Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
World Marriage Day
In other years: Blessed Jordan of Saxony OP (c.1185-1237)
Readings of the Day
Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 11 The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday
Mass: Jer 17:5-8; Resp Ps 1; 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20; Lk 6:17, 20-26
Came to hear Him
and to be healed of their diseases.
(Lk 6:18a)
Sadly, this important line is left out of today’s Gospel
passage. It speaks volumes. After time spent on the mountain in prayer, Jesus
chooses the Twelve, and goes down to level ground with them. Disciples, along
with a large number of people come from all over. Why did they come? They came
to hear Jesus and to be healed of their diseases. All these people wanted to
get a closer look at Jesus, for word about Him had spread. They may have wanted
to hear what He had to say, yes. Perhaps though they were more interested in
being healed. After all, it is much easier to listen when your skin doesn’t
itch, your leg isn’t paralyzed, or you are no longer afflicted with one malady
or another that has plagued you for years, some maladies more visible than
others. These people wanted signs and wonders (Lk 11:29-32/Mk 8:11-13). I
rather picture a sort of mob scene. Especially since “everyone in the crowd
sought to touch Him” (Lk 6:19), another important line left out.
However, Jesus has a message for those gathered, and anyone
with ears to hear (Mk 4:9). And I tend to think it was not entirely what they
had in mind, or what we necessarily have in mind either, for it was contrary
to much of what they had heard. Jesus sees our need for love, to be loved and
to love. His heart is full of compassion.
What does Jesus have to say those of us gathered around Him?
Jesus is telling us to rejoice and leap for joy with what may appear to us as
afflictions in need of immediate healing. On the contrary, we can, in our
hearts, quietly embrace suffering and endure it without weakening or seeking
escape, for anyone who perseveres to the end will be saved (Rule of
Saint Benedict/RB 7:35-36). The kingdom of God belongs to the poor, the
hungry, the hated, the excluded and insulted (Lk 6:20-22); those in need of a physician
(Lk 5:31). What might this look like on a more practical level? It is likely
that each one of us would come up with something different. At the same time,
there are possibilities that all of us would be familiar with. Let’s consider a
few:
ü Blessed
are you who are poor: Recognize your need for grace saying with the Prophet, Not
to us, Lord, not to us the glory, but to your name alone … declare with
Saint Paul, By God’s grace I am what I am, and again, she who boasts
should boast in the Lord (RB 4:30-32).
ü Blessed
are you who are now hungry: Remember why you came here, and stay: “The concern
must be whether the novice truly seeks God” (RB 58:7).
ü Blessed
are you who are now weeping: “Go to help the troubled and console the
sorrowing” (RB 4:18).
ü Blessed
are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and
denounce your name as evil: “Do not repay one bad turn for another … bear
injuries patiently. Love your enemies. If people curse you, do not curse
them back but bless them instead. Endure persecution for the sake of justice”
(RB 4:29-33).
Let us not be among those most pitiable people, ones who have
fallen asleep, those who only hope for Christ in this life, for Christ has been
raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:18-20). We place our hope in God alone (RB 4:41),
and never lose hope in God’s mercy (RB 4:74). And perhaps if we embrace
whatever ails us in this way, we will be healed. And we will rejoice and leap
for joy in ways unexpected and more life-giving than we could have ever
imagined. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord (Jer 17:7), whatever
he does, prospers (Ps 1).
Even those who
were tormented with unclean spirits were cured ...
power came forth
from Him and healed them all.
(Lk 6:18b-19)
No comments:
Post a Comment