Fruit and Scruples

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contrast the quality of our life journey guided by the Spirit with actions based in legalism, self satisfaction, and self aggrandizement.

Fruit by the Way of Life

In the reading from the Letter to the Galatians, Paul describes the Fruit of the Spirit.

* [5:19–23] Such lists of vices and virtues (cf. Rom 1:29–31; 1 Cor 6:9–10) were common in the ancient world. Paul contrasts works of the flesh (Gal 5:19) with fruit (not “works”) of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Not law, but the Spirit, leads to such traits. (Galatians, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)

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, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus declares ‘But woe to you Pharisees!’

* [11:37–54] This denunciation of the Pharisees (Lk 11:39–44) and the scholars of the law (Lk 11:45–52) is set by Luke in the context of Jesus’ dining at the home of a Pharisee. Controversies with or reprimands of Pharisees are regularly set by Luke within the context of Jesus’ eating with Pharisees (see Lk 5:29–39; 7:36–50; 14:1–24). A different compilation of similar sayings is found in Mt 23 (see also notes there).

* [11:44] Unseen graves: contact with the dead or with human bones or graves (see Nm 19:16) brought ritual impurity. Jesus presents the Pharisees as those who insidiously lead others astray through their seeming attention to the law.

* [11:45] Scholars of the law: see note on Lk 10:25. (Luke, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)

Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that the whole thing comes down to two other important words for Jesus. What is the difference between impressing and expressing? Impressing is from the outside, the exterior, as the lamp’s just wanting to be seen. Impressing is hoping that the outside of the cup is acceptable, impressive and those who are easily impressed deal well with their own exteriorities.

Expressing flows from some depth of person and commitment. The expressor wishes to touch in the interior of others with the Light of Truth and Grace. Expressing is responsive to a truth or sense which flows up from the spirit and heart hoping to illumine something deeper within the spirit and soul and heart of the hearers. This takes courage while the other takes ungrateful pride.

Jesus is not alasing over these two groups as to condemn, but dramatically inviting them to see the Light and be freed from the darkness of legal reacting. Jesus confronts blind legal functioning. He is inviting constantly His hearers, to respond to the Light-Life of His teaching and way of expressing the interior of God Who is Love. (Gillick, 2022)

Don Schwager quotes “Binding heavy burdens on others,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"Just as the scribes and Pharisees wickedly sat upon the throne of Moses, so do some in the church who sit upon the ecclesiastical throne. There are some in the church who have the right understanding of the law and pass it on correctly. They say what each person needs to do, but they themselves do not do it. Some of them lay heavy burdens upon the shoulders of men, but they won't even lift a finger to help. These are the ones the Savior is talking about when he says, 'Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of God' (Matthew 5:19). There are others, however, who sit on the throne, who act before they speak and speak wisely, restraining those who are disordered. They place merciful burdens on the shoulders of others. They themselves are the first to lift the heavy burden, for the exhortation of other listeners. It is these of whom the Lord speaks when he says, 'He who does so and teaches others to do so, this man will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 9) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 5:18-25 comments that the more we get in touch with the Spirit and learn to follow his guidance, the more we will experience freedom in Christ. Over time, the Spirit will transform our desires so that we can live in a way that produces joy, peace, and generosity. As we call on the Spirit and try to follow his promptings, our attraction to the works of the flesh will diminish. This is what St. Augustine meant when he said, “Love God and do what you will.”

God has given you his Spirit because he wants you to experience ever-deepening freedom. The Spirit’s delight is to empower you to bear good fruit. This promise is real. Take hold of the gift God offers you. Let the Spirit be your guide, today and always.

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.” (Meditation on Galatians 5:18-25, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler examines the contrast between the disorganized list of consequences of the Law and the expression of the Hebrew expletive in the organized list of fruits of the Spirit. The scrupulosity of the Pharisees and Lawyers overlooked change of heart and goodness to others. Friar Jude reminds us about the injustice that is connected with laying burdens on others.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, advocates a principle to support true authority, the ability to “author” life in others, regardless of the group. That is truly and properly ‘catholic,’ as expressed by the very force and meaning of the word, which comprehends everything almost universally. In other words, if it is true, then it has to be true everywhere and all the time, or it is not true!

Such recognition of “authority” beyond our own group is structurally demanded of Christians by the fact that our Bible includes the Hebrew Bible! Inclusivity is valued from the start. Every Christian liturgy reads authoritative texts from the Torah, the Jewish Prophets, and the Wisdom Writings. We listen to Abraham, Moses, and Elijah, all of whom never knew Jesus. The implications should be clear: we have been taught by non-Christian authorities from the beginning! The door is opened and must remain open or we become insular Christians instead of catholic ones.

The pattern continues with John’s Gospel using the concept of the Logos (John 1:1), which was first used by Heraclitus and Greek Stoic philosophers. Paul is willing to quote non-Jewish sources and worldviews to the Athenians (Acts 17:26–29) in order to preach a more universal message. We also have centuries of reliance by many first millennium Fathers of the Church upon the “pagan” categories of Plato and Aristotle—to make their Christian points! This clear pattern with Aristotle kept Thomas Aquinas from being recognized and canonized for some time. Augustine and Bonaventure did much the same with Plato. Certainly, Catholic scientists and theologians have significant overlapping discussions today. This is our heritage: using universal wisdom to teach Christian truth.

If it is the Perennial Tradition, it will somehow keep recurring at different levels and in different forms from different voices and disciplines. (Rohr, 2022)

We resonate, through the Spirit, with love, beauty, and truth as we seek to follow the Way in our journey.

References

Galatians, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5?18 

Gillick, L. (2022, October 12). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/101222.html 

Luke, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?42 

Meditation on Galatians 5:18-25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/12/510536/ 

Psalms, PSALM 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/1?1 

Rohr, R. (2022, October 12). Affirming the Big Truth — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/affirming-the-big-truth-2022-10-12/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Load Burdens Hard to Bear. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 12, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct12 

Children of the Kingdom

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today connect the traditional observance of a Covenant with God to our development of an attitude that opens our Spirit to experience of Divine Presence.

Children welcome

The passage from the Book of Joshua asserts the Covenant that God seeks with his people.

Covenant Ceremony1 

Psalm 16 declares the wise and life-giving presence of God.

* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11).2

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus presents blessing of the children as a lesson for our growth.

* [19:13–15] This account is understood by some as intended to justify the practice of infant baptism. That interpretation is based principally on the command not to prevent the children from coming, since that word sometimes has a baptismal connotation in the New Testament; see Acts 8:36.3 

Tom Drzaic shares that as a child he would come to Jesus far more often than he does today. In today’s world he finds it harder to do this.

With a seemingly endless list of to do’s, in a culture that increasingly devalues open religious expression, it is no wonder that it is easy to slip into a pattern of unconscious indifference. So while this passage’s main message of coming to him in complete faith and trust holds true, it is a reminder to me to make time to come to him joyfully and frequently.  It is a reminder to shut off those devices and look forward to sitting in a quiet place and reflecting on whatever I may be feeling, looking forward to growing closer to God and discerning on what God is telling us through my experiences and prayer.4

Don Schwager quotes “To such belongs the Kingdom,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century).

"Why did the disciples keep the children back? Not because of the children's wickedness but because it was not the right time. They did not want the Lord to be tired by the great crowd. To them he said, 'Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.' For children are ignorant of wickedness. They do not know how to return evil for evil or how to do someone an injury. They do not know how to be lustful or to fornicate or to rob. What they hear, they believe. They love their parents with complete affection. Therefore, beloved, the Lord instructs us that what they are by the gift of nature, we should become by the fear of God, a holy way of life and love of the heavenly kingdom - for unless we are alien to all sin just like children, we cannot come to the Savior." (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 25)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Joshua 24:14-29 reflects that even after Joshua renewed their covenant with God, they eventually strayed again. Israel became divided, and the two kingdoms (North and South) both experienced defeat and exile.

Yet through the centuries, God never gave up on his people—and he never gives up on us. He knows our weaknesses, so he sent his Son to get us to our final destination of eternal life with him. And because he knew that our growth in holiness would not always happen in a straight line, he gave us a great gift: the Sacrament of Reconciliation. That’s how compassionate our God is! He wants to forgive us and shower us with his mercy, no matter what is taking us off course.6 

Friar Jude Winkler describes the situation facing Joshua, the Israelites, and the slaves with them to choose Yahweh in a cultures of Henotheism. The text of the blessing of children for the Kingdom is likely the work of a converted Pharisee. Friar Jude describes our need for childlike simplicity, innocence and trust.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the Welcoming Prayer created by Mary Mrozowski (1925–1993), a spiritual teacher, mystic, and founding member of Contemplative Outreach.

Welcome, welcome, welcome.I welcome everything that comes to me in this momentbecause I know it is for my healing.I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions,persons, situations and conditions.
I let go of my desire for security.I let go of my desire for affection.I let go of my desire for control.
I let go of my desire to change anysituation, condition,person, or myself.
I open to the love and presence of God andthe healing action and grace within. [1]7

Fr Richard urges us to welcome the experience, It can move us to the Great Compassion. Don’t fight it. Don’t split and blame. Welcome the grief and anger in all of its heaviness. Now it will become a great teacher. Our Covenant is shaped by the events of our lives. The childlike condition implied by the Gospel today is connected to the surrender practiced in Welcoming Prayer.

References

1	(n.d.). Joshua, chapter 24 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 17, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/joshua/24
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 17, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 19 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 17, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved August 17, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 17, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass Readings and Catholic .... Retrieved August 17, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/08/17/
7	(n.d.). The Perennial Tradition: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and .... Retrieved August 17, 2019, from https://cac.org/the-perennial-tradition-weekly-summary-2019-08-17/

Yes to triumph

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Solemnity of the Assumption emphasize the great triumph that follows our yes to the will of God as modeled by Mary.

Leading to Life

The reading from the Book of Revelation uses the imagery of the woman and the dragon to illustrate the triumph over persecution and death.

* [12:1–6] The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from Gn 37:9–10) symbolizes God’s people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (Rev 12:6, 13–17); cf. Is 50:1; 66:7; Jer 50:12. This corresponds to a widespread myth throughout the ancient world that a goddess pregnant with a savior was pursued by a horrible monster; by miraculous intervention, she bore a son who then killed the monster.1 

Psalm 45 declares the responsibility of the Queen to the people.

* [45:11] Forget your people and your father’s house: the bride should no longer consider herself a daughter of her father’s house, but the wife of the king—the queen.2 

In the reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul explains Christ’s resurrection; its positive implications and consequences.

* [15:20–28] After a triumphant assertion of the reality of Christ’s resurrection (1 Cor 15:20a), Paul explains its positive implications and consequences. As a soteriological event of both human (1 Cor 15:20–23) and cosmic (1 Cor 15:24–28) dimensions, Jesus’ resurrection logically and necessarily involves ours as well.3 

The Gospel of Luke tells of the events when Mary Visits Elizabeth and uses the The Canticle of Mary to praise God.

* [1:45] Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Lk 1:20). Mary’s role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among “those who believed” after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14).4 

Edward Morse comments that Mary’s response reflects a mature disposition. She does not falsely deny that something significant was happening and she did not dismiss baby John’s movement in Elizabeth’s womb as mere coincidence. Mary instead responds with faith and joyfulness, affirming the significance of God’s works and pointing attention not to herself, but to the greatness, goodness, and mercy of God.

On Creighton’s campus, a statue of Mary and Elisabeth can be found which reflects this meeting so well.  These two women shared joy and the deepest of spiritual mysteries together, after being invited to participate in the Divine plan in ways that are singularly important.  They could not know how all the details of this story would play out, but they responded with great trust and confidence that God was doing work that was intended to reach all people with his love.
Let us pause together to ponder the depth of this trust and confidence in Divine goodness.  And let us seek the prayers of those who have passed through such a journey in faithfulness, so that we may resemble their humility, faith, and confidence in God. Amen.5 

Don Schwager quotes “Christ the fruit of the faithful,” by Ambrose of Milan (339-397 A.D).

"You see that Mary did not doubt but believed and therefore obtained the fruit of faith. 'Blessed … are you who have believed.' But you also are blessed who have heard and believed. For a soul that has believed has both conceived and bears the Word of God and declares his works. Let the soul of Mary be in each of you, so that it magnifies the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each of you, so that it rejoices in God (Luke 1:46-47). She is the one mother of Christ according to the flesh, yet Christ is the Fruit of all according to faith. Every soul receives the Word of God, provided that, undefiiled and unstained by vices, it guards its purity with inviolate modesty. (excerpt from  EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.26)6 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:39-56 notes that just as sailors need a lighthouse, so we all need beacons to guide us on our journey to heaven. And what better beacon could we ask for than the Virgin Mary, who has been called “Star of the Sea” since St. Jerome coined the phrase in the fifth century?

All her life she has shown us how to say yes to God. Even as she came to the end of her life on earth and was assumed into heaven, she continued to shine. Pope Benedict XVI once said, “By contemplating Mary in heavenly glory, we understand that the earth is not the definitive homeland for us either, and that if we live with our gaze fixed on eternal goods, we will one day share in this same glory.”
It’s not always easy to keep our eyes fixed on heaven, especially when life is hard. The problems in front of us have a way of obscuring the glorious future that God has in store for us. But Pope Benedict reminds us that Mary’s assumption is a “luminous sign” that “shines out even more brightly when sad shadows of suffering and violence seem to loom on the horizon” (General Audience, August 16, 2006).7 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999), an Indian born spiritual teacher and author, who writes that we are made, the scriptures of all religions assure us, in the image of God. Nothing can change that original goodness. Whatever mistakes we have made in the past, whatever problems we may have in the present, in every one of us this “uncreated spark in the soul” remains untouched, ever pure, ever perfect. Even if we try with all our might to douse or hide it, it is always ready to set our personality ablaze with light.

 What did Meister Eckhart (1260–1328)] teach? Essentially, four principles that [Gottfried] Leibnitz would later call the Perennial Philosophy, because they have been taught from age to age in culture after culture:
First, there is a “light in the soul that is uncreated and uncreatable” [1]: unconditioned, universal, deathless; in religious language, a divine core of personality which cannot be separated from God. Eckhart is precise: this is not what the English language calls the “soul,” but some essence in the soul that lies at the very center of consciousness. As Saint Catherine of Genoa [1447–1510] put it, “My me is God: nor do I know my selfhood except in God.” [2] In Indian mysticism this divine core is called simply atman, “the Self.”Second, this divine essence can be It is not an abstraction, and it need not—Eckhart would say must not—remain hidden under the covering of our everyday personality. It can and should be discovered, so that its presence becomes a reality in daily life.Third, this discovery is life’s real and highest goal. Our supreme purpose in life is not to make a fortune, nor to pursue pleasure, nor to write our name on history, but to discover this spark of the divine that is in our hearts.Last, when we realize this goal, we discover simultaneously that the divinity within ourselves is one and the same in all—all individuals, all creatures, all of life. . . .A mystic is one who not only espouses these principles of the Perennial Philosophy but lives them, whose every action reflects the wisdom and selfless love that are the hallmark of one who has made this supreme discovery.8

The model of Mary shines to guide our “yes” to those actions inspired by the will of God.

References

1	(n.d.). Revelation, chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/revelation/12
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 45 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/45
3	(n.d.). 1 Corinthians, chapter 15 - United States Conference of Catholic .... Retrieved August 15, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians15:24
4	(n.d.). Luke, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke
5	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved August 15, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
6	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
7	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/08/15/
8	(2019, August 15). An Uncreated Spark — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 15, 2019, from https://cac.org/an-uncreated-spark-2019-08-15/