The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today nudge us in the direction of contemplation of how we may be seeing change toward living in non judgmental and caring ways.
 |
| Caring path |
The text from the First Book of Samuel relates how David spares Saul who is out to kill him.
* [26:1] The second account of David sparing Saul’s life; cf. note on 24:1.1
In the 2nd reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians Paul describes our natural and spiritual heritage that culminates in the Resurrection Body.
* [15:42–44] The principles of qualitative difference before and after death (1 Cor 15:36–38) and of diversity on different levels of creation (1 Cor 15:39–41) are now applied to the human body. Before: a body animated by a lower, natural life-principle (psychē) and endowed with the properties of natural existence (corruptibility, lack of glory, weakness). After: a body animated by a higher life-principle (pneuma; cf. 1 Cor 15:45) and endowed with other qualities (incorruptibility, glory, power, spirituality), which are properties of God himself.2
In the Sermon on the Plain from the Gospel of Luke Jesus exhorts us to Love of Our Enemies and restraint from Judging Others.
At the core of the sermon is Jesus’ teaching on the love of one’s enemies (Lk 6:27–36) that has as its source of motivation God’s graciousness and compassion for all humanity (Lk 6:35–36) and Jesus’ teaching on the love of one’s neighbor (Lk 6:37–42) that is characterized by forgiveness and generosity.3
Diane Jorgensen observes that today’s gospel continues Jesus discourse in the Sermon on the Plain with the same seemingly paradoxical, even absurd, directives for his followers.
Those who live in the kingdom are willing to risk being generous, forgiving and vulnerable, as they draw from the Ultimate Abundant Source – God – the source of all generosity, forgiveness and vulnerability. They live without the protection of power, position, privilege and righteousness. “We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God!” is how the song goes. Letting our light shine brightly, without fear of being snuffed out, ushers us into the kingdom of God now, not later.
Our first reading tells the story of David’s restraint in not killing Saul when seemingly, God had presented this auspicious moment. We are challenged daily to show restraint, not in the battlefield, but in boardrooms, classrooms and family rooms. Restraint from harming others is a good thing, demonstrates human maturity, but Jesus is offering us so much more: Spiritual Freedom!
The second reading from Paul reminds me of a quotation attributed to Teilhard de Chardin. “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” And what an adventure it is.4
Don Schwager quotes “The virtue of charity,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"Love is commanded when it is said, 'Love your enemies' so that the saying which was uttered already before the church may be fulfilled: 'Set in order love in me' (Song of Solomon 2:4). For love is set in order when the precepts of love are formed. See how it began from the heights and cast the law underneath the backs of the Gospel's blessing. The law commands the revenge of punishment (see Exodus 21:23-36). The gospel bestows love for hostility, benevolence for hatred, prayer for curses, help for the persecuted, patience for the hungry and grace of reward. How much more perfect the athlete who does not feel injury!" (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.73)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 6:27-38 urges that to the best of our ability, we put aside harsh judgments and condemning thoughts. If not for the other person’s sake, then for our own sake. Try to rise above the realm of judgment, where everyone gets what’s coming to them—because everyone in that realm will be judged harshly.
Instead, step into the realm of God’s mercy. Move into the realm where everyone is invited to forgiveness and treated with love, dignity, and generosity. Even you. Give the gift of forgiveness, and it will be given to you. Give the gift of a second chance—or a third or fourth or hundredth—and it will be given to you. Give the gift of the benefit of the doubt, and it will be given to you.6
Fr. James Mallon shares how an encounter with the Word Among Us magazine moved him to a transformation that has become work on “Divine Renovation”
Friar Jude Winkler connects the time of writing of the Hebrew Testament text from Samuel to the desire of David for royal protection. The comparison by Paul of Adam and Jesus refers to our resurrected body that is not our earthly one. Friar Jude cautions judgement of those for whom we have no idea of how they have been gifted by God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the entire biblical revelation involves gradually developing a very different consciousness, a recreated self, and eventually a full “identity transplant” or identity realization, as we see in both Jesus and Paul.
The sacred text invites us, little by little, into a very different sense of who we are: We are not our own. Your life is not about you; you are about Life! We gradually find ourselves part of the Great Vine, eventually realizing that we have never truly been separate from that Source (John 15:1-5). Once we are consciously connected to the True Vine, our life will bear much fruit for the world.
Paul seems to understand this well because it happened rather dramatically to him. He writes, “I live no longer, not I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Like Paul, the spiritual journey leads us to know that Someone Else is living in us and through us. We are part of a much Bigger Mystery. We are recipients, conduits, and gradually become fully willing participants in the Christ Mystery (which is not to be equated with simply joining the Christian religion).7
Our journey is in the Spirit toward a transformed self that shows to others unexpected love and compassion.
References
1
|
(n.d.). 1 Samuel chapter 26 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Retrieved February 24, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/1Samuel/26:2
|
2
|
(n.d.). 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians15:51
|
3
|
(n.d.). Luke, chapter 6 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/luke/6:27
|
4
|
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved February 24, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
|
5
|
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
|
6
|
(n.d.). 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved February 24, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/02/24
|
7
|
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/02/
|
No comments:
Post a Comment