Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
Today, Proverbs gives us conventional wisdom that we can rely on in most practical situations, but where can we turn in unconventional situations when practical wisdom fails us? A deeper wisdom is portrayed in the Book of Job, when a good man suffers and his friends turn their backs on him. Job does not rely on his intellect, his friends, nor does he lose faith when man’s sense of justice does not suffice. He relies on his faith and trusts in God for the long term. Job’s “wise” friends are blind to his faith and his trust in God. Job knows that “The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1Corthinians 1:25) In the end, God has Job’s best interests at heart and the faithful man is vindicated.
Yes, life is hard and it may not get easier. So what will sustain our faith and strengthen our trust for the long run? St. Paul provided some wise counsel to the Ephesians that we would do well to embrace for the journey. The first step is to seek an understanding of God’s will for our lives. This is best done, by living prudently and in moderation rather than in the excesses of drink and lose living. This is the lesson the prodigal son learned the hard way. Once he discovered that pleasure without purpose leads to emptiness and the loss of self, he could return to his father and take his proper role as a beloved son. In the end, it will be God’s grace that will sustain us as it sustained Job and countless others in the life of faith. The source of grace is manifold and is available to all.
The first source of grace is the sacrament of Baptism and the mission that flows from it, namely to preach and heal, as Jesus did. Jesus basically did two things during his three years of active ministry; healing and preaching. He healed the sick and those possessed, and he preached about the coming reign of God. By his presence Jesus was a source of comfort and healing, this we can also do. Visiting those who are sick and disturbed can be a very real source of healing. By preaching about the Kingdom of God we can be a source of hope for all we come in contact with. Preaching by word and deed. When we share the good news we inform others of the good news of God’s love for all his children. When we practice what we preach we help transform a broken world.
By the practice of sharing the time, talent, and treasure we have been gifted with, we show that the Kingdom of God is more than words, it is action. The actions we take are in the form of justice, charity, and love. When we speak for those without a voice and act on their behalf to obtain for them a full and equal measure of liberty and justice. When we have been gifted in abundance we need to ensure that all have equal access to meaningful work, a living wage, and adequate health care. Providing these basic needs is the heart of charity. When we work for these ideals we will discover that we too have lives with deep meaning and purpose. Love is expressed by caring for the dignity of others. Treating others as we wish to be treated, with respect and gentleness we will come to realize our own dignity as children of the Creator. As St. Francis espoused, “It is in giving that we receive.” The challenge is how can we sustain ourselves for the long haul?
The answer to the challenge of sustaining our mission is found in the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. We will sustain ourselves by taking part in the Eucharist, the Body, and Blood of Christ. As Jesus was both God and man, his body and blood is both spiritual and physical food. The Holy Communion sustains us in this world and in the next in the same way that the Kingdom of God is already present among us and yet to come. In eating of the Body and Blood we come to realize that we are the body of Christ in every way. As the body of Christ, we can choose to act with wisdom, with purity, enlightenment, awareness, and reverence. To others, this may look like foolishness, but for the believer, we know that God has chosen the foolish to shame the wise. (1 Corinthians 1:28)
You must be logged in to post a comment.