Mature Love and wisdom

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that our experience and practice of Love is a journey from childish self serving attitudes to a mature position where we strive to live agape, putting the needs of the other ahead of our desires.

The journey

The Thirteenth Chapter of Letter to the Corinthians is one of the greatest poetic expressions of the nature of Love.

* [13:4–7] This paragraph is developed by personification and enumeration, defining love by what it does or does not do. The Greek contains fifteen verbs; it is natural to translate many of them by adjectives in English.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus notes that we are too often impossible to please when the spiritual path presented to us does not meet our expectations.

[7:31–35] See note on Mt 11:16–19.

* [11:16–19] See Lk 7:31–35. The meaning of the parable (Mt 11:16–17) and its explanation (Mt 11:18–19b) is much disputed. A plausible view is that the children of the parable are two groups, one of which proposes different entertainments to the other that will not agree with either proposal. The first represents John, Jesus, and their disciples; the second those who reject John for his asceticism and Jesus for his table association with those despised by the religiously observant. Mt 11:19c (her works) forms an inclusion with Mt 11:2 (“the works of the Messiah”). The original form of the saying is better preserved in Lk 7:35 “…wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” There John and Jesus are the children of Wisdom; here the works of Jesus the Messiah are those of divine Wisdom, of which he is the embodiment. Some important textual witnesses, however, have essentially the same reading as in Luke.

Bob Connolly at Enola Baptist Church cites work of Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Eerdmans Publishing, 2000, p.1046, on the verbs used in 1 Corinthians 13.4-7.

One important  grammatical point that affects our understanding of these four verses:–        "Most English translations render the Greek as if it used adjectives to describe the nature of love ‘timelessly,’ e.g., love is patient; love is kind; etc.
–        But the nature of love is expressed by Paul in a series of verbs, the active character of which may not be fully indicated by adjectives
–        Our translation strives to preserve the verbal structure of the Greek, as against the adjectival structure of many English translations”

The prayer site, Sacred Space, a joint apostolate of the Irish Jesuits and Loyola Press, shares reflections on the Gospel from Luke.

This scripture passage reminds us that children tend to act out of their feelings of the present moment. Mature adulthood can share feelings but can put order into life and give preference to reason and trust. God helps us to grow in this kind of maturity, and through our relationship with Him we learn to follow His ways. He passes on His wisdom to us so that we can be in charge in our lives, not be victims of our moods. Lord, that I may see and understand.

Don Schwager quotes The song and dances of the prophets, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"'Therefore, wisdom is justified by all her children.' He fittingly says 'by all,' because justice is preserved around all. In order that an acceptance of the faithful may happen, a rejection of the unbelieving must occur. Very many Greeks say this, “Wisdom is justified by all her works,” because the duty of justice is to preserve the measure around the merit of each. It aptly says, “We have piped to you, and you have not danced.” Moses sang a song when he stopped the flow in the Red Sea for the crossing of the Jews (Exodus 15:1-18), and the same waves encircled the horses of the Egyptians and, falling back, drowned their riders. Isaiah sang a song of his beloved’s vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7), signifying that the people who before had been fruitful with abundant virtues would be desolate through shameful acts. The Hebrews sang a song when the soles of their feet grew moist at the touch of the bedewing flame, and while all burned within and without, the harmless fire caressed them alone and did not scorch (Daniel 3:19-25). Habakkuk also learned to assuage universal grief with a song and prophesied that the sweet passion of the Lord would happen for the faithful (Habakkuk 3:13). The prophets sang songs with spiritual measures, resounding with prophecies of universal salvation. The prophets wept, softening the hard hearts of the Jews with sorrowful lamentations" (Isaiah 46:12). (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 6.6-7)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13 declares that Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8) Paul’s beautiful hymn of charity, as this passage is often called, paints the picture of a mature love filled with spiritual vitality. It’s not the textbook definition of love that we find in a dictionary, but a soaring hymn that expresses what Christian love looks like as it is lived out day by day. This love is patient and kind rather than irritable; it serves the needs of others and does not insist on its own way; it is not quick-tempered; and it doesn’t brood over injuries (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5).

As he wrote about growing from childish ways into mature faith, Paul surely had his own life in mind as well as the Corinthians’ lives. Paul had started out as a zealous young Pharisee who persecuted Christians. It took some time, even after his conversion, for him to calm down. But over time, he grew in his love for Jesus and became a more effective force for reconciliation and unity.
So make it a goal to grow in love. If you find yourself getting impatient, ask the Lord for the grace to be patient. If you find yourself getting consumed by anger, try to put on gentleness. If you find yourself getting puffed up by pride, ask the Spirit to give you a greater share in the gift of humility.

Friar Jude Winkler notes the difference of the vocabulary in this portion of the Letter to the Corinthians and the way Paul usually writes. The characteristics cited for Love serve as an examination of conscience and our motivations. Friar Jude comments that as we develop the power of abstraction we become more open to the call to die to oneself that may be presented to us by challenges from surprising sources.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the Genesis story of the Judeo-Christian tradition is really quite extraordinary. It says that we were created in the very “image and likeness” of God, proceeding from free and overflowing love (Genesis 1:26). This flow is rediscovered and re-experienced by various imperfect people throughout the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. This sets us on a positive and hopeful foundation, which cannot be overstated. The Bible illustrates, through various stories, humanity’s objective unity with God, the total gratuity of that love and, unfortunately, our resistance to such an “impossibility.”

Due to a lack of mysticism and contemplative consciousness, I find that many Christians still have no knowledge of the soul’s objective union with God (e.g., 1 John 3:2, 2 Peter 1:4). Such gratuity is too good to be true. Even ministers often fight me on this, quoting Augustine’s “original sin,” Calvin’s “total depravity,” or Luther’s statement, “humans are like piles of manure, covered over by Christ.” I am sure they all meant well, but they also dug a pit so deep that many could never climb out or allow themselves to be lifted out.

Fr Richard reminds us that we can’t accomplish or work up to union with God, because we have it.

“Before the world began you were chosen, chosen in Christ to live through love in his presence” (Ephesians 1:4).

The biblical revelation is about awakening, not accomplishing. It is about realization, not performance. You cannot get there, you can only be there. Only the humble can receive it and surrender to such grace. 

References

(n.d.). I Corinthians 13. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians13.htm
(n.d.). Luke 7. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/luke/7:31
(n.d.). 1 Corinthians 13 - Purified by Faith. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from http://www.purifiedbyfaith.com/ShortBibleStudies/1Cor13_1-13/1Cor13_1-13.htm
(n.d.). Luke 7:31-35 | Sacred Space. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from https://www.sacredspace.ie/scripture/luke-731-35
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 19, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/

Spirit as intimate teacher

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today point to how we are taught by the Spirit.

Encounter the Spirit

In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul argues for the recognition of God’s existence and presence through His activity in natural phenomena.

* [14:15–17] This is the first speech of Paul to Gentiles recorded by Luke in Acts (cf. Acts 17:22–31). Rather than showing how Christianity is the logical outgrowth of Judaism, as he does in speeches before Jews, Luke says that God excuses past Gentile ignorance and then presents a natural theology arguing for the recognition of God’s existence and presence through his activity in natural phenomena.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will be a teacher and One who reminds us of Jesus.

The Paraclete in John is a teacher, a witness to Jesus, and a prosecutor of the world, who represents the continued presence on earth of the Jesus who has returned to the Father.

Howard Carter comments on the Holy Spirit as teacher and rugby coach.

In fact the passage we are looking at Illustrates that process (midrash) very well. Jesus says something and we have the rest of his teaching in response to his disciple’s questions of clarification. In this case, the other Judas… and I’m sure he must of got fed up with having to differentiate himself from the Judas who betrayed Jesus, in fact in the other gospels he is identified with Thaddeus…asks Jesus why he is only going to reveal himself to his disciples not the world? The answer that Jesus gives is that he will reveal himself to those who love him by keeping his commandments. It is in this relationship carried on by the Paraclete that Jesus will be revealed.

Mike Cherney is reminded of the idea that an understanding of Jesus’ message flows from the insight and change of heart that the Spirit brings.

My prayer today focuses on an understanding of the Christian message from the change of heart that the Holy Spirit brings. I pray for the strength to overcome the limitations brought about by my personal disposition.
Dear Lord,
Help me to open my heart to Your words and to Your Spirit.
Free me from my existing biases and misunderstandings.
Give me the direction in my actions that wisdom can bring.
Support me with the endurance needed to properly invest my time and effort.

Don Schwager comments on how Saint Augustine says the Lord loves us.

Saint Augustine says the Lord loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love. God’s love for each of us is as real and tangible as the love of a mother for her child and the love of a lover who gives all for his beloved. God made us in love for love - to know him personally and to grow in the knowledge of his great love for us and to love him in return.

Friar Jude Winkler suggests that the crazy consequence of Paul healing the man in Lystra is proof that the incident really happened. He notes the strong sense of predestination in John’s Gospel and compares the view of Calvin and Catholics on this. The Holy Spirit will teach and remind us by generating a resonance within when we encounter word and deed in harmony with Jesus Way.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches that it is our lonely and fearful illusion of separateness that makes us do sinful and selfish things.

Sin is a refusal of mutuality and a closing down into separateness. In his classic book, The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis has a ghostly soul in hell shouting out, “I don’t want help. I want to be left alone.” [1] Whenever we refuse mutuality toward anything, whenever we won’t allow our deep inner-connectedness to guide us, whenever we’re not attuned to both receiving and giving, you could say that the Holy Spirit is existentially (but not essentially) absent from our lives.

We are not alone. We are intrinsically like the Trinity. We are called to live in an absolute relatedness of self-emptying and infilling.

References


(n.d.). Acts, chapter 14 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 30, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/14:3

(n.d.). John, chapter 14 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 30, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/john/14:21

(2013, April 21). HOW IN THE WORLD!!: The Paraclete as Teacher (John 14:22-31 .... Retrieved April 30, 2018, from http://howard-carter.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-paraclete-as-teacher-john-1422-31.html

(n.d.). Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved April 30, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 30, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2018, April 28). Daily Meditations Archive: April 2018 - Center for Action and .... Retrieved April 30, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2018/04/

Plans and death of ego

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our tendency to have a better idea and how we need to challenge our assumptions and cooperate with Christ in achieving the will of God.

Commentary on the parable of the Sower: https://t.co/y3HeJClf7k pic.twitter.com/h2NoboncHg

— John Henry Newman (@jhnewman) January 24, 2018

The Oracle of Nathan from the Second Book of Solomon establishes the Davidic line of Hebrew Kings and offers correction to the method thought appropriate by David.

The oracle establishes the Davidic king as standing in relationship to the Lord as a son to a father (v. 14; cf. Ps 2:7; 89:27). The Dynastic Oracle, with cognate texts in the Scriptures, is the basis for Jewish expectations of an anointed king (1 Sm 12:3, 5), son of David (Mt 21:9); cf. Acts 2:30; Heb 1:5.

The Parable of the Sower in the Gospel of Mark declares the intention of God that we should live in the fruit of our offering of our mind, soul and strength to doing the will of God.

* [4:11–12] These verses are to be viewed against their background in Mk 3:6, 22 concerning the unbelief and opposition Jesus encountered in his ministry. It is against this background that the distinction in Jesus’ method becomes clear of presenting the kingdom to the disbelieving crowd in one manner and to the disciples in another. To the former it is presented in parables and the truth remains hidden; for the latter the parable is interpreted and the mystery is partially revealed because of their faith; see notes on Mt 13:11 and Mt 13:13.

Our difficulty in understanding may be connected to our rejection of His invitation. Luis Rodriguez, S.J. is inspired by the text today to advise us that spirituality by comparison just does not make sense.

Thus comparison in the spiritual life is both pointless and deceiving. Pointless, because we do not have a gauge to assess the quality of the seed planted. It is also deceiving, because we do not have a basis for such comparison. When we think that we are yielding “only” thirtyfold or sixtyfold, we may be looking at our optimal yield. When we presume to judge others’ apparent thirtyfold or sixtyfold yield, we simply do not know what their optimal yield is supposed to be.

We are truly incapable of judging the soil and seed of the other. This guiding principle is connected to the success of St. Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor, in his approach to the 16th Century Swiss Calvinist Protestants...

Corruption had deprived the Roman Catholic church of its credibility during the last centuries of the middle ages. The reformation of the church in Switzerland by Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin and Guillaume Farel came a little later than the reformation in Germany by Martin Luther, but it did have a certain independence and it was more radical.

that is reflected in the Collect Prayer for his memorial today.

O God, who for the salvation of souls willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales become all things to all, graciously grant that, following his example, we may always display the gentleness of your charity in the service of our neighbor. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Catholic Culture website comments that Francis developed a gentle and amiable disposition even as by nature his temperament was choleric and fiery.

How Francis developed a gentle and amiable disposition is a story in itself; he was not born a saint. By nature his temperament was choleric, fiery; little was needed to throw him into a state of violent anger. It took years before he mastered his impatience, his unruly temper. Even after he became bishop, there were slips, as for instance, when someone rang a bell before he had finished preaching. The important point, of course, is that by constant perseverance he did in time attain perfect self-mastery. Wherein lies a lesson.

A commentary by Franciscan Media repeats the power of a gentle spirit.

Francis de Sales took seriously the words of Christ, “Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.” As he said himself, it took him 20 years to conquer his quick temper, but no one ever suspected he had such a problem, so overflowing with good nature and kindness was his usual manner of acting. His perennial meekness and sunny disposition won for him the title of “Gentleman Saint.”

Friar Jude Winkler provides background on the arrogance and possible unworthiness of David to build a Temple for God. The path, weeds and good soil of the parable are linked to our giving of intellect, possessions, strength and complete life to the Love of God and neighbour.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Mark’s Gospel, written around 65 to 70 AD, focuses on Jesus’ “suffering servanthood.” Christians believe that we are “saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus.” The key is to put both together.

Jesus takes on our suffering, bears it, and moves through it to resurrection. This is “the paschal mystery.” We too can follow this path, actively joining God’s loving solidarity with all suffering since the foundation of the world. Jesus does not ask us to worship him. He asks us to follow him by trusting and allowing this risky but revealing journey. If God is indeed Infinite Love, then humans and all of creation are Infinite Becoming (which is the core meaning of “divinization” or theosis, the process of salvation).

In “falling upward” we surrender ego and, like Francis de Sales, our natural tendencies for argument and arrogance, to join Jesus in the role of suffering servant to witness the fruit of the Spirit calling and transforming lives in daily “resurrections” from our self serving paths of rejection of Love.

References

(n.d.). CHAPTER 7 The Oracle of Nathan. 1 After the king had taken up .... Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/2samuel7.htm

(n.d.). Mark, chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/4

(n.d.). Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor; Optional .... Retrieved January 24, 2018, from https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?id=24

(n.d.). Saint Francis de Sales – Franciscan Media. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-francis-de-sales/

(n.d.). The Swiss Reformation: Calvin, Zwingli - Switzerland's History. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch/reformation-switzerland-calvin.html

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/

Simply Love