Attracted by the Spirit

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge contemplation of the dynamics of the interplay of spiritual light and the experience of darkness in our lives.

Encountering the Spirit

The First Letter of John is warning its audience that some spiritual discernment is necessary in a world where some are opposed to Jesus truth.

 * [4:1–6] Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf. 1 Cor 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.1

The Gospel from Matthew describes the healing light radiated by Jesus in the pagan areas around Galilee.

 * [4:23–25] This summary of Jesus’ ministry concludes the narrative part of the first book of Matthew’s gospel (Mt 3–4). The activities of his ministry are teaching, proclaiming the gospel, and healing; cf. Mt 9:35.2

Ann Mausbach is reminded by Today’s Gospel of the wonder of Jesus’s light in the world and He is asking us to revel in it … The gospel tells us we do this by repenting.

 which may sound heavy and scary, but can actually look a lot like playing in the snow. God wants us to roll around in his light, to keep our eyes on it, to think and talk about it. He wants us to share it with others. In doing this we are disposing to change our life for the better, which is the definition of repent.3

Don Schwager quotes “The true light of revelation to the Gentiles,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

 "The Evangelist commemorated in this passage the prophet's words: 'Beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light' (Matthew 4:15-16) In what darkness? Certainly in the profound error of ignorance. What great light did they see? The light concerning which it is written: 'He was the true light that illumines everyone who comes into this world' (John 1:9) This was the light about which the just man Simeon in the Gospel declared, 'A light of revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel' (Luke 2:32). That light had arisen according to what David had announced, saying, 'A light has arisen in the darkness to the upright of heart' (Psalm 112:4). "Also, Isaiah demonstrated that light about to come for the enlightenment of the church when he said, 'Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you' (Isaiah 60:1). Concerning that light also Daniel noted, 'It reveals the profound and hidden things, knowing those things which are in darkness and the light is with it' (Daniel 2:22), that is, the Son with the Father, for even as the Father is light, so too is the Son light. And David also speaks in the psalm: 'In your light shall we see light' (Psalm 36:9), for the Father is seen in the Son, as the Lord tells us in the Gospel: 'Who sees me, sees the Father' (John 14:9) From the true light, indeed, the true light proceeded, and from the invisible the visible. "He is the image of the invisible God," as the apostle notes (Colossians 1:15)." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 15.1)4

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 John 3:22–4:6 comments that the author of 1 John wrote this letter to address disagreements in the community. He reminded them of the simple heart of Christianity: to believe that Jesus, the Son of God, became man for our salvation.

 Similar to the first-century Christians, young people today can find themselves adrift. They may have gotten out of the habit of going to Sunday Mass. They may feel disillusioned and doubt that there is a place for them in the Church. Or perhaps their pursuit of career or family crowds out time for God. Still, God loves them, and he is always ready to welcome them and embrace them. But who will be his ambassadors?
Maybe it’s you. Every one of us can help, even if it’s in just a small way.5

Friar Jude Winkler explains Docetism was a heresy that did not understand God in human form. The very dualistic teaching is that they belong to the world opposed to spiritual realities, Those who have rejected love are worldly and guided by false spirits. Jesus attracted residents of the pagan areas around Capernaum in the action of bringing light in His ministry.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, explains that Jesus practiced a form that the Jewish people called midrash, consistently using questions to keep spiritual meanings open, often reflecting on a text or returning people’s questions with more questions. It is a real shame that we did not imitate Jesus in this approach. It could have saved us from so many centuries of righteousness, religious violence, and even single-issue voting.

 Rather than seeking always certain and unchanging answers, the Jewish practice of midrash allows many possibilities, many levels of faith-filled meaning—meaning that is relevant and applicable to you, the reader, and puts you in the subject’s shoes to build empathy, understanding, and relationship. It lets the passage first challenge you before it challenges anyone else. To use the text in a spiritual way—as Jesus did—is to allow it to convert you, to change you, to grow you up as you respond: What does this ask of me? How might this apply to my life, to my family, to my church, to my neighborhood, to my country?6

Our connection with spiritual realities changes as our experience of the Spirit matures. Our call to relationship with Jesus is often presented by an attraction to His Presence in others.

References

1	(n.d.). 1 John chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1john/4
2	(n.d.). Matthew chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4
3	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved January 7, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
4	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 7, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
5	(n.d.). Mass Readings and Catholic .... Retrieved January 7, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/
6	(2019, January 4). Daily Meditations Archive: January 2019 - Daily Meditations Archives .... Retrieved January 7, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/01/