Cultivate self giving

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, interpreted in the light of the work of their authors and the culture of the day, urge us to cultivate self giving in our relationships.

Mutual giving

The Letter to the Ephesians urges married couples to reflect the love of Christ.

* [5:21–33] The apostle exhorts married Christians to a strong mutual love. Holding with Gn 2:24 that marriage is a divine institution (Eph 5:31), Paul sees Christian marriage as taking on a new meaning symbolic of the intimate relationship of love between Christ and the church. The wife should serve her husband in the same spirit as that of the church’s service to Christ (Eph 5:22, 24), and the husband should care for his wife with the devotion of Christ to the church (Eph 5:25–30). Paul gives to the Genesis passage its highest meaning in the light of the union of Christ and the church, of which Christlike loyalty and devotion in Christian marriage are a clear reflection (Eph 5:31–33).

The Gospel of Luke urges us to be the small force that initiates large changes in the lives of those we encounter.

* [13:18–21] Two parables are used to illustrate the future proportions of the kingdom of God that will result from its deceptively small beginning in the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus. They are paralleled in Mt 13:31–33 and Mk 4:30–32.

Colleen Chiacchere comments that hearing the words in the Letter to the Ephesians in the context where she lives… in a 21st Century North American independent, individualistic society, made her uncomfortable.  It seemed like a recipe for a disastrous relationship. Shouldn’t husbands and wives be seen as equals in their vows and commitment to each other and to the sacrament of marriage?

Paul is inviting husbands and wives to be self-giving and self-emptying, using Christ’s example of servant leadership, as our model. A servant leader leads by counter-cultural example, offering effort and resource for the well-being of those whom they lead.  Service is the key in this perspective as one is always concerned first and foremost about the empowerment and encouragement of the one with whom he/she is in relationship.

Jerold Aust, Senior Writer and Minister, United Church of God, explores the relationship of Paul, who inspired the author of the Letter to the Ephesians, and Luke who wrote with special attention to women in his Gospel.

Paul’s deep respect and Christian love for Luke surface when he refers to him as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Luke showed interest in the welfare of women and children, as shown in his Gospel.
In Judea, as in other places throughout the known world, women in Luke’s day held a place low in society. For example, some historical accounts of the time report that Jewish men gave thanks to God each morning that they had not been born a gentile, slave or woman.
Luke’s perspective differs from the common portrayal of women of the time. Luke tells his birth narrative of Christ from Mary’s point of view. Luke writes of Elizabeth, of Anna, of the widow at Nain, of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Luke portrays Martha and Mary and Mary Magdalene.

Don Schwager quotes “The Word of God operates in us like leaven”, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"The leaven is small in quantity, yet it immediately seizes the whole mass and quickly communicates its own properties to it. The Word of God operates in us in a similar manner. When it is admitted within us, it makes us holy and without blame. By pervading our mind and heart, it makes us spiritual. Paul says, 'Our whole body and spirit and soul may be kept blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The God of all clearly shows that the divine Word is poured out even into the depth of our understanding... We receive the rational and divine leaven in our mind. We understand that by this precious, holy and pure leaven, we may be found spiritually unleavened and have none of the wickedness of the world, but rather be pure, holy partakers of Christ." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 96)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Ephesians 5:21-33 asks “So what does unity in marriage mean in real life”?

Finally, unity means loving sacrificially. It can sound grandiose, but sacrificial love usually shows itself in the small things: helping with the dishes, listening attentively when your spouse has had a hard day, going out of your way to give your spouse a break from the kids when you are both tired. Gestures like these never go unnoticed—by your spouse or by the Lord.

Friar Jude Winkler fleshes out the Stoic influence in the advice of the author of the Letter to the Ephesians to maintain the order of the culture of the day. That said, the author goes beyond the culture of the day to urge self giving love. Friar Jude recognizes the approach of the Evangelist Luke to offer both a male example and a female example of how our love, compassion, and forgiveness are the basis for the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, warns that we can’t risk walking around with a negative, resentful, gossipy, critical mind, because then we won’t be in our true force field. We won’t be usable instruments for God. That’s why Jesus commanded us to love. It’s that urgent. It’s that crucial.

Jesus tells us not to harbor hateful anger or call people names in our hearts like “fool” or “worthless person” (Matthew 5:22). If we’re walking around all day thinking, “What idiots!” we’re living out of death, not life. If that’s what we think and feel, that’s what we will be—death energy instead of life force. We cannot afford even inner disconnection from love. How we live in our hearts is our real and deepest truth.

The Responsorial for today, Psalm 128, offers an image of the fruit of self giving attention to the others in our families. Pray for the grace to cultivate this mustard plant.

References

(n.d.). Ephesians chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/5
(n.d.). Luke chapter 13 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/13
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved October 30, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(2001, January 20). Profiles of Faith: Luke - Paul's Beloved Friend and Companion | United .... Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/profiles-of-faith-luke-pauls-beloved-friend-and-companion
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(2018, October 29). 30th Week in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/2018/10/30/
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/