Jesus is entering Jericho on his way to Jerusalem when he encounters Zacchaeus up a tree and out on a limb. He calls to him and tells the notorious tax collector (read: "loan shark.") that he's coming to dinner at his house. In this short sequence, we see the story of redemption. Christ is on his way to Jerusalem to climb out on his own limb for us, to free us from sin. Zacchaeus is the last person anyone would see as a disciple of Christ, but he goes out on the limb to contact Christ. In this story, we see how God and man interact. Christ has opened the way for us, and we travel to meet him. This is not a passive relationship at all. God came to meet us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we come to God through acts of penance, which is transformation, not punishment. Together with God we become what God created us to be. (See the Wisdom reading for today.)
Obviously, "going out on a limb" means taking a risk. Zaccheaus, with his own terms of restitution, was taking a huge risk. The question we have to ask ourselves today is what risk do I need to take? What limb do I have to climb out upon to meet the Lord and become one with Him?
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Humility and the Mustard Seed
Today we have a short reading from Luke and a longer, more well known and widely discussed section of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. (5:21-33.) The Luke reading is very short (13:18-21,) two simple paragraphs in which Christ compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed and to yeast. It's all about growth. Paul discusses the relationship of man and woman in marriage.
As I read them today, it came to me that they have a theme in common...humility.
This is easy to see in Paul. Man and woman serve each other in their roles as husband and wife in the Mystical Body of Christ. That's the essence of Christian marriage. It is not about one being greater than the other, or even being equal for that matter. It is about accepting each other for who they are and loving each other as Christ loves you...unconditionally. That's where the humility comes in. Humility is essentially "me second, everyone else first." Isn't that the way Christ loves us on the cross?
So what about the mustard seed? Until the time the tree withers and dies, it continues to grow, to spread it's leaves, produce and give shade. It never reaches a point where it says "There, I'm mature now, I'll coast from here on in." No, the mustard tree will keep on going. This holds true for us who enter the kingdom through baptism. We should not stop growing in the fatih. Sometimes, in my line of work, someone will tell me they know the faith. No, I say, you don't. You know part of it but you don't know it fully. That time has not yet come. Be humble and know that there is always more to learn. Much of it you will learn depending upon your humility toward others, Without the humility, you limit yourself.
The opposite of humility, is, what, pride?
As I read them today, it came to me that they have a theme in common...humility.
This is easy to see in Paul. Man and woman serve each other in their roles as husband and wife in the Mystical Body of Christ. That's the essence of Christian marriage. It is not about one being greater than the other, or even being equal for that matter. It is about accepting each other for who they are and loving each other as Christ loves you...unconditionally. That's where the humility comes in. Humility is essentially "me second, everyone else first." Isn't that the way Christ loves us on the cross?
So what about the mustard seed? Until the time the tree withers and dies, it continues to grow, to spread it's leaves, produce and give shade. It never reaches a point where it says "There, I'm mature now, I'll coast from here on in." No, the mustard tree will keep on going. This holds true for us who enter the kingdom through baptism. We should not stop growing in the fatih. Sometimes, in my line of work, someone will tell me they know the faith. No, I say, you don't. You know part of it but you don't know it fully. That time has not yet come. Be humble and know that there is always more to learn. Much of it you will learn depending upon your humility toward others, Without the humility, you limit yourself.
The opposite of humility, is, what, pride?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Guide Me on the Road to Eternity
Wonderful readings today. First we have the Lord letting Job know who's who, and then we have David's beautiful Psalm 139 and, finally, Luke 10:13-16.
The first two readings actually filled me with a sense of awe, wonder and peace, these glimpses at the beauty and majesty of God. Wonder at the unimaginable sense of God's being compared to the limited reality of my mortality. Awe that so much can come from such a being filled with love.
Like Job and David, I know my place now, which wasn't always the case. My place and God's place, in what we call an ordered existence. What is incredible is the peace and freedom it brings to one's life. There has never been anything like this in my past. I contrast it with what I thought was freedom, and realize how much of the useless stress, tension, anger, fear, envy and pride have dissipated. That's not to say they are completly gone, but I am no longer a slave to them. The author of Job and David both recognize this, and David's psalm ends with a beutiful prayer:
God examine me and know my heart,
test me and know my concerns
Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin
and guide me on the road to eternity.
For a contrast, we have Luke, where the Lord laments those who reject him.
Obviously,not a personal rejection but the rejection of the wonders of God that became so clear to Job and David.
The first two readings actually filled me with a sense of awe, wonder and peace, these glimpses at the beauty and majesty of God. Wonder at the unimaginable sense of God's being compared to the limited reality of my mortality. Awe that so much can come from such a being filled with love.
Like Job and David, I know my place now, which wasn't always the case. My place and God's place, in what we call an ordered existence. What is incredible is the peace and freedom it brings to one's life. There has never been anything like this in my past. I contrast it with what I thought was freedom, and realize how much of the useless stress, tension, anger, fear, envy and pride have dissipated. That's not to say they are completly gone, but I am no longer a slave to them. The author of Job and David both recognize this, and David's psalm ends with a beutiful prayer:
God examine me and know my heart,
test me and know my concerns
Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin
and guide me on the road to eternity.
For a contrast, we have Luke, where the Lord laments those who reject him.
Obviously,not a personal rejection but the rejection of the wonders of God that became so clear to Job and David.
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