Self-congratulatory prayer gets us nowhere with God - Sunday's reading reflection

What kind of prayer is pleasing to God? Jesus told a vivid story of two people who went to the house of God to pray. Why did the Lord accept one person’s prayer and reject the other’s prayer? Luke gives us a hint: despising one’s neighbor closes the door to God’s heart. Contempt is more than being mean-minded. It springs from the assumption that one is qualified to sit in the seat of judgment and to ascertain who is good and just. Jesus' story caused offense for those who regarded "tax collectors" as unworthy of God's grace and favor. How could Jesus put down a "religious leader" and raise up a "public sinner"? Jesus' parable speaks about the nature of prayer and our relationship with God. It does this by contrasting two very different attitudes towards prayer. The Pharisee, who represented those who take pride in their religious practices, exalted himself at the expense of others. Absorbed with his own sense of self-satisfaction and self-congratulation he mainly prayed with himself. His prayer consisted of prideful boasts of what he did and of disdain for those he despised. The Pharisee tried to justify himself; but only God can justify. The tax collector, who represented those despised by religious people, humbled himself before God and begged for mercy.  His prayer was heard by God because he had remorse for his sins. He sought God with humility rather than with pride.

This parable presents both an opportunity and a warning. Pride leads to illusion and self-deception. Humility helps us to see ourselves as we really are and it inclines us to God's grace and mercy. God dwells with the humble of heart who recognize their own sinfulness and who acknowledge God's mercy and saving grace. I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit (Isaiah 57:15). God cannot hear us if we despise others. Do you humbly seek God's mercy and do you show mercy to others, especially those you find difficult to love and to forgive?

(Adapted from Don Schwager)

Who will deliver me from this mortal body? - Tomorrow's reading reflection

None of us has the power and strength of will for overcoming sin and evil on our own. We stand in constant need of God's grace, help, strength, and protection. That is why scripture uses vivid language to describe God as our rock, refuge, fortress, and mighty defense. We are also vulnerable to Satan's lies and deceptions as well as our own spiritual blindspots for recognizing sin and moral weakness in our own lives. That is why we need God's help and discernment for distinguishing between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil. Fortunately the Lord Jesus, who is a just judge, is also a merciful advocate who pleads for us at the right hand of the Father in heaven. The light of Jesus Christ reveals what is in our hearts and his grace frees us from the tyranny of sinful habits, hurtful desires, and harmful addictions. God's call is urgent and his grace is available for total freedom and transformation in Christ. If we want to turn away from sin the Lord is ready to give us the grace and help we need to choose for his way of love and holiness.

What's love got to do with it? - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Jesus shocked his disciples when he declared that he would cast fire and cause division rather than peace upon the earth. What kind of fire did Jesus have in mind here? Fire in biblical times was associated with God and with his action in the world and in the lives of his people.  God sometimes manifested his presence by use of fire, such as the burning bush which was not consumed when God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2). The image of fire was also used to symbolize God's glory (Ezekiel 1:4, 13), his protective presence (2 Kings 6:17), his holiness (Deuteronomy 4:24), righteous judgment (Zechariah 13:9), and his wrath against sin (Isaiah 66:15-16). It is also used of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11 and Acts 2:3). God's fire both purifies and cleanses, and it inspires a reverent fear of God and of his word in us.

Jesus’ sharp statement that he would cause division rather than peace within families must have shocked his disciples.Was he exaggerating? Jesus used a typical Hebrew (Semetic) hyperbole to drive home an important lesson. We often do the same when we want to emphasize something very strongly. Jesus’ hyperbole, however, did contain a real warning that the gospel message does have consequences for our lives. It has the power to heal, restore, and unite those who believe its message. But the consequence of ignoring or rejecting the gospel can lead to many hurtful desires and seduction by the world.

When Jesus spoke about division he likely had in mind the prophecy of Micah: a man's enemies are the men of his own household (Micah 7:6). The essence of Christianity is loyalty to Jesus Christ, a loyalty that takes precedence over every other relationship. The love of God compels us to choose who will be first in our lives. To place any relationship (or anything else) above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost.

(Adapted from Don Schwager)

Doulos - Slave (of Christ Jesus) - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Both of today’s readings—from Paul writing to the Christians in Rome and Luke passing on a parable about a household manager–are full of talk about slaves and slavery. We even hear Jesus himself using that image: “Whoever will be first among you will be the slave of all” (Mark 10:44). There is no doubt that the Greek word doulos, which was often translated ‘servant’ (because first-century servants were mainly slaves), really means ‘slave.’ 

What do Paul and Jesus and Luke mean by this (unattractive, embarrassing?) slave imagery? I would summarize the meaning in this way. Every human being, consciously or unconsciously, allows himself or herself to be governed by something. In that sense, we are all “slaves” to something. Think of the possibilities: one can organize one’s life around making money, or around maintaining the best possible physical health, or about gaining more and more power over other people, or about having the most “toys,” or about achieving vengeance over enemies, or about raising a family, or about excelling as an artist or an athlete or a scholar; and this is just a sampling. Obviously, some of these things are sinister and others are good. But, good or evil, if any one of these things becomes the sole focus of our allegiance, we are “enslaved” to that thing or person. The only way to freedom is to become “enslaved” to the One who loves us completely—God. Then everything else falls into place. That is why Jesus says that total allegiance to God (as taught by Deuteronomy 6:4 and recited daily in the Jewish tradition and expressed by Christians in the Lord’s Prayer (thy kingdom come, thy will be done) is the “first commandment” and one way to freedom. 

This paradox is the reason that Jesus, in today’s parable, can symbolize our human situation as like that of a steward (or head household slave), who has been given authority or responsibility over others in the household to implement the flourishing of the household as a whole. And that is why the greatest temptation for us stewards is to forget that we are servants of the Master of the household and fall for the delusion that we ourselves are the master of the house. When we discover the liberty of being “slaves of God” becoming “slaves” of one another (Jesus’ expression) is no bondage at all but a sharing of the love of God.

(Adapted from Dennis Hamm, S.J.)

Cal Ripken, faithfulness and the Gospel - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Faithfulness demands consistency, a determination to stay the course and see the task to its completion. Cal Ripken, an American baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, is a sports hero and a legend to many simply because he always showed up for the game and gave his best. He didn't miss one game in 16 years of playing baseball! That's a total of 2,632 consecutive games. Even when sick or hurt, he continued to play.  In 1983 he hurt his hand sliding on artificial turf and was unable to grip his bat; he somehow gritted his teeth- and got five hits that night, two of them home runs!

God loves faithfulness. That is why we can always expect God to give us what he promises. In turn, God expects us to be faithful to him and to one another. How can we grow in faithfulness? God's grace shows us the way. When we are faithful in the little tasks and promises we make, we learn to be faithful in the bigger and more important responsibilities and tasks entrusted to us. Our reward is the Lord Jesus himself who shares with us his joy and friendship: "Well done good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Master". (Mt 25:21)

(Adapted from Don Schwager)