Freedom wisdom and repentance

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contain allegory and metaphors to help us grasp concepts of freedom that leads to enduring suffering in Love.

On the journey

Paul presents an allegory on Christian Freedom in the Letter to the Galatians.

* [5:1] Freedom: Paul stresses as the conclusion from the allegory in Gal 4:21–31 this result of Christ’s work for us. It is a principle previously mentioned (Gal 2:4), the responsible use of which Gal 5:13 will emphasize.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus declares that pagans are more open to His message of wisdom and repentance than the people of Israel.

* [11:29–32] The “sign of Jonah” in Luke is the preaching of the need for repentance by a prophet who comes from afar. Cf. Mt 12:38–42 (and see notes there) where the “sign of Jonah” is interpreted by Jesus as his death and resurrection.

Scott McClure urges that communion be our goal and vocation.

Seeking validation, it seems, may miss the mark. Can we not be the child in this instance, at times? The crowd? Rather than looking outward to confirm our perspective, Jesus asks us, rather, to look inward and repent. Repentance is an exercise in humility. It opens the way for forgiveness of self and others; for empathy. It opens the way for communion. Let this – communion – be our goal and vocation. When achieved, this will be sign enough for all

Brian Collins sorts through the references of Paul in the Letter to the Galatians to clarify the Allegory on Christian Freedom.

After having established the identity of the Galatian Christians, Paul establishes the identity of the Judaizers: they are like Ishmael, for they persecute those “born according to the Spirit” (4:29). This connection is made on the basis of Ishmael’s treatment of Isaac in Genesis 21:9

A Post by Franciscan Media on Saint Teresa of Avila notes that she was she was a mystery of paradoxes: wise, yet practical; intelligent, yet much in tune with her experience; a mystic, yet an energetic reformer; a holy woman, a womanly woman.

Ours is a time of turmoil, a time of reform, and a time of liberation. Modern women have in Teresa a challenging example. Promoters of renewal, promoters of prayer, all have in Teresa a woman to reckon with, one whom they can admire and imitate.

Friar Jude Winkler describes the midrash technique of Paul in writing to the Galatians. Our freedom is not to do what we want. It is freedom to Love. Faith calls us to trust in God and it does not depend on analytical concrete signs, Friar Jude reminds.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on suffering and how we might recognize God’s image and likeness in people even—and perhaps especially—during hard times. Holocaust survivor and respected psychiatrist Viktor Frankl (1905–1997) offered guidance for anyone who suffers. Rabbi Harold Kushner (When Bad Things Happen to Good People) explained in his foreword to Man’s Search for Meaning.

The greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life. Frankl saw three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing something significant), in love (caring for another person), and in courage during difficult times. Suffering in and of itself is meaningless; we give our suffering meaning by the way in which we respond to it. . .

The commentators today lay out a path of struggle with misinterpretation, lack of communion, efforts to reform and surviving great suffering. The allegories, midrash, and historical examples we study are aids to entering the mystical experience of suffering that is and will always be a mystery. Fr Richard comments that it maybe the major mystery of life.

References


(n.d.). Galatians 5:1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 15, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5
(n.d.). Luke chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 15, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/11
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved October 15, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(2018, February 15). Galatians 4:21-31: An Allegory? - Exegesis and Theology. Retrieved October 15, 2018, from https://www.exegesisandtheology.com/2018/02/15/galatians-421-31-an-allegory/
(n.d.). Saint Teresa of Avila – Franciscan Media. Retrieved October 15, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-teresa-of-avila/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 15, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/