 istening
to the Spirit:
Reflections for
May 11-17, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008 - Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13
The Spirit is imaged as wind and fire, as mover and shaker, the one adopting us, filling the world, teaching us. The Sequence offers so many more images of the Spirit who is God’s power, energy, and love poured out.
Here are some images from the Sequence. Taste each one and savor the ones which attract you. That is prayer enough: Radiance. Consoler. Wisdom. Guest. Refreshment. Rest. Coolness in the heat. Consolation. Light. Grace. Fullness. Healer. Melter. Warmer. Guide. Salvation. Joy.
O Jesus, how much we need you to send out your Spirit to renew the face of the earth, to renew all peoples. Give us the gift of forgiving. Give us the gift of peace. Thank you!
Monday, May 12, 2008
James 1:1-11; Psalm 119; Mark 8:11-13
Ordinary time slaps us awake. There is no celebration of the Spirit for an octave. Thus we begin a continuous reading of James and step right into a climactic section of Mark. Up to chapter 8, Mark has been wowing his readers with miracle stories, but in this chapter Mark begins to tell of a suffering Messiah. Those who want magic will turn away. And so it is with the rich, James warns. “In the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.”
On what do you spend your energy? What keeps you busy? How do you feel about the ordinariness of your life? The psalmist says, “It was good for me that I was humbled.” When have you felt that the humble, the ordinary brought its own blessings?
Don’t let us wither away, Holy Spirit. We adore you, want you, need you. In-spire all that is humble and ordinary in our lives with your radiance.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
James 1: 12-18; Psalm 94; Mark 8:14-21
Today’s readings remind us of our Christian duty to give alms. Jesus warns his disciples to beware the bread of the Pharisees. Although they have brought one loaf in the boat with them, they think he is scolding them because “we have no bread.” One loaf is bread. So many in our world today haven’t even one loaf, are without rice, their very sustenance. James reminds us that every gift we have received is God’s generous act, and we are to become the first fruits and do likewise. James also reminds us that God never tempts anyone, but our own desires (our greed)
“lure and entice” us.
Pray for the hungry of our world, the greedy (probably including ourselves who harbor some inordinate desire) and all those who are addicted to any substance and/or behavior. Ask for the grace to be satisfied with “one loaf” – whatever that may be. Ask for the grace of a grateful heart.
Jesus, we want you to be enough for us. You do satisfy the hungry heart in our rich first world, but so many elsewhere are dying of physical starvation. Feed us all, Jesus.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - Feast of Matthias, apostle
Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26; Psalm 113; John 15: 9-17
The first reading tells of casting lots to determine who would fill Judas’ place among the Twelve. It seems the whole group of 120 presented two candidates and that the whole group cast lots, after praying. In the gospel, even though Jesus had ascended by then, the community applies Jesus’ words: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…to bear much fruit,” to Matthias. Because Jesus speaks in the community through the Spirit, because we have a living Word in the gospel, Jesus continues to choose and make fruitful, right to our day, to our selves.
Don’t think, but ask the Spirit to let bubble up from the depths of you, to show you when/how you were chosen. When/how are you an apostle? When/how are you bearing fruit? Ask and then be quiet. Listen to the Spirit within you.
Thank you for your living Word, our generous God! May your Word take flesh in us today. Fill us with your love and with zeal to make your Word known.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
James 2:1-9; Psalm 34; Mark 8: 27-33
“Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith?” James’ clarion call on behalf of the lowly is meant to stir our consciences, for as the psalmist says, “The Lord hears the cries of the poor.” In the gospel Jesus identifies himself with the poor and the oppressed, and his friends are not one bit pleased. Jesus warns that he will be a poor and rejected Messiah, not the figure of glory they expected. When Peter tries to persuade him otherwise, in very vehement terms (“Get behind me, Satan!”) Jesus lashes out.
Peter receives all Jesus’ wrath. How do you think they ever reconciled? Ask Jesus. Listen. Ask to be rich in faith and to pay attention to those who are poor in any way.
You emptied yourself, Jesus, to become like us in all things, poor, rejected, simple and dependent on others. Make us humble of heart. Give us your heart for the outcast.
Friday, May 16, 2008
James 2: 14-24, 26; Psalm 112; Mark 8:34-9:1
This is the passage in James that stirred up so much controversy for 450 years. Since 1999, Lutherans and Catholics, however, have agreed in a joint statement that indeed faith (trust) in Christ is what saves us, not good works (or worse, earning heaven, storing up merit). James writes that if we see a brother or sister lacking daily food and we say, “Go in peace, keep warm and well-fed” we do not really have faith. Faith means trusting God, being in union with Christ’s body. “Faith without works is dead,” James concludes. When we are in communion with Christ, we are eager to serve the other, to footwash, to provide for the needs of others, and we don’t respond with that kind of love so as to win God’s favor. Faith tells us we already have God’s favor and it is that joy and gratitude that motivates us to “works.”
What has faith meant to you over the years? How has your sense/ experience of union with the “least of the brothers and sisters” been growing over the years? Ask to believe that you are deeply and expansively loved by God, and let your heart respond.
Give us the courage to deny ourselves, Jesus, not to impress you or others, but simply to be available and of service to those who need us.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
James 3: 1-10; Psalm 12; Mark 9: 2-13
James offers us a meditation on the power of the human tongue, the blessing of it and the danger it affords. Psalm 12 makes quite specific some ways the tongue can sin:
lying, flattering, boasting, arrogance. Then such a switch of mood as Jesus leads his three friends (and us) up Mount Tabor. There he is transfigured. Peter wants to stay in that moment but he “did not know what he was saying….” Peter is in such awe that his tongue betrays him.
And your tongue? Don’t forget that before sin comes temptation. Do not judge yourself harshly for unkind thoughts. If you curb your tongue, the thought or judgment can be a temptation to which you do not succumb. Look at all that you think and do not speak aloud. Give Jesus all your thoughts, such as they are, kind or unkind, prejudiced or open, judgmental or merciful. Ask him to transfigure your thinking, and to help you not speak all that you think. Ask for the gift of wisdom.
Sin and grace, as well you know, Jesus, are as mixed in our lives as James’ warning and your transfiguration. Help us not fear our own failures, but to turn to you continually for transformation.
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rayer
brings our whole religious life into focus; it supports the
rhythm of our lives emphasizing now the person, now the community,
now the world we serve.
ister
Rea McDonnell, SSND, offers daily reflections on the Liturgical
Readings for each day. If
you wish to share your own reflections or have comments or
questions, please feel free to