Self Control and Duty

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live the life that we profess as Baptized Christians of self control and duty to serve others.

Duty to Serve

The reading from the Letter to Titus exhorts us to teach sound doctrine for Christian behavior that leads to transformation of Life.

* [2:1–10] One of Titus’ main tasks in Crete is to become acquainted with the character of the Cretans and thereby learn to cope with its deficiencies (see Ti 1:12). The counsel is not only for Titus himself but for various classes of people with whom he must deal: older men and women (Ti 2:2–4), younger women and men (Ti 2:4–7), and slaves (Ti 2:9–10); cf. Eph 6:1–9; Col 3:18–4:1.

* [2:11–15] Underlying the admonitions for moral improvement in Ti 2:1–10 as the moving force is the constant appeal to God’s revelation of salvation in Christ, with its demand for transformation of life.

* [2:13] The blessed hope, the appearance: literally, “the blessed hope and appearance,” but the use of a single article in Greek strongly suggests an epexegetical, i.e., explanatory sense. Of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ: another possible translation is “of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 37 is an exhortation to Patience and Trust.

* [Psalm 37] The Psalm responds to the problem of evil, which the Old Testament often expresses as a question: why do the wicked prosper and the good suffer? The Psalm answers that the situation is only temporary. God will reverse things, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked here on earth. The perspective is concrete and earthbound: people’s very actions place them among the ranks of the good or wicked. Each group or “way” has its own inherent dynamism—eventual frustration for the wicked, eventual reward for the just. The Psalm is an acrostic, i.e., each section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section has its own imagery and logic. (Psalms, PSALM 37 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke urges us to adopt the attitude of a Servant.

* [17:7–10] These sayings of Jesus, peculiar to Luke, which continue his response to the apostles’ request to increase their faith (Lk 17:5–6), remind them that Christian disciples can make no claim on God’s graciousness; in fulfilling the exacting demands of discipleship, they are only doing their duty. (Luke, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB, n.d.)

Steve Scholer comments that in today’s world of equals, maybe ALL of us should focus not just on the words that align with our gender, but on the entire passage. Perhaps each group should strive to follow the guidelines set forth for both women and men – the proverbial what is good for the goose is good for the gander idiom.

As we further reflect on the reading, maybe Paul himself is pointing us in that very direction when he concludes his separate lists of worthy attributes with the words, For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope.

Today, as we do our daily Examen of Conscience, let us focus on the last few words of the First Reading, eager to do what is good, and strive to see and feel God’s watchful eye and presence in all we do. And to remind ourselves that whether we are male or female, we ALL need to be eager to do what is good, because doing so demonstrates our faith in action. (Scholer, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “We are called to humble service,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"You do not say to your servant, 'Sit down,' but require more service from him and do not thank him. The Lord also does not allow only one work or labor for you, because so long as we live we must always work.

"Know that you are a servant overwhelmed by very much obedience. You must not set yourself first, because you are called a son of God. Grace must be acknowledged, but nature not overlooked. Do not boast of yourself if you have served well, as you should have done. The sun obeys, the moon complies (Joshua 10:12-13; Baruch 6:60), and the angels serve... Let us not require praise from ourselves nor prevent the judgment of God and anticipate the sentence of the Judge but reserve it for its own time and Judge." (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 17.7-10) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 asks why does St Paul change his formula here to faith, love, and endurance? To understand this, let’s think about what hope is. The spiritual gift of hope is more than wishful thinking; it is an active trust in the living God.

Paul also talks about the grace of God “training us . . . as we await the blessed hope” of our lives: “the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). Grab hold of that hope today! Let it strengthen you and teach you how to endure. Filled with confident hope in the faithfulness of God, may you never lose sight of his promises!

“Father, thank you for the gift of hope, which strengthens me to endure all things!” (Meditation on Titus 2:1-8, 11-14, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Titus passage urges us to live in a humble gentle way so that our lives do not contradict what we say. The reward for our service is the ability to serve. Friar Jude reminds us that God gives us an opportunity to give of ourselves as the Way to share His Love with others.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, has become increasingly convinced that we need a worldwide paradigm shift in Christian consciousness for how we relate to God. Thomas Kuhn said that a paradigm shift becomes necessary when the previous paradigm becomes so full of holes and patchwork “fixes” that a complete overhaul—which once looked utterly threatening—now appears as a lifeline.

A few weeks back a friend asked me, “When you speak of the need for a paradigm shift, what is the primary shift that you are talking about?” Admittedly, there was much I could have offered, but I shared that the most significant shift in our view of God is the move beyond the reward/punishment paradigm. 

In my first years of preaching in the 1970s, I often told a Sufi-inspired story called “The Angel with the Torch and the Pail.” The story goes like this: 

An angel was walking down the streets of the world carrying a torch in one hand and a pail of water in the other. A person asked the angel, “What are you doing with that torch and pail?”  

The angel said, “With the torch I am burning down the mansions of heaven, and with the pail I am putting out the fires of hell. Then, and only then, will we see who truly loves God.”  

Operating with love as the source, not fear of punishment or even promise of reward, is a radically different Christian paradigm. To do this takes an experience of love from the Infinite One. Then you are free to love others and even to truly love yourself. The most loving people I have met across the world in my lifetime of teaching and travelling all seemed to know that if love is the goal, it must be love for everybody. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the nature of our duty as followers of Christ and implore the Spirit to increase our self control and self giving as we live in His Way.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/17?7 

Meditation on Titus 2:1-8, 11-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/11/12/1127186/ 

Psalms, PSALM 37 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/37?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-special-note-from-fr-richard-a-worldwide-paradigm-shift/ 

Scholer, S. (2024, November 12). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/111224.html 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=nov12 

Titus, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/titus/2?1 

Covenant and Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to take a leap of faith as our response to areas of our relationship with God seem to be in discord with our present understanding.

Life and Spirit

In the reading from the Prophet Joshua, the Tribes Renew the Covenant.

* [24:2] Beyond the River: east of the Euphrates; cf. Gn 11:28–31. (Joshua, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)

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). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians defines the Christian Household and the relationship between Wives and Husbands.

* [5:21–33] The apostle exhorts married Christians to a strong mutual love. Holding with Gn 2:24 that marriage is a divine institution (Eph 5:31), Paul sees Christian marriage as taking on a new meaning symbolic of the intimate relationship of love between Christ and the church. The wife should serve her husband in the same spirit as that of the church’s service to Christ (Eph 5:22, 24), and the husband should care for his wife with the devotion of Christ to the church (Eph 5:25–30). Paul gives to the Genesis passage its highest meaning in the light of the union of Christ and the church, of which Christlike loyalty and devotion in Christian marriage are a clear reflection (Eph 5:31–33). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Peter proclaims that Jesus has the Words of Eternal Life.

* [6:60–71] These verses refer more to themes of Jn 6:35–50 than to those of Jn 6:51–58 and seem to be addressed to members of the Johannine community who found it difficult to accept the high christology reflected in the bread of life discourse.

* [6:62] This unfinished conditional sentence is obscure. Probably there is a reference to Jn 6:49–51. Jesus claims to be the bread that comes down from heaven (Jn 6:50); this claim provokes incredulity (Jn 6:60); and so Jesus is pictured as asking what his disciples will say when he goes up to heaven.

* [6:63] Spirit,flesh: probably not a reference to the eucharistic body of Jesus but to the supernatural and the natural, as in Jn 3:6. Spirit and life: all Jesus said about the bread of life is the revelation of the Spirit. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Martha Slocombe asks “How many times in life are we pushed or nudged into growth?”

In John 6:60-69, that's what Jesus was doing. After the disciples complained that following Jesus was so hard that they didn't understand why anyone would do it, Jesus said, "Does this shock you?"  Jesus laid it out for them and says that he's got "Spirit and life," which is the most important thing of all. Many of his followers left and gave it all up. Because it was hard and they were being confronted with that inevitability. But for those who stayed, it solidified their dedication to Jesus who has "the words of eternal life." It made them come to terms with the fear of the difficulty: that it was worth it. That life following Jesus provided meaning and growth, even when it was hard. (Slocombe, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Eat Life - Drink Life,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"'Unless you eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, you shall not have life in you,' says the Lord. Eat life - drink life. You will then have life, and life is complete. Then the Body and Blood of Christ will be life for each person under this condition: what is eaten visibly in the Sacrament be spiritually eaten and spiritually drunk in truth itself." (excerpt from Sermon 102,2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 6:60-69 notes that Peter, speaking for himself and the rest of the Twelve, cut through the confusion with one simple question: “Master, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68). There was no one like Jesus. He truly was “the Holy One of God” (6:69). Peter couldn’t let his lack of understanding derail him. He trusted that if he stayed close to Jesus, asked questions, listened carefully, and kept an open heart, he would one day get the answers he sought. Even if it took years, he would still stick with the One whose love and grace had changed his heart so dramatically.

Do some of Jesus’ words confuse you or scandalize you? Don’t let them cast a shadow over everything else you have heard. Certainly don’t let them cause you to doubt his love for you or for others! Instead, draw closer to him. Recall how patient he has been with you, and resolve to be just as patient in waiting for the answers you seek. And remember: you have the gift of faith for just this very purpose. Allow that supernatural grace to help you trust in the Lord even when you don’t understand.

Jesus truly is the Holy One of God. There’s nowhere else you can go to receive all that he has for you.

“Lord, help me to stay close to you, especially when I have questions.” (Meditation on John 6:60-69, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the challenging scenario confronting Joshua and the refugees from Egypt as they pondered their path as Servants of Yahweh. The Stoic influence in the Ephesians passage outlining the responsibilities of men and women in marriage is a hint that Paul, who in Corinthians paid little attention to marriage, may not have authored Ephesians. Friar Jude notes the possibility that the Bread of Life Discourse may have been written in stages as “flesh” associated with the Real Presence becomes opposed to the Spirit. Friar Jude reminds us that Peter is given an unusual positive betrayal for the Gospel of John.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares his paradigm for the transformative process of spiritual maturity:

ORDER: At this first stage, if we are granted it (and not all are), we feel innocent and safe. Everything is basically good. It is our “first naïveté.” Those who try to stay in this first satisfying explanation of “how things should be” tend to refuse and avoid any confusion, conflict, inconsistencies, or suffering. Disorder or change is always to be avoided, the ego believes, so let’s just hunker down and pretend that my status quo is entirely good, should be good for everybody, and is always “true” and even the only truth.  

DISORDER: At some point in our lives, we will be deeply disappointed by what we were originally taught, by where our choices have led us, or by the seemingly random tragedies that take place in all our lives. There will be a death, a disease, a disruption to our normal way of thinking or being in the world. It is necessary if any real growth is to occur.  

This is the Disorder stage, or what we call from the Adam and Eve story the “fall.” Some people try to return to the original Order and do not accept reality, which prevents them from further growth. Others, especially today, seem to have given up and decided that “there is no universal order,” or at least no order to which they will submit. That’s the postmodern stance, which distrusts all grand narratives, including often any notions of reason, a common human nature, social progress, universal human norms, absolute truth, and objective reality. Permanent residence in this stage tends to make people rather negative and cynical, usually angry, and quite opinionated and dogmatic as they search for some solid ground. [1]  

REORDER: Only in the final Reorder stage can darkness and light coexist, can paradox be okay. We are finally at home in the only world that ever existed. This is true and contemplative knowing. Here death is a part of life, and failure is a part of victory. Opposites collide and unite, and everything belongs. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We are attracted to scenarios that offer security and certainty even as the Spirit is our guide to the necessary and mysterious fullness of Life as followers of Jesus Way.

References

Ephesians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/5?21 

John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?60 

Joshua, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/joshua/24?1 

Meditation on John 6:60-69. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/25/1060210/ 

Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/order-disorder-reorder-8-25-2024/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Have the Words of Everlasting Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug25