Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time
June 26, 2007
Today's Readings:
Gen 13:2, 5-18
Ps 15:1-5
Matt 7:6, 12-14
http://www.usccb.org/nab/062607.shtml
The lonely road to the narrow gate
Have you ever felt lonely because of your Christian faith? How many
companions do you have on the road of holiness? When Jesus said (as we see
in Matt. 7:6, 12-14) that the road to heaven is narrow, he had a dozen guys
who lived in close community with him, several women friends (often
including his mother), and a large contingent of followers who learned
enough from him to go out and preach and heal and cast out demons.
But the road to Calvary was going to be mighty lonely.
Holiness is a rough road to travel, not only because we keep tripping over our
own tendencies to sin, but also because we meet co-journeyers who choose
not to stay the course. We also run into the dogs and swine that Jesus
mentioned -- people who don't want to accept the truth about life in Christ
nor put full effort into holiness. They join us on this road but they either
attack the faith or they attack us and leave us sitting on the curb weary and
wounded.
And while we wait for someone to come by and tend to our wounds, we
notice that too few stop to help, too few understand our needs, and too few
are healed enough of their own wounds to give us what we need. Did God
intend for us to feel so alone? No, because we are not alone!
When Jesus needed more from his friends, who were too few or too sleepy, he
went to the Father. We will always feel somewhat lonely here on earth,
because the Father's embrace is not a physical hug, but we never need to feel
alone. A habit of deep prayer puts us in touch with the reality that God is with
us every step of the way. Jesus is right beside us, holding our hand, kissing
our wounds, crying with our hurts, laughing at our jokes, dancing in our joys.
Human companionship is equally important. Jesus spent personal time with
those who stayed close to him. Even while he suffered on the cross, he
experienced the undying love and loyalty of two: his mother and John. As you
hang on your own cross, who is at the foot of it, weeping? If you can't see
someone there, ask Jesus to open your eyes.
When Jesus promised that he'd never abandon us, he intended to fulfill this
through the Body of Christ on earth, our Christian community. But we want
our Johns to be Jesuses. We want our companions on the road to be already
perfectly holy. And so we look right past them and miss what God is offering
to us through them.
Recall that Jesus often went to dinner parties. Fun fellowship is an important
way to get to know others who are on the road to heaven. We won't find our
co-journeyers by sitting alone in our prayer rooms. Time alone with God is
necessary, but we'd better be using that time to grow better at finding and
mingling with the companions he's providing.
© 2007 by Terry A. Modica