Wayward in old practice

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of our practices that may lead to dire consequences and the Way Jesus can bring good from such situations.

Dire consequences and good outcomes

The reading from the Book of Exodus details the birth and adoption of Moses and some imprudent action that leads to his flight to Midian.

* [2:15] Land of Midian: the territory under the control of a confederation made up, according to Nm 31:8, of five Midianite tribes. According to Gn 25:1–2, Midian was a son of Abraham by Keturah. In view of the extreme hostility in later periods between Israel and Midian (cf. Nm 31; Jgs 6–8), the relationship is striking, as is the account here in Exodus of good relations between Moses and no less than a Midianite priest.1 

Psalm 69 prays not so much for personal vengeance as for public vindication of God’s justice.

 * [Psalm 69] A lament complaining of suffering in language both metaphorical (Ps 69:2–3, 15–16, the waters of chaos) and literal (Ps 69:4, 5, 9, 11–13, exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation). In the second part the psalmist prays with special emphasis that the enemies be punished for all to see (Ps 69:23–29). Despite the pain, the psalmist does not lose hope that all be set right, and promises public praise (Ps 69:30–36). The Psalm, which depicts the suffering of the innocent just person vividly, is cited often by the New Testament especially in the passion accounts, e.g., Ps 69:5 in Jn 15:25; Ps 69:22 in Mk 15:23, 36 and parallels and in Jn 19:29. The Psalm prays not so much for personal vengeance as for public vindication of God’s justice. There was, at this time, no belief in an afterlife where such vindication could take place. Redress had to take place now, in the sight of all.2

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus reproaches two unrepentant towns.

* [11:23] Capernaum’s pride and punishment are described in language taken from the taunt song against the king of Babylon (Is 14:13–15).3 

Scott McClure asks rather than focusing on the one doing the reproaching, what does our response reveal about ourselves?

Understanding that someone’s correction does not, in itself, prove our wrongdoing (indeed, maybe it is our very righteousness that has elicited reproachment), our conscience does have a way of cutting through that brush, clearing the way for us to honestly evaluate our words and deeds. Our conscience is quick to catch up to us and the hardest to outrun. When this occurs, whatever our emotions in the moment, we owe it to ourselves to step back and reflect on what has happened and what elicited the correction. This can be a humbling exercise, but Jesus calls us to just this humility. He calls us to union with him. That is our end and we have been equipped with the means to seek it and, with the grace of God, achieve it.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Even after miracles they did not repent,” by Saint Jerome (347-420 AD).

"Our Savior laments Chorazin and Bethsaida, cities of Galilee, because after such great miracles and acts of goodness they did not repent. Even Tyre and Sidon, cities that surrendered to idolatry and other vices, are preferred to them. Tyre and Sidon are preferred for the reason that although they trampled down the law, still Chorazin and Bethsaida, after they transgressed natural and written law, cared little for the miracles that were performed among them."  (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.11.22.1)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34 comments that at one time or another, most of us have felt overwhelmed by circumstances beyond our control. We might think that all we can do is hold on and cry out for mercy, as the psalmist and Moses’ mother did. We know that God loves us, but at the moment, we can’t imagine how he will bring good out of our dire circumstances.

If that’s how you’re feeling right now, hang in there. It will take a deliberate act of faith to rely on God’s goodness, just as it took the psalmist in today’s reading. Everything you see around you may tell you that he isn’t with you, but don’t believe it! Don’t give in to fear or bitterness; instead, cry out to God. Tell him your doubts and questions. Praise him for the ways he has been faithful in the past. Remind yourself that “the Lord hears the poor” when they cry out (Psalm 69:34).6 

The Optional Memorial today is Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A post by Franciscan Media shares that the Carmelites were known from early on as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” The title suggests that they saw Mary not only as “mother,” but also as “sister.”

Friar Jude Winkler recalls the priestly family of Moses and how he is saved and prepared for his mission by adoption by Pharaoh's daughter. The ones Moses protects abuse him. Friar Jude notes our “what have you done for me lately” attitude is an obstacle to consistency and integrity as followers of Christ.

I find some resonance today with reflection on how rejection and being reproached, though difficult in the moment and in times of self pity later, can be nudges to revelation of bringing good out of difficult circumstances. The on going conversion of my attitude has often been helped by the experiences like that shared today by Caryll Houselander as quoted by Richard Rohr.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes twentieth-century English mystic Caryll Houselander (1901–1954) as he would say that his only real definition of a Christian is one who can see Christ everywhere else and even in oneself.

All sorts of people jostled together, sitting and strap-hanging—workers of every description going home at the end of the day. Quite suddenly I saw with my mind, but as vividly as a wonderful picture, Christ in them all. But I saw more than that; not only was Christ in every one of them, living in them, dying in them, rejoicing in them, sorrowing in them—but because He was in them, and because they were here, the whole world was here too . . . all those people who had lived in the past, and all those yet to come.
I came out into the street and walked for a long time in the crowds. It was the same here, on every side, in every passer-by, everywhere—Christ.7 

Our practice of self righteous self defense in times of criticism and reproach may delay the revelation that God, not bound by time and space, is building our consistency and integrity to prepare us for our mission.

References

1	(n.d.). Exodus, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 16, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/exodus/2
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 69 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 16, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/69
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 16, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved July 16, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 16, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Optional Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved July 16, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/07/16/
7	(n.d.). Christ Is Everywhere — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 16, 2019, from https://cac.org/christ-is-everywhere-2019-07-16/