LA PARAULA ARA A LES LECTURES MASSIVES
per al 11 de gener de 2014
Textos litúrgics aquí
MÉS del moment, quan donem testimoni de Crist, ens enfrontarem a haver de fer-ho estima l’amorable. Amb això vull dir que nosaltres tots tingueu els nostres "moments", ocasions en què no som gens estimables. Aquest és el món en què va entrar el nostre Senyor i el que ara ens envia Jesús.
In today’s first reading, St. John tells us how to respond when we see a brother commit a sin, that “if the sin is not deadly"...
…he should pray to God and he will give him life.
To pray for a person with whom I am irritated is a beautiful step forward in love, and an act of evangelization. —PAPA FRANCIS, Evangelii Gaudium, n. 101
It is not the duty of Christians to become judge and jury over every fault and misstep of our neighbour. Rather, says St. Paul, “bear one another’s burdens". [1]Gal 6: 2 The primary burden we need to bear is our brother’s weakness.
I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of virtue. —St. Thérèse de Liseux, The Autobiography of a Saint, Ch. 9; cited in La Bíblia de Navarra, “Gospels & Acts”, p.79
Com puc not be surprised when I see my brother or sister being so beligerent and self-centered? The antidote is constantly remembering my own faults and propensity to fail to love God and neighbour on a daily basis. There is always a log in my own eye. But I also need to remember how merciful Jesus has been to me so I can reflect His mercy toward others.
Bearing another’s burdens is not the same, though, as simply enduring them. Today’s Psalm response says,
The Lord takes delight in his people.
Bé loves beyond the surface because He sees the goodness, the imatge in which we are made. In order to love the unlovable, we have to go beyond being offended, beyond the wounds of individuals, and love them how God loves them. It is learning the ‘“art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.”‘ [2]Evangelii Gaudium, n. 169 When we begin to see others as “holy ground,” we are much less ready to judge. In fact, we will begin to delight in them.
Mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for his people. —PAPA FRANCIS, Evangelii Gaudium, n. 268
Often I will try to imagine a person when they were a baby, how they were innocent, harmless, and precious. That is really the “core” that God sees and that Jesus died to restore. Everything after that is fallen nature.
When you see a bird with a broken wing hopping about on the ground, you never think to yourself, “Why is that bird trying to be a squirrel?” Instead, you see that it is wounded and acting “out of” its wounds. So too, people are often products of their woundedness, wanting to fly “on eagle’s wings,” but broken by their past, their sins, failures and injuries from others. That’s why Jesus says do not judge, però be merciful. We need to accompany them, helping them to heal, grow, and fly again by looking to their spiritual potential and delighting in “the least sign of virtue.”
Jesus shows us how to love the unlovable when He lets doubting Thomas touch His wounds. We have to not only touch other’s wounds, but let them touch ours. Let others see your weakness; let them know you struggle too; let them put their fingers into your side, that place where Jesus has healed your soul. I remember a holy friend of mine telling me once that he doesn’t eat dessert. “Why?”, I asked. “Because once I start eating a piece of pie, I need to eat the whole thing!” I was amazed at his honesty. While some Christians want to impress by polishing their halos in front of others, what really opens souls to the Lord is when they see transparency and touch authentic humility.
John the Baptist says in the Gospel:
He must increase, I must decrease.
Whenever we decrease, opening our wounds to others, letting them see not only how Christ has healed us but how He is encara healing us, they are able to touch hope within us. This in turn opens their wounded hearts so we can apply the healing balm of Christ’s merciful love through a word, Scripture, etc. Obviously, this implies that we are willing to listen to, empathize and journey with souls.
Una comunitat evangelitzadora s’implica per paraules i fets en la vida quotidiana de les persones; salva distàncies, està disposat a esmorteir-se si és necessari i abraça la vida humana, tocant la carn que pateix el Crist en els altres. Així, els evangelitzadors prenen “l’olor de les ovelles” i les ovelles estan disposades a escoltar la seva veu. —PAPA FRANCIS, Evangelii Gaudium, n. 24
Often, the unlovable feel so because of loneliness—forgotten, ignored, neglected in a fast-paced, impersonal world. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, longing for the One who gave her purpose, meaning and love. When she saw Jesus, He called her by nom. It was at que moment, she recognized Him. We have to stop treating people as another anonymous passerby. We need to acknowledge everyone who comes into our presence with our smile and availability, with holy hospitality.
We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing. Listening, in communication, is an openness of heart which makes possible that closeness without which genuine spiritual encounter cannot occur. Listening helps us to find the right gesture and word which shows that we are more than simply bystanders. —PAPA FRANCIS, Evangelii Gaudium, n. 171
Catherine Doherty once said we can “listen a soul into existence.” And souls have a name, inscribed on the palm of God’s hand. When we listen to another, when we decrease our voice, they can increasingly hear the voice of the Father calling them by name saying, “Ets estimat".
Every soul is different, every situation requires new discernment and sensitivity. Sometimes souls need “tough love,” like the Pharisees. But most often, people simply need misericordiós love. If we are to love the unlovable, we must take the time to be present to them, letting them inhale the fragrance of Christ that comes from our own relationship with Jesus, in which He has borne nostre burdens, touched nostre wounds, and listened nostre souls into existence.
Above all, remember that it is all grace. We only love with the love with which we’ve been freely given. And it is the Holy Spirit who convicts, the Holy Spirit alone who can open another’s heart and bring them to conversion. Yet, we are God’s chosen vessel for His grace, and the victory that conquers the unlovable is our fe ...
And we leave the results to God.
This brings to an end the first month of The Now Word. Your feedback welcome!
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