“It’s So Simple!” by
Wayne Miller
“For this
command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you. It
is not up in the sky, that you should say, ‘Who will go up in the sky to get it
for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’ Nor is it across the sea,
that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and tell us of
it, that we may carry it out?’ No, it is something very near to you, already in
your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.” (Deuteronomy 30:10-14)
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the
words of everlasting life. (John 6:63c, 68c)
"Teacher,
what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in
the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord,
your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and
with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him,
“You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished
to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied,
“A man fell victim to robbers … (you know the story) … Which of these three, in
your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who
treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37)
Piety
Father God, thank you for always being
with me. Give me Your eyes to see, Your
ears to hear, Your heart to feel, and Your voice to speak Love to my brothers
and sisters.
Study
Once again, Jesus explains and enlivens
the Law, making it real and concrete – and not leaving a whole lot of wiggle
room for us rationalizers.
Just as Moses – the great Law-Giver –
chided his people: “Guys, this isn’t rocket science! Here you have it, ten
simple statements.” The commands that Jesus the New Law-Giver presents are not
negative commands. Instead, these are
detailed and loving descriptions of what it looks and feels like to live in
perfect relationship with our Loving God!
Eight hundred years later, the Pharisees
were still making up rules by which to discriminate and justify themselves when
Jesus came to give them – and us – the living example of what wholehearted,
loving relationship with the Father means. And it lives and breathes even in
the convoluted logic and proscriptions of the Law and all the multitude of
words we’ve cobbled together in the intervening 2000 years since He said, very
simply: “GO!” and “DO!”
“GO!” – you can’t be guided if you
aren’t in motion!
“DO!” – you have been freely given the
Father’s perfect Love and Acceptance and Forgiveness, now provide that same
Love to all that you meet.
All this past week, we’ve heard accounts
of Jesus sending his disciples and apostles out to proclaim the Good News, heal
the sick, and cast out demons. Not once did I hear Him say: “Maybe you’re not
ready. You should first read this wonderful spiritual book, or the parish is
sponsoring a lovely inspirational video series next month that you must see, or
you probably should register with the diocese to complete their Spiritual
Direction program. Then I’ll send you to all the towns and cities that I will
be visiting.”
Nope! It was time. He spent a couple of
years recruiting, modeling, and mentoring them in God’s open-hearted Loving
Way. He knew each one of them and all those quirks of personality and
perspective that made each one of them a perfect, unique child of His Father.
He probably winced a little, knowing some of the things they would do and the
trouble they would find. But He also
knew the overwhelming joy and amazement that would be theirs when they shared
the Living Word in mercy with those in need.
Moses and Jesus knew that it was “…already in their
mouths and their hearts; they had only to carry it out!”
Action
Which town or city or neighbor or family
member or stranger will I GO to?
What will I DO when I meet them?
Do I know and rejoice in the precious
indwelling of the Triune God?
How will I share that with my brothers
and sisters?
De Colores!
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