Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6
(The readings I used for today’s reflection are for the Mass for St. Ignatius of Antioch who lived in the century after Jesus. He is not the same person as Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, who lived in the 15th century.)
The passage from Ephesians, so beautifully expressed, encapsulates the character of a true disciple: called by God to holiness, expressing gratitude through a life of praise and mercy.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We pray to receive God’s blessing and call with grateful hearts, and to live a life reflecting God’s Mercy.
Quote: from Ignatius of Antioch
We recognize a tree by its fruit, and we ought to be able to recognize a Christian by his action. The fruit of faith should be evident in our lives, for being a Christian is more than making sound professions of faith. It should reveal itself in practical and visible ways. Indeed it is better to keep quiet about our beliefs, and live them out, than to talk eloquently about what we believe, but fail to live by it.
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation….
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Luke 11:29-30;32
In our Gospel, Jesus invokes the story of Jonah to encourage repentance in his listeners. Through Jonah’s second-effort, whale-prompted preaching, the Ninevites were awakened from their lack-luster faith. Jesus calls his followers to come out of the “whale’s belly”, so to speak – to repent and to live with a courageous faith.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: Have you ever behaved like Jonah – hearing the call to live a deeper faith but swallowed instead in a cavern of indecision?
We pray for the grace to hear and to respond to the call to ever-deepening relationship with God.
Poetry: from Thomas Merton’s The Sign of Jonas: In this passage, Merton imagines God speaking to Jonas, and to himself and us. Jonas is a sign of the Resurrection. We move from old life to new by the Mercy of God.
The Voice of God is heard in Paradise:
What was vile has become precious. What is now precious was never vile. I have always known the vile as precious: for what is vile I know not at all.
What was cruel has become merciful. What is now merciful was never cruel. I have always overshadowed Jonas with My mercy, and cruelty I know not at all.
Have you had sight of Me, Jonas, My child? Mercy within mercy within mercy. I have forgiven the universe without end, because I have never known sin.
What was poor has become infinite. What is infinite was never poor. I have always known poverty as infinite: riches I love not at all.
Prisons within prisons within prisons. Do not lay up for yourselves ecstasies upon earth, where time and space corrupt, where the minutes break in and steal.
No more lay hold on time, Jonas, My son, lest the rivers bear you away. What was fragile has become powerful.
I loved what was most frail. I looked upon what was nothing. I touched what was without substance, and within what was not, I am.
Music: Jonah and the Whale – Louis Armstrong
Jonah was a man who got a word from the Lord “Go and preach the Gospel to the sinful land” But he got on a ship and he tried to get away And he ran into a storm in the middle of the sea
Now the Lord, He made the waves just roll so high The ship begin to sink and they all begin to cry So they pulled ole Jonah out of the hole And they jumped him in the water just to lighten up the load
Now the Lord made a whale, long and wide Lord, Lord waddnat a fish And he swallowed up Jonah, hair and hide Lord, Lord waddnat a fish Mmm, Lord, mmm, Lord
Now Jonah started to pray in the belly of the whale Lord, Lord waddnat a fish He repented of his sins like a man in jail Lord, Lord waddnat a fish Mmm, Lord, mmm, Lord
Now Jonah must o’ been a bad man, he must o’ been a sinner Lord, Lord waddnat a fish ‘Cos when the whale got him down, he didn’t like his dinner Lord, Lord waddnat a fish Mmm, Lord, mmm, Lord
Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:5-11
In our Gospel today, Jesus describes the meaning of friendship and invites his disciples to receive that gift from God.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We ask God to show us the profound beauty of Divine Friendship. We are grateful and humbled to be offered such a gift.
William Barry, SJ – one of my top ten spiritual writers – has written an inspiring book about friendship with God. Barry believes, as I do, that the concept of friendship best describes one’s deepening relationship with God.
What does God want in creating us? My stand is that what God wants is friendship. To forestall immediate objections, let me say that I do not mean that God is lonely and therefore needs our friendship. This is a romantic and quite unorthodox notion that makes God ultimately unbelievable. No, I maintain that God—out of the abundance of divine relational life, not any need for us—desires humans into existence for the sake of friendship.
Music: I’ve Found a Friend – J. G. Small (1866)
Although this hymn echoes some revival tones of the 19th century, I think is still a beautiful and unexpectedtribute to Divine Friendship.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:38-42
What is the sacred balance between prayer and action? How do we acieve the sweet point where prayer and action infuse each other in mutual inspiration? In this Gospel, Jesus indicates that one element has precedence over the other — there is a “better part”.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We seek to deepen our prayer life while employing it to inspire our merciful service to Creation.
Poetry: Martha and Mary by John Newton (1725-1807)
Martha her love and joy expressed By care to entertain her guest; While Mary sat to hear her Lord, And could not bear to lose a word.
The principle in both the same, Produced in each a different aim; The one to feast the Lord was led, The other waited to be fed.
But Mary chose the better part, Her Saviour’s words refreshed her heart; While busy Martha angry grew, And lost her time and temper too.
With warmth she to her sister spoke, But brought upon herself rebuke; One thing is needful, and but one, Why do thy thoughts on many run?
How oft are we like Martha vexed, Encumbered, hurried, and perplexed! While trifles so engross our thought, The one thing needful is forgot.
Lord teach us this one thing to choose, Which they who gain can never lose; Sufficient in itself alone, And needful, were the world our own.
Let groveling hearts the world admire, Thy love is all that I require! Gladly I may the rest resign, If the one needful thing be mine!
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ 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 10:33-37
Mercy sees you, welcomes you, acts for you, abides with you. Wrapped in Mercy, we find the spiritual comfort which allows us healing rest from those who did not see, welcome, act for, or abide with us.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: May we open ourselves to receive such Mercy. May we strenghten ourselves to give it generously.
Poetry: Xenia – Ryan Wilson
“Xenia” is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity shown to those who are far from home.
One day a silent man arrives At your door in an outdated suit, Threadbare and black, like a lost mourner Or a Bible salesman who’s been robbed. Penniless, he needs a place to stay. And you, magnanimous you, soon find This stranger reading in your chair, Eating your cereal, drinking your tea, Or standing in your clothes at the window Awash in afternoon’s alien light. You tire of his constant company. Your floorboards creak with his shuffling footfalls, Haunting dark rooms deep in the night. You lie awake in blackness, listening, Cursing the charity or pride That opened up the door for him And wonder how to explain yourself.
He smells like durian and smoke But it’s mostly his presence, irksome, fogging The mind up like breath on a mirror … You practice cruelty in a mirror, Then practice sympathetic faces. You ghoul. Your cunning can’t deceive you. You are afraid to call your friends For help, knowing what they would say. It’s just you two. You throw a fit when He sneaks water into the whisky bottle, Then make amends. You have no choice Except to learn humility, To love this stranger as yourself, Who won’t love you, or ever leave.
Music: The Good Samaritan – Dallas Holm
Beaten, weary, left along the way Dry from thirst ’til word I could not say Then you came walking by and looked into my eyes And saw my need and stopped to rescue me
Others came and others went on by Refused to help or just too tired to try Alone at last I sat, my head fell slowly back And words from deep within me reached the sky
‘I’m hungry, please feed me I’m naked, please clothe me I’m so alone, won’t someone come to me?’ The sound of my words died Oh, well, at least I tried And trying seemed the only thing to do
But no sooner had I stopped and you were there And then I knew that God had heard my prayer I should have realized, and not have been surprised His eye is on the sparrow, so why not me
Beaten, weary, left along the way Dry from thirst ’til word I could not say Then you came walking by, and looked into my eyes And saw my need and stopped to rescue me Then you came walking by, and looked into my eyes And saw my need and stopped to rescue me
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them. Mark 10:13-16
Jesus once again makes it clear that the Reign of God flows unreservedly to the humble, poor, and childlike among us. The roaring cataract of that Lavish Mercy cannot be prevented by any human interference, control, or ignorance.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: May we learn to trust God’s love as a child trusts that of a loving parent. Childlike faith is not immature. It has been deepened and seasoned through a life of prayerful service and reverent relationship with God and all Creation.
Poetry: Nada Te Turbe – St. Teresa of Avila
Nada te turbe nada te espante Todo se pasa Dios nose muda. La paciencia todo alcanza. Quien a Dios tiene nada le falta Solo Dios basta.
Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, All things are passing. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God is enough.
Music: Nada Te Turbe – A Virtual Choir of Carmelites
Blessed are you, Creator, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Responsorial Psalm 119
Not everyone sees the world through the eyes of faith. We are blessed if we do. Our readings tell us that we come to such clarity of vision only through humility. Job suffered much before he rested in the revealed mystery of God. So did the disciples in today’s Gospel.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We ask to grow in humility and patience, always trusting that the mystery of God surrounds us in Love.
Thought:
The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of God’s love. __________ ~ Julian of Norwich ~
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We celebrate one of the most beautiful souls in the Communion of Saints. Let us learn from her profound wisdom lived with impeccable simplicity.
Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that the Church being a body composed of different members, the most essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting to her; I understood that the Church has a heart and that this heart is burning with love; that it is love alone that makes the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because it is eternal!
Music: Love Changes Everything – Andrew Lloyd Webber, sung by Michael Ball
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-48
In the Gospel both today and yesterday, the disciples are struggling with their pride and expectations. Jesus calls them to live with a mature and humble innocence.
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: Our commitment to a Gospel life suffers when we become concerned with our status or importance. We ask for the humble courage to embrace a sacred innocence sustained by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord
Thought:
“Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.”
At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. Mark 9:38-41
The earliest disciples were learners just like we are. As they have listened and watched the power of Jesus, they have placed complete trust in him. They begin to realize that Jesus is sharing that power with them. Jesus instructs them that this realization must be handled humbly. It must not allow alienation from other believers who also carry the power of faith in Christ. If one is for Christ, they cannot be against him.
Beware the religion that turns you against another one. It’s unlikely that it’s really religion at all.
Joan Chittister, OSB
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy: We seek that openness that Jesus inspires in his disciples – to recognize, encourage, hear, and consecrate all the gifts which the body of believers brings to the Church. Institutionalization can breed classism and elitism anywhere, even in our beloved Church.
Poetry: Sermons We See – Edgar Guest
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear, Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear; And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done; I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run. And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true, But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do; For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give, But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind. When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong one stays behind Just to see if they can help him, then the wish grows strong in me To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be. And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.
A good person teaches many, who believe what they behold; One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told. Who stands with those of honor learns to hold their honor dear, For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear. Though an able speaker charms me with their eloquence, I say, I’d rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.
Lavish Mercy 