The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that choice of the way of truth, beauty, and love may cause some to choose separation over celebration of our decision.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans describes the Wages of Sin.
* [6:20] You were free from righteousness: expressed ironically, for such freedom is really tyranny. The commercial metaphors in Rom 6:21–23 add up only one way: sin is a bad bargain.
* [6:22] Sanctification: or holiness. (Romans, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 1 outlines the Two Ways.
* [Psalm 1] A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The Psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death.
* [1:1] The way: a common biblical term for manner of living or moral conduct (Ps 32:8; 101:2, 6; Prv 2:20; 1 Kgs 8:36).
* [1:2] The law of the LORD: either the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, or, more probably, divine teaching or instruction.
* [1:4] The wicked: those who by their actions distance themselves from God’s life-giving presence. (Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus notes the Cause of Division.
* [12:49–53] Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom is a refining and purifying fire. His message that meets with acceptance or rejection will be a source of conflict and dissension even within families.
* [12:50] Baptism: i.e., his death. (Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J. (1999) comments that today we can really feel the passion of Jesus. He is restless in his desire to ignite a fire. He's on a mission. It is deep inside of him, coming out of the fire within him. His desire is to draw us in, to enflame our hearts, to have us ablaze with his mission, with our passion.
So today we can ask ourselves how we might catch the passion of Jesus, and let it ignite our hearts, so that we might set our world ablaze.
What is the passion I feel, the desire, the invitation, to recover today? Do I feel loved with the passion of Jesus? What would I have to surrender to be more "on fire?" How would it change my relationships, my view of my work, my outlook on life, my faith and service of others - if I let myself be touched by this loving Fire? (Alexander, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The fire of the Gospel and being baptized in the Holy Spirit,“ by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"We affirm that the fire that Christ sent out is for humanity's salvation and profit. May God grant that all our hearts be full of this. The fire is the saving message of the Gospel and the power of its commandments. We were cold and dead because of sin and in ignorance of him who by nature is truly God. The gospel ignites all of us on earth to a life of piety and makes us fervent in spirit, according to the expression of blessed Paul (Romans 12:11). Besides this, we are also made partakers of the Holy Spirit, who is like fire within us. We have been baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit. We have learned the way from what Christ says to us. Listen to his words: 'Truly I say to you, that except a man be born of water and spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:5). It is the divinely inspired Scripture's custom to give the name of fire sometimes to the divine and sacred words and to the efficacy and power which is by the Holy Spirit by which we are made fervent in spirit." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 94) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 6:19-23 notes that Paul is realistic about human nature. He knows that everyone—including himself—struggles with sin. So that’s why he talks about “sanctification,” or holiness, as a process. Baptism cleanses us from original sin and makes us into a new creation, but we still need to learn to live out that new creation. We still need to learn how to “present” ourselves every day as “slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:19).
So the next time you face a strong temptation, keep the end in mind! Remember that Jesus has claimed you as his own, and you belong to him now. Remember that the wages of sin are a dead end—quite literally—but that you have traded slavery to sin for a new status as a beloved child of God. And be patient with yourself, as God is patient with you. The path of sanctification takes a lifetime, and Jesus promises to be with you all the way.
“Jesus, I belong to you!” (Meditation on Romans 6:19-23, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage from Romans today is a continuation of the exhortation of Paul that we make Christ the centre of our lives and choose righteousness over selfishness. The Gospel presents our commitment to Christ as a fire. Friar Jude reminds us that when we commit to Love, others may divide themselves from us and we will have to live the consequences of our choice.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the beguines’ choice to live in cities among poor and working-class people showed their dedication to serve God by serving the “least of these.” Theologian Wendy Farley presents Mechthild’s teaching on contemplation and compassionate action. Mechthild insists that the intimate love she and God share is made manifest in a desire to serve others.
The radical compassion she envisions as the heart of practical action cannot be generated out of a sense of obligation or duty. It is a heart-sense that makes it unbearable to be indifferent to another’s needs or to think of anyone as “below” oneself. In an echo of her trinitarian understanding of the soul, she suggests a threefold practice to support this radical compassion: detachment, which participates in the transcendent mystery of the godhead; compassion, which participates in the humanity of Christ; and desire to care for human need, which participates in the Holy Spirit. [3] In addition, she recommends that one dedicate an hour or so to undisturbed prayer. Though she is writing to people who live in religious community, the insistence that the wells of mercy and compassion are fed by prayer is pertinent to modern people as well. As many an overworked pastor or mother knows, this hour (or even twenty minutes!) is difficult to find. Yet without it, compassionate care can become exhausting rather than grace-filled and sweet. We are better able to convey love and compassion when we are grounded in the experience of being loved ourselves.… (Rohr, 2023)
We are nudged by the Spirit to make decisions about our loving actions that may generate decisions to separate by some people, even as we experience the fullness of life in our choice.
References
Alexander, A. (2023, October 26). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/102623.html
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?49
Meditation on Romans 6:19-23. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/10/26/814421/
Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/1?1
Rohr, R. (2023, October 26). Mechthild's Call to Compassion — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/mechthilds-call-to-compassion/
Romans, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/6?19
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Came to Cast Fire upon the Earth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=oct26
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