God’s Favorites

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compassion, God, justice, love equally, Luke, psalm 34, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There are some lovely lines in today’s lectionary readings, starting right at the beginning with the declaration that “the Lord is a God of justice who knows no favorites.” I smile at that one because it’s followed immediately with a caveat about the fact that even though God “is not unduly partial toward the weak,” or deaf to the cry of orphans and widows, yet God hears the cries of the oppressed. There’s also a bow to those who serve God willingly and the lowly whose prayer “pierces the clouds.” In the end, we have the assurance that “the Most High responds and judges justly; the Lord will not delay.” So the question remains. Is God or is God not partial in response to prayer and good works?

It seems clear to me that the Psalmist writes on behalf of the poor, the just and the brokenhearted. (PS 34) and that Paul’s testimony this morning (2 TM 4) is evidence of his good living. Then Luke adds to the examples of those who will be rewarded the story of the Pharisee and the publican (LK 18). What are we to conclude from all these examples? It sounds to me like favoritism.

I have to stop and consider everything I have read. Then I think of the God I trust. I go back to the beginning of my reflection about the fact that God shows no favoritism…and see the first part of that sentence: “God is a God of justice.” Can I assume that as the overarching theme of God’s existence – adding the quality of compassion into the mix of God’s treatment of humankind? If so, I think I find a reasonable answer. God can look at us all as cherished creatures, love us all equally and expect us to live as we were created to: in unifying love toward one another. If we respond positively to that invitation, we will be rewarded. If we do not, the justice of God will enter for correction, always with the potential for forgiveness and reconciliation.

How does that sound?

Three Little Words

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Corinthians, goodness, grace, Matthew, psalm 34, taste, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, worry

As I read the lectionary texts for today, I thought that the following lines – one from each reading although not in sequential order – created a fine message for a Saturday. Or any day.

1. My grace is sufficient for you. (2 COR)
2. Do not worry about your life. (MT 6)
3. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
    (PS 34)

Homecoming

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bless the Lord, friend, God, guide, James Quinn SJ, Lectionary, might, Morning Has Broken, psalm 34, ritual, strength, sustain, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, wisdom

Having arrived home last night, I could not wait another day to take up this morning ritual. Rising from sleep in my very own room, I recall my sister-in-law asking my brother – in a ritual of their own –  what song has awakened him. Today I have a lovely answer for this lovely day. It is the words of Jesuit James Quinn set to the tune of Morning Has Broken. As I throw open my window to welcome the sun and a sweet breeze, I hear within these lyrics:

This day God gives me strength of high heaven, sun and moon shining, flame in my hearth, flashing of lightning, wind in it’s swiftness, deeps of the ocean, firmness of earth. This day God sends me strength to sustain me, might to uphold me, wisdom as guide. Your eyes are watchful, Your ears are listening, Your lips are speaking, Friend at my side.

Then I turn to the lectionary and find Psalm 34 that calls me to taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” How can I not respond as did the psalmist? “I will bless the Lord at all times! God’s praise shall be ever in my mouth!”

Happy Sunday, indeed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taste And See…

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eating, Elijah, generosity, Jesus, Kings, psalm 34, strength, Taste and See, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

From the prophet Elijah to Jesus, today’s readings speak of the importance of eating to keep up our strength for living – both physically and spiritually. We find Elijah journeying into the desert (1 KGS 19:4-8) where, in a moment of desperation, he lies down under a tree and asks God to let him die. Instead, an angel wakes him and orders him – twice – to eat, having provided the food that will keep him alive and strong on his trek through the desert (a forty-day trip) to Horeb, the mountain of God.

The psalmist is eloquent in calling us to “taste and see the goodness of the Lord” in one of the most lyrical and inviting of the entire Book of Psalms. “Glorify the Lord with me,” he sings. “Look to God that you may be radiant with joy!…Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed is the one who takes refuge in God.” (PS 34:2-9)

John’s gospel has Jesus speaking boldly of himself as “the living bread that has come down from heaven. This bread,” he promises, “is my flesh for the life of the world.”  (JN 6:41-51)

There are so many ways we could reflect on these readings today.  We might consider our need for bodily sustenance and our responsibility for feeding not only ourselves but also those who do not have enough food. We could think metaphorically about spiritual food and our longing to strengthen our desire for God in Eucharist or other prayerful exercises. Or…

As I prepare breakfast for the retreat participants here at our center for the weekend, I will try to maintain a focus of generosity, adding love as the main ingredient of the food to be offered to them. What will be your practice concerning food today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encourage Your Companions!

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joy, Lent, paths, praise God, psalm 34, stay the course, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trouble-hearted, walk in the light

As I continue to consider this Lent as a journey, I am struck again this morning with the power of the Psalms for support along the way. This morning the psalmist is not only in conversation with God but also with those whose paths intersect from day to day. The sentiments remind me not only to praise God for all that occurs but also to encourage my companions to stay the course and walk in the light. May we all be willing today to do the same.

My soul fills up and overflows with joy; all humble-hearted ones know this. They too are glad. O you who hear and know this inner state of joy, praise God with me, join strength to strength, your praise with mine. For I went out in search of you, my God, and when I found you near and listening, my fears and terrors fled away at last. Turn then, and look at God, your face shall also shine, glistening, but not with tears. And even in the midst of troubles sore, look long and never be ashamed. See, it is God who hears and saves your life. (Psalm 34)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cry of the Poor

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Come O God, deep wellspring of love, homeless, joy, poor, psalm 34, refugees, rescue us O God, the Lord hears the cry of the poor, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unemployed, weather disasters

The Psalm response for today’s Liturgy of the Word sings out from Psalm 34: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor…” Upon hearing that, I am reminded of all the materially poor in the world and refugees who have nothing but what they can carry, those who may now have the safety of resettlement but are still bereft of any familiarity with place or persons with whom they had shared life. I think of those who have recently been victim of weather disasters in my own country who have suffered the loss of home and, sometimes, of family. I think of the homeless and those who are unemployed or under-employed. And then I think of the mentally and spiritually poor, those who struggle to find meaning in life. It is for all these people and more that today I pray this psalm of hope with trust in a God who will come to heal all ills, a God who hears the call: Come, O God, and do not delay!

My soul fills up and overflows with joy; all humble-hearted ones know this, they too are glad. O you who hear and know this inner state of joy, praise God with me, join strength to strength, your praise with mine…And even in the midst of troubles sore, look long and never be ashamed. See, it is God who hears and saves your life. Know too that heaven surrounds you with angelic forms, those messengers sent out by God to guard and guide you through the many storms of life…Indeed God hears the voice of all who cry in pain, drawing near to them with tender loving care. God comes so close to those who live with brokenness, to heal those with the deepest inner wounds. God is the healer of our shattered hearts. Yes, it is true, the troubles that plague humanity are vast and deep. But it is God who frees us from them all…So rescue us, O God, from all our ravaged ways, to live unending in the deep wellspring of your love. (Ps. 34: 2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diving Deep

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article of faith, Christianity, Ephesians, Eucharist, Jesus, John, one, Paul, Proverbs, psalm 34, remain, Taste and See, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, the will of God, wisdom, wisdom of knowing

Having just seen the ocean from a distance and longing to dive right in – one of my favorite metaphors for going deeper into mystery – I was drawn by the first line of the first reading to the topic of Wisdom this morning. Staying on the surface, taking things literally, does not allow us to understand the depths of things, perhaps especially when we are speaking of faith.

When Proverbs (9:1-6) tells us that Wisdom has built herself a house, we know that it would be impossible for a concept, an abstract characteristic, to accomplish such an architectural feat. So the author reminds us to forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding, and in this case that is easily done. Not so easy with the psalm refrain that sings (for the second time recently): Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. (PS 34) Paul is right there with advice about how to deal with that one as he says to the Ephesians (5:15-20) Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise…Do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of God.

All of that is preamble to the crux of the message in this morning’s Scripture readings. It is John’s gospel that contains more of the “hard sayings” than the others, and the hardest of all is perhaps what we hear this morning (JN 6:51-58). Jesus says that whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in them. Theologians have wrestled with this “article of faith” throughout the history of Christianity and belief in interpretation varies, but I’m thinking this morning of how shocking it must have been for those crowds of people who were listening to those words spoken for the first time by Jesus – probably most of them having no concept of metaphor or any way to understand what is obviously a deeper truth than the surface meaning.

It is the word remain that is the touchstone for me as I participate in Eucharistic liturgies and trust that something of Christ’s life remains in my spirit as the Eucharistic species are assimilated into my body. The more conscious I become about that truth, the more I will understand what Jesus was talking about on that shocking, long ago day. Then, and only then, will I be transformed, forsaking the foolishness that says I am separated from others and coming to trust the wisdom of knowing that we are all one, as Jesus knew and lived, and lives still in us.

Taste and See

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blessed, Christian, Eucharist, goodness, hymns, James Moore, look to God, Lord, praise, psalm 34, psalms, refuge, Taste and See, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

It seems that in many of the Christian denominations the most often referenced source for hymns is the psalms. That seems logical because the psalms are always to be sung when they appear in worship services, at least in Roman Catholic liturgy. I have been sitting here for nearly a half hour now, surfing the internet for a good rendition of the song Taste and See by James Moore, based on Psalm 34. I have not been satisfied with anything I have heard although the tune and words are quite adequately represented by each example. I have come to the conclusion that it our heart-filled prayer in the singing of the hymn (myself with a congregation) that moves me so much every time – especially if it is sung during the procession to receive. I would still recommend a visit to YouTube but, since it all began with my reading of the psalm this morning, I will post those words that are, in themselves, a prayer full of trust.

Refrain [R]: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall ever be in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. [R] Glorify the Lord with me. Let us together extol God’s name. I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. [R] Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush with shame. When the afflicted ones cried out, the Lord heard, and from all their distress God saved them. [R] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed is the one who takes refuge in God. [R]

Lifting Spirits

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crushed in spirit, distress, He saves, heavy burden, loving energy, pain, psalm 34, suffering, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

As I read Psalm 34 this morning it was the refrain (vs. 19) that caught my attention and flooded me with images of faces near and far. There were families of murdered tour members in Tunisia, some in Israel who had hoped for a different election outcome and, closer to home, an e-mail from a friend letting me know that her dear cousin had succumbed to cancer. The depth and suffering of distress cannot be measured by me unless it is my own but my heart goes out today to all whose pain is a heavy burden, sometimes feeling too much to bear. I pray that they might take comfort in the faith of which the psalmist sings: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and those that are crushed in spirit he saves. I call us all to carry this verse as a companion today so that each time it comes to mind and touches our hearts we might send out loving energy to those most in need of our prayer around the world or in our own back yards. It is, perhaps, the best we can do.