The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of the surrender and service by followers of Christ that builds strong trust in God.
Seeking truth
The reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians is a warning against idolatry.
* [10:14–22] The warning against idolatry from 1 Cor 10:7 is now repeated (1 Cor 10:14) and explained in terms of the effect of sacrifices: all sacrifices, Christian (1 Cor 10:16–17), Jewish (1 Cor 10:18), or pagan (1 Cor 10:20), establish communion. But communion with Christ is exclusive, incompatible with any other such communion (1 Cor 10:21). Compare the line of reasoning at 1 Cor 6:15.1
Psalm 116 is a thanksgiving for recovery from illness.
* [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
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches using the images of a tree and its fruit and two foundations.
USCCB Bible Luke Chapter 63
* [7:24–27] The conclusion of the discourse (cf. Lk 6:47–49). Here the relation is not between saying and doing as in Mt 7:15–23 but between hearing and doing, and the words of Jesus are applied to every Christian (everyone who listens).4
Eileen Burke-Sullivan comments that the readings for today’s liturgy call us to unity with one another as we share in this Life of the Risen Jesus. Unity is NOT uniformity. These terms are often confused in our various ideologies. It is not some idealized form that we share, but rather a rich diversity of forms – which is one of the meanings of catholic. It is the substance (Spirit) of the Christ life that unites us. The substance of unity of the Church is a gift of God’s Spirit that we profess in the great Creedal statements.
Can I see myself in this mystery of unity with God’s Desire that Mary discloses by her life? Can I understand that I am called to engage in divine activity, as one who is human in this very broken world? Do I hear the call to specifically live on this September Saturday as a doer of Jesus’ word? “Let it be done to me according to your word”? That is the question, the invitation and the command for living in Christ, in this life and in the Kingdom fully realized for eternity. It is the core question for Christians as we face the Feast of the Holy Cross in the coming days.5
Don Schwager quotes “Scripture is the field where we build our house,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"In a certain place in the Gospel, the Lord says that the wise hearer of his word ought to be like a man who, wishing to build, digs rather deeply until he comes to bedrock. There without anxiety he establishes what he builds against the onrush of a flood, so that when it comes, rather it may be pushed back by the solidity of the building than that house collapse by the impact. Let us consider the Scripture of God as being a field where we want to build something. Let us not be lazy or content with the surface. Let us dig more deeply until we come to rock: 'Now the rock was Christ' (1 Corinthians 10:4)." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 23.1)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 notes that Paul understood that when we sacrifice to anything, we are “connecting” ourselves to that person or thing; we are establishing a kind of communion with them. But communion with Christ is exclusive. We can’t be connected to anything else at the same time.
Of course, just because something isn’t directly God centered doesn’t mean it will become an idol. We just don’t want anything—whether that be the pursuit of a career, material things, or a favorite pastime—to become a driving force in our lives. As Christians, we want to invest ourselves in what will keep us close to Christ. Because in the end, anything else will prove dissatisfying to us. Nothing can give us what only God stands ready to give: hope that does not disappoint, deep-down joy, and love that is beyond our comprehension.7
Friar Jude Winkler considers how Paul deepens his message on idols to the Corinthians and what impact that may have on ecumenism. Good fruit on good trees speaks of judging people by their actions. Friar Jude reminds that our discipleship builds trust that we need in difficult times.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, believes the sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catholic Church is restorative justice—returning the individual to God, to their faith community, and to their best selves. Asking people to “confess” what they have gotten wrong in their relationships is an important first step. He shares ten practices, suggested by Howard Zehr, to help us live restorative justice as a way of life.
(1) Take relationships seriously, envisioning yourself in an interconnected web of people, institutions, and the environment.
(2) Try to be aware of the impact—potential as well as actual—of your actions on others and the environment.
(3) When your actions negatively impact others, take responsibility by acknowledging and seeking to repair the harm—even when you could probably get away with avoiding or denying it.
(4) Treat everyone respectfully, even those you don’t expect to encounter again, even those you feel don’t deserve it, even those who have harmed or offended you or others.
(5) Involve those affected by a decision, as much as possible, in the decision-making process.
(6) View the conflicts and harms in your life as opportunities.
(7) Listen, deeply and compassionately, to others, seeking to understand even if you don’t agree with them. (Think about who you want to be in the latter situation rather than just being right.)
(8) Engage in dialogue with others, even when what is being said is difficult, remaining open to learning from them and the encounter.
(9) Be cautious about imposing your “truths” and views on other people and situations.
(10) Sensitively confront everyday injustices including sexism, racism, and classism [and other examples of systemic and intersectional injustice].8
The action we show is a reflection of the fruit we produce as we journey in life.
References
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