And Now... Compassion!

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present a view of the compassion which is characteristic in relationship with the Divine. David learns that his son Absalom, who had been plotting against him, has been killed. The rival enemy who is also son is a too human conflict for which resolution may come in the defeat of one. This is joyless and in the case of David it is an occasion for deep mourning.  David is truly in need of the comfort expressed by the compassion of his soldiers in the second Book of Samuel. The psalmist cries out in supplication to God from a position of a life in threat. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus compassion is expressed in the examples of suffering with the synagogue leader, Jairus and the woman with haemorrhages. The "Messianic secret" is maintained as Jesus desires to bring Divine healing without presenting miracles as the basis of the intimate relationship to which He wishes to invite people. Compassion calls us to "suffer with" now and bring this suffering to our relationship with God where the peace and healing is found.

Responding with a Presence sense

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary present episodes in which an awareness of the Presence of God shapes the outcome of events in surprising ways. The son of David, Absalom, is seeking to remove his father as king. The second book of Samuel tells of the flight of David from Jerusalem and his encounter with Shimei, a Benjaminite, who curses the king and throws rocks at him. The power of pride and the ego should have moved David to have the man silenced, perhaps permanently. Instead, David is keenly aware of the Presence of God and this relationship informs him of the likelihood that the fall from grace and prestige that David is experiencing is the consequence of his sinful actions. David retains the close intimacy with God as one forgiven, yet we do not escape the consequence of our transgressions on our life or the lives of others. Perhaps the great spiritual message is the Presence with us through our struggle, even those events which are consequential to our turning away from the way of God. The Gospel of Mark tells of Jesus journey in the country of the pagan Gerasenes. The Presence of God is recognized by the evil spirits in possession of a "demoniac". Some authors have suggested that the acceptance of addictive demons into our lives is an attempt to dampen the power of the 'ego' voices in our subconscious pushing us to take care of number one even to the point of self destruction. The relationship with God through the resonance of our indwelling Spirit with the Divine Spirit attracts us as direction which overcomes ego. The "demoniac" is aware that God is Present. After the dispatch of the demons, Jesus in an unusual move sends the man to tell his family and those in the neighbouring pagan cities what has happened.  The "Messianic Secret" is not part of the mission to the pagans. Is this surprising?

Really independent? that depends...

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time are offering an introduction to the change which we are invited to embrace as we continue our spiritual journey. The strong hand and mighty arm of God have been witnessed by the Israelites, led by Moses. They seek a kind of separation from the awe which borders on fear to a communication through a human prophet, who as Friar Jude Winkler points out, will see the life of the community with the "eyes of God" and communicate with them, inspired by God. The Israelites seek that independence which puts the day to day decisions about the path of Israel under their control. As the community develops this "necessary independence", Moses and the Psalmist implore them and us not to forget about hearing the directions from God. Paul writes to the Corinthians to advise that the dependance and anxieties of the married state might be wisely avoided as the people prepare for the end of the world which Paul believed, because of the Resurrection of Jesus, was imminent. Richard Rohr in his book, Falling Upward, writes of the necessary independent attitude and development of life skills in our youth or "first half of life". As we come to know our place in relationship with God and we glimpse that our true self is revealed in that relationship, we recognize as Fr Larry Gillick notes that independence may be one of the demons cast out by the growing Presence of Jesus in the "Holy Place" of our being. In the synagogue in Capernaum, according to the Gospel of Mark today, Jesus instructs the unclean spirit to be quiet. The relationship with Jesus and the model He sets for His followers grows through love, patience, peace, joy, mercy and forgiveness. It takes time for us to develop in intimacy with the Divine. The humility to consider that we depend on God is not easily found on most days.

Dealing with nature

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer meditation on the 
interaction between human behaviour and the response of God. The Prophet Nathan brings David a parable about a rich and powerful landowner who takes severe advantage of a poor herdsman in the passage from the Second Book of Samuel. The rage of David and his zeal for justice against the aggressor is stopped as Nathan reveals David's adulterous and murderous acts against Bathsheba's life are the real transgressions in Nathan's story. One human expectation might be the abandonment of David by God, yet as Psalm 51 so marvelously proclaims, the Lord will use the life and story of David to teach transgressors His Ways. There are consequences when people turn away from the guidance of the Divine and pursue their own lusts and passions. David is the ancient example but the consequence of "taking care of number one" is visible in shattered relationships, anger and violence every day. The "natural" drive to satisfy our desires is countered by the "supernatural" invitation to mercy, forgiveness and intimacy from God to us and like reconciliation we can offer those who transgress against us through the power of the Spirit. The Gospel of Mark presents in straightforward language, explained by Friar Jude Winkler as the tone of the Gospel, the supernatural power to calm the storms of fear, doubt, uncertainty and loss of control by the Faith which recognizes that the journey is part of the mission when the disciple is accompanied by Christ.

What an example

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer some examples of the mystery of the relationship of God and people. The passage from the second Book of Samuel
relates the episode of David's severe transgressions of adultery and murder. The mystery is that the relationship between God and David continues after these events. What is the degree to which humans can deviate from the straight and narrow before God gives up on us? Certainly, our need to be reassured that the love of God is unconditional and full of mercy is addressed by the example of David. The Gospel of Mark presents parables which reveal that the time and amounts by which humans assess progress are not the measures of the Divine. How long will you take, Lord? is an ancient and modern petition. The time is God's domain. The seed planted, however insignificant in our eyes, will under Providence bear the fruit intended. We can reflect on the mustard seed of our own faith. What growth have we experienced this year? this decade? during our life? Our time is not God's time and our ways are not the ways of the Divine. Thank God.

The Mission is inspired

The memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, disciples of Paul, follow yesterday's celebration of the conversion of Paul. The Roman Catholic Lectionary offers a selection of readings which differ in Canada and the US. The letter to Timothy, according to Friar Jude Winkler, was written by a disciple of Paul and it encourages Timothy, who is of Jewish heritage through his mother and grandmother to be aware of the power of the Holy Spirit in his ministry as a source of love and self discipline for his daily work. Titus is a young man, a Gentile, who has authority to appoint elders for the communities in Crete. The guidance of the Spirit is the support he will need to address the needs and concerns of believers and followers of the Way who are older and more experience than he. The mission to proclaim the Presence of the kingdom of God is described in the Gospel from Luke with instructions on how the peace of intimate relationship with the Divine is to be witnessed in actions of the missionaries. Peace is to be communicated as fruit of the Kingdom. Attention to differences in culture, experience and age is required and is guided by the prompting of the indwelling Spirit in communion with the Spirit of God. Go out and be love and peace.

Convincing Cooperation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today commemorate the conversion of Saint Paul. The dramatic account of the one who persecuted the Way with great zeal being thrown blind from his horse on the road to Damascus after hearing Jesus question his current life direction is the stuff of Hollywood movies. A conversion experience like that would set me on my heels too, we conclude. The work of Paul in proclaiming the Good News to the Gentiles is nothing but the story of the most inspirational, dramatic, Spirit filled journey of personal struggle which continues to move people to greater intimacy with the Divine as the words and actions of "Saul, Saul" are brought to us through the letters to the Christian communities, the Book of Acts and the Christian tradition. The power of a human converted to serve the will of God is witness to the cooperation of our indwelling Spirit with the Holy Spirit. The passage from the Gospel of Mark provides a commissioning directive which according to Friar Jude Winkler was probably added to the Evangelist's text by a disciple. It reminds us, like the Great Commission in the Gospel of Matthew, that we are missioned to proclaim the Good News with our lives and that we should expect that the cooperation we give to the Spirit of God will result in the spread of healing and protection among people.