|
|
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
|
What a wonderful gospel we have. "Come to me all you who
are weary and find life burdensome. I will refresh you. Take my yoke
upon your shoulders and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of
heart. Your soul will find rest for my yoke is easy and my burden
light." But is it? Some might say that is not my experience. In fact, it
is just the opposite.
|
My relationship with God right now is a little weak. If
that is the case, I ask you to look at your relationship with those
around you, family and friends. Your relationship has to rest on some
kind of trust even in perplexing and strained times. We accept without
question that our relationship with other human beings is not a contract
type of thing. I will be loyal and so will you. I will be honest and
so will you. I will be faithful and so will you. I will do everything I
should and so will you. It just does not happen that neatly. Does it?
|
It does not happen that way because we know that
relationships are imperfect. They are not based on guarantees, but on
trust. We make room for forgiveness, reconciliation, change, growth,
uncertainty, hope and, as St. Paul says, for love ‑ a love that somehow
will overcome all the deficiencies. But, when it comes to our
relationship with God, we often change the rules.
|
We often come up with a contract kind of relationship.
God, I kept all the commandments, so how could you let my child get
sick? I go to Mass every week and say my prayers, so how could you let
my marriage disintegrate? I can understand it when people say things
like that under stress. Sometimes I ask them to remember Jesus. He was
faithful to God, kept all the commandments and yet was spat upon,
scourged, crowned with thorns and hung on a cross to die. And this was
the one about whom God said, "This is my Beloved Son".
|
So often our relationship with God is not of trust, but
one of contract. We do not want trust, we want guarantee. We do not
want acceptance, but explanation. We do not want faith, but certainty.
We do not want mystery, but a signed contract. We do not treat family
and friends that way. So, why do we do it to God?
|
People come to Church every weekend to worship and
pray. Many of them would say that life is unfair ‑ my children have
been a big disappointment, I have lost a spouse, I have lost a parent or
I have lost my health. Is this the way God treats his friends? If that
sounds like something you have said in the past, I would ask you as you
get angry with God, for heavens sake, look at the crucifix. This is His
Beloved Son. In the crucifix is the message that you trust. Trust the
relationship as Jesus had to do. It is permissible to get angry and to
doubt as Jesus did on the cross. Remember His words, "Father, Why have
you forsaken me?" The resurrection of Jesus, who had His doubts, is
proof that God will have the last word. St Paul said it best when he
tells us, "God is love, love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in
the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always
perseveres."
|
Years ago there was a popular song called "From a Distance". It went something like this: God is watching us, God is watching us from a distance.
The music was emotionally moving, but the theology was all wrong. God
does not watch us suffer from some distant shore. He has joined Himself
to our human situations. Just listen to the words of Consecration that
you have heard so many times ‑ This is My Body, given for you.
|
Yours in Christ,
|
|
Fr. Robert Warren, S.A.
|
Spiritual Director
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment