Complaints and Compassion

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our reaction to conflict and complaints as we seek to act with compassion to the needs of others.

Expressing Needs

In the reading from the Prophet Amos, Amaziah Complains to the King.

* [7:14] I am not a prophet: Amos reacts strongly to Amaziah’s attempt to classify him as a “prophet-for-hire” who “earns [his] bread” by giving oracles in exchange for payment (cf. 1 Sm 9:3–10; Mi 3:5). To disassociate himself from this kind of “professional” prophet, Amos rejects outright the title of nabi’ (“prophet”). By profession he is a herdsman/sheepbreeder and a dresser of sycamore trees, but God’s call has commissioned him to prophesy to Israel. (Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law.

* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Heals a Paralytic.

* [9:1] His own town: Capernaum; see Mt 4:13.

* [9:3] Scribes: see note on Mk 2:6. Matthew omits the reason given in the Marcan story for the charge of blasphemy: “Who but God alone can forgive sins?” (Mk 2:7).

* [9:6] It is not clear whether But that you may know…to forgive sins is intended to be a continuation of the words of Jesus or a parenthetical comment of the evangelist to those who would hear or read this gospel. In any case, Matthew here follows the Marcan text.

* [9:8] Who had given such authority to human beings: a significant difference from Mk 2:12 (“They…glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this’”). Matthew’s extension to human beings of the authority to forgive sins points to the belief that such authority was being claimed by Matthew’s church. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock asked herself several questions. Which of the two wonderful events is the real miracle? Or are they both miracles in their own way? To be assured of forgiveness or to be “unparalyzed?" Do our sins paralyze us? In what way?

Since we all have sinned, do we rely on the faith of our community to release us from those bonds? Surely a faith community is a strong support. Some of us do not have access to the sacraments on a regular basis if at all, and the blessing of the sacrament of reconciliation may be sorely missed. To have a trusted friend in whom to confide may give amazing relief and assurance of God's love and mercy. (Braddock, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Healing of soul and body,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"Now in the narrative of the paralytic a number of people are brought forward for healing. Jesus' words of healing are worthy of reflection. The paralytic is not told, 'Be healed.' He is not told, 'Rise and walk.' But he is told, 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven you.' The paralytic is a descendant of the original man, Adam. In one person, Christ, all the sins of Adam are forgiven. In this case the person to be healed is brought forward by ministering angels. In this case, too, he is called a son, because he is God's first work. The sins of his soul are forgiven him, and pardon of the first transgression is granted. We do not believe the paralytic committed any sin [that resulted in his illness], especially since the Lord said elsewhere that blindness from birth had not been contracted from someone's sin or that of his parents" [John 9:1-3]. (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 8.5) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:1-8 comments that the circumstances of Jesus’ healing miracles may vary, but they all had one thing in common: faith. People believed Jesus could help, and he did. In fact, faith was so important that he was not able to perform many miracles in his hometown of Nazareth “because of their lack of faith” (Matthew 13:58).

Do you have someone in your life who needs physical or spiritual healing? You may feel helpless as you watch them suffer. But you always have a way to help: let your faith move you to bring them to Jesus, just as the paralyzed man’s friends did. Believe that Jesus sees your faith as you intercede for them, encourage them, and even offer to pray with them. He values your persistence and won’t turn a deaf ear.

Jesus delights in every way that you try to bring people to him for help or healing. Especially when the person you are interceding for has little or no faith, he sees your faith. So don’t give up! Even if you can’t detect any change in that person’s life, you can still trust that your faith is making a difference.

“Lord, I believe that you can work wonders, even for those who don’t believe!” (Meditation on Matthew 9:1-8, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Amaziah reports to the king of Israel, which is almost a banana republic, that Amos proclaims a message for his own benefit. Is it easier to heal a broken leg or a broken heart? The man is paralyzed but with a smile on his face. Friar Jude reminds us that especially when the person we are interceding for has little or no faith, he sees our faith. So don’t give up! Even if we can’t detect any change in that person’s life, we can still trust that our faith is making a difference.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the insight of former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams who considers the importance of a rhythm or “rule” of life in Benedictine spirituality.

The idea that all of time can be sanctified—that is, that the time we may instinctively consider to be unproductive, waiting or routine activity, is indispensable to our growth into Christian and human maturity. How we spend the time we think is insignificant is important. It is not only the well-known Benedictine union of laborare and orare [work and pray], but the wider commitment to a life under “rule,” a life that takes it for granted that every aspect of the day is part of a single offering.… 

Christ’s human life is open to the divine at every moment; it is not that God the Word deigns to take up residence in those parts of our lives that we consider important or successful or exceptional. Every aspect of Jesus’ humanity and every moment of his life is imbued with the divine identity, so that if our lives are to be images of his, they must seek the same kind of unbroken transparency. [2]

The Dalhousie University motto “Ora et Labora” translates from Latin as "pray and work"; it was adopted in 1870 from the Earl of Dalhousie's motto. (Rohr, n.d.)

The guidance of the Spirit in our response to daily crises and complaints will point to care and compassion as the Way that Jesus models for us.

References

Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/amos/7?10 

Braddock, S. (2024, July 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070424.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9? 

Meditation on Matthew 9:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/04/1015715/ 

Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19?8 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. An Unexpected Sense of Freedom. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-unexpected-sense-of-freedom/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Take Heart - Your Sins Are Forgiven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul4 

Storms and Safety

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today warn us of the storms that may arise in our lives when we choose self aggrandizement over care for people in our environment in need of support, calm assurance, and love. 

Calming the Storms

The reading from the Prophet Amos is a First Summons in response to Israel’s Guilt and Punishment.

* [3:2] You alone I have known: precisely because Israel enjoyed a special status among the nations of the world in the eyes of the Lord (but see 9:7) it was called to a high degree of fidelity to God. Because Israel has failed in this expectation, it must experience God’s punishment.

* [3:3–8] The metaphors in these sayings illustrate the principle of cause and effect, and lead up to the conclusion in v. 8. (Amos, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [4:12] Therefore thus I will do to you: this climax of vv. 6–12, announcing the sentence the Lord intends to pass on Israel, is open-ended. (Amos, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 5 praises Trust in God for Deliverance from Enemies.

* [Psalm 5] A lament contrasting the security of the house of God (Ps 5:8–9, 12–13) with the danger of the company of evildoers (Ps 5:5–7, 10–11). The psalmist therefore prays that God will hear (Ps 5:2–4) and grant the protection and joy of the Temple. (Psalms, PSALM 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Stills the Storm.

* [8:23] His disciples followed him: the first miracle in the second group (Mt 8:23–9:8) is introduced by a verse that links it with the preceding sayings by the catchword “follow.” In Mark the initiative in entering the boat is taken by the disciples (Mk 4:35–41); here, Jesus enters first and the disciples follow.

* [8:24] Storm: literally, “earthquake,” a word commonly used in apocalyptic literature for the shaking of the old world when God brings in his kingdom. All the synoptics use it in depicting the events preceding the parousia of the Son of Man (Mt 24:7; Mk 13:8; Lk 21:11). Matthew has introduced it here and in his account of the death and resurrection of Jesus (Mt 27:51–54; 28:2).

* [8:25] The reverent plea of the disciples contrasts sharply with their reproach of Jesus in Mk 4:38.

* [8:26] You of little faith: see note on Mt 6:30. Great calm: Jesus’ calming the sea may be meant to recall the Old Testament theme of God’s control over the chaotic waters (Ps 65:8; 89:10; 93:3–4; 107:29). (Matthew, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Barbara Dilly comments that just as Jesus rebuked the chaos of the winds and sea and brought about calm to the disciples, we are to subdue evil forces as we speak peace and justice over the waves in our own lives and the lives of others.

That is not easy to do. But over the years, I have learned that if I subdue my own fears of evil forces and let the peace of Christ speak confidently in and through me, I can not only better navigate uncertainty, but I can also often even help others seeking God’s peace and justice. My prayer today is that we can all overcome the terror that so often surrounds us with a faith that grows stronger the more we face, not hide from, the storms of life. (Dilly, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Training in courage and endurance,” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.

"He took the disciples with him, not for nothing and not merely to face an absurd hazard but in order to permit them to witness the miracle that was to take place on the sea. For like a superb trainer, he was gradually coaching and fitting them for endurance. He had two objectives in mind. He wanted to teach them to remain undismayed amid dangers and modest in honors. So, to prevent them from thinking too much of themselves, having sent away the multitude, he kept them near him but permitted them to be tossed with a tempest. By doing so he disciplined them to bear trials patiently. His former miracles were indeed great, but this one contained a unique kind of discipline of exceptional importance. For it was a sign akin to that of old [referring to Moses parting the Red Sea]. To do this, he took his disciples with him by himself. He permitted others to see his other miracles, but when trials and terrors were rising, he took with him none but those he was training to be champions of the gospel. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 28.1.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 8:23-27 comments that it’s fair to say that Jesus has set a high bar, even for us. But that doesn’t mean he will condemn us for not meeting that bar. It just means that he knows how much power his gift of faith has. He knows that the more we exercise our faith, the more we will see that faith bear fruit—in our life and in the lives of the people around us.

Is there a storm of some kind raging around you or within you right now? If so, try putting your faith to work. Imitate Jesus and try to rest in God’s presence, maybe for just a few minutes. Surrender the storm to him, and let him give you his peace.

“Lord, you know I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Meditation on Matthew 8:23-27, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the wisdom sayings of Amos to the people of Israel, God will surely take action in their judgement. The violent storm experienced by the disciples on the Sea of Galilee is common due to the geography of the area. Friar Jude reminds us of two levels in the Gospel, a nature miracle and an exorcism of the evil associated with the Sea.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton who describes a “rule of life” as key to experiencing the reign of God.

Christian tradition has a name for the structure that enables us to say yes to the process of spiritual transformation day in and day out. It is called a rule of life. A rule of life seeks to respond to two questions: Who do I want to be? How do I want to live? … [or] the interplay between these two questions: How do I want to live so I can be who I want to be? [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

Pastor Ken Shigematsu advises that a rule of life is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

Having a set of deliberate practices also allows us to build on our strengths and shore up areas of weakness. If we are experiencing a failure of self-control, we might deliberately practice fasting…. If we find ourselves overcommitted and distracted, engaging in a daily rhythm of ten or twenty minutes of silent prayer that centers us or meditating on a brief single passage in Scripture (lectio) may be a helpful practice. 

On the other hand, if we have a naturally contemplative bent and find ourselves spending a disproportionately large amount of time in private prayer and solitude, adding another way of praying may not be helpful. In fact, we might consider decreasing the amount of time we spend in formal prayer and perhaps enter into practices of justice or service so we can grow as a contemplative in action….   

Ultimately, a rule can enable us to live our lives, as Thomas Kelly writes, “from a Center, a divine Center … a life of amazing power and peace and serenity, of integration and confidence and simplified multiplicity.” [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We encounter storms on our journey and we ask the Spirit to guide us to seek passage through the difficult times with the support of Jesus in our boat.

References

Amos, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/amos/3?1 

Amos, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/amos/4?12=#38004012 

Dilly, B. (2024, July 2). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070224.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/8?23 

Meditation on Matthew 8:23-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/02/1014557/ 

Psalms, PSALM 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/5?4 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. A Centered Life. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-centered-life/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Why Are You Afraid, O Men of Little Faith? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul2