Trust and Charity

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to trust God to guide our journey to respond to the people we encounter with love and compassion.

Like the tree near the stream

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah presents True Wisdom.

Psalm 1 contrasts 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. (Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke, compares the fate of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

* [16:19–31] The parable of the rich man and Lazarus again illustrates Luke’s concern with Jesus’ attitude toward the rich and the poor. The reversal of the fates of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:22–23) illustrates the teachings of Jesus in Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” (Lk 6:20–21, 24–25).

* [16:19] The oldest Greek manuscript of Luke dating from ca. A.D. 175–225 records the name of the rich man as an abbreviated form of “Nineveh,” but there is very little textual support in other manuscripts for this reading. “Dives” of popular tradition is the Latin Vulgate’s translation for “rich man” (Lk 16:19–31).

* [16:23] The netherworld: see note on Lk 10:15.

* [16:30–31] A foreshadowing in Luke’s gospel of the rejection of the call to repentance even after Jesus’ resurrection. (Luke, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Julie Kalkowski comments that we know Jesus’ parables are not so tidy.  Jesus is using Lazarus and the rich man to challenge us to see and hear who we are failing to see and hear in our own lives. Given the chaos in our world that is constantly creating so many more “Lazaruses”, Julie asks “How can I even see them all? How can I respond to such pain and overwhelming suffering? 

The short answer is that I can’t, none of us can. But I can see the “Lazaruses” in my neighborhood. I can also join with others who are trying to reduce some aspect of human misery. For example, many people in  Nebraska  petitioned and wrote letters to our Governor to change his mind about accepting federal aid to feed children this summer. He finally relented and agreed to accept this funding. Will there still be hungry children in Nebraska this summer? Yes, but thanks to the people who saw and heard and acted on this issue, there won’t be as many.

We can’t end all suffering, but we are all called to do something.     

“We become the vehicles, the instruments of God’s compassion.
Every time we open ourselves to the needs of others,
God uses us to show them the meaning of love.”
Cardinal Basil Hume      (Kalkowski, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Creator of both rich and poor,” by Augustine of Hippo, 3540-430 A.D.

"God made both the rich and the poor. So the rich and the poor are born alike. You meet one another as you walk on the way together. Do not oppress or defraud anyone. One may be needy and another may have plenty. But the Lord is the maker of them both. Through the person who has, He helps the one who needs - and through the person who does not have, He tests the one who has." (excerpt from Sermon 35, 7) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 17:5-10 comments that Jeremiah uses the vivid imagery of thriving desert plants when he encourages the people of Jerusalem to be like “the man who trusts in the Lord” (17:7). They will be like a tree planted beside the water, stretching out its roots to the stream and storing reserves of life-giving water so that its leaves stay green (17:8).

We all face “deserts” or “scorching heat” in our lives. You might experience sickness, loss, or relationship struggles. God may seem far away, or the world around you may seem shrouded in darkness. These are the very times that you need to hang onto your trust in God. So keep stretching your roots toward your source of life. And tap into the living water that you have already collected.

“Lord Jesus, your words are the source of life-giving water for me!” (Meditation on Jeremiah 17:5-10, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Jeremiah speaks of those cursed and blessed in a typical Jewish way as he urges us to trust in the Lord on our journey. The purple robe of the rich man indicated extreme wealth yet we are given Lazarus name but the rich man is not worth naming. Friar Jude is reminded by the parable that faith expresses itself in compassion to those most in need.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Anglican theologian Maggie Ross who writes of tears of anger as an opportunity to “cleanse” our anger and pain.

Most of the time our anger is due to unwillingness to face the hurt we feel and the real reasons behind it. To learn to weep in order to be free of anger and know “rest” does not obviate self-respect and is not related to putting oneself down.

On the contrary, if we are struggling to seek God single-heartedly, to learn to weep the anger out of ourselves is a matter of self-respect.

The idea of tears washing anger from us is alien to the mores of power-oriented Western society. We are conditioned to justify our anger, to find the right place to put blame, and to always feel good about ourselves. Most of us associate anger and tears with tears that spring from anger, not tears that cleanse us from anger. But … tears of anger are themselves … a sign of choice, of potential change. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are troubled to comprehend the pain and suffering we witness in God’s creation and we seek the consolation of the Spirit through the love we exercise toward the people we encounter most impacted by these situations.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/17?5 

Kalkowski, J. (2024, February 29). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/022924.html 

Luke, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/16?19 

Meditation on Jeremiah 17:5-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/29/903639/ 

Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/1?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Anger and Grief. YouTube: Home. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/anger-and-grief/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Lazarus Was Carried to Abraham's Bosom. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb29 

Persecution and Service

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the difficulties we may have in being servant leaders as they encourage us to boldly seek help from God.

Chutzpah and Service

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes a plot against Jeremiah.

Psalm 31 is a prayer and praise for deliverance from Enemies.

* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6).

* [31:6] Into your hands I commend my spirit: in Lk 23:46 Jesus breathes his last with this Psalm verse. Stephen in Acts 7:59 alludes to these words as he is attacked by enemies. The verse is used as an antiphon in the Divine Office at Compline, the last prayer of the day. (Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus foretells His Death and Resurrection and addresses the request of the mother of James and John.

* [20:17–19] Cf. Mk 10:32–34. This is the third and the most detailed of the passion predictions (Mt 16:21–23; 17:22–23). It speaks of Jesus’ being handed over to the Gentiles (Mt 27:2), his being mocked (Mt 27:27–30), scourged (Mt 27:26), and crucified (Mt 27:31, 35). In all but the last of these points Matthew agrees with his Marcan source, but whereas Mark speaks of Jesus’ being killed (Mk 10:34), Matthew has the specific to be…crucified.

* [20:20–28] Cf. Mk 10:35–45. The request of the sons of Zebedee, made through their mother, for the highest places of honor in the kingdom, and the indignation of the other ten disciples at this request, show that neither the two brothers nor the others have understood that what makes for greatness in the kingdom is not lordly power but humble service. Jesus gives the example, and his ministry of service will reach its highest point when he gives his life for the deliverance of the human race from sin. (Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tom Lenz comments, concerning the disciples, that the path of self-emptying was theirs to do just as it was his. It seems that Jesus was making a point that “the Son of Man” is going to be handed over and put to death, as if he was saying, “This is what is mine to do, and each of you also needs to find what is yours to do as well.” As he said, “Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

One of my favorite theologians and writers is Sister Ilia Delio. In one of her recent books called, “Birth of a Dancing Star,” she helps us with the important questions we have about our life purpose. In one part of the book (pg. 211), she says, “I have a mission because every person has a mission – to be the truth of who they are so that God can be God in them.” Discerning what is ours to do is a big, wonderful, personal, and patient process. And I think that knowing that Jesus was there to guide his disciples through this process means that he is there for us in our discernment as well. As we continue through our Lenten journey, perhaps self-emptying in whatever forms that takes and allowing God to be God in us will provide some clarity on what is ours to do. (Lenz, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Do you wish to be great?” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Do you wish to be great? Then begin from what is slightest. Do you plan to construct a high and mighty building? Then think first about the foundation of humility. When people plan to erect a lofty and large building, they make the foundations all the deeper. But those who lay the foundation are forced to descend into the depths." (excerpt from Sermon 69, 2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 20:17-28 comments that Jesus doesn’t let a teachable moment pass him by. He observes how this conversation affects the other ten apostles. They are indignant! Why should James and John be given higher status than the rest of them? We can imagine Jesus sighing deeply as he uses the opportunity to draw a striking portrait of servant leadership, so different from the domination that worldly leaders exercise (Matthew 20:25-26). He drives the lesson home by highlighting his own example—an example of service and love that he wants them to follow (20:28).

We can easily imagine ourselves in these very human scenes. How privileged we are to have such a patient, perceptive, and gentle teacher! He knows just what lesson we need at each moment in our lives. So ask Jesus what he wants to teach you today. Then sit at his feet, as his disciples did, and listen to him.

“Jesus, I invite you to keep teaching me as I walk with you day by day.” (Meditation on Matthew 20:17-28, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the plot to kill Jeremiah that was triggered by his proclamation of a time of judgement for the people of Judah. The “Confessions of Jeremiah” are his chutzpah conversations with God. Friar Jude notes how the demands of honour and privilege for James and John are seeking an inheritance in contrast to Jesus exhorting them to be servants.

Brian McLaren reminds us that we can trust God with all our emotions, including our anger.

Opening ourselves to God when we’re in need says that we trust God and want God to accompany us, support us, and befriend us in every way.

We trust those we love most with our deepest fears, doubts, emptiness, and disillusionment. So we love God when we share those vulnerable aspects of our lives with God. Just as a little child in the middle of a temper tantrum can shout “I hate you, Mommy!” only because he knows his outburst will not end their relationship, we can express to God our deep doubts, anger, or frustrations only because we possess an even deeper trust in God’s love…. The fact that we share this pain with God rather than withhold it turns out to be an expression of love. [2] (McLaren, 2024)

We are blessed with life, a mission, and our humanity as the basis of our service to others as we are guided by the Spirit to imitate Christ.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/18?16 

Lenz, T. (2024, February 27). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/022824.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20?17 

McLaren, B. (2024, February 28). Love and the Fire of Life — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-and-the-fire-of-life/ 

Meditation on Matthew 20:17-28. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/28/903158/ 

Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/31?5 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb28