What is Love?

Reflecting on the readings this week we see Jesus without explicitly stating what his actions were or even using the word revealing love. In Monday's reading found in Matthew, Jesus talks of feeding and providing to those who have little or nothing.  A closer look at the Lord's prayer in which Jesus says "If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive yours."Even in the story of Jonah, which Jesus alludes in Luke 11:32  to the idea that "there is something greater than Jonah here." My take on this is that for me to love I must recognize that Jesus is greater than myself and allow him to live in me.  Thursday's reading explicitly commands us to "do to others whatever you would have them do to you." Friday we focus on reconciliation in Matthew  5:20-26 and today we are told to love our neighbor.

Yes love is in the air, but how can I love with such turmoil in the world.  On my daily commute how can I love the driver who cuts me off or speeds up dangerously behind me, causing me to throw up my hands in anger? How can I love those in my workplace that are in a perpetual state of anger or seem not to care about their work? How do I love those who can make my job difficult? The Jackie DeShannon song "What the World Needs Now" comes to mind. "Not just for some, but for everyone," the refrain is repeated.

I can love those close to me most of the time, but at times I am not in a loving mood, so what makes me change? A reflection of God's grace to me as a sinner is place to start. In my day to day commute or interactions another prayer asking for patience, tolerance and acceptance works when I make the time to do so. Perhaps the passage in Thessalonians 5:17-18, "pray incessantly" is what is being asked of me. If so I may find my answer.

Follow Me

Reflecting on today's readings, message of following the way of Christ, I am reminded of the many years that through my own self-centeredness and rebelliousness I ignored the call.  I would constantly find myself on the opposite side of Isaiah's "If you." Mired in the darkness referred to in the passage my pursuits were for my own reward. Malicious speech, false accusations, pride, and many other defects of character were common.

Only when I recognized my ways,  left my post as a collector of the wrongs and assessor of debts of others did I come upon the infinite mercy of Jesus. "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth," the psalmist cries.  This new way of life was painful at times. Acknowledging that I was and still am a sinner, not healthy or in need of a physician was as Saint Peter Damian said "one must in order to make any task easier, try a more difficult thing in order to make the nettles bearable."  The daily inventory of my actions resounds as the psalmist once again acknowledges his weakness, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day."  Lest I forget when I approach the altar during communion that I am called as a sinner and my Savior in his abounding mercy and kindness takes me into his arms. Yes the Lord has spoken and I am following his call.

Suffering

Our culture frowns upon any type of suffering as much as the ancient Jews frowned upon leprosy. Society is constantly seeking ways to end suffering of any type viewing it as a obstacle to fullness. While there is nothing wrong with medical advances that treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and ebola, many seek to end the suffering associated with daily life and tribulations. Reflecting on Mark's passage about the leper one can surmise that if the leper did not have the crippling affliction, perhaps he would have never encountered the mercy of Jesus.

As I reflected upon my morning meditation in the Magnificat, the passage from the French novelist Leon Bloy who said "If God desires to have us , he must seduce us, for if his Majesty does not please us, we can throw it away from our presence" resonated with me.  For many suffering in various forms of affliction brings us closer to God, that is we become seduced by his love for us even though we fell unworthy due to our affliction.  We may cry out "why me?" in desperation not quite understanding that God is working through us at the time.

Suffering brings us to our knees realizing that the delusion of human superiority over all is a lie. There is but one power that can bring an end to what we call suffering, the mercy and love of God. While I may not have leprosy I may suffer in my everyday contact with others, realizing that I am judgmental, egotistical, prideful, along with a slew of other faults which can be classified as spiritual leprosy . Knowing that these defects can ravage my soul in permeating guilt, I like the leper ask the Lord for his mercy "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of everliving God, have mercy on me a sinner." Mercifully I am made clean.

In physical suffering we may call upon the intercession of St. Clare, who once stated "If you suffer with Him, you will reign with him." Our society frowns upon this type of suffering as if we really know what is best for the individual.  If our ultimate reward lies in the kingdom of God we embrace  the afflictions that have beset us. While many of us suffer as we care and watch loved ones overcome by debilitating diseases as difficult as it may be, we can unite ourselves and our loved ones knowing that there is a far greater reward than what we may see, one that is not readily grasped, nor immediately felt as though we are in our earthly bodies, but one with eternal life.

Faith During the Storm

It took many years for me to understand the deeper meaning of Mark 4:35-41, Jesus calming the storm.  I understood that the passage correlated with faith so I interpreted it dealing with life's calamities.  It wasn't until this morning reading this that I figured it this message was for me. In midst of my daily struggles I become the disciples. I overreact to what appears to be a storm and that I might perish or give up control to something or someone. "Teacher, do you not care." although not my words as I may be too self-absorbed to contemplate such a saying.  However, Jesus reply to the sea which symbolically is my own desire to control situations is "Quite! Be still!" It is this very reply that I need to hear or better yet be open to when the waves become violent, throwing me asunder, tossing me off the boat of life. Having recognition of this I will better understand that it is He, not I that control my destiny. Having the faith of Abraham to the point of not knowing where I am going shall guide me to the final destination as Paul alludes to in Hebrews 1:2-9. Being obedient to the message is my struggle.

The Call

As we reflect on today's readings it is clear that the message resonates with a call. That call seems to be an imperative and requires action.  Whether it is Jonah wandering through Nineveh, Paul's proclamation to the Corinthians or Jesus proclaiming the Gospel in Galilee there is a call. Repentance is the answer.  The people of Nineveh heeded the call to conversion of heart when their immediate future was at stake. Paul uses similar words in saying that "the world in its present form is passing away. Simon and  Andrew leave their life-long work as fisherman as do James and John.  Their immediate actions of leaving both their work and families behind may seem a bit extreme, but the message is there, "Come after me." Looking at this in today's world is difficult. Take for example Andrew and Simon. They may have been hard workers and in today's terms married to their work, but they chose a new calling. Are you married to your work? Is it your life, your identity, your pride? Having struggled with this myself, I increasingly try to allow Jesus guide me in this area, consecrating each day to him, attempting to follow his call. The call to repent follows me as well. There are plenty of areas in my life which require reflection and the willingness to change. This only comes with God's infinite grace.  Yes time is of the essence and I must take Jonah's and Paul's words seriously if I am to answer that call. May the Grace of of our Savior provide you with that call.

Update

I apologize for the lack of posts as my  job as a teacher requires a significant amount of time and energy dedicated the task of grading as well as preparation. I hope with renewed spirit and the grace provided by God to be more frequent in my posts.

Yours in Christ

Chris

Baptism

What can be more frightening than being submersed under water and the feeling of drowning? Having had an experience of being momentarily helpless in a pool after an awkward dive I can recall of being weighted down. Jesus when baptized by John the Baptist descended into the waters although completely sinless must have had that momentarily feeling as well. What can we take from this event? Being helpless underwater can symbolize our life when it is devoted to the material world. We are constantly battling for air and at times can be weighed down by our propensity to sin and the underlying guilt of those actions that wraps itself around us and keeps us submerged. On the other hand visualize Christ coming up from the waters, getting the breath of fresh air, of life, of renewal. That is what we can experience when we allow ourselves to be guided by our Savior.  We are no longer weighted down by the turbulence of the current under water, but conversely we can grab onto the One that will guide us down the river of life as we submit to His will. In the words of the Baptist " He must increase; I must decrease."