Daily Retreat 11/03/06
2006 Nov 3 Fri: Ordinary Weekday/ Martin de Porres, r
Phil 1: 1-11/ Ps 110(111): 1-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 14: 1-6
From today’s readings: “I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you.... How great are the works of the Lord!... Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?”
The Questions of Jesus
Not only were questions asked of Him, but Jesus Himself, even from His youth (cf. Luke 2:46), posed questions to others - not, presumably, because He didn’t know the answers! Rather, our Lord insisted that His listeners (and those reading the Gospel) engage themselves in the issues He raised, rather than just sitting passively on the sidelines of life.
Quite often, when Jesus asked a question, the answer would be simple and obvious, but with profound and personal consequences. So, the inability or refusal to answer His questions arose from mere reluctance to face the implications, rather than any real trouble figuring out the answers.
Thus, every question posed by Jesus can be approached as a study question for each of us to examine how receptive we are to His presence in our lives with His unsettling insights. While the temptation can arise for us to ignore His questions and dismiss them as outdated, with a bit of honest effort, their application to modern life can be easily seen.
Consider, for instance, when Jesus asked, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” With the modern lax attentiveness to sanctifying the Lord’s Day, the question posed by Jesus will at first seem rather moot. But, perhaps even the apparent and awkward irrelevance can itself be taken as a challenge for us to honestly examine our own excessively casual attitudes toward Sabbath observance - what does Jesus have to say to us about that area of our life? Or, do we find ourselves, like the scribes and Pharisees, simply unable to answer His questions?
Phil 1: 1-11/ Ps 110(111): 1-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 14: 1-6
From today’s readings: “I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you.... How great are the works of the Lord!... Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?”
The Questions of Jesus
Not only were questions asked of Him, but Jesus Himself, even from His youth (cf. Luke 2:46), posed questions to others - not, presumably, because He didn’t know the answers! Rather, our Lord insisted that His listeners (and those reading the Gospel) engage themselves in the issues He raised, rather than just sitting passively on the sidelines of life.
Quite often, when Jesus asked a question, the answer would be simple and obvious, but with profound and personal consequences. So, the inability or refusal to answer His questions arose from mere reluctance to face the implications, rather than any real trouble figuring out the answers.
Thus, every question posed by Jesus can be approached as a study question for each of us to examine how receptive we are to His presence in our lives with His unsettling insights. While the temptation can arise for us to ignore His questions and dismiss them as outdated, with a bit of honest effort, their application to modern life can be easily seen.
Consider, for instance, when Jesus asked, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” With the modern lax attentiveness to sanctifying the Lord’s Day, the question posed by Jesus will at first seem rather moot. But, perhaps even the apparent and awkward irrelevance can itself be taken as a challenge for us to honestly examine our own excessively casual attitudes toward Sabbath observance - what does Jesus have to say to us about that area of our life? Or, do we find ourselves, like the scribes and Pharisees, simply unable to answer His questions?
posted by FrPitstick | 11/02/2006
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