Faith and Solidarity

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to implore the Spirit to renew the faith and commitment that sustain us on our journey.

Faith and Solidarity

In the reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians, he proclaims the promise of the Spirit through faith.

* [3:1–14] Paul’s contention that justification comes not through the law or the works of the law but by faith in Christ and in his death (Gal 2:16, 21) is supported by appeals to Christian experience (Gal 3:1–5) and to scripture (Gal 3:6–14). The gift of God’s Spirit to the Galatians came from the gospel received in faith, not from doing what the law enjoins. The story of Abraham shows that faith in God brings righteousness (Gal 3:6; Gn 15:6). The promise to Abraham (Gal 3:8; Gn 12:3) extends to the Gentiles (Gal 3:14). (Galatians, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)

Psalm 111 offers praise for God’s Wonderful Works.

* [Psalm 111] A Temple singer (Ps 111:1) tells how God is revealed in Israel’s history (Ps 111:2–10). The deeds reveal God’s very self, powerful, merciful, faithful. The poem is an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. (Psalms, PSALM 111, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus identifies Beelzebul, urges Solidarity and warns against the return of the Unclean Spirit.

* [11:19] Your own people: the Greek reads “your sons.” Other Jewish exorcists (see Acts 19:13–20), who recognize that the power of God is active in the exorcism, would themselves convict the accusers of Jesus. See also note on Mt 12:27.

* [11:22] One stronger: i.e., Jesus. Cf. Lk 3:16 where John the Baptist identifies Jesus as “mightier than I.” (Luke, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)

George Butterfield comments that Jesus taught us, and the spiritual masters of the Christian faith have affirmed it, that we need to detach ourselves from things. Disciplines such as fasting, silence, and solitude can help sweep and clean our house. However, unlike most world religions that teach detachment - and we can learn a lot from them - Christianity also emphasizes the importance of attachment.

Through faith, we have a relationship with God to whom we grow in closeness and trust. Thus, disciplines such as prayer, meditation, contemplation, worship, and service help keep the strong man in our house. We don’t depend on any of this for our righteousness before God; I cannot earn anything from God by what I do. Yet, these disciplines help me grow in faith and depend upon God, not myself. The irony is that the more I do these things, the less I trust in them and more in the God for whom these disciplines are intended. (Galatians, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus has conquered Satan,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"[Jesus] has conquered the ruler of this world. Having, so to speak, hamstrung him and stripped him of the power he possessed, he has given him over for a prey to his followers. He says, 'The strong man, being armed, guards his house; all his goods are in peace. But when one who is stronger than he shall come on him and overcome him, he takes away all his armor wherein he trusted and divides his spoil.' This is a plain demonstration and type of the matter depicted after the manner of human affairs... Before the coming of the Savior, he was in great power, driving and shutting up in his own stall flocks that were not his own but belonging to God over all. He was like some voracious and most insolent robber. Since the Word of God who is above all, the Giver of all might and Lord of powers attacked him, having become man, all his goods have been plundered and his spoil divided. Those of old who had been ensnared by him into ungodliness and error have been called by the holy apostles to the acknowledgment of the truth and been brought near to God the Father by faith in his Son."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 81) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 11:15-26 comments that Jesus came to gather the scattered children of God into one family. His purpose was to “create in himself one new person . . . , thus establishing peace” (Ephesians 2:15). We need look no further than Pentecost for a beautiful example of this. When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, not only were they filled with boldness to declare the gospel, but they also drew three thousand more to their number. And filled with that Spirit, they devoted themselves to living as one.

By confessing our sins and receiving absolution, we can break down any pride or wounded feelings that lead to or sustain division. And as you might suspect, the opposite is true as well: if we resist repentance, we give the devil a greater foothold in our lives as accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) and accuser of God (Genesis 3:4-5).

Don’t let that happen! Avail yourself of the grace of Confession as often as possible. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you when your pride is keeping you divided from others. Let the Spirit become the principle and power of unity in your heart and in your family.

“Holy Spirit, soften my heart so that I can practice humble, trusting repentance. Help me to seek unity above all else.” (Meditation on Luke 11:15-26, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler discusses the accusations against Paul of being anti-Semetic. Paul uses the rabbinic “midrash” technique to make an argument for faith over the Law. Friar Jude uses the “Baal of Zebul” word play to remind us to continue to examine our motivation as we struggle with escaping evil.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Professor Joan Mueller, a Franciscan Sister of Joy, who shares how Clare of Assisi taught her version of Franciscan prayer (1194–1253).

Medievals had a great way of doing this type of meditation. When a cathedral or local church was being frescoed, a painter would come to town and the subjects for the paintings that were being commissioned for the church’s walls and ceilings would be decided. But whom would the painter use for his artistic models? Most often, he wandered the local streets, interacted with the villagers, and decided whose faces he might portray. One day you might go to church and find yourself in a fresco listening to Jesus preach. Maybe your face would represent one of the disciples, or one of the women who cared for Jesus. Perhaps one of your children would be listening to Jesus teach. In any case, you would be placed right in the story of the gospel; your face would actually be central to the story.

This is what Clare is asking us to do. Take the gospel for the day, a gospel from mass or the liturgy of the hours, or a gospel passage from a daily devotional and imagine yourself in the midst of the story. Who would you be most comfortable portraying? What are you hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting? Clare asks us to spend a few minutes really entering into the gospel story of Jesus’ public life and imagining what it would be like to be there. . . . (Rohr, 2022)

We may need to be more attentive to the prompting of the Spirit in our prayer to act in accord with our faith in God that brings us full life.

References

Butterfield, G. (2022, October 7). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/100722.html 

Galatians, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/3?7 

Luke, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?15 

Meditation on Luke 11:15-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/07/506956/ 

Psalms, PSALM 111. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/111?1 

Rohr, R. (2022, October 7). An Ordinary Prayer — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-ordinary-prayer-2022-10-07/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). If It Is by the Finger of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct7 

Perception Change and Challenge

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder how the change of attitude of peoples toward the Jews from Zechariah to Jesus may inform our experience of acceptance and rejection as we journey with Christ.

Acceptance and rejection

 

The reading from the Prophet Zechariah is a vision of many people drawn to Jerusalem.

“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”1

 

Psalm 87 praises the joy of living in Zion.

* [Psalm 87] A song of Zion, like Ps 46; 48; 76; 132. * [87:2] The gates: the city itself, a common Hebrew idiom. * [87:5–6] The bond between the exile and the holy city was so strong as to override the exile’s citizenship of lesser cities.2

 

In the Gospel of Luke, a Samaritan village refuses to receive Jesus.

* [9:51–55] Just as the Galilean ministry began with a rejection of Jesus in his hometown, so too the travel narrative begins with the rejection of him by Samaritans. In this episode Jesus disassociates himself from the attitude expressed by his disciples that those who reject him are to be punished severely. The story alludes to 2 Kgs 1:10, 12 where the prophet Elijah takes the course of action Jesus rejects, and Jesus thereby rejects the identification of himself with Elijah.3 

Jeanne Schuler comments that often, we stick to our own kind and mistrust others. Then something big happens and the walls come down. Drenched in floods or fleeing burning forests, we are strangers no longer. The sight of refugees crammed into cargo ships clutching their children quiets our noisy hearts. Quarrels simmer down as we ask: what can we do? How can I help? Like blessings from above, what divides us fades for a while. To be one with others in trouble drives fear away. Why then do we isolate ourselves?

Faced with attack or insults, we often strike back.  The Samaritans closed their town to Jesus and the apostles wanted revenge.  “Call down fire from heaven.  Let them burn.  Let’s get even.  We’ll show them.”  And another cycle of destruction is unleashed. “Jesus rebuked them.”  To seek revenge is venom.  It does not secure justice or nurture peace.  What grips us in the moment can lead to years of violence.  God, show us the way forward.  Give us wisdom to escape the sinkhole of revenge. We share this planet with all creatures.  I can’t fix things on my own.  We are in this together.  God, heal old wounds.  Please send your spirit.  Gather us together in prayer and the work of salvation.  Show us where solidarity lies.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gave power and authority to his apostles,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"It would be false to affirm that our Savior did not know what was about to happen, because he knows all things. He knew, of course, that the Samaritans would not receive his messengers. There can be no doubt of this. Why then did he command them to go before him? It was his custom to benefit diligently the holy apostles in every possible way, and because of this, it was his practice sometimes to test them... What was the purpose of this occurrence? He was going up to Jerusalem, as the time of his passion was already drawing near. He was about to endure the scorn of the Jews. He was about to be destroyed by the scribes and Pharisees and to suffer those things that they inflicted upon him when they went to accomplish all of violence and wicked boldness. He did not want them to be offended when they saw him suffering. He also wanted them to be patient and not to complain greatly, although people would treat them rudely. He, so to speak, made the Samaritans' hatred a preparatory exercise in the matter. They had not received the messengers... For their benefit, he rebuked the disciples and gently restrained the sharpness of their wrath, not permitting them to grumble violently against those who sinned. He rather persuaded them to be patient and to cherish a mind that is unmovable by anything like this."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 56)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Zechariah 8:20-23 asks how can we overflow with God’s presence like that? Well, first we have to be filled. So isn’t it wonderful that God wants nothing more than to fill us with his grace and compassion? The filling is God’s work; it’s on us to come to him and receive it. And that’s not as hard as it may seem.

Every time you turn to the Lord, he generously pours his grace into you. When you thank him and worship him, he fills you. When you call to him in your struggles, he fills you. When you go to him for wisdom, he fills you. When you pray for healing, confess your sin, and ask his forgiveness, he fills you. In other words, you can be filled with his grace at any time and in any place when you turn your heart toward him.6

 

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Zechariah declares that every Jew will have ten pagans eager to join them as they recognize God’s work of restoration in Jerusalem. The Transjordan route to Jerusalem was often chosen by Jews in Jesus' time to avoid Samaria. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' mission to reach out to all people including Samaritans and pagans.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that a compassionate presence is one of the fruits of contemplation. In his book Eager to Love, he writes about the great compassion of St. Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) for others, which is inspired by the great compassion of Jesus. St. Francis and St. Clare (1194–1253) led their communities. They led, not from above, and not even from below, but mostly from within, by walking with their brothers and sisters, or “smelling like the sheep,” as Pope Francis puts it. Catholic author Judy Cannato, who worked to integrate the Gospels with the new cosmology, believed this Great Compassion was Jesus’ primary objective.

The realm of God that Jesus preached and died for was one that was known for its kindness and generosity, its compassion and healing. There was no one deemed outside the love of the Holy One whom Jesus called “Father.” No one was excluded from fellowship, not the rich or poor, male or female, slave or free. Jesus went beyond superficial divisions and called for a culture of compassion. Compassion changes everything. Compassion heals. Compassion mends the broken and restores what has been lost. Compassion draws together those who have been estranged or never even dreamed they were connected. Compassion pulls us out of ourselves and into the heart of another, placing us on holy ground where we instinctively take off our shoes and walk in reverence. Compassion springs out of vulnerability and triumphs in unity. [1]7 

We are prompted by the Spirit to counter the separation of people caused by long standing discrimination and indifference through our compassion and solidarity with others suffering trials in life.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Zechariah, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zechariah/8
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 87 | USCCB. Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/87
3	(n.d.). Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/092821.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
6	(2021, September 28). Meditation: Zechariah 8:20-23 - The Word Among Us. Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/09/28/203903/
7	(n.d.). Richard Rohr's Daily Meditations - Center for Action and .... Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://cac.org/smelling-like-the-sheep-2021-09-28/

 

Sharing the Spirit

 

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to share the Life we have in the Spirit of God.

Sharing Life in the Spirit

 

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes how the believers shared their possessions.

 

* [4:32–37] This is the second summary characterizing the Jerusalem community (see note on Acts 2:42–47). It emphasizes the system of the distribution of goods and introduces Barnabas, who appears later in Acts as the friend and companion of Paul, and who, as noted here (Acts 4:37), endeared himself to the community by a donation of money through the sale of property. This sharing of material possessions continues a practice that Luke describes during the historical ministry of Jesus (Lk 8:3) and is in accord with the sayings of Jesus in Luke’s gospel (Lk 12:33; 16:9, 11, 13).1

Psalm 93 praises the Majesty of God’s Rule.

 

* [Psalm 93] A hymn celebrating the kingship of God, who created the world (Ps 93:1–2) by defeating the sea (Ps 93:3–4). In the ancient myth that is alluded to here, Sea completely covered the land, making it impossible for the human community to live. Sea, or Flood, roars in anger against God, who is personified in the storm. God’s utterances or decrees are given authority by the victory over Sea (Ps 93:5).2

In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains to Nicodemus the way of ‘everyone who is born of the Spirit.’

 

* [3:8] Wind: the Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew rûah) means both “wind” and “spirit.” In the play on the double meaning, “wind” is primary. * [3:14] Lifted up: in Nm 21:9 Moses simply “mounted” a serpent upon a pole. John here substitutes a verb implying glorification. Jesus, exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection, represents healing for all. * [3:15] Eternal life: used here for the first time in John, this term stresses quality of life rather than duration.3

Scott McClure asks If we know things will never make us happy (even if that larger house is sure nice to have) how do we navigate this world, and as Jesus puts it to Nicodemus, be born from above?

 

A source of helpful and centering reflection for me of late has been a contemporary interpretation of the first principle and foundation from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius by David Fleming, SJ. It reads, in part: The goal of our life is to live with God forever... We should not fix our desires on health or sickness, wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or a short one. For everything has the potential of calling forth in us a deeper response to our life in God. 4

Don Schwager quotes “He descended so that we might ascend,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

 

"Spiritual birth happens when human beings, being earthly, become heavenly. And this can only happen when they are made members of me. So that he may ascend who descended, since no one ascends who did not descend. Therefore everyone who needs to be changed and raised must meet together in a union with Christ so that the Christ who descended may ascend, considering his body (that is to say, his church)6 as nothing other than himself." (ON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ON INFANT BAPTISM 1.60)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:7-15 comments that like the wind, the Spirit can’t be seen, but we can sense his call and feel his “push.” We’ve all experienced this type of thing; we’ve all felt prompted at times to do something—or not to do something—that we hadn’t thought of before.

 When you obey those promptings of the Spirit, you make him “visible” to the people around you. Like Nicodemus, many people today are looking for tangible proof that God is real. Oftentimes, even if you speak persuasively, it’s not the actual words that draw people to Jesus. It’s the spirit behind your words. That’s where listening to the Spirit comes in. When you’re trying to follow the Spirit, people will see that God is real and is at work in and through your witness.6

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the second picture of an idyllic lifestyle in the community as described by Luke. We cannot control the Spirit which is like the wind. Friar Jude reminds us of the imminent eschatology in the Gospel of John and Luke.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces his friend Mirabai Starr who offers a vignette based on tales about Francis and Clare, and shows a mutual friendship built on their shared dedication to Christ.

 Clare gave up everything to be with Francis, to live as he lived, to see the face of the Divine in the faces of the poor and the oppressed and to love them as he loved them. “Her goal in life,” says Robert Ellsberg about Saint Clare, “was not to be a reflection of Francis but to be, like him, a reflection of Christ.” [1]. While Francis guided his growing order of Little Brothers, he assigned Clare as the leader of the Poor Ladies. When Francis felt most alone in the world, most persecuted and misunderstood, it was Clare he would turn to for clarity, wisdom, and a love stripped of sentimentality. “All I want is to live as a hermit and love my Lord in secret,” he confessed to her. “And yet I am moved to preach the gospel of holy poverty in the world. What should I do?” Clare did not equivocate: “God did not call you for yourself alone, but also for the salvation of others.” [2]7

The movement of the Spirit in our lives is frequently made known to us through the nudges of our authentic friends.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 93 | USCCB. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/93
3	(n.d.). John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://www.usccb.org/bible/john/3
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online .... Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041321.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
6	(2021, April 13). Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr (Optional Memorial) - Mass .... Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/04/13/188642/
7	(n.d.). The Gift of Wise Friends — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://cac.org/the-gift-of-wise-friends-2021-04-13/