“Sent to Come Closer in His Peace” by Beth DeCristofaro

“Sent to Come Closer in His Peace” by Beth DeCristofaro

Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot

"Come closer to me," he told his brothers. When they had done so, he said: "I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you." (Genesis 45:4-5)

If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (Matthew 10:13-15)

Piety

Gracious and Holy Father,
give us the wisdom to discover You,
the intelligence to understand You,
the diligence to seek after You,
the patience to wait for You,
eyes to behold You,
a heart to meditate upon You,
and a life to proclaim You,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

 (https://belmontabbey.org/prayers/#seekers-faith)

Study

The readings today are examples of the profound reception and mercy of God.  Joseph not only forgives but in his deep joy at being reunited he embraces the brothers who wanted to harm him.  Jesus enables the Apostles (which means “one who is sent” according to the NAB) to heal in his name and deliver peace to those who will receive and listen.  It is striking that the barrier to their mission is people rejecting Jesus’ Good News.  Jesus even contrasts the rebuff of his Word to the infamous sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah for whom “it will be more tolerable.”

St Benedict of Nursia was a reformer.  In many ways the followers of Jesus were also reformers, re-forming people into a new understanding of God’s grace present in the world.  As the twelve were sent out so too are we sent out through the grace of our baptism to re-form ourselves ever more closely to Jesus and our communities to be building blocks in his kingdom.  We, as priests, prophets and kings through Baptism and the Sacraments, signs of Jesus presence on earth, are called to re-form our own hearts and our church.  We are called to do so with forgiveness and mercy – forgiving even those who abuse, cover-up, denigrate victims, isolate LGBTQ members of the church, covet power and the myriad of sins which are no greater, no less than the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.   

Action

Illustration:  Pope Francis greets gay British comedian
Stephen K. Amos on the show 'Pilgrimage: The Road to
Rome, saying that “it doesn’t matter who you are or how
you live your life, you do not lose your dignity.”
(Credit: BBC, April 19, 2019).)

From CNN: “Pope Francis put his shoulder to the doors of the Catholic Church and shoved them open a little wider Friday, calling for the church to be more tolerant in practice while not changing any official doctrines.

He urged priests around the world to be more accepting of gays and lesbians, divorced Catholics and other people living in what the church considers "irregular" situations. ‘A pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws ... as if they were stones to throw at people's lives,’ Francis writes in a sweeping paper outlining his stance on family matters.”[i]

In what ways do we withhold our peace from others?  In what ways do we judge, throwing moral stones, rather than invite and love with open hands?  Pray St. Benedict’s prayer and ask to be infused with the guiding and powerful presence of the Spirit.

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[i] Pope to church: Be more accepting of divorced Catholics, gays, and lesbians, By Richard Allen Greene, CNN, Updated 4:22 PM ET, Fri April 8, 2016 (https://www.cnn.com/2016/04/08/europe/vatican-pope-family/index.html)