Pouring out in preparation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today connect us with the joy accompanies living in the sense that we are doing what God wants us to do.

Living well for others

The Letter to the Philippians reflects the joy experienced by Paul as he considers the role of the Philippians in being examples of living virtuous lives in Christ.

* [2:12–18] Paul goes on to draw out further ethical implications for daily life (Phil 2:14–18) from the salvation God works in Christ.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus alerts us to the challenges of discipleship and our need to be fully committed to His Way.

* [14:25–33] This collection of sayings, most of which are peculiar to Luke, focuses on the total dedication necessary for the disciple of Jesus. No attachment to family (Lk 14:26) or possessions (Lk 14:33) can stand in the way of the total commitment demanded of the disciple. Also, acceptance of the call to be a disciple demands readiness to accept persecution and suffering (Lk 14:27) and a realistic assessment of the hardships and costs (Lk 14:28–32).

Dr. David Naugle notes that views of Christian character have been greatly affected by interaction with the Stoic teaching throughout the centuries. For example, with only minor modification, Richard Tarnas' generic description of Stoicism could seemingly be applied to Christianity as well.

In the Stoic view, all reality was pervaded by an intelligent divine force, the logos or universal reason which ordered all things. Man could achieve genuine happiness only by attuning his life and character to this all powerful providential wisdom. To be free was to live in conformity with God's will, and what mattered finally in life was the virtuous state of the soul, not the circumstances of the outer life. The Stoic sage, marked by inner serenity, sternness in self-discipline, and conscientious performance of duty, was indifferent to the vagaries of external events

Tom Purcell offers a prayer for today that is one of gratitude for being aware of the power that detachment provides in generously serving my unloved sisters and brothers, and also for the grace to balance detachment with my vocation to be a loving husband, grandfather and father for my family and friends.

As the conversation ends, my friend and I are perhaps more aware but still have uncertainty about what Jesus is calling us to do.

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus permits us to love family but not more than God”, by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.

"He says, 'He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me' (Matthew 10:37). By adding 'more than me,' it is plain that he permits us to love, but not more than we love him. He demands our highest affection for himself and that very correctly. The love of God in those who are perfect in mind has something in it superior both to the honor due to parents and to the natural affection felt for children." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 105)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Philippians 2:12-18 admits it is not easy to be poured out.

There are times when we feel so stretched that we lose our joy. Exhaustion can get the best of us, and we fall into self-pity or complaining. Then we are tempted to pull back, whether it’s from the work in front of us or from our desire to follow Jesus faithfully. That’s exactly the right time to focus on our goals—including the ultimate goal of being with Jesus forever.
Here’s another reason to rejoice: eternal life starts now. Paul experienced genuine joy as he wrote this letter from prison, and it was not just because he believed in the joy to come. God was filling him with joy right in his prison cell. So today, whatever your circumstances, ask the Lord to do the same for you. Believe that he is with you now, just as he will be with you for all of eternity.

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the character of the Philippians who are peaceful, blameless and innocent to all who observe them. Paul is filled with joy of being where God wants him to be, at that moment, experiencing a sense of goodness of doing what one was created to do. Friar Jude reminds us to be aware of the need of disciples to carry the Cross.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, urges us to let God “look upon you in your lowliness,” as Mary put it (Luke 1:48), without waiting for some future moment when you believe you are worthy? Simply love what God sees in you.

Such utterly free and gratuitous love is the only love that validates, transforms, and changes us at the deepest levels of consciousness. It is what we all desire and what we were created for. Once we allow it for ourselves, we will almost naturally become a conduit of the same for others. In fact, nothing else will attract us anymore or even make much sense.

The understanding we have that joy comes from right relationship with God and others is a nudge toward our surrender to Love that transforms us.

References

(n.d.). Philippians chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/philippians/2
(n.d.). Luke chapter 14 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/14
(n.d.). The Passion of the Western Mind: Understanding the Ideas - Goodreads. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/586992.The_Passion_of_the_Western_Mind
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved November 7, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). 31st Week in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved November 7, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/