Reverencing all Creation

"The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved. All of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain, For each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor?" Sir 42: 23-24

All that is, is for us. Our first task is to stand in awe and gratitude before the God who loves us so. Too often we take for granted the wonders of creation. Trapped in teeming cities or lost in the wilderness, we scratch and claw competitively for our little piece of creation. What a shame. Clearly, the earth can produce enough food for all to eat, but too often we lack a commitment to share it.

Just as important, Sirach reminds us, we must treasure every person as a gift from God. St. Francis of Assisi offers us a wonderful example of this in his treatment of lepers. Fearful of contracting leprosy which in the 13th century was thought to be contagious, Francis and his contemporaries avoided lepers and isolated them socially. Relegated to the margins of every town and village, lepers were instructed to ring a bell or call out "unclean" if anyone came too close to them.

After God graced Francis with the courage to confront his fears and kiss a leper, everything changed. Francis so identified with lepers that he lived among them on the outskirts of Assisi, and went about proclaiming God's special love for the voiceless and forgotten. His message of peace and the dignity of every creature not only moved the people of his day, it continues to challenge us to see all creation as God's gift.

Today, pray for and speak with a "leper" in your world.

How do you understand and appreciate all creation as a gift of God?

Amazement and Fear

"The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid." Mk 10:32
 

Marks's reminder, which occurs over and over again in his Gospel, is compelling. Despite the cost and the risk, Jesus is leading his disciples to Jerusalem where he will confront the Jewish leaders, be condemned, beaten and crucified on a garbage heap outside the city walls. What kind of power did the Lord have that enabled him to proceed into what we know was his certain death?

Determined to announce God's unconditional love despite the danger drove Jesus to Jerusalem. As God would not give up on his people, neither could Jesus. His life mattered little if he did not submit himself to the consequences of his challenging words and actions, and in all of this he witnesses to us about the "cost of discipleship." How we must honor the martyrs, not only of ages long past, but in our own time. 

Recently I was with a group of older sisters several of whom ministered in Central America, and their most enduring memory was of women and men who had been martyred for no other reason than they ministered to and among the poor and helped them create cooperatives in order to live more humanly. Living the  Gospel was simple but deadly. We must live for others no matter the danger or consequences. 

Today, pray not to be afraid of your own "Jerusalem."

What do you think of people willing to risk martyrdom for the sake of God's reign?

Doing Justice is a Prayer

"The just one’s offering enriches the altar and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High. The just one’s sacrifice is most pleasing, nor will it ever be forgotten."  Sir 35: 8-9

Doing justice is rarely pretty or without agitation for the just person and the society in which she lives. Insisting that everyone has a right to life, food, housing, education, medical care and speech will always upset some, especially if the just person speaks on behalf of people in prisons or others who we blithely say should be deprived of their human rights because of a crime.  While it might be necessary to imprison people for serious offenses against the society, we must never forget that they are human persons, beloved by God and worthy of our respect.

The wisdom of Sirach suggests that doing justice is like burning incense in the temple. We offer the rightness of our actions humbly but with joy, making a "sweet odor before the Most High." It can be difficult to remember this truth and this lesson when we have been hurt and outraged by another's action. The recent difficulty in finding a cemetery to bury the young man who planted bombs at the finish line of the Boston marathon reminds of this. Funeral directors were afraid of the violent reaction some might have towards them if they helped Tamerlan Tsarnaev''s family bury their son.

God promises never to forget our just actions, despite the cost to us or our faith communities. Doing what is right no matter how difficult the circumstances is always a challenge, but one we must accept if we are to claim God as our unconditionally loving Lord.

Today, ask God for the eyes to see your enemies with God's eyes.

Have you experienced God's love as unconditional?

Perseverence

"Stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most High God." Sir 17:21

Half way through any long journey, pilgrims get weary. It is natural and uncomfortable. We forget where we came from, even who we are, and all sorts of anxieties bubble up about where we are going. If you have ever been on a very long plane trip, you know the feeling. The air is stale, food tastes very bland, and you can only walk for a brief period of time in circles.

Prayer in the middle of our journey is radically important but usually dry and unattractive. We begin to doubt whether we are praying to God or for ourselves and our minds wander even more easily from the God who lives within and among us.

At the same time, prayer is absolutely necessary in the middle of our pilgrimage despite its emptiness, and it is good at times like this to remind ourselves that we are not alone. While we might feel lonely and disoriented, the great "cloud of witnesses" (Heb 12:1) does surround us with faith and the assurance that we are going somewhere. Though we might feel lost, God is very near.

Those who travel frequently can find all kinds of suggestions for making the trip more comfortable, even how to minimize jet lag, but the Christian must be wary of this advice. Being on pilgrimage is not about being comfortable, but learning to be at home with the God who dwells within and the church that walks with us no matter how flat the landscape and unattractive the environment.

Today, be where you are.

What are the biggest obstacles you encounter of your pilgrim journey?