September 30, 2018

 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time B Numbers 11: 25-29; James 5: 1-6; Mark 9: 38-48 What do I forget most often living in God’s world? I would say, top of the list, would be that God loves everyone…always has, always will. Do I? No! Can I love as God loves? That is my goal each day, with only some success, but it’s a lifetime goal and can be accomplished with God’s help each moment. Not only does God love every individual, God dwells within all peoples from all times and to all of us living today. This is one of the divine mysteries of God. Do I see God in each person? Honestly, I don’t. Can I see God in each person? Only each day with each person with God’s grace and help. So what are the problems that exist in my life that hinder me from being aware of God and His love for me and every individual? Well, my life can get so crammed full with: busyness, possessions, material concerns, care for people I love and are dependent, friends, hobbies, volunteering, studying, writing these blogs that there seems to be little time left for God. The readings today remind me, as God always does remind me, to let go and let God love me because thats all He wants to do. And He loves each person all the time in the same way. Again, this makes me aware of the mystery of God and His attributes. Today’s reading from the book of Numbers is part of the narrative about God’s care for Moses and the people of Israel after their escape from Egypt and their sojourn in the desert. They have set out from Mt. Sinai, having received the Ten Commandments…the Covenant of God’s total love…and are on the way to the Promised Land. What happened, better what was on their mind: they were hungry for the FOOD they enjoyed in Egypt. They are now getting dissatisfied with the bread/manna from heaven. So they complain. A great reflection is to take a few days and write down what I have complained about…then come in prayer to the Lord. That certain is humbling. Well, Moses has come to see how much of a burden it was on him so He asks God to take his life. I have thought, ‘Lord if you want to take me today, I have no problem with that.’ Instead of listening to Moses God takes some of the ‘Spirit’, the gifts God has given to Moses and shares these with seventy ‘elders’. These begin to speak God’s word as Moses has but two weren’t present. God takes care of all the particulars…always…and these receive God’s gifts too. Joshua couldn’t understand this…how many times do I not understand God…but God’s ways are not my ways. It is so interesting that from this time onward Moses no longer is focused on himself but entirely on the welfare of the people. Now he refers to them not as ‘this people’ but ‘the people of the Lord.’ He realized that the people needed God’s Spirit. God is constantly giving His Spirit in our world today. Am I aware of this? Do I reflect at the end of the day on the people who touched me with God? Again, a humbling experience. The Letter of St. James focuses on the wealthy who must realize that all their possessions will pass away as they will and then what are they left with? It is not about accumulating but being conscious of how they can help others and ease their burdens of life. James sees so many who neglect the poor and just continue to cater to the rich. It is only the fruits of love and goodness that will build up our treasures for our heavenly journey. Am I living in this way? What do I need to do to live this way and be aware of others and God’s love? Jesus faces the same difficulties in the Gospel with His disciples who want to be ‘special’. They are jealous because they have experienced the gift from Jesus of driving out evil spirits. Obviously this made them feel very important. Now they hear about others who don’t belong to their IN group and are also driving out demons. How dare they do that! They have not yet arrived at the teaching that Jesus came to save ALL PEOPLE. There is NO IN GROUP and NO OUT GROUP. How blunt Jesus is: “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in My name who can at the same time speak ill of Me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you will surely not lose their reward.” Obviously Mark was struggling within his Christian community about who is a true member. Jesus continues by using the expression ‘cut off’ of a body part if it causes sin metaphorically. He uses the expression micros which is a Greek word that is translated at ‘little ones’. It really describes people who are considered insignificant, powerless and have no social standing, they are just unimportant. Jesus is using perhaps some of His strongest language to condemn this violence to those He loves, the marginalized, the oppressed. All these belong to God. Few scripture scholars think that Jesus meant this language to be taken literally. It just shows how much God loves all people, all the ‘little ones’, how He loves you and me. Do I live accordingly? Reflecting on the Word in Living the World gives a beautiful summary of today’s readings. “Today’s readings call our attention to where we see the action of God’s spirit, whether in friend, foe, or us. Jesus says, ‘Whoever is not against us is for us’. If someone does good rather than evil, manifesting the values of Jesus, see God’s spirit there. You may discover a model for how to live Jesus more clearly yourself. Rash judgment or overreaction, like that of the disciples, often blinds us to those models, especially when someone doesn’t fit our expectations. Think about the picture of Muslims in the Middle East, who surrounded Christian churches to protect them. Think about people who hid our Jewish sisters and brothers in an attempt to save them from the Holocaust. Think about first responders from all faiths and no faith, who entered crumbling buildings on 9/11. These people embodied the ways of Jesus, whatever their faith, culture, or way of life. Manifesting the spirit of God, as Eldad and Medad did, they are with us, even if not members of our ‘camp.’ Would that all people of faith clearly manifested the Spirit! Would that more people were willing to be surprised by God’s presence! St James reminds us that we are called to respond to the cries of the least, the last, and the lost, to be as concerned for others as we are for ourselves. Too often, self-centeredness, dividing who’s in and who’s out too hastily, fear of change, or habitual sin can fill our hearts. Full, there is no room to see God everywhere. Make room. Cut off or pluck out whatever takes God’s place, whatever limits us. Emptied, turn to God for eyes that see the Spirit, especially where we least expect. Whoever is not against us if for us.” I reflect on: • Who has surprised me because they lived the values of Jesus clearly? • What needs to change in me to live God’s justice and truth more clearly? • How hard is it too ask forgiveness from God? From each other? • Where do I have to change to be Jesus? Sacred Space 2018 states: “The followers of Jesus are not meant to be an exclusive group that despises the good work others do. We are encouraged to work with other Christians, and indeed with anyone of good will. The old slogan, ‘Outside the Church there is no salvation’ was a stumbling block to many good people, and now it must be left aside. Boasting has no place in the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit blows like the wind wherever it pleases and is at work incognito in every heart. God has a large imagination and labors to orchestrate all things for the world’s good. What stirrings of the Holy Spirit do I sense today?”