The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to openness to the events of life that initially involve loss, pain and sorrow but may become the passage to reversal of our understanding and gratitude for the path of our journey.
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians offers directions concerning marriage, the life that the Lord has assigned, and the unmarried and the widows.
* [7:25–28] Paul is careful to explain that the principle of 1 Cor 7:17 does not bind under sin but that present earthly conditions make it advantageous for the unmarried to remain as they are (1 Cor 7:28). These remarks must be complemented by the statement about “particular gifts” from 1 Cor 7:7.
* [7:29–31] The world…is passing away: Paul advises Christians to go about the ordinary activities of life in a manner different from those who are totally immersed in them and unaware of their transitoriness. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
Psalm 45 is an ode for a royal wedding.
* [Psalm 45] A song for the Davidic king’s marriage to a foreign princess from Tyre in Phoenicia. The court poet sings (Ps 45:2, 18) of God’s choice of the king (Ps 45:3, 8), of his role in establishing divine rule (Ps 45:4–8), and of his splendor as he waits for his bride (Ps 45:9–10). The woman is to forget her own house when she becomes wife to the king (Ps 45:11–13). Her majestic beauty today is a sign of the future prosperity of the royal house (Ps 45:14–17). The Psalm was retained in the collection when there was no reigning king, and came to be applied to the king who was to come, the messiah. (Psalms, PSALM 45, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke begins the Sermon on the Plain with blessings and woes.
* [6:20–26] The introductory portion of the sermon consists of blessings and woes that address the real economic and social conditions of humanity (the poor—the rich; the hungry—the satisfied; those grieving—those laughing; the outcast—the socially acceptable). By contrast, Matthew emphasizes the religious and spiritual values of disciples in the kingdom inaugurated by Jesus (“poor in spirit,” Mt 5:3; “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” Mt 5:6). In the sermon, blessed extols the fortunate condition of persons who are favored with the blessings of God; the woes, addressed as they are to the disciples of Jesus, threaten God’s profound displeasure on those so blinded by their present fortunate situation that they do not recognize and appreciate the real values of God’s kingdom. In all the blessings and woes, the present condition of the persons addressed will be reversed in the future. (Luke, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Ed Morse comments that neither triumphs nor sorrows endure forever. Let us embrace them both with humility. Follow up with gratitude in all things, for we cannot know how even suffering may be preparing us for our life ahead -- even heaven. Trust that our Lord, who is our companion on this journey, is loving us, not judging us, in the midst of our prayers, wanting to hear from us and to help us along to maturity. Let us also maintain wonder in our souls, never taking for granted the wondrous love that God showers around us.
Lord, in the trials of this life, help us to trust you always. In our triumphs, help us to remember the source of goodness, which on earth must fade away, but endures in heaven where our treasures are being stored. In all things, let us draw our life, our meaning, and our strength from knowing and loving you. Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2022)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus, though rich, became poor for us,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"'Blessed,' it says, 'are the poor.' Not all the poor are blessed, for poverty is neutral. The poor can be either good or evil, unless, perhaps, the blessed pauper is to be understood as he whom the prophet described, saying, 'A righteous poor man is better than a rich liar' (Proverbs 19:22). Blessed is the poor man who cried and whom the Lord heard (Psalm 34:6). Blessed is the man poor in offense. Blessed is the man poor in vices. Blessed is the poor man in whom the prince of this world (John 14:30) finds nothing. Blessed is the poor man who is like that poor Man who, although he was rich, became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9). Matthew fully revealed this when he said, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' (Matthew 5:3). One poor in spirit is not puffed up, is not exalted in the mind of his own flesh. This beatitude is first, when I have laid aside every sin, and I have taken off all malice, and I am content with simplicity, destitute of evils. All that remains is that I regulate my conduct. For what good does it do me to lack worldly goods, unless I am meek and gentle?" (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.53-54) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 6:20-26 comments that when Jesus tells his disciples to celebrate being persecuted, however, he is inviting them—and us—to gain a new perspective on the negative as well as the positive things that happen to us. He is giving us a strategy to deal with not only persecution but all kinds of suffering or hardship. Because when we rejoice, it changes our perspective and gives us hope. It makes it possible for us to look at things in a new way.
Regardless, when we find the strength to praise the Lord when things are difficult, it changes our perspective. Lifting our hearts to him can make us open to opportunities that would have gone unnoticed otherwise. So let’s get into the habit of praising God even when our circumstances don’t make us want to throw a party, and see what just might come of it.
“Jesus, help me to rejoice in you even when I suffer hardship or persecution.” (Meditation on Luke 6:20-26, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Paul is concerned with imminent eschatology in the advice on marriage in the Letter to the Corinthians. Jesus rising from the dead was one sign of the End Times for Paul. Friar Jude reminds us of the much more material tone of the Beatitudes from Luke that expresses a preference for the plight of the anawim.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that while heroic stories are always exciting to the young, the Grail myth probably makes more sense for people somewhere in the middle of life. We may recall that Jesus did not have a full Grail experience until he was thirty or so. At his baptism, he hears the voice from heaven say, “You are my beloved son” (Mark 1:11). He then immediately leaves the world of productivity and efficiency and success. He goes into the wilderness, where he fasts and faces suffering, testing, and uncertainty. Knowing he is God’s beloved child changes his life.
The Grail experience is the first numinous experience that opens our eyes. It only needs to happen once. When, finally, we are able to be open and awake—and it takes work—then we are on the true, heroic journey, also made by the ones we usually call saints. What evolves in us is less and less control. More and more we sense that Someone Else is for us, more than we are for ourselves. All we can do is get out of the way. We realize that this is a radically benevolent universe, and it is on our side despite the absurdity, sin, pain, and dead ends. It will be more like letting go than taking on. Maybe this is why it is hard to accept. (Rohr, 2022)
We seek the consolation of the Spirit in times of change of fortune as we struggle in humility and patience for the rebirth of gratitude for the truth, beauty, and love in our lives.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?20
Meditation on Luke 6:20-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/09/07/484132/
Morse, E. (2022, September 7). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/090722.html
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/7?25
Psalms, PSALM 45. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/45?11
Rohr, R. (2022, September 7). The Grail Experience — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-grail-experience-2022-09-07/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=sep7. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=sep7
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