Power and weakness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite us to contemplate living a paradox in which our weakness can both remind us of the Source of Strength and ironically be a path led by lust to exert improper power, ignoring others for our own pleasure.

Relationships  of service

The reading from 2 Corinthians declares the paradox that Paul lives in Ministry.

* [4:10–11] Both the negative and the positive sides of the experience are grounded christologically. The logic is similar to that of 2 Cor 1:3–11. His sufferings are connected with Christ’s, and his deliverance is a sign that he is to share in Jesus’ resurrection.1

Psalm 116 is a thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue.

* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions.2 

The Gospel from Matthew continues Jesus Sermon on the Mount with teaching about adultery and divorce.

 * [5:31–32] See Dt 24:1–5. The Old Testament commandment that a bill of divorce be given to the woman assumes the legitimacy of divorce itself. It is this that Jesus denies. (Unless the marriage is unlawful): this “exceptive clause,” as it is often called, occurs also in Mt 19:9, where the Greek is slightly different. There are other sayings of Jesus about divorce that prohibit it absolutely (see Mk 10:11–12; Lk 16:18; cf. 1 Cor 7:10, 11b), and most scholars agree that they represent the stand of Jesus. Matthew’s “exceptive clauses” are understood by some as a modification of the absolute prohibition... In this interpretation, the clause constitutes no exception to the absolute prohibition of divorce when the marriage is lawful.3

Andy Alexander, S.J. senses we can cringe when Jesus talks about adultery and divorce.

Jesus isn't insensitive to the great tragedies that lead to divorce today. He's trying to challenge the Jewish tradition which gave all the advantage to the man. In today's language we'd say that a sacramental marriage - one which mirrors Christ's own love and fidelity for his Church - should last forever. Of course, we recognize that not every marriage is a sacrament. That's why we have annulments. Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, on "The Joy of Love," following the Synod on the Family, gives a full treatment of the Churches' teaching on marriage and on difficult situations.
For all of us, however, there can be fruit in reflecting on what Jesus says in cautioning us about lust in this culture we live in today. There is a chastity that all of us are called to, in which we are called to give witness to what is is to regard each human person with dignity and reverence, never to be seen or used as an object of my pleasure or needs.4 

Don Schwager quotes “The fuel of adultery,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"Because adultery is a serious sin and in order to uproot it, lest our conscience be defiled, he [Jesus] forbade even lust, which is the fuel of adultery. According to the words of blessed James in his epistle, 'Lust when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death' (James 1:15). The Holy Spirit speaks concerning this to David: 'Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock' (Psalm 137:9). The symbolism here is that the blessed and truly evangelical person roots out the desires and lust of the flesh arising from human weakness. He does this immediately before they grow, at the onset, through faith in Christ who has been described as a rock" (1 Corinthians 10:4) (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 23.1.6–7)
[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome describead him as a "most learned and most holy man."] 5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 5:27-32 identifies thoughts that lead us to sin and advises us to turn away from them and don’t entertain them… Remember too that God earnestly desires us to be holy, and so He is intent on reaching out to help us.

So when you are facing temptation and the allure of sin, cry out to him. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you his grace and to help you grow in the fruit of self-control...And if you do fall to temptation, don’t despair. God still loves you. No distance, no depth of sin, is ever beyond his reach. He is always ready to forgive you, even if you commit the same sin again and again. Never hesitate to run to him. He will shower you with his mercy—and the grace to live a holy life.6 

Friar Jude Winkler finds good that comes from dying to ourselves to serve others. Pope Francis is searching for a strategy to reach out to those who have experienced divorce with the love and mercy of Jesus. Friar Jude cites some rabbinical sayings on lawful marriages and the tension between thoughts and actions connected to lust.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces today’s reflection by Mirabai Starr. It is drawn from her article in the Center’s spring newsletter and her new book Wild Mercy. She observes that the feminine is shifting the global paradigm from one of dominance and individualized salvation to one of collective awakening and service to all beings.

It is the Christian women mystics who have become my most cherished spiritual sisters and role models. The sixteenth-century Spanish mystic, Teresa of Ávila [1515–1582] has shown me what it looks like to cultivate ecstatic intimacy with God in the center of my own being and also find my Beloved “living among the pots and pans.” The medieval Rhineland visionary Hildegard of Bingen [1098–1179] praises God’s greening energy in every particle of creation, helping me to glimpse the face of the One in all that is. The English anchoress Julian of Norwich [1342–1316] had a near death experience in which Christ revealed himself as an unconditionally loving Mother who continuously breaks herself open and pours herself out to her children, endlessly forgiving and enthusiastically adoring us.
Through each of these wise women, I have come to recognize the holiness of incarnation. There is nothing in this gorgeous, messy world, not a thing in my own imperfect perfection, no place in the scope of the human predicament or the majesty of the natural world that is not, by its very nature, blessed: the chosen dwelling place of the One we love. [1]7 

The Spirit is the guide for us, people in earthen vessels, to approach relationships with a sense of awakening to the other and service to the community.

References

1	(n.d.). 2 Corinthians, chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/4
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 116 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(2019, June 14). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/14/
7	(2019, June 14). Wise Women — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from https://cac.org/wise-women-2019-06-14/