Teach Me Your Ways

Teach Me Your Ways

June 7, 2012

Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him.  But if we deny him he will deny us.  If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.  You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he.  And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."  And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."  And no one dared to ask him any more questions.  Mark 12:32-34

Piety

Blowing in the Wind by Bob Dylan (1963)

How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand
How many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they are forever banned
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

Study

Would it not be great to be able to get today's lesson straight from the mouth of Jesus as the Scribe did today?  He had a troubling theological issue and he did not have to open up the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Google the issue, write to his bishop, corner the pastor or deacon after Mass or sign up for a religious education class.   He just walked right up to the Lord and asked him. 

If Jesus were still alive bodily on this planet, we probably would not have the chance to find him and talk to him among the 6 billion or so people who are here.  Chances are, he would not be in this country.  If ancient Palestine was one of the poorest places on earth 2012 years ago, today we might find him in Haiti, or Honduras, or Burundi.  In these places, the per capita GDP is only about $300 per person.  That is what some of us probably spend monthly on a car payment, grocery bills, or other items.

Yet we do have a chance to hear what Jesus has to say every day in the Scriptures.  And today, Jesus is present among us -- in these ordinary post-Pentecost days, His holy Spirit remains with us daily and speaks to us through each other and the world around us.

Action

Listen today to the places where you will hear the word of God. 

When I was growing up, "Blowing in the Wind," was a song written by Bob Dylan and popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary.  After posing numerous questions throughout the verses, the refrain responded:   "The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind."  

The message:  The answers are all around us.  Today, we can seek the answers in so many more places than the Scribe could.  Consider one question or issue that you have and seek out the answer today.