Gifted for compassion

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate mercy, humility and compassion as gifts of the Spirit that generate hope in our pursuit of truth, beauty and goodness.

Humble and generous

The reading from the Letter to the Romans celebrates the triumph of mercy in the plan of God.

* [11:33–36] This final reflection celebrates the wisdom of God’s plan of salvation. As Paul has indicated throughout these chapters, both Jew and Gentile, despite the religious recalcitrance of each, have received the gift of faith. The methods used by God in making this outreach to the world stagger human comprehension but are at the same time a dazzling invitation to abiding faith.1

Psalm 69 prays for public vindication of God’s justice.

Psalm 69, 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 

Generous conduct of hosts toward the poor is advised by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.

* [14:7–14] The banquet scene found only in Luke provides the opportunity for these teachings of Jesus on humility and presents a setting to display Luke’s interest in Jesus’ attitude toward the rich and the poor (see notes on Lk 4:18; 6:20–26; 12:13–34).3 

Susan Naatz reflecting on the first reading for the Memorial, of Saint Charles Borromeo, shares that each of us is a piece in the larger mosaic of life and Saint Paul tells us that every one of us is needed…we, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them. His powerful invitation to work together, care for one another and share our gifts offers us the opportunity to invest ourselves into humanity to create a breath-taking work of art.

This is also a vision for our own personal lives.   When we are struggling with something painful, we become very close to the pain because it takes most of our energy and we can scarcely see or deal with anything else.  Like standing close to a mosaic, what we see is indistinct and unclear. When I reflect on my life and remember the times when I faced great sorrow or difficulties, I could no longer see the beauty of my own life-mosaic.  When people reached out to me, and I allowed myself to be open to them, their love and gifts restored my life to me and once again I was able to see the beauty bursting forth. I in turn became committed to doing the same with and for others.4 

Tim McEvoy, Ph.D, marks the feast of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop, patron saint of spiritual directors, by looking back over Borromeo’s life story and reflecting on his approach to the spiritual life.

Many impressive achievements, and yet the gaunt figure of this rather puritanical archbishop who disapproved of worldly pleasure (even attempting, unsuccessfully, to ban Carnival one year) does not perhaps immediately attract and inspire the modern seeker of ‘God in all things’...It might be true to say that Carlo never really understood his own worth in the eyes of God and for all his love of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius (he unfailingly made them once a year), never moved beyond the First Week.[ix] St Ignatius himself – who at Manresa experienced comparable scruples over his own sinfulness – later cautioned strongly against such extremes of bodily deprivation... Such impulses, he learnt, did not come from God... At Manresa, Ignatius learnt to question the model of ‘heroic sanctity’ – which had driven him since his conversion – and to rely instead on the unmerited mercy of God who accepted him as he was.5 

Don Schwager quotes the advice of Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD) to love humility in the homily, “First and last at the banquet table.”

"'When,' he says, 'a man more honorable than you comes, he that invited you and him will say, 'Give this man place.' Oh, what great shame is there in having to do this! It is like a theft, so to speak, and the restitution of the stolen goods. He must restore what he has seized because he had no right to take it. The modest and praiseworthy person, who without fear of blame might have claimed the dignity of sitting among the foremost, does not seek it. He yields to others what might be called his own, that he may not even seem to be overcome by empty pride. Such a one shall receive honor as his due. He says, 'He shall hear him who invited him say, 'Come up here.' ...If any one among you wants to be set above others, let him win it by the decree of heaven and be crowned by those honors that God bestows. Let him surpass the many by having the testimony of glorious virtues. The rule of virtue is a lowly mind that does not love boasting. It is humility. The blessed Paul also counted this worthy of all esteem. He writes to those who eagerly desire saintly pursuits, 'Love humility.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 101)6 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 11:29-36 observes in today’s passage, it’s clear that Paul has not given up hope. He believes that the salvation experienced by the Gentiles will cause the Jewish people to desire Christ. He trusts that “by virtue of the mercy shown to [the Gentiles], they too may now receive mercy” (Romans 11:31).

In the meantime, we can also have hope. Just as it was for the Jewish people, so it is for everyone: God’s gifts and call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). He will never withdraw from them; it would be against his nature to do so. He has not rejected anyone, even people who have rejected him. In fact, his greatest desire is to have all of us close to his heart every moment of every day.7 

Friar Jude Winkler observes how the disobedience of the Jewish people allowed the Gentiles to be invited into relationship with Jesus. Paul observes disobedience as an invitation to salvation. Friar Jude reminds that the things we do that are not thanked or noticed are motivated by the Love of God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Eco-philosopher, Earth elder, friend, and spiritual activist Joanna Macy, who has been promoting a global transition from the Industrial Growth Society to a Life-Sustaining Society for most of her life. She calls it the Great Turning, a revolution of great urgency. Macy explains:

The insights and experiences that enable us to make this shift may arise from grief for our world that contradicts illusions of the separate and isolated self. Or they may arise from breakthroughs in science, such as quantum physics and systems theory. Or we may find ourselves inspired by the wisdom traditions of native peoples and mystical voices in the major religions; we hearken to their teachings as to some half-forgotten song that our world is a sacred whole in which we have a sacred mission. [4]8 

Fr Richard celebrates indigenous teenagers Tokata Iron Eyes (a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe who plays a key role in the “Rezpect Our Water” campaign) and Autumn Peltier (also a water protector and a citizen of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation)... and Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who spoke at the United Nations Climate Action Summit and helped inspire Climate Strikes around the world. In the face of criticism, Greta calls her Asperger’s syndrome a “superpower” that gives her a clear perspective on the climate crisis. May we be motivated by these committed young advocates and lend our voices and strength to heal our wounded world.

Compassion is one of three high points of humanity (also science and art) for brilliant astrophysicist Hubert Reeves, one of the world's leading experts on The Big Bang, the opening chapter of our history — the origin of time and our universe.

He says "There is no guarantee that our way of thinking is able to go to the profoundest depth of the universe," At the same time, because of the power of human intellect, Reeves believes it is our duty to protect the natural world. He is a passionate defender of our planet, and speaks out against climate change, and threats to our biodiversity. 9

CBC Ideas produced a two part series: “Finding meaning in the universe with astrophysicist Hubert Reeves.”

The mercy of God is the source of our gift of compassion that reveals to us the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth.