The Prison or Chains of Racism

In today's first reading, 2 Timothy 2: 8-15, Paul is speaking to Timothy, and to us, from prison , asking us to "[r]emember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory."  As a prisoner, as one in chains, Paul "died with Christ" and therefore now "lives with Christ in eternal glory."

Remembering Jesus Christ gave Paul the strength that he needed to endure being treated like a criminal. The Christ who strengthened Paul in prison and in chains is the same Christ who helps our black brothers and sisters who suffer the "chains" of discrimination and false imprisonment. Let us remember that  any person, of any color, who dies with Christ  "shall also live with him." Any person who perseveres with Christ, "shall also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2: 8-15).  In verse 15 of chapter 2 Paul, who now lives and reigns with Christ in eternal glory,  asks us to be "eager to present [ourselves] as acceptable to God, a [laborer] who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation." Our black brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters of any color do just that as well as we white people do!  In the words of today's responsorial psalm, Psalm 25, "may God guide [us] in [this] truth and teach [us]" what we need to know to eradicate racism in this country but, more importantly, in each of our hearts, for God alone is our savior!  And let us remember, in the words of this psalm, that all "the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy."  So if we are kind to  all people, we are then on the path of the Lord and, if not, we are on the path of the Evil One.

The Kingdom of God is at Hand

In today's Gospel, Luke 11: 15-26, the crowd accuses Jesus of casting demons out by Beelzebul, by the devil himself. Jesus, unafraid of the crowd's badgering him, Jesus responds:  "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house." If Satan, therefore, is casting out Satan, if evil spirits are casting out evil spirit, they Satan's kingdom of evil is going to collapse. No kingdom attacking its own power, its own inhabitants and the work they do, will stand. However, Jesus says, if "it is by the finger of  God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you."  

Each of us had good and evil spirits at work within us. We need to,  with God's assistance, discern between good and evil within, between urges to do good and those prompting/tempting us to engage in evil actions or to entertain unkind, deceitful, corrupt, depraved intentions by which we harm others and ourselves.  As we draw closer and closer to God, Satan becomes more cunning in his ways of tempting us to do what is wrong and hurtful. So, too, do we need to become more astute in recognizing Satan's depravity and deceitfulness. Remember, also, that God is always with us. The Spirit is always at work within us and within others providing us with the Wisdom to know good from evil and the ways these spirits function within our humanity.

May our eyes and hearts and ears, Lord, be evermore attentive to Your voice, the voice of Wisdom!

The Lord our Justice

Today we begin the season of Advent, a time of waiting for the coming of the Lord.  On Christmas day we will be celebrating the incarnation, the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, as one of us. God stoops down to us to lift us up to God.

In today's first reading, Jeremiah 33: 14-16, the Lord says to us:  "The days are coming...when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land." How badly we need this Savior as individuals, as a nation, as church, as family, as municipalities, as countries, as a society--worldwide and otherwise!  When the Savior comes, there Lord tells us, "Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: 'The Lord our justice.'" We shall be safe and feel secure in Christ Jesus, our justice, our salvation, no other way and by no other means! You and I cannot save ourselves. Humankind cannot save itself. Our disobedience to our God needs one equal to God to reconcile us to God. Jesus, by being obedient to God the Father into death is our justice!  And for that reason, with the psalmist in today's responsorial psalm, Psalm 25,we beg the Lord as follows:

Your ways, O Lord, make know to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me, 
for you are God my Savior,
and for you I wait all the day. 

Good and upright is the Lord;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.

All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear [reverence] him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.

May you and I be among humble, allowing the Lord to lead us to justice and teach us His way.  Only then will we be secure!

Fulfilling God's Purpose

Today’s  first reading, Isaiah 55:10-11, speaks about God’s word going forth from God’s mouth never returning  to Him void, but always doing the will for which the word was sent.  You and I are small words—Jesus is The Word of God--sent forth by the mouth of God to accomplish the purpose for which God put us here on earth.  We will not return to the Lord until we have accomplished that purpose. How  mind-boggling  to realize that God  not only sent us here to accomplish His purpose but also did so in a way that  we possess all of the “tools” needed to accomplish God’s will. Furthermore, God did not send us alone; He has sent His Spirit to direct us, strengthen us, and enlighten us along the way. He also sent His Son to destroy Satan’s power over us.    And, as noted in the liturgy’s responsorial psalm, Psalm 34, as we go through life striving to accomplish God’s will by doing the good we were sent to do, the Lord rescues us from all of our distress, that is, from that which would hamper us from doing the good we are challenged to bring about in God’s name and overcoming the evil that we encounter. Furthermore, the Lord stays close to us when our hearts are broken (Psalm 34) and saves us when we “are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34).  

The Importance of God's Instruction

Today’s first reading, 1 Samuel 16: 1-13, opens with the Lord’s question to Samuel: “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel?” God then goes on and says to Samuel:  “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.  I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”

It is easy to live in the past, to not let go, to resist moving on, especially when we are asked to trust completely on what God is asking of us.  When we have lost something/someone upon whom we trusted and whom we have grown to love, it is very difficult to be sent elsewhere.  God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to choose a replacement for Saul.  Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel.  All of them were impressive men. Surely, one of them was the right choice.  But God said “No." "Do not judge from...appearance[s] or from...lofty stature[s]”.  An eighth son, just entering puberty, was attending the flock. Samuel instructs Jesse to send for him.  When David arrived, the Lord said: “Anoint him; he is the one.”

David was the most unlikely of Jesse’s sons to be chosen as the next king of Israel and was not the one Samuel would have anointed if left to his personal preferences.  Many times you and I find ourselves in the same plight as Samuel, that is, our choices are not the choice God would make. At times we are foolish enough to make our own choices without consulting the Lord. At other times, we have more sense and seek the Spirit’s enlightenment, the Spirit’s wisdom. Appearances can blind us to the point that we look no deeper.  How important it is for us to step back and ask: Is there anyone else I should consider? Is there another option that needs to be examined?

Help me, Lord, look beyond externals, to not get tripped up by appearances.  I pray for the grace to step back, look deeper, and, above all, to ask for your guidance in the choices I make each day. And may I remember that the least likely of choices may be the right one! When I say to myself "Oh, it can't be," the truth may be "Oh, yes, it can!"