Be Humbled
“But
the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to
heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I
tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be
exalted.” Luke 18: 13-14
Hosea
hits a Cursillo home run today – which is good as our global village is fasting
from sports. (OK, technically, it is a
triple in the Tripod, but the prophet touches all the bases.)
Perhaps
we can consider today the first reference to Cursillo and the Tripod in the Tanakh
(Hebrew Bible) as cited by the minor prophet Hôshēa‘ (הוֹשֵׁעַ).
First,
we get the invitation to the weekend experience: Come, let us return to the
LORD, for it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he
will bind our wounds.
Then we
get a description of what happens on the Cursillo Weekend experience. “He
will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in
his presence.”
How
rich it would be if the women of the 154th Cursillo were able to
share this despite the interruption of their formation and the weekend
experience they would be delivering right now in the absence of the coronavirus!
Then we
find out three desires that God has for us to live better and follow Him on the
Fourth Day.
Piety
Your
piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away. Hosea 6:4B
How is
our practice of piety? With an extended time
exiled from the sacraments and the community, making sure that our devotions
have regularity and permanence. These will
help us endure these next few months with spiritual vitality.
Study
Let
us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and
his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the
rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” Hosea 6:3
One way
to stay close to our friends is by keeping in touch with them. Whether reading Sacred Scripture or your
favorite spiritual writer, try not to allow this time of confinement to be
dedicated to Netflix and news only.
Action
For
it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt
offerings.
Hosea 6:6
We cannot
fulfill our regular action (volunteering) right now. However, we can turn our attention to our
friends and family to make sure they have the supplies necessary in their hours
and weeks of need.
Today
is the traditional transitus of St. Benedict – the day that he moved from one
state (life on earth) to another (eternal happiness in heaven). Since Vatican II and the reform of the
“Calendar of the Saints,” most monastic communities celebrate July 11 as the
solemnity of St. Benedict. Before that time, the Church celebrated March 21 as
the commemoration of the presumed day in AD 547 when St. Benedict died.[i]
According
to the Virginia Trappists at Holy Cross Abbey, the celebration in July removes
the solemnity from the restraints of Lent. The change also respects the primary
importance of Lent as a liturgical season, the significant period of conversion
and sacrifice leading up the reception of new members into the Church at the
Easter Vigil.
At Holy
Cross Abbey, at the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia in Bristow, at Belmont
Abbey College and beyond, the communities celebrate July 11 as the Solemnity of
St. Benedict. However, it’s worth
recalling his passage to God’s Kingdom in March and the holy hospitality that
marks his communities. It will be hard
to share in the Benedictine charism of divine hospitality during our
confinement to social distancing. We
bless those not among us by respecting their right to live without fear of
disease.
Until
then, celebrate the three legs of our tripod that Hosea reminds us to
keep. Stand quietly apart with the
socially distant taxpayer until we can emerge again into the arms of the Lord
and each other.
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