Come and See!

The Word…

“Brothers and sisters:
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world. …for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body”
(Gal 6: 14-18).

Pondering the Word… “The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

What a powerful image! When I first read it, my interpretation was different from most biblical scholarship. The commentary indicates that by saying he is crucified to the world, Paul is relating to his sufferings, and that things of the world are vile to him. By proclaiming Christ crucified, he is hated by the world as well, as the scars from his floggings and stonings attest.

But the message the Spirit led me to is one of solidarity: that as Christians, we are bound together—crucified in a sense—with all those who suffer in our families, communities, and throughout the world; that as the Body of Christ, when one of us suffers, we all suffer. Let’s explore this a bit.

Paul never shies away from his mission to spread Christ’s message. While the trappings of his former life and the pleasures of the world have become as “rubbish” to him (Phil 3: 8), he, like Jesus, never withdraws from the world. He is bound to those he has brought to Christ, suffering with them, exhorting them to keep the faith in the face of persecution. The world and what it has to offer may be dead to him, but he stands in solidarity with those who steadfastly await the salvation of the Lord. By detaching himself from the things of this world, he is free to give his life to bring others to freedom.

“We are one, after all, you and I. Together we suffer, together exist, and forever will recreate each other” (de Chardin).

Living the Word…

With the barrage of news and images portraying the desperate suffering in the world, it’s easy to become immune just by the sheer enormity of it all. But change begins with one small step. Of course, prayer is paramount. Ask God to take directly into his hands the prayers you offer to provide comfort for one person today. Join any suffering you experience with others who suffer and be strong for each other. Become educated about and support programs that provide real, lasting change for impoverished communities. Don’t turn away from the image of Christ crucified you see in the eyes of immigrants the sick, the homeless, the starving. Don’t just see Christ in others but be Christ to others.

“If you have come to help me you are wasting your time.

“But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together”

(Aboriginal Activists Group, Queensland).

Mon, Jul 7: “Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go …I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you” (Gn 28:10-22). When I read this today, the word “until” jumped out at me: “Well, God, I don’t want you to leave me, so I guess your promise will have to wait!! Provision: Reflect on God’s promise to you. The Hebrew translation reads, “I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken to you.” God is referring to his promise to Jacob about returning him to the land of his fathers, but it also leads me to reflect, “What is God’s promise to me?” What is God’s promise to you? Jesus tells us “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Reflect on what that promise means in real terms for your life this very day.

Tue, Jul 8: “Some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. … Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please” (Gn 32:23-33). Some scholars say it is an angel of the Lord that wrestles with Jacob; others say it is the devil or that Jacob is struggling with his own deception. What struck me (although not in the hip!) is the desire to name that with which we wrestle. Jacob doesn’t get that closure and limps away, victorious but wounded. Provision: “Naming” our woundedness. There’s a saying, “If you can name it and claim it, you can tame it.” In counseling, it can help to identify our stumbling blocks or the things we wrestle with. But it’s not always easy. That’s where faith, perseverance, and courage come in. That’s where we go back to God’s promise, “I am with you always.” We may not always be able to name our woundedness, but we can always name our healer.

Wed, Jul 9: The LORD brings to naught the plans of nations; he foils the designs of peoples. But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations (Ps 33). Well… I can name a few nations for which I’d like to see God bring plans to naught! I pray: There are several people, Lord, whose designs you can foil right now if you’d like! But, as always, the Spirit says: “Look in the mirror, sister. How aligned are you with God’s plans?” Provision: Ask yourself the hard questions. I feel a sense of urgency to ask the difficult questions, to really listen to words of Scripture and consider how my life aligns with God’s heart. Consider asking yourself some questions: Would hatred and exclusion be part of God’s design? Would rampant destruction of creation be in the plans? What am I doing in my life to help or hinder the realization of God’s great design?

Thu, Jul 10: “If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you” (Mt 10:7-15).
The Apostles are men on a mission. They don’t have time to dilly-dally with people who don’t welcome them. I wonder, though, if some of them, perhaps James or John, or my buddy, Peter, might have thought, “Well, just give this a little time— ‘I’ can convince them!” Provision: Follow the Spirit. When we minister to others, it is noble to try not to give up on anyone. Our hearts, full of compassion, desire to make a difference. But sometimes, that desire can become a personal goal to “save” rather than to do the work of the Spirit. If you find yourself overly involved, take time to discern the Spirit’s direction. No, it may not be time to “shake the dust off your feet,” but to step back and let the Spirit take the lead.

Fri, Jul 11: Israel said, "At last I can die, now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive" (Gn 46:1-7, 28-30).
In yesterday’s reading, Jacob (Israel) is still under the impression that Joseph was “torn to pieces by wild beasts.” It seems he never heard the real story. (Then tomorrow, Joseph’s brothers make up something about their father asking for Joseph to be merciful, continuing the ruse!) Then again, Jacob is no paragon of honesty either! Genesis includes many stories of betrayal and deceit, God working through very imperfect people. But it also includes stories of forgiveness and great mercy in the face of horrible wrongdoing. Provision: Have mercy. Perhaps you’ve reconciled with someone who hurt you. You’ve forgiven them but have a hard time forgetting. That’s understandable but consider this: it may not be in the forgetting that you find peace, but in the remembering and acceptance of your own human frailty. When we are honest about our own sinfulness and forgiving of ourselves, we can be more forgiving and accepting of others.

Sat, Jul 12: “Inquire of the Lord and his strength, seek his presence always” (Ps 105, Hebrew translation). A goal of Ignatian spirituality is to “find God in all things.” In his book, “Habits of Freedom,” Christopher Collins, SJ suggests that it might be more realistic to “seek God in all things.” Provision: Look for God today. It’s often hard to find God some days, particularly as we are bombarded with bad, even horrible news. Set out this morning with the intention of seeking God. Be aware. Pay attention. It becomes easier to find God in all things when you are intentional about seeking God’s presence always.