Few people know that I attend mass most days. I love participating in mass, and I have much to learn. Some of the most profound moments of clarity in my life have happened in mass. Today was one of those days. Todays Gospel reading was Luke 6:20-26. It began with Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. As I heard these words with a new clarity, I realized that Jesus was talking about the struggles we encounter in our lives. That out of these struggles comes growth, and eventually accomplishment. Without any struggle, these things are not possible. With that understanding, mighty struggles are actually a remarkable gift, and an indicator of great things in the future. It later goes on But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. While hearing these words I felt sorrow for all of the times I have backed down from a challenge in favor of the comfort of the familiar, or the easy. I blew it and missed an opportunity to learn something and grow through struggle. Then I realized that these beatitudes are remarkably and profoundly consistent with so many other parables, that there is indeed a divine symmetry throughout the gospels, even when they seem to be at odds with each other. The first thought in my mind was the parable of the talents, where different people are given different talents, based on their abilities. Each of them achieves a different result, based on their ability, and their disposition toward the truth, and their willingness to accept it. Two of them grow, and are given more, one paralyzed by fear blames the master and does nothing, and does not grow. Suddenly Im walking through the skyways and the moments of clarity are coming one after another. Struggle is a good thing, comfort and ease is not. Money and things are temporary, wisdom, experience and accomplishment are permanent. Every time we help someone in the spirit of easing their burden, we better make sure we understand what we are taking away by doing so. Maybe this is part of the problem for so many today, why so much of the help we provide does not seem to help, but only require more help. Maybe we just need a little more truth.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:03:04 +0000
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