Looking everywhere

Monday, October 26, 2009
The Joyful Mysteries
Romans 8:12-17
Psalm 68:2 and 4, 6-7ab, 20-21
Luke 13:10-17

In Acts, chapter 19, St. Paul reveals that his evangelization of the Pagan Ephesians encountered some difficulties. On one occasion the city was thrown into turmoil by the silversmiths rioting because the "new" God infringed on their business of making miniature shrines to the city's goddess, Artemis.

The major problem faced by Jesus was different and more dangerous, for His adversaries were the self-important, self-appointed religious experts. Their scholars had rewritten and expanded the basic Commandments into a complex system of laws governing every aspect of people's lives. One basic law commanded that the Sabbath was to be kept holy by forbidding any work, even limiting the distance walked on that day, leaving some unable to attend synagogue. Jesus enraged the religious hierarchy by continuing to heal on the Sabbath because they failed to see that God never suspends His compassion, a virtue inherent in His very nature and essence. What they were demanding of Christ was impossible, since He Who is God's Son cannot cease expressing His Father's love even on the sabbath. Jesus showed them that their interpretation of the law treated their livestock more kindly than their fellow humans.

Speaking of the basic Commandments: I was watching a made-for-TV movie about the Ten Commandments this evening. One of the “stories within the story” had Moses “searching” for God. It’s a quest a lot of people (myself included) have made. He finally connected the dots and discovered that he was always looking SOMEwhere, not EVERYwhere! When He had this epiphany, it seemed to me that it made saying "yes" to God easier. We should be looking (and finding) Christ in ourselves and in our neighbors, and even in our enemies—after all, He did say that’s where He is.

Oh, and sorry about the date of the post. The movie ran longer than I realized and I really had to hustle to think of something for my blog and meet my self-imposed “deadline” of midnight. I didn’t make it. Oh well, I hope you enjoy it anyway. Good night and God Bless you all.