Sunday's Gospel: Self-Preservation vs. Love

The following is republished with permission from my column in Catechist Magazine.  For subscription information, visit Catechist.com.

FEBRUARY 19, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:38-48

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus continues to examine laws and take us to a deeper, more demanding understanding of them. He continues to follow the “antithesis” formula: “You have heard that it was said ... But I say to you ... ”

This excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount provides us with some of Jesus’ most revolutionary and challenging teachings. First Jesus acknowledges a long-standing law of retribution: “You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'” (verse 38). This ancient way of living in community, though it may sound harsh to our modern ears, was indisputably logical and certainly effective in preventing some crimes. If you knew that if you gouged someone’s eye out, they could lawfully gouge your eye out, you might think twice about doing the gouging in the first place!

And yet, as we might expect, this ancient law was far from Jesus’ ideal. He proceeded to teach something far less logical, something that goes against the grain of just about every human instinct we have: “But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well” (verse 39). Jesus goes on to offer similar difficult teachings about giving to anyone who asks, and serving anyone who makes a request of you. All of this is to be done without expecting anything in return.

The next antithesis is even more difficult: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (verses 43-44). This may be the most-ignored teaching of Jesus in the history of Christianity. How often do we excuse ourselves from it because it seems so extreme? How often do we tell ourselves that Jesus did not mean it for our particular situation? How often do we secretly deem it impossible? Indeed, as Jesus continues to preach, we discover that he wants us to live like God himself: “For he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and unjust” (verse 45). Being like God is a tall order, but Jesus does not say “try” or “sometimes.” He simply says to do it.

Our most basic human instinct is self-preservation. Jesus is challenging this instinct. He wants us to receive his teaching with the total dedication of a true disciple. If we do, our instincts can gradually be reshaped. Self-preservation falls by the wayside as we begin to instinctively act out of love for others. This teaching is as revolutionary now as it was then. To intentionally make sacrifices for the sake of others is the way of Jesus himself, the way of the Cross, the way of true discipleship.

ASK YOURSELF: In what area of my life can I live these difficult teachings? How can I avoid retaliating, even in small ways? How can I show love for someone who is opposed to me in some way?

ASK YOUR STUDENTS: Do you think it is impossible to love someone who is your enemy? How might you learn to do this? When Jesus says we should allow someone to strike us, do you think he means we should allow others to physically hurt us or verbally abuse us? Help your students distinguish between abuse (which should never be tolerated) and situations where they can safely choose not to retaliate (discuss some examples).

PRAY: Lord Jesus, you must think very highly of me to have such wonderful expectations of me! Help me to live up to your expectations. I can only follow your teachings if you help me.

LIVE THE GOSPEL: This week identify someone in your life who may not be an “enemy” but who is difficult to live with, work with, or be around. Ask God daily for the grace to love this person. Pray for this person. Find small, concrete ways to extend kindness to them.

Grisaille (underpainting) of Jesus and Thomas by Jack Baumgartner.  The stance of Jesus in this scene demonstrates the absolute receptiveness of Jesus to the other.  It might be trite to say a picture speaks a thousand words, but this one actually does.  Published with permission.  More of Jack's incredible work can be found here. 

Family Ain't Easy

The gritty but beautiful words from Pope Francis below remind me of something Mother Teresa used to say – that it’s easier to feed a hungry stranger than to love the hurting person inside your own home.  How we take each other for granted in the family!  How we don’t take the time.  How we mess up.  But how we keep trying!

When I read these words I feel the way I imagine I might have felt if Jesus was preaching to me – upbraided but inspired – put in my place but not ashamed – aware of my shortcomings but excited about changing. 

May God grant us “tired faces from generous giving” in our families!

“It is true that living in a family is not always easy, and can often be painful and stressful but, as I have often said referring to the Church, I prefer a wounded family that makes daily efforts to put love into play, to a society that is sick from isolationism and habitually afraid of love. I prefer a family that makes repeated efforts to begin again, to a society that is narcissistic and obsessed with luxury and comfort. I prefer a family with tired faces from generous giving, to faces with makeup that know nothing of tenderness and compassion.”

— Pope Francis, Address to Families in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, Feb. 2016

Magnificat Reflection on Parenting: "Christ's Own Forever"

My thanks to Magnificat for allowing me to republish the following reflection, which I originally wrote for their column “She Pondered These Things in Her Heart” (January 2017).  

"Christ's Own Forever"

A beautiful thing about ritual is that the words of our rites often echo in our minds when we need them most.  Raising four children in a world of conflicting voices can be a daunting task.  When my husband and I worry about the choices our children could make and the harm that might come to them, the words that reverberate in my mind and heart come from an old baptismal rite, one I heard many times in my own youth:  You are marked as Christ’s own forever. 

Releasing our children into the hands of God is perhaps the most difficult and the most liberating thing we can ever do as parents.  We begin at their baptism by marking them as Christ’s own.  It seems so easy when they are babies dressed in pure white!  But as they grow – as they form their own ideas, opinions and lives – we realize this “release” is a process that lasts a lifetime.  It is a prolonged exercise in trust, for we must trust that if we let go – if we release the anxious grip we have on our children – that he will catch them!  He will hold them in a protective embrace that does not restrict them in the least.  He will sort out the mixed messages in their hearts and penetrate his gaze into the deepest, truest parts of their souls.  Only God can do these things.

Our children are growing up in confusing times.  But we have given them over to be Christ’s own forever.  And in that simple act, if we can really do it, we too will be free.

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Sunday's Gospel: Those Countercultural Beatitudes

The following is republished with permission from my column in Catechist Magazine.  For subscription information, visit Catechist.com.

JAN. 29 , 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Gospel Reading: Matt. 5:1-12a

This week we have the familiar teachings of Jesus known as the “beatitudes.” Beatitudes are blessings, and they were common expressions in Jewish writing. For example, Proverbs 8:32 reads, “Happy are they who keep my ways.” As is the case in this verse from Proverbs, the word “blessed” is sometimes translated as “happy.” The blessed one is the happy one, the one whose life is governed by God’s will and wisdom.

Having heard these verses so many times, we often forget how surprising they were and how countercultural they still are. Wouldn’t it have been more logical for Jesus to say blessed—or happy—are those who have everything they need, who have nothing to mourn, who own things, who have land? Aren’t these the people that God has blessed? Aren’t these signs of their prosperity and favor with God?

A major thrust of Jesus’ ministry was to dispel these myths about the supposed connection between worldly prosperity and God’s favor. The wealthy are not prosperous because God loves them more than he loves the poor. Those who are heartbroken have not displeased God. Those who are sick or in pain do not deserve their plight due to their own sin or the sin of their ancestors. Instead, Jesus says, God loves those who are suffering—the poor, the marginalized, those who are hurting. They are blessed— happy—because they are God’s special ones. If they turn to God in their poverty, their mourning, their lowliness, their hunger, they will be satisfied by the abundance of God himself.

As you can imagine, Jesus’ teachings not only comforted the poor and suffering, but they disturbed the wealthy and prosperous. Suddenly their complacency and self-assuredness was dislocated, thrown off balance. Jesus challenged the notion that their wealth and status were automatic signs of God’s favor. Jesus the teacher strikes again: soul-searching required all around.

NOTE: You may have noticed the letter a at the end of the biblical citation for today’s reading (Matthew 5:1-12a). The letters a and b (sometimes even c) are used to indicate the first half (a) or the second half (b) of a Scripture verse. (The letter c is used when the verse is easily divided into thirds. John 1:1 would be an example of this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”) Matthew 5:12a indicates that in today’s Gospel reading, only the first half of verse 5:12 is included.

ASK YOURSELF: Which of the beatitudes resonates most with me right now? Why? What is Jesus promising me or asking of me?

ASK YOUR STUDENTS: Which one of the beatitudes from today’s reading is hardest to understand? Why? Which one is special to you?

PRAY: Jesus the teacher, may your ancient words fall on fresh, fertile ground and change me.

LIVE THE GOSPEL: The beatitudes challenge us to see each other differently. This week seek out someone who is suffering in some way— poor, sad, lonely, ill. Treat them with the comfort, mercy, and peace Jesus promises in the beatitudes.

Elsie Anna Wood, Illustration from The Sermon on the Mount, by Elsie Anna Wood. Courtesy Sacred Art Pilgrim.

Are You in a Prayer Rut?

Save-the-Dates for Lent:

Is your prayer life in a slump?  Do you pray the same way every day?  Or do you find it difficult to pray at all?  Would you like to learn some new prayer techniques from within our rich Catholic tradition?  Join me for a Lenten Day of Reflection: “Prayer: An Invitation to Friendship with God” (Sat., Mar. 18 at Caritas Christi in Hamden).  We will talk about what prayer is, discuss approaches to some of its natural challenges, and explore some specific techniques for praying that you may have never tried.  We will take time to pray and to discuss our experiences.  Each participant will leave with a packet of prayer ideas and a new perspective on how to spend time in God’s presence.  For more information, see Upcoming Programs or this flyer.

Another Lenten program I’m really excited about this year is a collaboration with the amazing choir at my home parish of St. Ann in Milford, directed by Peter DeMarco.  If you’ve never heard the St. Ann choir (they sing on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. and also have concerts throughout the year), please come and be inspired!  “Be With Me, Lord: An Evening of Music and Reflection for Lent” (Mon., Mar. 27, 7 p.m.).  The choir will sing, and I will offer meditations.  See Upcoming Programs for more information.

January Publications:

For readers of Magnificat and St. Anthony Messenger – keep an eye out for my articles this month!  My Magnicat reflection (“Christ’s Own Forever”) is about the challenge of allowing God to take care of our children so we can stop fretting over them.  My St. Anthony Messenger article (“I Will Remember for You”) is about our communal memory as a people of faith, and how at times our own faith memories can sustain the faith of others.  If these print publications become available online, I will be sure to share them with you!

A New Parish Resource:

For those of you who are Catechetical Leaders or members of various small groups in your parishes, I wanted you to be aware of a wonderful new parish resource.  Little Rock Scripture Study is publishing a new series called “Alive in the Word.”  Unlike the longer Bible studies typically offered by Little Rock, this new series consists of 3-session booklets that are available at a reasonable cost and are super-flexible in their use.  They can be used by individuals, or in small groups (meeting for 3 sessions) or even for a retreat day.  Titles out right now include topics like Mary, Moses, Mercy and Trust.  I’m working on one for Lent that will be available Lent 2018.  You can find out more and view sample pages at:  www.aliveintheword.org.

Now if you've put up with my announcements (sorry, I have to do it once in awhile!), the least I can do is offer you something interesting and beautiful to look at and maybe even meditate on.  Please see an explanation below the image.  Thanks as always to John Kohan at Sacred Art Pilgrim.

Sadao Watanabe, Christ Carrying the Cross, Stencil Print.  "This hand-colored stencil print on mulberry paper of Christ carrying the Cross was a personal favorite of Japanese Graphic Artist Sadao Watanabe. In a culture that had earlier embraced the compassionate teachings of Buddhism, Japanese converts to Christianity were drawn to the image of a God who suffered alongside them rather than the remote and judgmental Father God of the Western Christian tradition. Adapting a cloth-dying technique from the Okinawan Islands using hand-cut stencils and resist paste to make images on paper, Watanabe masterfully creates a Japanese vision of Christ, the God who has humbled himself to become man, falling to his knees under the weight of the Cross he has chosen to bear on his shoulders to redeem humanity. There is a hauntingly wistful and tender expression on Christ's understated, mask-like features. This Japanese Jesus gracefully turns his broken body to look back at those who are sending him to his death with both sorrow and forgiveness. His arm is draped over the upright beam of his means of execution, transformed with decorative patterns by this one-time designer of kimonos into an object of beauty. Divine love triumphs over hate in a scene of surprising harmony and tranquility" (John Kohan).  Courtesy sacredartpilgrim.com.