Giving in or Giving up

As I listened to the guided meditation podcast from the Jesuits in Britain today, I was struck by the contrast of the message from today's Gospel from Mark. We read of John the Baptist who is put in prison by Herod and eventually executed. John gave up his life so that Jesus could live and proclaim the word of God. Conversely we also read of Herod who gives into the demands of his wife who he unlawfully married and eventually kills John.

GIVING UP OR NOT

And where do I fit in this story? As I wrote in a previous post I believe there are no coincidences in Scripture. It speaks to us if our hearts and minds are open to it. In looking at John one finds a person who is willing to sacrifice his own life and was unwavering in his message, not compromising himself to the whims of society nor to the very threats to his existence. "He must increase; I must decrease," was his words to his followers. John's words about repentance were very clear even to those who might harm him, yet he carried on.

Here I find myself hesitantly desiring to please God. I want God in my life, but am I willing to go the extra yard and let others know no matter what the consequence? Am I willing to turn my life unconditionally over to God and repent in all my ways. Giving up myself and those things that I hold onto in times of difficulty such as resentment and judgement. Not yet.  Yes, let God increase in my life, but I want this done conditionally. I don't want God prompting me to speak out when people unfairly criticize my faith because I don't want to offend anyone. I like my comfort zone. But John makes one thing clear as he lays the path for Christ teachings, being a believer can and will be uncomfortable. It may even require a very personal sacrifice, but after all this is an example of what Christ did on the cross as well.

GIVING IN

I find it much easier to give in. Herod was perplexed by John and liked listening to him. Perhaps he even considered giving up his marriage as he was drawn to this radical man who preached without fear. Herod even feared John as he knew John was holy as stated in Mark. However, when faced with the decision of sparing John's life, Herod falls to the desires of his vengeful wife. 

Giving into desires and temptation is something we always be faced with. Do I follow my desires and verbally blow someone up on Facebook because I know it will please others? Do I engage in gossip because everyone else is? Do I allow myself to be controlled by what others think of me and therefore take actions that are contrary to my faith? The list goes on and on. I can trace the numerous times where I have given in to all of the above. No I did not kill anyone, but certainly my words or actions were not constructive. There is a Herod in me. The people pleaser, the person who desires that everyone like him, the person who can compromise my values when it seems convenient. This is the easy way out. Being like John is difficult and requires unwavering faith. But I am not taking on this challenge alone.

THE CROSS

Over and over again the Scripture remind us we are in God's hand. Psalm 118 gives us hope as the Lord is called upon despite insurmountable odds and provides refuge. Psalm 34 provides us reassurance that the Lord will answer our call even though we may be burdened. Both the Old Testament and New Testament have various passages that encourage us to take upon the challenge of living out the word of God. The book of Maccabees presents us with the mother and seven sons who were not willing to compromise their beliefs even in the light of a torturous death knowing full well of the consequences.  Leaning on these and many other passages should be reminder that we don't have to compromise our beliefs no matter how difficult the situation can be. The cross of truth may seem heavy as we carry it but we have help in the One that has preceded us. 

No Coincidences Here

I have come to believe that in the timing of our Scripture readings is by no means coincidental. There have been many a time where I have been struggling in dealing with personal issues, work issues, and even health issues in which I open my daily readings only to see a message from either the  Old Testament, Psalms, or New Testament that is crystal clear. Sometimes the message seems to be applicable to events around me, but in the case of today's readings it seems quite clear there is a message for our nation. It is not only given once, but four times.

Let us begin with the first reading from Isaiah. The author uses the word foreigners to describe those joining themselves to the Lord. There is no duplicity in the message. The passage ends with the writer describing a house that will be a house of prayer for all people. I imagine a church that upon review includes people of all races. I happen to live in an area that is reflective of that. However, our presiding priest today challenged us to look deep inside ourselves in wake of the Charlottesville tragedy. Where do we have prejudices that are not always evident. Are we reflective of this house that the Book of Isaiah describes?

Psalm 67 responsorial is "O God, let all the nations praise you." Once again a message of inclusivity. The Gospel message of love is not just for selected people it is for all. I know that it is quite easy to discriminate thinking that a certain group is selected to hold the Gospel truth, but somehow I don't think that would be Jesus' message.

Paul in the Letter to the Romans implores the Gentiles to follow the Gospel message. He utilizes the word mercy as God is merciful with those who once disobeyed and wandered away. The final sentence states " For God delivered all to disobedience that he might have mercy upon all. Once again the word all stands out.

Finally in the Gospel we encounter an Canaanite woman whose daughter is sick.  This woman was quite possibly of mixed heritage being from Sidon and Tyre. The woman was an outsider and is thus treated as so by the disciples as they tell Jesus to send her off. To know that the woman is considered a lesser person is important for two reasons. One being her gender in a society that was patriarchal,  but also as a foreigner there is a clear class division.  Jesus seems to be ignoring the woman the group continue their journey and following the suit of the disciples. But we must remember that God's ways are not our ways. After speaking exclusively of the lost sheep of Israel, Jesus does something that I imagine startles some. He replies to the woman who pleads with him for help using the metaphor of dogs eating scraps from table knowing that this woman would be by many considered a dog. The woman's faith in the power of someone she does not even know, but quite possibly has heard about is rewarded. What is for us to gain here?

Even in turbulent times such as what we are encountering in our nation and throughout the world we are asked to be faithful. Yes I would like many people to be fixed and would love to have an audience with God in which I could present such a list. But that once again would be my plan. God is a God of surprises, to borrow Gerard Hughes book title. In my own life I can reflect on numerous times God when I allow God to drive the car that I have been pleasantly rewarded by His mercy and grace. The very fact that I am writing this blog is one.  Going to God daily and praying for those who pursue the message of hate is important to me,  for without this exercise I know that I can become hateful as well interiorly. That is why Scripture is important for me.

The word of God does not have to be that booming authoritative voice emanating from heaven. It can be found in Scripture and nothing is more evident than that today amidst the violence that continues to divide out nation. The challenge becomes loving those whose purposeful intent is to spread hate and violence. We are a nation that is made up of many peoples, beliefs, and religions and as the readings today provide us we are all one.

The Real Life Challenges of the Gospel

A CHALLENGE IN FACE OF TRAGEDY

I could no help but think when leaving Mass yesterday that inside the Church the congregation was very much in the presence of Jesus, but upon leaving the doors we were cast out upon the waves much like the disciples in the day's Gospel.  Even more profound was the focus of the Mass by the visiting Fr. Lawrence who always provides opportunity to reflect on events, today being the tragic outcomes in Charlottesville Saturday. He really zoomed in on the idea that we all have fears and prejudices, some don't manifest themselves as outwardly as what occurred in Virginia, but if we allow them to manifest they can rise their ugly head in manners that may seem inconceivable.

As a history teacher I see the events that unfolded as a pattern of increased hate towards those who are different whether by skin color, belief, sexual preference and religion.  It seems that we are taking a turn for the worst as some people becoming increasingly intolerant of any thing that might threaten their security. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I see this as an opportunity to embrace the teachings of Christ even more.

WE DON'T FORGET THE PAST

Father Lawrence took us a journey during the homily as he recounted a visit to Auschwitz some years ago. He told us of his interaction with a group of youths from Israel as they entered the ghostly gas chambers where uncounted number of Jews were killed and the ensuing despair and sorrow that encompassed the group as they remained momentarily in the unit. "We know what happened there." he stated, but what brought people to this point was his question. Labels and proclaimed superiority was the answer. His message was clear, this can happen again if we allow it, maybe not on the same level of the Holocaust, but such events as Charlottesville are a wakeup call for us to truly live the Gospel message of love. This means even in the face of tragedy we are called to love those who incite hate and promote violence.


And if this message is not reminder, it is no coincidence that we celebrate the memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Yes God does speak to us, especially as Catholics when we remember the lives of saints who so valiantly live out the Gospel even in the most dire of circumstances. Furthermore in today's first reading, Moses implores the Hebrews to respond the message to love and serve the Lord for the Lord has no favorites. The Lord befriends the alien so the people must do the same and likewise for the orphans and widows.

HOW DO I LOVE THOSE WHO HATE

As Father Lawrence reminded yesterday, living the Gospel is not easy especially in times where it is much easier let the ugly face of hate to simmer. I would like to think that I bear no ill feelings towards people and I can be quite adept on putting on that face, but upon a thorough examination and with a prayerful attitude I find otherwise. So what are my steps to rid myself of these sentiments. I have found that among those who blog here there have been some wonderful tips on using the Rosary. It has been mentioned that in praying the Rosary that each bead one prayers for a person. In this case I might pray for all those who I bear ill feelings. Another tip that I just recently used was in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet each bead was dedicated to those people in the news who have exemplified actions of hate. It is amazing how quickly these beads are filled with those people. I only hope that with these actions and the actions of those who truly live out the Gospel that we can begin to repair the polarized state of our nation. Holy Mary Pray for us.