Rejoicing in service

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reinforce that action speaks louder than words as we serve as disciples of Jesus.

Action and service

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah presents the blessings of prosperity and consolation as the people of Israel return their focus to the Lord.

* [66:10–16] The poet addresses the children born of Jerusalem, their mother. In v. 13 the metaphor switches to the Lord as mother (cf. 49:15), comforting her charges but destroying the enemies.1 

In Psalm 66 the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past and in the present.

 * [Psalm 66] In the first part (Ps 66:1–12), the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past (the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the land [Ps 66:6]) and in the present (deliverance from a recent but unspecified calamity [Ps 66:8–12]). In the second part (Ps 66:13–20), an individual from the rescued community fulfills a vow to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. As often in thanksgivings, the rescued person steps forward to teach the community what God has done (Ps 66:16–20).2

At the end of the Letter to the Galatians, Paul makes his final appeal to this community.

* [6:11–18] A postscript in Paul’s own hand, as was his practice (see 1 Cor 16:21; 2 Thes 3:17). Paul summarizes his appeal against his opponents (Gal 6:12–13), then returns to his message of glorying in the cross, not in circumcision, as the means of salvation (Gal 6:14–15; cf. Gal 5:11). A benediction follows at Gal 6:16. In the polemical spirit that the attack on his apostleship called forth (Gal 1:11–2:21), Paul reasserts his missionary credentials (Gal 6:17) before giving a final benediction (Gal 6:18).3 

The Gospel from Luke describes Jesus instructions for the mission of the Seventy-two and the blessings experienced by the seventy-two.

* [10:4] Carry no money bag…greet no one along the way: because of the urgency of the mission and the single mindedness required of missionaries, attachment to material possessions should be avoided and even customary greetings should not distract from the fulfillment of the task.4 

Mary Lee Brock reflects upon her life as a modern-day disciple.

How often do I embrace the role of disciple?  Do I create opportunities to model my faith? When I am packing for a trip or preparing for a meeting, what can I do to lead with peace in my heart?  When someone is sharing their love of God through their words or their actions, do I greet them with generosity? How can I be more accepting of a person who does not share my worldview?  I pray to Jesus for the grace to share my faith and to be open to the wisdom of others.5 

Don Schwager notes that Jesus gave his disciples instructions for how they were to carry out their ministry.

They must go and serve others without guile (free of deceit and craftiness), full of charity (selfless giving in love for the good of others), peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God's kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must  travel light - only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them - in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the Word of God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting reward or payment. "Poverty of spirit" frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God's provision. The Lord Jesus wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.6 

David M Knight observes that the devil tempts people to two things that are not in and of themselves sinful—to seek wealth and prestige—but nevertheless set people up for the sin of all sins, pride.

The strategy of Jesus to combat pride is to urge people to embrace two things that in and of themselves are not good but that together lead to one great good. The first, writes Ignatius, is “poverty as opposed to affluence”; the second is “insults or contempt as opposed to the prestige of this world.” These prepare the ground for us to receive the third virtue: “humility as opposed to pride.” This strategic insight may be St. Ignatius Loyola greatest contribution to theology.7 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 6:14-18 shares one of the most powerful truths of our faith.

Being a Christian is not a matter of deciding who is “in” and who is “out.” Neither are there different “levels” or “classes” of believers. There’s only everybody. We are all equally sinners who are equally loved by God and forgiven by the cross. The question is whether we will accept this salvation and let God’s love heal our divided hearts and change our divisive actions.8 

Friar Jude Winkler connects the passage from trito Isaiah to the call to Israel to turn towards the Lord after the Babylonian exile. Modern disciples are called to do what we can do in serving Jesus ministry. Friar Jude confirms that the rejection we receive may be connected to God’s timing for the grace to be open to His invitation.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that God does not change as much as human knowledge of God evolves. A sole focus on divine retribution leads to an ego-satisfying and eventually unworkable image of God which situates us inside of a very unsafe and dangerous universe. Both Jesus and Paul observed the human tendency toward retribution and spoke strongly about the limitations of the law (see the Sermon on the Mount, Romans, and Galatians).

 The biblical notion of justice, beginning in the Hebrew Scriptures with the Jewish prophets—especially Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea—is quite different. If we read carefully and honestly, we will see that God’s justice is actually restorative. In each case, after the prophet chastises the Israelites for their transgressions against YHWH, the prophet continues by saying, in effect, “And here’s what YHWH will do for you: God will now love you more than ever! God will love you into wholeness. God will pour upon you a gratuitous, unbelievable, unaccountable, irrefutable love that you will finally be unable to resist.”
God “punishes” us by loving us more! How else could divine love be supreme and victorious? Check out this theme for yourself: read such passages as Isaiah 29:13-24, Hosea 6:1-6, Ezekiel 16:59-63, and so many of the Psalms. God’s justice is fully successful when God can legitimate and validate human beings in their original and total identity! God wins by making sure we win—just as any loving human parent does. The little “time outs” and discipline along the way are simply to keep us awake and growing.9

The attitude of the disciple who rejoices in serving the mission of Christ is well reflected in choices about peace, restoration, and community that come from discerning our expression of poverty, humility, and solidarity with others.

References

1	(n.d.). Isaiah, chapter 66 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/66
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 66 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/66
3	(n.d.). Galatians, chapter 6 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/galatians/6
4	(n.d.). Luke, chapter 10 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/10
5	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
6	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
7	(2019, July 5). A plea and challenge to Jesuits: Embrace authentic poverty | America .... Retrieved July 7, 2019, from https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/07/05/plea-and-challenge-jesuits-embrace-authentic-poverty
8	(n.d.). 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved July 7, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/07/07/
9	(2019, July 7). Justice in the Scriptures — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from https://cac.org/justice-in-the-scriptures-2019-07-07/