Living Fully

 

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our actions that support our hope in living fully beyond the distractions of troubled times.

River of Life

 

The reading from the Book of Revelation describes a vision of the River of Life flowing through the New Jerusalem.

 

* [22:2] The tree of life: cf. Rev 22:14; see note on Rev 2:7. Fruit,medicine: cf. Ez 47:12.1

Psalm 95 A Call to Worship and Obedience

Psalm 95 is a call to worship and obedience.

 

* [Psalm 95] Twice the Psalm calls the people to praise and worship God (Ps 95:1–2, 6), the king of all creatures (Ps 95:3–5) and shepherd of the flock (Ps 95:7a, 7b). The last strophe warns the people to be more faithful than were their ancestors in the journey to the promised land (Ps 95:7c–11). This invitation to praise God regularly opens the Church’s official prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours.2

 In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus offers an exhortation to watch and be vigilant.

 

* [21:5–36] Jesus’ eschatological discourse in Luke is inspired by Mk 13 but Luke has made some significant alterations to the words of Jesus found there. Luke maintains, though in a modified form, the belief in the early expectation of the end of the age (see Lk 21:27, 28, 31, 32, 36), but, by focusing attention throughout the gospel on the importance of the day-to-day following of Jesus and by reinterpreting the meaning of some of the signs of the end from Mk 13 he has come to terms with what seemed to the early Christian community to be a delay of the parousia. Mark, for example, described the desecration of the Jerusalem temple by the Romans (Mk 13:14) as the apocalyptic symbol (see Dn 9:27; 12:11) accompanying the end of the age and the coming of the Son of Man. Luke (Lk 21:20–24), however, removes the apocalyptic setting and separates the historical destruction of Jerusalem from the signs of the coming of the Son of Man by a period that he refers to as “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24). See also notes on Mt 24:1–36 and Mk 13:1–37.3

Mary Lee Brock notes that Jesus warns us not let our hearts become drowsy. The sources of anxiety are plentiful as we collectively worry about health, finances, identity, safety and quality of life. While these worries are very real and important, they distract us from trusting in God.

 

As I pray with today’s gospel I feel a sense of calm come over me.  Although I have allowed myself to be distracted by the anxieties of daily life, I am invited to shift my attention away from anxious thoughts and feelings.   This is the time to create a new normal. The covid pandemic has provided an opportunity to appreciate what is important in life, how we can connect with one another in more meaningful ways and what attractions, habits and behaviors we should turn away from.4

Don Schwager quotes “Drunkenness weakens both soul and body,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

 

“'But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare.' You heard the proclamation of the eternal King. You learned the deplorable end of 'drunkenness' or 'intoxication' Imagine a skilled and wise physician who would say, 'Beware, no one should drink too much from this or that herb. If he does, he will suddenly be destroyed.' I do not doubt that everyone would keep the prescriptions of the physician's warning concerning his own health. Now the Lord, who is both the physician of souls and bodies, orders them to avoid as a deadly drink the herb 'of drunkenness' and the vice 'of intoxication' and also the care of worldly matters. I do not know if anyone can say that he is not wounded, because these things consume him. Drunkenness is therefore destructive in all things. It is the only thing that weakens the soul together with the body. According to the apostle, it can happen that when the body 'is weak,' then the spirit is 'much stronger' (2 Corinthians 12:10), and when 'the exterior person is destroyed, the interior person is renewed' (2 Corinthians 4:16). In the illness of drunkenness, the body and the soul are destroyed at the same time. The spirit is corrupted equally with the flesh. All the members are weakened: the feet and the hands. The tongue is loosened. Darkness covers the eyes. Forgetfulness covers the mind so that one does not know himself nor does he perceive he is a person. Drunkenness of the body has that shamefulness." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 7.5-6)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 21:34-36 comments that St. Padre Pio had a famous piece of advice that is just as simple to remember for when we are feeling burned by anxious thoughts: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” This little phrase is so simple and effective that we can even equate it to “Stop, drop, and roll” as a way to help us avoid the trap of anxiety.

 

Don’t let your concerns paralyze you. Instead, try to roll with whatever comes your way. Of course, it’s easy to say, “Just don’t worry,” but it’s hard to do it. That’s why we have the gift of faith. Exercise your faith in God’s love and provision by trying your best to keep moving forward with your day. Often, one or two steps may be all you need to break through. Jesus cautions us to “beware” that we do not slip into worry (Luke 21:34). So try to be more aware of your thoughts today. Be ready to stop, drop, and roll whenever you need to. “Lord, teach me how to pray, hope, and not worry.”6

Friar Jude Winkler fleshes out the vision of the river of life in Revelation as a promise of life in Jesus Presence. Christians call to Jesus coming at Christmas and the end of time with Marana tha! Friar Jude suggests we remain vigilant by transparently giving witness in everything to our faith.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, invites us to enter a Centering Prayer practice inspired by prayer found in Thomas Merton’s book Thoughts in Solitude.

 

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always though

I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.7

The Liturgical Year ends with a reminder to trust Jesus Presence in our lives to bring hope and disperse worry and distractions.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Revelation, CHAPTER 22 | USCCB. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/22
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 95 | USCCB. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/95
3	(n.d.). Luke, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112820.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture .... Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2020&date=nov28
6	(n.d.). The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://wau.org/meditations/2020/11/28/177306/
7	(2020, November 28). Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action: Weekly Summary .... Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://cac.org/thomas-merton-contemplation-and-action-weekly-summary-2020-11-28/

 

Redemption drawing near

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the connection between times when we have known redemption and the attitude of gratitude that many of our American cousins will ponder today.

Attitude of gratitude

In the passage from the Book of Daniel, he is saved from the Lions.

* [6:8–11] The Jews of the second century B.C. could relate the king’s attempt to force upon them, under pain of death, the worship of a foreign deity to the decrees of Antiochus IV; cf. 1 Mc 1:41–50.1

Part of the Prayer of Azariah is our response today from the Book of Daniel.

* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures.2 

In the Gospel of Luke Jesus foretells the Destruction of Jerusalem and the coming of the Son of Man.

* [21:24] The times of the Gentiles: a period of indeterminate length separating the destruction of Jerusalem from the cosmic signs accompanying the coming of the Son of Man.3 

Andy Alexander, S.J. comments that we who have found ourselves in a lion's den of some sort, at one time or another, can cheer along with the King about our God's fidelity to us.

We might have sought miracles and were disappointed, but our God delivers us from so much - from fear, from anxiety, from a lack of courage, from a feeling of being alone. When we experience a peace that only our God can give, we can truly feel freed from a lion's den...
Jesus is preaching in the temple and warning of the temple's destruction... It is as though the temple falls apart under the Roman invasion, as much from the lack of faith of the people as from the force of the invading Roman army. But, Jesus seems to address his followers with words of hope and encouragement:..“stand erect and raise your headsbecause your redemption is at hand.” (Luke 21:28)4 

Don Schwager quotes “The signs have been accomplished,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

 "The signs given in the Gospel and in prophecy and fulfilled in us show the coming of the Lord... We know that the coming is near by the fact that we see the fulfillment of certain signs of that coming that have been accomplished... The signs that Christ told them to look for are listed in the Gospel of Saint Luke: 'Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the nations are fulfilled.' This has happened and no one doubts that it has happened... It is plain that there is no country or place in our time that is not harassed or humbled according to the words 'for fear and expectation of what will come on the whole world.' All the signs that the gospel describes in the earlier verses have mostly been accomplished." (excerpt from Letter 198)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Daniel 6:12-28 notes that over time, Daniel’s faithful witness gained the attention and respect of Darius. It didn’t happen all at once; it was the result of Daniel’s everyday faithfulness.

This is how evangelization usually starts. It mostly takes place in the course of everyday life and arises out of our day-to-day interactions. It’s hard for people to gloss over the witness of a life of faith. They will see the unique way you treat people—with respect and compassion. They will notice how your faith shapes the way you spend your time, the decisions you make, and even the clothes you wear. It all adds up and points people to the God you worship and his love and grace.6 

Friar Jude Winkler connects the text from Daniel with mockery of “Antiochus IV Epiphanes” in the second century BCE. In Daniel and Luke clouds are a kind of deus en machina occurring with other end times signs. Friar Jude reminds that soon, in Advent, “Maranatha!” will be a key watchword and prayer to say Come Lord Jesus.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that as long as we operate inside any scarcity model, there will never be enough God or grace to go around. Jesus came to undo our notions of scarcity and tip us over into a worldview of absolute abundance. The Gospel reveals a divine world of infinity, a worldview of enough and more than enough. The Christian word for this undeserved abundance is “grace.” It is a major mental and heart conversion to move from a scarcity model to an abundance model and to live with an attitude of gratitude. Lynne Twist, co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance, writes about the reality of abundance, which she calls “sufficiency,” in her excellent book The Soul of Money.

We each have a choice in any setting to step back and let go of the mind-set of scarcity. Once we let go of scarcity, we discover the surprising truth of sufficiency...
When we live in the context of sufficiency, we find a natural freedom and integrity. We engage in life from a sense of our own wholeness rather than a desperate longing to be complete. We feel naturally called to share the resources that flow through our lives—our time, our money, our wisdom, our energy, at whatever level those resources flow—to serve our highest commitments. . . .
Sufficiency as a way of being offers us enormous personal freedom and possibility. Rather than scarcity’s myths that tell us that the only way to perceive the world is there’s not enough, more is better, and that’s just the way it is, the truth of sufficiency asserts that there is enough for everyone. Knowing there is enough inspires sharing, collaboration, and contribution. . . .7 

Fr Richard wraps up by wishing on this holiday in the United States, when many of us pause to give thanks, let us consider how we can allow what we have in “sufficiency” to flow from us, no matter what it is—compassion, joy, humility, time, and yes, even money.

References

1	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 6. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/6
2	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 3. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3
3	(n.d.). Luke, chapter 21 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/21
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Thanksgiving Day (USA) - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/11/28/
7	(2019, November 28). The Gift of Sufficiency — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from https://cac.org/the-gift-of-sufficiency-2019-11-28/