Deliverance and Restoration

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our experiences of being restored to joy, peace, and wellbeing as a complement to our situations of loneliness, anxiety, and despair. 

Restoration to Peace

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes the joyful return of the Exiles.

* [31:2–3] Jeremiah describes the exiles of the Northern Kingdom on their way home from the nations where the Assyrians had resettled them (722/721 B.C.). The favor they discover in the wilderness is the appearance of the Lord (v. 3) coming to guide them to Jerusalem. Implicit in these verses is the presentation of the people’s return from captivity as a second exodus, a unifying theme in Second Isaiah (chaps. 40–55). (Jeremiah 31, n.d.)

The response from Jeremiah 31:10-13 proclaims:

I will turn their mourning into joy,

   I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus praises the Canaanite Woman’s faith.

* [15:28] As in the case of the cure of the centurion’s servant (Mt 8:10), Matthew ascribes Jesus’ granting the request to the woman’s great faith, a point not made equally explicit in the Marcan parallel (Mk 7:24–30). (Matthew, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)

Mike Cherney comments that In the Gospel, Jesus makes clear His special relationship with the Jewish people.

It is sobering to realize where I fit in the Biblical version of God’s historical relationship with mankind. I like to think of myself as special and called by name. I still am able to retain the feeling that I, as a Gentile with historical roots from a very distant tribe, am something much more than merely part of a second-round choice that occurs when Jesus is not embraced by large parts of his own faith community. I am left with a prayer that has me rethinking my place in the grand scheme of things.

Dear Lord,

I like to see stories from my own perspective.

Help me to open my mind and heart to see things from the perspective of others.

I also like to put myself at the center of the universe.

Not only am I not there, the recent images from space show what a small and distant planet we inhabit.

Allow me to see humbly from my position of insignificance.

Your personal gifts of grace and recognition take on so much more meaning in this context. (Cherney, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Mother of the Gentiles,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century).

"After our Lord departed from the Jews, he came into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. He left the Jews behind and came to the Gentiles. Those whom he had left behind remained in ruin; those to whom he came obtained salvation in their alienation. And a woman came out of that territory and cried, saying to him, 'Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David!' O great mystery! The Lord came out from the Jews, and the woman came out from her Gentile territory. He left the Jews behind, and the woman left behind idolatry and an impious lifestyle. What they had lost, she found. The one whom they had denied in the law, she professed through her faith. This woman is the mother of the Gentiles, and she knew Christ through faith. Thus on behalf of her daughter (the Gentile people) she entreated the Lord. The daughter had been led astray by idolatry and sin and was severely possessed by a demon." (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 58) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 31:1-7 comments that God loved them even before they were a people. His love didn’t fade when they were slaves in Egypt, as they wandered forty years in the desert, or when they lived in exile in Babylon. His love remained constant even when they were stuck in sin and idolatry. In that “age-old” love, he promised to restore them and bring them back from exile into the Promised Land.

This is the kind of everlasting love that God has for us too. It’s a love that can’t be measured by outward events or disproved by our feelings because it is before them all and after them all. If you think of your life—and the events that fill your life—as a timeline, God’s love encircles it all. From before the beginning of your life until after the end of it, his love surrounds you. It doesn’t evaporate during your tough times. It isn’t stronger in your good times. And God certainly doesn’t withdraw his love even when you turn away from him. No, his everlasting love calls you back to himself and promises mercy and restoration.

How marvelous is this unchanging, eternal love of God! Let it sustain you today.

“Lord, help me to see your love as the one constant thing in my life!” (Meditation on Jeremiah 31:1-7, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the continuing story of restoration in Jeremiah that describes vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. The Canaanite woman who may have been thought of as unclean as the dogs is shown to have great faith in Jesus' love and compassion. Friar Jude reminds those involved in the Church not to take faith for granted but be prepared to surrender to the will of God daily.

 Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, Brian McLaren, and CAC staff member Paul Swanson discuss the ways a dangerous façade or “cult of innocence” can be used to claim superiority over others and even deny reality.

Seldom have I evoked so many implications and ramifications by one phrase, at least in the realm of theology, then when you gave me this phrase “cult of innocence.” I said, before even you explained it to me, “That’s it. That’s what Christianity allowed itself to become.” And it’s so triply ironic, because the Latin word innocens means “unwounded.” Here we worship a wounded man, and we said, “in his wounds are our salvation,” and yet much of our moral concentration is on proving we’re not wounded, we’re not wrong, we’re not at all bad, we’re not unworthy. Whereas Jesus, in utter freedom, says to the rich young man, “Why do you call me good? God alone is good” (Luke 18:19). That is such a line of inner freedom, where there is no need to be thought of as good. . . . (Rohr, n.d.)

We are invited by the Spirit to seek restoration in the experience of the love of God that is offered to all people.

References

Cherney, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/080322.html 

Jeremiah 31. (n.d.). Jeremiah. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/31?1 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/31?10 

Matthew, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/15?21 

Meditation on Jeremiah 31:1-7. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/08/03/461135/ 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). God Alone Is Good. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-alone-is-good-2022-08-03/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Mother of the Gentiles. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=aug3 

Helped by God

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our experience of being rescued by the action of the Holy Spirit especially when our pride, pomposity, and privilege have led us away from our relationship to Love.

Peaceful Waters

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes the restoration promised for Israel and Judah.

* [30:1–31:40] These two chapters contain salvation oracles that originally expressed the double expectation that the Lord would return the exiled survivors of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and reunite Israel and Judah as one kingdom under a just Davidic king. They were probably composed early in Josiah’s reign (the reference of v. 9), when he took advantage of Assyria’s internal disintegration and asserted control over northern Israel (cf. 2 Kgs 23:15–17). With the destruction of Jerusalem, the oracles were re-worked to include Judah and their fulfillment along with the renewal of the Davidic dynasty became associated with the eschatological “day of the Lord.” (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 30, n.d.)

Psalm 102 is a prayer to the Eternal King for help.

* [Psalm 102] A lament, one of the Penitential Psalms. The psalmist, experiencing psychological and bodily disintegration (Ps 102:4–12), cries out to God (Ps 102:1–3). In the Temple precincts where God has promised to be present, the psalmist recalls God’s venerable promises to save the poor (Ps 102:13–23). The final part (Ps 102:24–28) restates the original complaint and prayer, and emphasizes God’s eternity. (Psalms, PSALM 102, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus walks on the water.

* [14:22–33] The disciples, laboring against the turbulent sea, are saved by Jesus. For his power over the waters, see note on Mt 8:26. Here that power is expressed also by his walking on the sea (Mt 14:25; cf. Ps 77:20; Jb 9:8). Matthew has inserted into the Marcan story (Mk 6:45–52) material that belongs to his special traditions on Peter (Mt 14:28–31). (Matthew, CHAPTER 14, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock comments that our lives can be like this wonderful gospel passage over and over. We go from fear and doubt to trust and belief, only to stumble and be saved by this Jesus who, in his eagerness to save us, quickly reaches out his strong arm.

We wake at night - tossing in our sleep rather than on the waves - during the fourth watch – typically 3 am, and grumble “not again” instead of seeing it as a call from the Lord to reach out to him in prayer, remembering that this hour, this fourth watch, is holy time, a time of close encounter with our loving Lord.

May my first thoughts on waking be:

‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

“Come”

“Lord, save me!” (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Welcoming the Lord Jesus with expectant faith and humility,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"While human praise does not tempt the Lord, people are often ruffled and nearly entranced by human praise and honors in the church. Peter was afraid on the sea, terrified by the great force of the storm. Indeed, who does not fear that voice: 'Those who say you are happy place you in error and disturb the path of your feet' (Isaiah 3:12 Vulgate translation)? And since the soul struggles against the desire for human praise, it is good for it to turn to prayer and petition amid such danger, lest one who is charmed by praise be overcome by criticism and reproach. Let Peter, about to sink in the waves, cry out and say, 'Lord, save me!' The Lord reached out his hand. He chided Peter, saying, 'O man of little faith, why did you doubt?' - that is, why did you not, gazing straight at the Lord as you approached, pride yourself only in him? Nevertheless he snatched Peter from the waves and did not allow him who was declaring his weakness and asking the Lord for help to perish." (excerpt from SERMON 75:10) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 comments that when we face tragedy and hardship, we often search for a reason why. We desperately want to make sense of what has happened. Sometimes we blame ourselves, to the point of thinking it’s a punishment for sin. Rather than condemnation, however, we can find comfort in the Lord. He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:19). He is not looking for a reason to punish us. Even in the case of Israel in Jeremiah’s time, his ultimate purpose for his people was healing and restoration (Jeremiah 30:18).

This is true for us too. Jesus came to heal and restore every situation. Sometimes we get to see that happen here and now, as when a miracle takes place or a relationship is mended. But for some things, we have to keep our eyes on heaven, where there will be no more sorrow, and every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).

Whatever you are facing, remember that the Lord is not out to punish you. Cling to him and ask him for his comfort and strength. He is with you always, especially in your sorrow and pain.

“Lord, thank you for your healing love.” (Meditation on Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the punishment and restoration from God connected to the sinfulness of turning to pagan gods. The passages from Matthew on feeding the five thousand and calming the sea resonate with a meditation on Psalm 23. Friar Jude reminds us of the way of the Spirit to use our troublesome character traits to create openings for faith to restore our fullness of Life.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces therapist and spiritual director Fiona Gardner who draws a deeper understanding of the value of our lost innocence from the writings of Thomas Merton.

Moving from knowledge to innocence regained is a way of temptation and struggle; “it is a matter of wrestling with supreme difficulties and overcoming obstacles that seem, and indeed are, beyond human strength.” [2] 

Gardner compares Jesus’ teaching in Matthew to a Zen koan, which invites listeners to hold two contradictory statements together until a new awareness arises:  

If we consider Jesus’ command to the would-be adult disciples to become as small children as equivalent to a koan, then the work is to hold the lost innocence and the knowledge until the breakthrough can emerge. . . . As Merton knew from his reading on the Desert Fathers and his own spiritual practice it is not possible as an adult to regain innocence without knowledge. . . .  

Purity of heart is the recovery of divine likeness where the true self is lost in God. . . . This as Merton writes is “only a return to the true beginning.” [3] For this is where Christ is—in the beginning and in the becoming. This is the rebirth or a fresh start where Merton believed the preparation took place “for the real work of God which is revealed in the Bible: the work of the new creation, the resurrection from the dead, the resurrection of all things in Christ.” [4] (Rohr, 2022)

We act in the awareness of the Love of God for His children that resolves our troubles and strengthens our resolve to continue to follow Jesus.

References

Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/080222.html 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 30. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/30?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 14. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/14?22 

Meditation on Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/08/02/460499/ 

Psalms, PSALM 102. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/102?16 

Rohr, R. (2022, August 2). Like a Child. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/like-a-child-2022-08-02/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). It Is I - Have No Fear. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=aug2 

Truth Food and Faith

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to pursue truth, beauty and service as we are prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Truth and Beauty

The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes the Two Yokes and how Hananiah opposes Jeremiah and dies.

And Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet: Listen to this, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, and you have led this people to rely on deception.

Psalm 119 praises the glories of God’s Law.

* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them. Several expected elements do not appear in the Psalm: Mount Sinai with its story of God’s revelation and gift to Israel of instruction and commandments, the Temple and other institutions related to revelation and laws (frequent in other Psalms). The Psalm is fascinated with God’s word directing and guiding human life.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus feeds the Five Thousand.

* [14:13–21] The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle of Jesus that is recounted in all four gospels. The principal reason for that may be that it was seen as anticipating the Eucharist and the final banquet in the kingdom (Mt 8:11; 26:29), but it looks not only forward but backward, to the feeding of Israel with manna in the desert at the time of the Exodus (Ex 16), a miracle that in some contemporary Jewish expectation would be repeated in the messianic age (2 Bar 29:8). It may also be meant to recall Elisha’s feeding a hundred men with small provisions (2 Kgs 4:42–44).

Nicky Santos, S.J. attention was drawn to Jesus being moved with compassion or pity for the crowd. The image of God who suffers with us, who is moved with compassion or pity, is a powerful one.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 14:13-21 comments that Jesus speaks these same words to all of us: Give them some food yourselves (Matthew 14:16). He sees the hunger in each heart—a hunger for food, for love, and for him. And he calls us to feed his people, both materially and spiritually.

Friar Jude Winkler shares his comments on the texts today.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes  deeper stages of spiritual maturity as a “regained innocence”.

We are prompted by the Spirit to pursue truth and to act with faith to serve the needs of those who are revealed to us in that truth.