Transformation In Us and Through Us
God is revealing something special through the Scripture readings for Mass during this twentieth week in Ordinary Time. The Lord makes abundantly clear that He intends to bring all people, even those perceived as the lowest and least faithful, into covenant relationship with Himself. Yet, such a relationship is not possible without a radical transformation of heart, which will prepare God's faithful and chosen ones to present a witness to the world. It is this witness of transformation, and nothing else, that will allow God to reach out and gather in all those He desires for His own.
Let's examine the lectionary readings for this week to see how this process works. For three consecutive days, the Church hears the message of the prophet Ezekiel about the sour state of Israel and their leaders, and about the travesties that befall a people who are unfaithful to the Lord. They are prideful, haughty, and have become gods of their own making (cf. Ez. 28:1-10). They have led the sheep of the flock astray while treating them "harshly and brutally," yet for personal gain (cf. Ez. 34:1-11). Therefore, the Lord's response is to demolish "the stronghold of your pride" by taking away "the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul." Instead, those who fail in faithfulness will "rot away" (Ez. 24:21-23). While it is not pleasant to think that the God of love might allow this to happen, it is necessary to recognize that curses and loathsome situations result from our lack of humility and obedience more than from God's spite. When we remove ourselves from His good graces by refusing to follow His will, the consequences are always just.
Yet, following commandments is not enough. We receive this revelation from the Gospel for Monday of the twentieth week. The rich young man announces (perhaps pridefully?), "All of these [commandments] I have observed. What do I still lack?" By his question, the young man recognizes that something is missing from his search for eternal blessedness. Jesus' response is difficult, even shocking: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come, follow me" (Mt. 19:20-21). Whether possessions are sold or not, whether in ancient or modern times, following Jesus is a radical commitment that goes beyond strict obedience to commandments. It requires a total consecration of one's life to Him. Other masters, like pride or greed, are not compatible.
In the Gospel reading for Tuesday of the twentieth week, we receive the continuation of Christ's challenging summons. Without a doubt, it will be difficult for anyone to make such a total consecration of life to Christ. In fact, Christ acknowledges, "For men this is impossible..." (Mt. 19:26). Left to our own devices, we can never overcome the sinful tendencies listed above (and others) that have plagued human beings for all of history. Yet, there must be a way since Christ has called for such a commitment. The second half of Jesus' response to His disciples and apostles provides all the hope that we need: "but for God all things are possible" (Mt. 19:26). God's great grace fills in where our human nature lacks; God does what we cannot.
Later in the week, readings from the prophet Ezekiel provide beautiful images of the renewal that God intends to bring about. God speaks through the prophet of the gifts that He will provide. "I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all our idols.... I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you..." (Ez. 36:25-26). The new spirit will breath life into God's people, who will rise from their spiritual graves and live a new life (cf. Ez. 37:1-14). The new heart and spirit that the Lord will grant will be marked by humility and contrition rather than by pride and self-aggrandizement. God's people begin to experience the joy of His salvation instead of the desolation and destruction of disobedience.
Once God's people experience such joy, they cannot help but share it with others. As in Jesus' parable, told in Thursday's Gospel reading, we go out and invite other to the feast (cf. Mt. 22:9-10). This is precisely the vantage point from which St. Paul wrote to the Romans of God's mercy and desire to bring them to His eternal banquet. Long before the Apostle to the Gentiles wrote, King David penned Psalm 107, which exclaims, "Let them [all nations] give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and his wondrous deeds to the children of men, because he satisfied the longing soul and filled the hungry soul with good things" (Ps. 107:8-9). The great king of Israel and the great missionary apostle proclaim the same truth: nothing other than God's rich mercy and a relationship with Him satisfies the human heart. Moreover, humans cannot manufacture satisfaction for themselves because it can only be gifted by the Divine Giver.
The ideas of hunger and satisfaction lead us back to the Gospel reading for the twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Canannite woman, one who was perceived by Israel to be outside of covenant relationship and less than worthy of dignified treatment, beseeches Christ for a healing that she cannot bring about of her own power. By her faith in the Lord's mercy and grace, she receives satisfaction. Her hunger for healing is filled, despite her national origin and economic status. Even as a foreigner, she has been brought to the Lord's holy mountain because she had a humble heart and contrite spirit, not because she followed every aspect of Mosaic law.
So, let us all learn from this treasury of Scripture readings during this week. Let us recall to mind often that we are prideful, greedy, and slothful on a frequent basis; and that those attitudes and actions remove us from relationship with God. Let us seek to follow the Lord intimately rather than just following commandments with absent minds and hearts. Let us beg for God's grace and mercy, always realizing that we have no power on our own. Let us make an intentional effort to go out and proclaim God's saving mercy to anyone we meet, even those whom we might not think are worthy or interested. In all of this, God will satisfy the ultimate longing of our hungry souls with the best things.
Let's examine the lectionary readings for this week to see how this process works. For three consecutive days, the Church hears the message of the prophet Ezekiel about the sour state of Israel and their leaders, and about the travesties that befall a people who are unfaithful to the Lord. They are prideful, haughty, and have become gods of their own making (cf. Ez. 28:1-10). They have led the sheep of the flock astray while treating them "harshly and brutally," yet for personal gain (cf. Ez. 34:1-11). Therefore, the Lord's response is to demolish "the stronghold of your pride" by taking away "the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul." Instead, those who fail in faithfulness will "rot away" (Ez. 24:21-23). While it is not pleasant to think that the God of love might allow this to happen, it is necessary to recognize that curses and loathsome situations result from our lack of humility and obedience more than from God's spite. When we remove ourselves from His good graces by refusing to follow His will, the consequences are always just.
Yet, following commandments is not enough. We receive this revelation from the Gospel for Monday of the twentieth week. The rich young man announces (perhaps pridefully?), "All of these [commandments] I have observed. What do I still lack?" By his question, the young man recognizes that something is missing from his search for eternal blessedness. Jesus' response is difficult, even shocking: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come, follow me" (Mt. 19:20-21). Whether possessions are sold or not, whether in ancient or modern times, following Jesus is a radical commitment that goes beyond strict obedience to commandments. It requires a total consecration of one's life to Him. Other masters, like pride or greed, are not compatible.
In the Gospel reading for Tuesday of the twentieth week, we receive the continuation of Christ's challenging summons. Without a doubt, it will be difficult for anyone to make such a total consecration of life to Christ. In fact, Christ acknowledges, "For men this is impossible..." (Mt. 19:26). Left to our own devices, we can never overcome the sinful tendencies listed above (and others) that have plagued human beings for all of history. Yet, there must be a way since Christ has called for such a commitment. The second half of Jesus' response to His disciples and apostles provides all the hope that we need: "but for God all things are possible" (Mt. 19:26). God's great grace fills in where our human nature lacks; God does what we cannot.
Later in the week, readings from the prophet Ezekiel provide beautiful images of the renewal that God intends to bring about. God speaks through the prophet of the gifts that He will provide. "I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all our idols.... I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you..." (Ez. 36:25-26). The new spirit will breath life into God's people, who will rise from their spiritual graves and live a new life (cf. Ez. 37:1-14). The new heart and spirit that the Lord will grant will be marked by humility and contrition rather than by pride and self-aggrandizement. God's people begin to experience the joy of His salvation instead of the desolation and destruction of disobedience.
Once God's people experience such joy, they cannot help but share it with others. As in Jesus' parable, told in Thursday's Gospel reading, we go out and invite other to the feast (cf. Mt. 22:9-10). This is precisely the vantage point from which St. Paul wrote to the Romans of God's mercy and desire to bring them to His eternal banquet. Long before the Apostle to the Gentiles wrote, King David penned Psalm 107, which exclaims, "Let them [all nations] give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and his wondrous deeds to the children of men, because he satisfied the longing soul and filled the hungry soul with good things" (Ps. 107:8-9). The great king of Israel and the great missionary apostle proclaim the same truth: nothing other than God's rich mercy and a relationship with Him satisfies the human heart. Moreover, humans cannot manufacture satisfaction for themselves because it can only be gifted by the Divine Giver.
The ideas of hunger and satisfaction lead us back to the Gospel reading for the twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Canannite woman, one who was perceived by Israel to be outside of covenant relationship and less than worthy of dignified treatment, beseeches Christ for a healing that she cannot bring about of her own power. By her faith in the Lord's mercy and grace, she receives satisfaction. Her hunger for healing is filled, despite her national origin and economic status. Even as a foreigner, she has been brought to the Lord's holy mountain because she had a humble heart and contrite spirit, not because she followed every aspect of Mosaic law.
So, let us all learn from this treasury of Scripture readings during this week. Let us recall to mind often that we are prideful, greedy, and slothful on a frequent basis; and that those attitudes and actions remove us from relationship with God. Let us seek to follow the Lord intimately rather than just following commandments with absent minds and hearts. Let us beg for God's grace and mercy, always realizing that we have no power on our own. Let us make an intentional effort to go out and proclaim God's saving mercy to anyone we meet, even those whom we might not think are worthy or interested. In all of this, God will satisfy the ultimate longing of our hungry souls with the best things.