The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our actions that support our hope in living fully beyond the distractions of troubled times.
River of Life
The reading from the Book of Revelation describes a vision of the River of Life flowing through the New Jerusalem.
* [22:2] The tree of life: cf. Rev 22:14; see note on Rev 2:7. Fruit,medicine: cf. Ez 47:12.1
Psalm 95 A Call to Worship and Obedience
Psalm 95 is a call to worship and obedience.
* [Psalm 95] Twice the Psalm calls the people to praise and worship God (Ps 95:1–2, 6), the king of all creatures (Ps 95:3–5) and shepherd of the flock (Ps 95:7a, 7b). The last strophe warns the people to be more faithful than were their ancestors in the journey to the promised land (Ps 95:7c–11). This invitation to praise God regularly opens the Church’s official prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours.2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus offers an exhortation to watch and be vigilant.
* [21:5–36] Jesus’ eschatological discourse in Luke is inspired by Mk 13 but Luke has made some significant alterations to the words of Jesus found there. Luke maintains, though in a modified form, the belief in the early expectation of the end of the age (see Lk 21:27, 28, 31, 32, 36), but, by focusing attention throughout the gospel on the importance of the day-to-day following of Jesus and by reinterpreting the meaning of some of the signs of the end from Mk 13 he has come to terms with what seemed to the early Christian community to be a delay of the parousia. Mark, for example, described the desecration of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans (Mk 13:14) as the apocalyptic symbol (see Dn 9:27; 12:11) accompanying the end of the age and the coming of the Son of Man. Luke (Lk 21:20–24), however, removes the apocalyptic setting and separates the historical destruction of Jerusalem from the signs of the coming of the Son of Man by a period that he refers to as “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24). See also notes on Mt 24:1–36 and Mk 13:1–37.3
Mary Lee Brock notes that Jesus warns us not let our hearts become drowsy. The sources of anxiety are plentiful as we collectively worry about health, finances, identity, safety and quality of life. While these worries are very real and important, they distract us from trusting in God.
As I pray with today’s gospel I feel a sense of calm come over me. Although I have allowed myself to be distracted by the anxieties of daily life, I am invited to shift my attention away from anxious thoughts and feelings. This is the time to create a new normal. The covid pandemic has provided an opportunity to appreciate what is important in life, how we can connect with one another in more meaningful ways and what attractions, habits and behaviors we should turn away from.4
Don Schwager quotes “Drunkenness weakens both soul and body,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
“'But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare.' You heard the proclamation of the eternal King. You learned the deplorable end of 'drunkenness' or 'intoxication' Imagine a skilled and wise physician who would say, 'Beware, no one should drink too much from this or that herb. If he does, he will suddenly be destroyed.' I do not doubt that everyone would keep the prescriptions of the physician's warning concerning his own health. Now the Lord, who is both the physician of souls and bodies, orders them to avoid as a deadly drink the herb 'of drunkenness' and the vice 'of intoxication' and also the care of worldly matters. I do not know if anyone can say that he is not wounded, because these things consume him. Drunkenness is therefore destructive in all things. It is the only thing that weakens the soul together with the body. According to the apostle, it can happen that when the body 'is weak,' then the spirit is 'much stronger' (2 Corinthians 12:10), and when 'the exterior person is destroyed, the interior person is renewed' (2 Corinthians 4:16). In the illness of drunkenness, the body and the soul are destroyed at the same time. The spirit is corrupted equally with the flesh. All the members are weakened: the feet and the hands. The tongue is loosened. Darkness covers the eyes. Forgetfulness covers the mind so that one does not know himself nor does he perceive he is a person. Drunkenness of the body has that shamefulness." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 7.5-6)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 21:34-36 comments that St. Padre Pio had a famous piece of advice that is just as simple to remember for when we are feeling burned by anxious thoughts: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” This little phrase is so simple and effective that we can even equate it to “Stop, drop, and roll” as a way to help us avoid the trap of anxiety.
Don’t let your concerns paralyze you. Instead, try to roll with whatever comes your way. Of course, it’s easy to say, “Just don’t worry,” but it’s hard to do it. That’s why we have the gift of faith. Exercise your faith in God’s love and provision by trying your best to keep moving forward with your day. Often, one or two steps may be all you need to break through. Jesus cautions us to “beware” that we do not slip into worry (Luke 21:34). So try to be more aware of your thoughts today. Be ready to stop, drop, and roll whenever you need to. “Lord, teach me how to pray, hope, and not worry.”6
Friar Jude Winkler fleshes out the vision of the river of life in Revelation as a promise of life in Jesus Presence. Christians call to Jesus coming at Christmas and the end of time with Marana tha! Friar Jude suggests we remain vigilant by transparently giving witness in everything to our faith.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, invites us to enter a Centering Prayer practice inspired by prayer found in Thomas Merton’s book Thoughts in Solitude.
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.7
The Liturgical Year ends with a reminder to trust Jesus Presence in our lives to bring hope and disperse worry and distractions.
References
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