Deacon Tom Writes,
“Better Choices - Better Results”
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Last Wednesday marks the twentieth-third anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy. We have all heard stories of the pain and suffering that continues to live in the hearts of the family and friends of those who perished in that tragedy. There is no shortage of tragic stories. We witness so much pain and suffering in our world. Much of it is the consequence of our own poor decisions. There’s nothing new here; “nothing new under the sun”. Tragedy, experiencing a loss of a loved one, a job, a marriage can often give us a chance to stop and reflect upon our lives. It may be time to pause for a moment to look at our own decision-making process and how that has contributed to such anguish, anxiety and negativity in our families, in our local and global communities, in our churches, and, as we see constantly today, in our politics and ecclesiastical institutions.
There is a saying that goes like this, “If you always do what you always have done, you will always get what you’ve already got”. So, if we keep eating the cheesecake, we are going to keep adding on the pounds! Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? So, when it comes to understanding and solving the problems in our families, in our communities and in our world, we need a different mindset than fighting fire with fire, or punching back harder when someone strikes us. We need a higher level of thinking to find real solutions. To paraphrase Einstein, genius that he was, he said it this way, “Problems cannot be solved with the same mind set that created them”. Many of the problems of our world, our communities and in our families are of our own making. We have no one to blame but ourselves for the bitter results of our poor choices. Real solutions to any problem that ails us demand that we pursue alternate and elevated way of thinking than the thinking that got us into that bad situation as Einstein so eloquently noted.
For us whose faith is centered upon Christ, today’s gospel gives us insight into finding solutions to any problem we face, large or small. Jesus tells Peter, “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do”. The invitation here is clear: elevate your thinking! This may be an oversimplification, true. But, at the same time, it is good advice. For left to our old patterns of thinking, one could reasonably expect more of the same... more war, more violence, more suffering and pain, more erosion of the moral and spiritual fabric of society in a continuing state of decline.
The antidote to this dismal future lies in the essence of Jesus’ teaching that is founded upon the dynamic principle of Love. Love of God and love of neighbor. Simple, yet this is the challenge of a lifetime. Love as Jesus loved: selflessly, unconditionally, without ulterior motive or even a desire to be loved in return. Love that forgives all injuries, infidelities, idolatries. It is called agape, where Jesus empties himself because of his complete and total love of God and dependence upon God for all things and for all outcomes. This is the way God, Abba, thinks, acts, and IS. And God invites us to do the same!
Change the way we think, act and how we approach our problems from our way to God’s ways and while that might not produce immediate results on a global scale, more than likely we will be much more successful solving problems in our homes and in our communities. A good enough start wouldn’t you agree?
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold, those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.
OTHER RESOURCE
Recommended Reading: Discipleship For the Future - Spirituality of the Kingdom by Fr. Frank DeSiano , C.S.P. guides the reader through meditations on the power and importance of the kingdom of God and our role as we are drawn to it as disciples in hope of the future, made possible by the coming of Christ and the gift of the Spirit"
Recommended YouTube Video: The Heart of Centering Prayer: Part 2 of 4 by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault who brings insightful teaching on being silent in the presence of the Divine.
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