Acting like brothers and sisters

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today warn us about arrogant and impetuous behaviour that will put us in conflict with those in the family of Jesus.

Brothers and cousins

The Book of Proverbs offers many principles for living in a moral way.

* [21:4] Heart and eyes depict, respectively, the inner and the outer person. “Haughty eyes” peering out from a “proud heart” show a thoroughly arrogant person. How can such a person flourish! Their lamp, which signifies life, will go out.
* [21:5] The antitheses are diligent and impetuous. The metaphor characterizing each type is taken from the world of commerce. Planning is important; bustle leads to waste.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus uses the opportunity of an interruption to express the type of life to which members of His family aspire.

* [8:21] The family of Jesus is not constituted by physical relationship with him but by obedience to the word of God. In this, Luke agrees with the Marcan parallel (Mk 3:31–35), although by omitting Mk 3:33 and especially Mk 3:20–21 Luke has softened the Marcan picture of Jesus’ natural family. Probably he did this because Mary has already been presented in Lk 1:38 as the obedient handmaid of the Lord who fulfills the requirement for belonging to the eschatological family of Jesus; cf. also Lk 11:27–28.

Jude Siciliano, OP compares the approach of Mark and Luke.

Luke follows the basic structure of Mark’s gospel, but with his own additions and modifications. Unlike Mark, he has an extended infancy narrative of the births of both John the Baptist and Jesus (1:5 – 2:52). Mark portrays Jesus as "rough and ready." Luke softens the picture making Jesus especially attractive to the fragile, elderly, infirmed, sinners and women. In his inaugural preaching (4:17-19) he announces "liberty to captives" – which the gospel reveals to be not only a freeing of people imprisoned by sin, but also those under society’s restrictions, religion’s exclusion, physical and mental afflictions and the power of death itself.

Kyle Lierk quotes a practitioner of Ignatian spirituality who says with a wry smile, “We choose to listen to that which we value.” He presents a prayer of Thomas Merton about wondering if we are indeed listening to God’s voice or that of some impostor.

Today’s readings are all about listening to God’s word - God’s voice - and acting upon it.  We are invited to consider what value we place on the voice of God amidst all the other voices that clamor for our attention in life.  We listen to what we value, and Jesus is calling upon us to listen to God’s voice above all else.

Don Schwager quotes Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD) on those who listen and obey God's word and become true children of God.

"The present lesson teaches us that obedience and listening to God are the causes of every blessing. Some entered and spoke respectfully about Christ's holy mother and his brothers. He answered in these words, 'My mother and my brothers are they who hear the word of God and do it.' Now do not let anyone imagine that Christ scorned the honor due to his mother or contemptuously disregarded the love owed to his brothers. He spoke the law by Moses and clearly said, 'Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you' (Deuteronomy 5:16). How, I ask, could he have rejected the love due to brothers, who even commanded us to love not merely our brothers but also those who are enemies to us? He says, 'Love your enemies' (Matthew 5:44)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44 notes that today’s first reading teaches us how to live in ways that please the Lord. Then, our Responsorial Psalm gives us a beautiful response to these teachings.

“Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.”

Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv, comments that the passage from Proverbs is not specifically religious but teaches morality and how to live a good life in the world. He connects to Micah’s advice to walk humbly. Friar Jude warns that arrogance has consequences. He notes that Luke is not as harsh Mark and Matthew on Mary who incarnated the Word who shows up at Pentecost as the perfect disciple.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes Karen Armstrong who continues exploring the origins of Islam. Fr Richard concludes that mature Islam beautifully parallels the Franciscan and Christian contemplative emphasis on orthopraxy (right practice) and the importance of nondual consciousness.

Like any religious tradition, Islam would change and evolve. Muslims acquired a large empire, stretching from the Pyrenees to the Himalayas, but true to Qur’anic principles, nobody was forced to become Muslim. Indeed, for the first hundred years after the Prophet’s death, conversion to Islam was actually discouraged, because Islam was a din [way of life] for the Arabs, the descendants of Abraham’s elder son, Ishmael, just as Judaism was for the sons of Isaac, and Christianity for the followers of the gospel.

Our practice of acting like brothers and sisters of Jesus is opening our hearts, minds, and bodies to union. It takes lifelong practice.

References


(n.d.). Proverbs chapter 21 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/proverbs/21
(n.d.). Luke 8:19-21. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/luke8.htm
(n.d.). Preaching Luke - Preacher Exchange. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from http://www.preacherexchange.com/pe_preachingluke.htm
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). 25th Week in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved September 25, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/