The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine the bias in our understanding of how we attend to our mission as disciples of Christ.
Contemplate relationships
The reading from the Prophet Jonah describes the conversion of Nineveh.
* [3:7–8] Fasting and wearing sackcloth are signs of human repentance; here they are legislated even for the animals—a humorous touch, perhaps anticipating 4:11.1
Psalm 130 is a prayer about waiting for Divine Redemption.
* [Psalm 130] This lament, a Penitential Psalm, is the De profundis used in liturgical prayers for the faithful departed. In deep sorrow the psalmist cries to God (Ps 130:1–2), asking for mercy (Ps 130:3–4). The psalmist’s trust (Ps 130:5–6) becomes a model for the people (Ps 130:7–8).2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus visits Martha and Mary.
* [10:39] Sat beside the Lord at his feet: it is remarkable for first-century Palestinian Judaism that a woman would assume the posture of a disciple at the master’s feet (see also Lk 8:35; Acts 22:3), and it reveals a characteristic attitude of Jesus toward women in this gospel (see Lk 8:2–3).3
Larry Hopp comments that the resounding truth throughout today’s message thankfully goes beyond our need to listen to and follow God’s will for our lives. Yes, we so often fail at both. Yet, thankfully, we serve a God of Divine Mercy. Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska spent her life listening to God and recording those messages in her diary. She clearly laid out “God’s loving message of Divine Mercy”.
Dear Heavenly Father, open our hearts and minds to your still small voice. Help us to resist the temptation of allowing the struggles of this world to crowd out our focus upon You and Your will for our lives. Forgive us and help us. Thank You so much for your truly Divine Mercy. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen4
Don Schwager quotes “The Body of Christ needs hearers and doers of the Word,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"'Virtue does not have a single form. In the example of Martha and Mary, there is added the busy devotion of the one and the pious attention of the other to the Word of God, which, if it agrees with faith, is preferred even to the very works, as it is written: 'Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.' So let us also strive to have what no one can take away from us, so that not careless but diligent hearing may be granted to us. For even the seeds of the heavenly Word itself are likely to be taken away if they are sowed by the wayside (Luke 8:5,12). Let the desire for wisdom lead you as it did Mary. It is a greater and more perfect work. Do not let service divert the knowledge of the heavenly Word... Nor is Martha rebuked in her good serving, but Mary is preferred because she has chosen the better part for herself, for Jesus abounds with many blessings and bestows many gifts. And therefore the wiser chooses what she perceives as foremost."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.83-86)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Jonah 3:1-10 comments that at its core, the Book of Jonah reveals that the word of God, spoken by an ordinary person, is powerful and effective. It captures hearts. It converts sinners. It brings people to repentance. It doesn’t force its way; God’s word simply takes effect.
As you marvel at this, remember that God’s living and effective word is still powerful in and of itself today. So never discount the value of sharing Scripture with people. If God prompts you to speak his word to someone else, remember that it’s the message of God, not the messenger, that changes hearts and lives. Thank God for that! “Father, give me the courage to speak your word.”6
Friar Jude Winkler reviews the reluctance of Jonah to seek the conversion of the cruel Assyrian people. The text from Luke’s Gospel is sometimes used to assert the superiority of contemplation over action. Friar Jude reminds us to be aware of the tendency to put our deeds before building relationships with the people in our lives.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that science is beginning to confirm the intuitions of mystics throughout the ages, including St Francis of Assisi—that we share kinship with animals. Consider the insights from the fascinating book When Elephants Weep, which explores the emotional lives of animals. Author Jeffrey Masson considers animal relationships that surely transcend mere survival and can even be called love.
Lionesses baby-sit for one another just as house cats sometimes do. . . . Elephants appear to make allowances for other members of their herd. One African herd always traveled slowly because one of its members had never fully recovered from a broken leg suffered as a calf. A park warden reported coming across a herd with a female carrying a small calf several days dead, which she placed on the ground whenever she ate or drank: she traveled very slowly and the rest of the elephants waited for her. . . . There appears to be so little survival value in the behavior of this herd, that perhaps one has to believe that they behaved this way just because they loved their grieving friend who loved her dead baby, and wanted to support her. [2]7
Our conversion from self interest and self aggrandizement is facilitated by acting on the prompting of the Spirit to build meaningful relationships with the people in our lives.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment