Daily Retreat 11/06/06
2006 Nov 6 Mon: Ordinary Weekday
Phil 2: 1-4/ Ps 130(131): 1bcde. 2. 3/ Lk 14: 12-14
From today’s readings: “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.... In You, O Lord, I have found my peace.... When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind....”
Advice to be practiced
Although much of what Jesus said is rather practical advice, certainly some of His teachings are hardly practical at all. Perhaps because they weren’t intended to be such - instead of being practical advice, certain gems were offered as advice to be practiced, to try out, and then try again, until little by little, we start to get the point, and get it right.
Most likely, for instance, all those who have a say in this month’s Thanksgiving dinner are hoping to share with a full house of friends and family - now does Jesus really forbid invitations to kith and kin? No, we all know that’s not His point (and I don’t say that just because I’m hoping to get one of those invitations myself!).
And then when it comes to His follow-up suggestion, that we invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, well, many of us could honestly wonder whom we personally know who fits that bill? Ah! But that’s the point!
Phil 2: 1-4/ Ps 130(131): 1bcde. 2. 3/ Lk 14: 12-14
From today’s readings: “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.... In You, O Lord, I have found my peace.... When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind....”
Advice to be practiced
Although much of what Jesus said is rather practical advice, certainly some of His teachings are hardly practical at all. Perhaps because they weren’t intended to be such - instead of being practical advice, certain gems were offered as advice to be practiced, to try out, and then try again, until little by little, we start to get the point, and get it right.
Most likely, for instance, all those who have a say in this month’s Thanksgiving dinner are hoping to share with a full house of friends and family - now does Jesus really forbid invitations to kith and kin? No, we all know that’s not His point (and I don’t say that just because I’m hoping to get one of those invitations myself!).
And then when it comes to His follow-up suggestion, that we invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, well, many of us could honestly wonder whom we personally know who fits that bill? Ah! But that’s the point!
posted by FrPitstick | 11/04/2006
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