Faith in Motion September 12

Why not rather put up with injustice?Why not rather let yourselves be cheated? 1 Corinthians 6:7

Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself,and from them he chose Twelve. Luke 6:12-13

Piety

Let us pray: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help us to put our faith into motion. Jesus, in every action you take, you model for us the kind of behavior that you want us to show the world. You pray. You cry. You love. You endure suffering. You support your friends. Help us put this faith into practice. Help us to turn to fully rely on God to keep us connected to the community and to your Grace. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/091206.shtml

Luke and the evangelists regularly present Jesus at prayer at important points in his ministry – like right before Jesus has to engage in performing miracles, teaching, healing, suffering or dying. In Sunday’s Gospel, right before Jesus opened the ears of the man who was deaf and mute, Jesus looked up to heaven. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he prayed to God. “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:41-42) The examples are endless.

Paul appeals to the Christian community to work out their differences together, rather than by turning to the pagan courts of Rome. He does this because of the doctrines about death and the human soul that are promised to Christians: we are to share with Christ the judgment of the world.

“Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, Whose kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Daniel 7:27). Hence, we ought to be able to settle minor disputes within the community or by turning to God.

Action

Where do you turn? When something, big or small is happening in your life, to whom do you turn? Whose advice do you seek?

If prayer was that important for Jesus – and he had divine nature – how much more so is it required of us who are merely human?

Taken together, these readings reinforce many aspects of the Cursillo experience – life lived in Christian community. We see the spiritual side of Jesus in prayer modeling for us piety – directing one’s whole life toward God, fully relying on God. Getting support through prayer brings us into closer contact with Christ and the community.
Then, St. Paul urges us to work among ourselves to solve problems. Remember, an isolated Christian is a paralyzed Christian.

Think of the actions and decisions that you will make today. Who is in your decision- making model? What key stakeholders will you consult? Is the Holy Spirit on that list?

We don’t have to put up with injustice if we act as St. Paul implores us…to be imitators of Christ. Then, they’ll know we are Christian by our love, not our lawsuits.