Saturday, February 19, 2022

Reconciling with Enemies

"Love your enemies." Lk 6:27

Rooted in the Book of Leviticus, Jesus' command to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us is one of the more troubling of Jesus' hard sayings. How can we pray for those who persecute us, especially if they are members of our own family or parish? Isn't it more natural to avoid them, to not think about them and live without them as companions in faith?

At the time the gospels were written, Jesus' insistence that we love our enemies was especially difficult since most his followers were considered unclean. Willing to interact with Gentiles and sinners, Jesus' disciples were sometimes excluded from their own families. Indeed, the early Christians had a very rough road to walk, and they needed to hear and remember that Jesus taught his disciples to think like God, to be like the Forgiving Father of Luke's gospel, to welcome sinners and sit at table with them like Jesus did. (Luke 5:29)

There is no doubt that learning to love our enemies is an ongoing battle, one that we will often lose, but one which we cannot avoid. Nothing speaks the Gospel more clearly or deeply than the lives of believers willing to go beyond what seems reasonable in order to proclaim Good News. When we love our enemies, no one can deny the power of Jesus' life and teaching alive in us, and while our enemies might not choose to join us, they will surely respect our faith filled lives.

Today, for the sake of the Gospel, pray for the grace to reconcile with someone who hurt you.

What are the hardest sayings of Jesus for you to understand and accept?

Friday, February 18, 2022

The Power of Speech

"It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions." James 3:4

The letter of James compares our tongues to the rudder of a ship, which though very small, can change the course of a huge ocean liner. For this reason James thinks we need to be constantly vigilant about what we say. Although James' message is very difficult to hear, it is obviously true. We need to watch over our tongues because they have so much power. When we think about the number of times we have been hurt and discouraged because of the words of someone bent on undermining our position or role, it is not difficult to agree with James who also reminds us that our words can be like fire, consuming the reputation of another for no reason other than our own power or jealousy.

Gratefully, however, our tongues can also do immense good. When we take time to honestly praise another's behavior, complement them for a good work well done, and encourage them in their desire to live a full gospel life, we make of our tongues instruments of healing and hope.  In fact, we have the power to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ every time we open our mouths in praise and joy.

The choice is ours. Will we commit ourselves to be careful about what we say of others or will we say whatever comes to mind?  A person's faith could depend on our answer.

Today, watch your tongue and make sure you use it for good.

Can you think of a time when you or someone you know was willing to stand up to someone disparaging another's character? What effect did their courage have on you?

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Faith in Action

 "If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,' but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?" Jas 2:15

For many, this passage from James is his most familiar and most demanding. There is very little wiggle room. Live faith, don't talk about it. While all of us know this, the passage still makes us uncomfortable. Who hasn't passed by someone in need or heard about someone who is hungry and simply pushed the situation to the back of our consciousness. It is difficult, especially if you live in a major city, not to see many homeless people every day. What can one person do, we ask ourselves, and walk on. It is not that we are not generous, but it is impossible to respond every time and to every person.

A good friend asked me about this several years ago. What should he do about the homeless who approached his car stopped at a traffic light?  I told him about my friend Rick who always had packages of peanut butter filled crackers in his car. Whenever anyone approached, he would give him something to eat. My friend, listening to my story, knew what he would do. Not wanting to give money away, he bought 20 gift cards for Dunkin Donuts. Each time someone would stop him, he would give the person a gift card, and on occasion, offer to go with him to Dunkin Donuts. His action helped him live his faith in a simple way and over time allowed him to meet many really interesting people. The homeless and hungry, he discovered, might be mentally ill but they can also be very bright and insightful.

Today, live your faith in action and let God introduce you to paths of transformation.

Have you had an encounter or experience that challenged you to live the gospel more intentionally and publicly?

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Thinking with God

 "Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak." Jas 1:19

More than once my father reminded me that God gave me two ears and one mouth for a reason. We need to listen twice as much as we speak, he insisted. In part, my dad challenged me in this way because he was a quiet man who preferred listening to speaking. He didn't have much schooling and was sometimes intimidated by people with college degrees, but his advice was wise and insightful. He knew the power of listening as a path to wisdom.

St James basically says the same thing. Evangelization is not just about getting your opinion heard, it also means learning to listen with hope and from the heart. When we help others articulate their feelings and opinions without interrupting them, they grow in respect for us and are much more likely to listen to us.

Authentic Evangelists are listeners, not just as a technique to assure others we respect them, but because we honestly want to hear the opinions and insights of those with whom we differ religiously.

Today, listen to someone from another religious tradition and try not to be defensive no matter how you feel.

What do you think about the faith traditions of Muslims, Buddhists and Jews?

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Evangelization as Listening

 "Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak." Jas 1:19

More than once my father reminded me that God gave me two ears and one mouth for a reason. We need to listen twice as much as we speak, he insisted. In part, my dad challenged me in this way because he was a quiet man who preferred listening to speaking. He didn't have much schooling and was sometimes intimidated by people with college degrees, but his advice was wise and insightful. He knew the power of listening as a path to wisdom.

St James basically says the same thing. Evangelization is not just about getting your opinion heard, it also means learning to listen with hope and from the heart. When we help others articulate their feelings and opinions without interrupting them, they grow in respect for us and are much more likely to listen to us.

Authentic Evangelists are listeners, not just as a technique to assure others we respect them, but because we honestly want to hear the opinions and insights of those with whom we differ religiously.

Today, listen to someone from another religious tradition and try not to be defensive no matter how you feel.

What do you think about the faith traditions of Muslims, Buddhists and Jews?

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Sts Cyril and Methodius

"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2

The use of the vernacular, or the language of the people, has long been controversial in the Church. Even today there are those who think we should return to the use of Latin in the liturgy primarily because it is not a "living" language and, therefore, less subject to misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

When Sts Cyril and Methodius, whose feast we celebrate today, wanted to make Slavonic the language of the liturgy the Bavarian bishops reacted, fearful they would be stripped of their influence in the Slavic world. Clearly, the preaching of Cyril and Methodius was having  a powerful effect on the people. That the liturgy might also be celebrated in a language the bishops could neither speak nor understand made them very anxious.

Power is almost always an issue in our lives. When we lose the power to speak, to see clearly, to drive a car, own a home or influence a vote, we can react violently against authority and God.  We want our voice and our freedom. The Bavarian bishops were so afraid of losing their ability to guide the church that they forced Methodius into exile for three years, to no avail. Cyril and Methodius were trying to spread the gospel with every tool at their command. That they were impeded, even stopped for a while by those who should have celebrating their efforts, only made them stronger and more effective.

Today, speak and act in a way others can understand your faith.

How do you react changes in the church?