Wednesday, September 09, 2015

A Layman's Take on Today's readings: Lectionary 439 (updated Sept.10)


Memorial of Saint Peter ClaverPriest

Key
Bold = verse commented upon
Blue = comment
Highlight = direct command
Comments
1.             There is more to reality that the immediate, the temporal. There is also the eternal. We must focus on the eternal, and get rid of things in our temporal lives that hinder our learning about—and preparing ourselves—for the eternal.

2.             The Colossians reading describes a practical principle of growth: although we must get rid of things that hinder growth, we must also actively pursue things that catalyze our growth. Indeed, if we focus on those catalysts it will be much easier to get rid of things that hinder. In contrast, focusing exclusively on eliminating hindrances will almost guaranty failure.  That is why we are told to “[t]hink of what is above, not of what is on earth”  and to affirmatively “put on the new self.” That same principle is laid out or exemplified in Matthew 6:22-23; Luke 11:34-35; Philippians 4:8; Joshua 1:8; and Psalm 1:1-2.

3.             So how do we do that, how do we keep focused on “what is above”? Prayer is a very effective way to do so. Check out the video here for a way to pray way I’m going to try today.

4.      In the course of engaging in the prayer technique described in paragraph 3 above two things about the Gospel reading below struck me:

a.    When read in context, that reading follows the same pattern as John 6: a powerful display of Jesus’ great power and kindness, followed by hard truths about what is involved in living the life He calls us to.  See Luke 6:17-26.

b.    The point of Luke 6:20-26 is not so much to praise those going through tough stuff and condemn the contented as it is to illustrate that all must surrender themselves to God’s sometimes difficult process for shaping us into what He, in His perfect love, wants us to become. Those going through tough stuff must endure it, and the contented must recognize their need for God’s shaping and submit themselves to it.

Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put them all away:
anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.  Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might.
Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.

Rejoice and leap for joy! Your reward will be great in heaven.

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.  For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

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