Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
By Beth DeCristofaro
Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials. … But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. (1 James 1:2, 5)
(Jesus) sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” (Mark 8: 12)
Piety
Gracious God, I thank you for your generous presence in my life. Brother Jesus, grow my heart so that I can see your miracles in the small, the insignificant, the powerless. Fill me with trust. Take away my doubt so that within the trials certain to come my way, I may see the miracle of your sacrifice and resurrection given for me. Amen.
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/051208.shtml
The Pharisees just can’t quite get Jesus. They bait him with the request for miracles, even while witnessing miracles. They question and accuse, all the while hoping he can’t answer so they can continue to persecute him. At the same time he confounds them Jesus knows their hearts much like God knows the hearts of those who doubt. Jesus refuses to debate or prove himself to the Pharisees yet he is sad about their disbelief. He, like God who gives generously and ungrudgingly, does not deny them gifts. Rather it is the closed hearts of the Pharisees and the doubting hearts James identifies which cannot accept the gifts offered.
Like James, many of the writers of the early church speak about the purification and spiritual maturity achieved through suffering. Yet this does not mean that God, generous and ungrudging, wishes us to suffer. In the footnote, the NAB explains, “Wisdom: a gift that God readily grants to all who ask in faith and that sustains the Christian in times of trial. It is a kind of knowledge or understanding not accessible to the unbeliever or those who doubt, which gives the recipient an understanding of the real importance of events. In this way a Christian can deal with adversity with great calm and hope” (Footnote of the NAB, http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/james/james1.htm#v1)
Our very human hearts continue to look for miracles. Jesus is our miracle. It is in giving ourselves without doubt to the work of God where we find miracles. And God upholds all who believe in God’s power and sustenance, and this is miraculous. Jesus sighs, sad that there is a human tendency to request signs: promotions, status, or expensive cars as some preachers promise their listeners. The signs of Jesus are around us and for our taking if we should just give over doubt, give over baiting him, give over looking for miracles that have human definitions.
Action
The Retreat for Seriously Ill is a miracle of love and human touch. There is a team in formation for the May 23-25 Retreat. Please keep them in your prayers. From the Cursillo website: “Please grace us with your sacrifice and written letters of love and support, addressed to Sister or Brothers in Christ; with your donated food items and drinks, your presence at our serenade on Sunday, May 25, at 8:25 AM at the Dominican Retreat and with your prayers. Your written letters may be delivered to the Dominican Retreat on Friday, May 25, or mailed c/o Retreat for the Seriously Ill, Dominican Retreat,
If you know of someone who would benefit from a retreat with other people who are seriously ill, contact the Dominican Retreat at 703-356-4243 for information.
No comments:
Post a Comment