Pharisees.

* [23:16–22] An attack on the casuistry that declared some oaths binding (one is obligated) and others not (it means nothing) and held the binding oath to be the one made by something of lesser value (the gold; the gift on the altar). Such teaching, which inverts the order of values, reveals the teachers to be blind guides; cf. Mt 15:14. Since the Matthean Jesus forbids all oaths to his disciples (Mt 5:33–37), this woe does not set up a standard for Christian moral conduct, but ridicules the Pharisees on their own terms.

Tamora Whitney comments on the woe to those who focus on the wrong things, who take themselves away from God, and who try to take others away as well. She notes that blessings will be on those who thank and praise God and who are faithful and lead others to the faith.

Don Schwager quotes Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD) on Shutting the Kingdom of Heaven.

"There are those who dare to say that God is not good because of the curses in his law that he places against their sin. And yet the one who is truly the Son of God who gave that same law is also the same one who put blessings into the law. The same God who provides blessings for those who are saved in a similar way applies curses which he placed in the law against sinners. 'Woe,' he says. Woe to you and to those hearing these things who plead the God of the law and yet do not understand that these words were spoken by God in a kindly way. So we understand why Jesus said, 'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees.' They believe that it is in fact a good thing to pronounce these curses against sinners. They consider the arrangement of the law’s curses to be a part of God’s design. The chiding father frequently urges his advice on his son for his improvement - advice that may seem to be a curse. He does not wish the curses to be actualized, however, but rather he desires to avert him from even more such curses." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 13)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 notes that sometimes in the face of obstacles, all we need is a kind word to keep us moving forward. When someone comments on how hard we are working, it energizes us and gives us hope. One simple word of encouragement can change the tone of an environment and bring peace to a situation on the verge of discord. Even a humble “Thank you for all you do” can brighten someone’s day.

Encouragement can start right in our own families. It can be so easy to focus on what we think needs correcting in family members. But how about pointing out all the things they are doing well instead? When we say to a teenager, “I saw how kind you were to your little brother today,” it makes her feel good about herself and will lead her to be kind to her brother in the future. When we tell our spouse, “I really appreciate how hard you are working to provide for us,” it makes him or her feel valued and appreciated.

Friar Jude Winkler explores the origin of the Second Letter to the Thessalonians. The letter urges preparation for the end times. He notes that the Pharisees proclaimed a distorted vision of what is really important.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes an Exodus passage that is how God described God’s self to Moses.

YHWH, YHWH, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and abounding in faithfulness. For the thousandth generation, YHWH maintains kindness, forgiving all your faults, transgressions, and sins. (Exodus 34:6-7)

The Bible shows a relentless movement toward intimacy and divine union between Creator and creatures. For this to happen, there needs to be some degree of compatibility, likeness, or even “sameness” between the two parties. In other words, there has to be a little bit of God in us that wants to find Itself.

References


(n.d.). 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2thessalonians/1
(n.d.). Matthew chapter 23 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved August 27, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 27, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/