Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Today’s gospel makes it crystal clear that Jesus was aware of the fate that awaited Him in Jerusalem at the hands of the “Elders, chief priests and the scribes.” There is no turning back, as Peter learns the hard way.
As we enjoy the warmth and brightness of the full summer sun, scripture provides some fuel for us to meditate on if we pause for a moment of reflection. That, in itself, is a real challenge for us with all that needs our attention. Yet, if we do set some time aside for God we can reflect on the actions Jesus is taking. He has made the decision to continue to spread the message of God’s unconditional love for all His children even though He knows it will cost Him His very life. The very thought of that possibility is grossly disturbing to Peter as Peter’s actions attest. One would think today’s lesson would be better placed within the context of the Lenten Season, but no, we encounter it now, as summer draws to a close and a change of seasons is upon us. So, with no shopping to do, no cakes to decorate or cards to send, and as we are free to relax beneath the bright summer sun and wonder just what difference, if any, God’s love for us has made in our lives.
One way to reflect on the difference God has made in our lives is “via negativa,” that is, by imagining what our lives would be like if our lives were totally disconnected from the Divine Presence. For instance, we might find that if God wasn’t an active, dynamic force in our lives we would have more money to spend since we would have no obligation to fund a parish community or donate to the poor and needy or respond generously to those who are suffering from the natural disasters, famines, havoc of war and tragedies brought about by discrimination towards people who are different from us or immigrants seeking shelter from the political and economic turmoil that abounds. Yes, we might still contribute to worthy causes occasionally, but it would be based on how we felt at the time; it wouldn’t flow from our spiritual awareness of being, “one in Christ.” We certainly would have more time on our hands also because we would be freed up from attending Mass every Sunday and running the kids back and forth to religious education and all those service hours that go along with it. Another big change we would notice is that we wouldn’t have anything to feel guilty about that comes from our failure to love our neighbor or following the Golden Rule. How liberating! We would only have to follow man-made laws. Perhaps! For as we all know, there are plenty of laws presently that we disregard for our own convenience. Freed from that good old Catholic guilt, we could certainly enjoy…La dolce vita!
Make no mistake, a world with God would be a scary place …for left to our own best “human behavior” we would no longer have any awareness of our moral responsibility to love others as God has loved us, as Jesus has love us… unconditionally. So, I welcome the chance to use this passage from scripture to reflect on God’s abundant love for His creation. With that thought in mind we can begin to grasp the reality that for those who love the Lord, we are in fact living, “La dolce vita,” and the Good News is, the best is yet to come!
Please pray for all those who have and are suffering from so many tragedies affecting not only the physical well-being of many of God’s children but also their spiritual, emotional, and mental health as well. As we see so many struggling to maintain healthy family lives during these difficult times, remember, God hears the cries of the poor and calls us in Charity to come to their aid in His Name.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacs engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those thinking of coming into or leaving it.
OTHER RESOURCE
Recommended Reading: Dating God - Live and Love in the way of St. Francis by Fr Dan Horan O.F.M. It may seem shocking to compare our relationship with God with the notion of "dating." But this book does. With fresh insight and a deep personal spirituality, Horan points out that the desire, uncertainty, and love we experience in relationship with God resembles our earthly relationships. In our human relationships, we set aside time for the people who are most important to us. Horan reminds us that St. Francis of Assisi understood and even described his relationship with God in a similar way. Drawing from the Franciscan tradition, Dating God encourages us to see St. Francis's spirituality in a new light, challenging us to reexamine our own spirituality, prayer, and relationships, and inviting us into a more intimate relationship with our Creator.
Recommended YouTube Video: The Name of God is Relationship a presentation by Fr. Dan Horan, O.F.M. Fr. Dan attempts to enlighten us on several of those lingering questions we may have from time to time such as: What we can know about God?; What we can’t know about God; What is God’s Name?. Listen in on his presentation at the Center for Christian Spirituality Lecture at the University of San Diego.
