Friday, August 24, 2007

Sing Praise with Timbrel and Harp

August 27, 2007

Memorial of Saint Monica

By Beth DeCristofaro

…praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory (Psalm 149:3-4)

In every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they, themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols… (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

Piety

Dear God, give me the endurance of St. Monica who prayed unceasingly for her son, Augustine. Give me the love to expect to find you within the lives of those who get on my nerves. Give me the faith that my life and theirs are in your hands. Give me the hope that we, together, will dance before you and will strive do your will.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/082707.shtml

There is dancing and jubilation in the first two readings today as opposed to the Gospel. Paul and the psalmist both proclaim the deep joy in being with God through your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3). And for those who do God’s will…the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (Ps 149:4) Jesus, however, knows that the scribes and Pharisees have piled rules and regulations in front of the Kingdom’s gate, narrowing it even further for everyone. They take the delight out of God’s glory. He rejects their vision of God saying: “Woe to you, blind guides” (Matthew 23:13, 16).

Faith, love, and hope: Thessalonians has one of the earliest mentions in Christian literature of the three theological virtues[i] Paul doesn’t list rules. Paul does, however, commend the Thessalonians for their work and worship: For they (believers in the region) themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). People come to believe in God through the faith, hope and love exhibited by the Thessalonians.

St. Monica is an example of love. She was a loving, devoted wife to a sometimes violent man and caring for his ill-tempered mother[ii]. Her faith led all three of her children to enter religious life and her husband to convert. And, as we most know her, her hope never wavered that God would get through to her rebellious son, Augustine. She did not put rules in God’s way. Rather, St. Monica paved the way for God in the world through faith, hope and love.

Action

Where is your faith, love or hope hidebound with rules? Break out your spiritual timbrals and harps and dance a song of praise and thanks to God with an action in God’s name. Be open to the surprise of the moment when God breaks through and you can dance.

Consider donating to or assisting abuse victims for whom Monica is patron saint: http://www.doorwaysva.org/ or http://www.bhnw.org


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)