Friday. Mt. 13: 54-58
Jesus came to his home town and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, 'where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary?
Living, as I do, in a monastic community I have been thought by experience that there are two ways that I can relate to my brethren. One way is to see them purely on the human level and unfortunately this tends to emphasize their faults, failings and weaknesses. The other way I can see them and relate to them is with an awareness that they are indeed imperfect human beings but (and it is a huge 'but') I can see them as men that have a hidden but direct relationship with God. The latter perspective (which the villagers of Nazareth failed to dignify Jesus with) is the most fruitful and joyful way to live Christian community life. It is joyful because it makes us open to being surprised by the rich way that God touches the lives of our brothers and sisters. We come to see clearly that God gives them gifts, that he doesn't give to us, and far from making us envious we delight in the bounty and generosity of God. This does not blind us to their failings or the occasions when they sin, but it does help us to love them in a way that is more genuine and free. Our ego wants to put us in the centre of the Universe and everyone else has to be a mere satellite rotating around our 'divine brightness'. The key is to see that everyone else is a unique other 'self' with his or her own distinct relationship with God. Try walking down the street some time and everybody you observe i.e. the young, the old, the pretty, the not-so-pretty, the poor, the rich, and say to yourself about each one, 'This person has a personal relationship with God (whether they know it or not) and his or her primary purpose in life is God.' Don't be too surprised if you find the occasional stranger smiling at you! This will be because (presuming the strangers intentions are honourable!!!) you are in some hidden way bringing God's light into the world. It can be very scary to hear the way spouses can sometimes speak to one another in an abusive way, or to hear parents humiliating children with words that are cruel and unjust. If they had the slightest awareness of the 'God-element' in the person they are speaking horribly to, then they would instantly and dramatically change their tune.
Thursday. Jn 11: 19-27.
Mary said to Jesus, ' I know my brother will rise again on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life.'
Wars have been fought over religious doctrines. Rarely is there ever a war over an individual person. A person usually is not considered important enough for a war! In today's gospel Martha confesses her faith to Jesus in the doctrine of the Resurrection. Jesus seems to understand that whilst having faith this doctrine is important, it can also be a cold and grim reality for the human heart which needs something more. So when he says, 'I am the Resurrection', he is telling us that our faith involves more than just trying to cling to a theological concept, however sublime. It involves a relationship with a person, namely Jesus, who is himself risen from the dead. We have an obligation to study and reflect on theological concepts like the Resurrection but ultimately God throws us back on the human level where our heart finds its true happiness and meaning. When death comes knocking on our door, theological concepts will give us little comfort. It is our relationship with the person of Jesus who will bring us through this ordeal. When he says, 'I am the Resurrection', it seems strange to us how a person can be an event. It is a mystery that is hard to fathom, but one thing is sure, the event and the person will converge in our lives if we are open to it.