Surprising Attraction

The calling of Matthew from the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, is one example of the difference in thinking and expectation of the human mind and the Divine. Jesus says to Matthew, a tax collector who takes money from his own Hebrew people to deliver it to the Roman occupying forces; ”Follow Me. Matthew is attracted to Jesus through a spiritual resonance of the Indwelling Spirit and the Divine Spirit. Unfortunately for religious authorities, this attraction to truth is not controlled by any human process or liturgy. Amos is disappointed with Israel for not accepting the guidance available through faithfulness to God which would show itself in care for the disadvantaged. The Prophet has seen a drought of the Word of God in the lives of the people. He considers that God should punish this unfaithfulness but the surprise for all is contained in Jesus proclamation from Matthew’s gospel” I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:13)

Peter Transformed to Leader

The Roman Catholic Lectionary, today. contains texts for the solemn celebration of Saints Peter and Paul. The humanity of these two founders of the faith is a marvelous story and a great mystery in terms of the transformation which was necessary in both lives to be the leaders required in the Church.

“The Chief of the Apostles was a native of Galilee like Our Lord. As he was fishing on its large lake he was called by Our Lord to be one of His apostles. Peter was poor and unlearned, but candid, eager, and loving. In his heart, first of all, his conviction grew, and then from his lips came the spontaneous confession:” “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!”

(Magnificat, 2010)

The unlikely choice for the leader of the Apostles and disciples seems to be Peter. His background and his lack of education and recognition among the learned would seem to count against him. In the episode from Matthew today where Peter declares the understanding given him through the resonance of his indwelling Spirit with the Spirit of Jesus we begin to understand the qualities of the leader of the Body of Christ. The intimacy with the Divine is the key. The story of Peter also reveals that this intimacy was not always at play in the decisions and actions of “the Rock” as it is not always obvious in the lives of all humanity. However, when we like Peter hear and respond to these promptings, great things are possible.

References

Magnificat. (2010, May 21). SAINTS PETER and PAUL. Retrieved June 29, 2010, from Magnificat: http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/06-29.htm

Followers of Jesus

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today echo the messages of yesterday. Matthew’s account of the discipline required of the followers of Jesus is shorter than Luke’s. The mission is the number one priority of the disciple. As the pastor of my Parish church put it last night as we celebrated his six years of service in our community and wished him well in his new parish, “When the call comes, you answer it”. The believer comes to life in the ‘yes’. The path to which we are called by the relationship with the Divine, through the indwelling Spirit, is our Life and the path to the ‘whole-i-ness’ which is the motivation of our being. The psalmist and the texts from the Hebrew bible today lament the falling away from the path of attending to the promptings of the Spirit. The options presented by Moses in Deuteronomy are still before us. ‘Choose Life’ is the path that the indwelling Spirit prompts us to take.
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A Tree and Its Fruit

The story from the Hebrew Testament in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today is of the discovery of the Book or scroll of the Law during the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem by Josiah. He immediately gathered the people together, and engaged them in a renewal of their ancient national covenant with God. The fruit of his effort was a renewed reliance on the direction of faith in the God of the Covenant of the life of Israel. Matthew relates Jesus advice to “Thus you will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:20)”. The words and promises we hear are not as good a judge of people’s hearts as the evidence we see in their actions.