Ordinary 12

The Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

_{Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69; Roman 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33}

I cannot begin to imagine the terror and fear experienced by the five men when they realized the OceanGate submersible was going to implode.

Helpless as those men were, I watch what seems to be the imploding of our democratic processes and institutions, the world order as nations decline and rise in power and authority and our Catholic Church’s teachings and internal structures assailed from within while our clergy and people are stretched and challenged in unforeseen ways.

Can these essential foundations of our society withstand, like the depths of the ocean’s weight, such continued pressures?

When people feel powerless, they lash out. In all parts of society we are observing people expressing anger in violent ways with recriminations and threats, vengeance and personal attacks. From intimidation against the safety and security of election officials and workers to bishops publicly attacking each other on social media, people are called ‘traitors’ and ‘heretics’ as we presume the worst of intentions about each other. We cannot abide any view that differs from that of our own insular world. We do not know how to listen to each other; worse, we do not have the will to want to listen because there is nothing we can learn from each other. Jeremiah laments, “All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine”.

For over half a century, we have been living, like Jeremiah, in a time of great change and upheaval and there seems to be no resolution in sight. This may be a reality for our lifetime that we need to accept, while we pose the question, how are we to respond to this divisiveness as Christians, particularly within our Church?

We are awash in fear which births anger. Jeremiah was angry. He is angry with God because he feels deceived by God. The prophet preached what God commanded him, a message of destruction and exile for Israel. For that, Jeremiah paid the price of imprisonment and torture by his own people. Jeremiah was faithful. So was Jesus who preached a message of salvation and paid the price. We crucified him.

Where was God? …for Jeremiah or for Jesus? Where is God for us?

Listen to the words of of Jeremiah filled with fear, slander, feelings of entrapment, confidence in a mighty and awe-inspiring champion, a desire for vengeance, and praise of God. This muddled prayer by the prophet. Is the prophet internally imploding or is it an act of deep faith and trust to dare speak to God in such a manner?

Have you ever spoken to God with such daring, in such a straightforward emotional way? Are we afraid speaking so honestly with God? In the midst of our sufferings, fears, questions and upheavals, what are our expectations of God?

Do we expect God, like a theatrical deus ex machina, to descend from the heavens, neatly resolve our situation, and go back to the heavens? Can God’s presence and care not be operative side-by-side with our hardship? Are we expecting God to protect us from pain, fear and great change or strengthen us within those movements of our complex lives and world? Do we think that our lives are to take a different track from that of the prophets or Jesus?

We are all watching what seems to be the imploding around us of the world and church. How are we to respond? There is no easy answer, no silver bullet, and no quick fix.

I would suggest we begin with ourselves.

In solitude, reflect and acknowledge what you are experiencing. What issues instantly raise our blood pressure and the volume of our voice in feelings of fear, anger, or hopelessness? Name those issues and feelings. For some of us, writing them out in a journal may be helpful. Bring the situations and feelings, like Jeremiah, to God. Be direct and honest in your prayer. I believe our God appreciates honesty.

Pray, as Jesus taught us, for your enemies and those who are working to undermine you. An act of prayer I find most difficult.

Watch less media. The world will go on without you. You will not miss anything important.

Do not engage people through social media. People express things on social media they would not speak to you face-to-face.

Reclaim the art of listening without determining an answer while a person is still speaking. This is an act of respect for the person speaking.

Silence is a response. Discern when the truth needs to clearly be spoken.

Share meals and reclaim conversation around a dining table. To learn the how of such an experience and its fruits, watch the TV program ‘Blue Bloods’ or experience the play, ‘Oslo’ .

Like a pebble tossed into a pond, small acts can ripple out and make a difference beyond us.