Strength from Love

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time offers part of the greatest insights into the nature of love and our relationship to the Divine source of love. The 12th chapter of the 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthians has inspired many. Much has been written about this visionary text. Love fits together all the other components of our being. The power of the love is the basis of the strength to face the realities of being a disciple of Jesus. Luke’s gospel reveals Jesus understanding that the will of the Divine is not the will of humans and this truth will necessarily mean ‘no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town.’ In the time of Jeremiah, the Exile to Babylon, prophets were not welcomed either. Truth is the pursuit of the prophet. As always, the truth hurts. Love is the balm for hurt.

Trust the Spirit

The relationship of people with the Divine has impact on daily life. The Roman Catholic Lectionary shows David’s outrage at the injustice described to him by Nathan, who exclaims to David “You are the man!”. The indwelling Spirit can reveal, perhaps through others, the blindness we may have to our own faults. The disciples are trying. Jesus reveals that their anxiety in the boat may reflect a need to go deeper in their relationship to find the total security that the indwelling Spirit brings.

Visible and Hidden

The psalm today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary is Psalm 51. It is a psalm of repentance and forgiveness. It contains deeply felt remorse and rejoicing at the mercy of God. The text from 2 Samuel tells of David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. It is clear that forgiveness and mercy are the personal experience of David. The message to all is to seek reconciliation within the love of God. Jesus parables of mustard seeds and growing seeds are told by Mark. The parable is a teaching form that demands our reflection. The surface story appears at first read to contain the simple message. We can take it in and wonder at the obvious nature of the lesson. Yet Jesus explained the apparently obvious to the disciples. That indicates there is deeper understanding in the parables for thouse who seek to see, hear and taste more. Jesuit teachers encourage the use of imagination and the indwelling Spirit to “take us” into the parable. We can be patient and let the Divine teach us something beyond the obvious.

Aquinas and the Lampstand

Today, the memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor, the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary speak of action. Thomas Aquinas spoke of taking action. Mark relates Jesus exhortation to be among those who give. Those who have some insight need to share it, or perhaps the insight they have will disappear.

Imagine being there

The text from Mark in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today is the parable of the sower. The reaction of “What does He mean?” sometimes accompanies a reflection on the Parables. It is intended to be an account which is familiar and profound at the same time. The meaning of the parables and in fact the meaning of Jesus life is best explored through the imagination which can take us to the events as a participant. Some Jesuit teachers encourage approaching the parables through prayer, patience and the imagination. Certainly the richness of insight and understanding available from the parables needs to be nourished and cultivated in rich soil.

Presence is Prime

The last line in the text from Luke’s Gospel in the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” (Luke 10.9) is the essence of Christian evangelization. The texts today indicate that even though the journey will have challenges, the Presence of the indwelling Spirit is strength to continue. The very perseverance in the journey brings peace and healing to those who encounter the Divine through the action of the disciple. Francis encouraged believers to always preach the Gospel and, if necessary, use words.

Beginnings of Conversion

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today brings texts for the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul. Paul’s story includes education at the hands of Gamaliel, who also was the teacher of Nicodemous and Stephen. This education may have been a foundation for Paul’s development of the “third eye” referred to by Rohr as the quality of the non-dual seer. Certainly the texts which have come from the influence of Paul have been rich in the development of the Life of the indwelling Spirit which is the portal to approach the mystery of Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection in the Christian tradition