The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer contemplation of the actions that tell us about commitment and how we may seek wisdom in our approach to other people.
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| For the kids |
The passage from 2 Corinthians has Paul “boast” of his labors and bodily weakness in serving the Corinthians.
* [11:16–29] The first part of Paul’s boast focuses on labors and afflictions, in which authentic service of Christ consists.1
The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued, teaches the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone.
* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22).2
The wisdom saying at the end of the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew identify the value of seeking treasure in Heaven and opening the eyes to be the light of the body.
* [6:22–23] In this context the parable probably points to the need for the disciple to be enlightened by Jesus’ teaching on the transitory nature of earthly riches.3
Michael Cherney believes today’s readings are appropriate for the feast of the Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, a young Jesuit who died of the plague in the service of his fellow man.
When I contemplate Paul reading the excerpt from his letter that we find in the first reading, I see a man who has grown frustrated by the mistruths which he is encountering. I see Paul as a charismatic figure who possessed the advantage of Roman citizenship. This passage demonstrates Paul’s commitment to the Christian cause.
My reading of the Psalm suggests that its author had endured a significant challenge and made it through by the grace of God.
I can imagine myself in the crowd hearing the words from today’s Gospel as Jesus’ presents them as part of his Sermon on the Mount. I realize how much I want the heavenly treasure, but I am well aware of how many of the earthly treasures which I retain for security.4
Don Schwager quotes “Seeking the right intention,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.
"We know that all our works are pure and pleasing in the sight of God if they are performed with a single heart. This means that they are performed out of charity and with an intention that is fixed on heaven. For 'love is the fulfillment of the law' (Romans 13:10). Therefore in this passage we ought to understand the eye as the intention with which we perform all our actions. If this intention is pure and upright and directing its gaze where it ought to be directed, then unfailingly all our works are good works, because they are performed in accordance with that intention. And by the expression 'whole body,' Christ designated all those works that he reproves and that he commands us to put to death. For the apostle also designates certain works as our 'members.' 'Therefore,' Paul writes, 'mortify your members which are on earth: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness' (Colossians 3:5), and all other such things." (excerpt from SERMON ON THE MOUNT 2.13.45)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30 Paul’s words, not just in today’s readings but throughout his writings, show us that sometimes we have to fight for the sake of the gospel. Sometimes we have to show a little passion to help shake people up a bit. And sometimes we need a good shaking up as well!
Of course, our Christian witness should not always be one of argument and boasting. Sometimes we need to be gentle and compassionate. Other times we need to be quiet and meek. God wants us to be flexible, resourceful, and creative as we respond to each situation with his wisdom. That’s how we, like Paul, can do whatever it takes to bring the good news to the people we see everyday6.
Friar Jude Winkler points out that the latter part of the second letter to the Corinthians is known as Paul’s “angry letter” in which he defends his worthiness through his suffering for the good of the people. The glory of God shines through the brokeness and weakness of Paul. Friar Jude urges we use our eyes to see the goodness of others.
A reflection by Franciscan media on Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Saint of the Day for June 21, asks “Can an overweight and air-conditioned society deprive itself of anything?” It will when it discovers a reason, as Aloysius did.
As a saint who fasted, scourged himself, sought solitude and prayer, and did not look on the faces of women, Aloysius seems an unlikely patron of youth in a society where asceticism is confined to training camps of football teams and boxers, and sexual permissiveness has little left to permit. Can an overweight and air-conditioned society deprive itself of anything? It will when it discovers a reason, as Aloysius did. The motivation for letting God purify us is the experience of God loving us in prayer.7
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces John Welwood (1943–2019) who was an American clinical psychologist known for integrating Eastern and Western psychology and spirituality. In his books Love and Awakening and Journey of the Heart, he wrote about the lifelong challenge and gift of conscious, committed love, drawing insights from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955).
In its final outreach, conscious love leads two lovers beyond themselves toward a greater connectedness with the whole of life. Indeed, two people’s love will have no room to grow unless it develops this larger focus beyond themselves. The larger arc of a couple’s love reaches out toward a feeling of kinship with all of life, what Teilhard de Chardin calls “a love of the universe.” Only in this way can love, as he puts it, “develop in boundless light and power.” [2]8
The commitment we have to others may be forged in suffering as we grow in conscious love.
References
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(n.d.). 2 Corinthians, chapter 11. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/11
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3
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(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 6 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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5
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(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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6
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(n.d.). Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious (Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved June 21, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/21/
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(n.d.). Saint Aloysius Gonzaga - Franciscan Media. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-aloysius-gonzaga/
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(2019, June 21). The Heart of the Universe — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from https://cac.org/the-heart-of-the-universe-2019-06-21/
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