Living in Truth

Luke 19:45-47 -- Living in Truth

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, "It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death[.]

Being true to ourselves, true to what our conscience tells us is right and good in the context of our faith, is a serious challenge. Truth is the enemy to those who live lives of falsehood. And if I am honest, I fall into this category at times. I like to believe that which is comforting and self-confirming. But what is true, what is of God, is often antagonistic to my personal preference, especially when my desires put last the love of others.  In his commentary on this passage, Frank Doyle states:

Jesus is an example of the true prophet. He speaks as a messenger of God and is indeed God’s own Son. He stands as a counter-witness to all that is against truth, love and justice and as such inevitably incurs the anger and hostility of those who have power, power based on falsehood, on self-interest, corruption and injustice.

Our Church, in its communities and through individuals, is called on to continue that mission of counter-witness. It will win us the support and admiration of some but also the hostility, the anger and even the violence of others. This is something we should not at all be surprised at nor something we should try to avoid. Our only concern must be always to speak the truth in love.

God will take care of the rest. Because, ultimately, truth, love and justice will prevail.

Doyle’s point is that we cannot have truth our way, the way of self-service, power, and personal gain. Truth should never include dishonesty, injustice, and self-interest. Instead, truth entails honesty, self-giving love, and putting the other person first. And everything Jesus exemplifies with his life and teaching, points to this truth. But his is not an easy truth to live, for truth is often of high personal cost. 

As I realize my own short-comings, I know that my way is often not Christ’s way. And I pray for God’s grace to change me, to transform my life into a life where I see, understand, and live more truthfully. 

Peace, 

Stan

Doyle, Frank. “Living Space Friday of Week 33 of Ordinary Time – Gospel: Sacred Space.” 

Living Space , Irish Jesuits, https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/o1336g/.

Not and End but a New Beginning

Luke 21:7-8 -- The End as the Now

Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!

Frank Doyle writes:

There is another end we all have to face and which is totally outside our control: the end of our bodily life [on earth].

Are we ready for that? There is only one effective way to prepare: to live each day fully in the company of Jesus. We do not prepare for the end by guaranteeing our future (we can’t) but by living fully with God and for God at every moment of every day.

We can do this:
* by personal prayer
* by absorbing the message of the Gospel so much into our way of seeing life that it permeates everything we say and do; we become “other Christs” by learning to find Jesus, to love and respond to him in every person, in every place and in every experience of our daily life.

Then, no matter when Jesus comes to take us away, we will be more than ready. We will meet not as strangers but as dear and intimate friends who know each other well.

Doyle, Frank, SJ. "Living Space: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time." Living Space, Irish Jesuits,

    livingspace.sacredspace.ie/OC331/.

Our Status and Choices

Wisdom 6:6-7 -- A Pick-Me-Up

For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy

but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.

For the Lord of all shows no partiality,

nor does he fear greatness,

Because he himself made the great as well as the small,

and he provides for all alike . . .

I prefer to be meek, to realize that no matter how many wonderful blessings I have in life -- faith, family, career, health, home -- all are generous gifts of God. Not one blessing is self-created. I take comfort, moreover, in knowing that God is generous, shows no partiality, and loves us all no matter our "status" in this world. Don't get me wrong; the choices we make seriously matter. For making the right choices is part of our path toward God's will. Although I often fall, making many poor choices, God is always there to remind me that his pardon and mercy are tangible, always ready to lift me back up. And I need a lot of lifting. 

Have a blessed rest of the week!

The Proximity of God

Psalm 145:18: The Proximity of God

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

Recently, I have been calling on God a lot. As a challenged father of a teenager, as a devoted disciple who often feels lost, as a husband, as a teacher, and as a neighbor I call on God with regularity praying,  “God, help me, strengthen me, guide me. . .” And in faith I know he is always near, especially in my times of struggle. But that knowledge doesn’t always translate into real life experience. Sometimes I can’t help but feel like God is far away. God does not promise, however, that we will always feel consoled. What he promises, instead, is that he will always be with us, even in our doubts and desolation. And much like the disciples in the boat on the sea, nearly swamped by a quick-rising storm, we call on Jesus, too: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). The Scripture does not end with God’s silence. It ends with Jesus rising and quieting the storm: “He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’” (Mark 4:39). 

Loving God, please grant me the faith to always call out to you and the gift of being filled and guided by your Spirit. Amen. 

Peace, 

Stan