Mercy and Compassion

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the healing we have received through mercy and compassion of people acting out the Will of God.

Show Compassion

The reading from the Book of Daniel is the prayer of Azariah.

* [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. (Daniel, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)

Psalm 25 is a prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance.

* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. (Psalms, PSALM 25, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant teaches about forgiveness.

* [18:21–35] The final section of the discourse deals with the forgiveness that the disciples are to give to their fellow disciples who sin against them. To the question of Peter how often forgiveness is to be granted (Mt 18:21), Jesus answers that it is to be given without limit (Mt 18:22) and illustrates this with the parable of the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:23–34), warning that his heavenly Father will give those who do not forgive the same treatment as that given to the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:35). Mt 18:21–22 correspond to Lk 17:4; the parable and the final warning are peculiar to Matthew. That the parable did not originally belong to this context is suggested by the fact that it really does not deal with repeated forgiveness, which is the point of Peter’s question and Jesus’ reply. (Matthew, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)

Joan Blandin Howard comments that it is easy to forgive someone who has stepped on my toe, or bumped me in passing.  A smile, a quick, polite “I’m sorry” and all is forgiven and forgotten.  It is a different matter when a deep division occurs in a relationship.  Or when separation or death occurs through negligence or intent.

In my own life, I can identify times when I have come to love through pain and forgiveness.  Also, I see the stagnation in my own life, in relationships where I have not forgiven, or accepted forgiveness – not allowed healing, refused love.  I have held the other and myself as if in stone.  Forgiveness demands a conscious decision to allow the grace of God to work in and through me and the other. To love. I think I am only just beginning to appreciate the gift, the sacrament, of forgiveness.   Some wounds heal slowly, some leave permanent  scars. The Good News is that to be whole is to be blessed, wounded, scarred and loved. (Howard, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “A daily remedy for our sins,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. Let us say this sentence with sincerity, because it is an alms in itself. Sins that oppress and bury us cannot be termed trifles! What is more minute than drops of rain? Yet they fill the rivers. What is more minute than grains of wheat? Yet they fill the barns. You note the fact that these sins are rather small, but you do not take note that there are many of them. In any case, God has given us a daily remedy for them." (excerpt from Sermon 205,1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35 comments that we might set out to be forgiving, but it’s hard to follow through when someone hurts us, knowingly or not. It’s even more difficult to forgive the same person repeatedly if he or she hurts us repeatedly (Matthew 18:21-22). Yet as we get to know God’s character and reflect on his mercy toward us, we might find that his compassion moves us over time to become more merciful to the people around us.

The psalmist uses words like “compassion,” “goodness,” and “kindness” to describe the Lord (Psalm 25:6, 7).

Today, choose one of these words and reflect on it. Have you experienced God’s compassion or goodness or kindness for yourself? How are you experiencing it now? Let these experiences stay with you and help soften your heart each day so that it becomes more like his—a heart full of mercy and always ready to forgive and wipe the slate clean!

“Father, I want to be merciful as you are merciful. Give me a heart like yours.” (Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes the prayer of Azariah calls on God to remember His Covenant and support the true contrition of His people. The perfect number, seven, indicates that Jesus is calling for an infinite number of times to forgive transgressors. Friar Jude reminds us that forgiveness opens our heart to be recipients of forgiveness from God and others.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Teresa of Ávila was investigated several times during the Spanish Inquisition. At the insistence of her superiors, she wrote of her many visions and raptures to prove they came from God, and that she was firmly rooted in “orthodox” Catholicism. Translator and spiritual teacher Mirabai Starr writes that Teresa was also an astute spiritual director who turned people away from an emphasis on perfection and piety and toward compassionate action.

Sometimes I observe people so diligently trying to orchestrate whatever state of prayer they’re in that they become peevish about it. They don’t dare to move or let their minds be stirred for fear of jeopardizing the slightest degree of devotion or delight. It makes me realize how little they understand of the path to union. They think the whole thing is about rapture.  

But no, friends, no! What the Beloved wants from us is action. What he wants is that if one of your friends is sick, you take care of her. Don’t worry about interrupting your devotional practice. Have compassion. If she is in pain, you feel it, too. If necessary, you fast so that she can eat. This is not a matter of indulging an individual, you do it because you know it is your Beloved’s desire. This is true union with his will. What he wants is for you to be much happier hearing someone else praised than you would be to receive a compliment yourself. If you have humility, this is easy. It is a great thing to be glad when your friends’ virtues are celebrated. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are reminded that forgiveness is a response to the prompting of the Spirit to make the Will of God present on our journey.

References

Daniel, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3?25 

Howard, J. B. (2023, March 14). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/031423.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?21 

Meditation on Matthew 18:21-35. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/14/630999/ 

Psalms, PSALM 25. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Richard Rohr. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar14 

Strength to proclaim

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of St. Mark, invite us to contemplate the work of the Evangelist to spread the Good News even as we seek strength to follow his example.

Good News proclaimed

The reading from the 1st Letter of Peter contains advice to the community that God will restore, support, strengthen, and establish them.

 * [5:5–11] The community is to be subject to the presbyters and to show humility toward one another and trust in God’s love and care (1 Pt 5:5–7). With sobriety, alertness, and steadfast faith they must resist the evil one; their sufferings are shared with Christians everywhere (1 Pt 5:8–9). They will be strengthened and called to eternal glory (1 Pt 5:10–11).1

Psalm 89 recalls God’s Covenant with David.

 * [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Ps 89:2–5). The Psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Ps 89:6–9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Ps 89:20–38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Ps 89:39–52).2

The Longer Ending of the Gospel of Mark declares the commissioning of the Eleven. “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” and concludes with the Ascension of Jesus.

 * [16:9–20] This passage, termed the Longer Ending to the Marcan gospel by comparison with a much briefer conclusion found in some less important manuscripts, has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Early citations of it by the Fathers indicate that it was composed by the second century, although vocabulary and style indicate that it was written by someone other than Mark. It is a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus, reflecting, in particular, traditions found in Lk 24 and Jn 20.3

Thomas Lenz draws attention to Peter’s first letter. It seems to say so much about what the world is experiencing right here and now. Peter says, “Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.” How perfect for the worries of the newness we live in today.

 Sometimes our fast-paced lives cause us to get caught up inside the issues of our personal lives only. It’s easy to feel like our problems are worse than others. This “otherness” leads to an individualistic view and does not allow us to see the interconnections among all of us. It doesn’t allow us to see that we are just part of the whole, rather than being “the whole”. Peter reminds us that people everywhere experience the same difficulties and challenges regardless of where you live. Likewise, the COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us the same. It doesn’t matter your gender, race, nationality, socio-economic status, or even political party, no one is immune to the challenges of the day. We are all experiencing physical isolation from one another, anxiety from not knowing what the immediate and long-term future holds, and perhaps a longing for “the good ‘ol days” of pre-pandemic life. But, knowing that we are not suffering inside of our individual-ness is somehow comforting because it allows us to connect with everyone across the globe at a deeper level. And, perhaps if we reflect upon that notion for long enough, we can realize that in order for us to feel whole as an individual, we need to paradoxically come to terms with the idea that we are only part of the whole and share the greater wholeness with the rest of humanity.4

Don Schwager quotes “The Gospel proclaimed to all creation,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

 "The command to the apostles to be witnesses to him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8) was not addressed exclusively to those to whom it was immediately spoken. They alone would not be the only ones who would carry such an enormous task to completion. Similarly he seems to be speaking to the apostles very personally when he says: 'Behold I am with you even to the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20), yet who does not know that he made this promise to the universal church which will last from now even to the consummation of the world by successive births and deaths?" (excerpt from LETTER 199,TO HESYCHIUS 49)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 16:15-20 shares, like Mark, we have heard the good news. Like him, we know that Jesus expects us to share it. But we might find that difficult to do. Worry over saying the wrong thing, fear of sounding pushy, or just the busy pace of life can block us from taking up our calling.

 Maybe we can take some inspiration from St. Mark. Remember, he always seemed to be running at full speed. That kind of pace ought to sound familiar to us. Perhaps we could take some of the brisk energy we feel in our everyday lives—running to the store, to the office, to campus, to pick up the kids—and channel it toward serving the Lord.
Where are you running today? Is there an opportunity to stop for a moment, look around, and see if there is someone who could use a word of encouragement?6

Friar Jude Winkler comments on Peter’s parenesis at the conclusion of his letter. The details of the experience of Peter with Jesus, conveyed to Mark, also include descriptions of the brokenness of the leader of the Apostles. Friar Jude suggests the shorter ending to Mark’s Gospel was suited to the audience of Christian martyrs in Rome at the time.

StAnthonyCompanions · April 25, 2020

A post by Franciscan Media outlines the life of Mark and his association with Peter and Paul in his mission to proclaim the Good News.

 Mark fulfilled in his life what every Christian is called to do: proclaim to all people the Good News that is the source of salvation. In particular, Mark’s way was by writing. Others may proclaim the Good News by music, drama, poetry, or by teaching children around a family table.7

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces a prayer practice from the book, Meditations with Teresa of Ávila: A Journey into the Sacred by Megan Don. The small amount of time we do spend in prayer and meditation, Teresa believed, should be given wholly to the Beloved—we should consider it not ours but the Beloved’s. And we should become determined never to take it back—not for any trial or challenge we experience, not for any contradiction in our life, not for any dryness we experience in prayer. Ultimately, what Teresa is saying is that no matter what is occurring in our life, we are not to abandon the relationship that is the very core of our existence.

 Living with the Beloved does not always mean being bathed in delight and tenderness (even though this is what we would all prefer). What it does mean is serving the divine relationship with fortitude and humility. When things in our life become less than pleasurable, naturally we want them to become easier. Teresa ascertained, however, that such a desire lacks the freedom our spirit requires. The spirit needs to roam where it is guided, and we can join in this courageous adventure by allowing it to accomplish what it is here to do.
Coming into your quiet place of being, bring yourself fully into the presence of the Beloved, not expecting anything, only coming to give—of yourself and your time. Give freely, and allow yourself to simply be with the One who loves you. Let your spirit roam where it needs to—let your courage emerge to help you. Bless your life for all that it is.8

The grace to follow the example of Evangelist Mark grows in our attention to prayer and mediation with the Beloved.

References

1	(n.d.). 1 Peter, chapter 5 - United States Conference. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1peter/5
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 89 - United States Conference. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89
3	(n.d.). Mark, chapter 16 - United States Conference. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/16
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Saint Mark, Evangelist (Feast) - Mass Readings and Catholic .... Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://wau.org/meditations/2020/04/25/
7	(n.d.). Saint Mark - Franciscan Media. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-mark/
8	(2020, April 25). Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross: Weekly Summary .... Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://cac.org/teresa-of-avila-and-john-of-the-cross-weekly-summary-2020-04-25/

Love in the World

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the tension between the Gift of Love of the Father to the world and the persecution suffered by disciples of the Son of God in the world.

So Loved the World

The reading from the Book of Acts describes how the Apostles, Peter and John, are persecuted by the Sanhedrin.

 * [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission.1

Psalm 34 offers praise for deliverance from trouble.

 * [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22).2

In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains the Love of God to Nicodemus in a world of dark and light.

 * [3:16] Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.
* [3:17–19] Condemn: the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment; some condemn themselves by turning from the light.
* [3:19] Judgment is not only future but is partially realized here and now.3

Eileen Burke-Sullivan comments that transparency is the reality of living in the light. Living so that reality shines through your actions, speaking so that truth is heard and able to be believed in the words spoken – but transparency is relational – it lies in that which is seen or heard and the eyes and ears of the hearer/beholder.

 The Gospel hammers this Easter theme home by giving us the heart of the Gospel message in one sentence – the famous John 3.16, beloved of athletes and athletic contests – “God so loved the world . . .”  and then hitting us over the head with the message that we have to live in the light – not hide in the darkness.  We are to be transparent, be seen for what we are, proclaim what we believe and live the Christ life as Jesus did: what you see is what you get. 
Furthermore we are called to look at the world and hear the world with clear eyes and ears, the eyes and ears cleared up by the Grace of Baptism.  We no longer live in the dark, underground, in secret – we are to tell the world everything about this Christian life in the public places and private corners of our lives – but telling is only half the reality.  We have to practice, transparently, what we preach.  We tell by doing.4

Don Schwager quotes “The Intensity of God's Love and Our Response,” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.

     "The text, 'God so loved the world,' shows such an intensity of love. For great indeed and infinite is the distance between the two. The immortal, the infinite majesty without beginning or end loved those who were but dust and ashes, who were loaded with ten thousand sins but remained ungrateful even as they constantly offended him. This is who he 'loved.' For God did not give a servant, or an angel or even an archangel 'but his only begotten Son.' And yet no one would show such anxiety even for his own child as God did for his ungrateful servants..."    "He laid down his life for us and poured forth his precious blood for our sake - even though there is nothing good in us - while we do not even pour out our money for our own sake and neglect him who died for us when he is naked and a stranger... We put gold necklaces on ourselves and even on our pets but neglect our Lord who goes about naked and passes from door to door... He gladly goes hungry so that you may be fed; naked so that he may provide you with the materials for a garment of incorruption, yet we will not even give up any of our own food or clothing for him...  These things I say continually, and I will not cease to say them, not so much because I care for the poor but because I care for your souls." (HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 27.2–3)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:16-21 urges us to take some time to pray with the Gospel verse from John 3:16.

 God wants to show you how he loves you today. As you take some time to pray with one—or several—of these ideas, let his free, generous, and overflowing love wash over you. Let it sink in how much he loves you! Then, let your heart respond with praise and thanks to the Lord who loved not only the whole world but you!
“Praise to you, Lord, for the way you love each and every person you have made! Help me to receive all the love you have for me.”6

Friar Jude Winkler comments that humans cannot oppose the great power of Will of God to share Love. The dialogue of Jesus with Nicodemus is dualistic in presenting our choices. Friar Jude reminds us that we choose selfishness and sin over acting in Love.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces spiritual teacher, Mirabai Starr, who has translated many works by both John of the Cross and Teresa of Ávila, tells the story of John’s loyalty to their shared mission of reformation. Juan de la Cruz was twenty-nine years old and madly in love with God. The great living saint Teresa of Ávila had recognized a rare sanctity and brilliance in this humble young friar and placed him in charge of her first reform convent [in 1572]. Then late one night [when John was thirty-five], threatened by this movement to return the order to the contemplative path embodied by the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the mainstream Carmelites whisked him away and imprisoned him in Toledo.

 As the months ground by, [John] began to fear that he had been abandoned by the Holy One. For the first time in his life, he questioned the existence of a God he could no longer feel or remember. And, as his soul dried up, he found he could no longer even conceive of this God to whom he had dedicated everything. When he tried to pray, all he encountered was a cavernous emptiness.
He cried out, “Where have you hidden, my Beloved?”
Echoing from this cry came an outpouring of love poetry to God. He committed each poem to memory and recited them all again and again until they were etched on his heart. His poems became simultaneously a call to and a response from his Beloved. . . .7

Our response to the action of the Father who “so loved the world” may provoke reactions of anger and selfishness from those in the world who choose the dark.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 5 - United States Conference. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/5
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 34 - United States Conference. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 3 - United States Conference. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/3
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved April 22, 2020, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). 2nd Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved April 22, 2020, from https://wau.org/meditations/2020/04/22/
7	(2020, April 22). Prayer in Captivity — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from https://cac.org/prayer-in-captivity-2020-04-22/